Moldova Restaurant in Newton Is Closing

An award-winning restaurant in Newton that features Eastern European food is shutting down.

According to a source, Moldova Restaurant in the Nonantum section of the city is getting ready to close, with an Instagram post from the Watertown Street spot saying the following:

Dear Valued Customers, It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you that Moldova Restaurant will be closing its doors permanently as of Dec 29th. This decision was not made lightly. Business conditions in 2024 have made it unfeasible to continue operating the restaurant as a business, and as a result we lost our lease. Restoring to normal business operations that makes financial sense is a long journey, and we decided that it's in the best interest of our team and my family to take a step back for now....We invite you to visit us one last time before we close. Thank you once again for the wonderful memories. We will miss you and cherish the time we spent together.

Moldova first opened in 2016, serving traditional dishes found in the country of Moldova and being recognized by a number of publications including Boston Magazine and The Boston Globe over the years.

The address for Moldova Restaurant is 344 Watertown Street, Newton, MA, 02458 Its website can be found at https://www.tastemoldova.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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Nonantum Press Room Is Opening in Newton

A new sandwich shop is on its way to a space a few miles west of Boston.

According to multiple sources, including a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Nonantum Press Room is going to be opening in Newton, moving into a space on Adams Street in the city's Nonantum neighborhood. The Facebook page for the upcoming spot says that it will be a "neighborhood sandwich shop specializing in paninis, elevated sandwiches, soulful soups and crisp salads," while What Now Boston indicates that owner Jim Donovan hopes to open the place sometime in October.

The address for Nonantum Press Room is 191 Adams Street, Newton, MA, 02458. Its website can be found at https://www.nonantumpressroom.com/

[March 5, 2025 update: A poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page mentions that Nonantum Press Room 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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The Dooliner Irish Pub & Restaurant Is Opening in Newton's Nonantum Neighborhood

A new Irish pub is on its way to the western suburbs of Boston, and it will be moving into the space where another dining and drinking spot had been until closing at the start of this year.

According to a source, The Dooliner Irish Pub & Restaurant is planning to open in the Nonantum section of Newton, taking over the former Cafe Martin West Street space. An Instagram page for the upcoming place says it will be a "traditional Irish pub nestled in the heart of Nonantum" and that it hopes to open in March, while a post from the place within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook page indicates that the owner comes from Doolin (which sits on the west coast of Ireland and is known in part for a famous pub called Gus O'Connor's) and it will have traditional shepherd's pie with lamb and will feature live Irish music pending licensing/permitting.

Cafe Martin first opened in early 2022, with the space previously being home to West Street Tavern & Restaurant.

The address for The Dooliner Irish Pub & Restaurant in Nonantum is 7 West Street, Newton, MA, 02458. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/thedooliner/

[March 15 update: All Over Newton mentions that The Dooliner Irish Pub & Restaurant is slated to open today.]

[Earlier Article]
Cafe Martin West Street in Newton's Nonantum Is Closing

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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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Cafe Martin West Street in Newton's Nonantum Is Closing

A neighborhood restaurant in the western suburbs of Boston that debuted early last year is shutting down.

According to a source (Kelley Kassa), Cafe Martin West Street in the Nonantum section of Newton is closing its doors, with a Facebook post from the place saying the following:

As the ole saying goes, all good things must come to an end. We don't like it either but the ever increasing cost of doing business is making it tough to stay open. And in order to stay open, I would have to change the mission & the vision that IS Cafe Martin West Street & that is not something I am willing to compromise. We will be officially closed as of January 1st, 2024....Thank you, we love you & we are so sorry.

Cafe Martin first opened in the former West Street Tavern & Restaurant space in February of 2022, getting its start at a home in Newton that was nicknamed "Cafe Martin" in 2017 and became a place where people could gather together for food, drink, conversation, and support for Adrienne Martin's husband John (a former NESN photographer who was passed away from ALS in 2018) and his family.

The address for Cafe Martin West Street is 7 West Street, Newton, MA, 02458. Its website is at https://www.cafemartinweststreet.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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The Landing Pizza & Kitchen - L'Approdo in Newton's Nonantum Neighborhood Has Closed

A restaurant in Newton that was known for its Neapolitan pizza has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, The Landing Pizza & Kitchen - L'Approdo in Nonantum is no longer in business, as the owner is apparently moving to Italy; a Facebook post from the Adams Street spot says "goodbye to all the friends who have accompanied and supported us in these incredible three and a half years. THANKS and a HUG to everyone. You are FANTASTIC … and you will always remain in my HEART thank you." The Landing first opened in early 2019, with owner Massimo Ottani coming from Latina (between Naples and Rome) and being certified in Neapolitan pizzamaking while also participating in the Pizza World Championship in 2014.

The address for The Landing Pizza & Kitchen - L'Approdo was 223 Adams Street, Newton, MA, 02458.

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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Owners of Mike & Patty's Opening Flourhouse Bakery in Newton's Nonantum Neighborhood

The team behind a pair of breakfast places and sandwich spots in Boston and Somerville will be opening a brand new bakery in Newton.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Ania Zaroda and Michael Gurevich of Mike & Patty's in Bay Village and Bow Market in Union Square are planning to open Flourhouse Bakery in Nonantum, moving into a space on Adams Street that had been home to Blacker's Bread Basket. The post says that the upcoming shop will offer a variety of breads, rolls, muffins, cookies, and more, with the plan being to offer delivery and pop-up menus while also having a retail space; the business is currently taking preorders online, with pickups starting on September 23, and an open house is taking place on September 25.

In addition to the two Mike & Patty's locations, Zaroda and Gurevich also run Hot Box, a pizza and roast beef spot at Bow Market, and they are going to be opening two new Mike and Patty's locations at the upcoming High Street Place food hall in Boston and in Jamaica Plain.

The address for Flourhouse Bakery in Nonantum will be 140R Adams Street, Newton, MA, 02458.

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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Cafe Martin Is Opening in the Former West Street Tavern & Restaurant Space in Newton's Nonantum Neighborhood

A new dining spot is on its way to Newton, taking over the space where an Irish restaurant and pub had been until closing earlier this year.

According to a source, Cafe Martin is planning to open in the Nonantum neighborhood of the city, and it will be moving into the former West Street Tavern & Restaurant space just off Route 16. A check on the place indicates that a web page is now up that simply says "Cafe Martin West Street coming soon," and we have been told that the upcoming spot will be very much like that of the old West Street Tavern & Restaurant and that it could be opening in late September.

The West Street Tavern & Restaurant first opened back in 2008.

The address for Cafe Martin is 7 West Street, Newton, MA, 02458. Its website will be at https://www.cafemartinweststreet.com/

[November 15 update: Social media posts from the business indicates that Cafe Martin got its start at a home in Newton that was nicknamed "Cafe Martin" in 2017 and became a place where people could gather together for food, drink, conversation, and support for Adrienne Martin's husband John (a former NESN photographer who was diagnosed with ALS and passed away in 2018) and his family. The post indicates that, as mentioned earlier, few changes will be coming to the former West Street Tavern & Restaurant space other than "A little paint here & there, a few lil upgrades & we are creating the menu to be similar to the previous one!"]

[February 11, 2022 update: According to a post from WBZ CBS Boston, Cafe Martin is now open, with its hours being 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM daily.]

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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West Street Tavern & Restaurant in Newton's Nonantum Neighborhood Has Closed

An Irish pub in the western suburbs that was a popular spot with locals has shut down permanently.

According to several sources, the West Street Tavern & Restaurant in the Nonantum section of Newton appeared to have closed its doors for good, with a message sent from the dining and drinking spot confirming that it has indeed shuttered. The pub was known in part for its pub grub and comfort food items such as steak tips, fish and chips, macaroni and cheese, burgers, tacos, and wings.

The West Street Tavern & Restaurant debuted back in 2008.

The address for the West Street Tavern & Restaurant in Nonantum was 7 West Street, Newton, MA, 02458.

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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Patzcuaro Taqueria & Bar Opens in Former Sangria Space in Newton's Nonantum Neighborhood

A brand new Mexican restaurant has opened in Newton, and replacing a tapas bar that closed a few months ago.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants group page, Patzcuaro Taqueria & Bar is now open on Watertown Street in the city's Nonantum neighborhood, moving into the former Sangria space. Very little is known about the new spot at this point in time (a Yelp reviewer mentions tacos, chips and salsa, and margaritas), so check back for updates once we find out more about what is on its menu.

Sangria closed in late June after being in business for a bit more than four years; the space had previously been home to an Italian restaurant called Vecchia Roma.

The address for Patzcuaro Taqueria & Bar is 398 Watertown Street, Newton, MA, 02458.

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 Landing - L'approdo - Pizza & Kitchen Opens in the Nonantum Section of Newton

by Marc Hurwitz

A new dining spot has come to a section of Newton known in part for its Italian heritage, and it looks like its focus is on Neapolitan pizza.

According to an article from the Patch, The Landing - L'approdo - Pizza & Kitchen is now open in Nonantum, with owner Massimo Ottani coming from Latina (between Naples and Rome) and being certified in Neapolitan pizzamaking while also participating in the Pizza World Championship in 2014. The website for The Landing shows such items as pizza, calzones, focaccia, panzerotti, and salads, with pizza options including margherita, hot soppressata, four cheese, and anchovy and olives.

The address for this new restaurant in Nonantum is: The Landing - L'approdo - Pizza & Kitchen, 223 Adams Street, Newton, MA, 02458. Its website can be found at http://www.thelandingpizza.com/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Fifteen Pizzas in the Boston Area]

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Olivia's Bistro Is Opening in the Nonantum Section of Newton

An Italian restaurant is on its way to a Newton neighborhood, and it looks like it may have a connection to a nearby pub.

According to a Craigslist job post, Olivia's Bistro is planning to open on Adams Street in Nonantum, with the address indicating that it will move into the space at the corner of Watertown Street where Ginger Root had been. An earlier Patch article had mentioned that the manager of the eatery will be Brian O'Toole and the parent company is Roche Inc.; a check on the latter via the opencorporates.com site shows that the person behind the restaurant is Jessica Roche, who is presumably the same Jessica Roche who is one of the owners of the nearby West Street Tavern & Restaurant, according to a Facebook post.

The Craigslist post says that Olivia's Bistro will offer antipasti, insalate, house-made pasta, grilled meats and fish, and Neapolitan wood-fired pizza.

The address for this new Italian dining spot in Nonantum is: Olivia's Bistro, 136 Adams Street, Newton, MA, 02458. Its website will be at http://oliviasbistronewton.com/

[January 1, 2018 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that Olivia's Bistro has its grand opening on Tuesday, January 2.]

[January 2, 2018 update: Eater Boston confirms that Olivia's Bistro--which opens today--indeed has a connection to the nearby West Street Tavern, as West Street owner Karl Roche is behind the place along with Dessy Rushe, who was a longtime general manager at The Burren in Somerville. (Eater also says that chef John Hanlon of Alta Strada is involved as well.)]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pizzas in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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KoKo Bakery Has Opened in Newton

A brand new bakery has come to the western suburbs of Boston, and the person behind it comes from some well-known local spots.

Eater Boston is reporting (via Hungry Onion) that KoKo Bakery is now open in Newton, moving into a space on California Street in the Nonantum area of the city by the Watertown line. The website for the bakery notes that founder/owner Nobuko Maruyama comes from such places as Japonaise Bakery, the Boston Harbor Hotel, and The Langham Hotel, along with King Arthur in Vermont, and she also worked at the MIT catering department and several independent bakers in the local area.

KoKo Bakery offers muffins, scones, brownies, cakes, donuts, sandwiches, coffee, tea, and more, and it also features such breads as German rye, baguettes, whole wheat, white toasting bread, and French country bread.

The address for this new bakery on the Newton/Watertown line is 232L California Street, Newton, MA, 02458. Its website can be found at http://www.kokobread.com/

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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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Shaking Crab Opens in Former Francesca Pizzeria Space in Newton

A Cajun seafood place has quietly opened up west of Boston, moving into the space where a neighborhood Italian restaurant had been for approximately 30 years.

According to a poster on the Chowhound site, the Shaking Crab is now open in Newton, taking over the former Francesca Pizzeria spot on Adams Street in the Nonantum section of the city. The website for the eatery--which is still under construction--says that it is "introducing New Orleans flavors to the heart of Newton," while the Yelp page for the place shows such items as crab legs, crawfish, a shrimp and clam combo, wings, Cajun fries, collard greens, and more on the menu.

Francesca Pizzeria first opened in Nonantum in the mid-1980s, offering Italian-American dishes and pizza in a homey environment.

The address for this new Cajun seafood restaurant is: Shaking Crab, 203 Adams Street, Newton, MA, 02458. Its website can be found at http://shakingcrabnewton.com/

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Vecchia Roma in Newton Has Closed; Sangria Is Replacing It

An Italian restaurant west of Boston that has been picked as a "best of" a couple of times by our sister site has closed, and a new dining spot is in the process of moving in.

According to several sources, Vecchia Roma in the Nonantum section of Newton is no longer in operation, with a new owner taking over the Watertown Street space and opening a tapas spot called Sangria, which could be fully up and running by later this month. It is not known for sure why Vecchia Roma closed--or exactly when it closed--though it appears that the restaurant may have shut down sometime this week.

Vecchia Roma was featured on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site as a place to go to for authentic Italian fare, with many items being influenced by dishes found in the Abruzzi region of Italy--and the place was awarded "best Italian restaurant" by the site in both 2011 and 2013. The review can be found at the link below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/VecchiaRoma.html

The address for the now-closed Vecchia Roma (and upcoming Sangria) is 398 Watertown Street, Newton, MA, 02458.

[January 7, 2015 update: According to a poster on Chowhound, Sangria is now open, and based on a chat with the owner earlier as well as information from sources, it appears that the new restaurant is an upscale but casual spot with a mix of Spanish and Italian tapas options.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pasta Dishes from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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Maria Di Napoli Ristorante in Nonantum to Reopen

An Italian restaurant in the Nonantum section of Newton that closed several months ago is going to be reopening under new ownership.

According to posts on their Facebook page, Maria Di Napoli on Watertown Street is opening up once again, though there is currently no timeline on when the place might be up and running again. Based on posts on their page, it appears that their original pizza recipe will remain intact, while the eatery will continue to offer Italian dishes, and the interior of the place will have updates made to it. A post from a couple of weeks back says that the new owners are "working on some difficulties that were encountered...but we're doing the best we can to open asap!" (As soon as we receive more updates, we will post them here.)

[June 12 update: According to a more recent post on their Facebook page, Maria Di Napoli is hoping that they can open by the end of this month, though nothing is definite at this point.]

[October 1 update: A couple of recent notes on its Facebook page indicates that Maria Di Napoli is now hoping to reopen in February of 2014.]

Maria Di Napoli is a dining spot that our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) has featured as an under-the-radar place to go to for their pizza and pasta dishes. A review of the eatery can be found at the link below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/MariaDiNapoli.html

The address for this soon-to-reopen restaurant in Nonantum is: Maria Di Napoli, 344 Watertown Street, Newton, MA, 02458. Their Facebook page can be found at http://www.mariadinapoli.com/

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Nudo Gelateria Opening in Newton

It looks like a new place that features a wide variety of gelato will soon be opening in Newton.

An email sent to us indicates that Nudo Gelateria will be opening on Watertown Street (in the old Bobalicious space) in the Nonantum neighborhood of the city, with a planned opening for June 4. The email mentions that in addition to 24 different flavors of gelato, Nudo Gelateria will also feature espresso, cappuccino, affogato, gelato shakes, frozen Italian lemonade, salads, panini, and pastries.

[June 2 update: A poster on Chowhound says that there is a sign on the storefront saying that Nudo Gelateria will indeed be opening on Saturday, June 4.]

The address for Nudo Gelateria is: Nudo Gelateria, 308 Watertown Street, Newton, MA, 02458.

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