February 2013 Openings and Closings

[MC Slim JB]

Looks like Harpoon Brewery's big-assed (300-seat) beer hall in the Seaport is set to open Feb 1. That's a bit later than Eater Boston originally projected a couple of months ago: http://boston.eater.com/archives/2012/11/14/sneak-peek-of-the-harpoon-brewery-beer-hall.php

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[MC Slim JB]

Shanti #2 opens in Rozzie tomorrow, in the old Cafe Rialto space.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[devilham]

Yae!!!! Can't wait, Rozzie could use a good indian joint

[navigator4]

Staniford Cafe on Staniford St. in Boston is closed.

[hiddenboston]

Does it look like Staniford has closed for good? A recent message on their Facebook page asks when they will be reopening.

[MC Slim JB]

Tavern Road in Fort Point (the old Blue Wave space) is officially open.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[hiddenboston]

Yup, just got a PR on their opening a few minutes ago. Sounds like they may have had a soft opening over the weekend for friends and family.

[Gabatta]

Looking forward to trying that one out. Chef DiBiccari is talented in the kitchen and seems genuinely passionate about having a place of his own.

[devilham]

He is very passionite about food, always has been. I knew Louis when he was a stock boy at Barsamian's Market in Cambridge. He was always hanging back in the kitchen telling us cooks that he wanted to be a chef (we're talking like 18 or so years ago here!) and asking questions and trying to get back there. Now I am out of the cooking game (professionally that is), but he really made it happen, and I just don't think you get there without having that passion and drive, pretty excited for the guy, and can't wait to try it out!

[uallach]

I just noticed that Spice & Rice in Inman Square is closed. I'm curious to see what will go in there next, since that place was always kind of mediocre. Hopefully not another $30 entree place...

[ChocolateMilkshake]

Hit Wicket, a "Cricket-themed" restaurant is slated to replace it.
http://boston.eater.com/archives/2013...

[emannths]

From Pan-Asian to Pan-World (Sri Lankan and New Zealand cuisine under one roof)? Wow!

Though I did initially think a Cricket restaurant might also have grasshoppers...

[Matt H]

F'n awesome. Hope this turns out as great as it sounds.

[jgg13]

Seabra grocery on somerville ave is closed

[galangatron]

oyá cuban cafe on exchange street in malden is officially open

[Boston_Otter]

A bit northward, but unexpectedly, and sadly, Cafe Polonia in Salem closed on Feb. 12. The owners said that it'd been doing great business but 'family matters' forced them to sell the restaurant. The new owners say they're going to keep some of the favorite dishes but mostly it'll be a new concept.

[bear]

This is more appropriate for March, but the Globe is reporting that Greg Coughlin, owner of Magoun's in Somerville, is opening Cooper House Tavern in the old Piccadilly Pub space on Winter St. in Waltham. He hopes to be open by the middle of next month.

Good news indeed for us locals!

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regi...

[Allstonian]

Swissbäkers' Allston bakery/cafe is FINALLY scheduled to open this month - don't know if they'll be doing any kind of soft opening beforehand, but the grand opening event will be Thursday, February 28.
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/a...

[Swankalicious]

Grub St. reports that Bon Me opens next week, and that Sichuan Dumpling in Arlington opens next week as well.

[devilham]

I just noticed a Uburger where Red Sky used to be...not sure when that popped up there!

[MABMAQ]

stockyard in Brighton just posted in FB that they officially open tonight at 4:30PM.

[Jenny Ondioline]

I wish them luck. Before the old iteration started slipping, I had a strong fondness for it because it reminded me of the family steakhouses of my youth. I hope the new version maintains that charm.

ETA: And looking at the new menu, I think I'm officially intrigued: pretty much everything you'd want from an old-school steakhouse -- shrimp cocktail, meat, a la carte sides including creamed spinach, basic desserts -- and at popular prices. $28 seems reasonable for a 14-ox NY Strip, my own steak of choice. I wanna check this out soon!

But not tonight. We have plans.

[kimfair1]

We live right around the corner, and used to enjoy the Stockyard for what it was. The new menus look good, but I'm sad that they've gone to the steak house design of ala carte sides. The old Stockyard included a small salad and choice of potato and veg included in the price. I'll be checking them out soon.

[Snowflake]

Aria has opened in the old Marco space on Hanover.

[mvi]

Boston Magazine is reporting that Radius is for sale.

[hotoynoodle]

no surprise there, eh? since esti parsons and christopher meyers parted ways with schlow he can't seem to manage his boston proper fine dining locations all that well.

[MC Slim JB]

I thought Radius was terrific back in the days when Schlow was in the kitchen nearly every night, but he started expanding, and the slide began. Its bar program took forever to get out of the 1990s, and my last dinner there was a $400 fiasco.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[MC Slim JB]

And now Schlow is saying, "Radius is not for sale, we still have the option to extend our lease, we're doing great!"

He has to say those things, of course.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[ChickenBrocandZiti]

Il Panino Express, recently closed in the North End, has reemerged in the new building by the Jackson Sq. train station. It takes over for a deli/diner type place that I never got around to trying.

[mkfisher]

Really? I had it from a fairly good source that they were going in the old Nick's Famous Deli space. I wonder if that's not happening? 2 locations?

[ChickenBrocandZiti]

Positively. Wife and I got subs last week. It was kinda bare bones as they'd only been open for a week but the subs seemed consistent with what I remember from the North End spot.

[catsmeow]

Great to hear! I loved that place for quick and good take out. Now where is Jackson Sq?

[ChickenBrocandZiti]

Jamaica Plain. Odd spot for it to pop up but I'm really happy it did.

[catsmeow]

I knew that Jackson Sq but figured there must be another Jackson Sq in the North End. That's great news! I drive through there n my way home 2-3 times/week!

[MC Slim JB]

The newish building on Centre St near Lamartine Street, or the new-new building still under construction at Centre St and Columbus Ave? I suppose it must be the former, but I drive by there pretty often and don't remember the prior deli/diner space.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[ChickenBrocandZiti]

The Newish building not the one currently under construction.

[hiddenboston]

This is actually not Il Panino Express, but a new "member" of the Il Panino family. It's called Il Panino Cafe and Grill, and has both Il Panino items and items from Gail's.

[LauraBear]

Toscano's website says Harvard Sq is opening "winter" and elsewhere "january 2013." Still paper on the windows but seems closer to done... sign certainly is big enough.

[cambridgedoctpr]

this is an outpost of the beacon hill restaurant, i assume.

[MC Slim JB]

It is, and not to be confused with the (far superior, in my mind) Fenway restaurant Trattoria Toscana.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[Gabatta]

http://boston.eater.com/archives/2013...

It won't be in Feb, but I was beginning to think this space would be vacant for ever.

[LauraBear]

I agree. It would be great to have a good restaurant in that location. I so miss the Chili's ;-)

[MC Slim JB]

On, then off, then on again Forest Hills restaurant Tonic appears to be off again, this time for good, says Eater Boston.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[mvi]

Northendwaterfront.com reports that Ristorante Quattro is replacing Il Panino Express on Hanover Street. Not too many details but they will serve beer and wine and have table service.

[Berheenia]

Per Thrillist

Happy's Is Out, Barrio Cantina Is In- Opens tomorrow at 5p

[maillard]

I'm interested to see how this goes. I didn't think the problem with Happy's was the type of cuisine. There isn't really anywhere else in the immediate vicinity doing that sort of comfort food thing. The problem was kind of everything else. The menu was super obnoxious, the space was stressful to be in (too loud, too much going on), and the food was just not that great. Or maybe it just couldn't live up to the stupid names, Your Brain Will Definitely Fall Out of Your Head French Fries or whatever.

[mvi]

The Fort Points Arts people are reporting via the Herald that a new pizza place is set to open this summer. Called Pastoral, it will be at 345 Congress. Sounds like the chef has done a lot with the Todd English franchise, among other things.

In addition to Ming Tsai's new place, the Herald mentions Tavern Road ("high energy, modern") opening this month. Coming along- when? - are a French bistro called Bastille Kitchen and Internal Matter, a wine bar and restaurant.

Lots of new choices for people who live and work in the area.

[elenacampana]

Just had a quick lunch at the Blue Dragon - very nice! Simple tasty menu, reasonable prices, and absolutely packed at 11:45. The teriyaki salmon salad was excellent, with plenty of julienned vegetables and edamame. Ming Tsai was there, and things were running like clockwork. Most of what was being carried past me to other lucky tables was the fish'n'chips, which looked just amazing to this low-carb-luncher...

[Marc B]

Interesting. I went for lunch last Friday with a friend and we were both singularly unimpressed. We each had one of the Bahn Mi (chicken and pork) and they were just not very good. The bread was too chewy, the meat not especially flavorful, and the "spicy sauce" almost completely lacking in spice. Honestly, the best thing about the dish was the slaw, which had some nice complexity to it. The place was jammed, however. I'm interested to hear what other folks think. Maybe we ordered poorly...

[CookieLee]

Stockyard restaurant website says the "Grand Opening" is the 2nd week of Feb.

[mkfisher]

Not February related, but more of an observation while walking the dog last night: The inside of Think Tank was lit up like a Christmas tree yesterday. They must have had every light in the place on. There's still no movement inside from what I can tell. Seems so strange that it's been sitting there like that for months.

[justbeingpolite]

Waiting for two openings in Lowell: China Star on Middlesex St. supposed to have dim sum, and more authentic dishes than their other location, and the new Bon Chon on Westford St.

[Swankalicious]

Grub Street reports that Blue Dragon will open on Feb 8.
A friend tells me Boston Chops is looking at an early Feb opening date.

[mkfisher]

Last night I noticed a new coffee place at the intersection of New Chardon and Congress. The name escapes me at the moment.

[Gordough]

That's the one they built at the site of the former Mobil gas station. It looks so out of place. I think it's called Cuppacoffee or some similarly terrible name.

[MC Slim JB]

Yep, Cuppacoffee, 1 Merrimac Street. The Australian owner(s) will also serve Oz-style meat pies.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[hiddenboston]

Cuppacoffee won't be open until late February or early March, according to their Facebook page.

[tatsu]

Great I can order a flat white and the barista will understand.

[FinnFPM]

You can, of course, already experience this at Flat Black. It should be interesting to see if there's any cross-downtown rivalry between the two places.

[Gordough]

I had the Flat White recently at Flat Black on Broad Street. It was excellent. I only wish it was closer to my office.

[southie_chick]

Don't know if this any closer Gordough, but there's a 2nd Flat Blacks on Franklin Street next to Le Meridian hotel / across the street from Brandy Pete's. They also serve Flat Black coffee at Freshii on Franklin Street, but not sure if they do Flat Whites there.

[Gordough]

That is closer! I had no idea. I am on Federal Street. I will check out the Franklin St location. Thank you southie_chick!

[southie_chick]

Glad I could help Gordough! I had a vanilla cinamon late today - YUM! : ) It's a funky revolving corner door to get into the building (I think it's either 50 or 60 Franklin Street).

[Gordough]

Oh don't you worry, I have already been and found it after a few seconds of confusion and walking past it. My flat white was every bit as good as the Broad St. location. Unfortunately, I think it is only 2-3 min closer for me. But I remain thankful for the heads up especially in the cold weather!

[MC Slim JB]

The Flat Black at 50 Broad is an excellent little coffee joint. I'll have to try a flat white there.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com:

[FinnFPM]

They're excellent.

[mkfisher]

I saw somewhere (Eater, maybe?) that Bon Me is a few weeks out.

[mkfisher]

They've taken the paper off the windows at Bon Me, so you can see the entire space. It's still partly unfinished, but the design reminds me of Flour (only smaller)

[MC Slim JB]

Bon Me brick-and-mortar to open Feb 22, says Grub Street.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[mkfisher]

Bon Me had a soft opening at some point last week. We did take out on Tuesday evening. It was the same menu as the truck. I'm hoping they add more options at some point. It does look like they'll be open on the weekends, which is plus for those of us that live right nearby.

[jgg13]

Is there space to sit down in there or is it strictly takeout?

[mkfisher]

There's space to sit. Window counter probably seats about 6. Tables probably seat another 8-10

[Gabatta]

Bon Me was doing a brisk business at lunch yesterday. The noodle salad was on par with the truck (excellent). They were steadily busy, but the assembly line was cranking out orders in a timely fashion. They were talking of adding more "special" protein options, but keeping the menu largely as is. I think this is a good call, it keeps things efficient.

[meeps2002]

Went to the new Harpoon Beer Hall last night as part of Friends of Harpoon. Very impressive space. The pretzels were served warm, made with their beer (even boiled in IPA). The serve them with 2 dipping sauces/mustards...both very nice.

In addition, they had about 12 different beers on tap.

They will be officially open for business as MC Slim stated, February 1st.

Cheers!

[MC Slim JB]

Ming Tsai's Blue Dragon in the Seaport (technically Fort Point, I guess) is set to open near Feb 8, says Eater, quoting the restaurant's Twitter feed.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[mats77]

Sully's on Castle Island opens February 23rd!