Two Saints Tavern in Boston Is Closing

A Boston bar popular with college students is shutting down.

According to an article from boston.com, Two Saints Tavern on Gainsborough Street is closing its doors this weekend, with managing partner Chuck Hitchcock saying that "The younger generations are drinking less. They're socializing less. Everybody can afford a 75 inch TV in the dorm room now, they don't need to go out and go to a social hangout to watch the football game, and things are getting more expensive." Hitchcock goes on to state that the closure stems from increasing insurance costs, mentioning that "The liability insurance structure in this state and many others is broken. Our insurance carrier was canceling us, and it's getting out of business as a whole....The system is broken, but it's not their fault"

Two Saints Tavern first opened in 2018 in the former Our House East space, being frequented by Northeastern students over the years.

The address for Two Saints Tavern is 52 Gainsborough Street, Boston, MA, 02115.

(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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Amelia's Taqueria by Northeastern University in Boston Has Been Rebranded to Amelia's Cluck & Smash

A local group of Mexican restaurants has changed the concept of one of its locations.

According to a source, Amelia's Taqueria by Northeastern University in Boston is now Amelia's Cluck & Smash, with the rebranding of the Huntington Avenue place turning it into a spot for such items as chicken sandwiches, smash burgers, hot dogs, fries, and salads, while also offering churros for dessert. It appears that locations of Amelia's in Allston, by Berklee College, Boston University, Boston College, and at Assembly Row in Somerville will remain as is, at least for now.

The address for Amelia's Cluck & Smash is 309 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. Its website is at https://www.ameliacluckandsmash.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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Anna's Taqueria Is Opening in the Former b.good Space at Northeastern University in Boston

Earlier this month, it was reported that a local group of Mexican spots had opened where a suburban location of another local group of restaurants had been, and now we have learned that the same thing is happening in Boston.

According to an article from The Boston Globe, Anna's Taqueria is planning to open at Northeastern University, taking over the space in the public food court inside the Marino Recreation Center that had been home to b.good until it closed last week. The post indicates that if all goes as planned, the new location of Anna's should be opening in early 2025, and as was the case with the Woburn location of b.good becoming a location of Anna's, this is more of a brand conversion as both of the chains come under the same parent company--Streetlight Ventures.

[Earlier Articles]
b.good at Northeastern University in Boston Has Closed
Anna's Taqueria Is Opening in Woburn

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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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b.good at Northeastern University in Boston Has Closed

Another location of a local group of dining spots has shut down.

According to an article from The Huntington News, b.good at Northeastern University in Boston is no longer in operation, as it closed permanently on October 18 after being in business since 2016. With the closing of this location, there are now only seven remaining in Massachusetts, as a number of outlets have closed over the past several years including in Boston's Downtown Crossing and South End, Bedford, Burlington, Hingham, Wellesley, and Woburn.

The website for b.good can be found at https://bgood.com/

Thanks to Adam Gaffin of Universal Hub for initially bringing this to our attention.

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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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Da Vinci Gelato + Waffle Is Opening by Northeastern University in Boston

It looks like a new option for gelato, waffles, and more is on its way to Boston.

According to a source, Da Vinci Gelato + Waffle is planning to open on Huntington Avenue, moving into a space near the corner of Gainsborough Street by Northeastern University. Photos of the storefront show signs saying that the upcoming shop will offer gelato, sweet and savory waffles, crepes, macarons, chocolates, shakes, and coffee; it is not known when the place might open, only that there is a "coming soon" sign up out front.

It looks like the address for Da Vinci Gelato + Waffle is 297 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

[September 3 update: According to a source, Da Vinci Gelato + Waffle is now open.]

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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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Boston Halal at Faneuil Hall Is Opening New Locations in Boston and Somerville

It looks like a dining spot in downtown Boston that features NYC-style street food may be opening at least two new locations.

Based on multiple social media posts, Boston Halal at Faneuil Hall is planning to open shops in the former Starbucks location on Huntington Avenue near Northeastern University and in the former Grainmaker space on Elm Street in Somerville. Based on the original location, expect the new outlets to feature Indian-Mediterranean fare including a variety of bowls and wraps.

The website for Boston Halal is at https://bostonhalal.co/

[May 7 update: A post within the Davis Square Facebook group page indicates that the Somerville location of Boston Halal is now open.]

[June 6 update: According to a source, the Northeastern location of Boston Halal is now open.]

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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 Underground Cafe + Lounge Is Opening at Northeastern University in Boston

The person behind a restaurant and lounge that focuses on Southern-style food is opening another dining spot nearby, with this one being located within a student apartment complex.

According to an article from boston.com, The Underground Cafe + Lounge has soft-opened on the ground floor of LightView, a Columbus Avenue building in the South End/Roxbury section of the city that houses Northeastern University students. Owner Nia Grace, who also runs Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen on Columbus Avenue, plans to make the all-day cafe both a restaurant and a community space while offering entertainment as well, and some of the dishes from Darryl's are being offered here as well, including baked macaroni and cheese. Other menu items include southern egg pies with ham and cheddar cheese, chili, seafood gumbo, pulled pork melts, BBQ chicken flatbreads, and more.

The Underground Cafe + Lounge is currently hosting an art installation with artwork from youths who are involved with Artists for Humanity, while the plan is to also have acoustic nights at some point in the near future; for now, the restaurant's website indicates that the soft opening plans to continue until October 1, with hours currently being 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, while full hours are slated to begin on October 4 (7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Friday and 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturdays).

The address for The Underground Cafe + Lounge (which will be open to both students and the general public) is 742 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA, 02120. The website for the dining spot can be found at https://www.theundergroundboston.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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Gong Cha Is Opening in Boston's Northeastern University/Symphony Hall Area

 A Taiwan-based chain that claims to be "one of the most recognized bubble tea brands around the world" is expanding further into the Greater Boston area, with a new outlet being planned for a space near Northeastern University and Symphony Hall.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the City of Boston website, Gong Cha is planning to open on Huntington Avenue, with the proposed place having a total of 14 seats and offering such options as bubble tea, slush, and other tea beverages. If approved, the new location would join a number of others locally, including in Chinatown, Allston, Burlington, Cambridge, Lowell, Malden, Natick, Peabody, and Quincy.

Gong Cha started out in 2006 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and currently has more than 1,500 locations around the world.

The address for the new location of Gong Cha in the NU/Symphony Hall area is 281 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.gongchausa.com/

[December 14 update: According to its website, the new location of Gong Cha by Northeastern 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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Two Saints Tavern and Dos Diablos in Boston Have Gone into Winter Hibernation

Two more local dining and drinking spots have decided to close for the season, joining a number of others that have also gone into hibernation as the pandemic continues.

A message sent from Two Saints Tavern indicates that both Two Saints and Dos Diablos--which are in the same space and under the same ownership--have decided to hibernate for the winter, with a GoFundMe page for the former saying the following (the fundraising page has been set up to help out the workers there who have been laid off):

"Unfortunately due to Covid-19 and the restrictions put forth by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,  Two Saints Tavern has been forced to temporarily close its doors. As you may know, we tried to bring some normalcy back to to 52 Gainsborough St., and the Northeastern University community, but at the end of the day we just couldn't survive in these difficult times."

Two Saints Tavern and Dos Diablos opened in the former Our House East space in the spring of 2018, with the former being called at the time an "urban, rustic tavern" while the latter was called a "gritty, gótico-chic, taco bar."

The address for the two spots is 52 Gainsborough Street, Boston, MA, 02115.

[April 13, 2021 update: According to its Facebook page, Two Saints Tavern has reopened.]

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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Mamacita to Open in Former Conor Larkin's Space in Boston

It looks like a brand new Mexican restaurant is coming to Boston, and it will be moving into the space where a popular college bar had been.

According to a tweet from @theurbanologist, Mamacita is planning to open in the old Conor Larkin's Grill & Tap space on Huntington Avenue, with the website for the upcoming eatery indicating that it will serve nachos, guacamole, tacos, burritos, and more. No opening date has been given as of yet, so keep checking back for updates as they come in.

Conor Larkin's Grill & Tap first opened back in 2002, with the place being a favorite among students from Northeastern University; the bar closed down in June.

The address for Mamacita is 329 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115. Its website can be found at http://mamacitaboston.com/

[Earlier Article]
Conor Larkin's Grill & Tap in Boston Has Closed for Good

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.)

Moby Dick Restaurant in Boston's Symphony/Northeastern Area Is for Lease

It looks like the future of a longtime favorite for college students may be in doubt.

According to a source, Moby Dick in the Symphony/Northeastern University section of Boston has a "For Lease" sign in its window, with a picture sent to us confirming this. The Huntington Avenue eatery, which has been in business for at least 20 years, has been known for its Persian fare, with its menu including a variety of kebob dishes along with such items as lentil soup, eggplant dip, hummus, baklava, lemonade with rosewater, and more.

The address for Moby Dick is 269 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

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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Conor Larkin's Grill & Tap in Boston Has Closed for Good

A Boston pub that was particularly popular with college students is the latest spot to shut down permanently.

According to a Twitter post from @chwolfson, Conor Larkin's Grill & Tap on Huntington Avenue is no longer in business, with the tweet saying that "the landlord of Conor Larkin's just told me that the bar is closing permanently. I was inside and the walls were already bare." This comes on the heels of @GoonerInBoston asking if the Irish pub had indeed shuttered. [Ed note: @chwolfson is a journalist who has done work for The Huntington News and The Boston Globe.]

Conor Larkin's Grill & Tap first opened back in 2002, with the place being a favorite among students from Northeastern University.

The address for Conor Larkin's was 329 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

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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Chicken Lou's at Northeastern University Temporarily Closed, Making Decision on Whether to Reopen

Last fall, it was reported that a Boston institution known for its cheap eats was planning to shut down at the end of next month. Now it is trying to figure out what its immediate future holds as it is closed due to the Coronavirus crisis.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Chicken Lou's at Northeastern University is currently closed following Governor Charlie Baker's decision last week to shut down restaurants except for takeout and/or delivery. The note says that "We HOPE to be able to open in April for a little while before we permanently close, however, we will need to see how this whole thing plays out before we are able to make that decision." Back in November, the dining spot said in a note that "all good things must come to an end" and that it would permanently close at the end of April.

Chicken Lou's first started out with canteen trucks, moving into a permanent space at Northeastern in 1990; the eatery has been known for such items as chicken parm and steak and cheese subs, burgers, hot dogs, a "kickin chicken" with pepperjack cheese, popcorn chicken, clam strips, and more.

The address for Chicken Lou's is 50 Forsyth Street, Boston, MA, 02115. Its website is at https://www.chickenlous.com/

[Earlier Article]
Chicken Lou's at Northeastern University in Boston 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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Chicken Lou's at Northeastern University in Boston Is Closing

A Boston institution that has been serving cheap eats to college students, faculty, and staff for a long time is shutting down.

According to a source, Chicken Lou's at Northeastern University is closing for good, with a Facebook post from the place saying that "'all good things must come to an end'. We will be permanently closing our doors at the end of April, 2020....We hope to see as many of you stop by in the next few months to have 1 last sandwich or just to say hi." The note also says that its hours will be changing after Christmas Break and that they will post the exact hours on their social media pages after the start of the new year.

Chicken Lou's got its start at Northeastern with canteen trucks, moving into a permanent space in 1990; the dining spot has been known for such items as chicken parm and steak and cheese subs, burgers, hot dogs, a "kickin chicken" with pepperjack cheese, chicken fingers, popcorn chicken, fish and chips, clam strips, and more.

The address for Chicken Lou's is 50 Forsyth Street, Boston, MA, 02115. Its website can be found at https://www.chickenlous.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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Playa Bowls Is Opening by Northeastern University in Boston

A New Jersey-based chain of dining spots that opened its first franchised location in Boston earlier this year will soon be joined by a second outlet--and like the first, this one is geared at least in part to college students.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Playa Bowls is planning to open by Northeastern University, with the Huntington Avenue eatery offering a variety of bowls (including bases with acai, coconut, chia, and oatmeal), smoothies, and fresh juices. Once the new location opens (possibly this fall), it will join an outlet on Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton by Boston College, which opened in February.

Playa Bowls started out as a cart in Belmar, NJ, and now has more than 65 brick-and-mortar shops mostly along the East Coast.

The address for the new location of Playa Bowls by Northeastern is 277 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.playabowls.com/

[December 17 update: Eater Boston states that the new location of Playa Bowls by Northeastern University 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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Punter's Pub in Boston Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

Another classic Boston dive has shut down, though in this case the writing had been on the wall for awhile.

According to a Facebook post from local film critic Tom Meek, Punter's Pub is now closed, with a check on social media indicating that the Huntington Avenue watering hole may have actually shuttered just before Christmas. Its closure comes as no surprise, as Northeastern University purchased its building in late 2016 and the plan had been for the bar to stay open for at least a couple more years.

Punter's Pub, which first opened approximately 50 years ago, was a popular hangout for Northeastern students, being known in part for its cheap pitchers of beer along with pool and darts.

The address for the now-closed Punter's Pub was 450 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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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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Poke Station and Kitchen Opens by Northeastern University in Boston

by Marc Hurwitz

A new restaurant that focuses on a couple of hot dining trends has come to Boston, and this one should be popular with college students.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Poke Station and Kitchen is now open by Northeastern University, with the Huntington Avenue dining spot featuring poke (which is a Hawaiian raw fish salad) and sushi burritos, while also offering such items as Korean fried chicken, dumplings, pork buns, and more. Poke and sushi burritos have become more and more popular over the past couple of years, with such places as Pokeworks in Somerville's Davis Square, Poke City and Manoa in Cambridge, Yoki Express in Boston's Seaport District, Love Art Sushi in the Back Bay/Fenway area, Poke Garden in Brookline, and others coming to the area.

Eater says that Poke Station and Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

The address for this new restaurant near Northeastern is: Poke Station and Kitchen, 313 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

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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Tatte Bakery & Cafe to Open Location at Northeastern University

by Marc Hurwitz

A growing local group of bakeries and cafes will be opening yet another new spot, and this one will be catering to students.

Eater Boston is reporting (via an Instagram post) that Tatte Bakery & Cafe is planning to open on the Northeastern University campus, with the Huntington Avenue outlet hoping to open in time for classes in September. The upcoming shop is one of two being planned for Boston, with another on its way to the Seaport District later this year; currently, existing locations of Tatte can be found in Beacon Hill, the Back Bay, the Fenway, Cambridge's Kendall Square (three), Harvard Square, and Brookline.

The address for this new spot at Northeastern is: Tatte Bakery & Cafe, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115. The website for all locations can be found at http://tattebakery.com/

[August 28 update: Boston Magazine mentions that the new location of Tatte opens at Northeastern tomorrow (Wednesday, August 29).]

[Earlier Article]
Tatte Bakery and Cafe to Open in Boston's Seaport District

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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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Group Behind McGreevy’s Opening Two Saints Tavern and Dos Diablos in Our House East Space in Boston

by Marc Hurwitz

[Ed note: This article was updated on April 24 to reflect new information given, including the fact that two new spots will move into the space.]

It looks like a new restaurant/bar is replacing a watering hole that has been a popular spot with students, and the team behind a Back Bay bar--and a few other places--appears to be behind it as well.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, a "new joint" is on its way to Gainsborough Street near Northeastern University, with the address indicating that it will be taking over the Our House East space. A check on the Our House East Facebook page indicates that a "farewell tour" took place earlier and that it apparently shut down a couple of weeks ago, with a post there saying that they were planning to "close the doors to Our House East and open two new places!" The website for McGreevy's on Boylston Street shows that Our House East had come under their ownership at some point in time (possibly last year), with the team also being behind Lion's Tail in the South End's Ink Block area and Lower Mills Tavern and Yellow Door Taqueria in Dorchester's Lower Mills. Brian O'Donnell and Ken Casey (the latter of whom is a member of Dropkick Murphys) are two of the people involved in McGreevy's and the other places.

The address for the former Our House East is 52 Gainsborough Street, Boston, MA, 02115.

[April 24 update: According to a press release, Brian O'Donnell and Ken Casey will be opening Two Saints Tavern and Dos Diablos in the former Our House East space, with the former being an "urban, rustic tavern" and the latter being a "chic, bordello-evoking taco bar." The emails mentions that Taniya Nayak is the interior designer while Chuck Hitchcock is another partner and the General Manager, with Andrew White (Church, Summer Shack) being Executive Chef for both and Adam Ford (Pabu, Tiger Mama) overseeing the bar program. Expect Two Saints Tavern and Dos Diablos to debut sometime in May, according to the release.]

[May 17 update: A new press release says that Two Saints Tavern and Dos Diablos open on Monday, May 21, and that the former is still being called an "urban, rustic tavern" while the latter is now being called a "gritty, gótico-chic, taco bar."]

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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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Sweet Tomatoes Opens on the Northeastern University Campus

One day after reporting that a small group of local burger places opened on the Northeastern University campus, we have now learned that a local group of pizza spots has done the same.

Adam's Hospitality & Tourism Industry Blog is reporting that Sweet Tomatoes is now open in the Curry Student Center at NU, joining UBurger, which opened a location there yesterday. Sweet Tomatoes first started out in Newton Centre in 1998 and now has a total of four locations, including in West Newton and Needham. The pizza restaurant offers an array of options for toppings, and also features specialty pies such as white clam, spinach leaf, Hawaiian, Santa Fe chicken, feta pesto, and potato.

The website for Sweet Tomatoes can be found at http://sweettomatoespizza.com/

[Earlier Article]
UBurger Opens at Northeastern University


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