Chipotle Worker Doesn't Hold Dishrag In Burrito Order | Eat Mass

MASSACHUSETTS — Welcome to a brand-new edition of Eat Mass, Patch's weekly round up of food and restaurant news in Massachusetts. Scroll down for more, including:

• Melrose couple creates alcohol-free cocktail kits.
• Jamaica Plain's Bella Luna shines again.
• Distraction Beer Garden debuts in Chestnut Hill.

Restaurant Openings, Closings

• Arlington: As temperatures in the area are still fairly high, Del's Lemonade can cool customers off thanks to its new post on Massachusetts Avenue. In addition to its signature icy drinks, patrons can snack on pretzels, hot dogs, popcorn, and ice cream. Del's originated in Cranston and has shops in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.
  
• Boston (Back Bay): A new French bistro and café will open next month, according to Eater Boston. Commanded by French natives Anaïs and Antoine Lambert, who both worked at Petit Robert, Café Sauvage goes beyond quintessential Gallic cuisine by including the international influences of Portugal, Vietnam and Ethiopia in its flavors.
• Brookline (Brookline Village): As reported by Boston.com, The Garrison House takes over the space previously occupied by the Village Smokehouse and most recently by Magnolia Smokehouse. Scheduled to open in mid-September, its menu will feature filet mignon, poutine and crispy confit chicken wings. Patrons can also register for its mug club, which will allow members to access special lines of draft beers and have a mug behind the bar.
• Danvers: The Liberty Tree Mall is now home to the the third Massachusetts location of The Friendly Toast. Known for its all-day brunch and cocktails, the North Shore eatery accompanies sites in Boston and Burlington, with venues to come in Chestnut Hill and North Andover.
• Jamaica Plain: Joining locations in Somerville's Union Square and Boston's Bay Village, Mike & Patty's is bringing its breakfast sandwiches over to Hyde Square, says Eater Boston. Along with a larger menu and a possible addition of liquor, this will be the first of the three spots to offer dine-in seating. It is set to open in late 2021 or early 2022.
• Norwood: According to Boston Restaurant Talk, 1947 Truly Indian has opened on Providence Highway. Among the items on its broad menu are paneer, tandoor, tikka masala, biryani, roti, and curries, with a substantial amount of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
• Quincy: Off the Hook Bar & Grill has opened in Houghs Neck, as reported by Boston Restaurant Talk. While the restaurant that was previously in this space closed in 2018 due to weather damage, this new eatery will offer seafood, American dishes, and pub grub.
• Stoughton: Due to the desire to alleviate stress on its downsized staff, Town Spa Pizza has ceased operations on Mondays, beginning Aug. 23. An Aug. 17 Facebook post by the restaurant's management states, "We have been shorthanded for months and feel this is the best decision to provide some temporary relief & continue to ensure quality food and service to our valued customers."
• Woburn: Following last week's reports that New Haven pizzeria Sally's Apizza is considering expansion into the Boston area, the website for Woburn Village has officially listed Sally's as "coming soon", making the city host to its first Massachusetts location.
• Woburn: Woburn Village will also be welcoming three additional eateries to its expanding roster. Asian casual chain Grainmaker currently has restaurants in Boston and Somerville; along with Methuen, this will be national dessert purveyor Crumbl Cookies' second Bay State shop, and the plaza will bring Tavern in the Square's list of locales up to nine.

Dishrag Found Inside Burrito From Chipotle in Reading

A meal from Chipotle provided one family with an unwelcome surprise.

Seanna Balfe said that her daughter's burrito, delivered on Aug. 11 from the Reading location of the casual Mexican chain, contained more than just the filling: a dishrag was rolled up into it. Having filed a report with the Reading health inspector, Balfe stated that the staff at Chipotle "didn't seem to know what to do" but remake the item and that she made contact with its corporate offices a week after the incident took place.

In a post to a community page for Wakefield on Facebook, Balfe gave an update. She wrote that Chipotle's corporate offices claimed the incident was an "unfortunate trainee error" and that new training protocols would be implemented at the Reading restaurant. She also shared that she and her family are receiving several meal vouchers, which they intend to donate to charity.

More Massachusetts Food News

Melrose couple introduces alcohol-free cocktail kits: For those that don't wish to partake in liquor, but still enjoy mixing up fancy drinks, Raising the Bar is sure to cause a stir. Created by Abbie and Devin Romanul of Melrose, Raising the Bar offers non-alcoholic specialty cocktail kits that encourage creativity to flow freely. Kits include various ingredients and accoutrements that yield around 4 servings of that month's mocktail. Subscriptions to the kits are offered in one, three, six, and twelve month increments. For more information, visit www.weareraisingthebar.com.

Bella Luna shines again: After closing back in March due to COVID-19, beloved Jamaica Plain restaurant Bella Luna has been resurrected. In a post on Facebook, Kathy Mainzer, co-owner of Bella Luna, stated her intention to reopen; joining forces with Jason Waddleton of nearby Scottish restaurant The Haven to create a collaborative venue. Mainzer also said teaming up with The Haven was the restaurant’s best chance to come back, following a receipt of a grant from the Federal Revitalization Fund after it closed, as well as the creation of a Go Fund Me campaign to assist staff.

Scheduled to open in December, the original post of The Haven will remain in its current space in Hyde Square, while the new mashup will step into the Brewery complex.

Chestnut Hill has a new Distraction: A new outdoor brewery will make its debut in Chestnut Hill Square. Distraction Beer Garden will welcome visitors starting Saturday, Aug. 28 and will be open on weekends through Oct. 31, weather permitting. Distraction Brewing Company's locally made craft beers will be served, along with other canned beers. Takeout from restaurants within the mall will also be welcomed, if patrons choose. The Roslindale-based outfit launched in 2019 and its items are available for purchase at area retailers.

Upcoming Food Events

Friday, Aug. 27:

• Learn The Art of French Cuisine (Cooking Class + Dinner) (Boston)
• Talulla Drumlin Farm Dinner Featuring Lamplighter Brewing Co. (Cambridge)
• Farm Dinner at Powisset (Dover)
• Farmers Markets: Osterville, Quincy, Worcester

Saturday, Aug. 28:

• Talulla Drumlin Farm Dinner Featuring Lamplighter Brewing Co. (Cambridge)
• Worcester Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival (Worcester)
• 2021 Worcester Wine Festival Grand Tasting (Worcester)
• Farmers Markets: Andover, Braintree, Marblehead, Newton, Orleans, Provincetown, Wakefield, Waltham, Worcester

Sunday, Aug. 29:

• Talulla Drumlin Farm Dinner Featuring Lamplighter Brewing Co. (Cambridge)
• Harpoon Brewery Food Pop-Up with Yankee Lobster (Boston)
• Haitian Cultural Experience Boston (Norwood)
• Wachusett Mountain Beer Fest of Ale (Princeton)
• Farmers Markets: Acton-Boxborough, Canton, Needham, North Andover, Swampscott, Weymouth, Wilmington

Monday, Aug. 30:

• Taste America: Boston (Boston)
• Farmers Markets: Beverly, Billerica, Truro, Worcester

Tuesday, Aug. 31:

• Summer Bubbly Wine Tasting and Food Pairings (Westford)
• Beer Garden at Glen Magna Farms (Danvers)
• Farmers Markets: Chatham, Lexington, Newton, Sandwich, Worcester

Wednesday, Sept. 1:

• Sip & Savor at Eataly Boston: Wine and Cheese of Central Italy (Boston)
• Farmers Markets: Arlington, Brewster, Dedham, Scituate, Wayland, Wellfleet, Worcester

Thursday, Sept. 2:

• September 2nd Farm to Table Dinner at Chatham Bars Inn Farm (Brewster)
• Farmers Markets: Falmouth, Foxborough, Harwich, Melrose, Milton, Stoneham, Tewksbury, Worcester, Yarmouth

Katy Kostakis is a freelance writer specializing in Arts and Entertainment, Lifestyle, Health and Wellness, and Food and Beverage. She has written for Gannett's Wicked Local, YourTango, and Film Inquiry.

Have a tip, question or suggestion? Connect with her on Twitter @KatyKostakis, on Instagram @katykostakis, as well as on her website, katykostakis.com.