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Fruity Tea Shop Opens in Braintree

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And more dining news from Boston’s suburbs and beyond

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Fruity teas Braintree
Fruity teas
Fruity/Instagram

There’s plenty more to Massachusetts dining than just restaurants in Boston proper. We’re keeping tabs on developments in the Greater Boston area and beyond, including openings, closures, and more. With a focus on Greater Boston suburbs but occasionally reaching out further around the state, this piece is updated weekly, with the most recent news appearing at the top.


June 19, 2018

BEVERLYBarrel House American Bar (252 Cabot St.) shut down over the weekend and will be replaced by a new restaurant called Ellis Square Social, from Jay Murray (Avenue, Grill 23) and Todd Maul (Cafe ArtScience, Clio, Rialto). The team behind Beverly’s Soma will also be involved.

BRAINTREEFruity (250 Granite St.) is now open at the South Shore Plaza in Braintree. The tea shop serves teas infused with fruit, including lemon, strawberry, mango, and more.

MALDENSillari’s Pizza (97 Medford St.) has closed down. The pizza shop first opened in May 2016, with chef Scott Sillari, a New England Culinary Institute grad, behind the menu and Michael Dulock (of M.F. Dulock Pasture-Raised Meats in Somerville) as an investor. The simple menu included pizzas, chicken fingers, and French fries.

WALPOLEChick-Fil-A is making moves to open up at the Walpole Mall along Route 1. The location will reportedly seat 120 inside, with additional seating on an outdoor patio.


June 13, 2018

Treat Cupcake Bar
Cookie dough at Treat Cupcake Bar
Treat/Facebook

BELMONTThe Wellington (75 Leonard St.) has opened north of the city, from the same restaurateurs behind Dante and Il Casale in Belmont and Lexington. Dante, Damian, and Filippo de Magistris broke from tradition for this new venture, serving New American fare instead of Italian. Dishes include short rib French onion soup, roast chicken, burgers, and wedge salad, not to mention boozy milkshakes. (For more of those, consult this map.) The restaurant opens at 4:30 p.m. daily, with dinner service beginning at 5 p.m.

LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield location of Roxy’s Grilled Cheese (1205 Market St.) will close down on Saturday, June 16, according to founder James DiSabatino. The Lynnfield Roxy’s opened in January 2017 but has been unable to make a profit at that location. Staff members were offered positions at the group’s other restaurants in Allston and Cambridge. “Thank you to our incredibly fun and hardworking staff, and the many beautiful guests we had the opportunity to meet,” DiSabatino said in an email.

MALDENOne Pot (475 Ferry St.) is now open in Malden, serving a menu of Chinese dishes, including meat, seafood, and vegetable entrees, chow mein, fried rice, and several varieties of soup.

MEDFORD AND WAKEFIELD — While the forthcoming Medford location of the Porch Southern Fare was previously announced as an expansion of the restaurant’s original Wakefield location, it’s actually a relocation: The Porch Wakefield (41 Tuttle St.) closed down earlier this month, and the Medford location (100 Rivers Edge Dr.) will open this fall.

NATICKThe Dapper Doughnut opens a kiosk at the Natick Mall (1245 Worcester St.) on Saturday, June 16. The kiosk will serve cake-style doughnuts, with various toppings and flavors available.

NANTASKET — Chef Doug Rodrigues will be cooking up a beachside menu at the Paragon Boardwalk this summer. The Clio, Liquid Art House, and North Square Oyster alum will cook up seafood baskets, fish tacos, burgers, and hot dogs alongside less conventional beach food, like fried turkey legs and street corn. There will also be vegetarian and vegan options, including an Impossible Burger.

NEEDHAMTreat Cupcake Bar (1450 Highland Ave.) has introduced a “raw bar” to its menu, and no, it’s not seafood-related. The bar serves ready-to-eat cookie dough, with options including chocolate chip, sugar with sprinkles, cookies and cream, peanut butter fudge, and oatmeal. There are four-ounce portions of one or two flavors, or customers can purchase a “flight” of four. There are gluten- and dairy-free options as well.

REVEREHook & Reel (151 VFW Pkwy.) has opened and serves up Cajun-style seafood in a bag, alongside accompaniments like corn on the cob and sausage. Seafood options range from snow crab and shrimp to clams and mussels, and there are several sauces and spice levels available.

SALEM — The Roof, a rooftop bar, opens today at the Hotel Salem (209 Essex St.) — head up between 2 p.m. and 11 p.m. for tacos, oysters, cocktails, and more.


June 6, 2018

The new Legal Sea Foods in Chestnut Hill
The new Legal Sea Foods in Chestnut Hill
Legal Sea Foods [Official Photo]

CHESTNUT HILLLegal Sea Foods has officially relocated its restaurant from 43 to 55 Boylston St. The new two-story space spans nearly 11,000 square feet, including a restaurant and fish market. Guests will recognize Legal’s familiar menu of New England seafood, in addition to a new all-day sushi menu. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

NATICKButtercup (13 W. Central St.) has arrived in Natick Center, courtesy of two restaurateurs who operate the Farmhouse in Needham. The new restaurant from Dora Tavel-Sanchez Luz and Gabriel Sanchez Luz features farm-to-table cooking, including items like baby beet salad, beef short ribs, vegetarian risotto, and fried pickles.

QUINCY — The famed Beachcomber (797 Quincy Shore Dr.), which has been closed since 2015, may get a new life as a different restaurant. The new owners of the property have ties to Fuji Steak House in Needham and Blue Fuji, and Boston Restaurant Talk speculates that a similar restaurant could be in the works for the Beachcomber site.

WALTHAMHakata Ramen (895 Main St.) has opened in Waltham, joining two other locations in the Boston area. The restaurant’s menu features ramen, sushi, and more.

Raffaele’s Ristorante (469 Moody St.) closed in April, per Boston Restaurant Talk. At the time, the restaurant posted a message on its Facebook page that stated, “It was a pleasure having you all dine with us.”


May 30, 2018

Fritay at the Island Caribbean Cuisine and Drinks
Fritay at the Island Caribbean Cuisine and Drinks
The Island Caribbean Cuisine and Drinks/Facebook

ARLINGTONFusion Taste (303 Broadway) has reopened, according to Boston Restaurant Talk. The restaurant temporarily closed in February, citing an issue with some equipment. It’s now back in business, serving a broad range of Japanese, Chinese, and Polynesian dishes.

DANVERS — A chain of beer bars just closed down another location: British Beer Company (29 Andover St.) closed its Danvers restaurant. This is the third recent closure for the group, which also shut down restaurants in Framingham and Walpole. Eleven locations remain elsewhere in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

LOWELL — WGBH goes on a tour of dining in Lowell, calling attention to several places to visit for food (and a side of history), including Mill No. 5, Mill City Cheesemongers, and Koshari Mama.

MALDENThe Island Caribbean Cuisine and Drinks (118 Ferry St.) has arrived in Malden with plenty of Caribbean food, including daily specials and Sunday brunch. It took over the space once occupied by Ferry Street Food & Drinks, which closed in July 2017. The menu includes Caribbean classics ranging from conch to fried goat meat, red snapper, and jerk chicken.

Elsewhere in Malden, Mogogo Ethiopian Cuisine (1 Highland Ave.) has apparently shut down, with both an Eater tipster and a Yelp user reporting the closure; the phone number has been disconnected as well. Mogogo opened in September 2017 and served its dishes over Ethiopia’s signature spongy flatbread, injera. Options included chicken stew, prime beef, sirloin tips, and boiled lamb. There were also vegetarian and vegan options. It was one of a relatively small group of Ethiopian restaurants in the Greater Boston area.

MARBLEHEADSuperfine Food has opened the first of two planned new locations. The Marblehead restaurant (126 Washington St.) joins the original in Manchester-by-the-Sea, and one more will open in Newburyport later in the year. Co-owner and chef Matthew Gaudet (who owned the now-defunct West Bridge in Cambridge) puts out pizza, burgers, and more in a family-friendly setting with co-owners Paul Emmet (also a West Bridge alum) and Christopher Robins.

WELLESLEYSmith & Wollensky (583 Washington St.) opened last week within the former Blue Ginger space. This new location will take on much of the focus of the steakhouse chain’s regional efforts, as it will be closing its famed Back Bay castle location this summer, as previously reported. The Seaport location will remain open. The Wellesley restaurant opened officially on May 24, and lunch service began on May 29.


May 23, 2018

Tacos from El Rincón de Moody’s El Rincón de Moody’s/Facebook

ABINGTONYaz’s Table (1209 Bedford St.) is now open, serving breakfast and lunch six days a week. The menu, dubbed “new American with a Mediterranean flare,” includes items like breakfast burritos, Nutella-stuffed bananas Foster French toast, kofta burgers, and assorted toasts and spreads, as well as a menu section dedicated to owner Yasmine Zakhary’s mother, including dishes like falafel, hummus, and tabbouleh. Zakhary is an alum of Scampo and Abe & Louie’s in Boston, along with the Farmer’s Daughter in Easton.

LEXINGTONLemon Grass Thai Cuisine (1710 Massachusetts Ave.) closed down and will undergo renovations in addition to a change of ownership. The new owners, Apichat Chuenprapa and Kanitta Newton, will call the restaurant Love at First Bite, and it will reportedly continue to serve Thai cuisine. It could open in August.

NATICK — Biryaniz N Breadz (195 W. Central St.) has opened in Natick, offering a range of Indian food including dosa, tandoor, and biryani(z), made with halal meats. There’s a lunch buffet available as well.

STOUGHTONDeag’s Local Diner (1261 Park St.) opened May 2 and serves breakfast until 11 a.m. and lunch afterwards, with dishes ranging from omelets and eggs Benedict to pancakes, waffles, chicken banh mi, salads, and burgers.

WALTHAMMoody’s Delicatessen & Provisions (468 Moody St.) now has an affiliated taqueria a couple doors down at 458 Moody St. — El Rincón de Moody’s — that’s serving a mix of tacos, barbecue sandwiches and platters, and booze. Chef and owner Joshua Smith opened the new arm of the operation on Tuesday, May 22, per a post on Instagram sharing the menu. Tacos are filled with Moody’s meats, including pork, wagyu beef, chicken, and chorizo, and there are combo platters available for both tacos and barbecue. Sandwiches include a shrimp torta, pulled pork, and barbecue chicken, and there are margaritas, cocktails, beer, and wine available. El Rincón de Moody’s is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.


May 16, 2018

Ribs at Superfine Food
Ribs at Superfine Food
Brian Samuels Photography/Superfine Food

BROOKLINEHamilton Restaurant & Bar (1366 Beacon St.) opened for a sneak peek over the weekend in Brookline. The restaurant took over the former Yasu space, and from name to design, it embraces history. With a 150-person capacity, Hamilton is serving up “good, simple, seasonal food, rooted in classic cooking” from chef Nick Davidovich, an alum of West Bridge, Salts, and 80 Thoreau. There’s also beer, wine, and cocktails, along with some televisions for airing sporting events.

MALDENBikeeny Caffe (62 Summer St.) opened earlier this month, serving coffee, Mem tea, cakes, sandwiches, and mini puff pastries (“bikeenies”) in assorted varieties. It’s open seven days a week, starting at 6 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. on weekends.

MELROSETsukiji Bistro (505 Main St.) has closed down. The restaurant specialized in Asian cuisine and had only opened in December, according to Boston Restaurant Talk.

NEWBURYPORT — Manchester-by-the-Sea’s Superfine Food (25 Union St.) has not one but two new locations on the way: the previously reported, long-in-the-works one in Marblehead at 126 Washington St., now set to open this spring, plus a newly announced Newburyport location at 17 State St., the former CR Moulton’s, that’ll open this summer. The Superfine Food team is made up of Matthew Gaudet, who was chef and owner of the now-defunct West Bridge in Cambridge; Paul Emmett, an alum of Radius and West Bridge; and Christopher Robins, formerly culinary director for the Aquitaine restaurant group. Under the motto “eat what you want,” the fine-dining-experienced trio serves a family-friendly, casual menu that centers around pizza and burgers. There are also ribs, “crunchy” chicken, avocado toast, one giant garlic knot, and more (not to mention boozy shakes for the adults).

PEABODYTony C’s Sports Bar & Grill (210 Andover St., Northshore Mall) is now open and operating seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., serving a menu of hearty bar fare like burgers, sandwiches, pastas, and more. The nearly 8,000-square-foot restaurant takes its name from former Red Sox player Tony Conigliaro. In addition to dining space inside (with opportunities for watching sports, of course) there is also a patio and a lounge area. The growing local chain also has locations in Somerville, Burlington, and Boston’s Fenway and Seaport neighborhoods.


May 9, 2018

Tacos at a preview of the now-open El Rincón de Moody’s that took place at sibling/neighbor spot the Backroom
Tacos at a preview of the soon-to-open El Rincón de Moody’s that took place at sibling/neighbor spot the Backroom
Moody’s Delicatessen/Facebook

PEABODY — The Northshore Mall (210 Andover St.) is filling up with food. In addition to the recently opened Bancroft & Co. and the previously announced Tony C’s, which should open later this month, the mall has announced that New Hampshire’s Hop & Grind burger and beer joint and Amigo’s Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar will also open, both in fall 2018. And later this month, the ubiquitous Caffè Nero will arrive as well.

QUINCY — Dorchester’s Windy City Pizza (516 Gallivan Blvd., Dorchester) is now open in Quincy as well (195 Newport Ave.), operating until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (but it’s delivery-only after midnight). The casual spot serves pizza, wings, and other takeout/delivery staples.

REVERE — An update on the uncertain future of Bianchi’s on Revere Beach: It’ll be able to stay open until around Labor Day this year before construction begins on the new development at that site, and there’s a good chance it’ll ultimately be able to reopen inside the new building.

WALTHAM — As the Moody’s Delicatessen (468 Moody St.) empire continues to expand within Waltham and beyond, it’s getting a 30-seat, counter-service taco and barbecue sibling right down the street, El Rincón de Moody’s (456 Moody St.), later this month. It’ll serve beer, wine, and cordial-based cocktails in addition to a menu full of taco combos, pulled pork sandwiches, and agua frescas. Keep an eye on Instagram for updates.


May 2, 2018

Blue Dalia
Blue Dalia
Brian Samuels/Blue Dalia

LEXINGTONTres Petite Creperie (1707 Massachusetts Ave.) is under new ownership, and now (in addition to crepes) it also has an interesting mix of new menu items: tacos and lasagna.

NATICKBlue Dalia Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar (1245 Worcester St.) opens May 4 within the new Wegmans grocery store in Natick, as previously reported. Culinary director Roberto Santibañez (who is behind Fonda in New York City) and chef de cuisine Geno Bahena oversee the menu of Mexican dishes like tamalitos de elote, enchiladas con mole xico, and more. There are also cocktails (including plenty of margaritas) and other boozy options for those looking to break up grocery shopping with some tequila. Sure, it’s a restaurant in a grocery store, but it’s a really attractive restaurant in a really popular grocery store.

The restaurant will be open seven days a week from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., with the bar open until 11 p.m. and lunch and brunch coming soon. Here’s the opening menu:

SOUTH BRAINTREEPho Vietnam will take over the former Sintra space in South Braintree (906 Washington St.), according to Boston Restaurant Talk. The restaurant hasn’t yet announced an opening timeline.

WINTHROP — A new source for Nepalese food has opened in the area. Bridges Nepali Cuisine (35 Crest Ave.) is up and running, serving rice bowls packed with lentils, vegetables, grilled chicken, and more. There are also samosas, soups, sides, and rice porridge for dessert.


April 25, 2018

Spinach pie at Coffee and Cotton
Spinach pie at Coffee and Cotton
Brendan Pelley/Instagram

LOWELLHell’s Kitchen and Beat Bobby Flay alum Brendan Pelley, formerly behind the Pelekasis pop-up at Wink & Nod and more recently chef de cuisine at Doretta Taverna & Raw Bar, has taken on the role of culinary director for the cafe, grocery store, and theater at Mill No. 5 (250 Jackson St.), an old mill now filled with numerous dining and shopping options. He’s handling concessions for Luna Theatre, adding to the prepared foods section at Red & White Market, and serving up sandwiches, “yummy bowls,” and more at Coffee and Cotton, as Boston Magazine reported. Looking for that spinach pie he served at Pelekasis and Doretta? That’ll be at Coffee and Cotton, too.

LYNNHayward’s (125 Lynnfield St.) closes down on April 27. Owner Taso Mavros is reportedly selling the restaurant to Enrico and Jaime Mancini, who plan to open Dock 125 onsite, retaining a few Hayward’s dishes while serving items like burgers, pasta, and steak.

MAYNARD, SUDBURY, AND WALTHAM — WAAF radio personality Greg Hill’s Whole House Group will sell both Flank in Waltham (74 Tower Rd.) and 29 Sudbury (29 Hudston Rd.) to the AB Hospitality Group. Flank has closed and will reopen as a new restaurant following renovations, and 29 Sudbury will remain open. Whole House retains Battle Road Brew House in Maynard (20 Sudbury St.).

STONEHAMNobility Hill Tavern (423 Main St.) will take over the former Felicia’s space, serving New American comfort food. Felicia’s closed last fall after more than 50 years in business, as Boston Restaurant Talk reported.


April 18, 2018

Abbott’s Frozen Custard Abbott’s Frozen Custard/Facebook

CONCORDRapscallion Kitchen & Bar (208 Fitchburg Tpk.) officially opens its doors on April 24. The restaurant is connected to Acton’s Rapscallion Table & Tap and Sturbridge’s Rapscallion Brewery. The restaurant will operate Tuesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., with the kitchen closing at 9:30 p.m.

FRAMINGHAMBritish Beer Company (120 Worcester Rd.) will close down at the end of the month after 12 years in business. “The new owners have some great plans for the property and we wish them well,” a Facebook post from the restaurant reads. Stay tuned for details on the replacement. (As noted below, a Walpole location also closed recently.)

LEXINGTONAbbott’s Frozen Custard (1853 Mass Ave.) is a Rochester, NY original that’s making its mark on the Boston area. With one location already operating in Needham and another in Brighton Center, Abbott’s now has a Lexington shop as well.

NEWTONDistrict 118 Kitchen (118 Needham St.) has opened for business, taking over the former Grande Kitchen space. The restaurant is not connected to the similarly named District Kitchen in Pittsfield. It’s open seven days a week, and the menu includes items like seared ahi nachos, smoked salmon flatbread, braised short ribs, and burgers.

NORTH ANDOVERHowling Wolf Taqueria (550 Turnpike St.) now has a third location — its second “express” fast-casual spot, as opposed to the full-service Salem one — offering counter-service Mexican food in North Andover. The restaurant serves a lineup of tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and more.

PEABODYBancroft & Co. (210 Andover St.) is now open at the Northshore Mall. The restaurant is a sibling to the Bancroft, a steakhouse in Burlington, and it’s serving up a mix of New England fare (clam chowder and baked clams) along with items like brick chicken, steak, burgers, and grilled branzino.

QUINCYJenny’s House (1247 Hancock St.) in Quincy specializes in Chinese cuisine. The restaurant’s been open since the end of March, and it serves items like sweet and sour pork spare ribs, dan dan noodles, wonton soup, scallion pancakes, and pork belly buns.

Elsewhere in Quincy, Sully’s (28 Chestnut St.) will be closing down in June, per Boston Restaurant Talk. The dive has been around since the early 1930s, and it will reportedly be replaced by a new development complex.

Additionally, FoxRock Properties may open a new restaurant in the former Masonic Temple (1170 Hancock St.) in Quincy. The venture will include a lounge, a dining area, a convention room, and a rear courtyard, according to BRT.


April 11, 2018

Interior of The Hangover Pub in Worcester
The Hangover Pub
The Hangover Pub [Official Photo]

ABINGTONGreat Chow (497 Bedford St.) has closed down after about 10 years in business serving a mix of Chinese and Japanese cuisine. There’s another location in Quincy that remains open.

BROOKLINEClover Food Lab (6 Harvard St.) will close down its Brookline location on April 20 after five years in business, according to Patch. It was a takeout-only spot that founder Ayr Muir had tried to rezone to accommodate seating, but to no avail.

NEWTONGrape Leaf Mediterranean Grille (6 Lincoln St.) opened recently in Newton Highlands. The restaurant serves Greek dishes including gyro, pastitsio, falafel, souvlaki, soups, and salad. It also offers catering and prepared meals ready to heat and eat, featuring roasted chicken, moussaka, spicy tofu, and more.

WALTHAMBonefish Grill (99 Third Ave.) has closed down, leaving New England without a location of the Florida-based chain seafood restaurant.

WATERTOWNJoyful Garden (550 Arsenal St.) is in the midst of relocating from Brighton (1234 Soldiers Field Rd.). The Chinese restaurant previously operated in the lobby of a hotel, serving dishes such as teriyaki chicken, seafood soup, walnut shrimp in a deep-fried taro ring, hot and sour soup, and much more.

WORCESTER — Bacon-centric Hangover Pub and sibling ramen-centric restaurant Broth are both closed for the time being, due to legal circumstances involving a co-owner of the restaurant. Christopher Slavinskas was charged with lying to the Drug Enforcement Administration earlier this year, per multiple reports. He pleaded guilty and will be sentenced June 29. Details about the reopening of the restaurants are not yet available.


March 28, 2018

The Stones, Stoneham
The Stones, Stoneham
The Stones/Instagram

MARBLEHEADBlue Canoe Cafe (14 School St.) officially opened its doors this week, with a canoe hanging from the ceiling and a live version of its golden retriever mascot making adorable contributions to the cafe’s social media. In addition to coffee and tea, Blue Canoe offer smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt bowls, wraps, sandwiches, soups, salads, and a designated kids menu.

NEEDHAMCapella (45 Chapel St.) is set to open soon in the former Petit Robert Bistro space in Needham. A Craigslist post indicates it could make its debut around April 15, starting out with dinner service and adding lunch in the fall. The menu will include fish, grilled meat, and fresh pasta, and there will be a patio in seasonal months.

NEWTON — A replacement is on the way to the former Grande Kitchen space (118 Needham St.). District 118 Kitchen + Bar has taken over and could open in early April. Follow along on Facebook for updates to its opening timeline.

STONEHAM — Chef Patrick Campbell opens his own suburban restaurant formally on April 3, with quiet previews this week. The alum of Barbara Lynch’s No. 9 Park and opening executive chef of Cafe ArtScience introduces The Stones Common House & Kitchen in his hometown, with pasta, meats, hamburgers, salads, and more. A full preview of the restaurant appears in Food & Wine.

WELLESLEY — Bertucci’s, a longstanding Boston-area pizza staple, has closed down a handful of locations recently, including one in Kenmore Square and now in Wellesley at 380 Washington St. The closure was reportedly related to the restaurant’s lease.


March 21, 2018

Cava bowl
Cava bowl
Cava [Official Photo]

ABINGTONDouble Horse Bistro (800 Brockton Ave.), which opened earlier this month, serves “modern American Asian” dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is available all day, and entrees range from French toast, chicken and waffles, omelets, and Benedicts to egg-topped burgers, pho, and Vietnamese fried rice.

DEDHAM — A Mediterranean fast-casual chain out of DC that recently opened one location in Boston adds a second regional spot in Dedham this Friday. Cava officially opens on March 23 at 724 Legacy Pl., but the day before, it’s holding a community day, where it will give out free meals while collecting donations to benefit its non-profit partner Future Chefs. The restaurant’s daily hours will be from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m., but this Thursday’s special hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for dinner.

MARLBOROUGHCrazy Stone (1009 Boston Post Rd E.) recently opened in Marlborough, and it’s serving a menu of sushi, gyoza, and other Japanese entrees, including steak that’s been slow-cooked on hot slate. There’s also crepe cake for dessert.

PEMBROKEGather (35 School St.) — no relation to the Briar Group’s Gather in Boston — is a new restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, with a special family-style dinner on Sundays. The menu includes items like breakfast burritos, stuffed French toast, breakfast poutine, grilled cheese, and marinated chicken breast. There are also kids menus available.

Nearby, a new juice and smoothie bar has opened up. Smoosh (254 Church St.) is now open with a menu of smoothies and smoothie bowls, shakes, protein blends, energy shots, and juices. There are also grab-and-go items like pre-cut vegetables, hummus, overnight oats, and quinoa salad.


March 14, 2018

Chicken milanese at the Cottage, sister restaurant to Door No. 7
Chicken milanese at the Cottage, sister restaurant to Door No. 7
The Cottage/Facebook

NEWTONHouse of Tandoor (81 Union St.) will open in the neighborhood sometime in April or May. It is the new sibling of Himalayan Bistro, a Nepalese restaurant in West Roxbury, and a website advertising the forthcoming restaurant shows a plate of samosas.

NORWOOD — The town is down a restaurant from Down Under. Well, not quite. Outback Steakhouse (1212 Providence Hwy.) closed for good earlier this month, leaving only a few remaining locations in the area, including those in Somerville, Peabody, Randolph, and Hanover.

PEABODYTony C’s Sports Bar & Grill (210 Andover St.) opens a fifth location this May at the Northshore Mall. The restaurant will span more than 7,000 square feet of space and will have at least 70 high-def televisions to accommodate hordes of sports fans. The North Shore can look forward to outdoor dining space, Red Sox paraphernalia, and a menu including items like Philly cheesesteak wontons.

WATERTOWNJ. Dee Asian Bistro (98 Main St.) closed its doors in Watertown, and Ginger Exchange will take its place. With two existing locations in Cambridge’s Inman Square and Boston’s Back Bay/Symphony area, Ginger Exchange now has a “coming soon” note on its website for the forthcoming Watertown location, indicating a spring opening. The restaurant serves a mix of Japanese, Korean, and Thai cuisine, and it’s also related to Mission Sushi & Wok and the delivery-only Wow Wings.

WELLESLEY — The owners of the Cottage have a new restaurant on the way to Wellesley. Door No. 7 (165 Linden St.) will be less family-friendly and more “adult” and “sophisticated” than the Cottage, co-owner Laura Wolfe told Wellesley’s Board of Selectmen, with the team whipping up small plates in an open kitchen. There will also be an oyster bar. Look out for its arrival in late summer, around August.


March 7, 2018

Chandra Gouldrup, owner of the Farmer’s Daughter and the forthcoming Towneship in North Easton
Chandra Gouldrup, owner of the Farmer’s Daughter and the forthcoming Towneship in North Easton
Brian Samuels

CONCORDAdelita (1200 Main St.) opens for lunch and dinner, bringing farm-to-table, organic Mexican food to Concord. (Really farm-to-table: The meats come from owner Kristin Canty’s own farm in New Hampshire.) Canty also operates Woods Hill Table in West Concord and has a restaurant headed for Boston’s Seaport as well, on the former site of the iconic Anthony Pier’s 4. The menu at Adelita, developed by Woods Hill Table’s executive chef Charlie Foster, features items like tacos, ceviche, aguachile de camarones, chorizo taquitos, carne asada plates, and churros for dessert.

LYNNIronBound Marketplace (3-11 Mt. Vernon) will be an indoor/outdoor market for the North Shore, filling downtown Lynn with food trucks, permanent stalls, and a broad collection of vendors. A block party celebrating the arrival of the market is scheduled for April.

MALDEN3 Amigos (375 Main St.) has opened in Malden with a menu full of Mexican dishes like fajitas, fish tacos, and flan, plus tequila infusions. The restaurant makes its corn tortillas in-house and boasts a wide selection of drinks. A grand opening for the restaurant is scheduled for March 14.

NEWTONEl Basha Grille (880 Walnut St.) opened a few weeks ago in Newton, joining existing locations in Worcester, Westborough, and Sudbury. The Newton location is takeout only, offering Mediterranean and Lebanese cuisine, including kebab, mezze items, shawarma, moussaka, falafel, and so much more.

NORTH EASTON — Brunchers in southeast Massachusetts have been going nuts for The Farmer’s Daughter (122 Main St.) since it opened five years ago, serving up New England comfort food featuring plenty of local ingredients. These days, there’s dinner service several nights a week as well — aka “TFD After Dark.” But that’s not all: Chef-owner Chandra Gouldrup is just about ready to open the Farmer’s Daughter’s dinner-focused follow-up, Towneship, in a renovated 150-year-old church nearby (140 Main St.)

The restaurant will make full use of the old church space — think mezzanine seating, cathedral ceilings, and lots of exposed bricks and beams. There will also be two bars, a chef’s table, an exposed kitchen, and outdoor dining.

Cory Williams (Social, the Met) will be executive chef at the new spot, serving up New England cuisine. Stay tuned for an opening date, which is fast approaching.

towneship Easton blueprint
This will one day be Towneship
Towneship [official drawing]

SALEMAntique Table (26 Congress St.) expands to Salem this week, opening officially on Friday, March 9. The restaurant has existing locations in Winthrop and Lynn, serving pizza, pasta, seafood, and more.

WAKEFIELD — Gloucester’s Tonno will add a second location in Wakefield (175 North Ave.), which will span more than 4,000 square feet with seating for 110 inside and 65 outdoors on a patio. With a full liquor license, Tonno will serve the same Italian seafood-focused menu as in Gloucester. Owner Anthony Caturano is also behind the acclaimed Prezza in Boston’s North End (24 Fleet St.)


February 28, 2018

Simjang banchan
Simjang banchan
Simjang/Facebook

ARLINGTONFusion Taste (303 Broadway) has closed down temporarily but could reopen at the same location soon. The restaurant serves Japanese and Chinese dishes, including sushi, noodles, and more. Stay tuned for updates on its return.

Also in Arlington, Bagels by Us (789 Massachusetts Ave.) will close on March 16 after more than 20 years in business. It’s known for its bagels, along with sandwiches, salads, and other diner fare.

BROOKLINEHamilton (1366 Beacon St.), a forthcoming restaurant and bar near Coolidge Corner, will serve “good, simple, seasonal food, rooted in classic cooking,” as chef Nick Davidovich (formerly of West Bridge, Salts, and 80 Thoreau) told Boston Restaurant Talk. The 149-seat restaurant, which will have a bar section separate from the main dining room, will also serve beer, wine, and cocktails.

QUINCY — Dorchester’s Windy City Pizza will add a new location in Quincy at 195 Newport Ave. It will serve pizza, subs, salads, wings, and more, and if all goes well, the restaurant could open by the end of the year, offering service until 3 a.m. and delivery.

Elsewhere in Quincy, Sala by Fratelli’s is on the way to 470 Southern Artery, and the person behind it is John Milone, who runs Fratelli’s Pastry Shop (which has three locations in Massachusetts). Sala by Fratelli’s will seat 60, with a menu of desserts and drinks, coffee, and more. Look out for an opening in May.

WORCESTER — The team behind the acclaimed Deadhorse Hill has a new restaurant opening tomorrow, March 1. Simjang (72 Shrewsbury St.) features American-Korean dishes, including Korean fried chicken, pork belly bossam, raw bar items, and more. Soft serve will eventually be on the menu too — flavors like matcha and yuzu — part of a growing trend nationwide.

The team has lots of Boston-area ties: Jared Forman and Sean Woods, two of the co-owners, come from Strip-T’s and other area restaurants, as does chef de cuisine Mike Wenc, and general manager Ellen Benson is an alum of Island Creek Oyster Bar and Giulia.

Meanwhile, Stix Noodle Bar (72 Franklin St.) has opened in Worcester from New England Craft Restaurant Concepts, which also operates Brew on the Grid. The group recently closed down its Cambridge location of Brew on the Grid and will replace it with another Stix Noodle Bar restaurant. Stix serves noodle bowls, stir-fried dishes, and more.


February 22, 2018

The Backroom at Moody’s The Backroom at Moody’s [official photo]

BROOKLINE — Takusan Sushi has closed, and now Xiang Yu China Bistro operates in the 1223 Beacon St. location, serving stir fry, noodles, and items featuring pork belly, beef with hot pepper, and whole fish dishes.

Elsewhere in Brookline, a replacement is on the way for Yasu, which closed down in 2016. Hamilton will open at 1366 Beacon St., and an early look at interior designs shows it to be an expansive space.

DEDHAM — A trendy salad restaurant chain based in DC, Sweetgreen, opens a new location in Dedham at 244 Legacy Pl. on Monday, February 28. The chain will donate proceeds from this opening day to Fresh Truck.

SPRINGFIELD — An MGM Casino in Central Massachusetts will boast several different dining options, including one from chef Michael Mina (of PABU), which will be a coastal Italian concept called Cal Mare. Other options will include The Chandler Steakhouse, South End Market, and TAP Sports Bar.

WAKEFIELDPublic Kitchen took over Caryn’s Sports Bar & Restaurant in Wakefield, opening in mid-February at 397 Main St. The owners have a connection to Giacomo’s, which has locations in Melrose and both Boston’s North End and South End, and the restaurant serves pub-style items like burgers, flatbreads and more.

WALTHAM — The popular Moody’s Delicatessen & Provisions on Moody Street in Waltham drastically expanded its restaurant this week and introduced a larger menu full of seafood and more. There are now oysters available on the half shell, along with scallops, hamachi tiradito, a salmon belly BLT, and a daily crudo. Other menu items include charcuterie, flatbreads, and French onion soup. Moody’s also recently expanded to Back Bay.

WELLESLEY — The tide went out for Wellesley’s juice wave with the closure of Thirst Juice Shop in January. The business had been around since late 2016, and it continues to operate a location in Downtown Boston. Meanwhile, another trendy restaurant will move into town this week: The aforementioned salad chain Sweetgreen opens at 180 Linden St. on Saturday, February 24, and will donate proceeds from the first day to Natick Community Organic Farm.


February 14, 2018

Overhead closeup view of a black plastic takeout container stuffed with mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, pulled pork with barbecue sauce, and cornbread
Blue Ribbon pulled pork
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

BEVERLY — Poke continues to grow in popularity on the East Coast, this time landing in Beverly, north of Boston. Lolo Poke is now open (503 Rantoul St.) and serving the Hawaiian raw fish dish, as well as musubi — seaweed wrapped around rice and spam, tofu, salmon, or chicken.

BROCKTON — With existing locations in Falmouth, Saugus, and Northborough, Mexican restaurant Casa Vallarta just added another location in Brockton (610 Oak St.) All locations are family-owned, and the restaurants serve dishes such as burritos, fajitas, tacos, and enchiladas, plus a lengthy list of margaritas.

DEDHAMBlue Ribbon BBQ made its debut in Dedham this week, opening on February 12 at 350 Washington St., per Boston Restaurant Talk. This planned expansion has been in the works since 2016. Blue Ribbon — with longstanding locations in Arlington and West Newton — is known for its pit-smoked barbecue, including platters of pulled pork, chicken, brisket, ribs, and more.


February 7, 2018

The Angry Donut
The Angry Donut
The Angry Donut/Facebook

FOXBOROCBS Scene Restaurant & Bar (200 Patriot Pl.) closes down for lengthy renovations on February 12 after 10 years in business at Patriot Place. The renovations will coincide with a shift in management, as the Kraft Group and CBS have teamed up with Big Night Entertainment Group (Empire, Red Lantern, Explorateur, more) to run the restaurant. CBS Scene could reopen over the summer.

METHUENPica’s Pub & Grill (10 Ayers Village Rd.) is open in Methuen, and it has a rich history in the area. In 1939, Albert Pica opened a restaurant called Garden Nite Cafe, and his family has run restaurants there ever since. Now, his great-grandson Shane Bernard, and Shane’s father Wayne, are running the new restaurant, which serves burgers, sandwiches (including a muffaletto), appetizers, salads, and entrees like baked mac and cheese and steak tips.

NEEDHAMPetit Robert Bistro (45 Chapel St.) closed down towards the end of January, but a different restaurant is already lined up to take its place. Cappella will take over the Chapel Street space, under the auspices of Rob Picardi from Prezza in Boston’s North End.

Meanwhile, The James Pub & Provisions (1027 Great Plain Ave.) has opened near Needham Center, with a mix of small and large plates, including soda bread, grilled octopus, leek tart, duck confit salad, spicy beef tartare, seared monkfish, a burger, fish and chips, and grilled pork chops.

NEWBURYPORTThe Angry Donut (38 Washington St.) has found a home and debuted with limited hours last week. The former pop-up turned brick-and-mortar is now serving up doughnuts, scones, muffins, cinnamon rolls, cookies, brownies, and babka, plus coffee, espresso beverages, and tea.

SALEMMr. Crepe (83 Washington St.), which has a longtime location in Somerville’s Davis Square, has expanded north to Salem, opening with a familiar menu of stuffed crepes, pastries, soups, and more. The shop operates daily, serving breakfast through dinner.


January 24, 2018

Adjarian khachapuri at Jana Grill & Bakery
Adjarian khachapuri at Jana Grill & Bakery
Facebook

BURLINGTONEddie V’s will take the place of Macaroni Grill, which closed down at 50 South Ave. last year. The Austin, TX-based chain of Eddie V’s is part of the Darden Restaurant Group and serves seafood and steak. It’s also coming to Boston proper.

Also in Burlington, Caffe Nero, the London-based chain of coffee shops that’s expanded with dramatic fashion in the Boston area over the last few years, has officially opened within the Burlington Mall (75 Middlesex Tpke.) It is situated near Au Bon Pain and Besito Mexican Restaurant.

FRAMINGHAMRasoi Gourmet Indian Kitchen (855 Worcester Rd.) has closed down after more than 20 years in business. A reason for the closure was not given, but posts on Facebook indicate the restaurant may pursue a new location.

MALDENOppa’s Kitchen & Bar (157 Pleasant St.) is closed, at least for now; the business was seized.

NATICKKelly’s Roast Beef closes down this month after about 20 years in business in this location, which is inside of Jordan’s Furniture (2 Underprice Way). The owners are reportedly not renewing the lease on the space, though other locations of Kelly’s will remain in operation.

Meanwhile, the Natick Mall will get a Dave & Buster’s (1245 Worcester St.), which aims to take over a section of the current Sears, which is downsizing.

Finally, the owners of The Farmhouse in Needham have a new project planned for Natick. Buttercup is set to arrive at 13 West Central St. this spring from Dora Tavel-Sanchez Luz and Gabriel Sanchez, who aim to serve farm-to-table American dishes alongside a full bar. They’ve launched a Kickstarter campaign to help with funding.

QUINCYMomo Cafe is up and running in Quincy at 649 Hancock St., serving a selection of desserts and pastries, plus tea and more. (It does not serve momo, Nepalese dumplings.)

SALEMSmokin’ Betty’s BBQ closed its doors at 94 Lafayette St. on January 14 after a little under a year in business. The owners — who are also behind Gulu-Gulu Cafe and Flying Saucer Pizza Company, which remain open — shared a heartfelt message on Facebook announcing the closure, stating: “At the end of the day it really came down to simple math. We spent more money than we brought in and we projected a larger number of customers than we saw come through our doors.” They intend to continue offering Smokin’ Betty’s food for catering orders and perhaps reopen one day in a smaller venue.

WATERTOWNJana Grill & Bakery (2 Watertown St.) opened just a week ago, and it’s serving a menu of Armenian dishes, including egg boats, babaganoush, shawarma, flatbreads, and breakfast items. It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m.


January 3, 2018

broth by the hangover ramen
Ramen at Broth by the Hangover
Facebook

ARLINGTONChilly Cow (451 Massachusetts Ave.) will convert into Abilyn's Frozen Bakery, under the same ownership. The ice cream shop will serve largely the same items with some additions, with a goal of making a name for itself as a national wholesale brand.

SAUGUS — A planned expansion of Kane’s Donuts will likely happen this spring, as the popular shop prepares to open a location with a drive-thru window within the Essex Landing development, which many will remember as the site of the Route 1 miniature golf course and its recognizable orange dinosaur statue, which still stands.

TAUNTON — A new Fratelli’s Pastry Shop is open (1 Washington St.), and it joins two more in Quincy and Weymouth. Like its counterparts, the Taunton shop serves specialty cakes, cupcakes, pastries, cookies, pies, and breads, in addition to a menu of sandwiches, salads, pizzas, calzones, and more Italian dishes. The Taunton bakery is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WELLESLEYThe Cottage (190 Linden St.) temporarily closed down on January 2 to allow for updates, including a menu change and interior renovations courtesy of Taniya Nayak, a former HGTV host and designer who has worked on several restaurants in the area, including Yellow Door Taqueria and Lower Mills Tavern, among others. Her designs for The Cottage will reportedly feature natural wood and greenery. Culinary director Peter Hansen will oversee updates to the menu. Expect The Cottage to reopen mid-January.

WEYMOUTHGourmet Oriental (625 Washington St.) has closed down. The restaurant served a mixture of Chinese dishes and offered karaoke, live music, and other entertainment.

WORCESTER — The team behind The Hangover Pub (Worcester’s bacon-filled restaurant) has a new restaurant focused on ramen. Broth is now open next door at 106 Green St., serving five different soups (including a vegetarian option), light appetizers, several cocktails, and two desserts made with bacon.


December 27, 2017

The Angry Donut
The Angry Donut
The Angry Donut/Facebook

LEXINGTONYangtze River (25 Depot Sq.), a Chinese-American restaurant that first opened in the 1970s, has closed down, per Boston Restaurant Talk. It served lunch and dinner, plus dim sum on the weekends. A different restaurant called Sanyo will take its place.

MARLBOROUGH — A new spot joined the interesting restaurant names category: Thairiffic is now open in Marlborough (128 Main St.), serving items like massaman curry, tom yum soup, and fresh rolls. The restaurant also offers takeout.

NEEDHAM — It’s been many months since chef Rachel Klein departed the restaurant that bears her initials, RFK Kitchen (30 Dedham Ave.), and now it’s getting a rebranding. L&K (“lounge and kitchen”) grandly reopens tomorrow, December 28, with new managers and a new menu by new executive chef Matthew Kovach. There’s also a new cocktail menu and selection of “lounge bites.”

NEWBURYPORT — A pop-up called The Angry Donut has permanent aspirations. Founder Tom Quill is a native of Newburyport, and he connected with baker Jill Passen to launch The Angry Donut, appearing as a pop-up and at farmers markets around the region. Now, they’re working to secure a permanent location and have launched a Kickstarter to help fund the process, offering rewards for those who donate.

WESTFORD — Go to The Okipoké (8 Cornerstone Sq., Unit B) and eat yourself some fish. The new restaurant in Westford serves a wide range of options, including bowls, burritos, and salads, topped with tuna, salmon, shrimp, tofu, and more.

WORCESTER — A place for Vietnamese noodles and seafood opened recently in Worcester. My Sister’s Crawfish II (442 Park Ave.) joins Dorchester’s My Sister’s Crawfish in serving rice plates, bun, noodles, spring rolls, and crawfish by the pound, plus bubble tea.


December 20, 2017

Tuna poke tostadas at Bueno Malo
Tuna poke tostadas at Bueno Malo
Facebook

ANDOVER — “The flavors of Mexico meet the heartbeat of Southern California” at Bueno Malo, which opened about six weeks ago in Andover. Mike Reidy and Franco Lozano III teamed up for the restaurant, which has a full bar and serves tacos and burritos stuffed with steak, grilled chicken, shrimp, fish, bean and cheese, and even tater tots. For dinner, there are wings, taquitos, ceviche, nachos, and street corn.

DEDHAM — Legacy Place continues to grow its food and beverage options, adding one more this week: Temazcal Tequila Cantina’s newest location, now open, spans 7,000 square feet, filling nearly every inch with Mexican dishes and more than 250 varieties of tequila.

NORTH ANDOVERHowling Wolf Taqueria, featured in Eater Boston’s Salem dining guide, already has one fast-casual location in Marblehead, but this spring it will add another in North Andover. The new Howling Wolf Express will operate with a full liquor license within a space at 550 Turnpike St.

SAUGUS — One of the most recognizable plots of land in Saugus will soon be home to a new restaurant. A development project at the site of the former Hilltop Steak House will bring a 110 Grill restaurant to the area, along with an undetermined fast-casual restaurant. The Saugus 110 Grill will join several existing locations around the state, and a bunch more are on the way.

SWAMPSCOTT — Local-born chain B.Good will expand to the North Shore, adding a restaurant in Swampscott at 450 Paradise Rd. B.Good serves a line of locally-sourced fast-casual meals, including salads, burgers, sandwiches, and grain bowls.

WALPOLE — A source for beer will go quietly into the night in Walpole: British Beer Company on Route 1 will shutter on Christmas Eve, with reports indicating the business couldn’t reach an agreement with the landlord. There are 13 other locations in the region.


December 13, 2017

Mooyah burgers
Mooyah burgers
Mooyah/Facebook

BERLINMooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes opened its newest Massachusetts location on December 11 (48 Highland Commons East). The Texas-based fast-food chain serves a menu true to its silly name, focusing on burgers, which are topped with items like bacon and jalapeños. There are turkey burger and chicken options for sandwiches as well, and the restaurant also has vegetarian options, plus hot dogs, french fries, and salads, along with shakes.

BRAINTREE — The Braintree side of the Weymouth Landing development will welcome a new restaurant, Bates Bar and Grill (2 Commercial St.), taking the place of the Landing Pub and Ultimate Pizza, which were torn down after a fire.

MELROSE — A restaurant serving sushi and pan-Asian dishes is now open in Melrose. Tsukiji Bistro is located at 505 Main St., in the same building as Stearns & Hill’s Bistro.

SALEMStacia’s Place closed down (97 Bridge St.) on December 1. The restaurant had been around for 35 years, serving subs of all varieties, along with soup, salads, wings, hot dogs, and several other items.

Also in Salem, Victoria Station has been shut down, with reports indicating that it had not renewed the lease for the space at 86 Wharf St.

WELLESLEYSmith & Wollensky plans to open a steakhouse location in Wellesley — taking over the longtime Blue Ginger space at 583 Washington St., as previously reported — and has set a target opening date for mid-April 2018. There are two existing locations in Boston proper, along with other steakhouses in Chicago, Columbus, Houston, Miami Beach, and London.


November 29, 2017

fiorella’s concord
Fiorella’s Concord
Facebook

CONCORDFiorella’s has arrived in Concord, joining an existing location in Newton (and takeout-oriented siblings dubbed Fiorella’s Express in Belmont, Cambridge, and Brighton). The new restaurant, located at 24 Walden St. (the former Bondir space), serves the familiar menu of Italian dishes in a full-service dining format.

FRAMINGHAM — The beloved J&M Diner is back in business after a devastating fire pushed it out of its original home back in March. The new restaurant opened at 50 Worcester Rd. at 6 a.m. on November 27, with a line out the door.

WALTHAM — A Brothers Marketplace is on the way to Waltham and will open within The Merc at Moody and Main (45 Moody St.), per Boston Restaurant Talk. There are other locations in Weston and Medfield, offering retail goods along with prepared foods.


November 22, 2017

Blue Canoe Cafe storefront
Blue Canoe Cafe storefront
Facebook

CONCORD — A new market on the way to Concord will also serve prepared foods, and the folks behind it also run Trail’s End Cafe and Lincoln Kitchen. Concord Market will be located on Lowell Road and could open in about a year.

DEDHAM — Yep, there’s another Caffe Nero open. This one’s at Legacy Place (218 Legacy Pl.); it debuted on November 20.

MARBLEHEAD — A new place for coffee and food will open within a storefront on School Street that was previously home to Atomic Cafe. Blue Canoe Cafe (14 School St.) will serve coffee, sandwiches, smoothies, and baked goods, along with bags of Atomic coffee. Renovations are underway.

PEABODY — Seawitch Restaurant & Oyster Bar, a longtime restaurant and fish market, is now under new ownership with a new name — well, two: The market arm of the business became North Shore Lobster and the restaurant became SeaGrilz. Both are open and located at 203 Newbury St. (Rte. 1).

Peabody will also see the addition of a La Siesta restaurant, which has an existing location in Winthrop. The Mexican restaurant will open within a building under redevelopment at 1 Main St.


November 15, 2017

Pressed Juicery juices
Facebook

LYNN — A Central American chicken chain called Pollo Campero (25 State St.) grandly opened a location in Lynn this week, serving fried and grilled chicken. There are also two other locations nearby, in East Boston and Chelsea.

WAKEFIELD — A new restaurant called Public Kitchen (395 Main St.) will take over for Caryn’s Sports Bar & Restaurant in Wakefield. The partners in the new restaurant are all connected to Giacomo’s, which has locations in Melrose and both Boston’s North End and South End. Expect to see pub-style items like burgers, flatbreads, wings, and chili.

WELLESLEY — California-based Pressed Juicery has a new location in Linden Square (180 Linden St., Suite 107), where it offers cold-pressed juices and frozen treats. There’s also a location in Cambridge’s Harvard Square and one on Newbury Street in Boston.

WORCESTER — A 1920s-themed restaurant called Josephine (551 Main St.) will open within the Hanover Theater in Worcester around spring 2018, and the person behind it is Chris Rassias, who also operates The Farimount Grille in Hyde Park.


November 8, 2017

Singh Saab
Singh Saab
Facebook

ARLINGTON — Waltham’s Santa Banta has officially relocated and reopened in Arlington as Singh Saab (444 Massachusetts Ave.). The restaurant offers a large menu of Punjabi dishes and a lunch buffet.

BURLINGTON — Singh Saab also got a sister restaurant in Burlington this week, an Indochinese restaurant called Singh Ching (184 Cambridge St.)

NEW BEDFORDdNB Burgers (22 Elm St.) once again fell victim to vandalism this week, with a Facebook post showing a brick that had been thrown through one of the windows. This is the fourth instance of vandalism or break-in at the restaurant.

NORTH SCITUATE — A fire destroyed 50-year-old Jamie’s Grille & Pub in North Scituate this past weekend, and the building will likely be torn down. A post on the restaurant’s Facebook page indicated there were no injuries. There is no word yet on whether the owners will rebuild.


November 1, 2017

Friendly’s ice cream
Friendly’s ice cream
Friendly’s/Facebook

MARLBOROUGH — In an attempt to rebound from closures, Friendly’s is testing a new prototype restaurant in Marlborough, with plans to open more locations in the next several years, MassLive reports. The new restaurants feature drive-through windows, which 10 existing locations will also get. The Marlborough location is slated to open on November 6 at the Apex Center on Route 20 (180 Boston Post Rd. W.)

NEEDHAMThe James Pub & Provisions will open within the former home of the Centre Cafe (1027 Great Plain Ave.), per Boston Restaurant Talk. The owners aim to “bring the pubs of fond memory into the light once more,” according to the restaurant’s website, and it will reportedly open some time this fall.

WOBURN — A new restaurant called Shallots (920 Main St.) opened in September with an Asian fusion lunch and dinner menu that includes items like stir-fry noodles, panang curry, mango fried rice, chili duck, steak, and spicy eggplant, among others.


October 25, 2017

Spiga
Spiga
Facebook

LYNN — The White Rose Coffee House has closed, as The Daily Item reports, due to drama prompted by anti-police statements that the owner’s daughter (and a manager at the cafe) made on Facebook. Owner Kato Mele apologized, fired her daughter, and invited police to the cafe to make amends, but it was not enough.

NEEDHAM — The nearly decade-old Spiga (18 Highland Cir.) has reopened after a big revamp, with chef Marisa Iocco in charge as the new co-owner. The Italian restaurant underwent a menu and design overhaul over the summer.

PEABODYRegina Pizzeria has closed down its location at the Northshore Mall, sharing an update on Twitter that “we closed at that location because the Mall took our space to make a new entrance.”

WOBURNArcenia’s Cucina Rustica closed its doors in Woburn and has now been replaced by a different Italian restaurant called Fortunato's (428 Main St.)


October 18, 2017

Davio’s in Braintree
Davio’s in Braintree
Facebook

BRAINTREE Davio’s officially opened its newest location in Braintree this week at the South Shore Plaza. This is the ninth location for the restaurant.

CHELMSFORD The Establishment is a family owned and operated restaurant at 75 Princeton St. that debuted in September with a menu ranging from burgers and pizza to baked haddock, steak tips, and more.

CONCORD — As Country Kitchen owner Trish Irons prepares for retirement, the restaurant prepares to close on December 15, per Boston Restaurant Talk. Irons is pursuing options, including having someone else take over the restaurant.

LOWELLLoui Loui Louisiana Seafood opened a new location in Lowell a few months ago, and its recent growth has gone beyond the Northeast. The restaurant had just two other locations when it opened in Allston earlier this year (in Stoneham, Massachusetts, and Fort Lee, New Jersey), and now its presence reaches as far as Duluth, Georgia, with six total restaurants.

STONEHAM — One restaurant closed down and another is on the way to Stoneham, just north of Boston. Felicia’s (423 Main St.) shuttered over the weekend after more than 50 years in business. Meanwhile, chef Patrick Campbell (previously of Cafe ArtScience and No. 9 Park) plans to open The Stones Common House & Kitchen in the town square.


October 11, 2017

Cook in Needham
Cook in Needham
Facebook

BRAINTREE Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse will soon add a new member of the family with the opening of its Braintree restaurant at 250 Granite St. The massive restaurant, slated to open early next week at South Shore Plaza, spans 10,000 square feet and serves pasta made in-house, seafood, beef entrees, and more.

DEDHAM — Fast food chicken chain Chick-Fil-A (140 Providence Hwy.) opened its eleventh location in Massachusetts last week. The beloved, albeit controversial, restaurant is known for giving away free chicken to the first 100 customers on opening day, and Dedham’s opening drew a crowd ahead of time.

NEEDHAM — Cook (109 Chapel St.) opened over the weekend, joining an existing location in Newton (825 Washington St.) Right now, Cook is open for dinner, but lunch and brunch will follow soon. The restaurant seats 115 and serves items like lobster sliders, chili-rubbed flat-iron steak, and tagliatelle with meatballs.

Friendly's (Marlborough)

180 Boston Post Rd. W., Marlborough, MA 01752 Visit Website

Cook (Needham)

109 Chapel St., Needham, MA 02492 Visit Website

Superfine Food (Newburyport)

17 State St., Newburyport, MA 01950 Visit Website

Chick-fil-A (Dedham)

140 Providence Hwy, Dedham, MA 02026 (781) 320-8127 Visit Website

Broth by the Hangover

106 Green St., Worcester, MA 01604 Visit Website

RFK Kitchen

948 Great Plain Ave., Needham, MA 02492 (781) 444-1792 Visit Website

Simjang

72 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, MA 01604

Davio's (Braintree)

250 Granite St., Braintree, MA 02184 (781) 843-4810 Visit Website

Blue Ribbon BBQ (Dedham)

350 Washington St., Dedham, MA 02026 Visit Website

Cava (Dedham)

680 Legacy Pl., Dedham, MA 02026 Visit Website

Superfine Food (Marblehead)

126 Washington St., Marblehead, MA 01945 Visit Website

Towneship

140 Main St., Easton, MA 02356 Visit Website

Hamilton

1366 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02446

The Hangover Pub

102 Green St., Worcester, MA 01604 (508) 556-1266 Visit Website

Superfine Food (Manchester-by-the-Sea)

25 Union St., Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944 (978) 526-0964 Visit Website

Blue Canoe Cafe

14 School St., Marblehead, MA 01945 Visit Website

Spiga

Calle de Tetuán, San Juan Antiguo, San Juan 00901 (787) 667-6159