Newton’s food scene has continued to evolve since our last summary, with at least 12 openings and reopenings against nine closings. Nine of those 12 are one-of-a-kind local businesses. Overall, 61% of Newton’s 185 places to eat are independently owned, with an additional 15% being local chains and 24% regional or national chains.
What opened
Amarin of Thailand (313 Walnut Street, Newtonville) opened January 9, completing the move from Wellesley, where it had operated for nearly four decades, that we previewed in December. It took over the space vacated by LeDu Thai Eatery.
Madras Dosa Co. (9 Boylston Street, The Street, Chestnut Hill) opened March 2, bringing customizable dosas, idly, and chaat to the former Bagel Table storefront. It is the Indian street-food restaurant’s third Massachusetts location, after the Seaport and Cambridge.
Wonder (170 Needham Street), part of an expanding chain of multi-brand food halls, opened March 19, with roughly 20 restaurants under one roof, open daily from 10:30AM to 11:30PM.
Formosa Bun & Dumpling Factory (740A Beacon Street, Newton Centre), in soft opening when we last wrote, held its grand opening on March 28. Owner Kristina Pan’s pan-fried bao buns first won a following at Newton’s Taiwan Day festival.
Mexicana Grill & Cantina (1391 Washington Street, West Newton) was open by early April. Owners Antonio de Trizio and Nicolas Ruiz, who ran Latina Kitchen & Bar in Needham, also owned Ninebark Kitchen + Drinks, which was previously in this location.
The Halal Guys (55 Needham Street), part of an international chain, held its grand opening on April 18, taking over the plaza space left by B.Good.
The Sweetish Fish (33 Boylston Street, The Street, Chestnut Hill), a Swedish candy shop with a rotating “Catch of the Day” scooping counter, opened its first permanent storefront on May 1.
Crunch & Boba (1385 Washington Street, West Newton) opened in early May in the former Shogun space, pairing milk teas with Asian comfort food: steamed buns, rice bowls, dumplings, and crispy wings.
Tea22 (212 Sumner Street, Newton Centre), a tea house pouring Thai tea and Thai coffee alongside bubble teas and slushes, opened softly in June. It took over the space Pon de Joy vacated.
Something Sweet (1280 Centre Street, Suite 8, Newton Centre) opened this summer in the upstairs suites above Rosenfeld Bagel, stocking nostalgic and Swedish candies and chocolates. The shop also hosts birthday parties and in-store events.
The Biltmore Tavern (1205 Chestnut Street, Newton Upper Falls): The historic Biltmore Bar & Grille was taken over by the team behind Needham’s Blue on Highland, closed for renovations on February 9, and reopened July 27 under its new name.
Moments Cafe (1284 Washington Street, West Newton) held its grand opening on August 7, after a soft opening the week before. The neighborhood cafe pours specialty coffee and ceremonial Japanese matcha, and bakes fresh pastries daily.
One arrival comes on four wheels: Gourmet Kreyol, Massachusetts’ first Haitian food truck, now parks outside the Wells Avenue YMCA (135 Wells Avenue) on Thursdays, according to the city’s Economic Development office. The Mattapan-based operation serves Haitian dishes built on family recipes.
What closed
Limani (33 Boylston Street, The Street, Chestnut Hill), the Greek seafood restaurant, closed in January, according to Boston Restaurant Talk.
Scafidi Bros. Market & Deli (1134 Beacon Street, Newton Highlands) closed in February, less than a year after the brothers brought their sandwich shop to Newton, and just two months after our December roundup counted it among the new arrivals. In an Instagram statement quoted by Boston Restaurant Talk, the family wrote that “Scafidi Bros will be permanently closing this month due to financial challenges outside of our control.”
Ninebark Kitchen + Drinks (1391 Washington Street, West Newton) closed in early 2026, a little over a year after taking over the former Burke’s Alewerks space. The same owners have replaced it with Mexicana Grill & Cantina.
Pon de Joy (212 Sumner Street), the mochi donut shop that arrived in Newton Centre in February 2023, closed quietly in early 2026. Tea22 now operates in the space.
Clover Food Lab (835 Washington Street, Newtonville) served its last meals on May 28, as the Cambridge-born vegetarian fast-casual chain shut down company-wide. While Clover reopened five shops, none of those are in Newton.
Thai Amarin (287 Centre Street, Newton Corner) closed in June, and with it San Ryo Ka, the Japanese kitchen that operated inside the same storefront. (Despite the similar name, Thai Amarin was a different business from Amarin of Thailand, which opened in Newtonville in January.)
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse (55 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill) served its final meals on June 28, ending a 13-year run after an ownership change at the adjoining Showcase SuperLux left the restaurant without a lease. Owner Steve DiFillippo has said he hopes to find a new Chestnut Hill space.
Sweet Dream (91 Union Street, Newton Centre), the chocolate and pastry shop we profiled at its 2024 opening, has closed. Tess, a clothing boutique, now occupies the storefront.
What’s next
Lockheart, a Wellesley southwestern-style bistro known for tacos and cocktails, is headed to the historic former train station building at 70 Union Street in Newton Centre. Newton’s Board of License Commissioners voted 3-0 on June 16 to approve its liquor, common victualler, and entertainment licenses, conditional on final paperwork. But eight weeks later, the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission’s roster of active Newton licenses still shows no issued license for Union Depot LLC, doing business as Lockheart. Contacted for comment, the applicants’ attorney told Fig City News that the restaurant is awaiting ABCC approval and will open within “a matter of days” once it comes through: “a few weeks hopefully.”
CircleBack Kitchen & Bar, from restaurateur Roger Zeghibe (Beantown Pub, The Hub Pub), is taking over the former Hopsters space at 292 Centre Street in Newton Corner, according to What Now Boston. The 55-seat restaurant plans all-day dining, from breakfast through dinner, with a 12-seat bar. The state’s roster of active Newton licenses shows its all-alcohol license was issued in November 2025, and the announced January opening has yet to arrive. The restaurant is currently hiring staff.
Jean and Lee Kitchen (108 Oak Street, Newton Upper Falls), long takeout-only, is applying for a common victualler license, according to the city’s Economic Development office. When it is granted, diners will be able to eat in.
Lauren Berman, Newton’s Director of Economic Development, says the churn reflects demand. “Newton continues to be a desirable place to open a restaurant. When a restaurant closes and a space becomes available, there are usually other restaurateurs eager to move in. Our village centers offer a built-in local — and often walkable — customer base, and we have a strong mix of residents and daytime employees who support our restaurants. New housing in places like West Newton and Newtonville is adding to that customer base and bringing more people within walking distance of local dining.”
New names, same kitchens
- Little Luke’s Cafe (1225 Chestnut Street, Newton Upper Falls) now also scoops as Frozen Falls Ice Cream. One storefront, two names, same owner and phone. The directory now lists both.
- Star Foods (19 Pelham Street, Newton Centre) is operating as House of Noodles – Star Foods.
By the numbers
The Fig City News dining directory now lists 185 places to eat, up from 160 in December. Most of that growth is better data gathering, not new business. We added roughly two dozen chain locations, including nine Dunkin’, six Starbucks, and three McDonald’s, plus independents such as Mia’s Brooklyn Bakery, Cacao, Pink Carrot, and The Half Cookie. Counting like for like, 2026 has brought at least 12 openings and reopenings against nine closings.
This month we also classified every entry by ownership. Of the 185 places to eat, 114 are locally owned. The rest are local chains, at 27 entries, and regional or national chains, at 44.
Finding “Where to Eat” with Fig City News site and app
The full directory lives on the Fig City News website Where to Eat page: Browse the map, filter by village, cuisine, or category, and click any marker for that spot’s website and online-ordering links.
The same directory powers the Fig City News app (available for iOS and Android), where you can search the listings, jump straight to a restaurant’s order page, or let the spin-the-wheel feature settle the “where should we eat?” debate.
Do you have a favorite or feature we’re missing? Contact us at [email protected].