Shinjuku Station to Open in Allston

A growing group of revolving sushi bars will be expanding into the local area, with a location coming to a Boston neighborhood.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Shinjuku Station is planning to open in Allston, moving into the space on Brighton Avenue that had been home to a location of YAS Chicken. The website for the business mentions that its restaurants feature a revolving sushi belt and app-based ordering system, with "bold, playful visuals and tech-driven dining designed to make each visit feel fresh, exciting, and new."

Shinjuku Station has a handful of locations mostly on the East Coast with more on the way, though at this point in time, this appears to be the only outlet coming to the Greater Boston area.

The address for the upcoming Shinjuku Station in Allston is 128 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134. The website for all locations is at https://ift.tt/GQNdC8F

(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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Clover Is Returning; Boston and Cambridge Locations to Reopen Next Week

Last week, it was announced that a local restaurant chain featuring vegetarian fare was ceasing operations. Now we have learned that this will not be the case after all.

According to an email from the business, Clover is going to be reopening only a few days after shutting down late last week. The email says the following:

...we're now able to announce some shocking news... CLOVER WILL CONTINUE. We didn't plan this. We couldn't have. And we're still figuring it out—but it's true! We will not continue as a shell of ourselves, or someone else's concept grafted onto our leases. We will continue as the experience that we have all built together—the concept that moved so many to raise their voices last week. We will continue to change with the seasons, support local farmers, create local jobs, and foster community.

The email does mention that "This won't be without some big changes," saying that they will be closed for the rest of the week as they need to regroup. Starting on Tuesday, June 9, they will reopen their Boston and Cambridge locations for lunch and "onward" and breakfast service will return the following day.

More updates on the return of Clover will be coming, so stay tuned for updates.

[Earlier Article]
Clover to Cease Operations

(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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Baba Shawarma May Be Opening in the Former Haymarket Pizza Space in Boston

A Middle Eastern dining spot may be coming to downtown Boston, and it would apparently be taking over the space where a decades-old pizzeria had once been.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, Baba Shawarma is looking to open on Blackstone Street, with the address indicating that it would be moving into the former Haymarket Pizza space. The notice hints that the proposed place may be focusing on takeout, as no seating capacity has been given, while the description says that it would have 870 square feet of space with one room, a kitchen in the back, and storage in the basement.

Haymarket Pizza closed in 2021 after being in business since the 1960s.

The address for the proposed Baba Shawarma is 106 Blackstone Street, Boston, MA 02109.

(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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First Watch Plans to Open in Dedham and Swampscott

A Florida-based chain of breakfast and lunch spots is further expanding into the local area, with two new ones planned for the suburbs of Boston.

According to a source, First Watch is looking to open in Dedham, with an earlier Patch article confirming this while also saying that another location is on its way to Swampscott as well. Our source tells us that the Dedham location will be coming to Dedham Plaza on Providence Highway while the Patch article indicates that the Swampscott outlet will be coming to Vinnin Square. The news of these two locations planning to open in the region come on the heels of news published here last month of a Woburn location also being in the works, with all three joining existing locations in the Back Bay of Boston and Hanover (another in Attleboro is also on its way).

First Watch was established in Pacific Grove, CA, in 1983, moving its headquarters to Bradenton, FL, three years later. Its website can be found at https://firstwatch.com/

[Earlier Article]
First Watch May Be Opening in the Former On the Border Space in Woburn

(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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Gori & Co. Plans to Open in Jamaica Plain

It looks like a Japanese shaved ice spot could be coming to a Boston neighborhood.

According to a message sent from Adam Gaffin of Universal Hub, Gori & Co. is planning to open in Jamaica Plain, with a Jamaica Plain News article stating that it will be going into the space on Centre Street that had been home to Bluefin, and before that, Cacao. A NuMarket page mentions the following about the place:

As a cafe dedicated to everything we love about kakigori, we'll highlight traditional and global flavors while experimenting with our own. Kakigori-style shaved ice, along with small bites such as onigiri and spam musubi.

The address for the upcoming Gori & Co. is 660B Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130.

(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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Tipsy Scoop to Open in Boston's South End

A group of boozy ice cream shops with roots in New York City will soon be on its way to Boston.

According to a poster within the South End Community Board Facebook group page, Tipsy Scoop is planning to open on Dartmouth Street, with the website for the business saying, "Boston, get ready to chill responsibly! Tipsy Scoop — the original liquor-infused ice cream brand — is bringing its signature blend of booze and dessert to Beantown!" Once it opens, the new South End location will join others in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, along with outlets in other parts of the country along with the Bahamas.

The Tipsy Scoop website mentions that it infuses traditional ice cream flavors with different liquors, with a few options including vanilla bean bourbon, spiked hazelnut coffee, cake batter vodka martini, and tequila chocolate, while also offering alcohol-free ice creams as well.

The address for the upcoming Tipsy Scoop in the South End is 59 Dartmouth Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The website for the business is at https://tipsyscoop.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 »

Lulu Green Opens in Cambridge's Kendall Square

A South Boston dining spot known for its vegan fare has expanded to Cambridge.

According to a press release, Lulu Green is now open in Kendall Square, moving into a space on W Kendall Street just off Third Street on the northern edge of the square. The new location, which includes a large covered patio, joins another on W Broadway in Southie, being an all-day cafe that offers such options as pastries, coffee, and smoothies, along with lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, with beer, wine, cocktails, and mocktails also served.

The address for the new location of Lulu Green in Kendall Square is 675 W Kendall Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142. The website for the business is at https://ift.tt/kcqPybn

(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 »