Best Boston Restaurants of 2008 Just Posted

Our fourth annual "Best Little-Known Boston Restaurants" page is now up and running on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site. This year, a few new categories have been added, and there are both repeat winners and newcomers on the list.

To see our picks, please go to Best Boston Restaurants of 2008 to find out what we particularly liked this year.

Ghazal Coming to Jamaica Plain

A new Indian restaurant will be opening in Jamaica Plain. Both Chowhound and EveryBlock Boston report that Ghazal Fine Indian Cuisine will be opening at 711 Centre Street (the spot where Cafe D used to be, near the corner of Centre and Burroughs Streets).

No specific date has been given as to when Ghazal will open. Stay tuned, as we hope to get updates over the coming days...

Latest Review: Grain and Salt, Allston

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for a Pakistani and Indian restaurant in the Allston section of Boston called Grain and Salt. Located just off the main shopping street in the center of Allston, Grain and Salt is just out of the way enough to be little known to many diners. The menu at Grain and Salt includes a mix of Pakistani and Indian dishes (as well as some Indian-Chinese dishes), with a special menu featured on weekends. The restaurant consists of two rooms with both rooms having a cozy and intimate feel. To read more about Grain and Salt in Allston, please click on the link above.

New Feature on Boston-Area Bakeries and Pastry Shops

Timing is everything. Boston's Hidden Restaurants posted a new feature on Bakeries and Pastry Shops in the Boston Area earlier today only to hear that the Channel 5 show Chronicle will be having a similar feature this evening at 7:30 PM.

So it looks like readers and viewers will be knee deep in bakeries and pastry shops today and tonight. By the way, if you would like to get a sneak peek at what Chronicle will be doing this evening, please go to the following link:

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/chronicle/

New Restaurants Around Boston: Late Fall, 2008

With the economy in such rough shape, one would think that restaurants would be closing all over the Boston area. But oddly enough, the past month has seen a slew of restaurant openings throughout the region, with realtively few dining spots closing.

Restaurants that have opened in late October and November include (in no particular order): The Littlest Bar, an Irish pub in the Financial District of Boston; Taste of Siam, a Thai restaurant in Stoneham; The Local, a restaurant and pub in West Newton; Craigie on Main, a New American restaurant between Central and Kendall Squares in Cambridge; Bina Osteria, an Italian restaurant near Downtown Crossing in Boston; Emilianoz, a Mexican restaurant in Medford; Shabu Square, an Asian hot pot restaurant in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge; The Franklin Cafe, an upscale comfort food place in South Boston; Sportello, an Italian restaurant in the Fort Point Channel district of Boston, and Tsunami, a Japanese restaurant in Arlington.

As we hear about more restaurant openings (or closings) in the Boston area over the coming weeks, we will be sure to let you know.

Farewell, Giuseppi's, Hello Emilianoz (Medford)

Giuseppi's Kitchen, an Italian restaurant on Boston Avenue in West Medford, has officially closed, with a Mexican restaurant taking its place. Emilianoz Mexican Grill has taken over the spot formerly occupied by Giuseppi's, with its opening occurring over the past day or two. It looks to be open for at least lunch and dinner--not sure about breakfast at this time.

The address for Emilianoz is: Emilianoz Mexican Grill, 123 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155. The phone number is (781) 646-8226.