Jimmy's Famous Pizza in North Andover Has Closed

A longtime spot north of Boston for pizza, pasta, and more has shut down.

According to a message from Scott Whitley of Wicked Bites, Jimmy's Famous Pizza in North Andover is no longer in business, with the website for the Osgood Street eatery saying the following:

After 25 incredible years of dough, sauce, and smiles, the time has come for us to hang up our aprons....Since we first opened a quarter-century ago, this shop has been so much more than just a business—it's been our home. We’ve watched your kids grow up, shared in your Friday night traditions, and been honored to be a small part of your lives, one slice at a time. To our loyal customers: Thank you. Your unwavering support through the years has meant the world to us. It has been the greatest honor of our lives to serve this beautiful community and to call North Andover home. We're walking away with full hearts and a lifetime of memories.

Jimmy's Famous Pizza offered such options as pizza, calzones, pasta dishes, subs, burgers, hot dogs, wings, and more.

The address for the now-closed Jimmy's Famous Pizza was 1595 Osgood Street, North Andover, MA, 01845.

(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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Baba Yum Burgers Opens in North Andover

A brand new spot for burgers has opened within an historic area north of Boston.

According to a source, Baba Yum Burgers is now open in North Andover, moving into the Hay Scales Exchange building in the Old Center section of town by the common. The new eatery features smash burgers and fries, and it is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday and lunch on Sunday.

The Hay Scales Building dates back to the 1800s and is one of a number of historic structures in the Old Center area of town.

The address for Baba Yum Burgers is 4 Johnson Street, North Andover, MA, 01845. Its website can be found at https://babayumburgers.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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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/

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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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Harrison's Roast Beef Has Reopened in North Andover

A decades-old roast beef joint north of Boston that shut down in 2023 is back in its old home.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Harrison's is open once again in North Andover, with a Facebook thread from the Chickering Road spot stating that Patrick's North Shore Eatery (which took over the space last year) "went back to Harrison's menu" while also putting rumors to rest about its closing again, saying that "A portion of our building is for lease." Harrison's dates back to 1984, being known mainly for its North Shore-style roast beef sandwiches.

The address for Harrison's is 80 Chickering Road, North Andover, MA, 01845. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/harrisonsroastbeef

[Earlier Article]
Patrick's North Shore Eatery Opens in the Former Harrison's Roast Beef Space in North Andover

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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.)

 

Cava Opens in North Andover

A Washington, D.C.-based group of fast-casual Mediterranean spots has opened its first location in the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to a press release, Cava opens today in North Andover, moving into a space at Eaglewood Shops on Turnpike Street. The new outlet joins others in Boston, Cambridge, Dedham, Framingham, Hanover, Hingham, and Mansfield, and it features customizable bowls and pita pockets.

Cava was first established in 2011.

The address for the North Andover location of Cava is 119 Turnpike Street, North  Andover,  MA, 01845. The website for all locations is at https://cava.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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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.)

 

Patrick's North Shore Eatery Opens in the Former Harrison's Roast Beef Space in North Andover

A new restaurant has opened in the Merrimack Valley, and it replaces a roast beef joint that had been in business for 40 years.

According to a source, Patrick's North Shore Eatery is now open in North Andover, moving into the space on Chickering Road that had been home to Harrison's Roast Beef until it closed last September. A menu for the new spot shows such options as salads, sandwiches, sushi, and what's being called an "Original Harrisons Roast Beef."

Harrison's Roast Beef first opened in 1984, being known for its roast beef sandwiches while also offering other sandwiches, salads, and sides.

The address for Patrick's North Shore Eatery is 80 Chickering Road, North Andover, MA, 01845. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551950108741

[Earlier Article]
Harrison's Roast Beef in North Andover Has Closed; Space Coming Under New Ownership

(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.)

 

Harrison's Roast Beef in North Andover Has Closed; Space Coming Under New Ownership

A well-known roast beef joint north of Boston has shuttered, and it looks like the space will be taken over by a new owner.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Harrison's Roast Beef in North Andover is now closed, with the post saying "We want to thank you all for your patronage! 4 decades of great memories from employees, customers, food and fun!" The note also mentions that Dean Chongris will be opening a "new venture" in the space, though there appear to be some conflicting details on social media as to whether it will be a brand new spot, something similar to Harrison's, or even if the Harrison's name could remain.

Harrison's Roast Beef first opened in 1984, offering roast beef sandwiches along with other sandwiches, salads, and sides.

The address for the now-closed Harrison's Roast Beef was 80 Chickering Road, North Andover, MA, 01845.

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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.)

  

Bird & Wolf Restaurant in North Andover Has Closed, But Could It Reopen in Boston?

A restaurant and bar north of Boston that also included a bakery and cafe has shut down, though it looks like it could be reborn somewhere in Boston.

According to its website, Bird & Wolf Restaurant in North Andover is no longer in business, with a note on the page saying the following:

Thank you! This is not the end.... We would like to take the opportunity to thank all our customers who have supported us on our journey to redefine hospitality.  We are sorry to say we have had to close this location.  The team is excited and looking forward to seeing you all in an exciting new location in Boston later this year.

It is not known whether the same name/concept would be coming to Boston, nor is it known where in Boston it might open.

Bird & Wolf first opened on Osgood Street last year, debuting its bakehouse and cafe in March and its restaurant and bar in May. The restaurant focused mainly on New American fare using locally-sourced (and in-house) ingredients.

The address for the now-closed Bird & Wolf in North Andover was 1268 Osgood Street, North Andover, MA, 01845. Its website can be found at https://www.birdnwolf.com/

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 Friendly Toast Is Opening in North Andover

An eclectic local group of dining spots continues to expand, with yet another new outlet soon opening its doors--and this will be another one north of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, The Friendly Toast is opening in North Andover, with a page within the website for the business indicating what the poster said, that it will move into the old Fuddruckers space in the Crossroads Plaza on Turnpike Street. Once it opens, the new location will join others in Boston's Back Bay, Burlington, Bedford, NH, Portsmouth, NH, and Burlington, VT, while other new outlets are also in the works for Chestnut Hill and Danvers.

If all goes as planned, the North Andover location of The Friendly Toast will open sometime this fall.

The address for The Friendly Toast in North Andover is 550 Turnpike Street, North Andover, MA, 01845. The website for all locations is at https://thefriendlytoast.com/

[December 3 update: According to a press release, the North Andover location of The Friendly Toast 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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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.)

Bird & Wolf Restaurant in North Andover to Open May 5

The restaurant part of a business north of Boston that recently opened a bakehouse and cafe is getting ready to open its doors.

According to a press release, Bird & Wolf restaurant is planning to open in North Andover on May 5, with the Osgood Street spot including a dining room, a full bar, and a covered patio that will be open year around, along with its indoor cafe. The restaurant will focus on New American fare with its produce being grown locally and in-house, while its menu will include such items as smoked and cured seafood, short rib, risotto, mushrooms, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic mixed drinks.

Bird & Wolf cafe and bakehouse debuted last month, offering baked goods and pastries from executive baker and pastry chef Giselle Miller (formerly of Liquid Art House in Boston) as well as coffee, tea, and vegan milks.

The address for Bird & Wolf is 1268 Osgood Street, North Andover, MA, 01845. Its website can be found at https://www.birdnwolf.com/

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.)

Whim Restaurant Is Returning to Smolak Farms in North Andover

A seasonal "pop-up" restaurant is returning to a farm in North Andover, serving food once a week from some of the best known chefs in New England.

An email from Image Unlimited Communications indicates that Smolak Farms will be the site of Whim, an outdoor restaurant that will be hosting three-course prix fixe dinners every Wednesday evening from July 11 through August 29. Chefs who are coming to Whim include Will Gilson (of the upcoming Bridgestreet in Cambridge's Inman Square), Andy Husbands (Tremont 647 in Boston's South End), Vittorio Ettore (Bistro 5 in West Medford), Suzi Maitland (Trina's Starlight Lounge in Somerville), Richard Morin (Lineage in Brookline), Mary Dumont (Harvest in Cambridge's Harvard Square), Joe Faro (Tuscan Kitchen in Salem, NH), and Chris Coombs (Deuxave and dbar in Boston's Back Bay and Dorchester).

Dinners at Whim, which start at 7:30 PM every Wednesday, cost $65 per person (plus drinks and gratuity). For more information, please go to the link below:

http://www.smolakfarms.com/whim


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Whim Restaurant Is Opening at Smolak Farms in North Andover

A new restaurant is going to be serving food once a week at a farm in North Andover, and it will be featuring some of the best known chefs in the Boston area.

According to the Smolak Farms website, Whim will be opening at the farm starting next Wednesday evening, and it will be open every Wednesday through late August. The restaurant will be serving a three-course prix fixe dinner for $60 (plus drinks and gratuity) under the stars, with a different chef cooking for patrons each week. Some of the chefs participating include Jason Bond (Bondir), Erwin Ramos (Ole Mexican Grill), Andy Husbands (Tremont 647), and Rebecca Newell (The Beehive).

Dinners commence at 7:30 PM every Wednesday.

Smolak Farms (and Whim) can be found at 315 South Bradford Street in North Andover, which is about a mile south of Route 133 and just north of Dale Street. The phone number is (978) 682-6332 and the website can be found at http://www.smolakfarms.com/

[August 25 update: It appears that Whim is done for the summer, as the last posted dinner was last night.]

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Cedar Crest in North Andover to Close; Shadi's May Be Replacing It

A restaurant that moved to North Andover about a year ago after being in Lawrence for several decades is apparently going to be closing, and a Middle Eastern restaurant in Methuen that was destroyed in a fire a few months ago may be moving into the space.

According to the Eagle-Tribune, the Cedar Crest Restaurant on Chickering Road may be closing in early April, with Shadi's Restaurant looking to move in. The Cedar Crest opened in its current space in the winter of 2010 after moving out of Lawrence, where it had been since the 1930s. Shadi's had been in business in Methuen for nearly 20 years before being hit by a fire on Christmas Day in 2010, according to the Eagle-Tribune. The article also mentions that the now-vacant building where Shadi's used to be will be torn down.

The address for the soon-to-close Cedar Crest Restaurant (and the upcoming Shadi's) is 585 Chickering Road, North Andover, MA, 01845.

For more information on the closing of the Cedar Crest and the planned move into the space by Shadi's, please go to the Eagle-Tribune link below.

Landmark restaurant to be torn down

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Cedar Crest Restaurant to Reopen in North Andover

A beloved restaurant and diner that recently closed in Lawrence after being in business since the 1930s is going to be opening back up again in a neighboring community. According to an article in the North Andover Citizen and Wicked Local, the Cedar Crest Restaurant is going to be moving into the spot on Route 125 in North Andover where The Keys Grille used to be. The article mentions that the new space will be smaller than the original, which was on Broadway in Lawrence (the original had a capacity of about 300; the new space will have room for about 90). The counter from the original diner in Lawrence is going to be brought over to the new North Andover space, according to the article.

It appears that the new Cedar Crest Restaurant might be open by February 1, but we'll post updates as to their progress. The restaurant will be open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. [February 8 update: According to a frequent poster on the Chowhound site, the Cedar Crest Restaurant has opened its doors in North Andover.]

The address for the new location of this restaurant will be: Cedar Crest Restaurant, 585 Chickering Road, North Andover, MA, 01845.

To read more about the reopening of the Cedar Crest Restaurant, please go to the North Andover Citizen/Wicked Local link below:

Cedar Crest is coming back: Much loved Lawrence restaurant reopening in North Andover

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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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High Street Grill Opens in North Andover

After much anticipation, the High Street Grill has opened its doors inside the historic East Mill in North Andover.

The people behind this Southern-influenced upscale restaurant are well-known in the Boston-area restaurant scene. Kristi Morris used to be the general manager of the East Coast Grill in the Inman Square section of Cambridge, and Chris Schlesinger is the owner of the same establishment. The executive chef is also a familiar name in culinary circles--John Porreca, who used to work at Sasso on Huntington Avenue in Boston.

Items on the menu at the High Street Grill include BBQ spit-roasted chicken, grilled mahi mahi, cherrystone clam linguini, Kansas City pork spareribs, and Texas-Style beef brisket.

The address for the High Street Grill is: High Street Grill, 25 High Street, North Andover, MA, 01845. Phone: (978) 682-6363

[UPDATE: According to a note on the restaurant's website from November, 2009, the High Street Grill has closed.]