The Beacon, Stratus to Open at the Top of the Prudential Tower in Boston's Back Bay

A few years back, a proposal was submitted for the top of one of Boston's skyscrapers, and now we have learned that a restaurant and a cocktail lounge are part of the plans.

NBC Boston is reporting (via the Boston Business Journal) that the top of the Prudential Tower is slated to include a dining spot called The Beacon on the 50th floor and a bar called Stratus on the 51st floor, with the 52nd floor being home to an indoor observatory called The View and an elevated platform known as The Lookout. The top floor had previously been home to Top of the Hub, an iconic restaurant and events space that first opened back in 1965 and shuttered permanently around the start of the pandemic in March of 2020.

In addition to The Beacon, the 50th floor (which will be called The City) will also have exhibits including a theater while the 51st Floor will be called Cloud Terrace and will feature an open-air space including outdoor space at Stratus. (The entire three-story project--which is looking to open later this year--will be called View Boston.)

[June 13 update: An email and press release sent to us indicates that View Boston--including The Beacon and Stratus--will be opening on June 15.]

[Earlier Article]
Proposal Submitted to Build Prudential Center Observatory in former Top of the Hub Space and Two Floors Below It

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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Proposal Submitted to Build Prudential Center Observatory in former Top of the Hub Space and Two Floors Below It

Earlier this year, an iconic Boston restaurant known in part for its views of the city closed down after more than 50 years in business. Now we have learned that its space could be taken over by a multi-level observation deck.

According to an article from The Boston Herald, plans have been submitted to build an observatory on the top three floors of the Prudential Center tower in the city's Back Bay, including the 52th floor which was home to Top of the Hub along with the two floors below its space. In the article, Boston Properties, which owns the tower, says the following:

The Project is designed to create a world-class observatory experience comparable to those located in other major metropolitan cities across the country by providing breathtaking, unobstructed views of the entire City of Boston....The Project is designed to provide guests with an immersive experience in local geography and history, show guests the City from a new, three-level indoor/outdoor 360 observation deck 750 feet in the air, and then facilitate guests building their own custom itineraries for travel into Boston and Greater Boston — to explore on foot the same areas just experienced from the air."

If all goes as planned, the project could begin next spring and be completed sometime in 2023.

Top of the Hub, which first opened back in 1965, had originally planned to close down in April of this year, but the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent restaurant shutdown caused the dining spot to cease operations in mid-March.

[Earlier Articles]
Top of the Hub at Boston's Prudential Center Is Closing
Top of the Hub Has Closed for Good

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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OpenTable's Picks for Most Scenic Restaurants in the U.S. Includes Legal Harborside, Top of the Hub

by Marc Hurwitz

An online restaurant reservations provider has come out with its picks for the most scenic dining spots in the United States, and two Boston restaurants have been included on the list.

According to a post from USA Today, OpenTable has included Legal Harborside and Top of the Hub among the country's top 100 most scenic restaurants, with the former being located in the city's Seaport District and the latter being at the top of the Prudential Tower in the Back Bay. The list also includes several other dining spots in New England, including the Boat House in Tiverton, RI, The Mooring Restaurant in Newport, RI, The Ocean House Restaurant in Dennis Port, MA, and Simon Pearce Restaurant in Quechee, VT.

The list is based on reviews of more than 28,000 restaurants in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. collected between June 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Fifteen New England Restaurants and Bars in Scenic Locations]

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OpenTable's Picks for Most Scenic Restaurants in America Include Venezia in Dorchester

An online restaurant reservations provider has come out with its picks for the most scenic restaurants in the United States, and a waterside dining spot in Boston has made the list.

According to the website, Venezia in Dorchester is one of 100 spots that OpenTable has included in its list of scenic restaurants, with the Ericsson Street eatery being one of a handful of spots in New England to be mentioned, including The Ocean House Restaurant in Dennis Port, Twenty Eight Atlantic at Wequassett Resort in East Harwich, Joseph's by the Sea in Old Orchard Beach, ME, Ocean in Kennebunkport, ME, 15 Point Road in Portsmouth, RI, Boat House in Tiverton, RI, Coast Guard House in Narragansett, RI, and Simon Pearce in Quechee, VT.

OpenTable's choices are made based on more then 10 million reviews of more than 25,000 dining spots by verified diners. For a complete list of the most scenic restaurants chosen by OpenTable, please go to the link below:

https://www.opentable.com/m/most-scenic-restaurants-2017/

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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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LOCAL 02045 to Open in Former Art's Space in Hull

Last week, we reported that a restaurant with some of the best views in the Greater Boston area would not be reopening this spring--and soon after, it was mentioned that a new spot would be moving into the space. Now we have learned a bit more about the dining spot that will be opening there.

According to an email, LOCAL 02045 is going to be opening in Hull in the former Art's space, with the A Street spot including a private lounge and restaurant for marina members on the first floor, a full-service restaurant on the second floor, and a lounge and dining area on the third floor. The email says that the second and third floors will have large decks that overlook the marina and have views of the Boston skyline, while the person heading up the kitchen is Bridget Nee (Legal Seafoods and Mama Mia's in Marshfield), who will be focusing on New England seafood and Italian fare, while local craft beers and cocktails will be available from the bar. It appears that LOCAL 02045 may be opening very soon, but stay tuned for updates on an exact opening date.

Last Monday, it was announced here that De and Art D'Allessandro of Art's could not reach an agreement with the landlord and decided to move on to their "next adventure"; they had previously run the Marshfield landmark Arthur and Pat's, which shut down in the spring of 2015. (The Art's space had also been home to a location of the Sea Dog Brew Pub.)

The address for the upcoming LOCAL 02045 is 2 A Street, Hull, MA, 02045.

[April 13 update: Eater Boston mentions that LOCAL 02045 opens next week.]

[April 18 update: A press release states that LOCAL 02045 opens to the public tomorrow.]

[Earlier Article]
Art's in Hull Will Not Reopen for the Season

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve New England Restaurants in Scenic Locations]

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Art's in Hull Will Not Reopen for the Season

A restaurant with some of the best views in the Greater Boston area--and one that was opened by the people behind a now-closed landmark South Shore eatery--appears to be shut down for good.

According to a Facebook post from the place, Art's in Hull will not be reopening for the season, with the note saying that "We could not reach an agreement with the landlord at the location....We decided to go our separate ways and see where life leads us. Stay tuned we will keep you posted about our next adventure.....If anyone has an Art's Restaurant gift certificate the office at the marina will refund you." The A Street dining spot, which opened last spring in the former Sea Dog Brew Pub space, was run by De and Art D'Allessandro, who were the owners of Arthur and Pat's in the Brant Rock section of Marshfield until it shut down in the spring of 2015.

As soon as we find out what might open in the former Art's space--and what De and Art D'Allessandro might do next--we will post an update here.

The address for the now-closed Art's was 2 A Street, Hull, MA, 02045.

[April 4 update: It appears that the former Art's space in Hull might not be empty for long, as a poster on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants group page mentions that a new spot called LOCAL 02045 will be moving into the spot. Very little is known about the upcoming restaurant at this point in time, which is hoping to open sometime this month according to a Facebook post from the place.]

[Earlier Article]
Sea Dog Brew Pub in Hull to Close; Arthur and Pat's Owners to Replace It with Art's
Arthur and Pat's Restaurant in Marshfield's Brant Rock Has Closed

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve New England Restaurants in Scenic Locations]

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Crossing Nines in Quincy Is Expanding Its Hilltop Patio

A little-known outdoor bar just south of Boston that has sweeping hilltop views is upgrading its space.

According to multiple posts on its social media pages, the Crossing Nines in Quincy has opened for the season with its tent going up a couple of weeks ago--and it has announced that it is in the middle of a patio expansion that will include fire pits and outdoor couches. It is not known exactly when the Crossing Nines patio will be ready, though a recent post says it is "nearing completion."

[May 8 update: According to a Facebook post from the place, the expanded patio at the Crossing Nines is now open.]

The Crossing Nines is located next to the driving range at the Granite Links Golf Club, across from The Tavern at Quarry Hills restaurant and bar and the golf course's clubhouse. The bar offers breakfast items in the morning and burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, flatbread pizza, and a full bar later in the day. The golf course, Crossing Nines, and The Tavern at Quarry Hills all sit high above the rest of Quincy and Milton with views of Boston, the ocean, and the nearby Blue Hills from various vantage points.

The address for the Granite Links Golf Club is 100 Quarry Hill Drive, Quincy, MA, 02169. Its website can be found at http://www.granitelinksgolfclub.com/ while the Facebook page for the Crossing Nines is at https://www.facebook.com/CrossingNines

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Tavern on the Water in Charlestown Has Closed

A waterside restaurant and bar in Charlestown known in part for its spectacular views of Boston has apparently closed its doors for good.

Adam's Hospitality & Tourism Industry Blog is reporting that Tavern on the Water is shuttered, with a phone call placed to the spot by Adam not going through and another call to a sister restaurant confirming that the restaurant is not just closed for the season (as its website states), but will not be reopening again.

Tavern on the Water featured pub grub, American classics, and seafood, with its views from the upstairs deck being some of the best in the entire Boston area. It was part of the Legendary Restaurant Group, which includes Avery Provision Co., Burger Dive, Max and Dylans, Papagayo Mexican Kitchen and Bar, Scollay Square, and Sip.

The address for this now-closed restaurant and bar in Charlestown was: Tavern on the Water, 1 8th Street #6, Charlestown, MA, 02129.

Thanks to one of our readers for initially bringing this to our attention.


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Zagat Picks Best Boston Restaurants With a View

Zagat has just come out with its picks of "9 Best Boston Restaurants With a View," and the list includes a mix of well-known and not-so-well-known spots within the city limits (as well as one place across the river in Cambridge).

In the article/slideshow that was released yesterday, Zagat mentions such institutions as Anthony's Pier 4 (which will eventually be moving to a new space), the Barking Crab, and Top of the Hub, along with lesser-known restaurants such as Aragosta and Sam's. Dante in East Cambridge was also mentioned, and places with views other than the water (or with water views not being the specific feature) were included as well, such as Blu.

The Zagat list seems to cover a good percentage of Boston restaurants that actually have good views--there really aren't that many for a relatively large city on the ocean--and the list also focuses nearly completely on Boston (Dante notwithstanding) because, as Eater Boston says, "there aren't any restaurants in buildings high enough to provide views in, say, Waltham."

Which restaurants within the Boston city limits do you think have both good views and good food?

(For a complete listing of the dining spots mentioned by Zagat, please go to the link below:)

9 Best Boston Restaurants With a View


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Rhode Island Dining Spot Makes List of Top 50 Scenic Restaurant Views

A travel news and commentary website that has been in existence since the late 1990s has come out with a list of 50 restaurants in the United States with scenic views, and a Rhode Island spot made the list.

The list put out by Consumer Traveler, which was released yesterday, shows that The Boat House in Tiverton, RI, is the only New England restaurant to be included among the "Top 50 Scenic Restaurant Views." The Boat House looks out at the Sakonnet River from its location within the gates of the Villages on Mount Hope Bay condominium complex, and it has both indoor and outdoor seating. The menu at the eatery tends to focus on seafood, though it does also have chicken and beef dishes, along with sandwiches.

In addition to The Boat House in Tiverton, The Consumer Traveler list includes several dining spots in New York City, including R Lounge at Two Times Square, Robert, The View Restaurant, and Top of the Tower, as well as Water's Edge in Long Island City.

For a look at the complete list, please go to the Consumer Traveler link below.

Top 50 most scenic restaurant views

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ScupperJack's in Acton Has Closed

A popular restaurant northwest of Boston that has been in business for nearly two decades has closed down.

According to The Beacon and Wicked Local, ScupperJack's at Nagog Park (just off Route 119/2A) in Acton has closed its doors, apparently due to health problems of the owner, as well as the bad economy during recent times. ScupperJack's was a casual American restaurant with a rustic atmosphere, scenic views of Nagog Pond, and a menu that offered a variety of steak, seafood, and chicken dishes. The restaurant had been called The Rusty Scupper before becoming ScupperJack's about 19 years ago.

The address for this now-closed restaurant in Acton was: ScupperJack's, 3 Nagog Park, Acton, MA, 01720.

For more information on the closing of ScupperJack's, please go to the Beacon/Wicked Local link below.

Scupper Jack's closes in Acton

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OpenTable's Top 50 Picks for Restaurants with Scenic Views Includes Seaglass Restaurant in Salisbury

A national online restaurant reservations provider has just come out with its 2010 Diners' Choice awards for restaurants with the most scenic views, and a Massachusetts dining spot is on the list.

According to an article on the MarketWatch site, the Seaglass Restaurant and Lounge in Salisbury has been included among the country's top 50 restaurants with scenic views. The list of the 50 restaurants comes from more than seven million reviews between August 2009 and July 2010 for more than 12,000 restaurants throughout the United States, according to the article.

Seaglass Restaurant and Lounge is an upscale casual restaurant located at 4 Ocean Front North in the heart of Salisbury Beach. It features a variety of steak and seafood dishes, as well as daily vegetarian options.

No other restaurants in New England made the list, though several dining spots in New York did, including Robert, Top of the Tower, Two Times Square, and The View Restaurant.

Fro a complete list of restaurants with scenic views chosen by OpenTable's diners, please go to the following MarketWatch link:

OpenTable Diners Reveal Their Top 50 Picks for Restaurants With the Most Scenic Views

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