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A century-old bakery shuts its doors

Posted by Kara Baskin July 1, 2013 09:00 AM

Sad news from the North End this morning: North End Waterfront reports that Boschetto's Bakery will shutter after 110 years in business, due to a rent hike. The neighborhood institution's last day is July 6. They'll continue to sell some of their wares to commercial customers from Parziale’s Bakery on Prince Street.

Todd English on Olives: It will reopen at a "new and shiny location"

Posted by Kara Baskin June 28, 2013 05:00 PM

We've received a statement from Todd English's team addressing the closure of Olives in Charlestown. Spoiler: He says it will reopen in a "new and shiny location" and calls the move a "rebirth." He'll also bring his son, Oliver, aboard. Read the statement ahead.

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Has Olives Charlestown Closed? [Updated]

Posted by Kara Baskin June 28, 2013 12:00 PM

Several months ago I reported a rumor that Olives Charlestown would close. At the time, Todd English's empire issued a statement: "In response to the April fools day rumor that Olives in Charlestown is closing, I want to reassure our customers and let everyone know that Olives is most certainly not closing. We are open for business and Chef James Klewin and our entire staff are looking forward to welcoming all our loyal customers. So, come by for a drink, dinner or plan your next special event in our newly redesigned dining room. We look forward to seeing you.” Today an observer, Andrew Flatley, tweets, "Olives in Charlestown closed 'until further notice.' Notices in (papered-over) windows direct inquiries to building owner." Could it be so? The restaurant re-opened after renovations last spring. We've reached out to his reps; stay tuned.

Updated: Here's my photo of the papered-over restaurant, with signs saying: The Premises Is Closed Until Further Notice.

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tags olives, rumors

Friday feast: top 5 restaurant stories

Posted by Kara Baskin June 28, 2013 07:00 AM

Despite the sluggish weather, massive Bruins loss, and Aaron Hernandez drama, it's been a very good week to dine out around town. If you haven't been reading the Restaurant Hub faithfully (and you should), we've compiled the five things you absolutely need to know about eating out in this town, right now. We'll do it weekly. Are you dining anywhere fun this weekend?

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First there was a Cronut; now there's a Bronut

Posted by Kara Baskin June 27, 2013 03:00 PM

The Cronut craze swept the nation at the beginning of the summer, and now there's a new permutation: the Bronut. Yes, the bronut. It's a collaboration between the sinister minds at Union Square Donuts and Griddler's Burgers & Dogs. Imagine: a Griddler's burger patty, topped with a fried egg, encased by a maple-bacon glazed donut. Makes that Dunkin' Donuts donut-bacon sandwich seem tame, really. Fittingly (and fortunately), they're only available on weekends. Try one beginning on July 6 at Griddler's, if you dare. They're $6 apiece.

Maybe a sale, but no big changes, for Les Zygomates and Sorriso

Posted by Kara Baskin June 27, 2013 12:30 PM

Rumors swirl that Les Zygomates and sister restaurant Sorriso are being sold by owner Ian Just, who also runs the newly opened Society on High (see the menus here). The chatter has raised questions about the fate of both spots. Les Zygomates Manager Samir Agchariou tells us that no changes are on the immediate horizon for either restaurant, saying that there's been no "formal" news about a sale, just talks. And the bottom line, for fans of both Leather District mainstays, is that neither restaurant will close. "We're not going anywhere," Agchariou tells us.

tags rumors

Radius signs off on Saturday with free snacks

Posted by Kara Baskin June 27, 2013 08:00 AM

Michael Schlow's flagship restaurant, Radius, shuts down on Saturday after a 15-year run. Bid adieu with free food after 9 p.m., including Schlow's signature Radius burger (a juicy half-pound patty topped with Vermont cheddar, horseradish, and crispy onions). No tickets or reservations necessary; just swing on by.

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Allston's Common Ground will open in Arlington

Posted by Kara Baskin June 26, 2013 12:00 PM

Not only is Arlington getting a Retro Burger, they're also getting a brand-new Common Ground Bar & Grill. The neighborhood pub is known for local beers, trivia nights, and pub food like deviled eggs and disco fries, plus late hours — a big change for a town like Arlington that used to be dry. (Things are getting more hedonistic over there: Menotomy Grill & Tavern opened a couple weeks ago, and there's often a wait.)

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Drink at Hawthorne, stay cheaply at Hotel Commonwealth

Posted by Kara Baskin June 25, 2013 02:30 PM

If you've had a few too many potent cocktails at the Hawthorne — or maybe you met someone at the bar and need a hotel room fast — the Hotel Commonwealth, upstairs, is offering up $199 rooms. The package comes with morning room service from Eastern Standard, overnight parking, and (this is crucial) late checkout. Book at the Hawthorne's host desk after 10 p.m. High-thread-count sheets help hangovers, right?

Fenmore restaurant will open in Kenmore Square

Posted by Kara Baskin June 25, 2013 12:00 PM

What do you get when you combine "Fenway" with "Kenmore"? Well, "Fenmore," of course. Boston Restaurant Talk reports that Fenmore American Bistro will open inside the Hotel Buckminster in Kenmore Square. According to Craigslist posts, the restaurant will be "stylish" and "casual." It will also have to compete with Island Creek Oyster Bar, the Hawthorne, and Eastern Standard just across the street. But the restaurant does seem willing to play ball. The motto: "Fabulous American Cuisine in a casual atmosphere," per their new Facebook page. They even have a fabulous logo! The upcoming restaurant is at 645 Beacon St.

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Changes in Central Square: Pu Pu Hot Pot gets a new name, but Thailand Cafe goes down the drain

Posted by Kara Baskin June 25, 2013 10:30 AM

Central Square's excellent Thailand Cafe at 302 Mass Ave. shutters this weekend, says a poster on Chowhound, who reports via a staffer that the restaurant's last day will be Sunday. This is bad news for locals who relied on the spot for spicy, authentic Sichuan (no, not Thai) meals. "Thailand Cafe is an amazing place. The potatoes with hot peppers, the fish with cabbage, the spicy prawns. the bamboo shoots, are all wondrous. I've never had a cold dish, or an under seasoned dish. I've brought many Chinese friends there and they are consistently amazed," laments one Hound. Depressingly (from a food perspective, anyway), it'll be replaced by labs and office buildings, says the Cambridge Chronicle and Boston Restaurant Talk. But there's happy news, too.

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Get married at the Sam Adams Brewery, drink limited-release Brewlywed ale

Posted by Kara Baskin June 25, 2013 08:00 AM

Attention, romantics who also happen to love beer: Sam Adams sells their limited-edition Brewlywed Ale tomorrow for one day only, complete with on-site wedding ceremonies (yes, wedding ceremonies) at their brewery in Jamaica Plain. Several couples will be married on site, and affable founder Jim Koch will serve as best man. Of course, you don't need to make a major life decision just to enjoy the Belgian ale, which is tropical, floral, sweet, and spicy. Anyone can buy it, so long as you show up early enough.

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Maverick chef Grant Achatz dines at Tavern Road, Toro

Posted by Kara Baskin June 24, 2013 09:00 AM

Chicago's Grant Achatz — molecular gastronomy pioneer; mastermind behind one of the hottest restaurants in the country; Alinea, owner of three Michelin stars — dined in Boston over the weekend. He supped at the South End's Toro and at Fort Point's Tavern Road, posting micro reviews on Twitter. He had a "great meal" at Toro and later gushed that "everything at Tavern Road is delicious, you should go. Duck hearts, lamb and charcuterie are awesome." Somewhere, chef Louis DiBiccari is doing a dance of glee.

Free sandwiches at Clover Brookline Village today

Posted by Kara Baskin June 24, 2013 08:00 AM

Clover Food Lab launches its Brookline Village location today, and they're celebrating with free sandwiches from 11 a.m. until they run out, so hustle on over. The newest Clover is at 6 Harvard St. Can't get to Brookline? They'll open a Burlington location on June 27. Doesn't this fried falafel sandwich look tempting?

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Bronwyn's biergarten opens June 23

Posted by Kara Baskin June 21, 2013 02:30 PM

Tim and Bronwyn Wiechmann's Eastern European sausage emporium, Bronwyn, opens its patio this weekend. The patio will have the same menu and beer list, plus a custom pit-smoker where Tim smokes his sausages. It'll be open from 5 p.m. until 10:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Read Devra First's early take on the Union Square restaurant right here, and see their meaty menu here. Oh, and plan ahead: We hear that waits have been long.

Nebo launches at Atlantic Wharf

Posted by Kara Baskin June 21, 2013 09:00 AM

As we mentioned last week, Nebo has a huge new menu planned for their Atlantic Wharf digs. Try an array of pizzas and seafood delights beginning this weekend at 520 Atlantic Ave., says BRT. As for their former North End digs, well, the Ward 8 cocktail bar will soon move in, from the team behind Ducali and Lucia. As Eater notes, the Ward 8 cocktail was actually invented at Locke-Ober in honor of West End political boss Martin "Mahatma" Lomasney. Who knew?

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tags nebo, openings

Fresh, healthy D.C. export sweetgreen will open on June 26

Posted by Kara Baskin June 20, 2013 03:00 PM

A rep for Washington, DC's sweetgreen tells us that they'll open their first Boston outpost at 659 Boylston St. on Wednesday, June 26. This is delightful news for Back Bay denizens looking for a healthy lunch fix: They specialize in custom salads, grain bowls, frozen yogurt, and themed fresh pressed raw juices (what they call sweetpress). Raw juices have various virtuous properties, like "Detox" and "Purify." Other ingredients are local, and many are drawn from the nearby Copley Square Farmers Market. On opening day, visitors will pay only what they want, and proceeds will go to the One Fund. The concept launched in 2007, and now there are 17 nationwide, with more to come, including a spot at New York's very of-the-moment NoMad Hotel. Check out the extremely visual, extremely virtuous menu here.

Pizzeria from the Area Four team prepares for Somerville debut

Posted by Kara Baskin June 20, 2013 11:00 AM

In April, news broke that chef Michael Leviton and the team behind Kendall Square's Area Four — home to a very excellent bacon pretzel nugget, among other savories — would open a straight-up pizza place in Somerville. That day is nearly here: Urban Daddy has a slideshow capturing the sparse beauty of A4 Pizzeria. It's slated to open the first week of July at 445 Somerville Ave. Leviton tells us that the restaurant will sell nothing but pizza and antipasti (no pretzel nuggets, sorry). Most interesting to us: The pizzeria is on a pretty quiet stretch of Somerville Avenue, food-wise. But, since Urban Daddy notes a profusion of barrel whiskey, local pints, and Fat Boys LPs adorning the walls (always an interesting decorative choice), that might not be the case much longer. Stay tuned for a definite opening date.

Swanky event, amazing chefs at jmCurley

Posted by Kara Baskin June 20, 2013 07:00 AM

First things first: Sunday night's Northern Alliance dinner at jm Curley isn't cheap. Tickets are $250 apiece. However: The event is for a wonderful cause and the chef lineup is absolutely spectacular. Toro's Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette (currently shuttling between here and New York to open a Manhattan Toro), New York City's much-loved April Bloomfield from The Spotted Pig and The Breslin, and Matt Jennings from Providence's acclaimed Farmstead are among the chefs concocting a ten-course feast for the American Farmland Trust. The Trust bolsters family farmers, gives them access to water and land, and promotes healthy farming practices. Which means better food for us.

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First look: new menu, new chef de cuisine at Newton's 51 Lincoln

Posted by Kara Baskin June 19, 2013 08:00 AM

Jeff Fournier, the force behind the new Waban Kitchen, tells us that he's appointed a chef de cuisine for his seven-year-old Newton flagship, 51 Lincoln. He and new Chef de Cuisine Nate Gibson (who used to be sous chef at Waban) totally reconstructed the menu at the restaurant — though Fournier's signature dishes, watermelon steak salad and rigatoni bolognese, happily remain on the roster. Lots of ingredients (roasted corn & pepper salad, mango & amarillo pepper salsa) come from the restaurant's big rooftop garden. Feast your eyes on the sunny summery menu, ahead.

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Gene's Flatbread Cafe will open in Boston

Posted by Kara Baskin June 18, 2013 03:30 PM

Chelmsford's cult favorite Xian roadside shack will move to downtown Boston, reports a poster on Chowhound. The Globe wrote about Gene's exceptional hand-pulled noodles and flatbreads last summer. Now a new crop of diners can enjoy the tingly chili-and-garlic soaked noodles, not to mention the boundless enthusiasm of owner Gene Wu, who left the corporate world to pursue his passion for cooking. The new restaurant is headed for Downtown Crossing, says Chowhound. Delicious.

Society on High is now open, with free parking

Posted by Kara Baskin June 18, 2013 12:00 PM

The team behind Les Zygomates and Sorriso has quietly launched Society on High at 99 High St., per their Facebook page. Zagat previously reported a very intriguing attribute — free evening parking — but we're also curious about the menus, which include lots of seafood and the oft-attempted, rarely perfected lobster rangoon. Have a look, straight ahead.

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Arlington gets a burger and hot dog stand, called Retro

Posted by Kara Baskin June 18, 2013 10:00 AM

Just in time for summer, too: The Patch reports that Retro Burger will open at 795 Mass Ave, replacing the old Cakes bakery. Right now, there's a Retro Burger on Cape Cod, but owner Bill Maund, an Arlington native, wants to bring the burgers to Boston. Which is good news for us: The menu looks sinful and fun.

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See the menu at El Trago, Ole's new bar

Posted by Kara Baskin June 17, 2013 01:00 PM

Inman Square staple Ole just revamped and expanded their bar (Eater has a nice view of the space). The new 14-seat section is called El Trago, which means "the drink." As for drinks, you'll find unusual choices like tepache, a pineapple refresher commonly sold by Mexican street merchants, and torito, a regional drink made with local Taza chocolate, peanut butter, milk, and rum. (It sounds like a dessert, but apparently it's quite refreshing.) The Ole staff shared their new small plates and cocktail menus with us, ahead. Have a look.

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tags bars, ole, openings

Kendall Square gets a Clover

Posted by Kara Baskin June 17, 2013 12:00 PM

The team behind fast-healthy Clover Food Lab adds one more brick-and-mortar restaurant to its growing empire: Zagat reports that they'll open in Kendall Square later on this summer. (Clover opens in Burlington next week.) The newest Clover will be at 10 Cambridge Center — also the entrance to Google. Should we expect a chickpea-inspired Google Doodle in the near future?

About this blog

With Boston's growing restaurant scene, we're keeping up with important and interesting changes -- from anticipated openings to surprise closings, to the latest news about local chefs. More »
 

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Restaurant reviews

Cheap Eats | Central Square
Balance cocktails with a stellar bar meal at Brick & Mortar

Balance cocktails with a stellar bar meal at Brick & Mortar

Brick & Mortar slings substantial and satisfying food, in addition to their top-notch libations. Enjoy a reasonably affordable night out — with food and drinks, in a hip space with no sign on the door.
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We’ve rounded up a list of Boston-area spots that are offering outdoor eating this season as the weather permits. Take a look and get inspired.

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