Rabia's Dolce Fumo in Boston's North End Has Closed

A North End restaurant that was known in part for its seafood has shut down.

According to a source, Rabia's Dolce Fumo on Salem Street is no longer in business, with a Facebook post from the dining spot saying the following:

2,034 days in a chapter we’ll never forget. From our opening day on December 2, 2019, three months before the official declaration of the nation’s pandemic, to our closing night on June 26, 2025, the past five years were nothing short of a wild ride. From our hard working and dedicated team, to our patrons who honored us by celebrating life’s important moments with us, and to our loyal families and friends who supported us the whole way, we are FOREVER GRATEFUL. It was time to close this chapter and for us to explore new endeavors (stay tuned).

Rabia's offered such dishes as clam chowder, oysters, antipasto, steamed mussels, lobster rolls, linguini with clams, frutti di mare, steamed lobsters, fettuccine carbonara, bolognese, and veal parmigiana.

The address for the now-closed Rabia's Dolce Fumo was 73 Salem Street, Boston, MA, 02113.

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

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

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Restaurant News for the Week Ending June 29, 2025

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between June 23, 2025, and June 29, 2025.

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Noodle Lab Reopens at Boston Public Market
A noodle spot in downtown Boston has very quietly opened back up.
Full Story

Vita Bella Ristorante in Essex Has Closed
An Italian restaurant on the North Shore has closed its doors.
Full Story

Drop Zone Brewery and Taproom in Winthrop Has Closed
A brewery just north of Boston has shut down.
Full Story

Mike & Patty's to Open in Lexington
The people behind a local group of breakfast places and sandwich shops will be opening a new location in the northwest suburbs of Boston.
Full Story

Park City Opens in South Boston
A new outdoor dining and drinking spot with a connection to a local restaurant group is up and running.
Full Story

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

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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.)

 

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Cava Opens in Beverly

A Washington, D.C.-based chain of fast-casual Mediterranean spots has opened yet another location in the Greater Boston area, with this one being its first on the North Shore.

According to its website, Cava is now open in Beverly, moving into a space in the North Beverly Plaza on Dodge Street and offering such options as bowls, pitas, salads, and more. The new outlet joins others in Boston, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Dedham, Framingham, Hanover, Hingham, Mansfield, and North Andover, and new locations are being planned for Braintree, Burlington, and Quincy as well.

The address for the new location of Cava in Beverly is 47 Dodge Street, Beverly, MA, 01915. The website for all locations is at https://cava.com/

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

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

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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 »

Au Chocolat in Downtown Boston Is Closing

A chocolate shop in the heart of Boston is shutting down.

According to a Bluesky post from Adam of @conciergeboston.bsky.social, Au Chocolat is planning to close its doors today, with an email sent from Adam indicating that the owner is retiring. The High Street shop is known for its Belgian chocolates (including Neuhaus chocolates) along with a variety of candies and other sweet treats and desserts. 

The address for Au Chocolat is 35 High Street, Boston, MA, 02110. Its website can be found at https://treats.net/

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

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

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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 »

Noodle Lab Reopens at Boston Public Market

 A noodle spot in downtown Boston has very quietly opened back up.

According to a source, Noodle Lab is open once again at Boston Public Market, with a licensing board page within the city's website confirming this while a Reddit thread mentions that it reopened about a week ago. The business, which debuted in 2015 with the opening of the marketplace, offers ramen dishes, rice bowls, and such small bites as gyoza, bao, and wontons.

The website for Noodle Lab can be found at https://ift.tt/x4Ougmh

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

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

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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 »

Vita Bella Ristorante in Essex Has Closed

An Italian restaurant on the North Shore has closed its doors.

According to a Facebook thread within the Essex, MA--Notices and Issues Facebook group page, Vita Bella Ristorante is no longer in business, with an auction page confirming this, saying "Vita Bella Ristorante Restaurant Auction" and "Restaurant closing down permanently" while showing the location of the auction as the address of the dining spot. (A check on its website indicates that it has been taken down, as has its Facebook page.) Vita Bella first opened in the summer of 2023, taking over the space where Windward Grille had previously been.

The address for the now-closed Vita Bella Ristorante was 109 Eastern Avenue (Route 133), Essex, MA, 01929.

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

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

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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 »

Drop Zone Brewery and Taproom in Winthrop Has Closed

A brewery just north of Boston has closed its doors.

According to a Bluesky post from @jeremyk.bsky.social, Drop Zone Brewery and Taproom in Winthrop is no longer in business, with the website for the brewery confirming this, saying the following:

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to the loyal patrons, our amazing community, and the many friends who made this adventure unforgettable. You filled our taproom with laughter, conversation, and support from day one — and we are truly grateful for every pint poured, every trivia night, every festival, and every moment shared. Thank you for being part of the Drop Zone family. We couldn't have done it without you. Cheers to the next chapter — wherever it may lead.

Drop Zone first opened in June of 2022, being a Veteran-owned business that featured a variety of beers along with some food options at its taproom.

The address for the now-closed Drop Zone Brewery and Taproom was 6 Michael's Mall, Winthrop, MA, 02152.

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

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

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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 »