Leomatto Plans to Open in Boston's Financial District

It looks like two well-known people within the Boston restaurant scene will be teaming up to open a new dining spot in the heart of the city.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, Colin Lynch and Chris Jamison are working together to open Leomatto in the Financial District in what is described as a "sprawling, nomadic Italian restaurant inspired by Sicily and culinary influences of Southern Europe and North Africa." Lynch, who is behind the soon-to-close Bar Mezzana, Shore Leave, and No Relation in the South End, and Jamison, whose COJE Management Group is known for such spots as Yvonne's, Ruka, Coquette, Caveau, My Girl, Mariel, Lolita, Cocorico, The Zebra Room, and Mr. H, are looking to open the restaurant within the historic bank building at 10 Post Office Square, occupying the upper two floors and having a capacity of 450 people, and they are also planning to open a private club in the basement called the NoX (a ground-level cafe appears to be in the works as well).

Bar Mezzana, Shore Leave, and No Relation all plan to shutter on January 1.

(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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Daily Provisions Opens in the Back Bay of Boston

Several months ago, it was reported that the person behind a NYC-based restaurant group was planning to open another Boston-area location of one of his dining spots, and now we have learned that it is up and running.

According to a press release, Daily Provisions is now open in Boston's Back Bay, moving into the space on Boylston Street on the eastern edge of Copley Square that had once been home to a location of Pret A Manger. The new location is an all-day cafe that offers such options as breakfast and lunch sandwiches, crullers, soups and salads, and roast chicken, and it joins others locally in Cambridge's Harvard Square and Boston's Seaport District.

Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group is behind Daily Provisions, which got its start in Manhattan in 2017. 

The address for the new location of Daily Provisions in the Back Bay is 501 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for all locations is at https://ift.tt/RuPLIDi

[Earlier Article]
Daily Provisions Plans to Open New Location 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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Sichuan Ember to Open in Newton Highlands

A new Chinese restaurant is getting ready to debut in the western suburbs of Boston.

According to an article from What Now Boston (via a post within the Newton Real Estate Forum Facebook group), Sichuan Ember is looking to open this month in Newton Highlands, moving into the space on Beacon Street that had most recently been home to Scafidi Bros. Market & Deli. What Now Boston mentions that the upcoming dining spot hopes to open around the middle of this month, and it will have seating for up to 40 diners while being open for lunch and dinner. A menu for Sichuan Ember has not been posted as of yet, nor does the business have any online presence; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

The address for Sichuan Ember is 1134-1136 Beacon Street, Newton Highlands, MA, 02461.

(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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Klin Thai to Further Expand, Opening Locations in Burlington and Watertown

It looks like a pair of Thai restaurants will soon be joined by two more locations.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Klin Thai is planning to open restaurants in Burlington and Watertown, with the website for the business showing both of them in their locations page, with the two listings simply saying "coming soon." Once they debut, the new locations will join others in West Roxbury and Haverhill, with both of those opening over the past year or so.

The website for Klin Thai can be found at https://klinthai.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.)

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Future of the Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plain in Question

Only a few days after news broke that a popular local music club was planning to close, it looks like yet another well-known music spot has an uncertain future.

According to an article from The Boston Globe, the Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plan faces possible closure due to an increase in rent unless a new owner can be found. The article states that Midway owner Jay Balerna is seeking new ownership because the new owner of the Washington Street building is looking to double the rent, with Balerna holding out hope for a solution, saying that "A lot of people are interested in having the place keep going, and I am as well" while also mentioning that the owner of the building is willing to hold off on the rent increase until this time next year. The Midway Cafe has been in operation for nearly 40 years, bringing in countless local music acts while also hosting a variety of theme nights.

As reported over the weekend, the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge is slated to close next May, while a number of other music clubs have also shut down over the past several years, including The C Note in Hull, Rockwood in the Fenway, Wonder Bar in Allston, Atwoods Tavern in Cambridge, and Thunder Road in Somerville.

The address for the Midway Cafe is 3496 Washington St, Boston, MA 02130. Its website can be found at https://midwaycafe.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.)

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Banyan Bar + Refuge in Boston's South End Has Closed

Last month, it was reported that the person behind a local restaurant and hospitality group was planning to take one of her brands national while also selling one of her other businesses (which has remained closed after a 2005 fire), and now we have learned that that place has permanently shuttered.

According to an Instagram post, Banyan Bar + Refuge in the South End of Boston will not be reopening, with the post from Rebecca Roth Gullo of the Gallows Group saying the following:

 I've called the South End home since 2004. It's where I got married, where I'm raising our daughters, and where I opened The Gallows, Banyan Bar + Refuge, and Blackbird Doughnuts. I've built my life here, and I can't imagine living anywhere else. So it's bittersweet to announce that Banyan will not reopen. The time has come for us to focus all of our time and energy on Blackbird's growth....And while Banyan's chapter is coming to a close, I'm fortunate to continue working alongside two people who helped make it all happen. Elena remains at the helm of it all. And Jimmy? Yup. He's right by our side. I remain incredibly optimistic about Boston's restaurant industry and its future....Thank you for being part of Banyan's story.

As reported in October, Gullo and the Gallows Group are seeking investment in Blackbird Doughnuts, with the plan being to expand to Maine and New Hampshire initially, then to "every major city." At the time, the plan was to try to sell Banyan Bar + Refuge (which was an Asian gastropub) with the hope being to transfer the business to a local restaurant person.

The address for Banyan Bar + Refuge was 553 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02116.

[Earlier Article]
Blackbird Doughnuts Looking to Expand Nationally; Banyan Bar + Refuge Is Being Sold

(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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Temazcal Tequila Cantina, Jack's Coal Fired Pizza in Burlington Have Both Closed

A Mexican restaurant and an adjacent pizza spot in the northern suburbs of Boston have both closed.

According to a source, Temazcal Tequila Cantina and Jack's Coal Fired Pizza in Burlington are no longer in business, with a check on the website for Temazcal indicating that the Wall Street dining spot has indeed been removed from the locations page, while a phone call placed to Jack's (which is also on Wall Street) confirms that it has shuttered as well. It does appear that locations of Temazcal in Dedham and Lynnfield remain in operation. (Another location of Temazcal in Framingham closed several weeks ago.)

The Boston-based hospitality company Rebel Restaurants is behind Temazcal, and it also operated Jack's; Tony C's in Burlington, Peabody, and Somerville are also part of the group.

The address for Temazcal Tequila Cantina and Jack's Coal Fired Pizza in Burlington was 2 Wall Street, Burlington, MA, 01803. The website for the other locations of Temazcal  is at https://ift.tt/Z76F3l2

(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 »