The Biltmore Bar & Grille in Newton Upper Falls Is Reopening as The Biltmore Tavern

A longtime dining and drinking spot in the western suburbs of Boston that was a former speakeasy (and an industry haunt) is getting ready to open back up with new owners, a new look, and a slightly different name after shutting down earlier this year.

According to a Bluesky post from @jeremyk.bsky.social, The Biltmore Bar & Grille in Newton Upper Falls is planning to reopen on July 27 as The Biltmore Tavern, with an earlier Newton Beacon article mentioning that the reborn restaurant and bar has been taken over by the people behind Blue on Highland in Needham. The article states that the changes are "predominantly aesthetic" and that the offerings will be upscale tavern food including pizza, burgers, salads, and a number of local beers on tap.

The Biltmore Bar & Grille shuttered back in early February.

The address for The Biltmore Tavern is 1205 Chestnut Street, Newton, MA, 02464. Its website can be found at https://biltmoretavern.com/

[August 10 update: A check on the place indicates that The Biltmore Tavern is now open.]

(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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Mick Morgan's in Newton to Become Grande Kitchen + Bar

It looks like a suburban Irish pub will soon be undergoing some changes.

According to a Twitter post from Boston Herald writer @DGoodison, the people behind Mick Morgan's in Newton Upper Falls are requesting a name change to Grande Kitchen + Bar, with a hearing notice showing that the city of Newton will be looking into the request on April 11. At this point in time, no information has been given on the extent of changes that would be made to switch Mick Morgan's over to Grande Kitchen + Bar, and it is not known if the Sharon location of the pub would also be undergoing changes; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

Mick Morgan's first opened in Newton in late 2009, with the Sharon location debuting in the spring of 2011.

The address for Mick Morgan's (and the proposed Grande Kitchen + Bar) is 118 Needham Street, Newton, MA, 02464. The website for both locations can be found at http://www.mickmorgans.com/

[April 11 update: Based on a note on its website, it appears that the Newton location of Mick Morgan's is now closed and will remain so until it reopens presumably as Grande Kitchen + Bar.]

[June 19 update: A job post within the Craigslist site indicates that Grande Kitchen + Bar plans to open on Thursday, June 22, and that it will be a New American restaurant.]

[June 22 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that Grande Kitchen + Bar is now open.]

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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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Pizzapalooza in Newton Has Closed; New England Soup Factory to Expand into Their Space

A restaurant in Newton that featured Sicilian-style and "palooza-style" pizza has closed, and a popular soup spot is going to be expanding into the vacated space.

The Newton Patch is reporting that Pizzapalooza on Needham Street is now shuttered, and that the adjacent New England Soup Factory will be taking over the space, allowing them to enlarge their restaurant. (The article mentions that Pizzapalooza, which had shut down their Hingham location last summer, closed their remaining location in Newton last month.) The expanded space will allow the New England Soup Factory to install a rotisserie oven, so expect marinated chicken to be added to the menu once the expansion is completed, according to the Patch. It appears that other items will be added as well, including "fresh and funky" dishes along with meals that have a home-cooked feel.

[December 31 update: A note sent to us from the restaurant indicates that New England Soup Factory has opened the rotisserie in the new space in Newton, which is connected to their original space. Offerings include an all-natural apple brined chicken that comes from a family farm in Pennsylvania and is marinated for 24 hours before spitting it on the rotisserie.]

The New England Soup Factory, which has been on Needham Street for 15 years, also has a location on Brookline Place in Brookline Village.

The address of the former Pizzapalooza space that the New England Soup Factory is expanding into is 244 Needham Street, Newton, MA, 02464.

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Jonathan's Bar and Grille Is Opening in Newton

It looks like a moderately upscale restaurant featuring a mix of New American and traditional American fare will be opening on a busy road near the Newton/Needham border.

Based on information from their Facebook page as well as a job post on the Craigslist site and a poster on Chowhound, Jonathan's Bar & Grille plans to open on Needham Street in the space where a location of Papa Gino's used to be (next to Filene's Basement and a couple of blocks north of Oak Street). The restaurant will have seating for 90 and include a bar, with lunch and dinner offered Monday through Saturday and brunch and dinner on Sundays. It appears that the menu at Jonathan's Bar & Grille may include Italian items, seafood, steak, burgers, sandwiches, and pizza, according to their Facebook page

Expect Jonathan's to open sometime this fall.

[May 7, 2012 update: According to their Facebook page, Jonathan's Bar & Grille is now open.]

The address for this new restaurant and bar in Newton is: Jonathan's Bar & Grille, 215 Needham Street, Newton, MA, 02459. Their Facebook page can be found at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jonathans-Bar-Grille/136900929729755

[January 20, 2012 update: The website for Jonathan's is now up--it can be found at http://jonathansbarandgrille.com/ The site mentions that the dining spot will be "a Back Bay style restaurant…without the hassle of going into the city" and that it will have lunch, dinner, and late night menus along with a live jazz brunch on Sundays.]

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The Farragut House in South Boston to Be Taken Over by The Biltmore in Newton

A neighborhood Irish pub and eatery in South Boston has been purchased by an owner of a restaurant and tavern in Newton, and it looks like the new place will be a lot like the Newton spot.

According to The Boston Herald, The Farragut House on P Street in the City Point section of Southie was bought by one of the owners of The Biltmore Bar and Grille on Chestnut Street in Newton Upper Falls. The article states that the new spot will get a name change and a menu that looks more like that of The Biltmore, which is a slightly more upscale restaurant than The Farragut House. The co-owner of the as-of-yet-unnamed restaurant mentions that while its menu may be more higher-level, he does want the place to remain a neighborhood-type spot.

[December 29 update: An email from Goldstein Pierce has indicated that the Farragut House is now closed.]

Both The Farragut House and The Biltmore have been reviewed on the Boston's Hidden Restaurant's blog (our sister site). Links to the reviews can be found below.

A Couple of Dinners at the Farragut House, South Boston

Nice Meal at The Biltmore, Newton

For more information on the sale of the Farragut House in South Boston, please go to the Boston Herald link below.

Farragut House getting an overhaul

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Mick Morgan's Opens in Newton

A new Irish pub and restaurant has opened in Newton, moving into the spot where a Mexican chain used to have a location. Mick Morgan's opened its doors over the past week or so on Needham Street in the Newton Upper Falls section of the city, replacing Acapulco's, which has moved down the road into the former Ground Round space on First Street in Needham. Mick Morgan's looks to have a menu featuring pub grub as well as Irish and American fare, including soups, salads, sandwiches, and a variety of entrees.

The address for this new Irish pub in Newton Upper Falls is: Mick Morgan's, 118 Needham Street, Newton, MA, 02464. The phone number is (617) 795-0136. And the website is at: http://www.mickmorgans.com/

Thanks to posters on the Chowhound site for bringing this restaurant to our attention.

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