Dining
PriceRite, on River Street at the Hyde Park/Mattapan line, opens the 14th.
The Boston Business Journal reports the three downtown sandwich shops were shut this weekend, victim of an economy in which the office workers who are left are more likely to brown bag it at lunch time.
Boston Restaurant Talk has learned from Phantom Gourmet that The Kells in Allston will be closing in the near future. It seems that Tavern in the Square will be taking over the space. There is also a very telling discussion at Yelp concerning the closing.
One has to wonder if this is related to any of the recent problems that have landed the Kells in front of the Boston Licensing Board recently.
Workers were busy ripping down the old Square Corner Cafe awning on Washington Street today as they transmogrify the failed sandwich shop into the Rialto Cafe.
The name pays homage to the long gone Rialto movie theater, which sat next door, where the Greater Roslindale Medical and Dental Center is now - and which also gave its name to the Rialto Barber Shop (which is where I heard the news about the new restaurant).
Anybody know what sort of food they'll be serving?
A couple weeks back, Molly noticed an unusual New England-themed cake at the Stop & Shop on Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester. Cake Wrecks posted her photo today. You'll have to scroll a bit for it, but you'll know it when you see it.
The Boston Licensing Board decides tomorrow whether to grant licenses to three new eateries: Read more
The Boston Licensing Board tomorrow decides whether to let Famous Nick Varano open a bar on the South Boston waterfront. Read more
Pops Retaurant, 560 Tremont St., is seeking city permission to extend its closing hour from midnight to 1 a.m. Read more
A Proper Bostonian finds plenty to like in the Brookline neighborhood, but, in the end, decides she still likes her Back Bay more.
William McAdoo reports from the Boston Burger Bash - with photos, videos and, of course, the name of the winning chef.
Joanne Chang of Myers + Chang responds to a Yelp review that not only accuses it of de-grittifying the South End but of being offensive to Asians, to boot.
Richard Auffrey is upset at the prevalence of sweet cocktails these days.
David much enjoyed the seeming oxymoron of the Sunday-night chicken and fish fry at the Plough and Stars in Cambridge.
... The chicken was juicy and the crust crispy and well-seasoned. Our worst fear – blandness – was totally unfounded. The cornbread was sweet, the collards smoky, and the cheese grits, well, cheesy. Everything in its place. ...
Paul Levy reports he wasn't the only one in Chef Chang's on Beacon Street yesterday for a last meal before the place closes forever (in his case, two last meals - he went for lunch, returned for dinner):
There were so many customers in the last few days that they ran out of Peking duck, the house specialty. A special shipment was brought in, and they spent overnight last night roasting the ducks to have some available today. A week's worth of other supplies likewise only lasted two days. ... The Chan's were genuinely surprised at the outpouring of affection. Those of us who know them are not in the least surprised.
Mike Ball vows to try every single weird looking root vegetable for sale at local markets even if neither he nor most of the people selling them have the slightest idea what to do with them:
... My take-an-ugly-root-home version today was both batata and malanga. Batata is more common and better known. The woman in the store today suggested thinking of it as a white fleshed sweet potato. She boils and slices it before serving it as a side dish, generally tossed in butter. Next up will be the malangas (I bought several). She recommended first peeling and dicing it. Then cook it with chicken or other meat in a spicy stew. She said she also likes to chop it long, boil it until tender and use it with meat in a sauce where you might use noodles. ...
Iseut reports that after she heard complaints about Darryl Settle's proposed restaurant at 85 Centre St., she called him to offer her support. But:
... He said he has decided to abandon the 85 Centre Street project because it was a risk not worth taking when faced with such a negative reaction from a few people near to 85 Centre. He has many other opportunities. ...
Settles had been scheduled for a Boston Licensing Board hearing on Wednesday for his request for a liquor license, but he withdrew his application.
The Boston Licensing Board yesterday voted to let the owners of a new restaurant at 61 Massachusetts Ave. serve liquor.
Although several nearby residents attended a Wednesday hearing to support the proposed Deux Ave., the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay objected, saying the license would break an informal ban on any increase in the number of liquor licenses in the neighborhood. The board, however, agreed with the restaurant that the imminent departure of Louis Boston - which has a liquor license - to the South Boston waterfront would reduce the number by one. More on the Wednesday hearing.
Boston Food Diary reports an open casting call on Feb. 8 at the Lenox for a show in which teams have 24 hours to plan and design and open a restaurant.
Just a ruse?: The giant trailer outside just for show, too?
The Boston Licensing Board meets tomorrow to consider a request by the owner of a popular Dorchester bar to open a new restaurant on Mass. Ave. in the Back Bay. Read more
Channel 4 reports the region's critical donut supply dipped by 0.0001% this morning when somebody in an SUV drove through the front of a Dunkin' Donuts on Chestnut Street in Needham
The Boston Licensing Board decides tomorrow whether to approve a beer and wine license for the city's first Scottish pub, which would move into the old Zon's space at 2 Perkins St. in Hyde Square.
Owner Jason Waddleton said that among Wee Angel's offerings would be both meat and vegetarian versions of the traditional Scottish dish haggis. Haggis traditionally consists of a variety of an animal's innards, cooked in its stomach or a lining for three hours with oatmeal and spices. He said he's also trying to convince his chef to try haggis burgers. Read more
The Boston Licensing Board will decide tomorrow whether to approve a liquor license for a proposed bar at 184 High Street that would feature an ivory-tickling pianist for patrons supping premium comfort food, such as gourmet meatloaf and handcut French fries rather than reheated frozen fries.
Although the bar would be open at night, representatives of the High Street Restaurant Group, LLC told the board they would focus on the Financial District lunch crowd.
The Boston Licensing Board said today it will likely approve a food permit for Blue Marble Chocolate Cafe, 258 W. Broadway in South Boston, where owner Jennifer Turner plans to serve coffee, tea and "chocolate dessert-type products."
However, board Chairman Daniel Pokaski said he would likely vote at a meeting tomorrow to defer any action until after Turner meets with neighbors. Board member Michael Connolly said he didn't even think that was necessary. Representatives from the mayor's office and city councilors Bill Linehan and Steve Murphy gave conditional approval, pending a neighborhood meeting.
Meanwhile, the board looked similarly in favor on a proposal by Barryson, Inc. to open Lilly's Gourmet Express Pasta at 1526-1528 Tremont St. on Mission Hill.
"I don't know who opposes gourmet pasta, but certainly not the mayor's office," a representative from the mayor's office told the board. Read more
Aquitane, 569 Tremont St., received a citation from police on Oct. 29 because workers cleaning up after a party piled eight chairs in front of a rear exit. Boston Licensing Board members today told the restaurant not to let it happen again. Read more
More