Loretta's Last Call Is Opening in Former La Verdad Space in Boston's Fenway Neighborhood

It looks like a new restaurant and bar is coming to the Fenway neighborhood of Boston, and this one will have some southern influences to it.A couple of job posts within the Craigslist site indicate that a dining and drinking spot with "Southern Hospitality, Fried Chicken, Cold Beer & Country Music" will be opening on Lansdowne Street, and a Twitter post from someone who is involved with the place says that there is indeed an "Open call for ALL STAFF for a new #Country restaurant/bar." It looks like the spot could be opening in late May, though...

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New Restaurant Planned for Pan Asia Space in South Boston

The restaurant group behind several dining and drinking spots in the Boston area is looking to open another one across the street from one of their places in South Boston.Universal Hub is reporting that Michael Conlon of Eat Drink Laugh is eyeing the space on West Broadway where Pan Asia has been, with the plan being to possibly open a casual neighborhood tavern there. The spot--which does not yet have a name--would be across the street from the Lincoln Tavern, which Conlon opened in the fall of 2012. The Boston Licensing Board will decide...

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Legal on the Mystic Is Coming to Somerville's Assembly Row

It looks like the folks behind a number of seafood restaurants in the Boston area (and beyond) are going to be opening yet another dining spot, and this one will be within a brand new complex in Somerville.The Boston Globe is reporting that Legal on the Mystic will open at Assembly Row, a mixed-use development that is located just off Route 93 between the Charlestown line and Route 28. This is just part of a rapid expansion from Legal Sea Foods, with a new Legal's opening this week within the new Terminal B connector at Logan Airport and a spot...

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Top Chef Is Coming to Boston for Season 12

The recent rumors of a food-based reality show coming to Boston have come true.The Boston Globe is reporting that the 12th season of "Top Chef" will be filmed in and around the city this spring and early summer, with the Bravo show looking to film in Boston and along the coast (a couple of spots mentioned include Fenway Park and Plimoth Plantation). Two years ago, rumors had also been swirling about the show coming to the city, but Season 10 ended up being filmed in Seattle.As mentioned in the article, "Top Chef" has featured some local folks on...

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Committee (Mediterranean Restaurant) Is Coming to Boston's Fan Pier

It looks like a new Mediterranean restaurant is on its way to the Boston waterfront.Universal Hub is reporting that George Aboujaoude of Cafeteria in the Back Bay and the Bijou Nightclub in the Theatre District will be opening Committee at the Fan Pier development, with the dining spot featuring meze (small plates/appetizers) and "hand-crafted" cocktails. The restaurant is part of a buildout of Fan Pier, which will also become home to a Starbucks and a daycare center.If all goes as planned, Committee could be opening sometime this fall, according...

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Daisy Buchanan's in the Back Bay of Boston to Close This Fall

Earlier this year, we had reported that a popular Back Bay bar was facing the possibility of foreclosure or being sold, and now it has been confirmed that the latter has happened, which means the place will be closing down.The Boston Herald is reporting that Daisy Buchanan's on Newbury Street has been sold to UrbanMeritage, with principal Michael Jammen saying that the watering hole will likely close in early October or early November when the Red Sox season is over. In February, it was learned that Daisy's owner Joseph P. Cimino was looking at...

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Fuji to Open at Assembly Row in Somerville

The group behind several Asian restaurants in the Boston area is going to be opening another dining spot, with this one being within a new development in Somerville.The Assembly Row Facebook page mentions that Fuji is planning to open at the new mixed-use development located just off Route 93 along the Mystic River, with an earlier article from ABG Commercial Advisors saying that the dining spot will focus on Chinese stir-fry. In addition to three wok stations, the new location of Fuji will also have a couple of sushi bars as well,...

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Paul Bakery to Open at Somerville's Assembly Row

A chain of French bakery-cafes that is opening an outlet in downtown Boston is now planning to open another shop at a new development in Somerville.According to Assembly Row's Facebook page, Paul will be opening a branch at the new mixed-use development that is located off Route 93 just north of Boston. It looks like the bakery will be its second locations in the area, with one coming soon to One Boston Place where the Irish pub Four Green Fields used to be, though there has also been talk of locations of Paul possibly coming to Burlington, Natick,...

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Tony C's Sports Bar to Open at Assembly Row in Somerville

The group behind several restaurants and bars in Boston is going to be opening a sports-themed dining and drinking spot within a new development in Somerville.According to the Facebook page for Assembly Row, Tony C's Sports Bar  will open at the mixed-use development just off of Route 93, joining another upcoming location of the spot that is coming soon to 3rd Ave, a retail area in the middle of the Northwest Park development in Burlington. Based on the description of the Burlington location from an earlier article here, the new Tony...

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Kam Man in Boston's South Bay Has Closed; Status Unknown

It looks like an Asian supermarket just south of downtown Boston has closed, and it is not known whether it will be reopening.A veteran Chowhound poster mentions that Kam Man at the South Bay shopping center is apparently shuttered, with the building being fenced off. A phone call placed to their store in Quincy seems to confirm this, with the person simply saying that it is "closed." There is chatter that a Dollar Tree could be moving into the space, possibly even sharing the building with a smaller Kam Man, though nothing has been confirmed as...

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Highlights for the Week Ending April 25, 2014

Several more stories and articles focusing on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including an Asian eatery opening in back of a liquor store in Cambridge, a popular event featuring bacon and beer coming to Boston, and a cupcake shop in Somerville moving up the road. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included an updated review of a Turkish restaurant in Brookline, a blog entry on two more Pinterest food boards, and a photo of cookies from a bakery in Boston's North End.Below are links to these...

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Taste of the Nation Boston Taking Place April 29, 2014

A tasting event that raises money to fight hunger among children returns to Boston this week, and as always, a number of restaurants will be participating.On Tuesday, April 29, Taste of the Nation Boston will be held at Cruiseport (at Black Falcon Pier on the South Boston Waterfront), with the event starting at 7:00 PM for general admission and 6:00 for VIP. This year, Honorary Chefs Jody Adams, Joanne Chang, Gordon Hamersley, Andy Husbands, and Tony Maws along with more than 60 area chefs will be at the event, with food, beer, wine, and spirits...

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Uno Fresco to Open in Stoneham

A Boston-based chain of restaurants that feature deep-dish pizza is planning to open a version of its fast-casual concept a few miles north of the city.The Stoneham Independent is reporting that Uno Restaurant Holdings is going to be opening Uno Fresco in Stoneham, with the eatery taking over the space in the Redstone Plaza where Baja Fresh had been. The article implies that Uno Fresco may be similar to Uno Due Go, which Uno Restaurant Holdings opened in Boston's Downtown Crossing in the fall of 2011; both spots focus on lunch and lighter dinners...

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Kyotoya in Stoneham Closes; Replaced by Shabu Sai

A Japanese restaurant north of Boston has closed its doors and has been replaced by a new dining spot that also tends to focus on Japanese fare.A note from The Passionate Foodie indicates that Kyotoya in Stoneham is gone, with Shabu Sai moving into the Montvale Avenue space. It appears that the new restaurant offers sushi and Japanese dishes, along with some Chinese and Thai fare as well, and based on its name, it could also be serving hot pot, though this has not been confirmed as of yet.Kyotoya was a dining spot that our sister site (Boston's...

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OpenTable's Picks for Best Brunch Restaurants in America for 2014 Include Two Boston Restaurants

An online restaurant reservations provider has come out once again with its Diners' Choice awards for best brunch restaurants in America, and this time around, two dining spots in Boston have been included.According to MarketWatch, OpenTable's Diners' Choice Awards for the 100 best restaurants for brunch in the United States includes Cafe Fleuri on Franklin Street in the city's Financial District and South End Buttery on Shawmut Avenue. The list of best brunch restaurants comes from more than 5 million reviews for approximately 19,000 dining spots...

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Chacarero Closes Its Prudential Center Location in Boston's Back Bay

A pair of Chilean sandwich shops in Boston is now down to just one, as it has shuttered its newer location in the Back Bay.Universal Hub is reporting that the outlet of Chacarero within the food court at The Shops at Prudential Center is now closed after being in business for less than a year. The post indicates that the eatery may have shut down on Friday, with the apparent reason for its closure being business that wasn't up to expectations. The existing location of Chacarero on Arch Street remains open.Chacarero began as a pushcart...

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Two Farm-to-Table Restaurants Coming to West Concord

Last summer, we reported that a farm-to-table restaurant was planning to open in West Concord, and now we have learned that not one, but two such dining spots (which will be unrelated) will be opening in this section of town.The Concord Journal is reporting that Woods Hill Table will be opening in the Commonwealth Avenue space where the West Concord Supermarket had been, while Saltbox Kitchen will also be opening on the same street nearby. The article says that the former will be run by Kristin Canty, who owns a farm in Bath, NH, while the...

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Omni Foods Supermarkets in Weston Is Closing

A grocery store in a western suburb of Boston is closing after being in business for a quarter century.The Weston Town Crier is reporting that Omni Foods Supermarkets in Weston is shutting its doors, with the general manager of the store indicating that "economics" is playing a role in its closing. The market, which is located off Route 20 in the center of town, has not given a specific closing date yet, though it appears that it could be shutting down very soon.The article mentions that there has been chatter around town about a Roche Bros. possibly...

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Raider Tavern Plans to Open in Former Orchard Park Grill Space in Watertown

A couple of years ago, we reported that a decades-old dining and drinking spot in Watertown may be closing and/or sold. Now we have learned that a new restaurant and bar is looking to open in that space.A note from Eat.Live.Blog indicates that the Raider Tavern is planning on opening on Waverley Avenue where the Orchard Park Grill used to be. The note mentions that the new spot will apparently be a family-style pub, while a Licensing Board page within the Town of Watertown website says that it will focus more on food than its predecessor had. It...

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Chinese Mirch to Open in Boston

A Chinese/Indian restaurant with one location in the MetroWest area and another in New York City is going to be opening third outlet in a busy section of Boston.Eater Boston is reporting (via a Licensing Board page on the City of Boston website) that Chinese Mirch is planning to open on Mass. Ave, near Symphony Hall where a location of Sebastians had been until closing in the fall of 2012. The article mentions that the new dining spot is hoping to include a 36-seat patio as well as indoor seating and apparently a bar area. Once it opens, the new...

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Bao Nation Coming to the Back of Libby's Liquor Market in Cambridge's Central Square

It looks like the group behind several Boston-area restaurants will be opening a new dining spot in Cambridge, and this one will be in the back section of a liquor store.Eater Boston is reporting (via Chowhound) that Bao Nation is going to open within Libby's Liquor Market in Central Square, with the fast-casual eatery featuring Asian bun sandwiches and dumplings. The sign posted on Chowhound mentions that the dining spot will present a "unique twist" on Taiwanese gua bao, or pork belly buns, using "flavors and ingredients ranging from various...

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UPDATE: 2014 Bacon and Beer Festival to Be Held at the House of Blues in Boston, August 10

[ED NOTE: The 2014 Boston Bacon and Beer Festival, which was to be held on June 7 at the Landmark Center in the Fenway--but had been postponed--is now on again at a new venue.]A popular event that features two very popular food and drink items is returning to Boston once again.On Sunday, August 10, the 2014 Boston Bacon and Beer Festival will take place from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM at the House of Blues on Lansdowne Street in the Fenway section of the city. This is year five of the event, and as always, it will be raising money for hunger relief organizations...

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Jersey Mike's Subs May Be Expanding to Boston

A New Jersey-based chain of sub shops is planning a major expansion, and it looks like Boston could be a part of it.The GlobeSt.com site is reporting that Jersey Mike's Subs is seeking franchisees right now in Boston as well as New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, northern California and states in the Rocky Mountain region, with the plan being to open 200 new shops this year. The chain, which started from a single store in 1956 in Point Pleasant, NJ, features both hot and cold subs made to order, with options including cheese steaks, meatballs...

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Waltham Food and Wine Festival to Take Place Tonight (April 23, 2014)

A food and drink event is returning to a western suburb of Boston again tonight, and once again, a number of local dining spots will be participating.An email sent indicates that the 22nd Annual Waltham Food & Wine Festival will take place at the Westin Hotel on 3rd Avenue starting at 6:00 PM, with the focus once again being on the city's roots in the textile industry. Food and wine will be offered by such spots as The Chateau, City Streets, Moody's Delicatessen & Provisions, Pizzi's Farm, Solea, and many others, and there will also...

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Radio in Somerville May Be Closed for Good

It looks like a music club in Somerville that has been closed since last fall may be shuttered for good.Eater Boston is reporting (via a Licensing Commission page) that the liquor license for Radio on Somerville Avenue may be transferred to Two Three Zero, which is the event space for Paint Nite, a painting party spot located a bit further east on Somerville Avenue in Union Square. Radio first took over the space where Club Choices had been in October of 2011, with an earlier article on the Vanyaland site saying that an electrical fire closed...

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Angelo's Coal Fired Pizza Planning to Open in Quincy

It looks like a new pizza spot could be opening in the downtown section of Quincy, and it would be moving into the space where a couple of other restaurants had been.According to a poster on the Chowhound site, Angelo's Coal Fired Pizza is planning to open in the former Remick's/Finian's space on Hancock Street, with a Board of License Commissioners page on the City of Quincy website confirming this. Little other information can be found on the proposed eatery other than the fact that the manager's name is Patrick Cross, which is also the name...

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Clover Food Lab May Take Over Hi-Fi Pizza Space in Cambridge's Central Square

It looks like the people behind a number of vegetarian food trucks and brick-and-mortar restaurants in the Boston area may be opening a new spot in one of Cambridge's busiest neighborhoods, and it would be taking over the space where a pizza place and sub shop had been for more than 40 years.Cambridge Day is reporting that Clover is eyeing the space in Central Square where Hi-Fi Pizza & Subs was until closing in March, with the article saying that it could be a 24-hour restaurant if the city gives its approval. The proposed Mass. Ave. eatery...

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Kickass Cupcakes in Somerville to Move Its Retail Space

A cupcake bakery on the eastern edge of the Davis Square section of Somerville is going to be moving up the road a bit, going to the site where its bakery operations currently resides.Eater Boston is reporting that Kickass Cupcakes will be closing its shop at 378 Highland Avenue after April 30, and it will be moving a bit less than a mile east to 199C Highland Avenue, which is where its bakery space has been since branching off from the original storefront in the summer of 2012. It is not known exactly when the move will be completed, so keep checking...

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Royal Bengal Reopens in Somerville

An Indian restaurant in Cambridge that closed late last year has reopened in Somerville.According to its website, Royal Bengal, which had been located on Mass. Ave. just east of Central Square, is now open once again on Medford Street toward the southern edge of Winter Hill. The restaurant had closed in the late fall of 2013 after being open for nearly 15 years in its Cambridge space, with the plan being for Darwin's Ltd. to possibly open at that site at some point.It looks like Royal Bengal reopened on or around April 2.The address for the new...

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Serafina in Concord Has Closed Again (This Time for Good)

An Italian restaurant in the western suburbs of Boston has closed for the second time in the past year, and this time it won't be reopening.An email sent from a reader indicates that Serafina in Concord is no longer in operation, with an article in the Concord Journal confirming this, saying that the owner lost the lease after being unable to come to terms with the landlord on the Sudbury Street space. The article says that the owner and his wife will focus on their other restaurant--Sierra's on North Road in Sudbury--with the focus being on a...

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Highlights for the Week Ending April 18, 2014

A few more stories and articles centering on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including a popular dining spot in Cambridge's Central Square that is going to be sold, a well-known donut shop possibly expanding, and a burger restaurant with three well-known brothers behind it coming to the Fenway section of Boston. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included a new review of a bar pizza spot in a very unusual location, a question on the best corned beef hash in the Boston area, and a photo of spanakopita...

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Pasta E Pomodoro in Boston's North End Has Apparently Closed

It looks like an Italian restaurant in the North End of Boston may have closed its doors.According to a poster on the Chowhound site, Pasta E Pomodoro appears to be shuttered, and a check on the place over the weekend seemed to confirm this, with the entire interior cleaned out and a ladder sitting in the middle of the space. Multiple phone calls placed to the dining spot were unable to go through and OpenTable says that the restaurant could not be found, though its website is still up and running.As soon as we find out what might be happening...

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Update: Rendezvous in Cambridge's Central Square Is Being Sold; Viale to Replace It

[Ed note: This article was updated on April 22, May 6, and June 19 to reflect new information given.]A restaurant in the Central Square neighborhood of Cambridge that has been in business for nine years is being sold.An email sent today indicates that "After nine wonderful years in Central Square, chef/owner Steve Johnson is moving on from Rendezvous and has agreed to sell the restaurant to the team of Greg Reeves and Mark Young." This announcement was made today via a joint statement from Steve and the buyers. Steve added that "Rendezvous will...

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Uyghur Kitchen Food Truck Coming to Boston

A new food truck is on its way to Boston, and it may just be the first of its kind in the entire country.According to an article in eurasianet.org, Uyghur Kitchen is going to be debuting very soon on the streets of Boston, serving Uyghur-tyle kebabs that are placed on skewers or within wraps. The article says that the person behind the truck is Payzulla Polat, who is a professional musician attending the Berklee School of Music and comes from the Uyghur city of Urumqi, which is in the northwest section of China. Polat says in the post that there...

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Kane's Donuts in Saugus May Be Expanding

A popular donut shop north of Boston might be getting ready to expand.Eater Boston is reporting (via Chowhound) that Kane's Donuts in Saugus is looking for folks to invest in or own new locations of their shop, with the store's website mentioning "plans for a regional rollout." The website has a contact form that allows people who are interested to give their information, with Kane's representatives getting back to them.Kane's first opened in Saugus in 1955, offering a variety of donuts as well as items such as danish, cupcakes, muffins, croissants,...

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Berkshire Farms Market Is Opening at Logan Airport in East Boston

A nonprofit organization that brings together a collection of food makers in the western part of the state (and New York) will be collaborating with a restaurant group to open a retail outlet at Logan Airport.A press release sent today indicates that Berkshire Farm & Table is working with Tastes on the Fly to open Berkshire Farms Market in the new Terminal B connector of the airport in East Boston. The 1,200-square-foot grab-and-go shop will offer a variety of food and drink item from businesses in and around the Berkshires, including...

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Ocean Club at Marina Bay in Quincy May Be Replaced by Luxury Homes

Last fall, we reported that a sprawling entertainment complex on the water just south of Boston had closed for the season early and that its exact status was unknown. Now we have more confirmation that it might never reopen--and could be replaced by a development that includes luxury housing.The Boston Globe is reporting that the Ocean Club at Marina Bay in Quincy may become the site of a new housing development called the Boardwalk Residences at Marina Bay, which would include what appears to be high-end apartments, commercial space, and possibly...

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New Apartment Building Slated to Be Constructed at Elephant Walk Site in Boston; Restaurant Considering Options

It looks like a new building that houses apartments may be constructed in the Fenway section of Boston where a French and Cambodian restaurant currently resides, and the exact status of the dining spot is unclear at this point in time.The Boston Business Journal is reporting that the Boston Redevelopment Authority will likely approve of the new apartment project on Beacon Street that would include the demolishing of the building where the Elephant Walk currently is. The article says that the restaurant has been offered a space in the new structure,...

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Update: Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe in Chelmsford Is Closing; Will Open New Location in Woburn

[Ed note: This article was updated on April 27 to reflect confirmation that the restaurant will open a new location in Woburn.]It looks like a highly-regarded Chinese dining spot north of Boston is closing, though it hopes to reopen in another location.A poster on the Chowhound site mentions that Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe in Chelmsford is losing its home, saying that the town is taking over the land along Route 110 in order to build affordable housing (this has been confirmed in an earlier article from the Chelmsford Patch). The poster says...

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