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Welcome to the Eater Boston restaurant openings roundup; this page is updated weekly, with the most recent updates at the top, highlighting all the restaurants that have opened in the Boston area in recent weeks. Something missing? Email boston@eater.com. (Looking for info on recent restaurant closures? Find that here.)
December 16, 2019
Catching up on several weeks of openings in today’s extra-large installment.
BOSTON PROPER
First, several updates in Boston’s ever-growing Seaport District: Concord farm-to-table destinations Woods Hill Table and Adelita — which have a sibling farm in New Hampshire that acts as a source for many of their ingredients — now have a Boston proper sibling as well: Woods Hill Pier 4, located on the historic site of Anthony’s Pier 4 (300 Pier 4 Blvd.). The farm’s products are featured in many dishes, from guanciale in bucatini all’amatriciana to an elaborate duck breast and confit dish for two.
2018 and 2019 were the years of the ax-throwing bar, but a new Seaport District venue is returning to simpler, dart-throwing times — sort of. UK-based chain Flight Club has opened its second United States location as of December 16 (60 Seaport Blvd.), and the flashy new venue with old-fashioned carnival vibes features high-tech darts (with automatic scoring and such) and a system akin to bowling, where dart-throwers rent an area for a period of time. There’s food and drinks as well.
Also in the Seaport, Boston-based steakhouse chain Davio’s opened a new location (50 Liberty Dr., on Fan Pier) on November 25, the same day as another steakhouse chain expansion in the area (see Ruth’s Chris in the Camberville section below.) Davio’s joins quite a few steakhouses in the Seaport, but the chain describes itself as “Northern Italian” and also serves raw bar items, seafood, and more. The new location (Davio’s 11th) spans 17,000 square feet, seating 300 and offering four private dining spaces. It acquired its liquor license from the historic Doyle’s Cafe in Jamaica Plain, one of the saddest closures of the year.
And now, some updates beyond the Seaport. Local vegetarian fast-casual chain Clover has expanded again, adding a Back Bay location, aka “CloverBBY” or “Clover Boylston.” It’s at 565 Boylston St., in the heart of Copley Square, serving all the usual suspects, from popovers to chickpea fritter sandwiches.
Also in Back Bay, there’s a new location of Blue Bottle Coffee — the fifth in the Boston area for the California-based chain (and the second in Back Bay; there’s one inside the Prudential Center as well). The new one is at 163 Newbury St. and opened on December 7. December 21 will be a “community day,” with the day’s proceeds going to Conservation International, a nonprofit environmental organization. Blue Bottle’s coffee options are complemented by toasts and breakfast sandwiches.
Mini arancini-obsessed company Cini’s isn’t new, but it has just opened a West End storefront (252 Friend St.), convenient to sports, concerts, and other TD Garden happenings. It’s open until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 1 a.m. on TD Garden event nights, serving mini rice balls in various flavors, as well as calzones and pizza.
On December 14, the team behind the Brighton franchise of the New Jersey-born smoothie bowl chain Playa Bowls opened another one in Boston, this one right at Northeastern (277 Huntington Ave.). The menu is the same as the Brighton location — acai bowls, juices, and such — but the new one has “a nice chill zone area where patrons can relax and enjoy their playa bowl with a fire running and good music,” managing partner Hung Lam told Eater. (Here’s that fire.)
At Dorchester’s South Bay retail development, the Boston area now has its third location of Totto Ramen (4 Lucy St.), a small New York-based chain that also has outposts in Allston and at Somerville’s Assembly Row. It joins Wahlburgers, Gyu-Kaku, and a few other restaurants at South Bay and showcases paitan ramen, which features a creamy chicken broth.
Mission Hill’s board game bar Tavern of Tales — see November 22 update below — is now fully open at 1478 Tremont St. Owner Nicholas Chen is a sound designer and has enhanced the board game experience with sound effects and other immersive details. Snack on milkshakes and totchos while playing.
In Roxbury’s Dudley Square, a new location of Caribbean chain Golden Krust (41 Warren St.) is now open; Boston also has a Mattapan location of the chain, which serves Jamaican beef patties, braised oxtail, and more.
In downtown Boston, the Cuban-inspired Mariel opened recently at 10 Post Office Sq.; see October 4 update below. Now it has a 260-person nightclub downstairs as well: Mariel Underground. The club has limited table reservations available for cocktail or bottle service, and there’s an abbreviated food menu with pan pizzas and snacks such as pan queso frito, black eyed pea fritters, and pork empanadas.
Allston’s short-lived Xi’an Street Foods (no relation to the New York chain Xi’an Famous Foods, which might eventually expand here) has been replaced by IFresh Noodle (182 Brighton Ave.), but those sad to lose a Xi’an option will be happy to see that IFresh also serves hand-pulled noodles. The Lanzhou beef noodle soup is a favorite among early visitors.
CAMBERVILLE
Less than five months after opening the Oyster Club at the Heritage, chef Chris Parsons has opened another restaurant: Lily P’s, a fried-chicken-and-oyster joint in Kendall Square (50 Binney St., Cambridge). The chicken is buttermilk-brined and pressure-fried, and the beverage selection focuses mostly on New England beers and ciders. A Lily P’s offshoot will soon open at the Hub Hall food hall in the Hub on Causeway development in Boston’s West End.
On the same day that local steakhouse chain Davio’s expanded to the Seaport District (see above), non-local steakhouse chain Ruth’s Chris opened its third Boston-area location — it’s also in Boston proper and Waltham — at 375 Revolution Dr., Somerville, within the Assembly Row development. This Ruth’s Chris is only open for dinner, unlike its Boston and Waltham siblings. The main dining room seats 100, the bar seats 79, and there are two private dining rooms available.
FARTHER AFIELD
Somerville’s Neapolitan pizzeria and Italian restaurant Posto has a new sibling in Bedford (158 Great Rd.). The restaurants are part of a group that also includes a similar restaurant, Osteria Posto, in Waltham, as well Mexican restaurants the Painted Burro and Burro Bar and American restaurant Rosebud.
Local sports bar chain Tavern in the Square has expanded to Wrentham, opening in the Colonial Court section of the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets (1 Premium Outlet Blvd.). It’s the chain’s 10th location. Here’s the menu.
An Indian and Nepalese restaurant called Turmeric House is now open in the former Indian Delight space at 428 Washington St. in Weymouth. It features a large menu that includes numerous types of naan and other breads; biryani and other rice-based dishes; tandoori dishes; curries; and more; including a lot of meatless options.
Mexicali Cantina Grill, part of a small local chain, is now open in Swampscott (433 Paradise Rd.), serving items like Tex-Mex egg rolls, bacon shrimp tacos, barbacoa flautas, and mole enchiladas.
Also in Swampscott, Georgia-based and Florida-founded smoothie and sandwich chain Tropical Smoothie Cafe is now open (450 Paradise Rd.), joining some Cape Cod and South Coast outposts of the chain in Massachusetts.
In other cafe news, Pressed Cafe — which has several locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts — has expanded to Newton (300 Needham St.). It serves quinoa bowls, breakfast burritos, panini, soups, salads, and other light fare.
The formers Stearns & Hill’s Bistro space in Melrose (505 Main St.) is now home to the Rising Eagle, which describes itself as “an American Revolutionary Publick House.” It’s from the same team as Turner’s Seafood across the street. The menu includes New England-y dishes like Yankee pot roast and chicken pot pie.
A small local Jamaican restaurant chain, Flames, has expanded to Brockton (806 Main St.). It’s mostly a takeout spot, but there’s a bit of seating, and it serves dishes like jerk chicken, fish cakes, and more. Breakfast is also available. Flames’ other locations are within Boston — Mattapan, Brigham Circle, and Grove Hall.
In Walpole, one pizzeria has replaced another: GG Pizza Company is open in the former longtime Papa Gino’s space at the Walpole Mall (90 Providence Hwy. [Rte. 1], East Walpole), serving pizza, pasta, calzones, sandwiches, and more.
November 22, 2019
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BOSTON PROPER
Today, November 22, is the beginning of a preview period for Tavern of Tales, a Mission Hill board game bar that will have more of an official opening on December 6. Those who want an early peek can book now for a discounted rate, but note that food and drink will not be available during special free “open beta” hours between 3 and 8 p.m. during the preview period. When Tavern of Tales gets fully up and running next month, expect dining and drinking options that include lots of tater tots (and totchos), milkshakes, mac and cheese, and a few other snacky choices, as well as beer and cocktails.
Modern Relik, a home design showroom in Waltham, has opened a new space in Boston’s South End (485 Harrison Ave., next to the SoWa Open Market), and it has its own cafe, Mod Espresso (stylized as MOD Espresso), which is meant to be a European-style coffee bar. It was developed by Michela Larson, a longtime restaurateur who has opened several Italian restaurants in Boston. (Her namesake, Michela’s, was open from 1985 to 1994; Todd English, Jody Adams, and Barbara Lynch all worked there at various points. She went on to be one of the original partners in the now-defunct Rialto in Cambridge and later opened Rocca, now closed, in Boston’s South End. Rocca is where Tiffani Faison was executive chef before embarking on her Fenway empire-building.) Mod Espresso features breads, pastries, and other treats sourced from local producers, including Toscanini’s, Fastachi, and Eastern Standard Provisions.
FARTHER AFIELD
Breadboard Bakery — which got its start as a pop-up inside Cutty’s in Brookline, serving kolaches and more — is now open in its own permanent space in Arlington (203 Broadway, the former Commune Kitchen space). There are still kolaches, of course, and there’s also chocolate wacky cake and more.
Ōmori Izakaya is now open in the former Better Burger Bar space in Brookline Village (195 Washington St.), featuring a wide-ranging Japanese menu of sushi, yakitori and kushiyaki, snacks like pork buns and dumplings, and lots more.
Sea Salt, from the owners of the now-defunct Jack-Tar and located in its former space (126 Washington St., Marblehead), is now open. (Superfine, from different owners, was open in the space in the time between Jack-Tar’s closure and Sea Salt’s opening.) Sea Salt’s opening menu includes dishes like shrimp and crab bucatini, fried chicken, wild mushroom pizza, and lobster toast.
It was a fast turnaround for the stunning Towneship space in Easton (140 Main St.) — Towneship closed in October, and its replacement, a new location of Falmouth’s La Cucina Sul Mare, is already open. The new location has a slightly different name, La Cucina Ristorante, and it serves dishes like chicken or veal saltimbocca, grilled swordfish piccata, braised short rib cacciatore, and rigatoni alla vodka.
Crossroads Pub is now open in the former Jamie’s Grill 63 space in Braintree (63 Columbian St.), serving “classic American food.”
Annie May’s Sweet Cafe, a Kentucky bakery that avoids a number of common allergens, has expanded to Newtonville (108 Madison Ave.).
A catering company has opened a restaurant on the North Shore: Big Pig BBQ is open in Peabody (108 Newbury St. [Rte. 1]), serving pulled pork, ribs, brisket, and more.
November 15, 2019
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BOSTON PROPER
Say hello to yet another new location of homegrown chain Tatte Bakery & Cafe. There’s a brand new location in Boston’s South End (345 Harrison Ave.), joining over a dozen other outposts in Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline. Several more local locations are in the works, including a huge one in South Boston and expansion to Washington, D.C.
Ah, it’s a balmy 52-degree day today, November 15, and it’s the perfect time for the Cambria Hotel to open the rooftop portion of its new restaurant, Six West, with a limited menu. Ultimately, the rooftop section will serve a menu the restaurant describes as “global meets grocery store” — fried mushrooms with linguica and truffle powder; seared foie gras; popcorn with aged pecorino, duck fat butter, and hot sauce; and more. There may also be ice skating and other amusements on the rooftop at later date; stay tuned.
Nantucket’s Lola Burger is now open in Boston’s Seaport District, replacing the same restaurant group’s very short-lived hotpot restaurant 111 East at 11 Fan Pier Blvd. (The group is also behind Lola 41 on Nantucket and Lola 42 in the Seaport District.) In addition to burgers, the menu includes dishes such as short rib grilled cheese, a wagyu hot dog, French dip, and a grilled chicken sandwich.
FARTHER AFIELD
Frank McClelland, of Boston’s now-closed L’Espalier, has opened Frank up in Beverly (112 Rantoul St.), a casual restaurant and market — quite a departure from the fine-dining L’Espalier era, although continuing with a focus on farm-to-table sourcing. The market section offers coffee, baked goods, salads, sandwiches, other cafe-style fare, and prepared items to-go, while the restaurant — open daily for dinner — features dishes such as fried chicken with cornbread and gravy; a raclette-topped hamburger on brioche; cauliflower mac and cheese (with no mac); bouillabaisse; a lobster roll; and more.
Dryft, the first of a pair of restaurants planned for a new Revere Beach development, is now open at 500 Ocean Dr., Revere, serving raw bar items and other seafood, as well as Italian. To drink, there’s a focus on local beer, as well as cocktails and wine. Next year, the Dryft team will add an outdoor bar and seating on the plaza.
Jamaica Plain’s Soup Shack — which serves a menu of soups across several different Asian cuisines — has expanded to Brookline. It’s now open at 401 Harvard St., the former Dorado location, serving ramen, pho, khao soi, and more.
Country Mile (136 Belmont St., Watertown) quickly reopened following its recent closure — down two partners, up one new chef, and with a different concept. Without Matt and Nancy Sargent, Country Mile is now an Italian restaurant, with chef Jeffrey Cincotta of Molinari’s in Dorchester serving dishes such as arancini, chicken piccata, linguini with meatballs, and more.
Also in Watertown, Nepali and Indian restaurant Chulo Restaurant & Bar has relocated from its original location above Molana to a new space at 1 Waverley Ave. It has a full bar and live music.
Sweet Tomatoes Pizza is now open in a former Papa Gino’s space in Acton (82 Powder Mill Rd.), a sibling to a spot by the same name in Sandwich. (The duo is owned and operated independently from the Sweet Tomatoes locations in Newton, Needham, and Boston.)
November 8, 2019
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BOSTON PROPER
Whaling in Oklahoma has spawned an adjoining wine bar, Le Canular, in the former Sister Sorel space at 645 Tremont St. in Boston’s South End. Expect a variety of wines priced at $13 a glass and snacks such as oysters and cheese plates.
International burger-and-shake chain Shake Shack has opened in Boston’s Downtown Crossing (322 Washington St.), the sixth location in Massachusetts. There are at least two more to come (Watertown and Burlington).
Today, November 8, is opening day for Little Miss Cupcape, a cupcake shop from the Cape. The new Boston location is at 250 Newbury St. in Back Bay.
Pizza news, part one: Dorchester pizzeria Windy City Pizza has moved from one part of the neighborhood to another; it’s now open at 960 Morrissey Blvd., the formed Unchained Pizza location.
Pizza news, part two: Back Bay’s Dirty Water Dough now has a new location open in East Boston (20 Maverick St.). The pizzeria makes its dough with beer.
In other East Boston news, bubble tea shop Sweet Boba is now open at 9 Central Sq., serving plenty of beverages, bubble waffles, and more.
CAMBERVILLE
One of the latest additions to Bow Market (1 Bow Market Wy., Union Square, Somerville) is Koshari Mama, now open and popping up for the next year in the former Perillas pop-up space. Koshari Mama serves vegan Egyptian food with a focus on its namesake dish, koshari, which consists of lentils, rice, pasta, chickpeas, and fried onions, with a variety of sauces available. There are also eggplant rice bowls, a mushroom shawarma sandwich, lentil soup, and more.
New York-born, Australia-inspired cafe chain Bluestone Lane opens today, November 8, in Harvard Square, taking over the former Crema space at 27 Brattle St., Cambridge. The menu includes avocado toast, lemon ricotta pancakes, and more, and a liquor license is forthcoming. A more grab-and-go-oriented location will open downtown at a later date.
FARTHER AFIELD
One pizzeria has replaced another in Braintree: Highland Grill and Pizzeria is now open in the longtime Easy Pie space at 1701 Washington St. (Easy Pie’s newer Revere location remains open, but the Braintree one closed recently.)
India Kitchen is open in Watertown (45 Lexington St.) in a space that has seen quite a few restaurants pass through over the years. There are kababs, curries, and more on the menu.
The Okipoke, a poke shop in Westford, has expanded to Burlington (19 3rd Ave.).
Shawarma Club — guess what it serves — is open in Weymouth (850 Washington St.); it also has an older location in the food court at Braintree’s South Shore Plaza.
Candy shop Sukker & Sweet is now open at the Street in Chestnut Hill (55 Boylston St.), selling a wide range of internationally sourced candies, such as spicy mango gummies from Spain, tea-infused chocolate from Singapore, chocolate Ferraris from Denmark, and more. There are various options for people with certain allergies and dietary restrictions, too.
Great Marsh Brewing Company (99 Main St., Essex) is now open on the North Shore in a multi-story space with a taproom, restaurant, and seasonal beer garden. The 16-beer list includes IPAs, lagers, and ales.
Retail pie shop Pie Me Over has arrived in Wilmington (217 Main St.), having relocated from Las Vegas. The shop sells ready-to-bake pies, including savory selections like chicken pot pies and veggie pies.
November 1, 2019
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BOSTON PROPER
Spiky-haired television personality and restaurateur Guy Fieri has opened his first Boston restaurant: Guy Fieri’s Tequila Cocina, located at the Hub on Causeway development in Boston’s West End (110 Causeway St.) as part of Big Night Entertainment Group’s Big Night Live venue. There’s tequila, trash can nachos, Donkey Sauce-slathered cheeseburger tacos, and more.
Brato Brewhouse & Kitchen (190 North Beacon St., Brighton) is now open after nearly three years in the works (and plenty of pop-ups during that time). In addition to beer, the brewery focuses on sausages, pickles, and grilled cheese.
Speaking of cheese, Brookline’s Curds & Co. shop has expanded to Boston proper, opening inside Boston Public Market (100 Hanover St.) and selling local and imported cheeses and a variety of cheese-adjacent products (jams, oils, etc.)
South Boston coffee shop Cranberry Cafe (704 E Broadway) has reopened under the same management but under a new name, Deja Brew, and with a refreshed menu.
Nourish Your Soul — a juice bar with locations in Boston’s Beacon Hill and Winchester — expanded to Back Bay on November 1, opening inside the new Lululemon Athletica store at 208 Newbury St.
FARTHER AFIELD
Dedham’s Pancho’s Taqueria, a Mexican restaurant, has expanded to Needham (1450 Highland Ave.), serving burritos, quesadillas, tortas, tacos, and more.
Worcester’s Wormtown Brewery has expanded to Foxborough (250 Patriot Pl.), opening a brewhouse and taproom at Patriot Place, the retail-filled development that includes Gillette Stadium.
October 25, 2019
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BOSTON PROPER
The Kenmore is now open in the longtime Lower Depths space in Kenmore (476 Commonwealth Ave.). From the group behind neighborhood bars and restaurants like the Hopewell in Allston and the Westland near Symphony, the Kenmore is serving hot dogs, burgers, and more.
Logan Airport has finally been improving its food selection over the past year or so, and another batch of new additions is now open: Boston-based chain Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse is open in terminal C, serving steaks, seafood, and pasta; chef Jody Adams’ Trade is open in terminal B, drawing inspiration from Mediterranean cuisine; popular North End sandwich shop Monica’s Mercato is open in terminal E; and local Mexican chain Temazcal Tequila Cantina has expanded to terminal B.
In brewery news: Trillium Brewing Company now has its Fenway taproom (401 Park Dr.) fully operational, serving Galaxy Lock & Key, DDH Pittsburgh Street, the Riverway IPA, and more. Plus, Distraction Brewing Company has opened in Roslindale (2 Belgrade Ave.), offering an 80-seat taproom and a list of pale ales, porters, and more.
FARTHER AFIELD
Nightshade Noodle Bar — which grew out of a pop-up series from Clio and Bondir alum Rachel Miller — is now open in Lynn (73 Exchange St.). The 30-seat restaurant features Vietnamese-inspired noodles and small plates, and there are cocktails, wine, and beer available. There’s also a lunch menu with banh mi, a few noodle dishes, and a variety of coffee and tea options.
The Moody’s Delicatessen team has opened fried chicken joint Pollo Club in the former El Rincon de Moody’s space (465 Moody St., Waltham). In addition to fried chicken, there’s a tofu banh mi, hush puppies, mac and cheese “with a kick,” fried halloumi sandwiches, and more.
Former doughnut hole pop-up Mass Hole Donuts now has a permanent storefront at 2 Lake St. in Arlington, the former Local Fare space. It opened October 19 and serves flavors like New-berry Street (rich chocolate cake with vanilla glaze, Nutella, and fresh blackberry) and Green Monster (raised brioche doughnut hole filled with lime cream and topped with green tea white chocolate).
The Farmacy — a cafe in Boston’s Seaport District (and with a forthcoming location at High Street Place, a food hall opening in downtown Boston soon) — has expanded to Newton (880 Walnut St.), serving grain bowls, toasts, salads, and more.
October 18, 2019
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BOSTON PROPER
Boston has a new sports bar: Banners Kitchen & Tap (82 Causeway St., West End) is now open at the Hub on Causeway development in the works next to TD Garden. It has a gigantic television, Topgolf Swing Suites, a cocktail list by acclaimed local bartender Jackson Cannon, and a special reservation-only dining area called Blades & Boards with a fancier menu than the rest.
Lobstah on a Roll, with locations in Boston’s South End and in Salem, has expanded to Back Bay (254 Newbury St.), serving gigantic lobster rolls and other seafood and/or sandwich options. It’s also carrying over the Hawaiian-style shave ice from its predecessor in the Newbury Street space, Wabora Asian Fusion Bistro.
While the anticipated rooftop portion of Six West at South Boston’s new Cambria Hotel (6 W. Broadway) isn’t open yet, the ground floor dining space is, serving dishes like wagyu potstickers, caviar panini, short rib tacos, and fried chicken bao.
Taiwanese-style, New York-based chain Vivi Bubble Tea now has a Brighton location (364 Washington St., Brighton Center), one of three in Massachusetts — there’s also one in Quincy and one in Amherst. Vivi serves bubble teas, of course, but also popcorn chicken, takoyaki, curly fries, and a few other snacks.
Maine and Massachusetts pizzeria chain Otto (stylized as OTTO) is now open at Logan Airport. Plus, the Harvard Square location has reopened after several months of closure due to a June fire; see Camberville section below for more information.
The Avery Bar at the Ritz-Carlton (10 Avery St., downtown Boston) has been redesigned, featuring a marble fireplace, sofas and other cozy seating, leather accents, and a new marble and brass bar to the right of the entrance, replacing the former horseshoe bar. A new menu of snacks includes dishes such as crispy enoki tempura with Sriracha aioli; sweet chile tiger shrimp with puffed rice noodles; and Buffalo fried oysters.
CAMBERVILLE
Popular Allston-Brighton izakaya Ittoku closed last month in order to make its planned move to Cambridge’s Porter Square, inside Porter Exchange (1815 Massachusetts Ave.). It is now open there (in the former longtime Blue Fin space that was more recently home to Wafu-ya), although with limited hours and menu for the first few days. It’s slated for more of a grand opening on October 21. The menu is mostly the same as when it was in Allston-Brighton, but with a few new additions, such as okonomiyaki. Plus, the new location has a full liquor license, not just beer and wine.
California-based vegan chain Veggie Grill opened its first East Coast location on October 13 at 57 John F. Kennedy St. in Harvard Square, Cambridge, inside the former Wagamama space. Veggie Grill serves dishes such as a vegan “cheesesteak” made of Beyond Burger, zucchini noodles, tofu-based dishes, and more.
The Harvard Square location of the casual pizzeria Otto (stylized as OTTO) (1432 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge) has reopened after a June 2019 fire caused it to temporarily close. In celebration, the Otto team is randomly passing out 1,000 cards redeemable for a free slice; they’ll be giving them out around the Harvard Square area over the next few weeks.
FARTHER AFIELD
Caribbean restaurant Jamaica Jeff’s is now open in the former Kashish space in Belmont (61 Leonard St.), although it is BYOB until the liquor license gets approved, probably within the next couple of weeks. Once it does, there will be tropical cocktails available.
Craft Food Hall Project opened its second location on October 14, this time inside an office building at CityPoint in Waltham (200 5th Ave.), where it contains two restaurants (Project X Pizza and Sousviderie) and a serve-yourself beer and wine dispensing system. The first location is at Cross Point, an office complex in Lowell, and at least two more locations are in the works.
Brighton Japanese restaurant Asahi (418 Market St.) has relocated to Brookline (696 Washington St.), where it is now open under the name Kamiza Japanese Cuisine and serving mostly the same menu, with some new additions. Despite the name, Kamiza also has a few Chinese dishes on the menu.
Valsos Table & Bar is now open in Revere (139 Shirley Ave.), serving a menu that draws from Italian, Spanish, and Latin-American cuisine — think tapas, thin-crust pizzas, paella, seafood risotto, and more.
There’s a new brewery in Lawrence: Spicket River Brewery is now open at 56 Island St., featuring two outdoor spaces in addition to its taproom, a mug club for regulars, and beers like a Smashin Pumpkin Ale.
October 11, 2019
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BOSTON PROPER
French brasserie Rochambeau (900 Boylston St., Back Bay), mentioned as partially open in last week’s update, is now fully open — the all-day cafe, dinner, and the bar.
Trillium Brewing Company has partially opened its new Fenway taproom (401 Park Dr.) — retail only for now; drinking onsite coming soon.
The team behind Saloniki has opened a different fast-casual Greek spot, Greek Kitchen, inside Time Out Market Boston (401 Park Dr., Fenway), taking over the MC Kitchen space and serving items like spanakopita, citrus-marinated swordfish souvlaki, and pork schnitzel.
Sidell’s Bagel Bar is now open inside of the Met Back Bay (279 Dartmouth St.), serving bagels, fixings, and smoked seafood platters on weekends.
Finch has reopened as Bulfinch Social inside the Boxer hotel (107 Merrimac St., West End), “pair[ing] new American international style food with classic cooking” with dishes such as coq au vin wontons, Caribbean lettuce wraps, and wings in “tropical Buffalo sauce.”
East Boston has a new Italian restaurant: Pazza on Porter (107 Porter St.) is open, serving dishes like fusilli Bolognese, a daily-changing risotto, chicken parm, steak tips, and more.
Shameless taqueria chain Pink Taco is now open in Fort Point (374 Congress St.), a neighborhood already filled with taco joints with names that aren’t slang for female genitalia. The menu includes lobster enchiladas, chile poppers, barbacoa burritos, vegan taco bowls, and more.
FARTHER AFIELD
Another new restaurant for the Northshore Mall in Peabody (210 Andover St.): Amigo’s Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar is open, serving guacamole prepared tableside, margarita flights, chimichangas, churros, and lots more. It joins several other restaurants at the mall, including Hop & Grind, which also recently opened (see September 27 update below.)
Chinese restaurant Big Fun Cafe is one of the newest additions to Quincy (18 Brook St.), serving clay pot rice, congee, pork rice rolls, and more.
Sandwich and pastry shop Mae’s is now open on the South Shore (563 Ocean St., Marshfield), with Sam Kauff and Eileen Price at the helm. Kauff is an alum of Ashmont Grill, 51 Lincoln, and 16C; Price is also an alum of 16C, as well as Formaggio Kitchen and Bagelsaurus. The breakfast and lunch spot is open every day except for Monday.
In other breakfast-and-lunch news, Servente Bakery & Cafe is now open in Needham (1032 Great Plain Ave.), serving baked goods, sandwiches, soups, and more.
Weymouth beer bar Union Brewhouse (550 Washington St. [Rt. 53]) has reopened after a several-month hiatus.
October 4, 2019
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BOSTON PROPER
The team behind gorgeously designed restaurants Yvonne’s, Ruka, and Lolita has debuted another visual stunner, Mariel, a spacious and luxurious Cuban-inspired restaurant at 10 Post Office Sq. in downtown Boston. Mariel opened September 30 and features mojitos; Cuban street pizzas; a few big dishes meant to share (like an $80 one-pound cod loin); and more.
French brasserie Rochambeau is partially open at the Prudential Center (900 Boylston St., Back Bay), with the cafe portion already in operation and the restaurant and bar slated to debut at some point this weekend (October 4-5). Rochambeau takes over for Towne Stove & Spirits; the Lyons Group (Back Bay Social Club, Sonsie, etc.) is behind both. Expect croque-monsieurs, duck a l’orange, coq au vin, and more.
Ghost Pepper, a taqueria and tequila bar, is now open in Dorchester’s Savin Hill neighborhood (120 Savin Hill Ave.) next to its older sibling, Savin Bar and Kitchen. In addition to tacos, Ghost Pepper serves dishes like crispy pork belly with tamarind glaze, skirt steak with cilantro chimichurri, churros, and more, as well as plenty of tequila and cocktails.
New hotel Moxy Bar Downtown opened in the Theater District (240 Tremont St.) and includes a restaurant and bar called Bar Moxy that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night bites. There are also grab-and-go meals available 24 hours a day.
CAMBERVILLE
The team behind Pho House (1790 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge) has overhauled the restaurant and opened Chalawan in its place, serving modern Southeast Asian cuisine. (Pho House, which had a more casual vibe, focused on Vietnamese and Thai dishes.) Some early must-tries include the seared scallops, beef cheek rendang, and roti canai.
Inman Square has a new restaurant, Richards, located in the former Tupelo space at 1193 Cambridge St., Cambridge. The restaurant aims to fit a comfortable, affordable niche in the neighborhood, serving new American food, with dishes such as trofie pasta with fried pork belly and oven-roasted chicken with asparagus.
The dearly departed Manoa Poke Shop — which thankfully continued catering and doing pop-ups after closing its storefront at the beginning of 2019 — is back, sort of, operating its original storefront (300 Beacon St., Somerville, near Porter Square) on weekends only. The old favorites are back, including fried chicken, pineapple cake, and plenty of poke, with some new additions as well.
Umami, which bills itself as an omakase and sake bar, is now open in the former Hana Sushi space in North Cambridge (2372 Massachusetts Ave.). Uni alum Gary Lei is at the helm.
FARTHER AFIELD
South Korea-based French-Asian bakery chain Tous Les Jours has a new Boston-area outpost in Natick, inside the Natick Mall. It opened October 1. There are also Massachusetts locations in Allston and Burlington.
Bagel Bin Deli is now open in the former Daybreak Cafe space in Topsfield (30 Main St.), taking its name from the Revere deli that is rebuilding following a fire this summer. There are family ties between the two Bagel Bin Delis.
East Arlington’s Arlington Bakery (187 Massachusetts Ave.) has reopened under new ownership with some renovations and some new menu items.
September 27, 2019
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BOSTON PROPER
Another quiet week in Boston proper.
CAMBERVILLE
Nibble Kitchen is now open at Bow Market in Somerville (1 Bow Market Wy., Union Square), playing host to a rotating group of vendors from the Somerville Arts Council’s Nibble Entrepreneurship Program, which features culinary entrepreneurs from Somerville’s immigrant communities. The shop is open just a few days a week to start, serving Bolivian, Ethiopian, Venezuelan, Brazilian, and Bangladeshi foods at various times; keep an eye on the schedule and updates here.
FARTHER AFIELD
Durham, New Hampshire-based burger and beer bar Hop & Grind has expanded to Peabody’s Northshore Mall (210 Andover St.), serving a wide-ranging menu of burgers (beef, pork, chicken, and veggie), loaded fries, mac and cheese bowls, ice cream malts, and more.
An alligator-focused barbecue joint called Bonez Brothers BBQ is now open in a former Papa John’s space in Quincy (657 Southern Artery). The company has been offering catering services and appearing at farmers markets over the last several years and now has its own takeout-oriented storefront. The alligator emphasis (fritters, smoky sausage, and more) comes from chef and owner Todd Noon’s history of wrangling alligators in Florida. There’s other food, too, such as beef brisket, pulled pork, and deep-fried key lime cheesecake. Hours are limited to start; check Facebook for updates before heading over.
Everett has a new Chinese restaurant, Bun’s House (338 Ferry St.), serving buns, yes, but also dumplings, noodles, and more.
In Newton, there’s a new Mexican restaurant called Pátzcuaro Taqueria & Bar, serving tacos, burritos, tortas, and the like, as well as margaritas.
Salem’s Chez Casa is open at 97 Bridge St. from chef Keenan Langlois (The Sinclair, Dragon Pizza), serving a rotating quick-service menu and prepared foods. Langlois is a longtime restaurant industry vet, but this is his first time owning.
Piato is now open in Woburn (478 Main St.), serving Italian, Mediterranean, and Peruvian cuisine with a focus on seafood. There’s live jazz on Friday and Saturday nights.
September 20, 2019
Quiet week! No new openings to report in or around Boston.
September 13, 2019
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BOSTON PROPER
Beacon Hill bar 6B Lounge (6B Beacon St.) closed last month for a rebranding, reopening on September 12 as Roxanne’s (under the same ownership). The refreshed space has tropical vibes, complete with flamingo wallpaper and a focus on cocktails. Roxanne’s is continuing 6B’s tradition of theme nights, such as ’90s Fridays.
In Jamaica Plain, the Jamaica Mi Hungry food truck team opened a permanent storefront at 225 Centre St. on September 12, serving jerk chicken, ribs, coconut shrimp, and more.
FARTHER AFIELD
Goldilox Bagels debuted on September 13 in Medford (186 Winthrop St.). The cozy bakery serves bagels (made in-house, aside from a gluten-free option that comes from Woburn’s Something Sweet Without Wheat gluten-free bakery), bagel sandwiches, cookies, coffee, chai, and more. Pizza bagels and catering services will begin in a month or so.
On the North Shore, the Amesbury Trina’s Starlite Lounge location (37 Main St.) changed ownership on September 6, although most of the staff remains the same at what is now called Sky Hi Kitchen + Bar. The sort-of new owners, Eric Anderson and J. Grimaldi, were silent partners in Trina’s. They’ve brought in Sean Toomey from Crave to run things, and the menu will change soon.
A takeout seafood spot, Nahant Fish & Lobster, is now open in Nahant (157 Nahant Rd.), serving lobster rolls, clam chowder, tuna burgers, and more.