Top Choice Bar and Grill Replaces Bossa Nova Steak House in Malden

It looks like a Brazilian restaurant north of Boston has been replaced by another Brazilian spot.

According to one of our readers, Bossa Nova Steak House in Malden is gone, with its space on Main being taken over by the Top Choice Bar and Grill. An article in jornalasemana.com confirms this, saying that the new restaurant opened last Friday, offering Brazilian fare (including a full buffet) with culinary influences coming from each state of that country.

Bossa Nova first opened its doors in December of 2011, moving into the space where Two Ninety Main Restaurant and Lounge had previously been.

The address for the now-closed Bossa Nova Steak House--and new Top Choice Bar and Grill--is 290 Main Street, Malden, MA, 02148.

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Veggie Planet May Reopen in New Location

This summer, we reported that a vegetarian dining spot in Cambridge's Harvard Square was leaving its space, though with the possibility of it reopening at a new site at some point. Now we have learned that this may indeed be happening.

Eater Boston is reporting (via a Facebook post) that a former customer of Veggie Planet--which was formerly in the Club Passim space on Palmer Street--is looking to open the eatery in a new location and a survey is now being taken as to where customers might want it to be. Veggie Planet shut down in August after being in business for 13 years, with the people behind the spot putting their focus on their other restaurant--Veggie Galaxy on Mass. Ave. in Central Square.

As soon as we find out where Veggie Planet might turn up, we will post an update here.

The website for Veggie Planet can be found at http://www.veggieplanet.net/index.html

[Earlier Article]
Veggie Planet in Cambridge's Harvard Square to Close; Club Passim to Remain Open

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Highlights for the Week Ending October 3, 2014

A few more stories and articles centering on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including a North End institution closing down, a sandwich chain planning to open its first Boston-area shop, and a deli south of the city shuttering. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included a new review of a pizzeria in Somerville, a photo of a breakfast dish from a Holbrook spot, and a note about two new Pinterest boards.

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

Boston Restaurant Talk

J. Pace and Son Closing Location in Boston's North End

Don Law Group Purchases Union Square Post Office in Somerville; Could Become Arts Venue with Restaurant

Which Wich Is Coming to Somerville's Assembly Row

Murray's Deli in Braintree Has Closed

Sweet Tooth Closes Its Downtown Crossing Location

Boston's Hidden Restaurants

New Review: Leone's Sub and Pizza in Somerville, MA

Photo: Waffles from Leggos in Holbrook, MA

Restaurant Closings and Openings for September, 2014

Two New Pinterest Boards: Appetizers, Spicy Foods

Photo: Macaroni and Cheese from the People's Pint in Greenfield, MA

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Noodles and Company to Open Locations in Medford, Westwood, and Woburn

A Colorado-based restaurant chain that features noodle dishes is getting ready to continue its expansion into the Boston area.

According to a job post within the Craigslist site, Noodles & Company is planning to open locations in Medford, Westwood, and Woburn, joining an existing shop in Burlington along with others in Shrewsbury and Nashua, NH. It appears that the chain's expansion is just beginning, as the post says that there will be "many, many, many more...46 more to be precise," though it does not specify whether they will all be in the Boston area.

[April 17, 2015 update: The Noodles & Company website now gives the exact addresses for the Medford and Woburn locations, with the former being at 491 Riverside Avenue and the latter being at 297 Mishawum Road.]

[April 22, 2015 update: According to a Facebook post from the chain,  the Westwood location of Noodles & Company (which will be at University Station) opens on Friday, April 24.]

[November 3, 2015 update: According to the chain's website, the Woburn location of Noodles & Company is now open, and Boston Herald writer @DGoodison states that the Medford location will open on November 19.]

Noodles & Company, which opened its first location in 1995 and now has more than 400 locations, offers an array of noodle-based dishes with influences coming from American, Asian, and Mediterranean cuisines. Its website can be found at http://www.noodles.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]

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Fresh City in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood Is Closing

A local group of quick-casual dining spots is closing one of its locations in Boston due to major redevelopment that would be "disruptive" to the shop.

According to an article in boston.com, Fresh City at the Landmark Center in the city's Fenway neighborhood is shutting down, joining a Best Buy location there that is also closing because of an extensive expansion at the site that will include new office space, luxury housing, and retail and restaurant space. The article says that both Fresh City and Best Buy were given the option to cancel their leases early, which they both took; it appears that Fresh City could be closing any day now, while Best Buy will remain open until November 1.

Existing locations of Fresh City in Natick, Newton, Woburn, and Logan Airport--along with one location each in Connecticut and New Jersey--remain open.

The address for Fresh City in the Fenway is 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02215. The website for all locations can be found at http://www.freshcity.com/

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Bombay Mahal in Waltham Has Closed; Santa Banta Is Moving into Its Space

A dining spot in the heart of Waltham's "Restaurant Row" that had been in business for approximately a quarter century has closed, though a new eatery is opening in its space.

According to a Twitter post from @DowntownWaltham, Bombay Mahal on Moody Street is no longer in operation, with another Indian restaurant called Santa Banta slated to open there on October 10. Bombay Mahal, which had been open since the late 1980s, was once featured on our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) as an under-the-radar spot to check out. The review from the site can be found below:

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

Based on its website, it looks like Santa Banta will feature modern gourmet Indian cuisine in one room and Indian street food in the other.

The address for the now-closed Bombay Mahal (and new Santa Banta) is 458 Moody Street, Waltham, MA, 02453. Its website can be found at http://santabantawaltham.com/

[October 16 update: According to a source, Santa Banta is now open.]

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