Fenway Grill & Bar Opens in the Former Thornton's Fenway Grille Space in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

A new restaurant has come to the Fenway section of Boston, moving into the space where a longtime dining and drinking spot had been.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Fenway Grill & Bar is now open on Peterborough Street, taking over the former Thornton's Fenway Grille space. The website for the place indicates that it is a comfort food spot that offers dishes with Mediterranean and Turkish influences, with its menu including such options as eggs with spicy sausage, lentil soup, shepherd's salad, baba ganoush, hummus, chicken kebab, lamb chops, Turkish flatbreads, roasted eggplant with grilled lamb, rice pilaf, and baklava.

Thornton's closed in the fall of 2024 after being in business for more than 30 years.

The address for Fenway Grill & Bar is 100 Peterborough Street, Boston, MA, 02215. Its website can be found at https://www.fenwaygrillbar.com/

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Doner Shack to Expand to the United States, Including a Location at Cambridge Crossing

A fast-casual Turkish kebab chain with roots in the UK will be expanding to the United States, with one of its upcoming locations coming to the Greater Boston area.

According to an article from the Boston Business Journal along with a post from Cambridge Day, Doner Shack is planning to open at Cambridge Crossing, moving into a space on Child Street. Based on the website for the chain, the Cambridge location of the upcoming eatery is expected to offer such items as kebabs, wraps (including shawarma wraps), chicken tenders, fries, and shakes.

The Doner Shack concept was established in 2018 in London, with its first location opening in Leeds in 2019.

The address for the upcoming Doner Shack at Cambridge Crossing is 20 Child Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141. The website for the business is at https://www.donershack.com/

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Sembol Mediterranean Restaurant to Open in the Former Edamame Steakhouse Space in Watertown

A new restaurant that features Turkish fare is planning to open just west of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Sembol Mediterranean Restaurant is looking to open in Watertown, moving into the space on Watertown Street that had been home to Edamame Steakhouse. A What Now Boston article mentions that the upcoming dining spot will apparently feature such options as freshly made breads, house-made mezze, kebabs, döner, and more.

No opening date has been given as of yet for Sembol as it is early in the permitting process, but as soon as we hear more, we will post an update here.

The address for the upcoming Sembol Mediterranean Restaurant is 171 Watertown Street, Watertown, MA, 02472. Its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/sembolmediterranean/

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Chick'n More in Saugus Has Become a Location of Istanbul Diner

It looks like a chicken spot on Route 1 has been replaced by a Turkish restaurant, and it appears that this is a concept change under the same ownership.

According to a message from @IrishEyesPhoto1, Chick'n More in Saugus is now a location of Istanbul Diner, joining another location in Revere. The website for Istanbul Diner confirms this, mentioning that "we are excited to expand our mission with our new location in Saugus, MA." Chick'n More first opened last May, taking over the space where a location of Boston Market had once been.

The Facebook page for Chick'n More indicates the ownership connection between the two dining spots, saying that  "Since 2019, starting with Istanbul Diner Cafe, we're excited to continue growing. We hope you enjoy dining with us!"

The address for the now-closed Chick'n More (and new Istanbul Diner) is 168 Broadway (Route 1), Saugus, MA, 01906. The website for its Saugus location is at https://istanbuldiner-saugus.com/

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Beantown Kebab in Boston's Financial District Has Apparently Closed

It looks like a dining spot in the heart of Boston that was a popular place for takeout has shut down.

According to an X post from @rousee, Beantown Kebab appears to have closed, as the Liberty Square eatery has been locked up and dark for awhile, with a photo showing that it also looks like it has been at least partially cleared out, and phone calls don't go through and indicate that the mailbox is full. Beantown Kebab was known for its Turkish and Mediterranean fare, including such options as hummus, tabouleh, falafel, spinach pie, kofte wraps, lamb chop bowls, chicken doner kebab, shish kebab, baklava, and rice pudding.

The address for Beantown Kebab was 7 Liberty Square, Boston, MA, 02109.

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Istanbul Döner Burrito Is Opening at the Longwood Galleria Food Court in Boston

The people behind a Turkish eatery just north of Boston are opening a new dining spot within a food court in Boston.

According to a post from Istanbul Diner Cafe in Revere (via the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page), Istanbul Döner Burrito is opening at the food court at the Longwood Galleria, with the post saying "Turkish Mexican food is coming soon." Little other information has been given as of yet, though in the thread, co-owner Bekir Senates says that German döner kebabs will be one of the offerings.

The address for Istanbul Döner Burrito (and the Longwood Galleria) is 350 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

[December 15 update: Istanbul Döner Burrito is now open, with its menu offering such options as burritos, quesadillas, chips and dips, and baklava.]

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Halva Plans to Open in the Former New Yorker Diner Space in Watertown

A new restaurant is on its way to Watertown, and it will take over the space where a decades-old diner had been.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Halva is going to be opening on Mt. Auburn Street in the former New Yorker Diner space, with signs out front indicating that the new place may be focusing at least in part on Turkish food while also serving such options as burgers and Philly cheesesteaks. (Other items mentioned include falafel, gyros, midye dolma, doner kebabs, kokorec, and kunefe.) No opening date for Halva has been given as of yet, with one sign simply saying "coming soon."

The New Yorker Diner shut down during the start of the pandemic in 2020 after being in business since the 1970s.

The address for Halva is 39 Mt Auburn Street, Watertown, MA, 02472.

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Boston Döner Opens in the West End

A new dining spot that offers Turkish fare has come to a section of Boston that is undergoing major development.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Boston Döner is now open in the city's West End, taking over the space on Causeway Street that had been home to Rodey's Pizzeria and Pasta. The menu for the eatery includes such items as falafel, red lentil soup, feta cheese rolls, calf's liver, a kofte kebab wrap, a chicken gyro sub, rice pudding, and Turkish coffee.

The address for Boston Döner is 55 Causeway Street, Boston, MA, 02114. Its website is at https://www.bostondoner.com/

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

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Dolma Mediterranean Cuisine Is Opening in the Former Toichi Ichiban Space in Brookline

A brand new Mediterranean restaurant is on its way to a mostly residential section of Brookline, replacing a Japanese dining spot that was in the space for a bit more than five years.

According to an article from Wicked Local, Dolma Mediterranean Cuisine is opening on Kendall Street (just south of Route 9 in the Pill Hill section of town), taking over the old Toichi Ichiban space. The post says that the new restaurant will offer a variety of Turkish and Mediterranean entrees and meze dishes, with the article mentioning salads, stuffed grape leaves, moussaka, and baklava.

Wicked Local indicates that the business partners behind Dolma have connections to other local spots, with Yesim Otsuz and Serkan Otsuz being involved with Yesim's Kitchen in Waltham and Selim Gurel owning the now-closed Angora Cafe in Brookline and Angora Ice in Chestnut Hill.

The address for Dolma Mediterranean Cuisine is 5 Kendall Street, Brookline, MA, 02445.

[March 18 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that Dolma Mediterranean Cuisine 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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Turkish Lazuri Cafe Is Opening in Former Whole Heart Provisions Space in Allston

Last fall, it was reported that the future of the original location of a trio of vegan/vegetarian restaurants was in doubt. Now we have learned that a brand new restaurant is moving into the space.

According to a source, Turkish Lazuri Cafe is opening in Allston, taking over the former Whole Heart Provisions space on Cambridge Street. A check on the menu for the new dining spot shows such items as pancakes, French toast, omelets, menemen (a Turkish egg dish), gozleme (a Turkish flatbread), falafel, stuffed grape leaves, hummus, spinach pie, lentil soup, kebabs, kofte wraps, lahmacun (Turkish pizza), baklava, and more.

Whole Heart Provisions debuted in Allston in the fall of 2015, with James DiSabatino (Roxy's Grilled Cheese, A4cade) and Rebecca Arnold (Sarma, Alden & Harlow, Pain D'Avignon, 606 Congress) being behind the place. It appears that the other Whole Heart outlets in Cambridge's Harvard Square and Central Square are in hibernation, based on their web pages.

The address for Turkish Lazuri Cafe is 487 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA, 02134. The website for the restaurant can be found at https://lazuricafe.com/

[May 21 update: According to its website, Turkish Lazuri Cafe is now open.]

[Earlier Article]
Whole Heart Provisions in Allston Is For Rent

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

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Servia Opens in Downtown Boston October 13

A brand new Mediterranean restaurant that has been a long time in the making is on the verge of opening in downtown Boston.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Servia is planning to open on State Street on October 13, with the new spot featuring "modern" Eastern Mediterranean fare and being open for breakfast and lunch initially, with dinner service coming October 26. We have been told that Ozcan Ozan of the now-closed Sultan's Kitchen (which was also on State Street) is the chef there, and that while it initially looked like Servia would focus on Turkish fare, it will now also feature dishes with other Mediterranean influences as well, including food items with Israeli, Greek, and other leanings. (Its menu includes such items as Israeli bagels with labneh, spanakopita, lentil soup, falafel wraps, moussaka, pastitsio, ancient grain "pitza," and beef kofte.)

Sultan's Kitchen closed around the beginning of 2018 after more than 35 years in operation.

The address for Servia is 126 State Street, Boston, MA, 02109.

[Earlier Article]
Servia Is Planning to Open in Downtown Boston; Ozcan Ozan (Sultan's Kitchen) Behind It

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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İstanbul Diner Cafe Opens in Revere

A brand new restaurant has opened in Revere, and it focuses in part on Turkish fare.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, İstanbul Diner Cafe is now open on VFW Parkway, with the dining spot saying that its food "melds the best of all Mediterranean cultures" and that the restaurant "is a delightful mix of exotic cultures, inspired in the homes, hearths and taverns of the rugged land of Turkey." The menu at Istanbul Diner Cafe includes such items as lentil soup, lamb kababs, shawarma, falafel, kofte (Turkish meatballs), lahmacun (Turkish pizza), burgers, sauteed eggplant, grape leaves, spinach pie, and more.

The address for İstanbul Diner Cafe is 120 VFW Parkway, Revere, MA, 02151. Its website can be found at https://istanbuldinercafe.com/

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

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Nahita in Boston Has Closed; May Be Replaced by New Concept

A fine-dining spot on the eastern edge of Boston's Back Bay has shut down, though it looks like a new restaurant could be replacing it at some point.

According to several sources, including a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Nahita on Arlington Street is locked up and dark and is no longer taking reservations. Another source has confirmed that the restaurant has indeed closed, but D.ream (Doguş Restaurant Entertainment and Management)--which is behind Nahita--may be bringing a new concept to the space, according to the source.

Nahita first opened in September of 2018, offering a variety of Latin-Asian dishes that also had Turkish influences. The restaurant had taken over the space where Liquid Art House had been until it closed in November of 2017.

The address for the now-closed Nahita is 100 Arlington Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

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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Ali Baba to Open in Charlestown; Will Offer Both Turkish and Mexican Cuisine

The people behind a Turkish restaurant and a Mexican eatery in Boston will be opening a new spot that offers dishes found at both places.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Ali Baba plans to open in Charlestown in the former Asian House space on Cambridge Street, with the owners of Ali Baba and El Triunfo on East Berkeley Street in the South End running the new place. As Eater Boston says, the new location of Ali Baba will not be a fusion spot, instead offering both Turkish dishes and Mexican dishes that are found at the two South End restaurants, so the new restaurant could offer such options as kofte, shish kebab, tacos, burritos, and quesadillas.

If all goes as planned, the new location of Ali Baba may be opening later this month.

It looks like the address for Ali Baba will be 100 Cambridge Street in Charlestown, which is near the Somerville border (and just west of Sullivan Square).

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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Sultan's Kitchen in Downtown Boston Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

A downtown Boston mainstay that has been serving up lunch for more than 35 years has closed its doors.

According to a Twitter post from writer, photographer, and former Boston Globe food editor Sheryl Julian, Sultan's Kitchen on State Street is no longer in business, with Julian noting that "Turkish-born owner Ozcan Ozan made wonderful food, which he chronicled in 'Sultan's Kitchen: A Turkish Cookbook.'" No reason was given for its closure and calls to the place have gone unanswered (and do not go to voicemail); as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

Sultan's Kitchen first opened in 1981, offering such items as lentil soup, kebabs, humus, tabbouleh, baba ganoush, stuffed grape leaves, musakka, rice pilaf, and more.

The address for the now-closed Sultan's Kitchen was 116 State Street, Boston, MA, 02109.

[January 2 update: The Boston Globe mentions that Sultan's Kitchen closed because it lost its lease for the space.]

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Chicken Kebab in Stoughton Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

A suburban restaurant featuring Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine has shut its doors.

According to a tweet from @ecceadam, Chicken Kebab in Stoughton is no longer in business, with a Wicked Local post confirming this, saying that the Washington Street dining spot has indeed shuttered, though the owner may open "other restaurants in nearby communities." It is not yet known why the eatery closed, nor is it known what cities or towns the owner may look at for potential dining spots; as soon as we get more information, we will post an update here.

Chicken Kebab first opened approximately five years ago, offering mostly Turkish fare including such items as lentil soup, falafel, lamb sandwiches, shish kebab, a fish kofte plate, and rice pudding.

The address for the now-closed Chicken Kebab was 756 Washington Street, Stoughton, MA, 02072.

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Cafe Hemshin to Open in Downtown Boston

Another Turkish restaurant is on its way to downtown Boston.

Universal Hub is reporting that Osman Kiramoglu, who started the Boston Kebab House on Kilby Street, is looking to open Cafe Hemshin on City Hall Avenue. The restaurant, which may be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekdays, will be the third Turkish eatery to be located in this section of the city, with Boston Kebab House and Sultan's Kitchen on State Street being in the same area. It appears that Cafe Hemshin will move into the space where Delicato Cafe had been until closing last summer.

The address for this new Turkish restaurant in downtown Boston is 8 City Hall Avenue, Boston, MA, 02108.

Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.


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Bosphorus Mediterranean Restaurant in Cambridge's Inman Square Has Closed

It looks like a Mediterranean dining spot in the Inman Square section of Cambridge has closed after being in business for about a year.

According to a post within the Cantabrigia blog of Wicked Local, Bosphorus Mediterranean Restaurant on Cambridge Street is shuttered and apparently "emptied out." A check on their website indicates that it is down, and phone calls placed over the past few days went directly to voicemail (we had heard several days ago that Bosphorus may have indeed closed).

Bosphorus first opened last January, bringing to the Inman Square neighborhood a place to get a variety of Turkish and Mediterranean dishes, including lamb chops, stuffed grape leaves, beef dumplings, shish kebab, and grilled salmon.

The address for this now-closed dining spot in Inman Square was: Bosphorus Mediterranean Restaurant, 1164 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

Thanks to a poster on Chowhound for bringing this to our attention.

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Turkish Delight by Meatballs and ETC. Food Truck Coming to Boston

Another food truck is on its way to Boston, and this one will focus on Turkish cuisine.

According to Boston Magazine's Chowder blog, "Turkish Delight by Meatballs and ETC." plans to be up and running on Thursday, October 20, with the truck having two homes--one at Northeastern University and another in the Bay Village neighborhood of the city (its Twitter page will be giving location updates once it opens). The owner of the new food truck, who has two other trucks in Miami, plans to have the Turkish Delight by Meatballs and ETC. feature "kofte," or Turkish meatballs, along with Greek salads, hummus, tabouli, stuffed grape leaves, veggie sandwiches, shish kebab, and more.

[October 19 update: According to UrbanDaddy, the Turkish Delight by Meatballs and ETC. food truck is looking to be up and running on Monday, October 24.]

[November 9 update: According to Adam's Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog, it looks like Turkish Delight by Meatballs and ETC. will not be up and running until December because of technical issues.]

The Twitter page for the upcoming food truck can be found at http://twitter.com/#!/meatballsandetc

For more information on the opening of the Turkish Delight by Meatballs and ETC. food truck in Boston, please go to the Chowder link below.

Miami-Based Turkish Delight Truck to Hit Northeastern, Bay Village Later This Month

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Bosphorus Mediterranean Restaurant to Open in Inman Square, Cambridge

It looks like a new Turkish restaurant is going to be opening in the Inman Square section of Cambridge.

According to a License Commission General Hearing posted on the City of Cambridge website from this past spring, Bosphorus Mediterranean Restaurant is planning to open on Cambridge Street, about a block east of the Prospect Street intersection. A recent job posting within the Craigslist site mentions that the restaurant is expecting to open in early December, and it will feature Turkish cuisine.

The meeting notes from the City of Cambridge site indicate that Bosphorus Mediterranean Restaurant will likely have a capacity of just under 150 and that it might be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, though this has not been confirmed as of yet.

[January 14, 2011 update: According to Jessie (aka @Tubgoddess) from www.how2heroes.com, Bosphorus is planning to open on Sunday (January 17).]

The address for this upcoming dining spot in Inman Square will be: Bosphorus Mediterranean Restaurant, 1164 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

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