Boston Restaurant Talk: Westwood restaurants

Showing posts with label Westwood restaurants. Show all posts

Friday, November 15, 2024

Bar 'Cino Opens in Westwood

Last summer, it was reported that a regional restaurant group was planning to open a new location of one of its concepts in the southwest suburbs of Boston, and now we have learned that it has debuted.

According to a press release, Bar 'Cino opens today in Westwood, and as mentioned in an earlier article here, it takes over the space on High Street that had previously been home to Chiara. The new location of Bar 'Cino, which is open for dinner daily with brunch service coming next month, joins others in Brookline, Watertown, and Newport, RI, and it features Italian cuisine and cocktails--and all locations are part of the Newport Restaurant Group.

Chiara was a casual upscale Mediterranean restaurant that closed in the latter part of 2022 after 18 years in operation.

The address for the new location of Bar 'Cino is 569 High Street, Westwood, MA, 02090. Its website can be found at https://barcino.com/

[Earlier Article]
Bar 'Cino Plans to Open in Westwood, Replacing Chiara

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Casa Loca Mexican Cantina in Westwood Has Closed

A Mexican restaurant just off Route 128 in the southwest suburbs of Boston has shut down.

According to multiple sources, Casa Loca Mexican Cantina in Westwood is no longer in business, with a check on its website and Instagram page indicating that both have been taken down. The dining spot first opened at University Station in the fall of 2020, with the Wellesley Restaurant Group--which runs The Local in Wellesley, Wayland, and Waltham, along with West Village Tavern in West Concord--being behind the place.

The address for the now-closed Casa Loca Mexican Cantina was 174 University Avenue, Westwood, MA, 02090.

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Monday, January 08, 2024

Flying Boar Kitchen Opens in Westwood

A sandwich place and caterer in the southwest suburbs of Boston that is set up as a ghost kitchen has opened.

According to an email sent to us, Flying Boar Kitchen is now open in Westwood, moving into a space at Southwest Park, which is accessed off Route 1 northbound just before the Route 128/1 intersection. The new spot offers Caribbean-inspired sandwiches that are available for takeout, pickup, and delivery via online ordering, with its menu including such sandwich options as beef burger chimi, Dominican porchetta, platano and bean patty, and more, along with empanadas and such sides as red potato salad, fried cheese, and fried rice.

The address for Flying Boar Kitchen is 34 Southwest Park, Westwood, MA, 02090. Its website can be found at https://flyingboarkitchenandcatering.com/

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Bar 'Cino Plans to Open in Westwood, Replacing Chiara

Yesterday, it was reported that a casual upscale Mediterranean restaurant in Westwood will be closing later this year, and now we have learned that a regional restaurant group is planning to open a new location of one of its concepts there.

According to a source, Bar 'Cino is looking to open in Westwood, taking over the space on High Street that is currently home to Chiara. Once it opens, the new outlet--which is part of the Newport Restaurant Group and which is known for its Italian fare and cocktails--will join others in Brookline and Newport, RI, along with another coming to Watertown that is slated to open this summer.

Chiara plans to close in early October after 18 years in operation.

The address for the upcoming Bar 'Cino (and the still-open Chiara) is 569 High Street, Westwood, MA, 02090. The website for Bar 'Cino can be found at https://barcino.com/

[Earlier Article]
Chiara in Westwood Is Closing

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Chiara in Westwood Is Closing

A casual upscale Mediterranean bistro in the southwestern suburbs of Boston is shutting down.

According to a source, Chiara in Westwood is closing its doors, as the people behind it are selling the business to a restaurant group. It looks like the dining spot will shutter sometime in early October, though no specific closing date has been given as of yet.

Chiara, which first opened nearly 18 years ago, offers such items as mussels piccata, calamari, pork chops, pan-roasted salmon, gnocchi, sirloin steak, and roasted chicken breast.

The address for Chiara is 569 High Street, Westwood, MA, 02090. Its website can be found at https://www.chiarabistro.com/

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

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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!

Monday, March 13, 2023

Bubbling Brook in Westwood Will Not Reopen Its Kitchen; Ice Cream Will Continue to Be Available

A popular roadside restaurant and ice cream stand will be scaling back operations for at least this season.

According to a source, the restaurant part of Bubbling Brook in Westwood is not going to be reopening as the business gets ready to get back up and running for 2023, with a Facebook post for the High Street spot saying the following:

After much consideration, due to some changes in staffing and wanting more of a work/life balance for our young family, our kitchen will not reopen this year. We look forward to serving ice cream to our loyal customers that we have been serving for years.

The post mentions that Bubbling Brook will open back up for the season on April 5, presumably offering both hard ice cream and soft-serve like in years past.

Bubbling Brook, which has been in business for more than 70 years, has been a popular spot for fried clams, burgers, hot dogs, onion rings, and more in addition to its variety of ice cream flavors.

The address for Bubbling Brook is 1652 High Street, Westwood, MA, 02090. Its website can be found at https://www.bubblingbrook.net/

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

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Wednesday, June 08, 2022

Neroli Ristorante & Mercato to Open in Westwood's Islington Neighborhood

A new Italian restaurant and market is on its way to a village center southwest of Boston.

According to several posts within the jobs section of bostonchefs.com, Neroli Ristorante & Mercato is opening in Westwood, moving into a space on Washington Street in the Islington section of town. The posts indicate that the restaurant will be a 250-seat fine-dining spot while the market will be a specialty grocery store that features prepared foods, sandwiches from a deli area, wine, and more, and it will also offer catering as well. Based on their Instagram pages, it looks like Neroli Ristorante & Mercato plans to open sometime this fall.

The address for Neroli Ristorante will be 282 Washington Street while the address for Neroli Mercato will be 274 Washington Street. (The Instagram pages will be at https://www.instagram.com/neroliristorante/ and https://www.instagram.com/nerolimercato/, respectively.)

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

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Monday, July 06, 2020

Casa Loca Mexican Cantina Is Opening at University Station in Westwood

A brand new Mexican restaurant is on its way to a mixed-use development along Route 128, and it will be taking over the space where a location of a seafood chain had been.

According to a tweet from @JeremyKrantz, Casa Loca Mexican Cantina is opening at University Station in Westwood, moving into the former Bonefish Grill space. A page for the dining spot on the University Station website mentions that the upcoming eatery will feature "scratch-made" Mexican food with the menu including fajitas, burrito bowls, tacos, steak burgers, and more. It isn't yet known when Casa Loca might open, though we are told that its sign is now up so it could be debuting relatively soon.

The Westwood location of Bonefish Grill closed down in early 2017 along with its Burlington outlet, while the Waltham location shuttered a year later, resulting in the Florida-based chain to effectively say farewell to the Greater Boston area.

[August 14 update: A LinkedIn post indicates that the Wellesley Restaurant Group, which is behind The Local in Wellesley, Wayland, West Newton, Waltham, and Woburn, is behind the upcoming Casa Loca Mexican Cantina.]

[October 7 update: According to a source, Casa Loca is now open in Westwood, with its website confirming this. (The website is at (https://www.casalocacantina.com/)]

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

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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.)

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Bonefish Grill in Westwood Has Closed

A Florida-based seafood chain has closed down another one of its Boston-area restaurants, leaving just one remaining in the region.

According to a poster on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Bonefish Grill in Westwood is no longer in business, with a check on the locations page of the chain's website confirming this. With the closing of the Westwood outlet as well as the shutting down of its Burlington location last month, the only Bonefish Grill left in the Greater Boston area (and all of New England) is in Waltham.

The Westwood location of Bonefish Grill first opened in the spring of 2015.

The address for this now-closed seafood restaurant in Westwood was: Bonefish Grill, 174 University Avenue (University Station), Westwood, MA, 02090. The website for the chain is at http://www.bonefishgrill.com/

[Earlier Article]
Bonefish Grill in Burlington Has Closed

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Seafood Dishes from Boston-Area and New England Restaurants]

Friday, July 29, 2016

Del Frisco's Grille to Open at University Station in Westwood

A small national chain of steakhouses continues the expansion of its more casual concept into the Boston area, with a location coming to a development southwest of the city.

Eater Boston is reporting (via the Boston Business Journal) that Del Frisco's Grille is planning to open at University Station in Westwood, joining existing locations in Burlington and Chestnut Hill, along with a location of Del Frisco's more high-end Double Eagle Steakhouse in Boston's Seaport District. It is not yet known which space the 7,500-square-foot restaurant will move into, and no specific opening date has been given, but if all goes as planned, the new dining spot could be opening in the second half of 2017.

Other restaurants at University Station include such places as Anthony's Coal-Fired Pizza, Smashburger, Not Your Average Joe's, and Which Wich.

The website for Del Frisco's Grille can be found at http://delfriscosgrille.com/

[March 9, 2018 update: An email sent today indicates that the new Del Frisco's Grille in Westwood opens to the public on March 14.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pizzas in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Thursday, October 08, 2015

Vello's in Westwood Is Closing

One of the relatively few restaurants in a southwest suburb of Boston is getting ready to close.

According to a Facebook post from owner Victor Servello of Vello's in Westwood, the High Street dining spot is shutting down at the end of business hours on Sunday, October 11, with the message saying the following:

"I want to thank every customer & co-worker that walked through our doors & supported us. You were the lifeblood of our business & it was an honor / pleasure to serve you / work with you. I also want to thank my parents both for financial & emotional support you gave (especially the first bunch of years) & more so the hard work over the decades that went into providing me that type of opportunity that not a lot of young adults had / have."

No reason was given for the closing of the restaurant.

Vello's, which first opened 13 years ago, has been known as a neighborhood dining spot featuring an eclectic menu with such items as chili, meatloaf, burgers, pasta dishes, pizza, quesadillas, tacos, burritos, steak tips, risotto, lobster rolls, and more.

The address for this soon-to-close restaurant in Westwood is: Vello's, 679 High Street, Westwood, MA, 02090.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Friday, August 14, 2015

Which Wich to Open at University Station in Westwood

A Texas-based chain of sandwich shops with one location in the Boston area will be opening a second, with this one coming to a new development southwest of the city.

According to a dining page within the website for the complex, Which Wich is planning to open at University Station in Westwood, which is currently the site of such restaurants as Anthony's Coal-Fired Pizza, Bonefish Grill, Noodles & Company, and Smashburger. Once it opens, the new shop will join an existing one at Assembly Row in Somerville, along with more than 300 other outlets throughout the country. (Its website is at http://www.whichwich.com/)

If all goes as planned, the new location of Which Wich at University Station will open sometime next year.

University Station is located on University Avenue in Westwood, just off Route 128 near the Route 95 intersection.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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

Wednesday, March 04, 2015

Bonefish Grill to Open in Westwood

It looks like a Florida-based seafood chain is going to be opening another outlet in the Boston area, with this one coming to a new development southwest of the city.

According to an article in Wicked Local Canton, Bonefish Grill is planning to open at University Station in Westwood, joining an existing location at Wayside Commons in Burlington. This will be either the second or third outlet in the area, depending on when a planned location at the new 10 CityPoint complex in Waltham opens (the Westwood branch is hoping to open in June or July, according to Wicked Local).

[April 24 update: According to a press release sent today, the Westwood location of Bonefish Grill opens on June 1, which will likely make it the second location to open in the Boston area (the Waltham location is looking to open later this year).]

In addition to seafood dishes, Bonefish Grill also offers such items as steaks, chops, chicken, tacos, burgers, and more. Its website can be found at https://www.bonefishgrill.com/

University Station is located on University Avenue in Westwood, just off Route 128 near the Route 95 intersection.

[Earlier Article]
Bonefish Grill Plans to Open at 10 CityPoint in Waltham

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

Friday, January 02, 2015

Smashburger Is Opening in Westwood

Last summer, we reported that a Colorado-based chain of quick-casual burger restaurants was going to be opening a second location in the Boston area. Now we have learned that a second location is indeed on the way, but in another part of the region.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, Smashburger is opening a new shop in Westwood, joining an existing location in the Sherwood Plaza on Route 9 in Natick. In July, we had mentioned that a shop was being planned for the Fellsway Plaza in Medford, but there has been little more information on that one of late, and now the chain says that the Westwood location will be its "2nd" in the region. (The job post also says that more than 20 locations are planned for the Boston area over the coming years.)

[February 9, 2015 update: A new job post on Craigslist says that Smashburger plans to open at University Station in Westwood sometime next month.]

[April 6, 2015 update: An article in The Walpole Times states that the new Smashburger in Westwood is now open.]

The Denver-based Smashburger chain first started out in 2007, featuring meatball-shaped patties that are "smashed" on the grill, which they say helps caramelize the beef and keep in the juices. The website for the chain can be found at http://smashburger.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

Tuesday, December 02, 2014

Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza Is Opening in Westwood

A Florida-based chain of pizza spots is on its way to Massachusetts, with its first location coming to a suburb of Boston.

According to its website, Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza is opening on University Avenue in Westwood, with the address indicating that it may be opening within the upcoming University Station development just south of Route 128. Once the pizzeria opens, expect to see small and large-sized traditional coal oven pies cooked in an 800-degree oven along with specialty pizzas, with salads, sandwiches, and "Italian soul food" items on the menu as well.

A post within the jobs section of the BostonChefs.com site mentions that Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza is actually hiring in both Westwood and Newton, though there is nothing on their website for a restaurant to come to the latter (we are waiting to hear back from the chain on this).

[December 2 update: A note from Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza indicates that no plans seem to be in the works for Newton at this point in time.]

[March 4, 2015 update: According to an article in Wicked Local Canton, Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza will indeed be coming to University Station, and it hopes to open sometime this month.]

[June 23, 2015 update: According to its Facebook page, Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza is now open in Westwood, having opened earlier this month.]

Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza first started out in 2002 and now has locations in Florida, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

The address for this new pizzeria in Westwood is: Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, 119 University Avenue, Westwood, MA, 02090. The website for the chain can be found at https://acfp.com/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

Monday, October 06, 2014

Noodles and Company to Open Locations in Medford, Westwood, and Woburn

A Colorado-based restaurant chain that features noodle dishes is getting ready to continue its expansion into the Boston area.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, Noodles & Company is planning to open locations in Medford, Westwood, and Woburn, joining an existing shop in Burlington along with others in Shrewsbury and Nashua, NH. It appears that the chain's expansion is just beginning, as the post says that there will be "many, many, many more...46 more to be precise," though it does not specify whether they will all be in the Boston area.

[April 17, 2015 update: The Noodles & Company website now gives the exact addresses for the Medford and Woburn locations, with the former being at 491 Riverside Avenue and the latter being at 297 Mishawum Road.]

[April 22, 2015 update: According to a Facebook post from the chain, the Westwood location of Noodles & Company (which will be at University Station) opens on Friday, April 24.]

[November 3, 2015 update: According to the chain's website, the Woburn location of Noodles & Company is now open, and Boston Herald writer @DGoodison states that the Medford location will open on November 19.]

Noodles & Company, which opened its first location in 1995 and now has more than 400 locations, offers an array of noodle-based dishes with influences coming from American, Asian, and Mediterranean cuisines. Its website can be found at http://www.noodles.com/

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Monday, July 28, 2014

Not Your Average Joe's to Open in Waltham and Westwood; Headquarters Moving to Milton

A small local chain of restaurants is going to be expanding, with two new spots in the works--and its headquarters will be moving closer to Boston as well.

The Patriot Ledger is reporting that Not Your Average Joe's is planning to open locations in both Waltham and Westwood sometime next year, with this being part of an expansion plan that could include the opening of three to five new restaurants per year. (A location in Nashua, NH, will open later this year as well.) In addition, CEO Stephen Silverstein is going to be moving the chain's offices from Middleboro to Milton, with the move taking place in October.

Not Your Average Joe's, which first started out in 1994 with a restaurant in Dartmouth, MA, currently has 20 locations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Its website can be found at http://www.notyouraveragejoes.com/

[July 19, 2015 update: According to the chain's website, the new location of Not Your Average Joe's at 56 Market Place Drive in Waltham (just off Route 117 next to Route 128) will open in August, while the website for University Station in Westwood says that the outlet there will open sometime this fall.]

[August 6, 2015 update: A Twitter post from @FoodserviceEast indicates that the new Not Your Average Joe's in Waltham will open on August 24.]

[December 4, 2015 update: According to a Craigslist job post, Not Your Average Joe's will open its Westwood location in January.]