French Quarter in Downtown Boston Has Closed

A restaurant in the heart of Boston that featured traditional New Orleans dishes has shut down.

According to multiple sources, French Quarter on Washington Street is no longer in business, with an Instagram post from the dining spot saying the following:

To our guests, thank you for walking through our doors, celebrating with us, and making French Quarter part of your nights in Boston. You gave this restaurant its life and its meaning. To our staff, past and present, thank you for the care, hard work, humor, patience, and heart you gave to this place. French Quarter was never just the room or the menu. It was the people who made it feel alive....we are deeply grateful for every guest, every team member, and every memory made here. It has been an honor to serve you.

French Quarter first opened in downtown Boston six years ago, moving into the space where a location of Salvatore's had once been; its menu offered such options as red beans and rice, gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp and grits, crawfish etouffee, cornbread, and more.

The address for the now-closed French Quarter was 545 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02111.

(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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Pizza Roma in Watertown Has Closed; Bougie Pizza Co. to Replace It

A suburban pizzeria known for its thin-crust and Sicilian pizza options has closed, and it looks like a new pizza spot is moving into its space.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Pizza Roma in Watertown is no longer in business, with a photo showing a sign out front at the Waverley Avenue spot indicating that Bougie Pizza Co. will be coming soon to the space. No information has been given as to why Pizza Roma shut down, nor is it known what kind of pizza (and other food) Bougie Pizza Co. might offer, so keep checking back for updates.

The address for the now-closed Pizza Roma (and upcoming Bougie Pizza Co.) is 212 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA, 02472.

(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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Dario's Ristorante Opens in Concord

Two years ago, it was reported that the people behind an Italian restaurant in north-central Massachusetts would be opening a second location in the western suburbs of Boston, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According to a source, Dario's Ristorante is now open in Concord, and as mentioned here in an earlier article, it has moved into the space in Concord Depot that had previously been home to Chang An. Also as mentioned earlier, the restaurant joins another location in Fitchburg and it has an ownership connection to Bandoleros Mexican Grill, which has a location in Concord as well as in Devens and Andover, along with Tacos Tequila Mexican Cocina in Fitchburg.

The address for the new location of Dario's Ristorante in Concord is 10 Concord Crossing, Concord, MA, 01742. The website for Dario's is at https://ift.tt/jOXbZsI

[Earlier Article]
Dario's Ristorante in Fitchburg is Expanding, Opening a Second Location in Concord

(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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7th Street Burger to Open Locations in Cambridge's Harvard Square and Saugus

A growing group of burger spots with roots in New York City will be opening at least two more Boston-area locations.

According to their website, 7th Street Burger is planning to open in Cambridge's Harvard Square and Saugus, with the former being at 37 Brattle Street and the latter being at 880 Broadway (Route 1). Once they are up and running, they will join two existing locations in the Back Bay and South Boston, and expect to see smash burgers at the two restaurants.

7th Street Burger first started out in the East Village of Manhattan in 2021. Its website can be found at https://ift.tt/LHUctRn

(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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Simon's Coffee Shop in Cambridge Is Closing; Plans Are in the Works to Reopen in a New Space

A longtime coffee shop in Cambridge is shutting down, though it looks like the owner has plans to move to a space nearby.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Simon's Coffee Shop is closing today, with a note on its Instagram page indicating that they are looking to reopen in a space across the street. A Cambridge Day article mentions that owner Simon Yu is planning to move from 1736 Massachusetts Avenue to 1741 Massachusetts Avenue, though an agreement on the new space has not been finalized as of yet. (The article mentions that the current space for Simon's is going to be torn down as a new mixed-use development is slated to be built there.)

Simon's Coffee Shop has been in business for 23 years, offering coffee, tea, sandwiches, and more.

(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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Plans for Tower in Somerville's Davis Square Have Fallen Through

A controversial development plan in Somerville that would have affected at least a couple of dining/drinking spots will not be happening after all.

An article in the Boston Business Journal states that the tower that was proposed for the heart of Davis Square will not be proceeding, with a Boston Globe article mentioning that Andrew Miller, who is chief executive of commercial and residential real estate developer Copper Mill, indicates that the negative reception from city leadership led to the decision to not move ahead with the development. The proposed 500-unit tower, which would have been as high as 26 stories, would have been built where such businesses as The Burren and Dragon Pizza reside (and both of which reportedly would have both been able to move back into the block once the tower was completed).

The plans for the Davis Square development had been in the works for a number of years and was a hot-button issue for residents of the neighborhood and beyond.

(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 August 30, 2026

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between August 24, 2026, and August 30, 2026.

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NU Kitchen in Somerville Has Closed
A trio of cafes known for their healthy options is back down to two, as they have closed their sole Boston-area location.
Full Story

Leonardo's Bar Ristorante to Open in West Roxbury
A new Italian restaurant is on its way to a Boston neighborhood, and it has a family connection to a familiar name.
Full Story

2nd Street Cafe in East Cambridge Is Closed; Exact Status Unknown
A longtime favorite for breakfast and lunch is locked up and dark, and it isn't known whether the place will reopen.
Full Story

The Union Oyster House May Be Going Through an Ownership Change
It looks like one of Boston's best-known restaurants may be getting a new owner.
Full Story

The Sports Bra to Open in Boston's Financial District
A bar with roots in the Pacific Northwest will be expanding to downtown Boston.
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.)

Read more »