Drop Zone Brewery and Taproom in Winthrop Has Closed

A brewery just north of Boston has closed its doors.

According to a Bluesky post from @jeremyk.bsky.social, Drop Zone Brewery and Taproom in Winthrop is no longer in business, with the website for the brewery confirming this, saying the following:

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to the loyal patrons, our amazing community, and the many friends who made this adventure unforgettable. You filled our taproom with laughter, conversation, and support from day one — and we are truly grateful for every pint poured, every trivia night, every festival, and every moment shared. Thank you for being part of the Drop Zone family. We couldn't have done it without you. Cheers to the next chapter — wherever it may lead.

Drop Zone first opened in June of 2022, being a Veteran-owned business that featured a variety of beers along with some food options at its taproom.

The address for the now-closed Drop Zone Brewery and Taproom was 6 Michael's Mall, Winthrop, MA, 02152.

(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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La Esquina del Sabor Replaces Antique Table in Winthrop

A location of a small group of Italian restaurants on the North Shore has closed, and a Colombian dining spot has expanded into its space.

According to multiple sources, Antique Table in Winthrop is no longer in operation, and there is now a sign up for La Esquina del Sabor, which has taken over the Crest Avenue space. It appears that locations of Antique Table in Lynn and Salem remain in operation, while the upcoming location of La Esquina del Sabor appears to be an expansion rather than a move from its home on Unity Avenue in Revere.

The address for the new La Esquina del Sabor (and now-closed Antique Table) in Winthrop is 19 Crest Avenue, Winthrop, MA, 02152.

(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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Café Rossetti in Winthrop Has Been Replaced by Cafe Valenciano

A waterside Italian restaurant just north of Boston is now home to another Italian dining spot under new ownership.

According to a source, Café Rossetti in Winthrop has closed, with Facebook posts from the Winthrop Shore Drive spot saying the following:

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of Café Rossetti. For over 20 years, Café Rossetti has been sharing our family’s traditions with you all through our cuisine. We want to thank our family for joining us on this adventure and working alongside us to make our dreams come true....The chefs who have been cooking for you all for the past 15+ years at Café Rossetti did purchase the business and will be operating under a new name [Cafe Valenciano]....We wish the them the best of luck in continuing the same dedication to quality and hospitality that you've come to love.

The Facebook page does mention that locations of Rossetti Restaurant in Lynn and Beverly remain in operation, while the website for Cafe Valenciano indicates that the place will apparently remain much like the old Café Rossetti, saying that "Although the name will change, everything else will stay the same. The same love and care will stay here with us. Our chef and waitstaff will still remain as well as the menu."

The address for the now-closed Café Rossetti (and new Cafe Valenciano) is 115 Winthrop Shore Drive, Winthrop, MA, 02152. The website for Cafe Valenciano is at https://cafevalenciano.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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Bellino's Trattoria in Wakefield Opens New Location in Winthrop

An Italian restaurant in the northern suburbs of Boston has opened a second location, with this one also being north of the city.

According to a source, Bellino's Trattoria is now open in Winthrop, with the Shirley Street dining spot joining another one in Wakefield. Based on the Wakefield location (which is on Lowell Street and has views of Lake Quannapowitt), expect the new outlet to have such options as risotto and pasta dishes, pizza, calzones, chicken, veal, and eggplant entrees, pork chops, steaks, and more.

The address for the new location of Bellino's Trattoria in Winthrop is 503 Shirley Street,Winthrop, MA, 02152. The website for Bellino's is at https://bellinos.com.co/

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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Pomona Is Opening in Winthrop

The people behind a small group of Italian restaurants on the North Shore are debuting a new concept that will also be north of Boston.

According to a tweet from @mgnicosia, Pomona is opening in Winthrop, taking over a space on Crest Avenue that had been home to a florist. Based on the dining spot's website (which appears to be under construction), it looks like the new eatery will offer such items as bowls, smoothies, and juices and that it will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It appears that Pomona is on the verge of opening, but another tweet from @mgnicosia indicates that it might not be open just yet.

Pomona has an ownership connection with Antique Table, which has locations in Winthrop, Lynn, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Salem.

The address for Pomona is 3 Crest Avenue, Winthrop, MA, 02152. Its website will be at https://www.antiquepomona.com/

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

[September 18 update: A new tweet from @mgnicosia indicates that Pomona 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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Update: Everett, Winthrop, and Abington Now Have Stricter Rules in Place for Restaurant Workers and Customers

Three more communities in the Greater Boston area have set up stricter rules when it comes to dining.

According to an article in the Everett Independent, customers who wish to pick up takeout orders at restaurants in Everett are now required to wear a mask or another type of protective face covering as do the restaurant workers, while the town of Winthrop has instituted a similar ruling as has Abington. (In addition, plexiglass shields will need to be set up in Everett dining spots so that people behind the counter and customers are separated.) Everett, Winthrop, and Abington join a growing number of cities and towns in the region that are instituting rules that go beyond the basic face mask recommendations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with Braintree, Lynn, Medford, Swampscott, Beverly, Revere, Quincy, Brookline, and Salem all having similar mandates, though Lynn (and the Revere Beach part of Revere) is also not allowing customers to go inside dining spots.

Currently, Massachusetts restaurants and bars are only allowed to offer takeout and/or delivery due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with the tentative end date of the restrictions being May 4, though this date could certainly be pushed back.

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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JW's in Winthrop Is Reopening

A dining spot just north of Boston that closed earlier this year--and that once had a couple of well-known local chefs/restaurateurs involved--is going to be opening back up again.

According to a Facebook post, JW's in Winthrop is planning to reopen with a new menu and "great vibes," with the note saying that it is under new ownership and management and that details on the Putnam Street place will be coming soon. JW's, which closed down this spring, had been in business since 2014 and went through a reconcepting a couple of years later, as Jay Silva (Bambara) took over the restaurant and initially had Marc Orfaly (ReelHouse, The Beehive, Pigalle), helping out with consulting. It appears that the restaurant may have gone through another ownership change a short time before it closed down in March, though no specific details had been given at the time.

The address for JW's is 10 Putnam Street, Winthrop, MA, 02152.

[January 14, 2020 update: A Facebook post from the place mentions that JW's is slated to have a grand reopening on January 22.]

[January 24, 2020 update: A new Facebook post from the place indicates that JW's is now open, with its menu including such items as burgers, flatbreads/pizza, steak and pork tips, pasta dishes, and more.]

[Earlier Article]
JW's in Winthrop Has Closed; Exact Status Unknown

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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JW's in Winthrop Has Closed; Exact Status Unknown

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a restaurant just north of Boston has shut down after approximately five years in business, though it is not known exactly what will become of the space.

According to two sources within the restaurant industry, JW's in Winthrop is closed, with at least one Facebook comment on its page indicating that the Putnam Street spot has indeed shut down; a check on its website shows that it seems to be down this morning, and phone calls go to voicemail with the message saying that the mailbox is full. We have not been able to find out exactly why the place has closed, nor do we know if it could reopen at some point, so stay tuned for updates.

JW's first opened in 2014 and changed ownership a couple of years later, and we've been told that it may have gone through another ownership change of late as well; the restaurant offered mostly a mix of New American and Italian fare.

The address for JW's is 10 Putnam Street, Winthrop, MA, 02152. Its website can be found at http://jwswinthrop.com/

[April 4 update: A Facebook post confirms that JW's has indeed closed for good.]

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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La Siesta in Winthrop Opening New Location in Peabody

by Marc Hurwitz

A Mexican restaurant that our sister site has featured as an under-the-radar spot to check out is going to be opening a new location.

According to a source, La Siesta in Winthrop is planning to open in Peabody, with a Salem News article stating that it will be moving into a building in the downtown area that is in the process of being redeveloped. The post says that in addition to La Siesta, Brodie's Pub will also be moving into the Main Street building as well, with its space being a larger one than its old location which is a block away on Lowell Street. Based on the Salem News article, it appears that this is a second location of La Siesta rather than a move, and that the new spot could be opening in three months or possibly a bit less if all goes as planned.

La Siesta has been mentioned on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site as a hidden place to go to for Mexican cuisine, with the review being found at the following link:

http://hiddenboston.com/LaSiesta.html

The address for the new location of La Siesta is 1 Main Street, Peabody, MA, 01960; the website for the original location in Winthrop can be found at http://www.lasiestarestaurante.com/

[August 17, 2018 update: A Facebook post indicates that the new location of La Siesta in Peabody is now open, and that this is indeed a second location, not a move.]

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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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Millie's Kitchen Closes Shirley Street Location in Winthrop; Moving to Cottage Park Yacht Club

A little-known dining spot whose patio had spectacular views of the Boston skyline has closed its shop, and it is moving to a new location nearby which should also have good water views.

According to a message from the restaurant, Millie's Kitchen in Winthrop has sold its space on 561 Shirley Street and is reopening at the Cottage Park Yacht Club on Orlando Avenue, also in Winthrop. The note says that the eatery will be open to the public this Saturday with a new menu in place--and one that will eventually include lobster rolls sometime next month. The original location of Millie's Kitchen had been featured on our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) in part for its hidden waterside patio behind the shop that had views of Crystal Cove and beyond. The review can be found at this link:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/MilliesKitchen.html

The old address for Millie's Kitchen was 561 Shirley Street, while the new address is 76 Orlando Avenue.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve New England Restaurants in Scenic Locations]

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Marco Opens at JW's in Winthrop

A new pizzeria has opened at another restaurant just north of Boston, and it brings back the name of a North End dining spot that closed a few years ago.

Eater Boston is reporting (via the Winthrop Transcript) that Marco is now open by JW's in Winthrop, with the name coming from an Italian restaurant that Marc Orfaly had first opened on Hanover Street a bit more than a decade ago. As mentioned here earlier, Orfaly has teamed up with Jay Silva on the JW's space on Putnam Street, which Silva took over this summer; Orfaly is also involved in a new restaurant that is coming to the East Boston waterfront, and he comes from such places as The Beehive and the now-closed Pigalle, while Silva comes from Bambara, the Boston Harbor Hotel, Pho Republique and Sage (both of which are closed), and the Ritz Carlton Boston.

The Winthrop Transcript says that Marco is a separate space from the adjacent JW's, and that it offers salads, sandwiches, calzones, and Italian dishes along with pizza. (JW's focuses on classic and modern American fare along with Italian options.)

The website for JW's and Marco can be found at http://jwswinthrop.com/

[Earlier Article]
Jay Silva Leaving Bambara in Cambridge, Becoming Owner of Restaurant in Winthrop

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

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Jay Silva Leaving Bambara in Cambridge, Becoming Owner of Restaurant in Winthrop

A well-known local chef who has worked at several top Boston-area dining spots is leaving his current post to run his very own restaurant.

A note sent from Jay Silva indicates that he is finishing up his job as Executive Chef at Bambara in Cambridge after nearly nine years, with his last day there being June 3. Once he leaves the restaurant (which is located within the Hotel Marlowe on Land Boulevard), he will set his sights on owning a place in Winthrop that will include a casual pizzeria, a full-service restaurant featuring seasonal food in a casual environment with beer, wine, and cocktails offered, live entertainment, takeout, catering, and function space. Silva tells us that Marc Orfaly (The Beehive, Pigalle) will be part of the opening team, helping with BOH operations as a consultant.

In addition to Bambara, Jay Silva has also been involved with such spots as the Boston Harbor Hotel, Pho Republique, Pigalle, the Ritz Carlton Boston, and Sage, according to bostonchefs.com.

[June 30 update: According to a Facebook post from Jay Silva, he is going to become the new owner of JW's in Winthrop starting July 1, and he will be revamping and expanding the place over the coming months, with (as stated earlier) Marc Orfaly helping out with the changes beginning in the fall.]

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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Belle Isle Seafood Is Moving to Winthrop

It looks like a seafood place in East Boston is moving to a neighboring town, though the new space might end up being a very short distance from the old space.

According to a veteran poster on the Chowhound site, Belle Isle Seafood on Saratoga Street is going to be heading to Winthrop, though the poster says "don't worry, it's barely 100 yards away," indicating that the new space could be just over the bridge from their current spot (the eatery sits at a bridge connecting East Boston to Winthrop). A post from the Whispering Winthrop site also mentions that "Belle Isle Seafood has to move soon and the Mirak building is perfect," with Mirak apparently referring to a property that is on the other side of the bridge. (The post cannot seem to be pulled up on the site itself, but it can be found via a Google search.)

Belle Isle Seafood is known in part for its lobster rolls, but it also offers such items as clam chowder, swordfish, haddock, crab cakes, fried clams, oysters, shrimp, scallops, and calamari.

[November 11 update: A phone call placed to the restaurant indicates that Belle Isle Seafood has closed its East Boston location and will be reopening in its new Winthrop location on Tuesday (November 13). We are still trying to find out its exact address in Winthrop; as soon as we do, we will post another update here. (Thanks to a poster on Chowhound for bringing this to our attention.)]

[November 13 update: A note from Belle Isle Seafood confirms that it is now open in its new home. The new address is: Belle Isle Seafood, 1 Main Street, Winthrop, MA, 02152.]


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Rustic Table Opens in Winthrop

A new restaurant has just opened in Winthrop, and the person behind the place happens to own the restaurant next door.

An email sent to us by The Inn at Crystal Cove indicates that Rustic Table is now open on Shirley Street, moving into the space next door to Alia Ristorante where Gary's Crystal Cove Grill had been. (Alia is the owner's other restaurant.) Based on photos of the menu from the email, it appears that Rustic Cove focuses mainly on comfort food and seafood dishes, including such items as fish cakes, wings, burgers, a pulled pork sandwich, steak tips, chicken pot pie, paella, pan-fried cod, lobster macaroni and cheese, seafood casserole, and blackened salmon. The dining spot also offers beer, wine, and cocktails.

Alia Ristorante has been featured on our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants), with the review being at the link below.

http://www.hiddenboston.com/AliaRistorante.html

The address for the new Rustic Table in Winthrop is: Rustic Table, 503 Shirley Street, Winthrop, MA, 02152.

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Blackstrap BBQ Opening in Winthrop

It looks like a new barbecue joint is getting ready to open just north of Boston.

According to their Facebook page, Blackstrap BBQ will soon be opening on Woodside Avenue in the center of Winthrop. A poster on Chowhound states that it will be moving into the space where Moonstruck Cafe used to be (Moonstruck Cafe is apparently moving into another storefront in Winthrop Center). The Chowhound poster mentions that Blackstrap BBQ looks to be opening later this month.

Once it opens for business, Blackstrap BBQ's hours will be 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM Tuesday through Thursday, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Sundays.

[November 3 update: According to their Facebook page, Blackstrap BBQ is now open.]

The address for this new barbecue place in Winthrop is: Blackstrap BBQ, 47 A Woodside Avenue, Winthrop, MA, 02152. Their Facebook page can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Winthrop-MA/BS-BBQ/128113320566880

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A Taste of Winthrop to be Held Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The fourth annual Taste of Winthrop is coming this week. According to the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce, more than 30 participants from Winthrop and the surrounding communities will be featuring food at the Winthrop Yacht Club on Wednesday, September 30, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. In addition to food and drink (it is a cash bar), there will also be live entertainment and a silent auction. Tickets to the event cost $30.

Some of the restaurants participating in A Taste of Winthrop include Alia Ristorante, Crusty Crumpet Bakery, El Paisa, Kasbah, La Siesta, Moonstruck Cafe, Nick's Place, and Tutti Frutti.

The Winthrop Yacht Club is located at 649 Shirley Street, a few blocks south of Route 145 heading toward Deer Island.

For more information on A Taste of Winthrop, including how to order tickets, please go to the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce link below:

http://www.winthropchamber.com/

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2009 Winthrop Restaurant Week Coming August 9-14 and August 16-21

Yet another "restaurant week" is coming to Massachusetts, this one taking place just north of Boston. The Winthrop Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual Winthrop Restaurant Week starting on Sunday, August 9. It will go through Friday, August 14, then it will start up again on Sunday, August 16 and end on Friday, August 21. Three-course prix fixe dinners at participating restaurants will be $20.09 and will include an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert (drinks are not included in the price).

Restaurants participating in Winthrop Restaurant Week include Alia Ristorante, Cafe Rossetti's, D'Parma, Gary's Restaurant, Kasbah, La Siesta, Paesan's, and the Winthrop Arms.

For more information on the 2009 Winthrop Restaurant Week, please go to the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce link below:

http://www.winthropchamber.com/

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Latest Review: Alia Ristorante, Winthrop

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for Alia Ristorante, an Italian and Mediterranean restaurant in Winthrop, MA. Located on Shirley Street about a block from the ocean, Alia Ristorante is a little-known dining spot that seems to known mainly to the locals. The menu includes mostly Italian dishes, but there are also some Moroccan and other Mediterranean entrees. Everything is cooked to order, and the folks who run the restaurant are more than willing to make items that are not on the menu. To read more about Alia Ristorante in Winthrop, please click on the link above.

Latest Review: La Siesta, Winthrop

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a Mexican restaurant in the center of Winthrop called La Siesta Restaurante. La Siesta, which was recently expanded and renovated, is a dining spot that features both authentic Mexican cuisine and Mexican-American dishes. The menu includes tortilla soup, burritos, enchiladas, tacos, and more, as well as nightly specials. The restaurant has three dining areas and enough room to fit about 100 people. To read more about La Siesta Restaurante in Winthrop, please click on the link above.

Latest Review: Winthrop Arms, Winthrop, MA

The latest review that is within the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site is a dining spot within a grand old hotel along the Winthrop coast called the Winthrop Arms. The Winthrop Arms, which is on the first floor of the hotel by the same name, is a charming, cozy restaurant with traditional American food, along with some Italian dishes. Prices are decent and the seating is comfortable, making the Winthrop Arms a good place to go as a family. To read more about the Winthrop Arms in Winthrop, please click on the link above.