En Boca in Cambridge's Harvard Square Has Closed

A short-lived restaurant in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge that featured shareable plates has shut down.

Eater Boston is reporting that En Boca on Holyoke Street unexpectedly closed for good this past weekend, with a message telling diners who had made reservations via OpenTable that "The restaurant is saddened to notify their guests that today was their last day of operation. They have had to close permanently very suddenly and will not be able to honor your upcoming reservation." At this point in time, it is not known why the restaurant shuttered, nor is it known what might happen to the space; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

En Boca opened its doors last fall, featuring Mediterranean small plates along with beer, wine, and cocktails. The people behind the dining spot also run The Asgard in Cambridge's Central Square and The Kinsale by City Hall Plaza in Boston. (Sandrine's Bistro had previously been in the space where En Boca had been.)

The address for this now-closed restaurant in Harvard Square was: En Boca, 8 Holyoke Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138.

[June 9 update: The Tables section of The Boston Globe states that En Boca closed because of "construction woes" in the area, and that partner Bill Goodwin says "We'd love to open another En Boca, but not until this is resolved."]

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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]

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La Rana Rossa in Jamaica Plain Is Closing

Last month, we hinted that a Jamaica Plain pizzeria could be closing down, and now we have confirmed that this will definitely be happening.

A Facebook post from the place indicates that La Rana Rossa on Green Street is shutting its doors on Friday, June 16, saying that "It is with a heavy heart that we announce that La Rana Rossa will be closing....We have loved being part of your community. We hope that we'll be able to say one last goodbye to you before we close!" In mid-May, we had mentioned that a new spot called Bootleg Special was planning to open near where Boston's South End and Chinatown neighborhoods meet, and at the time, it was reported that La Rana Rossa was seeking to transfer its beer and wine license to the place. A source told us that week that it looked like the pizzeria would indeed be closing, but it wasn't known when.

La Rana Rossa first opened on Green Street in JP in February of 2016, with the people running it also being behind the nearby Blue Frog Bakery.

The address for La Rana Rossa is 154 Green Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130.

[Earlier Article]
Bootleg Special Plans to Open in Boston; License May Come from La Rana Rossa in Jamaica Plain

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

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Bean & Cream in Hyde Park Closes

It looks like a Boston neighborhood has lost its sole coffeehouse.

Universal Hub is reporting that Bean & Cream in Hyde Park is no longer in business, having shut down for good yesterday. The Truman Parkway shop, which first opened six years ago, offered such items as coffee, tea, sandwiches, pastries, and ice cream, and it was owned by the same people who run Cappy's Pizza a few storefronts away. (UH says that Cappy's Pizza will remain in operation.)

The address for this now-closed coffeehouse in Hyde Park was: Bean & Cream, 680 Truman Parkway, Hyde Park, MA, 02136.

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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]

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Certified Meatball Company Opens in South Boston This Summer

A long-awaited restaurant featuring meatballs is finally getting ready to open.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, Certified Meatball Company is hoping to open in South Boston later this month and is going to be doing job training on June 12. Based on information we received earlier, it looks like the upcoming dining spot on West Broadway plans to offer a variety of meatballs and sauce options, including beef, spicy Korean pork, turkey, Moroccan lamb meatballs, and veggie, with sauce options including a mole and a Thai green sauce.

In the spring of 2015, we mentioned that Certified Meatball Company was looking to open in Somerville's Davis Square, but those plans apparently fell through and a year later, it was discovered that the place would be opening in South Boston instead.

Boston Nightlife Ventures (Griddler's, The Tap Trailhouse, Southern Kin Cookhouse, Wink & Nod) is behind Certified Meatball Company.

The address for Certified Meatball Company is 429 West Broadway, South Boston, MA, 02127.

[August 1 update: A press release states that Certified Meatball Company opens on Friday, August 4.]

[Earlier Articles]
Certified Meatball Company to Open in South Boston
Boston Nightlife Ventures to Open Certified Meatball Company

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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]

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Dig Inn Opens in Boston's Downtown Crossing

Last year, we reported that a New York City-based group of "farm-to-counter" dining spots with one location in Boston was going to be opening two more in the city. Now we have learned that one of them has opened.

According to an events page, Dig Inn opens today on Washington Street in Downtown Crossing, joining another location on Boylston Street across from Copley Square. A third shop at the Prudential Center will soon be coming as well, though there does not appear to be an opening date for that outlet as of yet.

Dig Inn, which first started out in 2011 and now has 13 locations in New York and another in Rye Brook, offers locally-sourced healthy food options including "market bowls" that have a grain or salad base with items such as steak or chicken.

The address for this new restaurant in Downtown Crossing is: Dig Inn, 277 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02108. The website for Dig Inn can be found at https://www.diginn.com/

[Earlier Article]
Dig Inn to Open New Locations in Boston's Downtown Crossing, Prudential Center

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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]

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Sugar Heaven in Boston's Back Bay Is Closing

A pair of shops featuring all kinds of sweets is dropping down to just one, as its Boston shop is closing.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Sugar Heaven in the Back Bay is shutting down, with the Boylston Street store having a closeout sale earlier this week and a sign out front saying "CLOSED. Please visit our Somerville location." (The sole remaining shop can be found at Assembly Row.) Another location of Sugar Heaven at Legacy Place in Dedham shut down for good last fall.

Sugar Heaven sells such items as jelly beans, lollipops, gum, mints, and more in the way of sweets, along with novelties and toys.

The address for the Back Bay location of Sugar Heaven is 669 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

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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]

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