Novo Marketplace Is Opening in Allston

A new food court/food hall is on its way to Allston.

According to its website, Novo Marketplace is planning to open on Brighton Avenue, with its site indicating that as many as 16 permanent vendors and 3 smaller popup spaces are expected to be set up within the 20,000-square-foot space, with options including "cuisines from around the world" (Indian, Japanese, Chinese, and Southeast Asian fare). The names given within the website include Tabla Indian Express, Molly Tea, Zhengxin Chicken, Lumi Roll and Bowl, Mi Nori Handroll, LIV, HIP Novo, Hangover, Cotti Coffee, Tasya's Kitchen, and Fluffy Fluffy.

The address for Novo Marketplace is 122 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134. Its website can be found at https://novomarketplace.com/

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T Market Plans to Open in the Former Wegmans Space at Natick Mall

It looks like a high-end Asian supermarket may be on its way to the western suburbs of Boston.

According to Kiat Cormier of the ChewOnThis Facebook group page (via a Natick Report article), T Market is planning to open at Natick Mall, taking over the space that had been home to a location of Wegmans until it closed in the summer of 2023 after five years in business. The Natick Report article mentions that the new market will have about 90,000 square feet of space and will include a food court with a number of Asian street food vendors.

The article states that T Market is currently in the planning and permitting stages, and if all goes well, it could be opening by the end of the year.

The website for T Market is at https://www.tmarketus.com/

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POE-Lenta Is Opening at Time Out Market Boston in the Fenway

A well-known local chef and restaurateur is opening a new dining spot in a Boston food hall.

According to an article from Time Out, POE-Lenta is getting ready to open at Time Out Market Boston in the city's Fenway neighborhood early this month, with Brian Poe being behind it along with business partner Guillermo Guzman, who is chef de cuisine at Poe's Tip Tap Room and Crane River Cheese Club in Beacon Hill. The new spot will offer Italian fare including such items as roasted tomato soup, wild game ragu, and a prosciutto sandwich, and Guzman's brother Sergio and stepdaughter Suri are involved with the place as well.

More information on POE-Lenta will be posted to the Instagram page for Time Out Market Boston, which is at https://www.instagram.com/timeoutmarketboston

[November 13 update: An Instagram post from Brian Poe indicates that POE-Lenta is now open.]

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Izakaya Ittoku, Yume Ga Arukara in Cambridge's Porter Exchange Food Court to Move into the Former Shaking Crab Space

A couple of years, ago, it was reported that an entire food court in Cambridge may be relocating to another space in its building, only to have those subsequently plans fall through. Now we have learned that two of the food court's dining spots will be moving into that space instead.

According to a source, Izakaya Ittoku and Yume Ga Arukara, which currently reside in Lesley University's University Hall in Porter Square, will be heading to the former Shaking Crab space, moving a short distance from the food court in the middle of the building to a front corner space. If all goes well, the move should be complete by this fall, with the two eateries hoping to stay open for as much as possible between now and then. (We have been told that the other dining spots in the food court will remain where they are.)

The address for University Hall (and the Porter Exchange Food Court) is 1815 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02140.

[Earlier Article]
Porter Exchange Food Court in Cambridge May Be Moving

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H Mart in Quincy Is Debuting a Food Hall

An Asian supermarket chain is adding a new food hall to one of its Boston-area locations.

A check on the place indicates that H Mart in Quincy is going to be building a new section within its store that includes several options for dining/food, including Tous Les Jours, Oh K-Dog, Boon Mukshidonna, Paik's Noodle, bb.q Chicken, Umai Katsu, Hanchon, and Gong Cha. Currently, two other local outlets have food halls/food courts as well--Burlington and Cambridge--while another location of the market can be found in Brookline.

The address for H Mart in Quincy is 101 Falls Boulevard, Quincy, MA, 02169. The website for the company is at https://www.hmart.com/

[September 19 update: According to a post from the company, H Mart has opened its food court in the Quincy location.]

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Porter Exchange Food Court in Cambridge May Be Moving

One of the most beloved food courts in the Boston area is moving--though it won't be moving very far.

According to an article from Cambridge Day, the Porter Exchange Food Court within Lesley University's University Hall in Porter Square is slated to move to the former Shaking Crab space, which means the food court will basically move from the middle of the building to a front corner space that has an entrance on Mass. Ave. The post mentions that a formal plan isn't expected to be announced until September, and the restaurants apparently haven't been given specific details on the move as of yet.

The Porter Exchange Food Court is known for its handful of Asian dining spots, including Cafe Mami, Chocho's, I Love Sushi, Izakaya Ittoku, Sapporo Ramen, Tampopo, Yotopia, and Yume Ga Arukara.

Both the current and future address for the Porter Exchange Food Court is 1815 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02140.

[September 19, 2023 update: Cambridge Day mentions that the plans to move the food court have fallen through.]

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Pho Express Is Opening in the Former Misono Grill Space at Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88 Food Court in Allston

It looks like a new place for soup is on its way to a popular Boston food court, and it will replace a longtime eatery that closed last summer.

According to a source (Sarah Wu), Pho Express is planning to open in the old Misono Grill space at the Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88 Food Court in Allston, with a photo sent to us showing a "coming soon" sign up for the place. A voting agenda page within the City of Boston website mentions that Shun Chen is the manager of record for the spot; it is not known if this is the same Shun Chen who is behind Shun's Kitchen in the South End--and had been behind several other restaurants as well, including Jae's Cafe, which had previously been in the Shun's Kitchen space (as soon as we find out more information, we will post an update here).

Misono Grill had been in the food court for approximately 20 years until closing either in late August or early September of 2020.

[October 20 update: According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Pho Express is now open.]

[Earlier Article]
Misono Grill, Tonkatsu King at Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88 Food Court in Allston Have Apparently Closed

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

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Kimchipapi Korndogs and Pon De Joy Are Opening in the Old Pho Viet's Space in the Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88 Food Court in Allston

The people behind a Korean eatery in Allston that is known in part for its poke bowls is bringing a new dining spot to a nearby food court.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Joon Son and his team from Kimchipapi Kitchen on Harvard Avenue will be opening Kimchipapi Korndogs and Pon De Joy in the old Pho Viet's space in the Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88 food court, with the former being an extension of Kimchipapi Kitchen and offering corn dogs and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), while the latter will feature mochi doughnuts. The post mentions that Kimchipapi Korndogs and Pon De Joy--which hope to open in August--will use the same kitchen and counter, though the branding and signage will be separate.

Pho Viet's, which features banh mi, pho, and more, moved from the food court to a nearby space on Commonwealth Avenue early this year.

[October 14 update: Eater Boston states that Pon De Joy is now open, and a source (Sarah Wu) tells us that Kimchipapi Korndogs will also open at some point in time.]

[October 19 update: Our source tells us that Kimchipapi Korndogs now appears to be open, as the menu at the space now includes Korean Street Korndogs and Potato Korndogs.]

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

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Laced Quality Kitchen Opens at CambridgeSide

A brand new dining spot that focuses on chicken has come to East Cambridge.

According to an article from Cambridge Day, Laced Quality Kitchen is now open in the food court at CambridgeSide, with the place being opened by Joamil Rodriguez who is the founder of the Laced high-end sneaker chain. A look at the menu shows such items as wings, tenders, and chicken and waffles, while fries and onion rings are also offered as well.

The address for Laced Quality Kitchen (and CambridgeSide) is 100 CambridgeSide Place, Cambridge, MA, 02141. The menu for the eatery can be found at https://laced-quality-kitchen.myshopify.com/

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

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Misono Grill, Tonkatsu King at Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88 Food Court in Allston Have Apparently Closed

It looks like a couple of dining spots at a popular Boston food court have shut down.

According to a couple of sources, including Sarah Wu and a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Misono Grill and Tonkatsu King at the Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88 Food Court in Allston appear to have closed, with Wu telling us that Misono Grill's last day in business was yesterday, while a picture of Tonkatsu King shows that it has been cleared out. Misono Grill was known for its Korean fare, while Tonkatsu King also focused on Korean cuisine along with some Japanese food.

We have been told that Misono Grill had been in the food court for approximately 20 years, while Tonkatsu King first opened late last year.

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

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Tonkatsu King Is Opening in Former Geido Sushi Space at Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88 Food Court in Allston

A new dining spot is coming to a food court in Allston, replacing another eatery that closed awhile back.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Tonkatsu King is opening in the old Geido Sushi space within the Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88 food court in Allston, with the name indicating that the place could focus at least in part on breaded and deep-fried pork cutlets. No opening date has been given as of yet, but the photo posted indicates that it could be opening soon. (Stay tuned for updates.)

Geido Sushi first opened in the spring of 2015 within the food court.

[December 18 update: According to a source (Sarah Wu), Tonkatsu King is now open.]

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

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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Cosi Opens at the Burlington Mall

A local group of dining spots whose future appeared to be rather shaky a few years ago continues to make a comeback, with the company now opening a new location in the northern suburbs of Boston.

According to a press release, Cosi is now open at the Burlington Mall, moving into a space within the food court area. As with the other locations, the new outlet offers such items as soups, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, coffee, and more, and it is currently offering a summer menu that includes such options as a blueberry smash, a spinach salad, and a chicken bruschetta sandwich.

In 2016, Cosi filed for bankruptcy and a few of its outlets shuttered, including locations in Cambridge's Kendall Square, Boston's Back Bay, and State Street in downtown Boston. Currently, Cosi can be found on Federal Street, High Street, Milk Street, and South Station in downtown Boston as well as the Seaport District, Logan Airport, Charlestown, CambridgeSide in East Cambridge (which opened in April), Mansfield, and Wareham.

The website for Cosi is at https://www.getcosi.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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Time Out Market Boston Opens in the Fenway; Includes 15 Dining Spots

After more than two years of planning and construction, the highly-anticipated Time Out Market Boston is now open in the city's Fenway neighborhood, and with it, 15 options for food and drink. The list includes the following, based on information from an earlier article here as well as a recent press release. (Time Out Market Boston is located by Brookline Avenue and Park Drive, with its website being at https://www.timeout.com/boston)

Ms. Clucks Deluxe -- a chicken and dumplings place from Tim and Nancy Cushman (Hojoko, O Ya)

gogo ya -- another spot from the Cushmans, with this one featuring inventive takes on sushi

Mamaleh's Delicatessen -- a second location of a modern deli that is located in the Kendall Square section of Cambridge

Saltie Girl -- a seafood restaurant whose original location is in the Back Bay

Union Square Donuts -- an outlet of a popular donut shop that was first established in Somerville

BISq -- a second location of an eclectic restaurant in Cambridge's Inman Square, with cheese and charcuterie boards offered along with sandwiches

anoush'ella -- an Eastern Mediterranean eatery that joins locations in Boston's South End and Lynnfield

George Howell Coffee -- a well-known name among coffee lovers that also offers a variety of pastries and baked goods as well

Revolution Health Kitchen -- a health-based spot that offers organic, plant-based foods, including soups, salads, bowls, smoothies, and juices

Gelato & Chill -- an artisanal gelato spot that also offers gluten-free and dairy-free options

Mobile Cooks -- a vegan place that uses locally-sourced ingredients and which will have different chefs creating daily or weekly specials

Monti Roman Pizzeria -- an eatery from Chef Michael Schlow that features wood-fired Roman-style pizza

Italian Kitchen -- another Michael Schlow spot, this one focusing on Italian dishes including ones created with house-made pasta

a burger spot from Chef Tony Maws -- this place from the owner of Craigie on Main focuses on the legendary Craigie Burger

a dining spot from Chef Peter Ungár -- this is an offshoot of the highly-regarded Tasting Counter in Somerville, with dishes that have global influences offered

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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Einstein Bros. Bagels at the MIT Coop Food Court in Cambridge's Kendall Square Has Closed

A Cambridge location of a bagel chain has shut down, and it looks like a new dining spot will be moving into the space.

According to a source, Einstein Bros. Bagels at the MIT Coop Food Court in Kendall Square is no longer in business, with a sign out front saying that a new place called The Deli at MIT Coop is moving into the space at some point soon. It is not yet known if any other Boston-area locations of the bagel chain are closing as well; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

Einstein Bros. Bagels was one of a few food spots that came to the MIT Coop Food Court when it reopened in December of 2015. Other outlets of the bagel shop can be found mostly at college campuses around the region, including at Emerson, BU, Bentley, Brandeis, Lasalle, UMass Lowell, and Endicott, along with stores in Wayland and Chelmsford.

The website for Einstein Bros. Bagels can be found at https://www.einsteinbros.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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Kendall Food Court in Cambridge Is Reopening

A food court in Cambridge that shut down a couple of years ago is getting ready to reopen.

According to a Twitter post from @TransitMark, Kendall Food Court is returning sometime this fall, with a Craigslist job post confirming this, simply saying "New Food Court Opening in Kendall Square!" The sign shown in the Twitter post indicates that Einstein Bros Bagels, Bytes at the Coop, and Panda Express will be opening there, though it is not known if other eateries will be joining them at this point in time.

[October 26 update: Cambridge Day states that Kendall Food Court hopes to reopen November 9, and that it will have a total of three dining spots (the ones mentioned above).]

[November 9 update: The MIT Coop Bookstore tells us that the food court is not opening today after all, but final touches and employee training are in the works for this week, so it should be opening very soon.]

[December 9 update: According to several social media posts (including a tweet from @kendallcntr), Kendall Food Court is now open.]

Kendall Food Court--which is also known as Cambridge Center Food Court and MIT Coop Food Court--shut down in 2013, with a renovation of the space and a reopening promised since its closure. The old food court included Au Bon Pain, Beijing Tokyo, Damon's, Sbarro, and Teriyaki Cafe.

The food court is located at 3 Cambridge Center, which is next to the Marriott along Main Street in Kendall Square.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Dishes for College Students in the Boston Area]

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Food Vendors Set Up Shop at the Belvidere Arcade within the Prudential Center

In June, we reported that the food court at the Prudential Center closed for good in order to make way for the upcoming Italian emporium Eataly. Now we have learned that a temporary food court of sorts has been created in another part of the complex, and it includes some familiar names.

According to several social media posts (including a Twitter post from Pennypackers), the Belvidere Arcade is now home to a handful of food vendors, including Pennypackers, Sa Pa, Chicken and Rice Guys, and Wok N Talk. Chicken and Rice Guys gives a bit more information, telling us that booths are set up for the dining spots, and that it is a program through Fooda that gives patrons another option to the now-closed food court while Eataly is being built (Eataly expects to open in the middle to latter part of 2016). For now, these four vendors are open for lunch from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on weekdays, and it is not known if more vendors will move in or if the hours might be expanded at some point; as soon as we find out more information, we will post an update here.

The Belvidere Arcade can be found by the South Garden within the Prudential Center, just west of the Huntington Arcade and just north of the entrance by Huntington Avenue and Belvidere Street.

[Earlier Article]
Prudential Center Food Court Sets Closing Date of June 25 to Make Way for Eataly

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Chef's Playground, Renovated Food Court Open at Boston Children's Hospital

The food court at a local hospital has been revamped in a big way, with new restaurants and more coming to the space.

The Boston Globe is reporting that the new food court--which includes a feature called Chef's Playground--is now open within Boston Children's Hospital on Longwood Avenue, with the $11 million renovation of the old cafeteria including dining spots such as Regina's Pizza and Starbucks and a play area for children with coloring stations and interactive screens on the walls, The article mentions that celebrity and local chefs such as Tiffani Faison of Sweet Cheeks and Rachel Klein of Liquid Art House will be brought in to cook meals for patrons, and there will also be a "Parent's Night Out" with families of children who are patients having private five-course meals created by guest chefs.

More on the revamped food court and Chef's Playground can be found at the link below:

http://www.isgenuity.com/cafeteria-boston-childrens-hospital/

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Prudential Center Food Court Sets Closing Date of June 25 to Make Way for Eataly

In April, we reported that a food court in Boston's Back Bay would be shutting down in preparation for an Italian emporium to take over the space. Now we have learned when it will be closing.

A note from the Shops at Prudential Twitter page says that the food court at the Prudential Center is tentatively scheduled to close after business hours on June 25, which confirms some rumors about this date indeed being when it would shutter. As mentioned earlier, celebrity chef/restaurateur Mario Batali and his business partners will be opening a location of Eataly in that space and beyond, as it will be on three floors and have 45,000 square feet of space, with a rooftop restaurant being part of the plans. It appears that the marketplace will be ready to open by the middle to latter part of 2016, joining its flagship U.S. location in Manhattan and a store in Chicago (a number of other locations can be found in other parts of the world as well).

Some of the dining spots located at the food court at the Pru include Panda Express, Boston Chowda Co, Cheeseboy, Gourmet India, Flamers, and Pizzeria Regina.

[June 25 update: A new post from the Prudential Center website confirms that the food court will indeed be closing at the end of business hours today.]

[Earlier Article]
Mario Batali's Eataly Will Open at the Prudential Center in Boston's Back Bay

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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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Wegmans Market Looks at a Fall Opening in Burlington

Nearly three years after first reporting on it, a huge supermarket that is coming to Burlington appears to be only months away from opening.

According to several ads in various newspapers, Wegmans is planning to open this fall.at 3rd Ave, an upcoming dining and entertainment "boulevard" that will be located within the Northwest Park development near Route 3 and the Burlington Mall. Based on earlier reports, the grocery store looks to be nearly 150,000 square feet in size, with a large market cafe area being a part of it. Once the market opens, it will join an existing location of Wegmans in Northborough as well as a soon-to-open location in Chestnut Hill. (Another store is likely coming to Westwood as well, though it is not known when it might open.)

Wegmans first started out in Rochester, NY and now has locations in several states on the East Coast. Its website can be found at http://www.wegmans.com/

[Earlier Article]
Wegmans Market to Open in Burlington

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Licki Licki Dessert Stand Has Opened in Allston

It looks like a dessert stand has opened within the Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88 in Allston, and it has a rather memorable name.

According to posters on the Chowhound site and the Hiddenboston Twitter page, Licki Licki has opened within the market's food court area. One of the Chowhound posters mentions that the dessert stand, which is one of a number of Asian spots within the food court, offers ice cream, yogurt (presumably frozen yogurt), and some other desserts.

Currently, there appears to be no information online about the new Licki Licki food stand. If anyone has tried the place, please post a comment here.

The address for Licki Licki (and the Hong Kong Supermarket/Super 88) is 1095 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215.

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