Friendly's in Pembroke Has Closed

A regional chain of restaurants and ice cream shops continues to shrink, as a location south of Boston has shut down.

According to a source, Friendly's in Pembroke is no longer in business, with the website for the chain confirming this, removing it from their locations page. With the closing of the Church Street outlet, this means that only seven now remain inside/along Route 495, including in Haverhill, Marlborough, Middleborough, Norwood, Peabody, Plymouth, and Weymouth.

Friendly's, which is headquartered in Wilbraham, was first established in Springfield in 1935.

The address for the now-closed location of Friendly's in Pembroke was 146 Church Street, Pembroke, MA, 02359. The website for the chain is at https://friendlysrestaurants.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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The New World Tavern in Plymouth and Tolson's Tap and Tavern in Pembroke Have Both Closed

A couple of dining and drinking spots south of Boston that were known in part for their live music--and which had an ownership connection--have shut down.

According to social media posts from both places, The New World Tavern in Plymouth and Tolson's Tap and Tavern in Pembroke are no longer in business, with the former closing on September 28 and the latter closing on October 5. The New World Tavern first opened 14 years ago, offering food, drink, and featuring a variety of live music acts, while Tolson's Tap and Tavern debuted a bit more than 3 years ago, also serving food and drink and having live music.

The address for The New World Tavern was 56 Main Street, Plymouth, MA, 02360, and the address for Tolson's Tap and Tavern was 15 Columbia Road, Pembroke, MA, 02359.

(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.)

Don Bravo Mexican Grill in Marshfield Opens New Location in Pembroke

A Mexican restaurant on the South Shore has been joined by another location nearby.

According to a Facebook post, Don Bravo Mexican Grill is now open in Pembroke, with the Washington Street outlet joining another at Webster Square in Marshfield. Based on that location, the new restaurant in Pembroke will offer such items as tortas, tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, chimichangas, and quesadillas.

The address for the new location of Don Bravo Mexican Grill in Pembroke is 75 Washington Street, Pembroke, MA, 02359. The website for Don Bravo can be found at https://www.donbravomexicangrill.com/

Thanks to Casey Doyle for initially bringing this to our attention via the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page.

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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.)

  

Gather in Pembroke Is Moving to Canton

A breakfast and brunch spot on the South Shore will be moving to a space closer to Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page Gather in Pembroke is going to be opening a new outlet in Canton, taking over the space on Washington Street that had been home to Amber Road Cafe. An earlier post from its old Facebook page (which is now down) mentioned that it plans to open sometime in the fall and a comment within the thread says that "we are weighing all options to see what makes sense" as to whether the Pembroke location will remain open, though now its website says that the Pembroke location is "officially closed."

The address for the Pembroke location of Gather was 35 School Street, while the address for the new location in Canton will be 635 Washington Street. Its website can be found at https://gatherandeat.com/

[November 29 update: According to its new Facebook page, Gather is now open in its new home in Canton.]

NOTE: We need your help, as Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is dealing with health issues and some major related expenses. Please donate at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

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[More restaurant openings/closings from the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Turner's Yard in Pembroke Is Being Replaced by 615 Raw Bar and Grille

A restaurant south of Boston that had several well-known people behind it has closed--and a new dining spot is apparently opening in its space today.

According to a source, Turner's Yard in Pembroke is no longer in operation, with a picture sent indicating that is being replaced by a "family dining" spot called 615 Raw Bar and Grille (which opens tonight, based on the picture). Calls to the restaurant went unanswered this morning, but a check on singer Beau Paris's site seems to confirm what our source said, as it shows that he will be playing at a party at 615 Raw Bar and Grille this evening.

Turner's Yard first opened in the fall of 2012, with partners including Tim Wakefield (who was a pitcher for the Red Sox), Shawn Thornton (who used to play for the Bruins), Ken Casey of the Irish punk band the Dropkick Murphys, and HGTV host Taniya Nayak. It is not yet known whether any of them are involved with the new restaurant.

The address for the now-closed Turner's Yard (and new 615 Raw Bar and Grille) is 615 Washington Street, Pembroke, MA, 02359.

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Tim Wakefield, Shawn Thornton Among Owners of Turner's Yard in Pembroke

A new restaurant has just opened south of Boston, and the owners include a former Red Sox pitcher and a current Bruins forward.

The Hingham Patch is reporting that Turner's Yard is now open on Route 53 in Pembroke, having had its grand opening this past Saturday night. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield of the Sox and Shawn Thornton of the B's are two of the people behind the 6,000-square-foot restaurant, along with Ken Casey of the Irish punk band the Dropkick Murphys and HGTV host Taniya Nayak. The article says that former Bruins player Bobby Orr and local boxer Mickey Ward were at the grand opening of the eatery.

Turner's Yard is a gastropub that features mostly American fare using locally sourced ingredients as well as an array of craft beers and craft cocktails.

The address for this new restaurant in Pembroke is: Turner's Yard, 615 Washington Street, Pembroke, MA, 02359. Their website can be found at http://www.turnersyard.com/


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Former Tullio's Owner Opens Orta in Pembroke

A new restaurant has just opened in Pembroke, and the owner's name might be a familiar one to South Shore residents.

According to the Patriot Ledger food blog, Jimmy Burke is heading up this new Italian restaurant on Washington Street (Route 53) in Pembroke. Mr. Burke is the former owner and chef of Tullio's, a now-closed Italian restaurant on Hancock Street in North Quincy that had a loyal following for years.

The menu at Orta features a mix of Northern Italian and Southern Italian dishes, including papardelle with braised lamb; gemelli with marscapone cheese, mushrooms, proscuitto, tomato sauce; veal meatloaf with mushroom sauce; and pistachio and panko-crusted salmon in a wine sauce. Prices for entrees range from about $10 to $25.

The address for Orta is: Orta Restaurant, 75 Washington Street, Pembroke, MA, 02359. The phone number is (781) 826-8883.

The Winery on 53 Opens in Pembroke

Yet another new restaurant has opened in the Boston area. The Winery on 53 has moved into the spot where Bobby Hackett's Restaurant had been for several decades. It looks to be a restaurant with a widely varied menu, including chicken panko, lobster ravioli, meat loaf, lamb kabobs, grilled swordfish, lobster rolls, and pizza. The Winery on 53 also has an extensive wine list, and features a number of interesting desserts.

The address for The Winery is:
The Winery on 53
615 Washington Street (Route 53)
Pembroke, MA 02132
Phone: (781) 826-2532