Yoki Express in Boston's Seaport District Has Closed;

A Japanese dining spot in Boston's waterfront area has shut down, and it looks like it will be replaced by another Japanese eatery.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Yoki Express in the Seaport District is no longer in business, with Happy Rice Sushi planning to open in its space. Yoki Express was known for its sushi burritos and poke bowls and had an ownership connection to Yoki Japanese Restaurant & Bar, which remains open in Medford; the menu for Happy Rice Sushi doesn't yet have a menu, simply saying "modern sushi."

Yoki Express first opened back in 2017.

The address for the now-closed Yoki Express (and upcoming Happy Rice Sushi) is 53 Boston Wharf Road, Boston, MA, 02210. The website for Happy Rice Sushi will be at https://ift.tt/r2dCqAF

(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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The Biltmore Bar & Grille in Newton Upper Falls to Reopen as The Biltmore Tavern on July 27

A longtime dining and drinking spot in the western suburbs of Boston that was a former speakeasy (and an industry haunt) is getting ready to open back up with new owners, a new look, and a slightly different name after shutting down earlier this year.

According to a Bluesky post from @jeremyk.bsky.social, The Biltmore Bar & Grille in Newton Upper Falls is planning to reopen on July 27 as The Biltmore Tavern, with an earlier Newton Beacon article mentioning that the reborn restaurant and bar has been taken over by the people behind Blue on Highland in Needham. The article states that the changes are "predominantly aesthetic" and that the offerings will be upscale tavern food including pizza, burgers, salads, and a number of local beer on tap.

The Biltmore Bar & Grille shuttered back in early February.

The address for The Biltmore Tavern is 1205 Chestnut Street, Newton, MA, 02464. Its website can be found at https://ift.tt/BoSGQhP

(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.)

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Nana's Green Tea Opens in the Back Bay of Boston

A bit more than a year ago, it was reported that a chain of cafes with roots in Japan would be expanding to a space in Boston, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According to an article from boston.com, Nana's Green Tea is now open in the Back Bay, moving into a subterranean space on Newbury Street between Dartmouth Street and Exeter Street. The new spot focuses in part on Matcha green tea options while also offering such items as Japanese curry, rice bowls, parfaits, and more.

Nana's Green Tea started out in Tokyo in 2001, with its first location arriving in the United States in 2018.

The address for Nana's Green Tea in the Back Bay is 175 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the chain is at https://ift.tt/9YqRnfx

[Earlier Article]
Nana's Green Tea Plans to Open in Boston's Back Bay

(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.)

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Aurora Market & Bakery in Boston's South End Has Closed

A South End food shop known for its Greek options has shut down.

According to publicist Christopher B. Haynes who posted about it within the South End Community Board Facebook group page, Aurora Market & Bakery on Tremont Street is no longer in operation, with a note out front thanking customers for their patronage while mentioning that Sunday was its last day in business. The market first opened in the early part of 2025, offering such items as avgolemono, falafel sandwiches, lamb souvlaki, Mediterranean wraps, baklava, and more.

The address for the now-closed Aurora Market & Bakery in the South End was 570 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118.

(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.)

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Pinsa Piazza Plans to Open in the Former Taranta Space in Boston's North End

Late last year, it looked like a new restaurant serving all-day breakfast and pizza was looking to open in the North End of Boston, and now it appears that the place may have a different name, though it isn't known if the exact concept will be the same.

According to a source, Pinsa Piazza is planning to open on Hanover Street in the former Taranta space, with a photo showing a sign mentioning that it will be featuring Roman pizza made via a 72-hour fermentation process. A check within the bizapedia.com website indicates that the upcoming spot has a connection to Dolvero LLC, which had been looking to open Maria Forno in that space (and at the time, it was noted that the name could just be a placeholder).

The address for the upcoming Pinsa Piazza in the North End is 210 Hanover Street, Boston, MA, 02113.

[Earlier Article]
Maria Forno May Be Opening in the Former Taranta Space in Boston's North End

(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.)

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Restaurant News for the Week Ending July 19, 2026

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between July 13, 2026, and July 19, 2026.

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All'Antico Vinaio Opens in Downtown Crossing
An award-winning group of sandwich shops with roots in Italy has expanded to a second location in Boston.
Full Story

Tre Monte Restaurant and Bar in the North End Is Closed
The Boston location of a pair of Italian restaurants is locked up and dark, and it isn't known what the future holds for the place.
Full Story

Party Favors in Brookline Has Closed
A decades-old bakery that was known for its cakes has shut down.
Full Story

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in the Back Bay Has Closed
It looks like a group of steakhouses has shuttered one of its Boston locations.
Full Story

Chickadee at the Innovation and Design Building Is Closing
An award-winning restaurant by the Boston waterfront is shutting down.
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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IHOP in Cambridge's Harvard Square Has Closed

Another Boston-area location of a chain of pancake houses has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, IHOP in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge has closed after being in business for approximately 20 years, joining another location in Quincy that shuttered a couple of years ago though it appears that that one will eventually reopen in a new, nearby location. A number of locations of the chain still remain in the Greater Boston area, including in Braintree, Brighton, Brockton, Dedham, Framingham, Norwood, Revere, Salem, Saugus, and Tewksbury.

The address for the now-closed IHOP in Harvard Square was 16 Eliot Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. The website for the chain is at https://ift.tt/fCL6p2P

(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 »