Chef George Mendes to Open Agosto, Baby Sister in Boston's South End

An acclaimed chef who was once based in New York City and now calls Boston his home is planning to open not one, but two new spots in the city.

According to an article in Boston Magazine, George Mendes is planning to open Agosto and Baby Sister in the South End, with the former being a 45-seat restaurant on Washington Street with a chef's counter and a tasting menu, while the latter will be a bakery-cafe that is located next door (and both will have Portuguese influences). It looks like Agosto could open next summer, and Baby Sister is hoping to debut later next year.

George Mendes was the opening chef at Amar at Raffles in the Back Bay which opened in 2023, while also being behind Aldea, a Michelin-starred Manhattan restaurant with Portuguese and Spanish influences that closed in 2020 after more than 10 years in operation.

The address for Agosto and Baby Sister will be 1673 and 1679 Washington Street in the South End.

(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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Virginia's Cafe & Market Is Opening in Reading

A new spot for Portuguese treats is on its way to the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to a source, Virginia's Cafe & Market is getting ready to open in Reading, moving into the former Pamplemousse space on Haven Street near the commuter rail station. The social media for the upcoming place says that it will be a "Portuguese inspired coffee house and specialty food market" and a "warm, welcoming space where the community can enjoy Portuguese coffee, pastries, and curated goods." (Reading Recap mentions that the person behind it is Jake Chaves.)

The address for Virginia's Cafe & Market is 26 Haven Street, Reading, MA, 01867. Its Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583261082652 while its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/virginiascafeandmarket/

[March 10, 2026 update: A source tells us (via a Reading Recap article) that Virginia's Cafe & Market 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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Lisboa Cafe to Open in Dorchester's Savin Hill Area

It looks like a Portuguese restaurant is on its way to a Boston neighborhood.

According to a licensing committee hearing page within the city's website, Lisboa Cafe is planning to open in Dorchester, moving into a space on Dorchester Avenue in the Savin Hill area. The notice mentions that the upcoming spot is slated to have a dining area with 49 seats along with a full bar, and it will also have a pastry and coffee counter as well, and an earlier Dorchester Reporter article says that Raquel Semedo--who was born in Portugal--is behind the place (Keven Landim is listed as the manager in the hearing notice). The article says that the restaurant plans to be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner offering Portuguese and Cape Verdean options such as Portuguese breads, coffee, and wines as well as meals such as Carne de Porco a Alentjana (pork shoulder and clams) and Cozida a Portuguesa (a Portuguese stew).

If all goes as planned, Lisboa Cafe could be opening sometime in August or September.

The address for the upcoming Lisboa Cafe is 1078 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA, 02125.

(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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Baleia Is Opening in Boston's South End; Coda Restaurant Group (SRV Boston, The Salty Pig, Gufo) Is Behind It

A new dining spot with Portuguese influences is opening in the South End of Boston, and a local restaurant group is behind it.

According to a post within the jobs section of bostonchefs.com, Baleia is currently hiring for all positions for their opening team, with the restaurant being located within the Troy Building between E. Berkley Street and Traveler Street. The job post mentions that Baleia (which means "whale" in Portuguese) will offer Portuguese-inspried dishes along with cocktails and an all-Portuguese wine list, while the space will have just under 90 seats and a bar with 15 seats. (BosGuy first wrote about Baleia earlier this year.)

Coda Restaurant Group, which runs SRV Boston, The Salty Pig, and Gufo, will be opening the new restaurant.

The address for Baleia is 264 E. Berkeley Street, Boston, MA, 02118. Its website can be found at https://www.baleiaboston.com/

[March 10, 2024 update: According to its website, Baleia 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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Midwest Grill Fusion in Cambridge's Inman Square Is Morphing into JP Restaurant

A change is coming to a restaurant space in Cambridge that has seen a few changes over recent times.

According to a post by troysch1 on Bluesky, Midwest Grill Fusion is in the process of becoming JP Restaurant, with a note on the website of the new spot saying the following:

Our parent company Midwest Grill, Inc was est. in 1993. The name JP originated by the name of the owner John Pinto. We decided to change our DBA name because we have been serving brazilian style food for past 25 years & we thought it's time to make some change, so we change our business name & Menu. Now, we serve Breakfast, all day Buffet / order from Menu optional, with [traditional Portugal] & some Brazilian food.

Last year, Midwest Grill Fusion replaced a Korean BBQ spot that had briefly been in the Cambridge Street space, with the space previously being home to the Midwest Grill Brazilian BBQ. 

The address for JP Restaurant is 1124 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139. Its website is at https://jprestaurantandbar.com/

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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Portugalia Restaurant in Cambridge Has Closed

A longtime Cambridge restaurant that served Portuguese cuisine has shut down.

According to an article from East Boston, Portugalia Restaurant on Cambridge Street between Inman Square and Lechmere is no longer in operation, with the Facebook page for the place indicating that it closed on April 30. The dining spot, which first opened its doors in 1983, offered such items as mussels, salt cod, linguica sandwiches, grilled pork cutlets, sirloin steak topped with a fried egg, white bean seafood stew, sauteed chicken breast in port wine, and filet of schrod.

The address for the now-closed Portugalia Restaurant was 723 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141.

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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NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

Chef George Mendes Is Opening Amar in Boston's Back Bay

An acclaimed New York chef is going to be opening a brand new high-end restaurant in Boston.

Eater Boston is reporting (via The Boston Globe) that George Mendes is planning to open Amar at Raffles, a luxury condo and hotel development in the Back Bay, with the Globe saying that it will be a Portuguese dining spot that is located on the 17th floor of the Trinity Place complex. Mendes was behind the now-closed Aldea, a Michelin-starred Manhattan restaurant with Portuguese and Spanish influences that closed in 2020 after more than 10 years in operation.

If all goes as planned, Amar will open sometime this summer.

The address for Amar (and Raffles) is 40 Trinity Place, Boston, MA, 02116.

[September 18 update: A new article from Eater Boston indicates that Amar 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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NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

So Sabe Opens in Dorchester

A new spot for Cape Verdean and Portuguese takeout food and catering has come to Dorchester, 

According to a tweet from @DorchesterEsq, So Sabe Catering & Treats is now open on Dorchester Avenue, moving into a space on the corner of Sudan Street in the Savin Hill neighborhood. The website for the business shows such items as chorizo and cheese bread rolls, a Cuban sandwich, vegetable soup, coxinha, patties filled with creamed cod, meat croquettes, chicken empanadas, mango mousse, nutella churros, macadamia cookies, and more.

The address for So Sabe is 996 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA, 02125. Its website can be found at https://sosabecatering.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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NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

The Fox Den Opens in Woburn

Last summer it was reported that a new restaurant featuring dishes with Polish and Portuguese influences would be coming to a space north of Boston, and now we have learned that it is in the process of opening.

According to a source (Aron Levy), The Fox Den has soft-opened in Woburn, moving into the space on Main Street that had been home to the Black and Orange Bar and Grill, and before that, the Tanner Tavern. A few items offered at the new dining spot include Azorean mussels, deviled eggs, candied bacon, kale soup, pizza topped with kielbasa, linguica panini, Portuguese fried rice, shrimp Mozambique, macaroni and cheese, salt cod, and cheesecake.

The address for The Fox Den is 474 Main Street, Woburn, MA, 01801. Its website can be found at https://www.thefoxdenwoburn.com/

[Earlier Article]
The Fox Den Plans to Open in the Former Black and Orange Bar and Grill/Tanner Tavern Space in Woburn

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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NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

Mario's Pizzeria in Roxbury Has Closed

A pizzeria that was known for its New York-style pizza with Portuguese influences has closed down.

A message sent from Adam Gaffin of Universal Hub mentions that Mario's Pizzeria in Roxbury has shut its doors permanently, with a Facebook post from the Humboldt Avenue spot saying the following:

This has been a tough decision to make given the amazing support from the community over the past 3.5 years. We are so very grateful and will miss all our loyal customers. We are selling to another local pizza shop operator so there is more to come from 197 Humboldt. We hope you can show them the love you have given us. Owning a small business is never easy and it's the customers who make the work worth it.

Mario's first opened in July of 2018. offering pizza with toppings that included ground chourico, kalamata olives, anchovies, marinated artichokes, shrimp, prosciutto, and burrata, while also serving salted cod croquettes, fried turnovers, a haddock dinner, and more.

The address for Mario's Pizzeria was 197 Humboldt Avenue, Roxbury, MA, 02121.

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 Fox Den Plans to Open in the Former Black and Orange Bar and Grill/Tanner Tavern Space in Woburn

A new restaurant that features the cuisines of two European countries may be on its way to the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to a Facebook post, The Fox Den is looking to open in Woburn, with a Mainvest page for the spot indicating that it would be moving into the space on Main Street that had been home to the Black and Orange Bar and Grill, and before that, the Tanner Tavern. The new restaurant plans to offer Polish and Portuguese food, including "sausages, stews, warm and comforting food that makes you feel like home," and that the Wild Fox Restaurant Group--which runs the pop-up business Wild Fox Pierogi--is behind the dining spot.

The address for the upcoming Fox Den in Woburn is 474 Main Street, Woburn, MA, 01801.

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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Belicious Cafe Opens in Braintree

A new dining spot has come to the southern suburbs of Boston, and its menu includes a rather interesting mix of cuisines.

According to a source, Belicious Cafe is now open in South Braintree Square, taking over the space on Washington Street where Braintree House of Pizza had been until moving to a larger space a few storefronts down. Our source tells us that its menu features "very eclectic" Asian fusion including Hong Kong, Macanese, Singaporean, Malaysian, Thai, and Korean influences, and the menu actually includes Italian dishes as well along with Portuguese items, the latter of which may come from the fact that Macau was a Portuguese territory until approximately 20 years ago.

A few items offered at Belicious Cafe include "shake shake" chicken, a curry pork chop with rice, laksa (a spicy noodle soup typically found in Singapore), sizzling spicy tuna with rice, baked Portuguese chicken, mussels risotto with cream sauce, prawns with linguine in pesto sauce, a sizzling double hamburg in black pepper sauce, and a parfait with matcha ice cream.

The address for Belicious Cafe is 958 Washington Street, Braintree, MA, 02184. Its website can be found at http://www.beliciouscafe.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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Sunset Cafe in Cambridge Plans to Reopen

by Marc Hurwitz

A Portuguese restaurant in Cambridge that was destroyed in a fire earlier this year could be returning to the space.

According to a license commission hearing agenda page within the city's website, the Sunset Cafe plans to reopen once its building at the corner of Cambridge Street and Hunting Street is rebuilt. The building in which the restaurant resided was hit by a major fire on January 14 and it was subsequently torn down due to the extent of the damage to the structure. It is not yet known when construction could be completed, so keep checking back for updates as they come in.

The four-alarm blaze also displaced nearly 20 people and took out a second structure as well.

[Earlier Article]
Sunset Cafe in Cambridge Destroyed in Fire

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Sunset Cafe in Cambridge Destroyed in Fire

by Marc Hurwitz

A Portuguese restaurant in Cambridge is closed for the foreseeable future after being hit by a major fire.

According to an article from Boston 25 News, the Sunset Cafe at the corner of Cambridge Street and Hunting Street was destroyed in a four-alarm blaze yesterday morning that displaced nearly 20 people and took out two structures. A Facebook post from the dining spot mentions that "the restaurant will remain closed until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience caused to those with reservations. We appreciate all the good wishes and we hope to be up and running soon" while it also posts a link where people can donate online to the Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund.

Kimchi Kitchen, a Korean restaurant on the same block, is also shuttered for the time being, with a Facebook post from the place saying that "We will be closed for a few days due to a massive fire in our neighborhood."

Boston 25 News indicates that no one in the buildings was hurt, though some firefighters had minor injuries.

[January 17 update: According to a source, the building housing the Sunset Cafe is being demolished this week.]

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Mario's Pizzeria Is Opening in Roxbury

by Marc Hurwitz

A brand new pizzeria and Portuguese eatery is on its way to Boston, opening in a neighborhood that currently has very few dining options.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Mario's Pizzeria is opening in a mostly residential section of Roxbury between Egleston Square and Grove Hall and a few blocks north of Franklin Park, with the Humboldt Avenue dining spot focusing on takeout and delivery. The post mentions that the place will feature New York-style pizzas as well as Portuguese fare such as cod cakes, bifana sandwiches, sardine pate flatbreads, and shrimp cakes. If all goes as planned, Mario's Pizzeria could be opening sometime in July.

Eater says that the people behind Mario's are Rebecca Greening and Mario Bailote, with Bailote being a native of Portugal and working as a longtime manager and pizza maker at the Same Old Place in Jamaica Plain.

The address for this new dining spot in Roxbury is: Mario's Pizzeria, 197 Humboldt Avenue, Roxbury, MA, 02121. The website for the eatery will be at https://www.pizzabymario.com/

[July 16 update: A new article from Eater Boston mentions that Mario's Pizzeria is now open, though with a limited menu.]

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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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Pareja to Take Over Wink and Nod Space in Boston's South End; Kaki Lima Wraps Up September 9

A new Spanish, Portuguese, and Basque tapas spot is moving into a temporary home in Boston's South End, taking over the space where an Indonesian eatery had been for the past several months.

According to an article in Boston Magazine, Pareja is opening within the Wink & Nod space on Appleton Street, replacing Kaki Lima, which will be saying farewell on September 9. The new tapas place is run by Aaron Lhamon (AKA Bistro, Sel de la Terre, Troquet on South) and his business partner is sous chef Adam Rockhol (Cultivar, Grafton Street, Harvest), while Michael Boughton, who is beverage director for Boston Nightlife Ventures (Wink's parent company), will feature Spanish and Western Mediterranean wines along with cocktails that complement the small, medium, and large plates offered at Pareja.

Kaki Lima is one of several spots that has popped up at Wink & Nod, with a few others being Pelekasis, Gita, Akinto, and Little Owl Tavern. Its address is 3 Appleton Street, Boston, MA, 02116, while its website can be found at http://winkandnod.com/

[September 3 update: A Facebook post from Aaron Lhamon indicates that Pareja will open on September 11.]

[Earlier Article]
Kaki Lima to Take Over Wink and Nod Space in Boston's South End

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Sintra in South Braintree to Close

A beloved suburban restaurant that is known in part for its Mediterranean fare is shutting down.

According to a source, Sintra in South Braintree is closing for good this weekend, with tonight apparently being its last night in operation. No reason has been given for the closure of this Washington Street eatery and it is not yet known what might be taking over its space; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

Sintra, which opened approximately 13 years ago, is an upscale casual restaurant that features New American dishes, along with items that have Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, and other Mediterranean influences. A few of its offerings include steamed mussels, tomato bisque, a meatball and fig flatbread, bolognese with chorizo, house-made gnocchi with shrimp, seafood risotto, pan-roasted statler chicken, and pork chops.

The address for Sinta is 906 Washington Street, Braintree, MA, 02184.

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Churrascaria Vulcao Opens in Dorchester's Fields Corner

A brand new restaurant featuring Cape Verdean and Portuguese cuisine has come to a Boston neighborhood.

Eater Boston is reporting (via the Dorchester Reporter) that Churrascaria Vulcao is now open in Dorchester, with the dining spot moving into a space on Adams Street in the Fields Corner area. The new eatery offers Cape Verdean-Portuguese fusion items on its menu, including such options as octopus, Portuguese soup, grilled half chicken, spaghetti with seafood and vegetables, Portuguese steak with an egg and chorizo, grilled pork ribs, sauteed whelks, red snapper, and custard pudding.

Churrascaria Vulcao has seating for 46 people and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The address for this new Cape Verdean and Portuguese restaurant in Fields Corner is: Churrascaria Vulcao, 203 Adams Street, Dorchester, MA, 02122. Its website can be found at http://www.churrascariavulcao.com/

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Tasty on the Hill Opens in Medford

A new eatery has opened a few miles north of Boston, and it features a Portuguese sandwich that cannot be found anywhere else in the region.

The Medford Transcript is reporting that Tasty on the Hill is now open in Medford, taking over the space on Boston Avenue where Tasty Gourmet had been until closing in June. The article says that the new dining spot offers traditional American fare such as bagels, breakfast sandwiches, waffles, pancakes, omelets, salads, and burgers, with its signature item being a Portuguese specialty called a Francesinha, which is similar to a club sandwich and includes layers of meat, cheese, and eggs, and is topped with a house sauce. Variations of the sandwich include traditional, burger, grilled chicken, smoked salmon, bacalhau (cod), and vegetarian, according to the Transcript. Owner Antonio Pereira doesn't believe Francesinhas can be found in the Boston area, or anywhere in the United States on a regular basis for that matter, though a website check does show it being offered in a handful of places around the country.

For now, Tasty on the Hill is open for breakfast and lunch daily from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, though the restaurant may start offering dinners at some point as well.

The address for this new dining spot in Medford is: Tasty on the Hill, 321 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155. Its website can be found at http://www.tastyonthehill.com/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Sandwiches from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Elsewhere in New England]

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Portuguese Festival Coming to Woburn Friday, August 13 to Sunday, August 15, 2010

Woburn will be home to a festival this coming weekend, with a wide variety of Portuguese foods offered in addition to music from a DJ and a band.

Based on a post on the Chowhound site, the Portuguese festival will be held today, tomorrow, and Sunday at the Portuguese American Club on Route 38 between Winchester and Woburn centers. The post mentions that some of the foods included will be pork steak, linguica, tripe, and malasadas. Beer and wine will also be available.

The address for the Portuguese American Club is 83 Main Street, Woburn, MA, 01801 (about two blocks north of Lake Avenue and about three blocks north of the Winchester line). For more information on the event, including exact hours, their phone number is (781) 935-9822.

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