Pho Town Is Planning to Open in Allston

It looks like a Vietnamese dining spot is on its way to Boston, and it could have a connection to a couple of other restaurants in the local area.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Pho Town is planning to open in Allston, and it appears to be moving into the space on Brighton Avenue where Burrito Loco had been, and before that, Bubbakoo's Burritos. No information is available on the eatery as of yet, and its website isn't up and running, but there are a couple of restaurants called Pho Town in Medford and Brockton so it's possible that this could be a third location (as soon as we find out more, we will post an update).

The address for the upcoming Pho Town in Allston is 89 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134. Its website will be at https://photown-brighton.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Restaurant News for the Week Ending December 28, 2025

Below are some of the biggest restaurant and food-related news stories that have been posted between December 22, 2025, and December 28, 2025.

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Graffiti Pizza and Street Food in Allston Has Closed
A dining spot that was known in part for its pizza options has shut down.
Full Story

Crack'd Kitchen & Coffee to Open in Burlington
A small group of breakfast and lunch spots with three locations north of Boston will be opening a fourth, and this one will also be north of the city.
Full Story

The Olde Colonial Cafe in Norwood Is Closing
A decades-old restaurant in the southwest suburbs of Boston is closing.
Full Story

Blue Ribbon BBQ in Dedham Is Closing
It looks like a small local group of barbecue joints will be closing one of its locations.
Full Story

Brownstone in the South End Has Closed
A neighborhood spot in Boston that was known in part for its comfort food has shut down.
Full Story

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

  

Graffiti Pizza and Street Food in Allston Has Closed

A dining spot in a Boston neighborhood that was known in part for its pizza options has shut down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Graffiti Pizza and Street Food in Allston is no longer in business, apparently having quietly closed its doors several weeks ago. The place first opened on Harvard Avenue in March of 2024, offering New York style and Sicilian style pizza along with subs, wraps, pasta dishes, and more.

The address for the now-closed Graffiti Pizza and Street Food was 136 Harvard Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Crack'd Kitchen & Coffee to Open in Burlington

A small group of breakfast and lunch spots with three locations north of Boston will be opening a fourth, and this one will also be north of the city.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Crack'd Kitchen & Coffee is getting ready to open in Burlington, with a Facebook post from the business indicating that it will be opening sometime in 2026. An earlier Daily Times Chronicle article stated that the new location will be opening by the corner of Middlesex Turnpike and Fourth Avenue in front of Lifetime Living, and it plans to have both indoor and outdoor seating. Once it does open, the new location of Crack'd Kitchen & Coffee will join others in Peabody, Andover, and Salem, NH, along with another in Florida--and What Now Boston says that the Burlington outlet will offer dinner on weekdays as well.

The address for the upcoming Crack'd Kitchen & Coffee in Burlington is 10 Fourth Avenue, Burlington, MA, 01803. The website for all locations is at https://www.crackdkitchen.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

The Olde Colonial Cafe in Norwood Is Closing

A decades-old restaurant in the southwest suburbs of Boston is closing.

According to an article from Boston 25 News, the Olde Colonial Cafe in Norwood is shutting down, as owner Paul Angelo indicates he's ready to retire, saying that "This was my life. I love what I did. I'm going to miss it, but when you're almost 80, it's time....I can't wait to spend a lot of time with my kids and their kids." The Nahatan Street restaurant, which dates back to 1969 and resides in an old firehouse, will be having "The Last Hurrah" on Saturday from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

The address for the Olde Colonial Cafe is 171 Nahatan Street, Norwood, MA, 02062. Its website can be found at https://www.oldecolonialcafe1.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Up and Atom Coffee Co. to Open in Boston's Downtown Crossing

A new coffee shop is on its way to the heart of Boston.

According to an X post from @FortPointer, Up and Atom Coffee Co. is planning to open in Downtown Crossing, moving into the ground floor of the Genesis lab/office building on Summer Street. It appears that the upcoming spot could offer coffee, tea, baked goods, breakfast items, smoothies, and sandwiches based on a menu seen online, though there does not appear to be a website or social media presence for the place as of yet.

The address for the upcoming Up and Atom Coffee Co. in Downtown Crossing is 55 Summer Street, Boston, MA, 02111. The website for the Genesis facility is at https://www.genesis-55summer.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)