Boston Restaurant Talk: robotic restaurants

Showing posts with label robotic restaurants. Show all posts

Friday, February 11, 2022

Spyce's Restaurants Are Saying Farewell

It looks like a local pair of dining spots known in part for their robotic kitchens are going away, as their focus will turn to developing the technology for a growing chain of restaurants that purchased them last year.

According to a source, Spyce in Cambridge's Harvard Square is closing its doors on February 18, with a check on the website indicating that the original location in Boston's Downtown Crossing has already shuttered. Based on a picture sent by our source, a note out front at the Harvard Square location says that "we are closing this location to focus on developing technology for Sweetgreen." As reported here, Sweetgreen announced last August that it would be purchasing Spyce, allowing the chain to use Spyce's technology to increase the efficiency of customer orders, though more specific details were not given at the time.

The Spyce concept was created by MIT students in 2015, with the Downtown Crossing restaurant opening in the spring of 2018 and the Harvard Square outlet opening in early 2021.

The website for Sweetgreen is at https://www.sweetgreen.com/ while the website for Spyce is at https://www.spyce.com/

[Earlier Article]
Sweetgreen Is Acquiring Spyce

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.)

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Sweetgreen Is Acquiring Spyce

A growing chain of dining spots that focus on healthy fare is buying a local pair of eateries known in part for their robotic kitchens.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page and a message from Adam of Universal Hub, Sweetgreen is purchasing Spyce, with the Boston Business Journal indicating that the deal will apparently allow the chain to use Spyce's technology to increase the efficiency of customer orders, though the exact manner of incorporating the technology has not been given as of yet, nor have the terms of the acquisition. The Spyce concept was created by MIT students in 2015, with the first shop opening in Boston's Downtown Crossing in the spring of 2018; a second location in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge debuted early this year.

The website for Sweetgreen is at https://www.sweetgreen.com/ while the website for Spyce can be found at https://www.spyce.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.)

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Spyce Opens in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A Boston restaurant that makes use of robots has opened a second location in Cambridge.

According to a press release, Spyce opens today in Harvard Square, moving into the old Chipotle space in Brattle Square. The new dining spot joins its original location on Washington Street in Downtown Crossing, featuring a robotic kitchen and a menu that includes a variety of salads and bowls.

The Boston location of Spyce debuted in May of 2018.

The address for the new location of Spyce in Harvard Square is 1 Brattle Square, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for Spyce can be found at https://www.spyce.com/

[Earlier Article]
Spyce Plans to Open in Cambridge's Harvard Square

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.)

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Spyce Reopens in Boston's Downtown Crossing with Some Changes Made

A restaurant in the heart of Boston that features the use of robots has returned nearly a year after temporarily closing, and some changes have come to the place.

According to a press release, Spyce in Downtown Crossing is open once again, with the menu now including salads and warm bowls that are customizable to meet the dietary needs/restrictions of customers along with options for those with food allergies. The menu at the Washington Street spot is run via an app, website, and in-store kiosks, and the eatery now has its own delivery fleet including electric mopeds and on-staff delivery servers.

The Spyce concept, which was created by MIT students in 2015, led to the opening of the Downtown Crossing location in the spring of 2018, with the dining spot featuring a robotic kitchen and being in business until last November, when it shuttered as it got ready to make changes. A second location of the place plans to open in Cambridge's Harvard Square later this fall.

The address for Spyce in Downtown Crossing is 241 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02201. Its website can be found at https://www.spyce.com/

[Earlier Article]
Spyce in Boston's Downtown Crossing to Close for Renovations

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.)

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Spyce in Boston's Downtown Crossing to Close for Renovations

A restaurant in downtown Boston that features the use of robots is temporarily shutting down as it gets ready to make some changes--and it also gets ready to open a second location.

According to a press release, Spyce in Downtown Crossing is closing on November 22, with the Washington Street eatery planning to reopen sometime over the coming months. The note mentions that one of the changes being planned includes upgrades to the kitchen that will allow for a new menu, with offerings including the introduction of salads along with its warm bowls. As mentioned earlier, Spyce is also planning to open a new location in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge as well, with the email indicating that the reopening of the Boston location and the opening of the Cambridge location should take place at around the same time.

The Spyce concept, which was created by MIT students in 2015, led to the opening of the Downtown Crossing location in May of 2018, with the place featuring a robotic kitchen.

The address for Spyce in Downtown Crossing is 241 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02201. Its website can be found at https://www.spyce.com/

[Earlier Article]
Spyce Plans to Open in Cambridge's Harvard Square

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]

Monday, September 23, 2019

Spyce Plans to Open in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A restaurant in downtown Boston that features the use of robots may be expanding across the river.

Cambridge Day is reporting that Spyce is looking to open in Harvard Square, taking over the former Chipotle space at 1 Brattle Square. The concept, which was created by MIT students in 2015, led to the opening of Spyce on Washington Street in Downtown Crossing in May of 2018, with the place featuring a robotic kitchen and a menu that includes a variety of bowls.

A license commission agenda page indicates that a meeting on the proposed Spyce in Harvard Square is slated for tomorrow (Tuesday, September 24).

The website for Spyce can be found at https://www.spyce.com/

[January 25, 2021 update: A message sent to us mentions that the Harvard Square location of Spyce plans to open to the public on Wednesday, January 27.]

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.)