Boston Restaurant Talk

Monday, June 08, 2015

Spike's Junkyard Dogs and Stack-a Burger in Burlington Have Closed

A Rhode Island-based group of hot dog places whose slogan is "World's Best Hot Dog, Maybe Better!" continues to shrink, with one of its Boston-area locations closing--along with a burger concept from the spot.

Based on a Twitter picture that was posted late last week, Spike's Junkyard Dogs and Stack-a Burger at the Burlington Mall are both shuttered, with a message sent from one of the other Spike's locations telling us that they believe it may have closed last Monday. The Burlington location of Spike's is one of a few that have closed over recent years, including stores in Boston's Back Bay, Somerville's Davis Square, and Fall River.

Locations of Spike's Junkyard Dogs that remain open include shops in Allston and North Attleboro, along with Providence, Cranston (which is where their headquarters are), and Warwick, RI, and Groton, CT. Their website can be found at http://www.spikesjunkyarddogs.com/

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]

Friday, June 05, 2015

Former Trader Joe’s Executive Opens Daily Table Market in Dorchester

Two years ago, we reported that the former head of a grocery store chain was planning to open a market in Boston that would offer still-good "expired" foods along with items with damaged packaging. This week, the shop officially opened its doors.

According to a post on its Facebook page, Daily Table is now open in Dorchester, with the not-for-profit grocery store on Washington Street offering affordably-priced produce, breads, dairy products, freshly-prepared meals, and more within its 10,000-square-foot space. The shop, which is the brainstorm of Trader Joe's ex-president Doug Rauch, is stocked with excess foods from supermarkets, suppliers, growers, and manufacturers, including items that have gone past their expired dates but are still safe to eat.

The address for this new grocery store in Dorchester is: Daily Table, 450 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA, 02124. The market's website can be found at http://dailytable.org/

[Earlier Article]
Former Trader Joe's President to Open Daily Table Market in Dorchester

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Note: Please join the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Group Page to get more info on dining spots and also chat with others about Boston-area restaurants.]

Caffe Graziani in Salem Is Up for Sale

An Italian restaurant on the North Shore that has been around for nearly a quarter century is on the selling block.

According to one of our sources who posted the news on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Caffe Graziani in Salem is closing and the space is now up for sale, with a post on the Craigslist site confirming this, saying that the Washington Street space is "for sale by owner" for a price of $160,000. The listing mentions that the price includes the restaurant's beer and wine license as well as all of the furnishings and the equipment.

Caffe Graziani first opened its doors in 1991, offering Italian fare in a family-friendly environment. A few of the items on the restaurant's menu include an antipasto, fried calamari, pizza, lobster ravioli, chicken parmigiana, veal piccata, and tiramisu.

The address for Caffe Graziani is 133 Washington Street, Salem, MA, 01970.

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]

Thursday, June 04, 2015

Decca Opens in Charlestown Navy Yard

A new restaurant that features an item popular in Quebec has opened in an historic waterfront location in Boston.

Eater Boston is reporting that Decca is now open in the Charlestown Navy yard, with the eatery being a fast-casual counter-service spot with indoor and outdoor seating that is located in Building 10 (just south of Old Ironsides and the USS Constitution Museum). The dining spot's menu shows that poutine is offered, including classic (fries with cheese curds and gravy), Carolina-style (pulled pork, chipotle BBQ sauce), lobster, and "mess hall" (chili, cheddar cheese, jalapeno peppers, and onions), and burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, wraps, lobster rolls, and chicken tenders are also available.

Decca is open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM seven days a week, according to EB.

The address for this new eatery in Charlestown is: Decca, Building 10, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA, 02129. Its website can be found at http://www.deccaboston.com/

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]

Wednesday, June 03, 2015

Pestaurant Pop-Up Comes to Boston's Faneuil Hall Today

A pop-up restaurant is being held in downtown Boston at lunchtime today, and this one might not be for the squeamish.

The Boston Herald mentions that a "pestaurant" is setting up at Faneuil Hall (by the Samuel Adams statue) from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, serving up free samples of familiar dishes, though with a twist--each one of them includes the addition of insects. Items offered at the pop-up include mealworm fried rice, grasshopper turkey burger sliders, "clorm" chowder with mealworms added, and chocolate "chirp" cookies with crickets. The article says that a cricket-eating contest will also take place as well.

The sponsor of the pestaurant event--Ehrlich Pest Control--is making a donation to the Greater Boston Food Bank each time a person samples one of the dishes or takes part in the cricket challenge. The Herald says that the event helps raise awareness for the need for cheap, sustainable protein sources (such as insects) in many parts of the world.

More information on today's event can be found at http://www.jcehrlich.com/pestaurant/

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Note: Please join the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Group Page to get more info on dining spots and also chat with others about Boston-area restaurants.]

Bangkok City Restaurant in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed

One of the oldest restaurants of its kind in Boston has closed its doors.

According to a Twitter post from @TheDrewStarr, Bangkok City Restaurant in the Back Bay/Fenway area of the city is no longer in operation, with a note out front saying that "As of May 30, 2015, we are closing due to a loss of lease. Thank you for your patronage!" It is not known whether the Mass. Ave. dining spot will try to open in a new space at this point in time; if we hear any information on this over the coming days, we will post an update here.

Bangkok City first opened in the early 1990s, offering an extensive menu that included a variety of both Thai-American and authentic Thai dishes. It was one of the longest-running Thai restaurants in Boston, with King & I on Charles Street being one of the only Thai places in the city that is older (it has been open since in the mid-1980s).

The address for this now-closed Thai restaurant in the Back Bay/Fenway was: Bangkok City Restaurant, 167 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115.

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]