North Shore Food Buzz

We know Beverly residents don’t just stay in the Garden City when they want a night out and a break from cooking.

Restaurant comings and goings, new business and the best dishes and recipes are among the items that have appeared on area Patch sites over the past month.

Below is a look at the restaurant and food stories local Patch sites have covered over the past month. Read through our round up for the latest food news in the area.

BEVERLY

From the creators of Soma and Wrapture, Barrel House American Bar is expected to open sometime this month or next, according to their Facebook page. 

The classic American bar will feature traditionally prepared cocktails, craft beer, and wines from small producers with outstanding Americanized bistro fare.

Construction on the inside of the restaurant, which was formerly Mandrake on Cabot Street, began in May. Check out photos from the progression here. 

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Formerly home to Tryst, the brand new EJ Cabots opened at 282 Cabot St. on Wednesday, Aug. 8. What can patrons expect? Fresh local ingredients, meals made from scratch, and fine cuisine in a relaxed and cozy atmosphere," according to EJ Cabots Facebook page. 

Check out photos from their opening week here. 

SALEM 

The Daily Bagel Cafe has vacated its place at the , and that has left a spot in the mall that also abuts Church Street. The building is located steps away from the Church Street parking lot and has a large corner space. Salem Patch recently asked readers what they think should go in the space.

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The space formerly occupied by and Asahi will be getting new life in the next few weeks.  The restaurant is slated for an Aug. 15 opening, according to the Village Tavern website.

The restaurant will feature "a variety of great appetizers, burgers and sandwiches along with a nice variety of charbroiled steaks, authentic BBQ, selected seafood and a separate oyster bar featuring of course, oysters, cherrystones, and shrimp," Ingemi wrote in an email.
In addition to full lunch and dinner menus, the restaurant will cater to those who want to keep up on sporting action with 12 HD televisions.  
The coolest part for Patch? It seems one of our regular columns — helped in bringing the restaurant to Salem. Ingemi said the February article and comments played a part in identifying the space for the new venture.

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Though a timeline isn't yet set, there will be some changes at the at some point.  The restaurant is now closed for renovations.

The applicant told the board in addition to the restaurant they may have the opportunity to bump out to accommodate a function hall in an adjoining space in the future.
The new restaurant, which will be called Opus, will keep the same manager as the current manager at the Green Land Cafe.

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The is now open and word on the street is they have a cinnamon streusel dessert pizza. Check it out here.

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celebrated its two year anniversary on Sunday, Aug. 5. Congratulations!

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Salemites flocked to the Monday, Aug. 6,  for the Salem's Best Pizza Competition, and more than 700 voted to crown the city's pizza pie winners. The event, which benefits the , featured five local businesses — , , , and .

DANVERS

“About 50 percent of our regular customers come in just for our smoothies," owner Brian Lejeune said "We use pure ingredients, no syrups, just fruit and fruit juices; we don't pour ours out of a box.” Solar Infusions Smoothies can also be enhanced with nutritional add-ins, such as whey protein, fat stripper blend, and there are even low carb meal replacement.

PEABODY

The management at is scheduled to appear before the city's liquor licensing board in Peabody to explain why they haven't paid for their all-alcohol license yet.
and the state Alcohol Beverages Control Commission subsequently signed off on the permit as well in January. Chipotle's planned to sell Mexican beer and margaritas as it does at many of its other locations.
The eatery, however, never picked up its license nor paid for it.
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Palumbo, restaurant staff and city officials officially snipped the ribbon at on Friday, celebrating the new establishment in South Peabody. , but Palumbo said Friday was an opportune time to invite friends and city officials back down to eat and celebrate.
He said a number of the guests had already been there several times since the restaurant opened nine weeks ago at 139 Lynnfield St. and residents in the neighborhood have quickly become regulars. 

MARBLEHEAD

in the former home of the clothing store on Atlantic Avenue.
The opening means owner Ellyn Gimbel is currently accepting orders for specialty cakes and dessert tables.
Gimbel said the cake studio, located at 40 Atlantic Ave., will be similar in concept to the much-acclaimed television shows Cake Bossand Ace of Cakes.

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The price of lobster is hovering from $4 to $6 according to some recent Patch research on the North Shore. At Crosby's the price of lobster is $5.99 for chicken lobsters and $8.99 for lobsters over one pound. At Stop & Shop in Swampscott, the price is $5.99 for chicken lobsters and $11.99 for those over one pound, up to two pounds. At Whole Foods Swampscott lobster is retailing for $11.99 per pound.
Perhaps the best deal in town is at Marblehead Lobster Co. where prices are ranging from $4.99 for the smallest lobsters to $8.99 for one to two pounders. Those in the medium range will cost you from $5.99 to $7.99.

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The restaurant is now open in the space next to , which was formerly occupied by and will offer "everything you'd see on a typical authentic Mexican menu," Felix Bracamontes said.

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We can’t lie, we are pretty excited 5CK is back in action in Marblehead. So far, it sounds like things are off to a great start.
According to their Facebook page: “5ck's first week has been a total success!! We have enjoyed seeing so many of our returning customers and meeting so many new faces as well.”
“Our staff has been going strong night and day 24/7 which is why we will be starting our Sunday brunch, next Sunday August 12th. We want it to be the fabulous brunch that you all love and need one more week of preparation! Thanks for understanding!!!
We do recommend a reservation for the dining room and remember the bar area is first come first serve!!”

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opened its doors to Marblehead June 15, offering the town a fun new dessert concept fit for families and friends of all ages.
To celebrate their success with friends in the community, Orange Leaf will host a charitable grand opening event Aug. 17 complete with a ribbon cutting by the .
Co-owners Mike Hennessy and Paul Buonopane have committed to donate 100 percent of the day’s sales between the and the local Recreation and Parks Commission.
“This town has welcomed us with open arms, and we want to show them how much we appreciate it by sharing our success with community partners,” Hennessy said.