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Business & Tech

Newton Restaurant Openings, Closings and Transitions

Want to know what's going on in the Newton restaurant scene? Read on!

The second half of 2011 and early 2012 have been very busy times on the Newton restaurant scene. To keep you current, I’m devoting this week’s to my semi-annual review of openings, closings and transitions in Newton restaurants.

Note: These are the openings, closings and transitions since August 2011, . 

Openings:

- There were a collective cry of despair . But now there is once again sweet joy in Newton as . Now focused on a wider variety of sweet baked goods, Cupcakes on Centre also has weekly story times and can be booked for birthday parties.

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- Dedicated to the crafting of unusual, gourmet pies, . Note that their hours have changed since opening; they are now closed on Mondays, and open from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon – 8 p.m. Sunday.

Prana Café – Now reopened under new ownership and with a retooled menu, Prana Café is still dedicated to serving healthy vegan food. However, they have now added non-raw items to the menu and have a whole slew of smoothies and juices, desserts and even wines and beer. Grab a healthy breakfast to go and start your day off right.

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- In the spot formerly occupied by KFC, . Whereas most diners might not be your first choice for healthy dining, Rox Diner actually has a firm commitment to using organic and locally sourced ingredients. The breakfast menu features a wide range of egg dishes and sweet breakfast treats; the lunch menu is chock-full of sandwiches, burgers and salads. Watch Newton Patch for news of Rox Diner’s upcoming dinner service.

– While you might not think of grabbing a frozen yogurt in the middle of winter, . With ten flavors of froyo (including some that are sugar free) and more than 90 toppings, you can tailor your treat to your tastes and stave off the cold by enjoying your dessert inside.

- The small, clean interior invites you to sit down and enjoy a bowl of spicy Thai soup and a Newton maki roll, but they also do a brisk take-out and delivery business. I personally recommend the Crispy Chicken Basil, which is so good that I literally dreamed about it for days after my first taste.

Closings:

 

Big Sky Bakery

India Paradise (, but it has now been sold)

Sushi 55

Transitions:

  • As reported in the Village 14 Blog, Tempo Bistro of Waltham was rumored to be either opening a second branch or moving to the space previously occupied by C. Tsar’s. However, as of this writing, there is a new “For Lease” sign in the window so those plans may be in flux.
  • . Named for , the newly redesigned space will help with the cafe's efficiency and customers can look forward to a revamped menu with “seasonal items, an expanded crepe menu and artisanal ingredients."
  • Construction continues on Jonathan’s Bar and Grille on Needham Street, located in the previous space for Papa Gino’s (which has relocated to across the street). This restaurant is set to serve “contemporary American fare” and have a “vibrant bar scene,” according to their website. Their lunch and dinner menus are already up on the website, and their Facebook page is as active as their construction site.
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