Highlights for the Week Ending October 12, 2012

Several more stories and articles focusing on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including an event for a good cause coming to the city later this month, a new restaurant with a couple of well-known athletes behind it opening south of Boston, and a local chain of pizzerias going Chapter 11. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included a  new review of a Vietnamese restaurant south of Boston, the release of our fall newsletter, and a photo of an unusual kind of omelet from a Japanese restaurant in Cambridge.

Below are links to these and other items from the past week:

Boston Restaurant Talk

Lovin' Spoonfuls Ultimate Tailgate Party to Be Held in Boston, October 28, 2012

Ginger Exchange to Move into Former Betty's Wok and Noodle Space in Boston

Tim Wakefield, Shawn Thornton Among Owners of Turner's Yard in Pembroke

Upper Crust Pizzeria Files for Bankruptcy

Momogoose Food Truck to Open a Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant in the South Station Area

Boston's Hidden Restaurants

New Review: Pho So 1 in Randolph, MA

Restaurant Newsletter, Fall, 2012

Photo: Pork Dumplings from Sichuan Garden in Brookline, MA

Updated Review: The Venetian in Weymouth, MA

Photo: Chicken Katsu Omelet from Ittyo in Cambridge, MA


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Sadie's Saloon and Eatery in Waltham Is Closing

A watering hole in Waltham whose steak tips were considered by some to be among the best in the Boston area is going to be closing its doors later this week. The Brand New Watch blog of Wicked Local is reporting that Sadie's Saloon and Eatery on Pine Street (just off Moody Street) is planning to shut down on Friday, October 19 after being in business for 22 years. The article mentions that the owner (John Ratta) has not gone into specific details about why the place is closing, though it does appear that the shaky economy may have been one factor.

Sadie's has been featured on our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) as a little-known spot to go to for its steak tips--as well as its turkey tips and pork tips--with a review of the place being at the link below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/Sadies.html

The address for this soon-to-close restaurant and bar in Waltham is: Sadie's Saloon and Eatery, 5 Pine Street, Waltham, MA, 02453.

[October 22 update: According to their website, Sadie's did officially close on Friday.]


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Cobble Hill Restaurant Looks to Open in Somerville

A new restaurant could be coming to Somerville, and the folks behind a popular dining and drinking spot in another part of the city may be behind it.

The Somerville News is reporting that the Somerville Licensing Commission will be discussing the proposed opening of Cobble Hill on Park Street in the Dodakin's auto space this evening, with the focus being on the application of a "New All Forms alcoholic beverages 7 day Restaurant license and Entertainment License consisting of Entertainment by Devices" for the eatery. A poster on the Chowhound site mentions that a "very reliable source" says the general manager of Highland Kitchen on Highland Avenue is involved in the opening of Cobble Hill, though we have not been able to confirm this as of yet. The poster also says that the new spot might be focusing on affordable comfort food and could have a rooftop garden.

Because the meeting is taking place later today, we may have some additional information by tomorrow or Wednesday, so keep checking back for updates.

[July 28, 2014 update: Nearly two years after first reporting on it, Cobble Hill is still not open, though Eater Boston mentions that it may be getting closer to reality; the article says that a city planning board meeting is coming on August 20 (as well as a community meeting on July 31) to look into plans for the space, with some info coming from a PDF page on the City of Somerville site.]

[September 23, 2015 update: Based on a Chowhound post from yesterday, it appears that plans for a restaurant to come to the Dodakin's auto space have fallen through, with the poster saying that an email mentions a conflict with an abutter brought the plans down and it is now "dead in the water."]

The address for this proposed restaurant is 81 Park Street, Somerville, MA, 02143.


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Potbelly Sandwich Shop Is Opening in Cambridge's Porter Square

A Chicago-based chain of sub shops that recently opened its first two New England locations in Boston is planning to open another location in the area, with this one being across the river.

Cambridge Day is reporting that a building permit in the former Uno Chicago Grill space in Porter Square indicates that Potbelly Sandwich Shop is apparently moving into the spot. This would be the third Potbelly to come to the immediate area, with one opening at Logan Airport in East Boston in April of this year and another opening on Washington Street in downtown Boston last month. A fourth location is opening at Wayside Commons in Burlington as well.

[April 23, 2013 update: According to their website, Potbelly is planning to open in Porter Square this summer. Also, the Potbelly in Burlington opens today, and another one in Braintree recently opened as well.]

[August 9, 2013 update: A Cambridge License Commission General Hearing note indicates that Potbelly goes before the board on Tuesday, August 13 to request a common victualer license for its proposed shop at 820 Somerville Avenue in Porter Square. The note mentions that the restaurant would have seating for 43 inside and 22 outside, with hours being 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday and 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekends.]

[August 28, 2013 update: Eater Boston states that Potbelly Sandwich Shop is now open in Porter Square.]

Potbelly Sandwich Shop, which started out in 1977, features sandwiches labeled "originals," "bigs," and "skinnys," with options including roast beef, chicken, tuna, ham, meatballs, turkey, and more.

The address for the new Potbelly Sandwich Shop in Porter Square is 1 Porter Square, Cambridge, MA, 02140. The website for the chain is at http://www.potbelly.com/


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Jake's Falafel Corner Gets A Home of Its Own in Newton Centre

A Middle Eastern dining spot that had been located within another restaurant in Newton Centre now has its own place.

The Newton Patch reported last month that Jake's Falafel Corner was going to be moving out of their space inside the Sandwich Works spot at 827 Beacon Street and would be moving into the old CJ's Deli & Pizza site, which is at 740A Beacon Street. According to a poster on the Yelp site, the move has officially taken place, with Jake's now in their new home, though the restaurant's website says that their official grand opening will take place sometime this month.

Jake's, which first opened within Sandwich Works in the winter of 2011, features such items as falafel, hummus, tabouli, baba ganoush, spinach pie, and grape leaves.

The new address for this Middle Eastern spot in Newton Centre is: Jake's Falafel Corner, 740A Beacon Street, Newton, MA, 02459. Their website is at http://www.jakesfalafel.com/

[Earlier Article]
Jake's Falafel Corner Opens Within Sandwich Works in Newton Centre


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Noodles and Company Has Plans to Come to Boston

A Colorado-based restaurant chain that features noodle dishes from around the world is looking to come to the Boston area, though it could be awhile before they do.

The Boulder County Business Report states that Noodles & Company is planning an expansion that would include "dozens of new restaurants in the Northeast" over the next several years, with Boston being eyed along with Hartford, Long Island, and New Jersey. (One location should be opening in East Brunswick, NJ, by early next year.) The chain has approximately 300 locations in nearly half the states in the country, though none in New England as of now.

Noodles & Company, which is headquartered in Broomfield, CO, offers diners an array of noodle-based items influenced by Asian, Mediterranean, and American cuisines, with such dishes as mushroom stroganoff, pad Thai, truffle mac, spaghetti, Japanese pan noodles, curry soup, and penne rosa. Salads and sandwiches can also be found on the menu.

The website for Noodles & Company is at http://www.noodles.com/


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