Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse to Open at the Mall at Chestnut Hill

Another new restaurant is on the way to the Mall at Chestnut Hill, and this one will feature Japanese fare.

The Boston Globe mentions in an article about a Cheesecake Factory coming to the mall that Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse will also be opening there, with an earlier Newton Patch article stating that it will be going into the space on the second floor where Bernard's had been (Bernard's, which is a Chinese eatery, moved a short distance east to The Street Chestnut Hill). Last week we reported that Besito, an upscale Mexican dining spot based in New York State, will also be opening within the mall.

It appears that the new Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse may be connected to another restaurant by the same name at the South Shore Plaza in Braintree, but we have not been able to confirm this as of yet. (Keep checking back for updates.)

The website for the Mall at Chestnut Hill says that Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse is planning to open on September 15.

Tweet

Otto Pizza Is Opening in Lynnfield

Yet another restaurant is coming to an upcoming development north of Boston, with this one being a pizza spot with three locations in the area.

A check on the MarketStreet Lynnfield website shows that Otto Pizza is going to be opening in the open-air retail center that will debut later this summer near the intersection of Routes 128/95 and Walnut Street. Based on information coming from other restaurants and businesses opening at MarketStreet, it appears that the new Otto could be opening sometime in August. (Other dining spots coming to the complex include Davio's, Kings, the Yard House, and Legal C Bar.)

[November 12 update: According to a Facebook post from the eatery, the new Otto Pizza in Lynnfield is now open.]

Portland, Maine-based Otto Pizza currently has two locations in Brookline (Coolidge Corner and near BU) and one in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It also has two shops in Portland. The website for Otto can be found at http://www.ottoportland.com/

---

[New article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve of the Best Food Dishes of 2013 (So Far)]

---

Tweet

Kennedy's Public House Is Opening in Norwood

It looks like an Irish pub and restaurant is on its way to Norwood, and it will be opening inside a hotel.

According to a job post on the Craigslist site, Kennedy's Public House is planning to open in early July and is currently looking to hire staff for its place. A page on the Bill Shea's Replacement Countertops site indicates that the eating and drinking spot will be located within the Hampton Inn on Route 1, though the hotel site does not appear to mention anything about it as of yet.

[August 12 update: The Norwood Transcript and Bulletin mentions that Kennedy's Public House is now open (it actually opened last month), with owner Finbar Griffin saying that it is looking to have an "in-town, upscale feel at a downtown price." Griffin, who also is behind such places as Mick Morgan's and Tommy Doyle's, says that the eating and drinking establishment takes its name from John F. Kennedy, with the focus being on the President's trip to Ireland in 1963. A few menu items at Kennedy's include short rib spring rolls, fried oysters, grilled tilapia, lobster linguine, beef wellington, and lamb chops.]

The address for this new Irish pub and restaurant in Norwood is: Kennedy's Public House, 434 Providence Highway (Route 1), Norwood, MA, 02062. The website for the Hampton Inn can be found at http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/massachusetts/hampton-inn-boston-norwood-BOSNWHX/index.html

Tweet

Tuscan Kitchen and Tuscan Market Are Opening in Burlington

It looks like the person behind an Italian restaurant and market in Salem, NH is opening a second location closer to Boston.

The Burlington Union is reporting that Joe Faro of Tuscan Kitchen and Tuscan Market is planning to open a new restaurant at New England Executive Park in Burlington (next to the Burlington Mall). The article mentions the "proposed construction of a new restaurant, Tuscan Kitchen," with the spot having 9,000 square feet on the first floor of the building and it would "also include a 4,800-square-foot build-out," with seating for people both inside and outside. The Burlington Planning Board heard about the proposal for Tuscan Kitchen on June 6, with a public hearing continuing on June 20.

[July 23 update: The Burlington Patch states that Tuscan Kitchen received a liquor license from the Town of Burlington last week, and that the new spot is planning to have a cafe and a market (Ed note: it will be called Tuscan Market) in addition to the main restaurant.]

[June 18, 2014 update: A press release says that Tuscan Kitchen and Tuscan Market will open later this summer or early in the fall, with seating for 543 inside and another 101 outside.]

[September 29 update: According to a Facebook post, Tuscan Kitchen and Tuscan Market are now open in Burlington. (The restaurant is only open for dinner, at least for now.)]

The original Tuscan Kitchen in Salem, NH, features regional Italian fare in a space that is designed to look like an authentic Italian home in the countryside. A market is also located next door (both are on Main Street). The website for both can be found at http://www.tuscanbrands.com/

Tweet

Clover Food Lab Is Opening a Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant in Cambridge's Kendall Square

The folks behind several vegetarian food trucks and two brick-and-mortar restaurants are continuing to look into opening permanent dining spots, as a new one is currently in the works for Cambridge's Kendall Square.

A poster on the Chowhound site has confirmed what Zagat mentioned back in April, that Clover Food Lab is going to be opening at Cambridge Center (by the Main Street/Ames Street intersection), with the earlier Zagat article saying that it could be open by late summer or early fall. (Ed note: It looks like it will be at 5 Cambridge Center, not 10 Cambridge Center as Zagat had said.) This will likely be the fifth brick-and-mortar restaurant for Clover, as locations in Brookline and Burlington will soon be joining two others in Cambridge (Harvard Square and Inman Square). Clover also has trucks that can be found in various parts of Boston and Cambridge.

[October 1 update: According to a License Commission General Hearing page on the City of Cambridge website, the new Clover restaurant will indeed be at 5 Cambridge Center, and it is looking to be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily with alcohol offered (depending on whether they can get a malt beverages license). The dining spot plans to have room for 62 inside and another 24 outside.]

[December 9 update: Cambridge Day states that the new Clover in Kendall Square is opening this Thursday (November 12) from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and will feature a "pay what you want" offer that day, with all proceeds going to hunger relief organization Lovin' Spoonfuls. (The restaurant starts opening regular hours--7:00 AM to 11:00 PM--on Saturday.)]

The address for this new dining spot in Kendall Square is: Clover Food Lab, 5 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA, 02142. The website for Clover is at http://www.cloverfoodlab.com/

Tweet

Highlights for the Week Ending June 14, 2013

A few more stories and articles focusing on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including an "Olmsted-inspired" restaurant planned for Brookline, a food and drink-based karaoke cruise coming to Boston Harbor, and an update on the former An Tua Nua space. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included an updated review of an Italian restaurant in Hull, a blog entry on Twitter lists, and a photo of a breakfast dish from a Boston diner.

Below are links to these and other items from the past week:

Boston Restaurant Talk

Fairsted Kitchen Plans to Open in Former Umami Space in Brookline

Strega Pizzeria and Cafe Plans to Open in Boston's North End

Besito to Open in Burlington, Chestnut Hill, and Lynnfield

Steakcation to Be Held in Boston, July 6, 2013

Arc to Replace An Tua Nua

Boston's Hidden Restaurants

Updated Review: Mezzo Mare in Hull, MA

New Photo: Half Moon Cookie from Maria's Pastry Shop in Boston, MA

Blog Entry: Twitter Lists to Follow (Or Become a Part Of)

Question: What Are Your Favorite Boston-Area Restaurants for Pasta?

New Photo: Breakfast Quesadilla from Victoria's Diner in Boston, MA

Tweet