Union Park Pizza Moves from the South End to the Back Bay

A pizzeria that debuted on Boston's South End a few years ago has moved to a new location in the Back Bay.

According to its website, Union Park Pizza is now open on Newbury Street, having moved from its original home on Washington Street. Based on its Instagram page, it appears that the pizza spot said goodbye to its South End space in mid to late September and opened its doors on Newbury Street a couple of weeks ago, initially only doing takeout and dine-in though delivery was added about a week ago.

Union Park Pizza, which first opened in the South End in the fall of 2018, offers pizza, salads, fries, mozzarella sticks, and more, along with beer and wine.

The new address for Union Park Pizza is 244 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. Its website can be found at https://www.unionparkpizza.com/ while its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/unionparkpizza/

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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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!

Babbo Pizzeria in Boston's Seaport District Is Closing

A spacious waterfront restaurant that is known in part for its pizza--and which used to have a celebrity chef behind it--is closing down.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca at Fan Pier in the city's Seaport District is shutting its doors by or before September 15, with the closure expected to be permanent. The restaurant first opened in the spring of 2015, with Mario Batali being the face behind the spot; Batali has since been in the spotlight over sexual assault charges and is no longer involved with Babbo or any of his other food spots, including Eataly at the Prudential Center.

Another location of Babbo can be found in New York City, with that location being run by Batali's former partner, Joe Bastianich, and the B&B Hospitality Group.

The address for Babbo Pizzeria is 11 Fan Pier Boulevard, Boston, MA, 02210.

[August 8 update: According to a source, Babbo closes at the end of business hours tonight. (This has also been confirmed by the Manhattan location.)]

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--Fifteen Pizzas in the Boston Area]

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T&B Pizza Opens in the Union Square Section of Somerville

The husband-and-wife team behind a popular Somerville restaurant have opened a new spot within the same building that focuses on pizza and cocktails.

As reported here earlier, T&B Pizza opens for dinner today in Union Square, with Bronwyn and Tim Wiechmann of Bronwyn restaurant being behind the Washington Street eatery. The new place features wood-fired pizza using locally-sourced ingredients (including cheese and seafood) and two types of pizza are offered--Neapolitan and al taglio, with the latter being a style of Roman sheet pan pizza that is cut into squares. Cocktails such as margaritas, negronis, martinis, and old fashioneds are offered while a selection of wines and craft beers are available as well.

Bronwyn and Tim Wiechmann were also behind the now-closed T.W. Food and Self-Portrait along with the also-closed Playska, all of which were in Cambridge.

The address for T&B Pizza in Union Square is 251 Washington Street, Somerville, MA, 02143. Its website can be found at https://www.tbpizza.com/

[Earlier Article]
Bronwyn Team Plans to Open T&B Pizza in Former Vango Space in Somerville's Union Square

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--Fifteen Pizzas in the Boston Area]

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Pepe's Pizza Opens in Burlington

A highly-anticipated new location of one of the top-rated pizzerias in American debuts today.

As stated earlier (and confirmed in a Facebook post from the place), Pepe's Pizza opens at the Burlington Mall in Burlington at 11:00 AM, moving into the space that had been home to a location of Uno. This is the second location of the pizzeria to open in the Greater Boston area, joining an outlet in Chestnut Hill that opened in late 2015--and another location is also on its way to Arsenal Yards in East Watertown, though a specific date for that restaurant has not been given as of yet.

Pepe's Pizza, which is based in New Haven and dates all the way back to 1925, has received high grades for its pizza over the years, including The Daily Meal awarding it best pizza in the United States in 2017.

The website for Pepe's can be found at https://pepespizzeria.com

[Earlier Article]
Pepe's Pizza Plans to Open at the Burlington Mall in Burlington; Will Take Over Uno's Space

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--Fifteen Pizzas in the Boston Area]

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Emmy Squared May Expand to Boston

A New York-based group of restaurants known in part for its Detroit-style pizza could be making its way to the local area.

According to an article from Eater New York, Emmy Squared is making plans to expand and it is eyeing Boston as well as Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Nashville, the last of which already has one location. The post says that founders Matt and Emily Hyland (along with Nashville-based partners Howard Greenstone and Ken Levitan) are also looking to expand further into New York City, with outlets possibly coming to Midtown Manhattan, the Upper East Side, or the Upper West Side. (Currently, locations of Emmy Squared can be found in the East Village as well as Williamsburg in Brooklyn.)

In addition to Detroit-style pizza--which is basically a thick and crispy rectangular pan pizza--Emmy Square also offers burgers, chicken sandwiches, Caesar salads, and more.

Currently, there are very few options for Detroit-style pizza in the Greater Boston area, with Volo Craft Pizza in Swampscott being one spot that features it.

The website for Emmy Squared can be found at https://www.emmysquared.com/

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--Fifteen Pizzas in the Boston Area]

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Bronwyn Team Plans to Open T&B Pizza in Former Vango Space in Somerville's Union Square

by Marc Hurwitz

Late in 2017, we had reported that a popular Somerville restaurant known in part for its house-made sausages could be expanding to a second location. Now we have learned that these plans have fallen through, though the husband-and-wife team behind the place are now looking to open a brand new dining and drinking spot.

.According to an article in Boston Magazine, T&B Pizza is going to be opening in Union Square, with the wood-fired pizzeria and cocktail bar coming to the Washington Street space that had been home to Vango Convenience Store. The post mentions that the new place would reside in the same building as Bronwyn--which is named after Bronwyn Wiechmann who is behind both places along with her husband Tim--and that it will have a full bar along with approximately 50 seats. If all goes as planned, T&B Pizza could be opening in the latter part of the spring.

.Bronwyn and Tim Wiechmann were also behind the now-closed T.W. Food and Self-Portrait along with the also-closed Playska, all of which were in Cambridge.

The address for the upcoming T&B Pizza is 251 Washington Street, Somerville, MA, 02143.

[May 31 update: Boston Magazine states that T&B Pizza plans to open in June, and it will feature Neapolitan pizza as well as al taglio pies, with the latter being a style of Roman sheet pan pizza that is cut into squares.]

[June 24 update: Eater Boston says that T&B Pizza opens its doors tomorrow (Tuesday, June 25).]

[Earlier Article]
Bronwyn in Somerville's Union Square May Be Joined by a Second Location

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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Il Mondo Pizzeria in Boston's Back Bay/Fenway Area Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

A pair of pizza and sandwich shops that have played a bit of musical chairs now has only one location once again, as its outlet near where Boston's Back Bay and Fenway meet has shut down.

Eater Boston is reporting that Il Mondo Pizzeria on Mass. Ave. is no longer in business, with its building by Berklee being slated for demolition, according to the restaurant's website. The outlet of Il Mondo on Huntington Avenue in the Brigham Circle/Mission Hill section of the city remains in operation.

Il Mondo first opened in a space on Huntington Avenue on the eastern edge of Brigham Circle in 2004, with the now-closed Mass. Ave. shop opening in 2012; the Huntington Avenue outlet closed last December and moved to its present location on the other side of Brigham Circle in March, opening in the space where Grub had been.

The address for the now-closed location of Il Mondo by Berklee was 182 Massachusetts Avenue; the website for the business can be found at http://www.ilmondopizza.com/index.php

[Earlier Article]
Il Mondo Pizzeria Is Opening in Former Grub Space in Brigham Circle

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

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Update: New Development Planned for Bianchi's Space at Revere Beach; Pizza to Live on at Renzo's

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a new apartment complex is in the works for a seaside space, and the site happens to be home to a landmark pizzeria.

According to an article in the Revere Journal, the Revere City Council has approved of a special permit for a non-conforming use that would allow a 145-unit apartment development to be built on Revere Beach Boulevard, with the structure being planned for the space where Bianchi's currently resides. The proposal calls for three existing buildings at the site to be demolished, with the new six-story building including space for a restaurant; Ward 4 Councillor Patrick Keefe asked at the meeting if there was some kind of guarantee that the pizzeria could be the dining spot within the space, though the article does not give any further information about the possibility of Bianchi's remaining at the site.

Bianchi's, which has been in business for nearly 70 years, has been featured by our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) as one of the best places in the Greater Boston area for pizza. The review can be found at the link below:

https://www.hiddenboston.com/BianchisPizza.html

The address for Bianchi's Pizza is: 322 Revere Beach Boulevard, Revere, MA, 02151.

[May 4 update: An article from itemlive.com mentions that the City Council has approved of the construction plans at the Bianchi's site, and that Bianchi's has been told it can remain open until around Labor Day, at which point the pizzeria may either look for a temporary space in which to open during construction (which may take a year or more) or wait until construction of the apartment development is completed and move back in pending the signing of a lease there. (Thanks to a source for bringing this to our attention.)]

[August 31 update: According to several sources, Bianchi's will be closing down Labor Day Weekend, with its last day apparently being Monday, September 3. It is not known for sure what will happen to Bianchi's once it closes, so stay tuned for more updates as they come in.]

[September 1 update: A new article from itemlive.com states that although Bianchi's is indeed shutting down this weekend, there is a ray of hope, as one of the people behind the place says that they now plan to reopen in another space nearby, though they can't announce exactly where until legal agreements are complete.]

[September 3 update: A video from The Phantom Gourmet mentions that Bianchi's pizza ovens will be moved to Renzo Pizzeria on Revere Beach Boulevard and that Bianchi's pizzas will be available there soon; it is not yet known whether Renzo's pizzas will continue to be offered there as well, so keep checking back for more updates as they come in.]

[September 11 update: A comment on Facebook indicates that Renzo's wood-fired pizza ovens had to be removed to make way for Bianchi's brick ovens, but it appears that the rest of Renzo's menu may remain in place.]

[October 20 update: According to a source, Bianchi's pizza is now being served at Renzo's, with a Facebook post from Renzo's confirming this.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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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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Pepe's Pizza Plans to Open at the Burlington Mall in Burlington; Will Take Over Uno's Space

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like one of the best-known pizzerias in America is going to be opening a second Boston-area location.

According to a Twitter post, Pepe's Pizza is planning to open in Burlington, with a page within the burlington.org site stating that the pizzeria is looking to open in the former Uno space at the Burlington Mall. A cover letter posted indicates that the proposed location of Pepe's would have just under 4,000 square feet of space and seating for 98, and it would be open for both lunch and dinner.

A Bizapedia page also confirms the plans for Pepe's to open in Burlington.

The New Haven-based Pepe's, which opened its first Boston-area outlet in Chestnut Hill late 2015, has received numerous accolades since it started out back in 1925, with The Daily Meal awarding it best pizza in the country in 2017.

The website for Pepe's can be found at https://pepespizzeria.com/

[May 17 update: A check on the burlington.org page mentioned above indicates that plans for Pepe's to open at the Burlington Mall have been approved, with an earlier article from the Daily Times Chronicle confirming that the town planning board gave its approval of a special permit for the restaurant.]

[June 2, 2019 update: A page within the Burlington Mall/Simon Property Group site states that Pepe's Pizza plans to open its Burlington outlet on June 10.]

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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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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1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza Is Opening in Boston

A New Jersey-based group of Neapolitan pizza spots may be on its way to the heart of downtown Boston.

According to a licensing board hearing page on the City of Boston website, 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza is planning to open on Court Street near Government Center and City Hall Plaza, with the place looking to have two rooms, outdoor seating during the warmer months, and alcohol available (it is applying for a Malt, Wine, and Liqueur License). If approved, the new pizzeria would be the first one in Massachusetts and only the second in New England, with the other being in Jewett City, CT.

1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza is known for its thin-crust pies that are cooked for approximately two minutes in a 1,000-degree oven. The chain was established in 2014, according to its website.

The address for this new pizzeria in downtown Boston is: 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza, 45 Court Street, Boston, MA, 02108. The website for all locations can be found at http://www.1000degreespizza.com/

[July 20 update: 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza could be one step closer to opening in downtown Boston by next week, as a new licensing board hearing page indicates that a hearing will take place on July 26 on its request for a common victualler license.]

[August 23 update: Eater Boston states that 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza opens its doors tomorrow in downtown Boston and to celebrate, free pizza will be offered to customers until it runs out.]

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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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Sebastiana's Plans to Open in Victor's Italian Cuisine Space in Saugus; Victor's to Move to New Spot

A brand new pizza spot may be on its way to a well-known stretch of highway north of Boston, and it would be opening in the space where a soon-to-move Italian restaurant resides.

The Saugus Advertiser is reporting that Sebastiana's hopes to open on Route 1, taking over the Victor's Italian Cuisine space just south of the Essex Street intersection. (Victor's is moving from its current home at 1539 Broadway to a new space at 639 Broadway where Maddy's and the Blue Star had been.) The article indicates that owner Frank Perry still has some hurdles to clear before the pizzeria becomes reality, and town selectmen have voted to continue a liquor license transfer request in part because of concerns about Perry's "unclear resume and lack of knowledge of the town's liquor regulations." (The Advertiser says that when asked about the restaurants he has worked at, Perry said he didn't know the names of the places off the top of his head.)

As reported earlier, the liquor license in question would be coming from Sully C's, a Route 1 spot that was hit by a fire last year and never reopened.

Victor's Italian Cuisine is hoping to have a grand opening in its new space on December 31.

[Earlier Articles]
Sully C's in Saugus Sells Its Liquor License
Victor's Italian Cuisine in Saugus to Move to Former Maddy's Space

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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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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La Famiglia Pizzeria Is Opening in Former Nicola Space in Arlington Heights

A couple of months ago, we reported that a new pizza spot might be coming to Arlington, opening in the space where another pizzeria had been for more than 40 years. Now we have learned a bit more about the place, including who is behind it and what it may be called.

According to a page within the Bizapedia site, La Famiglia Pizzeria is looking to open in the former Nicola Pizza House space on Mass. Ave., with the principals listed being Ahlam Endrawos (who appears to be behind at least one Dunkin' Donuts location west of Boston) and Osmarly Bento-Lombardi (who is apparently a principal at Red Cosmetics in Woburn). Little else is known about the proposed dining spot, though more could be known by next week as the town of Arlington will hear about the plans for the eatery on June 6.

Nicola's closed in June of 2013, with the space being sold to the owner of Peter Pan Superette on Park Avenue who mentioned at the time that another pizza spot could open in the space at some point in time.

The address for the proposed La Famiglia Pizzeria is 1215 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02476.

[December 12 update: The moderator for The Arlington List Facebook group page states that La Famiglia Pizzeria hopes to open on December 19.]

[December 21 update: Based on a new thread within The Arlington List Facebook group page, La Famiglia Pizzeria is now open.]

[Earlier Article]
New Pizzeria Apparently Opening in Former Nicola Space in Arlington

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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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Crazy Dough's Pizza in Cambridge's Harvard Square Has Closed

A popular location of a local group of pizza spots has shut its doors for good.

According to a note on its Facebook page, Crazy Dough's Pizza in Cambridge's Harvard Square is no longer in business, as its lease recently expired and they decided not to renew it. Other locations of the pizzeria remain in operation, including shops at City Place by Park Plaza, the Prudential Center, TD Garden, the Fenway/Back Bay line, Brighton, and Newport, RI,

The Cambridge location of Crazy Dough's, which first opened in the mid-1990s within The Garage, offered Sicilian, brick oven, and fire-grilled pizza along with salads, sandwiches, calzones, and more.

The address for the now-closed Crazy Dough's in Harvard Square was 36 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for all locations can be found at http://www.crazydoughs.com/

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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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