A new restaurant has come to a riverfront location in the Merrimack Valley. According to a press release, BOSA Coastal Italian is now open in Haverhill, moving into a space within The Heights, a luxury apartment complex on Merrimack Street in the downtown area. The dining spot, which is a new concept from Sal Lupoli and his real estate/hospitality group Lupoli Companies, focuses on Northern Italian fare along with beer, wine, and cocktails, and its menu also includes pizza as well. Bosa includes seating for 76 inside and a 54-seat patio that overlooks the river. The address for BOSA Coastal It ..read more

It looks like the people behind a Vietnamese dining spot in Boston will be opening a new location in Cambridge. A message sent by Leah Klein of City Living Boston mentions that Phinista Cafe is planning to open in Porter Square, with a photo showing a "coming soon" sign up in the space on Mass. Ave. that had been home to Zoe Acai Bar & Juicery. The original Phinista, which opened on Peterborough Street in the Fenway in the summer of 2020, offers such options as crepes, banh mi, rice bowls, coffee, and tea. The address for the upcoming location of Phinista Cafe in Porter Squa ..read more

A new tropical-themed bar with views of Boston Harbor has debuted. According to a press release, The Layover is now open on the rooftop of Cunard Tavern in East Boston, with the Orleans Street bar offering mostly lighter fare and snacks such as duck spring rolls, hoisin ribs, crab rangoon, bulgogi, tempura veggies, and house fried rice along with cocktails that include a variety of rum-based drinks. The bar is open Thursday through Sunday from now through the summer. The address for The Layover (and Cunard Tavern) is 24 Orleans Street, East Boston, MA, 02128. Its web page is at https://ww ..read more

A longtime Irish pub that came under new ownership a couple of years ago has shut down, and its space has been sold. According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, The Thirsty Scholar in Somerville is no longer in business, with a Corbett Group post on Instagram indicating that its Beacon Street space is one of several "successful transactions" that they have been involved with of late. We have been told that a new concept is apparently being planned for the space, though we are still waiting on details, so stay tuned for updates. The Thirsty Schol ..read more

Last summer, it was reported that a new Parisian-style dining spot was coming to Cambridge, and now we have learned that it has debuted. According to an article in The Boston Globe, Verveine Cafe & Bakery is now open on Mass. Ave. between Central Square and MIT, and as mentioned in an earlier article here, Ken Oringer (Coppa, Faccia a Faccia, Little Donkey, Toro) and Monica Glass (Clio, Gotham Bar & Grill, Le Bernardin) are behind the place. The Globe article says that the new spot has European and Asian influences, with its menu including such items as spicy chili biscuit br ..read more

A brand new Mexican restaurant has come to the northern suburbs of Boston, taking over the space that had been home to a barbecue spot. According to a source, Taqueria Sabor Chilango is now open in North Billerica, moving into the former Herby Q space on Nashua Road. The social media pages for the new eatery says that it is a "Family-Owned Authentic Mexican Restaurant" that is takeout only, with its menu including tacos, tortas, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, breakfast dishes, and more. Herby Q closed in late 2022 after being in business for a bit over a year. The address for Taqueria Sabo ..read more

A local trio of vegetarian spots have been joined by a fourth location, with this one coming to the heart of downtown Boston. According to a press release, Juicygreens is now open in the city's Financial District, moving into a space on Summer Street just west of the Rose Kennedy Greenway and South Station. The new outlet joins others in Hub Hall by North Station, Jamaica Plain, and Assembly Row in Somerville, and it offers smoothies cold-pressed juices, salads, bowls, and more. The address for the new location of Juicygreens in the Financial District is 125 Summer Street, Boston, MA, 02111. T ..read more

A South Shore restaurant and cocktail bar has shut down after being in business for just under four years. A check on the place indicates that 4th & Cherry in Weymouth Landing is no longer in business, with a Facebook post from the place on Friday saying the following: As today marks 1 week since we closed 4th & Cherry, and with the bar now empty, we wanted to take a moment and give a proper thank you to a few people. First, thank you to Emily, @em_curt. She's been right there sticking it out with us for the last 3 years. Next, a very special thank you to Inga's father, brother & m ..read more

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between April 29 and May 5. Levain Bakery to Open in Boston's Seaport District A group of bakeries based in New York City will be opening its second location in Boston, and this one will be along the waterfront. Full Story Kung Fu Kitchen to Open in Brookline's Coolidge Corner A small group of Chinese restaurants based in New York City will be expanding to the Boston area. Full Story Caffe Ducali to Open in Winchester A familiar name in the North End who is behind several dining and drinking spots in t ..read more

A brand new Mexican restaurant has debuted in Cambridge. According to a press release, Mestizo is now open in the Kendall Square section of the city, moving into a space on Broad Canal Way. The new dining spot, which has seating for approximately 100 inside and another 70 outside, focuses on foods from the Oaxaca region in the southern part of Mexico, including such options as housemade mini corn tortillas, grilled swordfish tacos, roasted half chicken, carne asada, guacamole, and yuca fries, along with beer, wine, and cocktails. The person behind Mestizo is Lorenzo Tenreiro, who also run ..read more