Sora Japan Is Opening in the Former Wang's Chinese Cuisine Space in Somerville's Magoun Square

It looks like a new Japanese restaurant may be on its way to Somerville, moving into the space where a Chinese dining spot had once been.

According to a source, Sora Japan is looking to open in the city's Magoun Square area, moving into the space on Broadway where Wang's Chinese Cuisine has been until closing in 2022. A look at a preliminary menu for the proposed eatery indicates that it plans to offer sushi, teriyaki dishes, and bento boxes, while a Somerville hearing page mentions that it could have seating for 12 inside and would be open for lunch and dinner daily.

The address for the Sora Japan is 509 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02145. Its website can be found at https://www.sorajapanusa.com/

[December 27 update: According to its website, Sora Japan is now open in Somerville.]

(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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Pennypacker's in Somerville's Magoun Square Has Closed

A pair of dining spots known in part for their pork sandwiches is now down to one.

According to Patrick Maguire, who posted about it (via Mass Live) on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Pennypacker's in the Magoun Square section of Somerville is no longer in operation, with an Instagram post from the business from last weekend saying the following:

This will be the last weekend ever for our Somerville store. After 11 years in #magounsquare #somerville we are shutting the doors. Going forward you can get all of your #porchetta needs @highstreetplace Monday-Saturday, from our food truck, or catering. We look forward to seeing you in boston.

The Somerville location of Pennypacker's first opened in 2013, a couple of years after it debuted a food truck in Boston's Seaport District, while its High Street Place outlet debuted in 2022. Its signature item is a slow-roasted porchetta sandwich.

The address for the now-closed Pennypacker's in Somerville was 514C Medford Street, Somerville, MA, 02145. Its website can be found at https://pennypackersfinefoods.com/

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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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Fire Hits Wang's Chinese Cuisine Space in Somerville's Magoun Square

A three-alarm fire ripped through a restaurant space in Somerville yesterday.

According to a source (and confirmed by The Somerville Times), a blaze broke out on Broadway in Magoun Square Monday evening, causing damage to the space that has been home to Wang's Chinese Cuisine. As of this morning, the cause of the fire is unknown while the space was vacant at the time with no injuries reported.

Multiple sources have told us over the past several weeks that Wang's had closed permanently, though we were unable to get confirmation on this. The restaurant has been known in part for its housemade dumplings.

The address of the Wang's space is 509 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02145.

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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PaPa Sushi Is Opening in the former Dark Horse Public House Space in Somerville's Magoun Square

A new Japanese restaurant is on its way to Somerville, and it will take over part of the space where a bar had been.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, a sign is now up for PaPa Sushi, which is moving into the space in Magoun Square where The Dark Horse Public House had been. An earlier licensing commission page mentions that the upcoming dining spot will apparently take over part of the Dark House space, as the space will be divided by the owner and will only be leasing one part of it.

The Dark Horse Public House closed last spring after approximately four years in business; previously, the space had been home to On the Hill Tavern.

The address for PaPa Sushi is 499 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02145. Its website can be found at http://www.papasushiboston.com/

[May 12 update: According to its website, PaPa Sushi is now open.]

[Earlier Article]
The Dark Horse Public House in Somerville's Magoun Square Is Closing

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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Pini's Pizzeria in Somerville Is Moving to Medford, Taking Over the Former Espresso Pizza Space

A couple of days ago, it was reported that a popular pizzeria in Medford had shut down. Now we have learned that another pizza spot in Somerville will be making a move--and it will be taking over the Medford space.

According to a poster within the Friends Of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Pini's Pizzeria on Broadway in Somerville's Magoun Square is losing its space, but another post (that appears to have now been deleted) within the Winter Hill Neighborhood Association Facebook group page indicated that Pini's will move into the former Espresso Pizza space on Boston Avenue in Medford. Espresso shut down last weekend, leading to speculation as to what might take over its space, and it now appears that Pini's will indeed be opening there.

The address for Pini's Somerville space is 511 Broadway while the former Espresso space in Medford is 336 Boston Avenue. (It appears that Pini's will be open in its Somerville space until January 1.)

[January 24, 2022 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that Pini's Pizzeria is now open in its new home in Medford.]

[Earlier Article]
Espresso Pizza in Medford Has Closed

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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Premiere on Broadway Is Opening in Somerville

A new restaurant is on its way to Somerville, and it will be moving into a new condo development near the Medford line. 

According to multiple sources, Premiere on Broadway (which also seems to go by the name "Premiere Broadway") is planning to open in Magoun Square, with the address indicating that it will reside within the 519 on Broadway development near the corner of Broadway and Medford Street. The Facebook page for the restaurant mentions that it will offer Italian-American food along with cocktails, live music, and dancing, and it looks like it will reside in a ground-floor space below the condos. If all goes as planned, Premiere on Broadway could be opening later this spring.

The address for Premiere on Broadway is 523 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02145. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/PremiereBroadway

[August 9 update: According to its Facebook page, Premiere on Broadway has opened.]

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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The Dark Horse Public House in Somerville's Magoun Square Is Closing

A Somerville bar that replaced another drinking spot a few years ago is shutting down.

According to multiple sources, including a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, The Dark Horse Public House in Magoun Square is closing its doors and is currently selling off various items based on its Facebook page. A comment within the page of the Broadway bar tells a poster that "We are [shuttering], unfortunately" while going on to say that "A raised rent sinks all ships."

The Dark Horse Public House replaced On the Hill Tavern back in 2017.

The address for The Dark Horse Public House is 499 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02145.

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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Pennypacker's in Somerville's Magoun Square Is Closing

A Somerville dining spot known in part for a specialty sandwich is closing, though a new location will soon be coming to Boston.

Eater Boston is reporting (via an Instagram post from the business) that Pennypacker's will close its retail brick-and-mortar shop in Magoun Square on March 15, with the Medford Street location not entirely going away, as it will remain a base for its food truck and catering operation. In addition, as mentioned in an earlier article, a new Pennypacker's will be opening within the High Street Place food hall in downtown Boston sometime this spring.

Pennypacker's first opened in Magoun Square in the fall of 2013, offering a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches, including its popular porchetta sandwich. (Its food truck debuted in 2011.)

The address for the soon-to-close Pennypacker's restaurant in Magoun Square is 514C Medford Street, Somerville, MA, 02145. The website for the business is at http://pennypackersfinefoods.com/

[Earlier Article]
High Street Place Food Hall Being Planned for Downtown Boston

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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Tasty Mo:Mo: Moves to Larger Space in Somerville's Magoun Square

A tiny Somerville restaurant that has gotten high marks since opening a few years ago has gotten a little bigger, as the place has moved to a new location across the street.

A check on the restaurant this week indicates that Tasty Mo:Mo: is now housed in a bigger location in Magoun Square, with the new space having approximately double the capacity of the old, which had mainly been considered a takeout spot because of its small size. A check on the menu shows that it continues to offer such Nepali dishes as steamed and deep-fried momos, pan-fried dumplings, aloo dum, spicy fried chicken, chow mein, and fried rice.

Tasty Mo:Mo: first opened in the spring of 2015 and has been a fave of restaurant critics and locals alike, with Boston's Hidden Restaurants (which is connected to this site) featuring it as an under-the-radar dining spot. A link to the review can be found below:

https://www.hiddenboston.com/TastyMoMo.html

The old address for Tasty Mo:Mo: was 503 Medford Street while the new address is 508 Medford Street. Its website can be found at https://www.tastymomo.com/

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

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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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da Vittorio May Be Opening in Somerville's Magoun Square

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a new restaurant could be coming to the Magoun Square section of Somerville, though very little is known about the place as of yet.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, an application notice is in the window of a furniture store space on Broadway indicating that da Vittorio is seeking a liquor license transfer, with a licensing commission page within the city's website confirming this. The page mentions that the proposed restaurant is looking to acquire the license held by the former Johnny D's in Davis Square, but no specific information on the dining spot has been given.

The address for the proposed da Vittorio is 519 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02145.

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On the Hill Tavern in Somerville's Magoun Square Is Now The Dark Horse Public House

Last year we reported that the person behind an iconic--and now-closed--drinking spot in downtown Boston was taking ownership of a Somerville bar. Now we have learned that the changeover is taking place, complete with a new name for the spot.

According to a tweet from @somervilleguy, On the Hill Tavern in Magoun Square is being rebranded as The Dark Horse Public House, with a Yelp post showing that the sign is now up for the Broadway spot. It is not yet known what kinds of changes have been made to the place, though earlier, we had heard there might not be many changes other than new ownership; the parent company of The Dark Horse Public House is Callan Hospitality Corp., which is led by Patrick Grace of The Littlest Bar, a watering hole on Broad Street in Boston's Financial District that shut down in 2015 to make room for new development. (The Littlest Bar had lost its original home on Province Street in 2006 to make room for development as well.)

The address for The Dark Horse Public House is 499 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02145.

[Earlier Article]
Patrick Grace of The Littlest Bar in Boston to Take Over On the Hill Tavern in Somerville

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

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Somerville Bread Company Moving to Bigger Space Near Union Square

A bread company that opened a retail shop in Somerville early last year is going to be moving to a much larger space not too far away.

Eater Boston is reporting that Somerville Bread Company is moving from its current home on Medford Street in the Magoun Square/Winter Hill area of the city to a space near Union Square that is nearly five times the size of the original. The article says that the extra space will allow the business to expand its wholesale business to local dining spots while also offering more products at markets in the area--and it will be able to expand its bread-making classes as well. No moving date has been given as of yet for Somerville Bread Company, and an exact address has not been given, so stay tuned for updates. (The space where Somerville Bread Company currently resides will become home to Neighborhood Produce, a market that will sell fresh produce along with bread from the bakery.)

Nick Robertson first opened the Somerville Bread Company retail shop in February of 2016 after starting out as a bread company whose products were found at local farmers markets, restaurants, and shops; the address for the original space is 415B Medford Street, Somerville, MA, 02145, while its website is at http://www.somervillebreadcompany.com/

[November 29 update: Eater Boston states that Somerville Bread Company opens its retail operation in its new home at 201 Somerville Avenue tomorrow (Thursday, November 30) and that customers will be able to order via a walk-up bread window that is open Thursday and Friday from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Items from Bakeries and Pastry Shops in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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Patrick Grace of The Littlest Bar in Boston to Take Over On the Hill Tavern in Somerville

The person behind an iconic drinking spot in downtown Boston that closed a year ago is taking ownership of a bar in Somerville.

Eater Boston is reporting that Callan Hospitality Corp., which is led by Patrick Grace of the now-shuttered Littlest Bar on Broad Street in Boston's Financial District is heading up On the Hill Tavern, a Magoun Square sports bar owned by Bob Antonelli, who is "approaching retirement age" and made the decision to sell the Broadway watering hole. The article says that On the Hill will keep its name and concept, with this basically being just an ownership change.

Patrick Grace ran The Littlest Bar until it was forced to close in September of 2015 to make room for new development; this was the second time that the drinking spot had to close, as it had to leave its original home on Province Street in 2006 to make room for condos, moving to its Broad Street home next to The Times bar, which also had to shut down last September. (The people behind The Times are now running Broadside in the former Barney Fanning's space on Broad Street.)

On the Hill Tavern is a neighborhood watering hole that features pub grub, beer, trivia nights, djs, and karaoke. Its address is 499 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02145, while its website can be found at http://www.onthehilltavern.com/

[Earlier Article]
The Littlest Bar and The Times in Boston Being Forced Out to Make Way for Development

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

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Tipping Cow Ice Cream Shop Is Opening in Somerville

A new ice cream shop from a Medford-based business appears to be on its way to Somerville, and it plans to offer "offbeat" options.

Eater Boston is reporting that Tipping Cow is looking to open in the Winter Hill/Magoun Square section of the city, moving into the space on Medford Street where Sammy's Market & Deli had been. The article mentions that the shop could feature such flavors (based on their current offerings) as dark chocolate and sea salt, earl grey and lemon, and sweet corn, with their ice cream being free of additives, preservatives, and extracts.

Tipping Cow first started out two years ago and currently sells their ice cream through places such as Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge, South End Buttery in Boston, and The Spirited Gourmet in Belmont, along with farmers markets at SoWa in Boston, Union Square in Somerville, and in Watertown.

If all goes as planned and Tipping Cow gets its necessary permits, the shop could be opening sometime in November, according to EB.

[May 2, 2016 update: A new post from Eater Boston states that Tipping Cow opens tomorrow (Tuesday, May 3).]

The address for this new ice cream shop in Somerville is: Tipping Cow, 415 Medford Street, Somerville, MA, 02145. Its website can be found at http://www.tippingcowicecream.com/

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Future of Thurston Spa in Somerville Up in the Air After Owner's Death

A sandwich shop in Somerville that has been in business for approximately 60 years is now facing an uncertain future after the death of its owner.

The Somerville Journal is reporting that Jerry LaFee of Thurston Spa on Medford Street passed away last week, leaving behind two surviving daughters and two grandchildren. The article says that the daughters aren't sure at this point in time what they will do with the shop, with one possibility being to sell it to someone who might want to keep it open; one of LaFee's friends says that he would consider purchasing the store and having someone else run it. LaFee bought Thurston Spa about 27 years ago from its original proprietor, according to the Journal.

Thurston Spa is located at the corner of Medford Street and Thurston Street on the outer edge of Magoun Square.

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Tasty Mo:Mo: Is Opening in Somerville

A new eatery is looking to open in Somerville, and the name of the place gives away what it will be serving.

Eater Boston is reporting that Tasty Mo:Mo: is planning on opening in Magoun Square, with the Medford Street dining spot offering momos, which are dumplings found in Tibet and Nepal; the restaurant's Facebook page also mentions that a Nepalese food plate with items such as rice, meat curry, vegetables, chutney, and lentils will be available as well. According to EB, Tasty Mo:Mo: will apparently be a takeout and catering spot at first, but it could become a dine-in restaurant at some point.

The Eater Boston article also says that Tasty Mo:Mo: will donate a dollar for every plate of momos sold to the Food for Education trust, which helps feed children in Nepal.

[March 31, 2015 update: A new article from Eater Boston mentions that Tasty Mo:Mo: will have its grand opening on Sunday (April 5).]

[April 6 update: According to a Facebook post from the restaurant, Tasty Mo:Mo: has soft-opened, with its official opening being tomorrow (Tuesday, April 7).]

The address for this new eatery in Magoun Square is: Tasty Mo:Mo:, 503B Medford Street, Somerville, MA, 02145. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/tastymomo

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