Painted Burro Will Expand to the Former Border Cafe Space in Harvard Square

Mexican restaurant the Painted Burro is expanding again, and it’s taking over some prime real estate. After over three decades in Harvard Square, affordable Tex-Mex staple Border Cafe announced its closure in 2021; it had been temporarily closed since a 2019 fire, but the pandemic turned the closure permanent. Now, the spacious Church Street address will be home to a new location of the Painted Burro, whose original location opened in Somerville’s Davis Square nearly a decade ago. There are also Painted Burros in Bedford and Waltham, plus offshoots called Burro Bar in Brookline and Boston’s South End.

The new Painted Burro could open in spring 2022. The other locations serve tacos, tortas, enchiladas, and lots more, and they feature lengthy tequila and mezcal lists. (Meanwhile, Border Cafe remains in operation in Saugus and Bedford, and there are several locations in New Jersey and Delaware, too, but the now-defunct Harvard Square location was the original.)

Parisian bistro seeks liquor license

“Have you ever seen a French restaurant without wine?” asks Back Bay newcomer Café Sauvage. The bistro, which highlights the multicultural food scene of Paris, opened late last year without a liquor license but with the intention of getting one. “We’re French; of course we want to have wine,” co-owner Anaïs Lambert told Eater in November 2021, promising an eventual signature cocktail that would combine the West African juice bissap with prosecco. The restaurant is now asking its fans to sign a petition showing support for Café Sauvage to obtain a liquor license.

135-year-old Somerville bakery is not closing

After news started spreading on social media that the landlord of the longtime home of Lyndell’s Bakery had filed for a demolition permit, fans of the classic Ball Square bakery feared it would be closing. Lyndell’s took to Facebook to clarify the situation, stating that it is “not closing and not for sale.” The landlord will redevelop the property, and Lyndell’s will have a brand new space in the forthcoming mixed-use building. During construction, the bakery plans to temporarily relocate and continue operation without interruptions. Keep an eye on Lyndell’s Facebook page for pertinent updates (and photos of baked goods).

Planned Cafe Artscience replacement won’t be opening after all

Scientist David Edwards closed his Kendall Square restaurant Cafe Artscience at the end of 2019 after a five-year run, announcing that he would replace it with a restaurant called Senses. Chef Jody Adams (Rialto, Porto, etc.) was originally involved in some capacity, and Senses very briefly opened in mid-2020 with Mediterranean takeout before closing again. Then, Edwards announced a planned November 2021 opening in partnership with Ariel and Joshua Smith of Talise in Gloucester, serving “ocean-forward organic regenerative cuisine.” But this week Senses announced on social media that it would not be opening after all. “We hold on to hope that one day our vision will flourish,” the team wrote in a message signed by Edwards and the Smiths. “Unfortunately omicron affected our opening plans in more ways than we could have expected. The timing just wasn’t right for Senses.”

Cambridge Italian restaurant plans New Haven expansion (and more)

Gran Gusto, one of the best Italian restaurants in town, has new locations — plural — in the works, according to its website, starting with an expansion to New Haven, Connecticut, in 2022. “More locations coming soon,” the restaurant promises. While the restaurant serves some of the best pizza around, its pasta is also not to be missed, including the traditional Emiliana-style lasagna and the paccheri with braised short rib ragu. (The New Haven location will be somewhere on Park Street, which is also home to a restaurant called Mecha Noodle Bar — which is expanding to Boston.)

Here’s some frozen spaghetti on Mount Washington in New Hampshire

Sorry to the observer missing out on breakfast.

Got intel that should be on Eater Boston’s radar? Contact the team here.