Eater Boston’s Top Stories of December 2016

Take a look back at the most-read stories of the month as we bid adieu to 2016. (Continue down to the page to see the top stories from earlier months this year, and for a more comprehensive look at the top stories of the year as a whole, head over this way.)

December 2016

1. Boston Winter Lands on City Hall Plaza: Skate on ice, dive into chocolate treats, and indulge in winter.
2. Portland's Ludicrously Good Eventide Oyster Co. Is Expanding Here: You're gonna love these lobster rolls.
3. Sarma Is One of the Best Restaurants in America: It taps into all sorts of national trends.
4. The Most Comforting New Pasta Dishes in Boston: Hearty bowls of pasta from fun new dining destinations.
5. Israeli Chain Landwer Cafe Will Open First U.S. Location in Boston: It will also open a cafe in Toronto.
6. City Tap House Opens in Boston Just in Time for New Year's Eve Festivities: Ring in the new year with plenty of new beer.
7. The Simple Greek Will Bring Fast-Casual Mediterranean Fare to Boston: It's part of a massive national expansion.
8. Ruka Opens Today, Courtesy of the Yvonne's Team: Where Peruvian, Japanese, and Chinese cuisines meet.
9. Blue Ribbon BBQ Is Expanding to Dedham: Look for a late spring 2017 opening.
10. 30 Essential Boston Coffee Shops: Get caffeinated.

November 2016

1. This is Eataly Boston: You're going to eat — and cook — so much Italian food. Here's a look inside the giant Italian food playground.
2. The Eater Boston Guide to Eataly Boston: How to eat your way through all 10,000+ products.
3. Eater Awards 2016: Announcing the Boston Winners: Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, and more.
4. Pokéworks Starts Slinging Sushi Burritos in Somerville on Thursday: Davis Square will soon overflow with poke bowls.
5. Tiffani Faison Is Continuing Her Boylston Street Takeover With a Third Place: A mysterious 12-seat concept is in the works.
6. Cambridge's Hong Kong in Hot Water Over 'Drugged-up' Gummy Bears: Distribution among employees led to a medical incident.
7. Where to Eat Vegetarian and Vegan Food in Boston: Fast-casual and fine-dining options around town.
8. Benedetto Is Now Open in Cambridge With Handmade Pasta and Plenty of Wine: The new Harvard Square restaurant is up and running.
9. Eat Ceviche Under Palm Trees at La Casa de Pedro: The longtime Watertown restaurant expands to Boston's Seaport District.
10. Tory Row Closes Its Doors in Harvard Square: After seven years in business, the Brattle Street restaurant has shut down.

October 2016

1. Eataly Boston Grandly Opens November 29: Here's what you'll find there (including a Barbara Lynch collaboration).
2. Hillstone Near Faneuil Hall Closed October 15: The lease ended.
3. A Guide to Dining and Drinking in Salem, Massachusetts: Where to find French pastries, hard cider, ice cream, old-fashioned candy, and more.
4. Brighton's Cafenation Transformed Into Luke's Diner for a Day: So many people lined up to drink coffee like a Gilmore girl.
5. Chelsea Station Opened in an Old Firehouse: Here's a look at the menu.
6. Spoke Wine Bar Will Close at the End of the Year: The Somerville restaurant says goodbye on December 22.
7. Where to Find the Best Pastries, Cakes, and Other Sweet Treats in Boston: 20 of the best bakeries in town.
8. Hallelujah, Area Four Debuts Its New South End Location: Wood-fired everything (including pizza) arrived at Troy Boston. [Gallery]
9. Landmark Public House Is Coming Soon to Dorchester: Replacing Gerard's on Adams Street.
10. RFK Kitchen Opened in Needham: From Liquid Art House and Mandarin Oriental alum Rachel Klein.

September 2016

1. Two Longtime Harvard Square Restaurants Say Goodbye: Fire + Ice and Uno are gone.
2. Boston Restaurant Opening Preview, Fall 2016: Stay tuned for loads of updates to this fall restaurant opening guide.
3. Eight Essential Boston Sushi Restaurants: There's no shortage of seafood in Boston, and sushi has carved out quite a niche for itself among the lobster rolls and fried clams and crudos of the region. [Map]
4. The Hourly Rides Into Harvard Square With So Many Oysters: Take a peek inside the Grafton Group's newest restaurant. [Gallery]
5. Two Defunct Downtown Restaurants Will Be Reborn as an Italian Eatery and a Sports Bar: New concepts are moving into the Broad Street Riot and Julep Bar spaces.
6. New York City’s Num Pang Is Coming to Boston: Cambodian-inspired sandwiches and more will land at the Prudential this fall.
7. Tim Maslow Laments the Food Industry’s Paradigm Shift: "It used to be the love of my life, and now I’m having trouble understanding the existence of it in the world." [Interview]
8. San Francisco-Based Philz Coffee Heads for Boston: The chain just received a hefty dose of funding.
9. Blaze Pizza Arrives in Fenway This Week With a Flurry of Free Pizza: It’s the second local outpost for the California-based chain, and a third is on the way.
10. 25 Essential Boston Coffee Shops: Get caffeinated. [Map]

August 2016

1. Say Hello to Waypoint, Your New Absinthe-Filled Seafood Destination in Cambridge: Peek inside Michael Scelfo's follow-up to Alden & Harlow. [Gallery]
2. End of an Era for Brookline Delicatessen: After almost 90 years, Rubin’s Kosher Delicatessen closes today.
3. The 100th Shake Shack Opens Today, and It’s Right Here in Boston: Founder Danny Meyer discusses the appeal of Boston, redefining "chain," and more. [Interview]
4. Joanne Chang Will Dust Boston With More Flours: Two locations in Cambridge and one in Boston, coming right up.
5. Boston Will Finally Get a Spot for Thai Ice Cream Rolls: Get your cameras and spoons ready.
6. Chinatown Has a New Spot for Shaved Ice and Crepes: Time for a matcha cocoa crepe at Sakura Sunakku.
7. Fat Hen Swankily Clucks Hello to Somerville Today: Italian food in the former La Brasa market space.
8. Hi B3ar Rolls Out Ice Cream in Allston: It’s a mesmerizing process.
9. Haley.Henry Wine Bar Arrives Downtown Friday With ‘Spain’s Sexiest Porker’ and Mountains of Shaved Bottarga: Here’s your first look at the opening menu.
10. Alba Team Will Open a Venetian-Style Restaurant in Quincy: Complete with house-made pasta and a raw bar.