Buddachen in Brookline Is Changing Its Name to Budda C

An Asian fusion restaurant that opened in Brookline earlier this year looks like it is undergoing a name change.

According to Wicked Local and the Brookline TAB, Buddachen on Beacon Street is looking to change its name to Budda C after being sued by the Philadelphia-based restaurant chain Buddakan for alleged trademark infringement. Buddakan, which also has locations in New York and Atlantic City, apparently felt that the name Buddachen was too similar to its name. Buddakan has been in business since 1998, according to Universal Hub.

Buddachen opened in March of 2010, replacing Jae's Cafe, which had resided in the space for about 10 years (the owner of Buddachen/Budda C also owned Jae's).

For more information on the name change of Buddachen to Budda C, please go to the Brookline TAB/Wicked Local link below.

Brookline's Buddachen could change name following lawsuit

Thanks to Grub Street Boston for initially bringing this to our attention.

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Olive Garden Is Coming to Danvers

A national chain of Italian restaurants with relatively little presence in the Boston area is planning on opening a new location on the North Shore.

According to The Danvers Herald and Wicked Local, Olive Garden is hoping to open a restaurant on Route 114 (Andover Street) in Danvers in front of Lowe's--just east of the Route 95 intersection, heading toward Peabody. The article mentions that restaurant representatives will be coming to the site this month to look into some minor modifications for the site plan. If all goes well, it appears that Olive Garden will open in the space, making it one of the closest locations to Boston (currently, the only Olive Garden restaurants inside Route 495 are in the South Bay shopping center near the Dorchester/Roxbury line as well as in Stoughton, Framingham, and Foxboro).

[September 30 update: According to Boston.com, Olive Garden has gained approval to open on Andover Street in Danvers.]

[June 1, 2011 update: According to the Salem News, the new Olive Garden in Danvers plans to open next Monday [June 6], and it looks like this will be a very different kind of Olive Garden. The article states that the design of the new restaurant will be similar to that of the Riserva di Fizzano restaurant at the Olive Garden's Culinary Institute of Tuscany in Italy. It will have the look of an Italian farmhouse, with a stone exterior, exposed wood beams in the ceiling inside, and terra-cotta tile throughout the interior.]

Olive Garden is part of the Darden family of restaurants which includes Red Lobster, LongHorn Steakhouse, and The Capital Grille.

For more information on the planned opening of an Olive Garden restaurant in Danvers, please go to the Danvers Herald/Wicked Local link below.

Olive Garden plans move to Danvers

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Jalapenos Is Opening in Saugus

A Mexican restaurant in Gloucester is looking to open a new location in Saugus, with the plan being to move into the space where a nightclub has been.

According to the Saugus Advertiser and Wicked Local, the owner of Jalapenos Restaurant on Main Street in Gloucester is hoping to receive a transfer of the liquor license from Tabu Ultra Lounge and Nightclub on Route 1. The article states that the Saugus Board of Selectmen voted to revoke Tabu's liquor and entertainment licenses in March because of license violations, but Tabu has appealed their decision. Depending on how the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission decides on the case, Jalapenos may end up moving into the spot.

Jalapenos, which has been open in Gloucester for nearly 20 years, features traditional Mexican fare, including cactus sauteed with onions, fried jalapeno squid, tortilla soup, chile rellenos, pan-seared pork in adobo sauce, chicken mole, fried fish burritos, and cilantro quesadillas.

The address for this new Mexican restaurant in Saugus is: Jalapenos, 168 Broadway, Saugus, MA, 01906. The website for the Gloucester restaurant can be found at: http://www.jalapenosgloucester.com/

[January 4, 2011 update: According to one of our readers (see comment below), Jalapenos is now open in Saugus. (We confirmed this by checking the Gloucester locations website, which mentions that the new location is indeed open.)]

For more information on the opening of Jalapenos in Saugus, please go to the Saugus Advertiser/Wicked Local link below.

Mexican restaurant seeks to open at Tabu site

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Venus III Opens in Hanson

A pair of restaurants south of Boston that are known in part for their pizza has been joined by a third eatery. According to the Whitman-Hanson Express, Venus III has opened on Route 27 in Hanson where another restaurant called Woody's used to reside. The new eatery, which has an outdoor deck, offers a combination of American fare and pub grub. The article mentions although that Venus III is indeed open, a grand opening will be held at some point this month.

Venus III joins the original Venus, which is located on Route 27 in Whitman, and Venus II, which is on Ocean Avenue in Marshfield. The Whitman location focuses on bar pizza while the menu at the Marshfield location has pizza as well as a variety of sandwiches/subs and steak, seafood, chicken, and pasta dishes.

The address for this new restaurant in Hanson is: Venus III, 252 Main Street (Route 27), Hanson, MA, 02341.

For more information on the opening of Venus III, please go to the Whitman-Hanson Express link below.

Family business comes to Hanson

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Stoneforge in Foxboro Becoming Christina's Fireside Grille

A steak and seafood restaurant in Foxboro has closed, and it will soon reopen as a new dining spot under the same ownership.

According to The Sun Chronicle, Stoneforge Foxboro on Route 1 has shut its doors and will be turned into Christina's Fireside Grille, with a planned opening sometime in late July. The article mentions that the new restaurant will be smaller than Stoneforge, allowing the adjacent Christina's functions facility to expand its business into the extra space that will be freed up. The Sun Chronicle also mentions that on Mondays and Tuesdays, the new Christina's Fireside Grille will have beer and wine tastings, cooking classes, celebrity chef demonstrations, and themed dinners.

The Stoneforge restaurants in Dartmouth, Easton, and Raynham remain open.

The address for this upcoming restaurant in Foxboro will be: Christina's Fireside Grille, 2 Washington Street (Route 1), Foxboro, MA, 02035.

For more information on the closing of Stoneforge Foxboro and the opening of Christina's Fireside Grille, please go to the Sun Chronicle link below.

Fireside Grille new hot spot in Foxboro

[July 26 update: According to one of our readers, it was mentioned on the Pat Whitley Show that Christina's Fireside Grille is planning on opening this Wednesday (July 28).]

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Cooking Channel Food Truck to Hand Out Free Ice Cream in Boston Today

A new food channel on TV is coming to Boston today via a food truck, handing out free ice cream to folks downtown.

According to the Cooking Channel blog, the specialty television channel is going to be stationed at City Hall Plaza today (July 1) from 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM, giving out ice cream and other frozen treats from local places. This will be the third stop on the Cooking Channel ice cream truck tour, with the first being at Chelsea Market in New York City and the second being at the Brooklyn Bridge Plaza in Brooklyn. From Boston, the food truck moves on to Annapolis, MD, and several other places around the country.

The Cooking Channel was recently begun by the same people behind the Food Network, replacing the Fine Living Network. The channel focuses a bit more on cooking instruction than the Food Network, which has a variety of reality-type and entertainment shows, as well as instruction.

Thanks to Boston.com for initially bringing this to our attention.

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