Bertucci's Declares Bankruptcy Yet Again, Closes Locations in Braintree, Mansfield, North Andover, Norwood, and Plymouth

A local chain of Italian restaurants has declared bankruptcy once again, and with it, at least five more locations in the region have closed.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page (via the nrn.com website), Bertucci's has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, while also saying that outlets in Braintree, Mansfield, and North Andover have shuttered (we also learned that the Norwood and Plymouth locations closed as well), and this has all been confirmed on the chain's website (all five have been removed from the locations section). The closing of these three Bertucci's means that the only ones left inside Route 495 are in West Roxbury, Newton, Medford, Waltham, Reading, Hingham, Chelmsford, and Framingham.)

As mentioned in an article here, Bertucci's--which had also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2018 and again in 2022--debuted a new quick-service concept called Bertucci's Pronto in downtown Boston this week.

The website for Bertucci's is at https://www.bertuccis.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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Burton's Grill Is Opening in the Former TGI Fridays Space in Mansfield

A small local chain of upscale restaurants is opening a new location southwest of Boston, and it will move into the space where a shrinking national chain of dining spots had once been.

According to a source, Burton's Grill is planning to open in Mansfield, taking over the former TGI Fridays space at Mansfield Crossing by the corner of School Street and Route 140. A check on the Mansfield Crossing website confirms this, showing a "coming soon" page for Burton's, which currently has locations locally in Burlington, Framingham, Hingham, Lynnfield, North Andover, Shrewsbury, and Westford.

The Mansfield location of TGI Fridays closed in early 2024, and only five remain in Massachusetts today--in Boston, Everett, Methuen, Millbury, and Stoughton.

The address for the new location of Burton's Grill at Mansfield Crossing is 280 School Street, Mansfield, MA, 02048. The website for all locations of Burton's can be found at https://burtonsgrill.com/

[November 21 update: According to its social media, Burton's Grill is now open in Mansfield.]

(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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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.)

New Restaurants North and South of Boston: Yella, Cibo Matto Caffe

A couple of restaurants have recently opened north and south of Boston over the past month or so, with one featuring Lebanese cuisine and the other offering Italian fare.

Yella opened in the downtown area of Andover in mid-November, serving a variety of Mediterranean dishes, with an emphasis on Lebanese food. According to the Andover Townsman, Yella, which moved into the spot where the French restaurant Cassis used to be, is open for lunch and dinner, with a brunch featured on Sundays. The article mentions that one of owners of the restaurant used to work at The Catered Affair, a local full-service caterer and event designer that has included clients such as First Lady Barbara Bush and Boston Red Sox owner John Henry. The address for Yella is 16 Post Office Avenue in Andover.

Cibo Matto Caffe opened on Route 106 in Mansfield where Bertucci's used to be (between Route 140 and the town center) in late November, bringing to the community an Italian restaurant that, according to a recent Wicked Local article, is "sophisticated, yet unstuffy." The menu at Cibo Matto Caffe features such dishes as gorgonzola polenta cake, a ham and cheese panino, wild porcini mushroom ravioli, macaroni and cheese, veal picatta, brick oven roasted Atlantic salmon, steak frites, and a variety of pizzas. The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. The address for Cibo Matto Caffe is 254 Chauncy Street (Route 106) in Mansfield.

Thanks to TableCritic and Chowhound for bringing these two restaurants to our attention.

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Friendly's Express Coming to Mansfield

A new chain of fast casual restaurants from Friendly's debuts in Mansfield this week, with an emphasis on takeout food and fast service.

According to the Boston Globe, Wilbraham-based Friendly Ice Cream Corporation is opening Friendly's Express in Mansfield tomorrow (Wednesday, August 5), with the new spot featuring counter service and a smaller space than the original Friendly's restaurants. The Globe mentions that Friendly's Express will have a more limited menu, with items such as salads, sandwiches, and, of course, ice cream. All items on the menu at Friendly's Express will be under $10. The Boston Globe also reports that another Express will open sometime this year in either Boston or Providence, with five more on the way to the region in 2010.

The new Friendly's Express will be located in the Mansfield Marketplace on School Street, which is south of Mansfield Center and just west of Route 140 (near the intersection of Routes 140 and 495).

To read more about the opening of Friendly's Express in Mansfield, please go to the Boston Globe link below:

Friendly’s debuts smaller restaurant with limited menu

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