Wednesday, January 16, 2019

FoMu to Open Brick-and-Mortar Shop in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

by Marc Hurwitz

A local group of vegan ice cream shops that has had a mix of brick-and-mortar and pop-up shops since starting out is going to be opening another brick-and-mortar location, with this one being near one of its former pop-ups.

According to an article from Eater Boston, FoMu is planning to open in the former Emack & Bolio's space in the Fenway, with the Brookline Avenue location being less than a block away from a long-term pop-up location that the company had. Once the new spot opens, it will join other brick-and-mortar locations in Allston, the South End, and Jamaica Plain, and will likely offer dairy-free ice cream along with baked goods, smoothies, ice cream cakes, and more. (FoMu has also had pop-ups in the Back Bay and Cambridge's Inman Square in addition to the Fenway.)

If all goes as planned, the new location of FoMu could be opening in March.

The address for this upcoming vegan ice cream shop in the Fenway is: FoMu, 140 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for all locations of FoMu can be found at http://www.fomuicecream.com/

[March 21 update: Eater Boston states that FoMu opens in the Fenway tomorrow (Friday, March 22).]

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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]




A Number of Well-Known Chefs and Restaurateurs Will Be Coming to Time Out Market in Boston's Fenway

by Marc Hurwitz

A couple of years ago, we reported that a food and cultural market was on its way to a complex in Boston's Fenway that is being redeveloped. Now we have learned that some big local names will be opening places within the food hall.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, Time Out Boston at the old Landmark Center on Park Drive will see such chefs and restaurateurs as Tony Maws (Craigie on Main, Kirkland Tap & Trotter), Michael Schlow (Tico), Tim and Nancy Cushman (Hojoko, O Ya), and Peter Ungar (Tasting Counter), with Maws focusing on his famous Craigie burger, Schlow offering Italian dishes, the Cushmans setting up two kitchens featuring sushi and other Asian fare, and Ungar offering what looks to be inventive, locally-sourced dishes. The article also mentions that outposts of Anoush'ella (a South End restaurant featuring Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare) and Union Square Donuts will set up shop at the food hall as well, with the place ultimately including fifteen restaurants, two bars, a retail shop, and a demo kitchen.

As mentioned earlier, the food hall coming to the Landmark Center will be a location of Lisbon's Time Out Market, which the Time Out media company first opened in Lisbon in 2014.

[April 2 update: A job post within the Craigslist site indicates that the two dining spots from Tim and Nancy Cushman at the upcoming Time Out Boston food hall will apparently be called "Ms. Clucks Deluxe Chicken and Dumplings" and "gogo ya crispy sushi nori tacos."]

[April 22 update: More places have been announced for Time Out Market, with a press release stating that locations of Mamaleh's, BISq, George Howell Coffee, Revolution Health Kitchen, and Gelato & Chill will be opening there, and Michael Schlow--who is already bringing an Italian eatery to the market--will also be opening a second concept that focuses on Roman-style pizza.]

[April 30 update: A post within the jobs section of bostonchefs.com indicates that Peter Ungar of Tasting Counter will be opening Tasty Counter at Time Out Market, with the place featuring "seasonally-inspired, from-scratch small plates composed of locally sourced ingredients."]

[June 18 update: A press release mentions that Time Out Market opens on June 27, and that two more places have been announced for the food hall--Saltie Girl, a seafood restaurant whose original location is in the Back Bay, and Mobile Cooks, which will focus on locally-sourced vegan fare.]

[Earlier Article]
Food Hall Coming to Best Buy Space at Landmark Center in Boston's Fenway

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]

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

City Girl Cafe in Cambridge's Inman Square to Suspend Dinner Service

by Marc Hurwitz

An eclectic eatery in Cambridge that is known for its Italian dishes is going through some changes.

According to a Facebook post from the place, City Girl Cafe in Inman Square is suspending dinner service at the end of February, with the focus being more on corporate catering and private events--though the Hampshire Street spot will continue to be open for its weekend brunch. The restaurant, which started out approximately 20 years ago, offers such Italian comfort food options as bruschetta, panini, pizza, and pasta dishes, and it has been featured on our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) as an under-the-radar spot, with the review being found at this link:

https://hiddenboston.com/CityGirlCafe.html

The address for City Girl Cafe is 204 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139. Its website can be found at http://citygirlcafe.com/

[February 28 update: A new Facebook post from the place indicates that tomorrow (Friday, March 1) will be the last night of dinner service at City Girl Cafe.]

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Xi'an Rougamo Opens at the Corner Mall in Boston's Downtown Crossing

by Marc Hurwitz

A new dining spot has come to downtown Boston, and it features a food item that is becoming increasingly popular in the local area.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Xi'an Rougamo is now open at the Corner Mall by the intersection of Washington Street and Winter Street, with the eatery offering hand-pulled noodles along with meat sandwiches (the word "Rougamo" refers to this food item), rice-based items, other noodle-based dishes, smoothies, and bubble tea. The restaurant joins a handful of other Boston-ara places that offer hand-pulled noodles, including Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe in Boston and Woburn, Chili Squared in Quincy, Home Taste in Watertown and Arlington, and Noodles King in the Longwood medical area.

The menu for Xi'an Rougamo can be found at http://thecornermall.com/i/XiAn-Rougamo-Menu.jpg

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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]





Cubist Circle to Open in Former Gourmet Oriental Space in Weymouth

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a new Asian restaurant is opening on the South Shore, replacing a dining spot that was known in part for its Chinese-American food and karaoke.

According to a source, Cubist Circle is opening in Weymouth, with the restaurant moving into the former Gourmet Oriental space on Washington Street. An earlier meeting minutes page within the website for Weymouth confirms this, indicating that Cubist Circle will be an Asian fusion spot whose manager (Zhongyuan Zang) comes from Fuji Steakhouse in Needham along with other dining spots. It appears that the new eatery could have seating for more than 350, with the place including a first-floor dining room, a first-floor lounge, and two function rooms, with one in the basement.

Gourmet Oriental shuttered toward the latter part of 2017.

The address for the upcoming Cubist Circle is 625 Washington Street, Weymouth, MA, 02188.

[Earlier Article]
Gourmet Oriental in Weymouth Has Closed

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston


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





Sunset Cafe in Cambridge Destroyed in Fire

by Marc Hurwitz

A Portuguese restaurant in Cambridge is closed for the foreseeable future after being hit by a major fire.

According to an article from Boston 25 News, the Sunset Cafe at the corner of Cambridge Street and Hunting Street was destroyed in a four-alarm blaze yesterday morning that displaced nearly 20 people and took out two structures. A Facebook post from the dining spot mentions that "the restaurant will remain closed until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience caused to those with reservations. We appreciate all the good wishes and we hope to be up and running soon" while it also posts a link where people can donate online to the Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund.

Kimchi Kitchen, a Korean restaurant on the same block, is also shuttered for the time being, with a Facebook post from the place saying that "We will be closed for a few days due to a massive fire in our neighborhood."

Boston 25 News indicates that no one in the buildings was hurt, though some firefighters had minor injuries.

[January 17 update: According to a source, the building housing the Sunset Cafe is being demolished this week.]

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]