Wasabi Restaurant in Braintree Has Closed

One of two Boston-area locations of a Japanese restaurant that featured sushi on a conveyor belt has closed after being in business for a bit more than a year.

According to one of our readers, Wasabi at the South Shore Plaza in Braintree has shuttered, with the spot apparently closing sometime last week. (Its closing has been confirmed by the plaza.) The eatery first opened at the plaza in the early fall of 2012, with the place having a conveyor belt system that allowed diners to pick and choose various types of sushi, sashimi, and nigiri.

The Virginia-based Wasabi also has a restaurant at the Natick Mall, as well as three other locations in Virginia, Florida, and Texas.

The address for this now-closed Japanese spot at the South Shore Plaza was: Wasabi, 250 Granite Street, Braintree, MA, 02184. The website for the Wasabi restaurants can be found at http://www.wasabisushi.com/

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Yuengling Beer to Return to Massachusetts

It looks like America's oldest brewery is coming back to Massachusetts.

According to a post in Banker & Tradesman, Yuengling is currently finalizing plans to return to the state early next year a couple of decades after leaving the market. The article says that the Pennsylvania-based brewer could end up building a brewery in the state depending on the amount of demand, though bringing its beers in from existing plants is also a possibility as well. Currently, Yuengling cannot be found anywhere in New England, though it is available in New York.

[December 10 update: A Facebook post from the Craft Brewers Guild indicates that Yuengling is coming to Boston (and presumably Massachusetts) in March of 2014; in addition, a Twitter post from Yuengling says that "we're on our way. Stay tuned for updates about timing and shipments."]

[February 12, 2014 update: The Boston Herald states that Yuengling will return to Massachusetts on March 3, with the beer being available in restaurants, bars, and package stores.]

[February 27, 2014 update: Yuengling is still on track to arrive in stores on March 3, but it actually arrived early at restaurants and bars throughout the area, with this past Monday apparently being its first day here.]

Yuengling, which is headquartered in Pottsville, PA, first started out in 1829 and is now one of the largest brewing companies in the United States. Its most popular beer is its lager, though the company also offers porter, black and tan, ale, light beers, and a premium beer. The website for Yuengling can be found at http://www.yuengling.com/

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Update: New Restaurant to Open in former Ida's Space in Boston's North End

[Ed note: This article was updated on January 9, 2014 and April 17, 2014 to reflect information given for the new restaurant.]

Yesterday we reported that a restaurant in Boston's North End had closed after being in business for more than 60 years. Now we have learned that the person behind a number of local eating and drinking places is planning to open a new dining spot in the now-vacant space.

According to an article in NorthEndWaterfront.com, Frank DePasquale of DePasquale Ventures has bought the space on Mechanic Street where Ida's had been, and is seeking a transfer of its Malt and Wine License, asking for an addition of Cordials, and proposing an expansion that would include a seasonal patio with 48 seats. No name has been given for the eatery as of yet, and it is not known when it might open, so keep checking back for updates as we get them.

[January 9, 2014 update: A Licensing Board hearing page within the City of Boston website indicates that the name of the new restaurant moving into the former Ida's space will tentatively be Aqua Seafood and Grill. This confirms what Eater Boston had mentioned yesterday, though there is some confusion as to whether the name might be "Aqua" or "Acqua." (It looks like the new eatery could be opening sometime in mid-spring.)]

[April 17, 2014 update: The  Boston Herald states that the new restaurant moving into Ida's space is planning to open sometime in June, though the article says that the dining spot does not have a name, indicating perhaps that Aqua/Acqua Seafood and Grill may have been a working name only.]

Frank DePasquale owns such spots as Bliss, Bricco, Mare, Quattro, Trattoria Il Panino, and Umbria Prime. The DePasquale Ventures website is at http://www.depasqualeventures.com/

The address for the now-closed Ida's (and the new spot) is 3 Mechanic Street, Boston, MA, 02113.

Thanks to Patrick M. of the Server Not Servant blog for bringing this to our attention.

[Earlier Article]
Ida's Restaurant in the North End of Boston Has Closed

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J.P. Licks Opens at MarketStreet Lynnfield

A local group of ice cream cafes has just opened another shop, with this one being north of Boston.

A Facebook post from MarketStreet Lynnfield indicates that J.P. Licks is now open in the new open-air retail center located near the intersection of Routes 128/95 and Walnut Street. The ice cream shop joins a number of other eating and drinking places at MarketStreet Lynnfield, including Boloco, Davio's, The Grove Boutique and Cafe, Legal C Bar, Pinkberry, and the Yard House. (Fugakyu, Kings, Otto Pizza, and Wagamama will also be opening there soon.)

Other locations of J.P. Licks can be found in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Dedham, Newton, Somerville, Wellesley, and West Roxbury. Its website is at http://www.jplicks.com/

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Cupcake City Coming to Newtonville

It looks like a cupcake shop north of Boston is going to be opening a second location, with this one being west of the city.

According to a Twitter post from @brandnewwatch (and confirmed by Village 14), Cupcake City in Reading is planning to open another branch in the former Jin Mi Oriental Food Company space in the Newtonville section of Newton. Village 14 hadn't been able to confirm that the two Cupcake City locations are related, but based on the sign shown in the window of the Newtonville space, this is indeed a second location of the Reading shop.

[October 31 update: According to its website, the new Cupcake City in Newtonville will have its grand opening this Saturday (November 2).]

The address for this upcoming cupcake shop in Newtonville is: Cupcake City, 313 Walnut Street, Newton, MA, 02461. The website for the Reading location can be found at http://www.cupcakecityreading.com/

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[New article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Comfort Food Items from Boston-Area Restaurants]

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Highlights for the Week Ending October 11, 2013

Several more stories and articles focusing on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including a landmark restaurant on Route 1 closing, a burger and beer spot moving into a former jail, and an Italian eatery in the North End shutting down. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included a new review of an eclectic cafe in Dorchester, updates to the dive bar gallery, and a photo of a beef dish from a Chinese restaurant in Allston.

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

Boston Restaurant Talk

Friendly Toast Restaurants Sold; New Owners May Eventually Open Additional Locations

Confirmed: Hilltop Steak House in Saugus Is Closing October 20

A&B Salem to Replace Great Escape

Legal Sea Foods Owner Likely Opening New Restaurant in Former Olives Space in Charlestown

Update: Piccola Venezia in Boston's North End Has Closed; Modern Pastry Is Moving In

Boston's Hidden Restaurants

New Review: Dot 2 Dot Cafe in Dorchester, MA

Photo: Pastichio from Taso's Euro-Cafe in Norwood, MA

Newsletter for the Fall of 2013

Updated Dive Bar Photo Gallery

Photo: Beef with Green Peppers from Shanghai Gate in Allston, MA

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