Boston Restaurant Talk

Monday, December 12, 2022

Mary Chung in Cambridge's Central Square Is Closing

A Chinese restaurant in Cambridge that has been popular with locals and college students alike over the years is shutting down.

A message sent to us by Adam Gaffin of Universal Hub (and via a tweet from Drew Starr) says that Mary Chung in the city's Central Square area is closing its doors, with a note on the door of the Mass. Ave. spot (that Drew took a picture of) indicating that its last day is December 31, and that the people behind it are retiring. The restaurant, which has been in business for 40 years, has been a favorite for nearby MIT students, offering mostly Chinese-American dishes and Sichuan fare.

The address for Mary Chung in Central Square is 464 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

Stubbys Is Opening in Boston's Seaport District

It looks like yet another Nantucket restaurant will be expanding to Boston.

According to an article from Boston Magazine, Stubbys is planning to open in the city's Seaport District, moving into a space on Northern Avenue. The post says that the upcoming fast-casual spot will feature breakfast all day along with lunch and dinner options, and it will have a seasonal patio in the warmer months. Once the restaurant opens (it is slated to debut in the spring), the new location of Stubbys will join two other branches of Nantucket-based dining spots in the Seaport District--LoLa 42 and Nautilus Pier 4--along with a seasonal Cisco Brewers beer garden, while another Nantucket spot called Fresh recently opened on Old Colony Avenue in South Boston.

The address for the upcoming location of Stubbys in the Seaport District is 43 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA, 02210. The website for the original location on Nantucket is at https://stubbysnantucket.com/

[May 2, 2023 update: According to a press release, Stubbys opens in the Seaport District on May 18.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Friday, December 09, 2022

Jazz Urbane Cafe Still Planning to Open in Roxbury

A few years ago, it was reported that a cafe featuring live music could be coming to an historic building in Roxbury. Now we have learned that the plans are still on the table and appear to be moving forward.

According to an article from Universal Hub, Jazz Urbane Cafe continues to look at opening within the Ferdinand storefront section of the Bolling Building in Nubian Square. The people behind the proposed spot--Nia Grace of Darryl's Corner Kitchen & Bar, Berkeley Professor Bill Banfield, and entrepreneur Turahn Dorsey--will need to get approval for a variance by the Zoning Board of Appeal due to a lack of parking, as well as licenses to serve food and drink. If they get the green light to open, the new spot would feature live jazz music from both local and national performers (including acts from Banfield's Jazz Urbane record label) while the space may also be used for community events.

As mentioned earlier, the Bolling Building dates back to the 1880s.

The website for Jazz Urbane Cafe can be found at jazzurbanecafe.com

[Earlier Article]
Jazz Urbane Cafe Could Be Opening in Roxbury's Dudley Square

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

El Peñol Opens in Brookline

It looks like a pair of Colombian restaurants in the local area have been joined by a third location.

According to a source, El Peñol is now open in Brookline, with a check on the website for the Harvard Street eatery showing that it is called "El Peñol 3" while the website for its Revere location is "El Peñol 2" (the original is in East Boston). The menu for the new spot hasn't been posted as of yet, but based on the other locations, it may be serving such items as empanadas, arepa, yuca frita, ceviche, carne asada, churrasco, tostones, paella, flan, and more.

The address for the new location of El Peñol is 404 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. Its website can be found at https://elpenol3.business.site/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

Gourmet China House in Boston's Chinatown Neighborhood Has Closed

A restaurant in Boston's Chinatown neighborhood has very quietly shut down.

According to a tweet from @Railfan23, Gourmet China House is no longer in business, with a picture showing a sign out front at the Beach Street eatery saying "we will be ending our restaurant business on 11/28/2022 due to restaurant lease expires." The dining spot, which first opened in 2016, offered a mix of authentic Chinese and Chinese-American fare, including a number of frog and lamb dishes and some Taiwanese options as well.

The address for the now-closed Gourmet China House in Chinatown was 55 Beach Street, Boston, MA, 02111.

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]

The Dogwood in Jamaica Plain Is Closing

A popular spot for pizza, craft beers, and cocktails is shutting down.

According to a tweet from @jessekb, The Dogwood in the Forest Hills section of Jamaica Plain is getting ready to close, with the Washington Street spot posting the following on its website:

It is with deep regret and a heavy heart that after 27 years The Dogwood will be closing its doors for good January 14th, 2023. We are thankful for the continued patronage & support the community has offered through the years. To all our faithful & loyal Dogwood friends & family we thank you for the memories & look forward to having one more with you before we go to exchange the stories & memories this great establishment has offered us all. We hope to see you in these next few weeks.

No reason has been given for the closure, nor is it known what might move into its space.

The Dogwood has been known in part for its wood-fired pizzas named after trees (the Arnold Arboretum is within walking distance) along with fish and chips, chicken under a brick, steak tips, macaroni and cheese, and wings, and a rotating selection of local and regional beers, martinis, margaritas, sangria, and more.

The address for The Dogwood is 3712 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130. Its website can be found at https://thedogwoodjp.com

by Marc Hurwitz (Also 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]