Boston Restaurant Talk

Friday, September 02, 2016

Update: Frenchie to Open in Former Kitchen Space in Boston's South End

[Ed note: This article was updated to reflect a name change for the place.]

A new restaurant is on its way to the South End of Boston, and it will be taking over the space where another dining spot had been until it had to close due to a liquor license issue.

Eater Boston is reporting (via a licensing board page within the city of Boston website) that a restaurant tentatively called Le Comptoir is looking to open in the former Kitchen space on Tremont Street, though the Improper Bostonian says its name will actually be "Frenchie" and that it will be a "casual wine bar." Based on its name and the fact that Loic Le Garrec of Petit Robert Bistro in the South End and Needham is the manager listed, it will likely have French influences, though this has not been confirmed as of yet. The hearing notice for Frenchie indicates that it plans to have a dining area, a bar, and a sidewalk cafe, and it may be open for lunch and dinner daily.

Kitchen closed its doors in March apparently because its non-transferable liquor license was no longer available, as it had come from Pops Restaurant which had formerly been in the space and was losing the license. The people behind Kitchen continue to operate Grotto in Beacon Hill and Marliave near Downtown Crossing.

The address for this upcoming restaurant in the South End is: Frenchie, 560 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118.

[January 20, 2017 update: The Tables section of The Boston Globe mentions that Frenchie plans to open this weekend.]

[January 23, 2017 update: Eater Boston mentions that Frenchie opens tomorrow, and that it will be a "Parisian wine bar" with cheese and charcuterie.]

[Earlier Article]
Kitchen in Boston's South End Closes After Its Liquor License Becomes Unavailable

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Raffaele's Ristorante to Open in Former Nonna's Italian Bar and Grill Space in Waltham

It looks like a new Italian dining spot is coming to "Restaurant Row," and it will be opening where another Italian eatery had once been.

An email sent yesterday indicates that Raffaele's Ristorante is planning to open on Moody Street in Waltham, taking over the space where Nonna's Italian Bar & Grill had been until closing a couple of months ago. A Twitter post from this morning gives similar information, and it looks like the restaurant may be opening soon, though no exact date has been given as of yet.

Nonna's first opened its doors in August of 2015, taking over the space where Erawan of Siam had been.

The address for this new Italian restaurant in Waltham is: Raffaele's Ristorante, 469 Moody Street, Waltham, MA, 02453.

[Earlier Article]
Nonna's Italian Bar and Grill in Waltham Has Closed

[December 11 update: According to a source, Raffaele's Ristorante is now open, with the Twitter page from the place confirming this.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pasta Dishes from Restaurants in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Thursday, September 01, 2016

Andrews Bakery and Cafe in Easton Has Closed

A family-owned bakery south of Boston has closed its doors for good after being in business for almost 30 years.

The Enterprise is reporting that Andrews Bakery and Cafe in Easton is no longer in operation, as the store shut down last weekend. The article indicates that the owners of the shop--Julie and Bob Andrews--have decided to retire, with Julie saying that "I'm 74 years old and my body is saying enough is enough." Andrews Bakery and Cafe first opened in the late 1980s and moved twice, from 19 Belmont Street to the 574 Washington Street plaza and then to its final home at 123 Belmont Street.

The post says that Julie and Bob Andrews, who live in a house that was attached to the shop, will be moving to Belfast, ME.

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Items from Bakeries and Pastry Shops in the Boston Area and Beyond]

Bourbon's Kitchen & Cocktails Opens in Framingham

A new dining and drinking spot in MetroWest that focuses on comfort food and cocktails opens today.

According to a post on its Facebook page, Bourbon's Kitchen & Cocktails has opened in Framingham, with its website saying that the Beacon street spot is bringing "the city atmosphere to the suburbs," serving "quality food with well crafted cocktails in a comfortable and lively atmosphere." A check on the restaurant's menu indicates that the place offers small plates, sandwiches, pizza, Thai noodle bowls, pasta dishes, ribeye, and more, along with "throwback cocktails with a modern twist."

The address for this new restaurant and lounge in Framingham is: Bourbon's Kitchen & Cocktails, 47 Beacon St, Framingham, MA 01701. Its website is at http://www.bourbonsframingham.com/

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

The Blue Room in Cambridge's Kendall Square Reopens After Fire; Belly Wine Bar Reopens Next Week

A pair of dining and drinking spots in Cambridge that closed last year because of a fire are back, with one reopening this week and the other returning next week.

A message sent to us this morning indicates that The Blue Room soft-opened last night and will open for real tonight, while Belly Wine Bar hopes to open back up next Wednesday if all goes as planned. Both spots were hit by a two-alarm fire in Kendall Square in August of 2015, with the blaze also forcing Flat Top Johnny's and Beantowne Coffee House to shut down. (The former reopened in April of this year while the latter reopened last month.)

The Blue Room is an eclectic restaurant that focuses in part on New American fare and comfort food, while Belly Wine Bar features small plates and a variety of traditional and progressive wines. Both spots are located at 1 Kendall Square.

[September 9 update: An Instagram post indicates that Belly Wine Bar reopens this evening.]

[Earlier Articles]
Three Restaurants in Cambridge's Kendall Square Sustain Damage in Fire
Kendall Square Dining/Drinking Spots Planning to Open After Fire

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]

b.good Is Returning to Cambridge's Harvard Square, Opening in Former OSushi Space

Earlier this year, a local group of restaurants that features "real" fast food closed its shop in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge. Now we have learned that it is coming back to the area, and it will take over the space where a Japanese eatery had been.

According to a poster on the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, b.good has a "now hiring" sign in the window of the space on Mt. Auburn Street where OSushi was until it closed in late May and subsequently went to auction. The original Harvard Square location of b.good had been on Dunster Street until closing in late March, though at the time they said that they were hoping to return to the square at some point.

Once the new location of b.good opens, expect to see such items as burgers, shakes, grain bowls, salads, and more; it will join a number of others in the local area, including in Boston, Bedford, Beverly, Burlington, Cambridge, Dedham, Hingham, Mansfield, Newton, North Andover, Plainville, Shrewsbury, and Woburn.

The address for the new location of b.good in Harvard Square is 104 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The The website for b.good can be found at http://www.bgood.com

[October 13 update: According to a Facebook post from the place, b.good returns to Harvard Square tonight.]

[Earlier Articles]
b.good in Cambridge's Harvard Square Is Closing
OSushi in Cambridge's Harvard Square Closes, Goes on Auction Block

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]