Two former employees of the Barbara Lynch Collective today sued Lynch for back wages for the tips they claim she kept after they were called back to work when the state let restaurants partially re-open three months after the start of the pandemic. Read more.
The owner of Stash's Pizza in Dorchester and Roslindale, who had been arrested on a single count of "forced labor," which carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on seven counts of forced labor and attempted forced labor, each of which carries a possible separate sentence of 20 years, the US Attorney's office reports. Read more.
Update: Later hours approved.
The Boston Licensing Board votes tomorrow whether to let the Scoop and Scootery, Washington Street at Chestnut Hill Avenue in Brighton, stay open until 1 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Read more.
Update: 2 a.m. closing time approved - for both this place and an Indian place a couple doors down.
The Boston Licensing Board decides tomorrow whether to let Tori Japan, 1110 Boylston St., where Teriyaki House used to be, stay open until 2 a.m. to serve the ravenous needs of nearby college students who think nothing of staying up until all hours. Read more.
The Boston Licensing Board decides tomorrow whether to let the Dunkin' at 951 Bennington St. re-open its outdoor patio. Read more.
Boston Restaurant Talk reports, via the Salem News, that Salem Lowe will be re-opening next month with new owners.
Boston Licensing Board members reacted with shock on hearing that police on a surprise inspection found a 16-year-old at a table - with five other underage people - drinking alcohol at midnight in a Seaport hotel last November. Read more.
Hugmajesty stopped to watch a worker put up a new sign at the Barking Crab.
Boston Restaurant Talk reports that the owners of Our Fathers deli, which closed on North Harvard Street in Allston last year, plans to move into the space Tasty Burger is leaving on Boylston Street in the Fenway to move around the corner to Van Ness Street.
In the Jamaica Plain Facebook group, somebody posted today a sign in the window of the on-again/off-again Simpli Bar & Bites on Washington Street advertising the impending arrival of a new place called BU Bistro, with the BU standing for, no, not what you'd think, but "Be Understood." Read more.
A Dorchester man who says the Dunkin' mobile app sometimes adds unexpected overcharges for everything from cream cheese on his bagels to whipped cream on his frozen hot chocolate has filed what he hopes will be a class-action suit against the company. Read more.
The Boston City Council today unanimously approved a proposed plea to the state legislature to grant Boston 250 new liquor licenses - but only for certain neighborhoods. Read more.
A federal judge today ordered Stavros Papantoniadis of Westwood held without bail pending the outcome of his "forced labor" case after concluding he would be a threat to victims and witnesses who might testify against him when he answers the charge that he brutalized workers for 15 years by beating and threatening them, throwing knives at them and, in one case, falsely sic'ing police on them. Read more.
Roslindale Stash's is closed today.
Federal agents today arrested the owner of Stash's Pizza in Dorchester and Roslindale - and of several other suburban pizza places - on a federal charge of forced labor, for preying on what he allegedly called "fucking immigrants," whom he'd hire and allegedly beat, scream at, and force to work up to 80 hours without overtime and sometimes without any pay at all, on threat of having them deported. Read more.
WBUR reports that Ming Tsai has apologized for asking fellow chef Irene Li if she had "roofied" him - and then joked that he put a date-rape drug in her drink - in a discussion about whether the Boston restaurant industry will face a "Me Too" moment.
Last year, Boston Police and the Boston Licensing Board warned about spiked drinks after a series of incidents at local bars.
The owners of the Washington pub called the Dubliner today sued the owners of the Government Center pub called the Dubliner for trademark infringement, saying another pub with the same name would confuse consumers, even if they are 430 miles apart, because the Washington pub also has its own brand of Irish whiskey that is for sale in Boston. Read more
Boston Restaurant Talk reports that Bubbling Brook, on Rte. 109 in Westwood, won't be serving burgers, fried clams, onion rings and similar fare this spring and summer, just ice cream.
The Boston Licensing Board today gave Puritan Pizza, 735 Morrissey Blvd. in Dorchester, approval to extend its closing time from the current 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Read more.
The Boston Licensing Board today approved plans by Darryl's Corner Bar owner Nia Grace to open what her attorney called "a supper club and speakeasy with a full menu" in the Seaport Square complex. Read more.
The owners of several North End restaurants have amended their lawsuit over the fees Boston charged North End restaurants to set up tables on sidewalks and in parking spaces last year to add a new charge: That Mayor Wu imposed the fees only in the North End because of her hatred of white, Italian men. Read more.
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