Latest Review: Allora Ristorante, Marlborough

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for Allora Ristorante, an upscale Italian and Mediterranean restaurant in Marlborough. Located across the street from Lake Williams near the intersection of Route 20 and Route 495, Allora Ristorante has a large outdoor deck with views of the lake, and a menu that features a variety of dishes from the Mediterranean. To read more about Allora Ristorante in Marlborough, please click on the link above.

Restaurant Closings and Openings, Late June and Early July, 2008

Several restaurants in the Boston area have closed over the past couple of weeks, with a few others opening during the same time period.

Three restaurants that have recently closed include Ortanique, a Jamaican restaurant in the Huron Village section of Cambridge; Ali Baba, an Afghan and Indian restaurant in North Cambridge near Porter Square; and India's Finest, and Indian restaurant in Wakefield.

Taking the place of Ali Baba is a Nepali, Indian, and Tibetan restaurant called Annapurna.

If you know of other restaurants that have recently opened or closed, please let us know. Thanks!

Review: Doyle's, Jamaica Plain

A long time ago, I used to be a semi-regular of sorts at Doyle's on Washington Street in Jamaica Plain, but I haven't been going there quite as often over the past few years (mainly because I have so little opportunity to go to restaurants that I am not actually looking to feature on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site). But at the last minute, a group of us went got over to Doyle's the other night, and it was pretty much what we expected--decent food, tremendous atmosphere, and excellent people-watching from our table that was in the bar area.

We settled into our seats after a very short wait and started with beers (I ordered a Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout--excellent) and salads (average, with lots of iceberg lettuce), though the dressing was pretty good). For our meals, we had a variety of items, including roast pork loin, scallops, and sirloin steak, which is what I ordered. My steak was perfectly cooked and had very little fat, and the baked potato was oddly shaped, but tender and tasty. We skipped desserts, as they were out of nearly everything we were interested in.

As usual, I was awed by the classic old-Boston vibe. My seat, with its back to the wall at one end of the bar area, was particularly good, as I could soak in the atmosphere of the entire room. Our waitress just added to the overall feel of the place, as she was a veteran of the place, and as friendly (and funny) as could be.

Once again, Doyle's impressed; the food may not be the best in Boston, but it is good, solid fare, and the atmosphere simply takes you away to a different era when neighborhood joints such as this one were found all over Beantown. I just hope Doyle's is around for a long time to come, as there are fewer and fewer of these types of places in the Boston area with each passing year.

Latest Review: Villa Mexico, Boston

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a Mexican restaurant on the northern edge of Beacon Hill in Boston called Villa Mexico. A tiny takeout spot located in the back of a gas station convenience store on Cambridge Street, Villa Mexico is like no other Boston restaurant. The friendly little dining spot features homemade burritos, tamales, tacos, and much more, including one of the best salsas in the Boston area. To read more about Villa Mexico in Boston, please click on the link above.

Maddie's Sail Loft in Marblehead Is Open Once Again

Maddie's Sail Loft, a Marblehead restaurant and bar that closed earlier this year, is once again open for business.

The reopening of this Old Town institution will surely be well-received by folks who have been going to Maddie's for years. Around since the 1940s, Maddie's has been a favorite of those who enjoy the gritty but friendly feel to the place, as well as the often-strong drinks and the decent seafood.

According to the Boston Globe, the restaurant will retain the same look, with changes coming only to the menu.

You can find Maddie's on State Street in the historic section of Marblehead.

Starbucks to Close 600 Stores

Starbucks announced after the closing bell on Tuesday that it will be closing 600 stores across the United States.

According to the Associated Press, the Seattle-based coffee chain will be opening less than 200 new stores in the country over the coming fiscal year.

As of now, it is unknown how many Starbucks in the Boston area will be closing, if any.