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Visit the Brand New Celeste Today, Where This Lomo Saltado Is Begging to Be Eaten

Plus, Monsterella Stix are coming, kids can eat free at a couple local spots, and more news

A white bowl on a white table is full of chunks of cooked beef, tossed with slices of red pepper and tomatoes. The dish is topped with green herbs.
Lomo saltado at Celeste, opening today in Somerville
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Welcome back to AM Intel, a round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.

Opening Alert

For a little while a few years back, it seemed a new restaurant was opening in Somerville’s Union Square every other week. But lately, the neighborhood has been quietly chugging along in culinary awesomeness — not just thanks to those newer spots, but thanks to its solid base of decades-old restaurants as well. This year, another wave of newness is approaching. Bow Market is on the way, packed full of vendors (and a brewery) and opening around May.

But first, today is opening day for Celeste (21 Bow St., Somerville), adding to the neighborhood’s Peruvian dining scene alongside veterans Machu Picchu and Machu Chicken. If pisco and ceviche (or lomo saltado, pictured above) sound like a good cure for this snow-covered day, head on over for lunch, dinner, or late-night. Here’s our sneak peek at the food and space from earlier this week.

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is today, and the Globe’s food section is celebrating by highlighting “six female restaurant owners who are transforming the Boston food scene,” discussing their successes, challenges, and thoughts on what’s happening with gender roles in the restaurant industry in the “Me Too era.” Head over to the Globe to learn more about Michelle White of Next Step Soul Food Cafe in Dorchester, Kathy Sidell of Saltie Girl and more, Cassie Piuma of Sarma, Mary Ting Hyatt of Bagelsaurus, Irene Li of Mei Mei, and Julie King of Villa Mexico Cafe.

Monsterella Stix Are Coming

Checkers & Rally’s — a company with two branded drive-through chains, Checkers and Rally’s — doesn’t currently have a Massachusetts presence, but it’s coming. The company has announced plans to open “upwards of 50 new restaurants” in the Boston area, plunking down locations quickly thanks to its “Modular 4.0” buildout model that entails putting together a modular building offsite and delivering it to a plot of land by truck. Checkers and Rally’s serve what you’d expect from drive-throughs, including burgers, hot dogs, fries, milkshakes, and “Monsterella Stix,” which are probably pretty standard mozzarella sticks but more fun to order.

Kids Eat Free

There is a such thing as a free meal, for kids at least. The Globe recently highlighted the Kirkland Tap & Trotter (425 Washington St., Somerville) deal: Kids eat free between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and the menu is kid-friendly but goes beyond “frozen chicken fingers and buttered noodles.” Think fish and chips, hot dogs, and spaghetti with meat sauce. And there are crayons for coloring, of course.

The Frogmore (365 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, Boston) is jumping in the game as well, offering a new kids menu. Kids under 12 eat free until 6:30 p.m. seven days a week, and at other times, each menu item is $6. The menu includes mac and cheese topped with crumbled Ritz crackers, chicken tenders with mustard barbecue sauce, and more.

Update, 3/21/18: This piece has been updated to reflect that the kids-eat-free deal at the Frogmore is now available every day.

Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email boston@eater.com.

The Frogmore

365 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 (857) 203-9462

Celeste

21 Bow Street, , MA 02143 (617) 616-5319 Visit Website

The Kirkland Tap & Trotter

425 Washington Street, , MA 02143 (857) 259-6585 Visit Website