Henry Santoro reports that Jasper White, 69, has died.
White, born in New Jersey, became known for his seafood at Jasper's, which he opened in 1983, and Summer Shack. He closed Jasper's in 1995 to spend more time with his family - then opened the first Summer Shack across from the Alewife T stop. White, who also authored cookbooks, sold Summer Shack in 2017.
Three entrepreneurs hoping to replace the old Ashmont Grill at 555 Talbot Ave. at Dorchester Avenue with a seafood restaurant say they could begin "soft opening" next month, with a more formal grand opening in May. Read more.
Boston Restaurant Talk reports the impending end of Pescador, which replaced Island Creek Oyster Bar in the Hotel Commonwealth. No word yet if it will be replaced by a seafood place.
Boston Restaurant Talk reports that the Courthouse Fish Market in East Cambridge has closed for good after more than 111 years in business. Its sister restaurant, Courthouse Seafood, however, remains open.
Boston Eater rips the shell off this tale: Two visitors up from Houston, where they eat crawfish on purpose, ordered a cold lobster salad roll at Boston & Maine Fish Company and realized "what they were eating was not the rich, meaty flavor of an oceanic bug, but rather the lighter, more rubbery flavor of a mudbug."
Banker & Tradesman reports the Barking Crab on Fort Point Channel is seeking state permission to add a 1,900-square-foot barge to increase its patio seating.
Hugmajesty stopped to watch a worker put up a new sign at the Barking Crab.
John Lerner has compiled a spreadsheet of Boston restaurants that have $1 oyster specials, and the times they're available.
But not the same location it left in 2020, Boston Restaurant Talk reports.
Update: Liquor license request approved. Board also granted temporary food-service license so the restaurant can open as soon as it can, without waiting for the state's approval process for the liquor license.
The Boston Licensing Board next week considers plans by the owners of an under-construction crab shack on American Legion Highway in Roslindale to buy the beer and wine license of a defunct Vietnamese place downtown - once again giving Roslindale and Hyde Park diners the choice of three Cajun seafood restaurants. Read more.
A New Yorker and a Californian are suing Gorton's of Gloucester - now owned by a Japanese seafood company - alleging its "sustainable" tilapia is anything but sustainable. Read more.
WBZ reports an urge to down oysters bottled up by more than a year of pandemic restrictions is making it hard for oyster farmers to keep up with the demand now that we are free to move about the state - and restaurants - again.
The Globe reports that Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar and the Hawthorne will be replaced by brasserie, seafood and sushi "concepts" run by some New York concern that runs other "concepts" in places like Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
The Boston Licensing Board decides tomorrow whether to let the owner of a Roslindale restaurant that specializes in shaken seafood in a bag expand into Dorchester by taking over a Vietnamese seafood place on Dorchester Avenue that closed due to Covid-19 last year. Read more.
Boston Restaurant Talk reports the two restaurants are seeking to transfer their liquor licenses to UrbanMeritage, the company that runs the retail space inside the Hotel Commonwealth. That usually happens when a property owner or manager wants to keep liquor licenses as they look for a new restaurant operator.
Boston Restaurant Talk reports a chain called Crab du Jour plans to open a restaurant in the America's Food Basket mall on Hyde Park Avenue.
It will be the third Cajun boiled seafood place in the area, joining the Cajun Crab Shack, where Flaming Buffet used to be on American Legion Highway in Roslindale, and Shaking Seafood in Roslindale Square.
The Boston Sun reports chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette are whipping up an Italian seafood restaurant on Newbury Street between Fairfield and Gloucester streets. They already have a deal to buy the liquor license from the former Uno on Boylston Street.
Natural Ice asks:
Looking to pick up some quality shrimp cocktail for Xmas Eve. Any recs in Boston or south/west suburbs? Maybe something in Seaport?
OK, it's not really a surprise, but WCVB reports Roger Berkowitz is selling his chain to a company called PPX Hospitality Brands, which owns almost all the restaurants with Strega, as well as the Smith and Wollensky chain. Read more.
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