Fall Restaurant Preview 2017

The Fall 2017 Restaurant Opening Guide: Greater Boston

There were plenty of fall restaurant openings in Boston proper, but don’t forget about all the towns and cities nearby — they were busy too

by Rachel Leah Blumenthal@blumie Updated Dec 20, 2017, 6:00pm EST

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Milkshakes at the Burger Bar by Wegmans, which opened in Medford in November.

The Greater Boston restaurant scene is booming. Here’s the rundown on fall 2017 restaurant openings in a variety of Boston-area towns and cities.

New for fall 2017: Thai food in Malden, a burger restaurant inside a popular grocery store in Medford, a brewery in Braintree, khachapuri in Watertown, and much more.

Read on for the details, and click on the name of any restaurant to be taken to an archive of previous Eater coverage about it.

(Looking for fall 2017 openings elsewhere in Massachusetts? Check out the full index here or jump directly to Boston proper openings here. North Shore openings are listed separately here; openings for the MetroWest and Central Massachusetts regions are here; and Cambridge and Somerville are here.)

This guide was originally published on October 27, 2017 and updated periodically throughout the season; the date of the most recent update appears above. Something missing? Email boston@eater.com.

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Braintree

Davio’s spring rolls — Spring rolls at Davio’s, now open in Braintree.

Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse

250 Granite St., Braintree

Boston-based upscale Italian steakhouse chain Davio’s opened its latest location this fall, this time in Braintree at South Shore Plaza, and it’s a big one, spanning 10,000 square feet. This is the growing chain’s ninth location; other Massachusetts outposts are in Boston proper, Foxborough, Chestnut Hill, and Lynnfield. It has also expanded out of state.
Opened: Mid-October 2017

Widowmaker Brewing

220 Wood Rd., Braintree

Braintree’s new brewery includes a 70-seat taproom where visitors can drink partial and full pours of beer, as well as flights; 32-ounce crowlers can be purchased to bring home. The opening line-up includes a pale ale, two stouts, a blonde ale, an IPA, and a double IPA.
Opened: September 23, 2017

Brookline

Shan-a-punjab — Food at Shan-A-Punjab, relocating from 455 Harvard St. to 500 Harvard St. this fall.

Allium Market

1330 Beacon St., Coolidge Corner, Brookline

This cafe and specialty food market has an extensive cheese selection, along with lots of pickled vegetables, sauces, and other goods. It’s located in the historic S.S. Pierce Building at the intersection of Beacon and Harvard.
Opened: December 20, 2017

Shan-A-Punjab

500 Harvard St., outside of Coolidge Corner, Brookline

Previously located at 455 Harvard St., the onetime Cognac Bistro space, this Indian restaurant moved across the street into the former Rubin’s space this fall. Both properties are owned by Brookline-based real estate, development, and management company the Danesh Group, and principal David Danesh tried to resurrect Rubin’s at the 500 Harvard St. space but couldn’t make it happen, finally opting to rent the property to the very local Shan-A-Punjab instead of bringing in a chain.
Opened: Mid-November 2017

Burlington

The Friendly Toast

75 Middlesex Tpke., Burlington

With locations in Boston’s Back Bay, Cambridge’s Kendall Square, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire (the original), the Friendly Toast has expanded to the Burlington Mall (and a Bedford, New Hampshire, location is in the works as well). The restaurant, known for its eclectic ambiance, serves a large diner-style menu with lots of vegetarian-friendly options. It’s in the former Bobby’s Burger Palace space.
Opened: October 23, 2017

Jack’s Coal Fired Pizza

2 Wall St., Burlington

Sharing the former Papa Razzi space with Temazcal Tequila Cantina, Jack’s serves both coal-fired and wood-fired pizza, as well as wings, pasta, beer, and more.
Opened: October 2, 2017

Singh & Ching

184 Cambridge St., Burlington

Related to the new Singh Saab in Arlington, Singh & Ching serves a Punjabi and Indochinese menu. There’s a lunch and dinner buffet daily.
Opened: November 2017

Concord

Fiorella’s baby clams and linguine — Baby clams and linguine at Fiorella’s Cucina in Newton, which expanded to Concord this fall.

Fiorella’s Cucina

24 Walden St., Concord Center

The space that was previously home to Bondir Concord has become a second location for Newtonville-based Fiorella’s, an Italian restaurant that also has a takeout offshoot, Fiorella’s Express, with three Boston-area locations. The new Concord Fiorella’s features a full bar.
Opened: Late October 2017

Dedham

Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich — A chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-A, now open in Dedham.

Caffe Nero

218 Legacy Pl., Dedham

This London-based coffee chain can’t stop expanding around Massachusetts; it also opened at Somerville’s Assembly Row this fall, and Concord is also in the works. This location is at the Legacy Place development.
Opened: November 20, 2017

Chick-fil-A

140 Providence Hwy., Dedham

A franchise of the ubiquitous fried chicken sandwich chain, the Dedham Chick-fil-A is one of a growing number in Massachusetts; there are also locations in Peabody, Burlington, Framingham, and beyond. The Dedham location includes a playground, wifi, and drive-thru service, as well as online ordering. Breakfast is available.
Opened: October 2017

Temazcal Tequila Cantina

660 Legacy Pl., Dedham

This growing group of Boston-area restaurants features Mexican cuisine and a giant tequila list. This is the fourth location (it’s also in Boston, Lynnfield, and Burlington), and it has two floors and a seasonal patio with a fire pit.
Opened: December 18, 2017

Everett

Down the Road beers — Beers from Down the Road, opening in Everett this fall.

Down the Road Beer Co.

199 Ashland St., Everett

The brewery’s taproom features room for over 200 customers, and there are 36 draft lines, a regular food truck schedule, and lots of vintage pinball machines.
Opened: November 3, 2017

Lexington

Wicked Bagel Bakery & Deli

171 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington

This bagel shop is located in a former bank space and makes bagels in-house in an open kitchen. There are also sandwiches and other “deli staples.” There are plenty of cream cheeses and other bagel toppings, as well as coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.
Opened: Late October 2017

Malden

Crying Thaiger

114 Ferry St., Malden

This Thai restaurant is named for its signature spicy dish, crying tiger, which pairs grilled beef brisket with a pungent, fiery sauce. The restaurant also has other “crying” dishes with different grilled proteins and vegetables. The space was once home to a Chinese restaurant called the Great Chow.
Opened: Mid-October 2017

Medford

The Burger Bar burger — A burger at the Burger Bar by Wegmans, which opened in Medford this fall.

The Burger Bar by Wegmans

3850 Mystic Valley Pkwy., Medford

Rochester, New York-based grocery chain Wegmans has built up quite a cult following over the years, but despite Boston’s large Western New York ex-pat population, it’s only recently that Wegmans began to expand here. The newest location is in Medford. This is the first local outpost to feature Wegmans’s in-store Burger Bar restaurant, which serves burgers, milkshakes, and more.
Opened: November 5, 2017

Melrose

Tsukiji Bistro

505 Main St., Melrose

Located on the second floor of Stearns & Hills (and under the same ownership), Tsukiji Bistro calls itself “an Asian Soul kitchen,” drawing inspiration from Korea, Thailand, China, Japan, and Hawaii with a menu that includes sushi, hot pots, poke bowls, and more. There’s also a full bar.
Opened: December 3, 2017

Needham

Cook Newton roasted chicken — Roasted chicken at Cook Newton, which expanded to Needham this fall.

Cook Needham

109 Chapel St., Needham

A neighborhood restaurant in Newton called Cook got a Needham sibling this fall. At Cook, chef-owner Paul Turano — who was also behind Tryst in Arlington until selling it last year — aims to serve “a menu stripped down to simple, flavorful cuisine using fresh and local ingredients, in an ambiance that is inviting and feels like home,” per a release.
Opened: Early October 2017

Spiga

18 Highland Cir., Needham Heights

After nearly a decade in business, this Italian restaurant closed down for the summer for a major revamp. It reopened this fall with a new chef and co-owner, Marisa Iocco, along with plenty of renovations and a new menu.
Opened: Mid-October 2017

Newton

Cupola

1231 Centre St., Newton

This fast-casual Italian restaurant, which quickly replaced the short-lived Newton outpost of Bottega Fiorentina, focuses on Florentine and Tuscan cuisines. There’s lots of pasta, and pizza will soon be added to the menu.
Opened: Early November 2017

Prelude Bakery

140R Adams St., Newton

Red velvet cakes, croissants, napoleons, and lots more.
Opened: Late November 2017

Norwood

Percival Brewing Company

83 Morse St., Norwood

This new addition to the local brewing scene features a dog-friendly taproom and an opening lineup of beers that includes a pale ale, an oatmeal stout, and more. Well, it’s not quite new — the company was founded in Dorchester in 2011 and has been contract brewing over the years, but now it has its own space.
Opened: Late September 2017

Plymouth

Mallebar Brasserie

15 Main St. Extension, Plymouth

This French bistro is serving everything from escargot and beef tartare to onion soup and steak frites, not to mention lots of other steak options, too. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Opened: November 24, 2017

Quincy

Lee Han Sandwich

419 Hancock St., Quincy

Located in the former Boston Baklava space near the North Quincy MBTA stop, Lee Han Sandwich serves banh mi, bubble tea, chè (a sweet, soup-like Vietnamese dessert), and more.
Opened: Mid-November 2017

Scituate

Untold Brewing

6 Old Country Way, Scituate

This brewery, built partly in an old schoolhouse, has a family-friendly taproom and features West Coast-inspired brews; the brewers met while working at Georgetown Brewing in Seattle. The opening lineup includes a few IPAs, pale ales, and more.
Opened: October 13, 2017

Wakefield

Public Kitchen

397A Main St., Wakefield

Located in the former Caryn's Sports Bar & Restaurant, Public Kitchen — whose owners have connections to Giacomo’s — is a gastropub that serves burgers, crab cake po’ boys, chili, local beer, and lots more.
Opened: December 15, 2017

Watertown

Heirloom tomato gazpacho at La Bodega by Salts — A La Bodega menu teaser: heirloom tomato gazpacho.

Chulo Cuisine & Bar

5 Spring St., Watertown

Chulo serves Nepalese food — including momo, chhoila, and more — on the second floor of Molana, a Persian restaurant. Chulo also offers live Nepalese music on weekends.
Opened: November 12, 2017

Flaming Pit

222 Arsenal St., Watertown

Flaming Pit serves pizza, calzones, and more, plus some Armenian dishes, as well as classic Georgian khachapuri, or bread boats filled with egg and cheese.

La Bodega by Salts

21 Nichols Ave., Watertown

From the owners of acclaimed Cambridge restaurant Salts, which closed in early 2014 due to damage from a burst pipe, La Bodega serves “Uruguayan-influenced farm-to-table cuisine,” a departure from Salts’s upscale French menu. The restaurant quietly debuted with a limited menu in the final days of fall but is still waiting on some equipment and will ramp up to its full offerings soon.
Opened: December 20, 2017

Wellesley

Pressed Juicery

180 Linden St., Ste. 107, Wellesley

California-based juice chain Pressed Juicery — which also has locations in Boston and Cambridge — opened in Wellesley’s Linden Square this fall, serving juice and more.
Opened: November 2017

Woburn

Matadora

2 Forbes Rd., Woburn

The team behind Boston restaurants Yvonne’s, Ruka, and Lolita was involved in the menu development for the opening of a Spanish restaurant serving “tailored tapas and cocktails” at the Hilton Boston-Woburn. Also in the works from the Yvonne’s crew: a downtown restaurant and cigar bar with a members-only club.
Opened: October 25, 2017

Shallots

918 Main St., Woburn

Shallots serves a mostly Thai-inspired menu of noodle soups, curries, fried rice dishes, and more.
Opened: September 22, 2017

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The Fall 2017 Restaurant Opening Guide: Greater Boston

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