Upcoming Openings: Famous Deli, Il Casale, Tupelo, Friendly Toast, Trina's Starlight Lounge

With the economy in tatters, it would seem that about the only changes within the Boston restaurant scene would be closings of dining spots, but this is not quite the case. Indeed, a number of highly-anticipated restaurant openings are on the horizon, including several that we mention below. (Thanks to Zagat Buzz, Wicked Local, the Boston Herald, and Chowhound for helping us learn more about a few of these.)

Famous Deli, North End.
This looks to be a sandwich spot on Cross Street near Hanover and Salem Streets at the beginning of the North End (where the Central Artery used to be). The owner of Strega, a popular Italian eatery in the North End, will also be heading up this spot, which should be open in May.

Il Casale, Belmont.
The owner of Dante in Cambridge will be opening another Italian restaurant, this one on Leonard Street in Belmont. Il Casale will likely lean toward upscale Italian cuisine, and it will reside in a renovated firehouse in the center of town. The exact opening date is unknown, but it looks as if it will definitely be open sometime this spring.

Tupelo, Cambridge.
Described on their Twitter page as "comfort food with a Southern flair," Tupelo will be opening on Cambridge Street in Inman Square, perhaps as early as April, in the spot where Magnolia's Southern Cuisine used to be.

Friendly Toast, Cambridge.
A restaurant in Portsmouth, NH, that features unique homemade breakfasts, Friendly Toast will be opening a new location in the Kendall Square section of Cambridge. The last we heard, they are hoping to open sometime in April at 1 Kendall Square.

Trina's Starlight Lounge, Cambridge.
Yet another new restaurant coming to Cambridge, Trina's Starlight Lounge promises to also be another Southern-style dining spot in the Inman Square section of the city. It will be housed in the old Abbey Lounge Spot on Beacon Street near the Somerville border. Trina's probably won't be open until sometime in the summer.

Reminder About Twitter and Our Restaurant Sites

Several days ago, we mentioned that this blog as well as the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site can now be followed for updates on Twitter. We will soon post a direct link to our Twitter page on both the main template of this blog (so it can be accessed from any page) as well as the home page of Boston's Hidden Restaurants. In the meantime, if you would like to follow our updates on Twitter, please go to the link below, then click "follow" once you are on the Twitter page

https://twitter.com/hiddenboston

Latest Review: Ristorante Serena, Malden

The latest review on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Web site is for Ristorante Serena, an Italian restaurant in Malden. Located in the Maplewood Square section of the city near the Revere border, Ristorante Serena is a charming and romantic little spot with just a handful of tables in its dining room. The menu features mostly Southern Italian food, including all kinds of seafood and pasta dishes as well as a variety of steak, chicken, and veal entrees. To read more about Ristorante Serena in Malden, please click on the link above.

Blue Ox to Open Soon in Lynn

Downtown Lynn will soon be home to the Blue Ox, a casual family restaurant. The Blue Ox will be moving into the space on Oxford Street that was formerly occupied by the Downtown Bistro, and before that, the Oxford Street Grill.

According to the restaurant's Web site, the executive chef and partner of the Blue Ox Bistro (Matt O’Neil) has worked at such top Boston restaurants as Prezza and No. 9 Park. The site also has a menu up, showing such items as tomato and corn bruschetta, pasta fagioli, a fried haddock sandwich, tagliatelle bolognese, grilled swordfish, and veal saltimbocca.

The Blue Ox should be opening sometime in early April at 191 Oxford Street in the heart of Lynn. Web site: http://www.theblueoxlynn.com/

Cafe 47 Opens in the Back Bay

A new cafe has just opened up in the old Despina's pizza place at Mass. Ave. and Marlborough Street in the Back Bay of Boston. The dining spot, which is called Cafe 47, will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and will be featuring everything from breakfast sandwiches, salads, and paninis to Italian entrees and pizza.

The address for Cafe 47 is: Cafe 47, 47 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. The phone number is (617) 536-1577. Web site: http://www.cafe47.net/

Something Savory in Arlington to Close Restaurant; Catering to Remain Open

Arlington is about to lose a very highly-rated restaurant, though fortunately the business is not going completely away.

Something Savory, a Caribbean-influenced dining spot in Arlington Heights, will be closing the restaurant end of their business on Saturday, March 28. According to an email sent by the restaurant owner, the catering end of Something Savory will remain open and become the main focus of the business, making food for everything from weddings and corporate events to graduation parties.

Something Savory is at 1312 Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington Heights (across from D'Agostino's and Sports Etc.). Their phone numbers are (781) 648 0333 and (617) 549-2599.