Boston Restaurant Talk

Monday, March 20, 2017

Brew Box Opens in Former Comida Mexican Taqueria Space in Salem

A new coffee shop and cafe is opening in Salem, taking over the space that was formerly home to a Mexican restaurant.

According to a Facebook post from OctoCog, Brew Box is going to open on Essex Street in the old Comida Mexican Taqueria spot, with the place being a specialty coffee shop that also offers breakfast, lunch, and pastry items. Few specifics on food options have been given as of yet, but the website for the place mentions that it will offer such items as house-made biscuits, oatmeal, and made-to-order sandwiches.

Comida Mexican Taqueria first opened in the space in September of 2010.

Thanks to @CappyinBoston for initially bringing this to our attention.

The address for this new coffee shop and cafe in Salem is: Brew Box, 131 Essex Street, Salem, MA, 01970. Its website can be found at https://www.brewboxsalem.com/

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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]

Capri Pizza & Subs in Arlington Heights Is Closed Again

A suburban pizzeria that has been in business for a quarter century has closed once again, and it is not yet known if/when it may reopen.

A check on the place over the past several days indicates that Capri Pizza & Subs in Arlington Heights is locked up and dark, with posters within the Facebook page of The Arlington List confirming that it has been shuttered for awhile now--possibly for the past several weeks. No reason has been given for the closure of the Mass. Ave. spot, though there has been some chatter about why it may have closed; as soon as we get confirmation on what exactly has happened with Capri, we will post an update here.

Capri also quietly shut its doors in early March of 2016, but reopened a month later--apparently under new ownership--with the previous owner of the pizzeria appearing to offer to help in the reopening of the shop. The eatery first opened in the early 1990s, taking over what had been Charlie's Pizza.

The address for Capri Pizza is 1323 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02476.

[April 27 update: The Arlington Advocate mentions that the owner of Capri--Miltos Athanasopoulos--would need to complete a plan review process if he wishes to open it back up, noting that "it may have difficulty" doing so; the article says that the dining spot changed ownership last year without going through a proper plan review process at the time, and the town had asked Athanasopoulos to make some changes to the place after the ownership change, but at least some of these changes have still not been made.]

[Earlier Articles]
Capri Pizza in Arlington Heights Is Currently Closed; Exact Status Unknown
Capri Pizza in Arlington Heights Has Reopened

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

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Matt and Nancy Sargent Say Farewell to Brewer's Tap & Table in Waltham

The husband-and-wife team that were involved in the recent opening of a dining spot and craft beer bar on "restaurant row" have said farewell to the place.

A series of messages sent to us today indicate that Matt and Nancy Sargent are no longer involved with Brewer's Tap & Table on Moody Street in Waltham, with the two managers of the place now focusing on their "Phantom Dinner" underground dinner business, according to a Facebook post. Matt Sargent also indicates that he and Nancy hope to be involved in another spot at some point, though details about the concept are few for now. (Brewer's Tap & Table will remain in operation.)

Brewer's Tap & Table first opened last November, with the Sargents--who come from Vermont--helping set up the place as a farm-to-table restaurant with an extensive list of local craft beers. The space had formerly been home to Watch City Brewing.

The address for Brewer's Tap & Table is 256 Moody Street, Waltham, MA, 02453. Its website is at https://www.brewerstapandtable.com/ while the website for Phantom Dinner can be found at https://www.facebook.com/pg/GuerrillaDiningMA

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

Friday, March 17, 2017

Noodle Market Opens in Former Sweet Chili Space in Arlington Center

Last fall, we reported that a longtime Arlington restaurant was going to be replaced by a new dining spot, and now we have learned that the new eatery is up and running.

A check on the space today indicates that Noodle Market is now open in the former Sweet chili space in Arlington Center, with the Mass. Ave. restaurant offering a mix of Vietnamese and Thai fare. The menu at Noodle Market features such items as chicken satay, watercress soup, banh mi, vermicelli bowl, pho, pad thai, drunken noodle, curry noodle, mango fried rice, crispy duck, Vietnamese beef stew, seafood hot pot, and chili basil salmon.

Sweet Chili, which first opened approximately 20 years ago, focused mainly on Thai cuisine.

The address for Noodle Market is 470-472 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA, 02474.

[Earlier Article]
Noodle Market to Replace Sweet Chili in Arlington Center

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

Owners of Now-Closed Bradley Liquors in Boston's Fenway to Open Upscale Liquor Store by Audubon Circle

The people behind a liquor store in Boston's Fenway that is no longer in operation are hoping to open a new store in the city's Audubon Circle area--and this one would be focusing on specialty items.

According to a post on the Beth Treffeisen Photography site, the owners of the now-shuttered Bradley Liquors on Boylston Street are planning to open an upscale liquor store on Beacon Street in the former Superb Bicycle Shop space, with the proposed shop having the same retro look that the bike shop had while apparently selling higher-end versions of beer, wine, bourbon, and more. If all goes well, the new store--which may end up being called Shippy's--could be opening in April.

The article says that Bradley Liquors closed down because of a lack of foot traffic and rising rents.

The address for this upcoming liquor store is 842 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02215.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

Fire Hits Former A Mano (and Upcoming Multi-Use Culinary Space) in Salem

A fire caused major damage to a North Shore building that housed a now-closed restaurant--and which is slated to become home to an upcoming multi-use culinary space.

The Salem News is reporting that firefighters worked late yesterday to put out a two-alarm blaze at Pickering Wharf, with the fire apparently starting in the ceiling of the kitchen area of the former A Mano Italian Kitchen at 62 Wharf Street, spreading to the condos on the two floors above the restaurant space. The article says that the four condo units on the second and third floors were heavily damaged and are not livable--but they will are repairable--while no word has been given on the extent of the damage to the restaurant space. A Facebook post from Salem Spice, which is planning to move into the space from 75 Wharf Street, mentions that "The fire...impacted the new space in pretty dramatic fashion....Another unplanned challenge. One which we will overcome in time." No injuries were reported in the fire, which is currently under investigation.

In addition to Salem Spice, the space at 62 Wharf Street is planning to become home to The Branch Olive Oil Company (which has another location at the Northshore Mall) and Salem GNU Kitchen, which will be a community kitchen space that will be used for catering, tours, classes and seminars, and in-house created take-out food, according to a Constant Contact page.

A Mano closed in the space last fall after less than a year in business. The space had previously been home to 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar.

Thanks to a source for some of the information above.

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]