Strega Italiano in Boston's Park Plaza Has Apparently Closed

It looks like another location of Strega has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Strega Italiano in the Park Plaza area of Boston is no longer in business, with a check on the website for Strega indicating that that location has indeed been removed from the site. Back in 2020, locations of Strega in the Seaport District, Park Plaza, and Woburn were sold to Danu Partners while The Varano Group kept the original Strega in the North End (which is now called Strega by Nick Varano); that location along with the Seaport District location are the only two now remaining, as the Woburn outlet closed in 2022.

The address for the now-closed Strega Italiano was 64 Arlington Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the Seaport District location is at https://stregaitaliano.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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Nusr-et Steakhouse Will Not Be Returning to Boston

Last summer, it was reported that the Boston location of a group of trendy steakhouses said goodbye to its space, though at the time, a relocation of the restaurant was being considered. Now we have learned that this won't be happening after all.

According to a press release, the Nusr-et Steakhouse brand announced "significant changes in the USA" today, officially closing its Boston restaurant rather than moving to a new space while also making plans to refurbish their restaurants in New York, Miami, and Las Vegas and continuing operations in Beverly Hills and Dallas. The release also mentions that outlets of Nusr-et will be opening globally, including in Rome, Athens, Sao Paulo, and Mexico City along with the Far East (with a particular focus on China), while locations of Saltbae Burger are in the works for airports around the world.

Nusret Gökçe (AKA Salt Bae) first opened the Boston location of Nusr-et Steakhouse in 2020, taking over the former Nahita/Liquid Art House space on Arlington Street.

[Earlier Article]
Nusr-et Steakhouse Space in Downtown Boston Is for Lease; the Restaurant May Open in a New Location

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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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Nusr-et Steakhouse Space in Downtown Boston Is for Lease; the Restaurant May Open in a New Location

It looks like the Boston location of a group of trendy steakhouses is saying farewell to its space, as the space is now on the market.

According to a source, the Nusr-et Steakhouse space on Arlington Street is for lease, with a Boston Realty Advisors page showing photos of the restaurant while saying "turn-key restaurant space for lease" and including a link to a brochure and another link with additional information. Nusret Gökçe (AKA Salt Bae) first opened the Boston location of Nusr-et Steakhouse in 2020, taking over the space where Nahita had been, and before that, Liquid Art House; the restaurant is located on the southern edge of Park Plaza near where Bay Village, the Back Bay, and the South End meet.

The address for Nusr-et Steakhouse--which remains open for now--is 100 Arlington Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

[August 21 update: A spokesperson for Nusr-Et tells us the following: "We are currently considering relocating the Nusr-Et restaurant in Boston. No decisions have been made at this time. We remain committed to our USA locations in Beverly Hills, Dallas, Miami, and New York and are continuing to execute our growth plan with both the Nusr-Et and SaltBae brands around the world."]

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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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Legal Sea Foods Is Returning to Park Square in Boston

A couple of years ago, a group of seafood restaurants shut down one of its locations in downtown Boston. Now we have learned that it will be returning in a nearby location.

According to a Twitter thread from @amysalv, a "coming soon" sign for Legal Sea Foods can be seen in the city's Park Square area, with the restaurant coming to The Heritage On The Garden, a mixed-use development which is flanked by Arlington Street, Park Plaza, and Boylston Street. The locations page for the restaurant group confirms this, showing that the upcoming outlet plans to open in the fall at 79 Park Plaza.

Legal Sea Foods left its space at 26 Park Plaza in August of 2020, with a message from the restaurant group saying at the time that "the lease expires in nine months. The restaurant had no patio space, the wine cellar was exclusive to group events, and the landlord had previously expressed plans to redevelop the property. Also, the area is now without theater and nearby hotels and office buildings have no real occupancy. So to reopen for a few months in light of the pandemic made no sense."

The website for all locations of Legal Sea Foods is at https://www.legalseafoods.com/

[November 16 update: According to a press release, Legal Sea Foods is now open in its new Park Square location.]

[Earlier Article]
Legal Sea Foods in Boston's Park Square/Park Plaza Area Has Closed

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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Herrera's Mexican Grill Has Apparently Closed Its Outlet in the State Transportation Building in Boston

It looks like a Mexican restaurant in Boston's Downtown Crossing has closed its outlet in the Park Plaza area of the city.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Herrera's Mexican Grill appears to be gone from the State Transportation Building, with a picture showing that the space was being cleared out earlier this week while the website for the business only shows the Temple Place location. The poster also mentions that there no longer appears to be any dining options within the State Transportation Building anymore, though we have not been able to confirm this as of yet.

The address for the Downtown Crossing location of Herrera's Mexican Grill is 11 Temple Place, Boston, MA, 02111, while its website can be found at https://www.herrerasmexicangrill.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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Legal Sea Foods in Boston's Park Square/Park Plaza Area Has Closed

A local group of seafood restaurants has shut down another one of its locations.

According to a source, the Park Square/Park Plaza outlet of Legal Sea Foods is no longer in business, with a message from the restaurant group confirming that it has indeed closed for good. This follows on the heels of their Harvard Square location closing this spring and a location of Legal Test Kitchen in the Seaport District shutting down this month, and the message sent to us today mentions the following:

Like with Legal Test Kitchen, we had limited time left on the lease. In the case of Park Square, the lease expires in nine months. The restaurant had no patio space, the wine cellar was exclusive to group events, and the landlord had previously expressed plans to redevelop the property. Also, the area is now without theater and nearby hotels and office buildings have no real occupancy. So to reopen for a few months in light of the pandemic made no sense.

A number of other locations of Legal Sea Foods and its other concepts remain in operation in the Greater Boston area, including Legal Crossing, which is located near the Park Square/Park Plaza outlet (on Washington Street in Downtown Crossing) and which plans to reopen on September 1, according to the message sent to us.

The address for the now-closed location of Legal Sea Foods was 26 Park Plaza, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the company is at https://www.legalseafoods.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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Crazy Dough's Pizza at City Place in Boston Has Closed

A local group of pizza spots continues to shrink, as another one of its Boston-area locations has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Crazy Dough's Pizza at City Place in Boston's Park Plaza area is closed--and appears to have been so for at least a couple of weeks--while a check on the website for the business seems to confirm this, as it has been removed from the locations section of the site. This is the third outlet of the pizzeria to shutter over the past few years, as a location in the Fenway/Back Bay area closed in 2017 while another outlet closed in Cambridge's Harvard Square in 2016. It appears that shops at the Prudential Center, TD Garden, and in Brighton remain in operation.

The address for the City Place location of Crazy Dough's was 8 Park Plaza, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the other locations can be found at https://www.crazydoughsboston.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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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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The Oyster Club Is Opening in Park Square; Will Take Over Former Doretta Space

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a new seafood restaurant is on its way to Boston's Park Square area, and it will be taking over the space where an upscale Greek spot had been--and it looks like a familiar name within the local restaurant scene could be behind it.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, The Oyster Club is looking to open at at 79 Park Plaza, which is the same address as that of the now-closed Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar. The hearing notice mentions that the proposed spot would have a main dining section, a bar area, a raw bar, and an outdoor patio during the warmer months, and the manager listed is Christopher Parsons, who is presumably the same person who had been behind the now-closed Parsons Table and Catch in Winchester along with Steel & Rye in Milton (which he left in 2017) and who is now planning to open Lily P's, a new place for fried chicken, oysters, and more in Cambridge's Kendall Square. The hearing for The Oyster Club is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, January 30, so more information should be out by later next week.

Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar closed last spring after approximately three years in business, with Michael Schlow (Tico, Alta Strada) being behind it; previously, the space had been home to Via Matta, which Schlow also ran.

[February 21 update: Boston Magazine states that The Oyster Club will include a raw bar, classic New England seafood dishes, and a "lobster of the day" along with beer, wine, ciders, and cocktails.]

[July 12 update: A Facebook post from the place mentions that The Oyster Club plans to open later this month.]

[July 23 update: Eater Boston says that The Oyster Club opens this Saturday (July 27).]

[Earlier Articles]
Chris Parsons to Open Lily P's in Cambridge's Kendall Square Area
Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar in Boston's Park Square Has Closed

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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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Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar in Boston's Park Square Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like an upscale Greek restaurant in Boston has called it a day.

According to several sources, Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar in the city's Park Square/Park Plaza area has closed after a bit less than three years in business. Phone calls to the place have gone to voicemail this afternoon while its online reservations system does not seem to be working, and a recent email sent confirms its closure, with owner Michael Schlow saying that it is shutting down at the end of the month (though it appears to already be closed).

Doretta first opened in September of 2015, taking over the space where Via Matta had been. Schlow, who was behind both Doretta and Via Matta, is also behind such spots as Tico and Alta Strada, with the former having a location in the Back Bay and the latter having a location in Wellesley.

The address for Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar was 79 Park Plaza, Boston, MA, 02116.

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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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Starbucks Plans to Open in Former Melting Pot Space in Boston's Park Square

A mega-coffee chain with countless locations in the Boston area is looking to open a new shop in the heart of the city, and it would be moving into the space where a fondue place had been.

Universal Hub is reporting that Starbucks is planning on opening a store in Park Square where The Melting Pot had been until closing last March. The article mentions that the chain will meet with the Zoning Board of Appeals next week to seek approval for the new location, which is about a five-minute walk from another Starbucks at CityPlace Boston within the State Transportation Building.

The Melting Pot shut down in March of 2015 after deciding to terminate their lease; at the time, they announced that they hoped to open a new location elsewhere in Boston, but no further updates have been given since then. (The Bedford and Framingham locations remain in operation.)

The address for the now-closed Melting Pot (and proposed Starbucks) is 76 Arlington Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

Thanks to for initially bringing this story to our attention awhile back.

[Earlier Article]
The Melting Pot in Boston Has Closed

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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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Finale in Boston's Park Plaza Is Closing

An upscale dessert spot and bakery in Boston is closing for good, apparently marking the end the line for what had once been a local group of shops.

According to a Twitter post from @FoodserviceEast, Finale at Park Plaza is shutting down, joining other now-closed locations in Cambridge's Harvard Square, Brookline's Coolidge Corner, and the Natick Mall. It is not known if the Park Plaza location has already closed or if it is getting ready to shut down; calls placed to the shop this morning went directly to voicemail, though its website is still up. (We have reached out to one of the people behind Finale and will post an update as soon as we get it.)

[January 1, 2016 update: A note sent from one of the owners of Finale states that the Park Plaza shop will be closing for good on Sunday (January 3), though some of its products will continue to be available at a new cafe in Park Square called Vivra Chocolate Studio that will open this spring.]

Finale first opened in Park Plaza more than 17 years ago, offering such items as cookies, cakes, brownies, cupcakes, soups, salads, sandwiches, small plates, coffee, and more.

The address for this dessert spot and bakery is: Finale, 1 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA, 02116. Its website is at http://finaleboston.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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Ben and Jerry's at Park Plaza in Boston Has Shut Down

One of the Boston locations of a Vermont-based ice cream company has apparently said goodbye.

Eater Boston is reporting that the Park Plaza location of Ben and Jerry's is no longer in operation, with a check on the company's website seeming to confirm this (the shop is no longer shown within its locations section). It appears that the locations on Newbury Street in the Back Bay, Cambridge's Harvard Square, Braintree, and Natick remain in operation, along with its kiosk by the New England Aquarium on the waterfront. (EB says that the Park Plaza shop was an independently-owned franchise.)

A few months ago, we learned that Ben and Jerry's was planning to bring more shops to the region, though no specifics had been given at the time and it is still not known where or when they might be opening.

The address for the now-closed Ben and Jerry's at Park Plaza was 20 Park Plaza, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.benjerry.com/

[Earlier Article]
Ben and Jerry's May Further Expand Through the Boston Area

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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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McCormick & Schmick's at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston Has Closed

One of the two Boston locations of an upscale seafood and steak place has closed.

According to a poster on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook page, McCormick & Schmick's at the Park Plaza Hotel is no longer in operation, with a phone call placed to the dining spot confirming this--and also confirming that its other location at Faneuil Hall is still open for business. It is not known exactly why the restaurant shut down, though it may have something to do with the renovations that have been made to the hotel over recent months, which includes the recent opening of Off the Common restaurant and Strip by Strega. (Other spots in the hotel are Finale and MJ O'Connor's, with Smith & Wollensky also being affiliated with the hotel and located across from it.)

McCormick & Schmick's first started out in the 1970s and today has more than 80 locations across the country. The restaurants feature such items as steamed mussels, swordfish casino, blackened mahi mahi, salmon rigatoni, filet mignon, and New York strip.

The website for McCormick & Schmick's can be found at http://www.mccormickandschmicks.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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Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar to Replace Via Matta in Boston's Park Square

A very well-known Boston restaurant is soon going to be closing its doors, though a new dining spot that will be one of the only restaurants of its kind in the area will take its place.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Michael Schlow is closing Via Matta in Park Square toward the end of May and will open Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar in its space once renovations are complete (likely in the fall). The article says that the new spot from Schlow will feature "high-quality Greek-inspired cuisine," with a few options being zucchini chips with yogurt, roasted whole fish, flatbreads, and bone-in lamb shoulder.

[May 27 update: According to a press release, Michael Schlow will be hosting "The Last Supper" for Via Matta this Saturday (May 30).]

[September 28 update: Eater Boston states that Doretta Tavern and Raw Bar opens this evening.]

Via Matta, which first opened in 2002, is an upscale Italian restaurant that has seen its share of celebrity sightings over the years, including Jimmy Fallon, Billy Joel, and Mick Jagger.

The address for Via Matta (and upcoming Doretta Taverna and Raw Bar) is 79 Park Plaza, Boston, MA, 02116.

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site 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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Off the Common Is Opening at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston

It looks like a recently-renovated hotel in Boston is going to be home to another new restaurant.

According to an article from BostInno, Off the Common is planning to open within the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, joining another upcoming dining spot called Strip by Strega (from Nick Varano and The Varano Group) that will also be opening in the hotel soon. The post says that Off the Common will be a "chic" dining and drinking spot that will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and will have cocktails that pay homage to the city's history and culture. It is not yet known which space the new restaurant will be moving into; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

If all goes as planned, Off the Common could be opening as soon as a week from today (Friday, April 10).

[April 10 update: A note from the Boston Park Plaza Hotel indicates that Off the Common will not be opening today; expect the new restaurant to open early next week instead.]

[April 14 update: A new note from the hotel mentions that Off the Common opens today.]

The website for the Boston Park Plaza Hotel can be found at http://www.bostonparkplaza.com/

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The Melting Pot in Boston Has Closed

The Boston location of a chain of fondue restaurants has closed its doors.

According to a post from the Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog, The Melting Pot in Park Square is no longer in business, with crews in the process of clearing out the space today. A check on the chain's website shows a note saying "We regret to announce that The Melting Pot of Boston has closed for business indefinitely as of March 23. While an excellent property, based on its business model, The Melting Pot believes its concept is better suited to an alternative location. Therefore, it has elected to terminate the lease for the Arlington Street site." The note mentions that locations in Bedford and Framingham remain open for business and that it hopes to open at a new location in Boston at some point.

The Melting Pot first opened at Park Plaza in 2008.

The address for this now-closed fondue restaurant in Boston was: The Melting Pot, 76 Arlington Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.meltingpot.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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California Pizza Kitchen Closes Its Outlet in Boston's Transportation Building

A national chain of pizza restaurants has closed one of its two locations within the city limits of Boston.

According to a poster on the Chowhound site, the California Pizza Kitchen within the State Transportation Building by Park Plaza is shuttered, with a check on the chain's website seeming to confirm this (it is no longer showing this location). This leaves only one remaining location in Boston--at the Prudential Center--and four others in the surrounding area, including in Cambridge, Braintree, Natick, and Wellesley. California Pizza Kitchen had been in the Transportation Building for approximately 15 years.

The California Pizza Kitchen chain first started out in the 1980s and currently is headquartered in Los Angeles, with more than 200 locations across the country.

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Poster for Upcoming Steakhouse in Boston Sparks Outrage

A poster put up for a steakhouse that is coming to Boston has created an uproar, though it appears that it has now been taken down.

Over the weekend, Universal Hub mentioned (via a Facebook post by Charles Draghi of  Erbaluce) a poster advertising the upcoming Strip by Strega at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, with the picture showing a woman lying on her back in an unflattering position with a piece of raw meat attached to a hook dangling by her mouth. The backlash was immediate, with commenters on Draghi's post using such terms as "staggering vulgarity," "seriously disturbing/wrong/just absolutely awful," "tasteless," "gross," and "sickening" to describe it.

The Restaurant Hub blog of The Boston Globe states that the poster is no longer there, apparently having been taken down last night or this morning.

Strip by Strega is a new spot coming from The Varano Group, which is also behind Strega Waterfront at Fan Pier, Strega North End, and Nico in the North End.

[Earlier Article]
Strip by Strega Plans to Open at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel

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Pairings at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston Has Closed

A hotel restaurant in downtown Boston has closed its doors, though several other dining options remain within the hotel.

Adam's Hospitality & Tourism Industry Blog reports that Pairings at the Park Plaza Hotel is no longer in business, apparently shutting down a bit earlier this month. Pairings first opened in 2009, replacing Bonfire, which was a high-end steakhouse run by celebrity chef and restaurateur Todd English. The eatery featured sharable "snacks" as well as soups, salads, and a few main dishes.

The post mentions that the hotel is serving food in its lobby cafe, while diners can also eat at The Melting Pot, McCormick & Schmicks, MJ O'Connors, Au Bon Pain, Finale, and Ben & Jerry's, all of which are on the premises.

The address for this now-closed restaurant is 50 Park Plaza, Boston, MA, 02116.


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Emerald Lounge Is Opening within the New Revere Hotel in Boston's Back Bay

A new bar is coming to the Back Bay of Boston, opening within a soon-to open independent hotel.

According to The Boston Globe and Eater Boston, the Emerald Lounge is going to be opening within the Revere, a new hotel on Stuart Street near Park Plaza and a short distance south of the Boston Common. The Revere will be taking over the former Radisson hotel, while the bar will move into the space where the Theatre Cafe used to be. It appears that the Emerald Lounge will be quite a bit different from the Theatre Cafe, as the Globe article mentions that the Theatre Cafe's "red leather booths and chicken club sandwiches" will be replaced by "industrial light sculptures, DJs, and artisanal cheese plates"

Expect an April opening for both the Emerald Lounge and the Revere hotel.

[April 17 update and CORRECTION: Eater Boston is reporting that the Revere Hotel is opening to the public tomorrow, but the Emerald Lounge may not be opening for another week or two.]

[June 4 update: Thrillist Boston is reporting that the Emerald Lounge will open this Thursday (June 7).]

The address for this new hotel and lounge is 200 Stuart Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

For more information on this story, please go to the Boston Globe and Eater Boston links below.

[Boston Globe]
A major shift for old Radisson

[Eater Boston]
Radisson's Theater Cafe Will Be Revere's Emerald Lounge

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