Boston Restaurant Talk: event facilities

Showing posts with label event facilities. Show all posts

Monday, December 23, 2024

Raffael's & The Greenside Grille at the South Shore Country Club in Hingham Have Closed

Late last year, it was reported that a restaurant and function facility south of Boston would be closing at the end of this year, and now we have learned that they have said their final farewell.

According to a Facebook post from over the weekend, Raffael's & The Greenside Grille at the South Shore Country Club in Hingham are now closed for good, with the post saying the following:

Today is bittersweet as we welcome you to join us for our final day of service, Sunday, December 22nd. Swing by for a drink, share your favorite memories, and let's raise a glass to 15 incredible years together. Your support has meant the world to us, and we are forever grateful for the friendships, laughter, and moments we've shared. Come celebrate the end of an era with us. Cheers to the memories, the meals, and all of YOU who made it so special.

Raffael's Restaurant, Banquet & Conference Facilities was first established in 1989 in the old State Street Bank complex in North Quincy, MA, with another function venue opening in Walpole in 2000 and also being the exclusive food and beverage provider to the former Clarion Nantasket Beach Resort Hotel & Spa in Hull; Raffael's & The Greenside Grille have resided at the South Shore Country Club since 2009.

[Earlier Article]
Raffael's and The Greenside Grille to Say Goodbye to the South Shore Country Club in Hingham at the End of 2024

(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.)

Friday, February 09, 2024

Lombardo's in Randolph Is Going Up for Auction

One of the best-known event venues in the Greater Boston area is going on the auction block.

An email sent to us indicates that Lombardo's in Randolph is putting more than 400 items up for auction, including catering and event equipment, furniture, light fixtures (including its iconic chandelier), and more, with the online auction taking place on February 15 via Boston auction firm Paul E. Saperstein Co. and Bidspotter. The Lombardo family announced the sale of its property last September and also announced the formation of the Lombardo Hospitality Group, which is behind Bardo's Bar Pizza in South Boston and Norwood, as well as Off The Vine Catering.

Lombardo's traces its roots to a butcher shop in East Boston that was established nearly 100 years ago, with the Lombardo family subsequently opening a supermarket in Eastie in the 1950s before eventually opening event venues in East Boston and, later, Randolph.

The website for the Lombardo Hospitality Group is at https://lombardoshospitality.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.)

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Raffael's and The Greenside Grille to Say Goodbye to the South Shore Country Club in Hingham at the End of 2024

A popular restaurant and function facility will both be leaving their home south of Boston, though they will both be around for another year or so.

According to a message sent to us, Raffael's & The Greenside Grille are saying farewell to the South Shore Country Club in Hingham at the end of their lease with the town at the end of 2024, with a press release saying the following:

After 15 years of serving the Hingham community – and 35 years serving the South Shore at large...the owners have decided to embark on new adventures and opportunities....The owners express their sincere gratitude to the South Shore Country Club permit holders, the loyal customers, dedicated staff, and the Hingham community for their unwavering support throughout the years.

The release also quotes owners Elio & Frank Ricci as saying "it's with mixed emotions that we make this announcement. Raffael's has been a labor of love for us, and we are immensely proud of what we have achieved together with our team and the community. While we bid farewell to this chapter, we remain dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences until the very end."

Raffael's Restaurant, Banquet & Conference Facilities debuted in 1989 in the old State Street Bank complex in North Quincy, MA, opening another function venue in Walpole in 2000 and also being the exclusive food and beverage provider to the former Clarion Nantasket Beach Resort Hotel & Spa in Hull. (Both Raffael's & The Greenside Grille have called the South Shore Country Club their home since 2009.)

The website for Raffael's is at https://raffaels.com/ while the website for The Greenside Grille is at https://www.greensidegrille.com/

(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, October 19, 2023

Commonwealth in Cambridge's Kendall Square Is Closing

A casual upscale restaurant in Cambridge whose space is also used for events and functions is closing its doors.

According to an Instagram post from owner Steve Postal, Commonwealth in Kendall Square is getting ready to shut down, with the last day for the Broad Canal Way spot being November 4 (November 2 for regular service). Postal, who first opened Commonwealth in 2013, is also one of the people behind Revival Cafe & Kitchen in downtown Boston, Cambridge's Alewife area, and Somerville's Davis Square, along with an upcoming location in Lexington Center that we reported about this spring.

The address for Commonwealth in Kendall Square is 11 Broad Canal Way, Cambridge, MA, 02142. Its website can be found at https://www.commonwealthcambridge.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!

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

Monday, January 02, 2023

The Barker Tavern in Scituate Ends Restaurant Service; Hosting of Events to Continue

An iconic South Shore dining spot whose space dates back to the 17th Century is going through changes.

According to a source, The Barker Tavern in Scituate is no longer offering restaurant service, with a Facebook post from the place seeming to confirm this, saying the following:

As we say goodbye to another challenging year, we want to thank our customers, staff, and neighbors for all your support in our time of need. Barker Tavern will close a la carte dining beginning January 1, 2023. However, we will continue to host current and future private events. More information will be provided in the coming weeks.

According to its website, the Williams-Barker house was constructed as early as 1634 and was used as a garrison later in that century. The property was purchased in 1978 by Eli Jordan and The Barker Tavern was established, with the Jordan family running it to this day.

The address for The Barker Tavern is 21 Barker Road, Scituate, MA, 02066. Its website can be found at https://www.barkertavern.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!

Friday, July 22, 2022

Lombardo's in Randolph Announces That It Will Close in 2023

One of the best-known event venues in the Greater Boston area will be shutting down next year.

According to multiple sources (including a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page), Lombardo's in Randolph is going to be closing its doors, with a Facebook post from the place saying the following:

We are now at a point where the business is evolving and changing and with that, we announce Lombardo’s in Randolph will be closing next year, effective September 2023....With change comes opportunity. We are focused on creating the next chapter for our family's business centered around hospitality and creating memorable experiences.

Lombardo's, which first opened nearly 60 years ago, traces its roots to a butcher shop in East Boston nearly 100 years back, with the Lombardo family subsequently opening a supermarket in Eastie in the 1950s before eventually opening event venues in East Boston and, later, Randolph, where its sole function hall remains.

The address for Lombardo's is 6 Billings Street, Randolph, MA, 02368. Its website is at https://www.lombardos.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]

Thursday, September 10, 2020

The Balloon Factory by FAB Beer Plans to Open in Somerville

The people behind a brand new gastropub in Somerville are also working on opening a brewery within the city as well.

Eater Boston is reporting that The Balloon Factory by FAB Beer is looking to open on Broadway just east of Teele Square, with a fundraising page saying that the facility would focus on beer, wine, and liquor sales on-site along with regional distribution of its contract-brewed beer. The fundraising page also says that the space would include a bar and a large outdoor area, with both large and small events being part of the plans including weddings, parties, wine and cheese flight nights, cocktail-making classes, and more. The business is looking for a total of $100,000 in funds over the next two months or so and is about a quarter of the way to that goal.

The FAB team has also collaborated with the people behind the now-closed Bergamot restaurant on Washington Street to open the brand new FAB gastropub in that space, which is a combination restaurant/art gallery.

The address for the upcoming Balloon Factory by FAB Beer is 1060 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144. The website for FAB (which stands for Food Art Beer) is http://food.art.beer/

[Earlier Article]
FAB Gastropub Is Replacing Bergamot in Somerville

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.)

Monday, June 15, 2020

Lombardo's in Randolph Morphs into a Marketplace (and Soon, a Drive-In Theater)

While local nightclubs and event spaces are in a particularly tough situation in Massachusetts as the state works its way toward reopening the economy (and clubs and event spaces will be among the last places to reopen), one wedding/event venue in the southern suburbs of Boston has reconcepted in order to remain open for business--and they are returning to their roots in a way.

According to an article from Wicked Local, Lombardo's in Randolph is now set up as an online marketplace offering a variety of food products including produce, meat and dairy items, prepared foods, and alcohol as well as dry goods and paper goods, all of which can be ordered for contactless pickup each Friday. In addition, the business is turning its sprawling parking lot into a drive-in movie theater, with space for 100 to 140 cars and concessions such as hot dogs, popcorn, candy, and soda that will be brought over to people's vehicles. The drive-in, which plans to offer family-friendly double features shown on Lombardo's wall at least once a week, could be ready to debut by June 25, assuming that the town gives its approval.

The Lombardo family first opened a butcher shop in East Boston nearly 100 years ago, subsequently opening a supermarket in Eastie in the 1950s before eventually opening event venues in East Boston and, later, Randolph, where its sole function hall remains.

The address for Lombardo's is 6 Billings Street, Randolph, MA, 02368. Its website can be found at https://www.lombardos.com/ while the website for the marketplace is at https://togo.lombardos.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]

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Splash Ultra Lounge in Boston to Become Bliss

A trendy lounge that featured a roofdeck, billiards, and late-night dining is apparently going to undergo a name change.

According to a post on owner Frank DePasquale's Facebook page, it looks like plans are in the works for the Splash Ultra Lounge space on Kneeland Street to become a new spot, as the person behind DePasquale Ventures says "Splash lounge is simply a memory Bliss event facility will soon open." Splash made the news last fall when it was forced to close due to overcrowding and serving alcohol to minors, according to an article in the Boston Globe.

No other information has been given on Bliss, so keep checking back for updates.

[June 19 update: Universal Hub is reporting that Splash has reopened (with UH also saying that it had been closed due to a burst water pipe), though the club is indeed looking to change its name to Bliss. According to the post, the Boston Licensing Board will decide tomorrow on the proposed name change, with "no major changes" being made to the space.]

[July 1 update: Based on its website, (http://www.bliss-boston.com/) it looks like Splash is now officially known as Bliss.]

DePasquale Ventures is behind such dining spots as Bricco, Mare, Quattro, Trattoria Il Panino, and Umbria Prime. Its website can be found at http://www.depasqualeventures.com/

The address for Splash (and the upcoming Bliss) is 150 Kneeland Street, Boston, MA, 02111.