Boston Restaurant Talk

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Pitstop BBQ in Wakefield Is Closing

A barbecue spot in the northern suburbs is shutting down after being in business for 10 years.

According to a source, Pitstop BBQ in Wakefield is getting ready to close its doors, with a Facebook post from the Vernon Street place indicating that the people behind it are moving and that its last day in business will be Sunday, October 30. Pit Stop first opened in 2012, taking over the space that had been home to CnDs Barbeque Grille; its menu includes such items as ribs, fried chicken, pulled pork, brisket, wings, macaroni and cheese, and baked beans.

The address for Pitstop BBQ is 10 Vernon Street, Wakefield, MA, 01880.

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!

Sol Mexican Cocina to Open in Boston's Back Bay

A California-based group of casual upscale Mexican restaurants is expanding to Boston.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Sol Mexican Cocina is planning to open in the Back Bay, moving into an office building on Huntington Avenue that is across from the Prudential Center. The 5,800-square-foot spot will have seating for 200 inside and 30 on a seasonal patio and is expected to feature coastal Mexican fare inspired by dishes found on the Baja California peninsula, with the menu including seafood dishes, tacos, and a variety of house-made salsas along with beer, wine, cocktails, and an array of mezcals and tequilas. If all goes as planned, the new location of Sol Mexican Cocina will open early next year.

Currently, there are five locations of Sol Mexican Cocina in California, Arizona, and Colorado, and a new outlet in Las Vegas plans to open in November as well; the group of restaurants is part of Xperience Restaurant Group, which also includes two other concepts: El Torito and Chevys. It is not known if these two concepts are connected to the long-closed restaurants by the same names that once resided in the Greater Boston area; we have reached out to the company for more information.

The address for the upcoming location of Sol Mexican Cocina in the Back Bay is 116 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for all locations is at https://solcocina.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]

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Chicken & the Pig Opens at MarketStreet Lynnfield

The people behind a suburban food truck that offers chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, and more have opened a brick-and-mortar location.

According to its website and social media, Chicken & the Pig is now open at MarketStreet Lynnfield, with an official grand opening slated for November 3. In addition to breaded chicken sandwiches and gourmet hot dogs, the dining spot also offers chicken strips, salads, waffle fries, craft beer, milkshakes, and more.

Chicken & the Pig started out as a food truck in Middleton, residing at The Lot on South Main which is across from Richardson's Ice Cream. It appears that the food truck will remain in that space, as both the truck and the brick-and-mortar are shown on the website, which can be found at https://chickenandthepigfoodtruck.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]

Monday, October 24, 2022

Tiger Sugar Is Opening in Cambridge's Harvard Square

A couple of years ago, it was reported that a Taiwanese chain featuring tea with brown sugar was looking to expand into the Greater Boston area, and it subsequently opened two locations in the city. Now we have learned that another one of the locations mentioned is about to become reality.

A message sent by Leah Klein of City Living Boston indicates that Tiger Sugar is planning to open in Cambridge, moving into a space on JFK Street in Harvard Square. Once it opens, the new outlet will join shops in Boston's Chinatown and in Allston along with a number of others across the country, and based on the others, expect to find brown sugar boba (bubble tea) using a brown sugar syrup with milk along with slow-cooked tapioca pearls.

The address for the new location of Tiger Sugar in Harvard Square is 5 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. Its website can be found at https://tigersugar.co/

[November 10 update: According to a source (Sarah Wu), Tiger Sugar in Harvard Square appears to be in the middle of a soft opening.]

[Earlier Article]
Tiger Sugar Plans to Expand to the Boston Area

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]

Shake Shack Opens at the Derby Street Shops in Hingham

After being in the works for more than a year, a new location of a New York-based group of burger and shake spots is getting ready to open.

According to a press release, Shake Shack opens at the Derby Street Shops in Hingham on Friday, October 28, with the place including an outdoor patio as well as a walk-up window that can be used to pick up orders via the Shack Shack's app (the app can be used for the new location starting October 31). This is the 12th outlet of the chain in Massachusetts, and its first on the South Shore.

The website for Shake Shack can be found at https://www.shakeshack.com/

[Earlier Article]
Shake Shack Plans to Open in Hingham

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, October 21, 2022

Kosmos Opens in Walpole

A brand new Greek restaurant has come to the southwest suburbs of Boston, and it has a connection to Rhode Island spot.

According to a source, Kosmos is now open in Walpole, with a post from the Destination Downtown Facebook page indicating that the restaurant resides in the Main Street space that had been home to Sapore Vero. Based on information from our source and the Facebook post, it appears that Kosmos is an upscale spot that focuses on modern Greek cuisine (its menu shows such items as saganaki, lamb chops, grilled octopus, and pork skewers), and Destination Downtown also says that the people behind it run Christopher's Kitchen and Bar in Woonsocket.

The address for Kosmos is 944 Main Street, Walpole, MA, 02081. The website for the restaurant can be found at https://kosmoswma.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]

Tatte Bakery & Cafe Is Opening Another Outlet in Downtown Boston

A growing local group of bakeries and cafes is opening a third shop in downtown Boston.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the City of Boston website, Tatte Bakery & Cafe is looking to open on High Street, with the notice saying that it would be a ground-floor cafe with a dining room and a seasonal patio. If approved, the new outlet will join a number of others in the local area, including ones on nearby Summer Street as well as One Boston Place on Washington Street.

The first location of Tatte opened up in 2008 on Beacon Street in Brookline.

The address for the new location of Tatte in downtown Boston is 125 High Street, Boston, MA, 02110. The website for all locations is at https://tattebakery.com/\

[January 27, 2023 update: A tweet from @ConciergeBoston indicates that Tatte is now open on High Street.]

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]

Morrissey Hall to Open within The BEAT Boston in Dorchester

A few years ago, it was reported that a mixed-use development would replace an iconic space just off the Southeast Expressway, and it would include a food hall. Now we have learned a bit more about the food hall, including a possible name given to the space.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the City of Boston website, Morrissey Hall is seeking a license to operate within The BEAT Boston in Dorchester, with the notice saying that it would have four levels, a seasonal back patio, a roof deck, and seating for 237. As stated in an earlier article, The BEAT Boston is taking over the site on Morrissey Boulevard where the Boston Globe headquarters had been, and it will be a mixed-use development that include life science space.

The address for Morrissey Hall (and The BEAT Boston) is 135 Morrissey Boulevard, Dorchester, MA, 02125. The website for Morrissey Hall can be found at https://www.thebeatboston.com/

[Earlier Article]
The BEAT to Replace Former Boston Globe Headquarters; May Include Food Hall, Restaurant, Brewery

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]

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Mei Mei Is Returning, Opening a Cafe, Dumpling Factory, and Classroom in South Boston

An eclectic Chinese-American restaurant in Boston's Fenway neighborhood that closed a couple of years ago is returning, with the plans being to open a multi-use space in South Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page and an article from Caught in Southie, Mei Mei is looking to open a cafe, dumpling factory, and classroom at Iron Works on Old Colony Avenue, with a note on its website saying that "Our new HQ will allow us to expand into wholesale dumpling distribution, open a classroom space for in-person cooking classes, and add a cafe to serve hot dumplings, and bring menu classics like the beloved Double Awesome." A crowdfunding page is currently set up to raise money for the upcoming spot, and if all goes as planned, a soft opening could take place in December, with a grand opening taking place in January.

Mei Mei first opened its original restaurant on Park Drive in 2013, with the business starting out as a food truck the previous year.

The address for the new location of Mei Mei in South Boston is 58 Old Colony Avenue, South Boston, MA, 02127. The website for the business is at https://meimeidumplings.com/

[January 24, 2023 update: According to a source, Mei Mei is now open in South Boston, with its website confirming this.]

[Earlier Article]
Mei Mei Restaurant in Boston's Fenway Area May Be Finished As a Restaurant; Other Plans Being Considered

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]

Kyuramen Plans to Open in Brookline

A growing chain of ramen restaurants based in New York City is looking to expand to the Greater Boston area, with at least one location currently in the works.

According to Patrick Maguire of Maguire Promotions & Hospitality Consulting, Kyuramen is planning to open in Brookline, with a page within the town's website indicating that it will be moving into a space on Beacon Street just west of the Boston line. Based on the menu for its other locations, expect to see nine different types of ramen dishes, including such options as miso, tonkotsu, shoyu, curry, and kimchi ramen.

Kyuramen, which first started out in 2014, is headquartered in the Flushing section of Queens.

The address for the upcoming location of Kyuramen in Brookline is 1006 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA, 02446. The website for the chain can be found at https://www.kyuramen.com/

[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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The Kartal Opens in Boston's South End

A bit more than a year ago, it was reported that a new dining and drinking spot was planning to open where one of the oldest gay bars in Boston had been, and now we have learned that it has debuted.

Universal Hub is reporting (via a post from BosGuy) that The Kartal is now open in the city's South End, moving into the former Boston Eagle space on Tremont Street. The article indicates that this is a soft opening, and that the new spot will be a cocktail bar, though few other details are known at this point in time.

The Boston Eagle had been in business for more than 40 years until shutting down in the early part of 2021.

The address for The Kartal is 520 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

[Earlier Article]
The Boston Eagle Space in the South End Will Become Home to The Kartal

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]

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Finagle A Bagel at MGH in Boston Has Closed

A local group of bagel shops has closed another one of its locations and is now just down to one outlet.

According to a tweet from @mgnicosia, Finagle A Bagel at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is no longer in business, with a check on the locations page for the business confirming this, as that shop has been removed from the page. The closing of the MGH shop means that the only remaining location is on Boylston Street in Copley Square; at one point in time, there had been more than 20 locations of the bagel chain.

The address for the now-closed Finagle A Bagel at MGH was 277 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114. The website for the company is at https://www.finagleabagel.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]

Roundhead Brewing Company in Hyde Park's Readville Neighborhood Is Having a Soft Opening This Month

Nearly two years ago, it was reported that a new microbrewery could be coming to an historic space in a Boston neighborhood, and now we have learned that the place is just about ready to debut.

A message from Adam Gaffin of Universal Hub indicates that Roundhead Brewing Company is preparing to open in the Readville section of Hyde Park, with a Facebook post from the business saying "Just got a temporary certificate of inspection so we can start having folks to Roundhead Brewing Company in Hyde Park! Be on the lookout for an invitation to an October series of soft opening events!" As stated in an earlier article, Luis Espinoza and Craig Panzer are behind the brewery, which is located in the Westinghouse Plaza complex (just off Neponset Valley Parkway) and whose roots date back well over 100 years, once being home to fan manufacturer B.F. Sturtevant Co.

The website for Roundhead Brewing Company can be found at https://roundheadbrewing.com/

[October 31 update: The Facebook page for the business indicates that Roundhead Brewing Company soft-opened over the weekend, and that its taproom includes a pizza kitchen.]

[Earlier Article]
Roundhead Brewing Company May Be Coming to Readville

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]

Gufo Plans to Open in the Former Loyal Nine Space in East Cambridge

A local restaurant group is looking to open a new restaurant in Cambridge, taking over the space where a dining spot known for its colonial theme had been.

According to a tweet from @TroySch1, The Coda Group is planning to open Gufo in East Cambridge, moving into the former Loyal Nine space on Cambridge Street. The Instagram page for the upcoming restaurant shows posts that say "pizza," "cocktails," and "cafe" while also mentioning that it will open sometime in 2023. Currently, The Coda Group operates SRV in Boston's South End and The Salty Pig near where the South End and Back Bay meet.

Loyal Nine closed down last December after being in business since 2015; the people behind it also run Northern Spy in Canton.

The address for Gufo in East Cambridge is 660 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, 02141. Its Instagram page can be found at https://www.instagram.com/gufocambridge/

[March 8, 2023 update: According to a post within the jobs section of the bostonchefs.com site, Gufo plans to open early this summer and it will offer coffee, antipasti, pizza, pasta, sandwiches, pastries, beer, wine, and cocktails, with the place being a counter-service cafe by day and a full-service restaurant by night.]

[July 24, 2023 update: According to a press release, Gufo opens its doors for dinner service on Friday, July 28, with its cafe opening sometime next month.]

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]

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

The Take Away in Norwood Is Closing

A neighborhood restaurant southwest of Boston that is known in part for its seafood is shutting down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, The Take Away in Norwood is getting ready to close its doors, with a Facebook post from the Chapel Street spot saying that "It is with heavy hearts that The Take Away will be closing over the next few weeks. Unfortunately, this is for circumstances beyond our control." The Take Away, which first opened 11 years ago, is a takeout place that offers such items as wings, lobster bisque, stuffed quahogs, macaroni and cheese, fish and chips, baked stuffed shrimp, scallop rolls, meatball subs, and pizza.

The address for The Take Away is 82 Chapel Street, Norwood, MA, 02062. Its website can be found at https://www.thetakeawayma.com/

[November 18 update: According to its social media, The Take Away is now closed.]

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]

Glazed Bytes Opens at The Shops at Chestnut Hill

A new cafe that offers a twist on two popular breakfast items has opened a few miles west of Boston.

According to both an article from the Boston Business Journal and a page within the Simon site, Glazed Bytes is now open on the upper level of The Shops At Chestnut Hill, with the place featuring "croffles," or a mix of croissants and waffles. The menu for the eatery shows both sweet and savory croffles, with the former including ice cream and sauce and the latter including melted cheese and toppings such as bacon and pepperoni, while pasta salads, sandwiches, and coffee and tea are also available.

The website for Glazed Bytes can be found at https://www.glazedbytes.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]

Monday, October 17, 2022

Half Baked Cafe in Beverly Farms Is Closing

A North Shore bakery-cafe that is known in part for its donuts is getting ready to shut down.

According to a source (Gary Goldblatt), Half Baked Cafe in Beverly Farms is closing its doors, with a Facebook post from the West Street eatery saying that its closing date is October 30. The dining spot serves both breakfast and lunch, and in addition to donuts it has such offerings as cakes, bagels, breakfast burritos, breakfast tacos, hummus wraps, quesadillas, grilled cheese sandwiches, and English Muffin pizzas.

The website for Half Baked Cafe refers customers to Cakes by Erin, a cake shop in Haverhill that is under the same ownership.

The address for Half Baked Cafe in Beverly Farms is 1 West Street, Beverly, MA, 01915. Its website can be found at http://halfbakedbeverly.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]

Trillium Acquires Brewhouse Equipment from Spencer Trappist Brewery, Will Move Equipment To Canton; Original Canton Space Up for Sale

One of the biggest beermakers in the region has acquired the equipment used by an award-winning brewery that closed several months ago, and it is also selling one of its spaces.

According to a blog post, Trillium has made a recent acquisition of the Spencer Trappist Brewery's brewhouse equipment while a message sent to us from the business confirms that the company will not be opening a facility in Spencer, instead moving the equipment to its Royall Street facility in Canton. The blog post also mentions that the Shawmut Road location of Trillium--which was its original Canton location--is now on the market as a "highly desirable turn-key opportunity for another creative beverage producer." We have been told by Trillium that they don't have anything specific about how Spencer's equipment might be used, but if any additional information comes out about this, we will post an update here.

Trillium opened its Royall Street space last summer in what was basically a move from Shawmut Road; the company also has a restaurant and brewpub in Boston's Fort Point neighborhood along with a taproom in the Fenway and a seasonal beer garden on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The website for the company can be found at https://www.trilliumbrewing.com/

[Earlier Article]
Spencer Trappist Brewery Is Ceasing Operations

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, October 14, 2022

Thai Oishi Opens in Dorchester's Fields Corner Neighborhood

A brand new restaurant that features two types of Asian cuisine has come to Dorchester.

Patrick Maguire of Maguire Promotions & Hospitality Consulting states (via @DorchesterEsq) that Thai Oishi is now open in Fields Corner, moving into a space on Adams Street near the Dorchester Avenue intersection. The new dining spot offers Thai and Japanese fare including sushi, with its menu also mentioning that bento boxes are available at lunchtime on weekdays.

The address for Thai Oishi in Fields Corner is 203 Adams Street, Dorchester, MA, 02122. Its website can be found at thaioishiboston.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]

B Nutritious Opens in Boston's Beacon Hill Neighborhood

Last summer, it was reported that a California-based quick-service restaurant concept was planning to expand to Boston, and now we have learned that the place has opened its doors.

According to Adam Castiglioni of the Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog, B Nutritious is now open in the city's Beacon Hill neighborhood, moving into the former All Star Pizza Bar space on Cambridge Street. As mentioned in an earlier article, the dining spot is focusing on healthy food with Asian influences, including such possible options as honey soy glazed salmon, pineapple fried rice, veggie bowls, sweet and spicy noodles, potstickers, and more.

B Nutritious first started out in El Monte back in 2015.

The address for the Beacon Hill location of B Nutritious is 204 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114. The website for the business is at http://bnutritiousmeals.com/

[Earlier Article]
B Nutritious to Open in Former All Star Pizza Bar Space in Boston's Beacon Hill

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]