Angelica's Restaurant in Middleton to Close in December

A longtime restaurant and event space in the northern suburbs of Boston is going to be shutting down toward the end of the year.

According to an article from Wicked Local (and as first mentioned in Boston's Wicked North Shore Facebook page), Angelica's Restaurant in Middleton is planning to close in December, with the South Main Street spot having a tentative closing date of December 20. The post indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in the decision to shutter, with owner Chris Kourkoulis saying that "I don't see the future getting better quickly....I just decided to bite the bullet and look forward to something else" while also mentioning that the rising cost of food over the past eight years apparently played a role as well. (There is the possibility that Angelica's could remain in operation if a buyer can be found for the restaurant.)

Angelica's first opened nearly 30 years ago, with the restaurant being known for its American and Italian fare and its space for functions and events such as business gatherings, wedding receptions, family parties, and more.

The address for Angelica's Restaurant in Middleton is 49 S Main Street, Middleton, MA, 01949. The website for the dining spot can be found at http://angelicasmiddleton.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.)

The Rising Eagle Is Opening in the Former Stearns & Hill's Bistro Space in Melrose

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a new restaurant with a colonial theme may be on its way to the northern suburbs of Boston.

Based on a tweet from @kenjimallon, The Rising Eagle is planning to open in the old Stearns & Hill's Bistro space in Melrose, with the picture within the Twitter post showing that it will be "an American Revolutionary Publick House." The Twitter thread also hints that the downstairs area could be a restaurant that is open to the public while the upstairs area may be a function room, though specific details have not been given as of yet--nor is there a specific menu for the place at this point in time. An earlier Patch article mentions that The Rising Eagle is connected to Turner's Seafood across the street, while also stating that the place is expected to offer a rotating list of seasonal items.

Stearns & Hill's Bistro, which was known in part for its steak and seafood dishes, closed last summer after nearly 20 years in business; the upstairs section was briefly home to a Japanese restaurant called Tsukiji Bistro, which opened in late 2017 but shut down last spring.

The address for the upcoming Rising Eagle is 505 Main Street, Melrose, MA, 02176. Its website will be at https://www.risingeaglepublickhouse.com/

[April 11 update: A Facebook post indicates that the function room for The Rising Eagle is now open, but the restaurant itself is not open as of yet.]

[November 27 update: A Facebook post from the place mentions that The Rising Eagle is now open.]

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]

---

Update: Union Street Restaurant in Newton Centre Closed, Has Been Sold

A decades-old restaurant and bar in Newton that was known in part for its large outdoor patio has shut its doors.

According to a source, Union Street in Newton Centre is no longer in business, with a phone call placed to the dining and drinking spot confirming that it indeed closed for good last night. Our source tells us that the people behind a Boston bar may be taking over the space, but this has not been confirmed as of yet.

Union Street, which first opened in the late 1980s, featured comfort food and pub grub such as chili, burgers, wings, nachos, macaroni and cheese, steak tips, and chicken pot pie, along with beer, wine, and cocktails. In addition to its outdoor dining area, the spot also had a space for functions including office gatherings, birthday parties, and more.

The address for the now-closed Union Street was 107 Union Street, Newton Centre, MA, 02459.

[July 20 update: A Facebook post from Raji Pine of The Draft in Allston confirms what several sources have told us, that he and his business partners have purchased the Union Street restaurant and will be making some "slight renovations" before reopening in a few weeks. It is not yet known whether the Union Street name will remain or what kinds of changes might be coming, so stay tuned for more updates. (We have reached out to Pine for more details are are waiting to hear back.)]

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]

---

Tweet

Estragon to Open Bar Gogo in Former Las Ventas Space in Boston's South End

Last fall, we reported that a food shop and deli in Boston's South End had closed down, and that the space would be used by the restaurant next door. Now we have learned a bit more about how the space--which will be up and running next month--will be used.

According to an email sent yesterday, Estragon on Harrison Avenue is opening a Sunday night-only spot called Bar Gogo in the former Las Ventas space next door, while the space will be used for private functions and events the rest of the time. The email says that Bar Gogo will feature a supper menu and a rotating list of cocktails to patrons, with food coming from chef Julio de Haro and drinks coming from bartender Sahil Mehta. The bar will debut on June 12, according to the note.

Las Ventas--which is owned by the same family that runs Estragon--closed last November after being in business for approximately eight years.

The address for Bar Gogo (and the new function/event space) is 700 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118.

[Earlier Article]
Las Ventas in Boston's South End Closes; Will Become Private Space for Estragon

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]

---

Tweet

Avery Provision Co. in Boston Is Becoming The Tasting Room at Sip

A gourmet food shop in downtown Boston is being reconcepted into a tasting room that is under the same ownership.

Eater Boston is reporting that Avery Provision Co. on Washington Street is changing over to The Tasting Room at Sip, a spot that has seating for 48 (including both communal tables and traditional seating) and will include classes, pop-up events, and various functions such as office events. The space debuts on April 5 with an Easter pop-up brunch from Bread & Salt Hospitality.

Both Avery Provision Co. and Sip (a wine bar) opened in July of 2012, moving into the former Bina Osteria and Bina Alimentari spaces.

The address for The Tasting Room at Sip is 581 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02111. More info on the new concept can be found at http://sipwinebarandkitchen.com/thetastingroom/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

---

[Note: Please join the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Group Page to get more info on dining spots and also chat with others about Boston-area restaurants.]

---

Tweet

Christina's Fireside Grille in Foxboro Is Closing

A popular function hall southwest of Boston that changed its concept (and name) a couple of years ago is being shut down, though it could reopen once again in the future.

My Fox Boston is reporting that Christina's Fireside Grille in Foxboro is closing on Saturday, June 30, as the owners--radio talk show host Marjorie Clapprood and her husband--are apparently being evicted. The article mentions that the place could reopen under new management, though it is not known if the name would remain the same.

Christina's Fireside Grille first opened in July of 2010, replacing Stoneforge, a restaurant that was under the same ownership. Known in part as a wedding venue, Christina's is reportedly leaving more than a dozen couples without a place to get married due to its abrupt closure.

[August 13 update: The Boston Globe mentions that town selectmen voted in favor of having the all-alcohol restaurant license transferred from the company behind the now-closed Christina's Fireside Grille to the landlord of the building (Nicholas Panagopoulos), who will "pay all outstanding bills for police details plus attorneys fees, and honor deposits for functions and events." The Globe also mentions that Panagopoulos is going to renovate the structure and reopen the place as a steakhouse and function hall.]

The address for this function hall in Foxboro was: Christina's Fireside Grille, 2 Washington Street (Route 1), Foxboro, MA, 02035.


Tweet

Port 305 Opening at Marina Bay in Quincy

A new waterfront restaurant is coming to Quincy, opening in the space where another dining spot closed late last year. According to both Yelp and an earlier article in the Patriot Ledger/Wicked Local, Port 305 is going to open at the site of the former Skyline restaurant on the boardwalk at Marina Bay. Both sites indicate that the new family-friendly spot, which will also have a function room on the second floor, is looking at opening sometime this spring. The people behind Port 305 also own Siros, an upscale Italian restaurant that is around the corner on the Marina Bay boardwalk.

Skyline, a restaurant that featured seafood and American fare, closed in November of 2009 after being in business under that name for about five years. It had gone through several ownership changes as well as a name change over the years (it was originally called Amelia's).

[June 14 update: According to a poster on the Chowhound site, Port 305 is now open.]

The address for this restaurant in the Marina Bay section of Quincy is: Port 305, 305 Victory Road (Marina Bay), North Quincy, MA, 02171.

For more information on Port 305, please go to the links below.

Patriot Ledger/Wicked Local article:
Quincy restaurateur to open 2nd restaurant at Marina Bay

Yelp page:
Port 305 Marina Bay

Tweet This! Share on Facebook.