Jumbo Seafood to Open in Brookline

It looks like a Chinese restaurant in downtown Boston will be expanding to another space.

According to a poster (Geoff Wong) within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Jumbo Seafood is planning to open in Brookline, with an earlier Select Board page mentioning that the manager listed is Catherence Chan while the address indicates it will be moving into the former Xiang's Hunan restaurant space on Commonwealth Avenue by Boston University and the Boston line. Once it opens, the new location of Jumbo Seafood will join another on Hudson Street in Chinatown; another location of Jumbo had been in Newton Centre but it closed in 2022 around the time that Jumbo returned to its Chinatown space, taking over New Jumbo Seafood.

The address for the upcoming location of Jumbo Seafood in Brookline is 1032 Commonwealth Avenue, Brookline, MA, 02446.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Read more »

The Essex Restaurant and Rooftop Bar in South Boston Has Closed for the Foreseeable Future

A dining and drinking spot within a South Boston hotel has shut down operations, and its future appears to be in question.

According to an article from MassLive (via an Instagram post from the business), The Essex Restaurant and Rooftop Bar at the Cambria Hotel by the intersection of W Broadway and Dorchester Avenue has closed, with the Instagram post saying the following:

Thank you for a great summer at The Essex Rooftop! Unfortunately, we have been unable to obtain an entertainment license from the City due to ongoing opposition from the neighbors. Therefore we have decided to close all operations at The Cambria Hotel for the foreseeable future. We truly appreciate those who supported us.

The Essex debuted this spring, taking over the space where Six / West had previously been, and like that spot, The Essex included a 14th-floor rooftop bar with views of the city.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Read more »

Noah's BBQ Opens in Braintree

A new barbecue spot has opened south of Boston.

According to a source, Noah's BBQ is now open in Braintree, moving into a space (with its own entrance) at the South Shore Plaza. The new restaurant, which has an ownership connection to Birdies Hot Chicken in Brockton, Westwood, and Boston, offers such options as brisket, ribs, wings, pulled pork, sausage, and macaroni and cheese.

The Instagram page for Noah's BBQ can be found at https://ift.tt/apQC27Z

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Read more »

GrowlGrowl to Open in Boston's Downtown Crossing

A brand new Asian restaurant is making plans to open in the heart of Boston.

According to an article from What Now Boston, GrowlGrowl is going to be opening in Downtown Crossing, moving into a space on Winter Street near where it meets Tremont Street. The article mentions that the upcoming eatery could feature hot pot options with pan-Asian street food influences, with several soup bases possibly being offered.

If all goes well, GrowlGrowl may be opening in late October.

The address for the upcoming GrowlGrowl Hot Pot is 48 Winter Street, Boston, MA, 02108. Its website can be found at https://growlgrowl.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Read more »

Moona to Open Second Location in Cambridge

An Eastern Mediterranean restaurant in Cambridge is going to be joined by a second location not too far away.

According to an article from boston.com, Moona on Hampshire Street in Inman Square is going to expand to another space, with this one being on Main Street between Central Square and Inman Square. The article mentions that owner Mohamad El Zein and executive chef Scott Ryan have plans to make the new place a cafe to start the day while at night it will be a restaurant serving "Levantine-inspired" dinner items, and the space will be larger than its original Inman Square location. If all goes well, the new location of Moona will open later this year.

The Inman Square location of Moona first opened in the fall of 2016.

The address for the upcoming second location of Moona is 750 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139. The website for Moona is at https://ift.tt/klYMuXg

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Read more »

Restaurant News for the Week Ending September 28, 2025

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between September 22, 2025, and September 28, 2025.

---

Sembol Mediterranean Restaurant to Open in the Former Edamame Steakhouse Space in Watertown
A new restaurant that features Turkish fare is planning to open just west of Boston.
Full Story

JJ Brannelly's in Roslindale Has Reopened
A neighborhood bar that closed during the pandemic--and which first opened nearly 90 years ago--is up and running once again.
Full Story

La Tavernetta by Mida Plans to Open in East Boston
It looks like an award-winning local chef may be debuting a brand new concept.
Full Story

Winch & Pulley Brewing Company to Open Taproom and Beer Garden in Framingham
A new spot for beer lovers is on its way to a space west of Boston.
Full Story

Arwa Yemeni Coffee to Open in Brookline's Coolidge Corner
A small group of Middle Eastern coffee shops will be expanding locally, with a new Boston-area location on the way.
Full Story

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

 

Read more »

Sembol Mediterranean Restaurant to Open in the Former Edamame Steakhouse Space in Watertown

A new restaurant that features Turkish fare is planning to open just west of Boston.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Sembol Mediterranean Restaurant is looking to open in Watertown, moving into the space on Watertown Street that had been home to Edamame Steakhouse. A What Now Boston article mentions that the upcoming dining spot will apparently feature such options as freshly made breads, house-made mezze, kebabs, döner, and more.

No opening date has been given as of yet for Sembol as it is early in the permitting process, but as soon as we hear more, we will post an update here.

The address for the upcoming Sembol Mediterranean Restaurant is 171 Watertown Street, Watertown, MA, 02472. Its Instagram page is at https://ift.tt/f2u5sne

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

---

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

---

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Read more »