A new Haitian restaurant is now open in MetroWest. According to an email, VinGoute Restaurant has opened in Framingham, moving into a space on Route 9 just west of the Route 126 intersection. The new eatery offers such items as fried pork, vegetable stew, fried turkey, fried chicken, pasta with shrimp, empanadas, fried plantains, malanga fritters, fried turkey, and more. The address for VinGoute Restaurant is 495 Worcester Road (Route 9), Framingham, MA, 01701. (Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social) [A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants ..read more

A year and a half ago, it was reported that a vegan burger chain was planning to open its first standalone location in the Greater Boston area, and now we have learned that it is just about ready to debut. According to a press release, PLNT Burger is slated to have its grand opening in Brookline on December 11, moving into a space on Harvard Street in the Coolidge Corner section of town. The new fast-casual spot will offer burgers, fries, and shakes that are 100% plant-based, and it will join outlets locally that are inside Whole Foods in Boston's South End and Dedham's Legacy Place. The addre ..read more

An award-winning restaurant in Newton that features Eastern European food is shutting down. According to a source, Moldova Restaurant in the Nonantum section of the city is getting ready to close, with an Instagram post from the Watertown Street spot saying the following: Dear Valued Customers, It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you that Moldova Restaurant will be closing its doors permanently as of Dec 29th. This decision was not made lightly. Business conditions in 2024 have made it unfeasible to continue operating the restaurant as a business, and as a result we lost our lease ..read more

A brewery and pub in the heart of Boston will soon be expanding to another part of the city. According to an article from Boston Magazine, Democracy Brewing is planning to open a location in East Boston which will be called Democracy Brewing Eastie, moving into a space on Maverick Street in Maverick Square. The article mentions that the new outlet--which will have seating for 56, a snug, and an outdoor space with additional seating--will build on its original location on Temple Place in Downtown Crossing, offering a variety of beers but also serving wine that is made on the premises, while its ..read more

A few months ago, it was reported that a growing group of Middle Eastern restaurants with roots in New York City would be expanding to the Greater Boston area, and now we have learned that its first location in the region will be debuting in the heart of the city this month. According to a press release, Naya is slated to open in downtown Boston on December 11, moving into a space on Summer Street. An earlier article here had mentioned that locations at Arsenal Yards in Watertown and in Boston's Back Bay would also be coming, though the press release now says that a total of three additional l ..read more

It looks like a Chinese restaurant a few miles north of Boston that was known in part for its authentic Sichuan dishes has shut down. According to multiple sources, Chilli Garden in Medford Square is no longer in operation, with one poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page posting a picture of a sign out front saying that it has indeed closed. Chilli Garden first opened back in 2003, offering such dishes as sliced pork belly with garlic, wonton with chili sauce, dan dan noodle with minced pork, cold noodle with chicken and vegetables, tofu with pickles, chic ..read more

A dining and drinking spot in the northern suburbs of Boston that is known in part for its "pour your own beer" concept is teaming up with a restaurant that is famous for its steak tips. According to an Instagram post, Bossmama Taproom & Kitchen in Wakefield is bringing the Floramo's team into their space, with Bossmama keeping its menu in place while Floramo's will be offering their tips, ribs, and more to customers as well. The post indicates that over the next few week, Bossmama and Floramo's will be working to merge the two teams together, and more specifics on the collaboration s ..read more

A brand new cocktail lounge with roots in Rhode Island is getting ready to open on the Boston waterfront after being in the works for more than three years. According to a press release, Marcelino's Levantine Cocktails & Cuisine is on the verge of opening in the city's Seaport District, and as mentioned in an earlier article here, it is moving into the space in the Moakley Courthouse building that had been home to a location of The Daily Catch. The new spot will offer meze-style options with Eastern Mediterranean influences along with a variety of cocktails, and it will join Marcelino ..read more

A distillery just north of Boston is making plans to add a new addition to its space. According to a page within the numarket.co website, Short Path Distillery in Everett is raising funds to help open a cafe within its Kelvin Street facility, with the page saying the following: Have you ever spent an afternoon in the Fermentation District of Everett and thought "I wish there were a cafe around here". Us too! There's a serious lack of coffee and communal workspaces in our neighborhood and we want to fix that. The Cafe at Short Path Distillery will be a new addition to our current cock ..read more

Another location of a local chain of Italian restaurants has shut down. According to a Twitter/X post from @TobySyrel, Bertucci's in Swampscott is no longer in business, with a check on the locations section of the website confirming this, as it has been removed from the site. The closing of this outlet means that there are only three remaining inside Route 128--in West Roxbury, Newton, and Medford--though a few others can be found a bit outside the highway, including in Braintree, Waltham, Reading, Norwood, and Hingham. The address for the now-closed Swampscott location of Bertucci's was 450 ..read more