Boloco Is Closing Its Children's Hospital Location

A local chain of restaurants known in part for its burritos and bowls will soon be closing another one of its Boston locations, leaving only one remaining in the city.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Boloco is shutting down at Boston Children's Hospital on Longwood Avenue, with an article from the Boston Business Journal stating that it is slated to close by September 1. Once it shutters, the only location left locally will be on Congress Street in downtown Boston, though another can also be found in Hanover, NH.

Boloco's roots date back more than 25 years, with the Boloco brand replacing "The Wrap" in 2005; there had once been a number of locations throughout the Greater Boston area and elsewhere in New England.

The website for Boloco can be found at https://boloco.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Update: Noodles King at the Longwood Galleria in Boston Has Closed; Menu Items Apparently Still Available at Dragon Bowl

[Ed note: This article was updated on August 2 to reflect that the dining spot's menu continues to be available at another place within the food court.]

A noodle spot that was geared in part toward medical workers and families of patients has shut down, though it looks like their food items live on at a neighboring stall.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Noodles King at the Longwood Galleria in Boston's Longwood medical area is no longer in business, though we have now been told by a source that the menu continues to be offered at Dragon Bowl, which has an ownership connection to the place. Noodles King first opened at the food court in 2018, being known for its Chinese hand-pulled biang biang noodles. 

The Longwood Galleria food court is located at the intersection of Longwood Avenue and Brookline Avenue.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Istanbul Döner Burrito Is Opening at the Longwood Galleria Food Court in Boston

The people behind a Turkish eatery just north of Boston are opening a new dining spot within a food court in Boston.

According to a post from Istanbul Diner Cafe in Revere (via the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page), Istanbul Döner Burrito is opening at the food court at the Longwood Galleria, with the post saying "Turkish Mexican food is coming soon." Little other information has been given as of yet, though in the thread, co-owner Bekir Senates says that German döner kebabs will be one of the offerings.

The address for Istanbul Döner Burrito (and the Longwood Galleria) is 350 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

[December 15 update: Istanbul Döner Burrito is now open, with its menu offering such options as burritos, quesadillas, chips and dips, and baklava.]

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Anna's Taqueria Is Opening in Boston's Longwood Area

A local group of Mexican eateries is planning to open a new location in Boston.

According to a press release, Anna's Taqueria is looking to open in the Longwood medical area of the city, moving into the space on Longwood Avenue that had been home to a location of b.good. This will be the seventh Boston-area location of Anna's and it will offer such items as burritos, tacos, quesadillas, Mexican bowls, and salads.

If all goes as planned, the new location of Anna's Taqueria should be opening later this year.

The address for the new Anna's Taqueria in the Longwood area is 360 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for all locations of Anna's is at https://www.annastaqueria.com/

[January 16, 2023 update: According to Anna's website, the new location in Longwood is now open.] 

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Sweetgreen Is Opening in the Former Pret A Manger Space in Boston's Longwood Area

A growing chain of dining spots known for its healthy options is opening yet another outlet in the local area, with this one coming to a section of Boston know for its medical facilities.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Sweetgreen is planning to open in the city's Longwood area, moving into the space on Longwood Avenue that had been home to a location of Pret A Manger. At least one job post within the Sweetgreen site confirms that it is indeed coming to Longwood Avenue, though no specific opening date has been given as of yet.

The London-based Pret A Manger chain closed all of its Boston locations--including the shop on Longwood Avenue--last summer.

The address for the new location of Sweetgreen in the Longwood area is 360 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.sweetgreen.com

[October 11 update: A press release states that Sweetgreen at Longwood opens on October 12, and with every meal sold on opening day, the restaurant will donate a meal to local nonprofit About Fresh to feed food-insecure families and individuals in the Boston area.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Pokeworks Is Opening in Boston's Longwood Area

A group of dining spots featuring a couple of increasingly-trendy food items is opening another Boston-area location, with this one coming to a section of the city known for its medical facilities.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the City of Boston website, Pokeworks is planning to open in the Longwood section of Boston, moving into a space on Brookline Avenue. Based on its other locations, the proposed eatery would likely feature poke (a Hawaiian raw fish salad) as well as sushi burritos, and it would join existing locations in Somerville's Davis Square and Cambridge's Harvard Square, along with an outlet that will be opening at Arsenal Yards in Watertown.

The address for this new dining spot in Boston's Longwood area is: Pokeworks, 425 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for Pokeworks can be found at https://www.pokeworks.com/

[January 28, 2020 update: A Facebook events page indicates that the Longwood location of Pokeworks is now open, and that its grand opening is slated to take place on February 7.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Sami's in Boston's Longwood Medical Area Has Closed Again

by Marc Hurwitz

A landmark food trailer that closed for a couple of years earlier in the decade has closed once again.

According to a source within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Sami's in Boston's Longwood medical area has closed, with a Facebook post from the place confirming this, saying "It pains me to say this which is why it's taken me so long to post... We are closed, indefinitely. Mom (Amy) and I are heartbroken about this. We feel terrible that we weren't able to give you all any notice either. I don't even know what to say here... We love you all like family and will miss you so much. Jou-jou" A note within the comments section of the post says that "there's a teeny bit of chance" of it being able to reopen, but it "requires lots of fundraising and orchestrating."

In 2012, the Sami's food cart had to close and was facing the possibility of losing its home because it apparently needed to abide by the same codes as brick-and-mortar structures since it did not have wheels. It returned, however, in 2014 and has been open ever since.

Sami's first opened in the Longwood area in 1979, featuring such items as falafel, hummus, lamb gyros, kebab wraps, and chicken shawarma.

[Earlier Articles]
Sami's May Lose Its Home in Boston's Longwood Medical Area
Sami's Has Reopened in Boston's Longwood Medical Area

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Noodles King Has Opened at the Longwood Galleria in Boston

by Marc Hurwitz

A collection of shops and eateries in Boston's Longwood medical area is now home to a new dining spot, and this one focuses on a food item that is becoming increasingly popular in the local area.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Noodles King is now open at the food court within the Longwood Galleria, with the place serving hand-pulled noodles along with some other Chinese dishes. The post mentions that the new eatery is run by the same people behind Dragon Bowl, a Chinese and Japanese spot that is also located in the food court.

Hand-pulled noodles have become hot in the Greater Boston area over the past several years, with such places as Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe in Boston and Woburn, Chili Squared in Quincy, Home Taste in Watertown and Arlington, and others offering the dish.

The Longwood Galleria food court can be found at the intersection of Longwood Avenue and Brookline Avenue.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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Bon Me Plans to Open in Boston's Longwood Area

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a group of Vietnamese food trucks and brick-and-mortar eateries will expand once again, and the next restaurant will be in one of Boston's main medical areas.

According to a source, Bon Me is looking to open on Brookline Avenue in the Longwood area of the city, with the address given indicating that it would be located just west of the Longwood Avenue intersection. A public hearing notice that was sent shows that the proposed spot would be on the ground floor of one of the buildings near the intersection and that it would include a seasonal patio. The hearing on the new location of Bon Me is expected to take place on February 21, so stay tuned for updates.

Bon Me currently has a number of food trucks and carts in and around Boston, and it also has brick-and-mortar restaurants at Boston Public Market, Boston's Back Bay and Fort Point, Cambridge's Fresh Pond and Kendall Square as well as East Cambridge, and Chestnut Square in Chestnut Hill. (Another outlet is on its way to the Smith Center in Cambridge's Harvard Square, too.)

The address for the proposed location of Bon Me in the Longwood medical area is 415-435 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for Bon Me can be found at http://www.bonmetruck.com/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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Clover to Open in the Longwood Section of Boston

The people behind a local group of vegetarian food trucks and brick-and-mortar dining spots will soon be expanding once again, this time opening a shop in an area of Boston known for its medical facilities

Eater Boston is reporting that Clover is planning to open in the Longwood section of the city, moving into a space on Longwood Avenue sometime in June if all goes as planned. Once it opens, it will join other brick-and-mortar locations in Boston's Downtown Crossing, Cambridge's Central Square, Inman Square, Harvard Square, and Kendall Square, and in Brookline and Burlington--along with a number of food trucks set up in the region as well.

The address for the upcoming location of Clover in the Longwood area of Boston is 360 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for all of its restaurants and food trucks can be found at http://www.cloverfoodlab.com/

[July 15 update: A new post from Eater Boston mentions that the Longwood location of Clover plans to open July 21.]

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Boston Cream Pie Company Opens at the Longwood Galleria in Boston

A collection of shops and eateries in Boston's Longwood medical area is now home to a new spot, and this one focuses on a local favorite.

Eater Boston is reporting that Boston Cream Pie Company has opened a kiosk at the food court within the Longwood Galleria on Brookline Avenue, with the place offering traditional Boston cream pies (sponge cake filled with cream and covered with chocolate) along with other takes on the treat, including pies topped with white chocolate, heath bars, sprinkles, Oreo cookies, and more. An earlier Facebook post mentions that the business--which was established in 2014--had holiday locations at the Hanover Mall and at the Arsenal Project in Watertown, but those shut down late last month. (It also has a vending tricycle on the Rose Kennedy Greenway in downtown Boston during the warmer months.)

The Longwood Galleria's food court is home to such dining spots as Beantown Burrito, Bourbon Street Cafe, Dragon Bowl, and Sakura Japan.

The website for Boston Cream Pie Company can be found at http://eatbcpc.com/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Great Desserts from Boston-Area Spots]

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Pret a Manger to Open in Boston's Longwood Area

It looks like a London-based chain of sandwich shops is going to be expanding further into Boston, with a new one being planned for the Longwood Medical area of the city.

According to a Licensing Board page within the City of Boston website, Pret a Manger is looking to open at the Longwood Center at the corner of Brookline Avenue and Longwood Avenue, with the eatery having an indoor dining area on the ground floor of the building as well as a seasonal outdoor patio. Once it opens, the new location of Pret will join others in Boston's Financial District (Arch Street, Federal Street, Franklin Street, and State Street) and in the Back Bay (Boylston Street).

As mentioned earlier, it appears that the Longwood Center will also become home to a new location of b.good as well (that spot hopes to open later this summer).

[September 14 update: Eater Boston mentions that the new Pret a Manger in the Longwood area has its official opening on Friday, September 18, with "Guinea Pig Day" (its soft opening) being on Thursday, September 17.]

The address for this upcoming sandwich shop in the Longwood section of Boston is: Pret a Manger, 354-364 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.pret.com/us/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Sandwiches from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Elsewhere in New England]

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Chef's Playground, Renovated Food Court Open at Boston Children's Hospital

The food court at a local hospital has been revamped in a big way, with new restaurants and more coming to the space.

The Boston Globe is reporting that the new food court--which includes a feature called Chef's Playground--is now open within Boston Children's Hospital on Longwood Avenue, with the $11 million renovation of the old cafeteria including dining spots such as Regina's Pizza and Starbucks and a play area for children with coloring stations and interactive screens on the walls, The article mentions that celebrity and local chefs such as Tiffani Faison of Sweet Cheeks and Rachel Klein of Liquid Art House will be brought in to cook meals for patrons, and there will also be a "Parent's Night Out" with families of children who are patients having private five-course meals created by guest chefs.

More on the revamped food court and Chef's Playground can be found at the link below:

http://www.isgenuity.com/cafeteria-boston-childrens-hospital/

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b.good to Open in Boston's Longwood Area

Last fall we reported that a small local chain of restaurants featuring "real" fast food was making plans to further expand through the Boston area, with one new shop coming to the Longwood medical area of the city. Now we have learned exactly where it will be--and when it plans to open.

According to a Twitter post from @BostonTweet, b.good is going to be opening at the Longwood Center at the corner of Brookline Avenue and Longwood Avenue, with the photo showing that it will be opening sometime this summer. This is one of two locations coming to Boston over the summer, with another one on the way to the city's Seaport District as well (it is not known which shop might open first at this point in time).

[September 14 update: Eater Boston states that the new b.good at the Longwood Center is now open.]

Other locations of b.good can currently be found in Boston's Financial District, Downtown Crossing, the Back Bay, Harvard Square in Cambridge, Bedford, Burlington, Dedham, Hingham, and Newton.

The address for this new dining spot in the Longwood medical area is: b.good, 354-364 Longwood Avenue (Longwood Center), Boston, MA, 02215. The website for the chain is at http://www.bgood.com/

[Earlier Article]
b.good to Open in Newton; Waterfront and Longwood Medical Area Locations Also in the Works

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Caffe Nero to Open in Boston's Fort Point, Longwood Neighborhoods

A chain of Italian-style coffee shops based in Europe is continuing its expansion plans in the Boston area, with two more now in the works.

A Twitter post from @FortPointer confirms earlier some rumors, that Caffe Nero is planning to open new shops in the city's Fort Point neighborhood as well as the Longwood area. It is not yet known exactly where either location will be, though @FortPointer says that the one in Fort Point will be its largest in Boston, possibly at more than 3,000 square feet in size. It appears that more information on one or both of the new locations could be coming out next week.

Currently, Caffe Nero can be found in Downtown Crossing and Jamaica Plain, with another one slated for the South End; @FortPointer mentions that the Longwood shop will apparently open first, followed by the one in the South End, then Fort Point.

[January 26, 2015 update: A new Twitter post from @FortPointer gives the address for the Caffe Nero shop coming to Fort Point--it will be at 368 Congress Street. (The post also says that this one will be Nero's largest shop in the United States.)]

[March 6, 2015 update: A Licensing Board page within the City of Boston website gives the address for the Caffe Nero shop coming to the Longwood area--it will be at 354-364 Longwood Avenue.]

[April 30, 2015 update: Eater Boston states that the Longwood location of Caffe Nero is now open.]

The website for Caffe Nero can be found at http://www.caffenero.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Sami's Has Reopened in Boston's Longwood Medical Area

A Middle Eastern food trailer in Boston's Longwood Medical Area that closed a couple of years ago has returned.

According to a couple of posters on the Chowhound site, Sami's is open once again on Avenue Louis Pasteur, with one of the posters saying that the place is "as good as before" though "they are a bit understaffed right now." In 2012, the food cart had to close and was facing the possibility of losing its home because it apparently needed to abide by the same codes as brick-and-mortar structures since it did not have wheels. Because of this, Sami's had to look at installing plumbing or else it would no longer be able to operate. (There is no word on the outcome of this.)

Sami's first opened in the Longwood area approximately 35 years ago, featuring such items as Greek salads, hummus, falafel, lamb gyros, kebab wraps, and chicken shawarma.

[Earlier Article]
Sami's May Lose Its Home in Boston's Longwood Medical Area

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Sami's May Lose Its Home in Boston's Longwood Medical Area

It looks like a Middle Eastern food trailer that has been located in Boston's Longwood Medical Area for more than 30 years is about to lose its home, and it is currently looking for a new location.

A note within the ipetitions.com site indicates that Sami's is "no longer welcome" in their current location at 107 Avenue Louis Pasteur, and is now looking to find a new space to set up their trailer somewhere in the general area. A poster on the Chowhound site mentions that Sami's will be closing on May 11, and that "apparently whoever owns their little corner wants the space back," though no specifics at either the petition page or Chowhound have been given at this point in time.

The petition is not set up to keep Sami's at their current spot; it has been put into place to help find a new home for the eatery.

[May 14 update: The Harvard Crimson reports that the reason for Sami's problems stem from Boston inspectors stating that the food stand has to abide by the same codes as brick-and-mortar structures because it doesn't have wheels. Therefore, Sami's needs to install plumbing or else it will have to close down. The article does mention that the petition includes raising money via donations for a food truck that the folks behind Sami's would look to buy and set up on public property. One further note: Sami's has been given extra time to stay open--30 days--after the owners went to City Hall to ask for a reprieve. (Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.)]

Sami's first set up its trailer in the Longwood area in 1979, and has been at its current spot for the past 16 years. Some of the food items available include Greek salads, hummus, falafel, chicken shawarma, kebab wraps, lamb gyros, and more.

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Clover Food Lab Adds New Trucks to Longwood and BU Areas

The people behind three vegetarian food trucks (and a bricks-and-mortar restaurant) in the Boston area have just added two new trucks, with these two being just west of downtown Boston.

According to the Chowder blog of Boston Magazine, Clover Food Lab now has trucks at the Longwood Medical Center and at Boston University. These two join existing trucks at MIT in Cambridge, City Hall Plaza in downtown Boston, and Dewey Square, as well as a permanent restaurant in Harvard Square. Another truck can be found during the warmer months at the SoWa market in Boston's South End, and another new restaurant--and future headquarters for Clover--is coming to Cambridge's Inman Square area soon.

The Longwood and BU trucks can be found at Blackfan Street and the Boston University Bridge, respectively.

The website for Clover is at http://www.cloverfoodlab.com/

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Chutney's, Sepal, Sarku Japan Coming to the Longwood Galleria

A collections of shops in the heart of Boston's Longwood medical area is soon going to home to three new restaurants, and all of them have names that may be familiar to some.

According to the Longwood Galleria's directory, Chutney's, Sepal, and Sarku Japan are headed to the food court at the galleria, though there do not appear to be any specific opening dates for the eateries. Chutney's is an Indian restaurant that has an existing location in The Garage in Cambridge's Harvard Square, Sepal is a Middle Eastern eatery that has one location at MIT (and it used to have a location in Watertown), and Sarku Japan is a quick-service Japanese restaurant with several locations in the Boston area.

The Longwood Galleria recently saw one of its restaurants shut down, as Sami's Wrap 'n' Roll closed their doors last month.

[December 7 update: According to their Facebook page, Sepal is now open at the Longwood Galleria.]

The address these restaurants (as well as the Longwood Galleria itself) is 350 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

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Sami's Wrap 'n' Roll at the Longwood Galleria Is Closing

A Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dining spot in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston is closing its doors, though its sister restaurants will remain open.

According to a poster on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook page, Sami's Wrap 'n' Roll at the Longwood Galleria food court is going to close on July 15 (a call placed to Sami's has indeed confirmed that it is shutting down). Both the person at Sami's and the Facebook poster mentioned that the Sami's cart at nearby Avenue Louis Pasteur and the Sami's Wrap 'n' Roll location on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain will continue to be in operation.

Since opening about five years ago, Sami's at the Longwood Galleria has featured such Middle Eastern items as falafel, grape leaves, hommous, baba ghanoosh, shawarma, gyros, kafta, kebobs, and more. It has served breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekdays, and breakfast and lunch only on weekends.

The address for this soon-to-close restaurant at the Longwood Galleria is: Sami's Wrap 'n' Roll, 350 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

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