Boston kosher scene update
A lot’s been going on in the Boston kosher scene lately, so here’s a rundown. I can’t guarantee the authenticity of any of this information, but it’s exciting nonetheless.
Shalom Hunan changes ownership this week. The “new” restaurant will be called “Beijing”-something, will have a new menu, new staff, and new chef.
Handler Brothers of Newton Centre appears to have closed. Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, its doors were shut to the bewilderment of area turkey buyers.
In that very shopping area, the owners of Gordon & Alperin and Bodavi Bakery will be opening a pizza shop — perhaps in the abandoned Handler Brothers spot? — to extend their Commonwealth Avenue kosher empire to three stores.
The new Ta’am China “steakhouse” that was previously reported seems to have been downgraded to “Ta’am China 2,” a Chinese restaurant that may have an expanded menu with Asian-inspired steaks and sushi. It may also be just another Chinese restaurant, conveniently located in a western suburb. In any case, I drove down Oak Street a few weeks ago to scope out the scene and found a closed-down Chinese restaurant that may be TC2’s new home:
Feel free to share any more restaurant hearsay in the comments.
That would be really lame if the steakhouse will just be another Chinese place. Why does greater Boston need THREE kosher Chinese restaunts. Boston could you really use something fancier like a steak place for dates, business meetings, etc. To me, that is the sign that a frum community has “made it” when there is a kosher table-service establishment that is not deli or Chinese.
That’s lame. They should have just moved into a bigger place in Brookline if they were just going to have only Chinese.
The butcher at Gordon and Alperin confirmed (as of a couple of weeks ago) that the new pizza shop would be in the location formerly known as Handler Bros.
How disappointing. The last thing we need is another kosher Chinese restaurant. Doesn’t he realize he’s going to cannibalize his joint on Harvard St? Anyhow, another blow for the Boston kosher community. Hopefully the pizza place turns out better than Cafe Eilat.
For some info on some of the best kept secrets in Kosher Restaurants in NY.
Go to:
http://jewishmuzic.blogspot.com/2005/12/best-kosher-restaurants-in-ny_07.html
Anyone been to the “new” Shalom Beijing? How is it? Any different from the “old” Shalom Hunan?
I visited last night. They’re still operating with the “old” menu… new one goes into effect next week. (I have a copy of it, and hope to scan/post it this evening.)
Service was good, food was tasty, but I’ll reserve full judgement for next week.
Update from Taam China dude: New place (in Newton) will have more-or-less the same menu as the old place…. BUT… the old place (Brookline) will get some new stuff including sushi. New place should be open by mid-January.
I am completely ambivalent about the news about the “new” Taam China. Then again, if I lived in Newton, maybe I’d feel differently.
Jabbett, thanks for the update on Shalom Beijing. Keep us posted on your return visit.
Whoop-dee-doo. So, after not having a single kosher place to get sushi in Boston, now there will be three — Taam, Shalom Hunan/Beijing, and Rubin’s.
If only the restaurant owners thought of steak as important as sushi.
BTW – Rubins is no longer serving sushi. They say that it is out of season.
We also visited the new Shalom Hunan on Dec 14th and found the service was terrible and the food was almost as good as the service. Earlier that week, we got takeout and they gave us the wrong order and no utensils or napkins but a nice bill. Hopefully the grand opening of the new place with a new menu will change things, but I’m not optimistic.
Apparently, the the pizzeria in Newton isn’t happening, this according to owner of Gordon & Alperin (and the bakery across the street). He’s the one who was supposed to convert the old Handler Bros. site into a pizzeria. Now his plan is to open a competitor to the Butcherie – with a full deli.
Will Sharon ever get a restaurant?
What about someone offering take-out food?
What about delivery service from Brookine?
HELP! We are very hungry down here.
For reference the previous chinese restaraunt at that location was quite traif, but moderately good. They made a mean scallion pancake
-a
Dude, move to Brookline! Sharon barely has non-kosher restaurants and you expect it to support a kosher one? ;-)
To paraphrase a famous Brookline native: Ich Bin Ein Brookliner.
Sorry, couldn’t help myself.
I just saw this article online, about kosher food in Minnesota. It includes this nugget, that I got a kick out of:
“In a big East Coast city like Boston, with its large Jewish population and seemingly unlimited number of kashrut-approved restaurants, bakeries, and markets, keeping kosher wasn’t such a big deal.”
I wish we had a seemingly unlimited number of kosher places! Maybe we’re spoiled and don’t know it.
Anyone know the story behind Handler Brothers’s closing? I always liked the service I got from the staff there (they took the time to explain different cuts of meat and how to cook them). I was pretty disappointed to see it boarded up along with the treif but old-fashioned deli that was next door.
Obviously people in Minnesota don’t know what good kosher food is. I just moved here…can’t believe the lack of kosher restaurants vis a vis the number of kosher-keeping Jews. And why do they always close at 10 (or earlier)?
How does Gordon & Alperin expect people to come to his new kosher market. His prices for meat are disgustingly high and the bakery is just as expensive. I haven’t yet met people who like the bakerey goods at Bodavi’s either. I don’t think they will be any competitiion to the Butcherie.
Why are Kosher Restaurants always appearing in the Newton and Brookline area? They have enough of them (especially Chinese). Why not a nice Jewish Community that would provide alot of business such as Sharon or the Framingham/Natick area?
Newton doesn’t have ANY Kosher restaurants as of now. If it is true that the empty former Chinese restaurant is indeed going become Taam China2, I’ll be thrilled. It’s within walking distance to my home, and to the Chabad shul on Dedham St. I’d rather it NOT be a Chinese restaurant, but then again, I wish I’d won the lottery. You gotta play to win, and you gotta eat, too. Just one restaurant we can get to in our neighborhood without dealing with Newton Centre traffic. Priceless!
Hello. My name is Lily Davis, I am the daughter of Susan and Ricardo Bosich. Here’s what is actually going on:
Ricardo (Gordon & Alperin) is moving over to Handler Brother (which we are turning into a Glatt kosher market). Proviser/Bobby’s will be turned into a Glatt Kosher Deli.
Now, for my personal faveorite, the Gordon & Alperin spot across the street will become
a vegetarian cholov Yisroel Pizza Shop (also serving fish and chips, sandwhiches, pannini,
and saleds etc, etc.)
We hope to have the glatt kosher market open by Passover so you can get your Matzah and kosher for passover goodies.
Peace out,
Lily.
Message to Lily Davis:
Thanks for your update. My wife and I are Gordon and Alperin customers and generally like most everything we have purchased there. Plus, Ricardo is a real gentleman and very nice.
However, we (and most of our kosher-keeping friends) find the prices very high. Wanted to let Ricardo know and hope he/you might respond.
Thank you.
1. Taam China 2 should open this week with a Chinese and a steak menu.
2. Newton Centre- Butcher at Gordon and Alperin is adding a Kosher Deli and a market to the strip with the bakery he owns with his wife and then will move the butcher shop.
3. Ate at Shalom Beijiong a few times. Menu was much better- food better. However last meal was not satisfying.
Kol tuv
Mazel Tov Ricardo and family,
I have been watching the Boston Marathon at my grandfather’s (Sam Alperin) store, Gordon & Alperin, since I was born. We still gather there every April, as a family. Although my grandfather sold it in the ’70’s, he worked there until age 87; the name has always stayed, even though there were different owners. It will be strange not to see that landmark and name but all good things must come to an end and we were fortunate enough to see it there all these years. For the record, if anyone is wondering and remembers my grandfather, he purchased the store in 1955 with Mr. Gordon. My grandfather died at the age of 95 in 1998. Thanks Ricardo for keeping the name alive as long as you did! See you at the Mararthon.
Kenny Levine
Kenny,
We are not giving up the wonderful name of Gordon and Alperin. The market will be Centre Market, but we will proudly be hanging the Gordon and Alperin store front’s sign above the meat department. (Also, there will be a banner on the outside because we expect the front of the building to be renovated within the year…new signs…)
We are looking forward to seeing you at the marathon, how about some ribs on matzah !
Be well,
Susan
Shalom!
I am a tour planner for an educational tour operator out of California. One of my client schools is a Jewish day school from California. They just informed me that their Head has decided to cancel their Washington DC trip in favor of Boston. Naturally they require kosher food. We’ll be visiting much of Boston, Salem, Plymoutn on down to Newport Rhode Island. I need to find places that can accomodate a group of 50 and give them sit down dinners, some lunches, and provide sandwiches. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Anne Marie
Hi, Anne– I’ll be happy to send you information directly by e-mail. In the future, contact the blog directly by e-mailing submit[at]kosherblog[dot]net.
Night Owl Deliveries LLC
369 Congress St. 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
Phone: 617-292-7695 x54
Fax: 617-292-4633
E-mail: NOD.Corporate@gmail.com
Website: http://www.nightowldeliveries.com/
Contact: Robert S. Helfner
Night Owl Deliveries is Jewish owned, Boston based delivery service now featuring KOSHER restaurant and food delivery to homes, hotels & businesses alike. We also provide corporate catering services. Advanced ordering for groups will be done outside the 128 beltway. Call Robert for details.