According to Newton Patch, Grande Kitchen and Bar on Needham Street closed its door after just six months. Grande Kitchen replaced Mick Morgans when the owners revamped the style and menu.
It was on my list to try out, but, regretfully, I never made it there.
Not surprised at all. See Sallie L’s review in June 2017, which included the following: “The three of us also ate a “Grand Burger” ($18); a prosciutto wrapped cod; and a dinner salad (I forget which one my daughter ordered), and two iced teas. Bill: $115 (including tip and tax). Keep track of your iced teas, because refills are not gratis! Certainly a higher price point than Mick Morgan’s, but really good.”
$115 for 3 is quite high end for a place that took over Mick Morgan’s, which was better priced, and had more choices, and great pub atmosphere. Newton home prices may be reaching $1 million plus, but there are still plenty of us in Upper Falls, Highlands, and Needham St vicinity that would go to a great restaurant where 3 can get a nice dinner for $75 or less. Traitors to Newton, we have started going to 3 Squares in Needham (where Bickford’s used to be) on Saturday nights, they have a live band, excellent food and beers, and burgers in the $10-$12 range. Bring Mick Morgan’s back!
“It was on my list to try out, but, regretfully, I never made it there. ”
My thought as well when I drove by last week and notice it had close. I think this issue is that tends to be a drive by spot vs a destination spot and there are more and more casual dining options on Needham Street. If I am remembering correctly, that location was a Mexican Restaurant, before in was Mick Morgan’s and MM must have been underperforming. My guess is the issue is the location UNLESS someone could come up with a concept and execution that would make diners think about other than just when they drive by.
Interesting perspective Claire, but I disagree that it was a drive by spot. It was certainly a destination spot for our family (as MM), and we had been going to Mick Morgan’s for close to 10 years or more. It was always packed, and often a wait of 1/2 hour or more to get a table for dinner. We even had a party there in 2010 for 25 people. Lots of Village 14 parties there. Very sorry when it closed and became Grande. I guess Grande over reached, because closing in just 6 months shows it was a poor business decision. Same owner in Nonantum still runs Tommy Doyle’s if you’re looking for Mick Morgan quality. Also, in Sharon, just two miles from Gillette Stadium, Mick Morgan’s lives: http://mickmorgans.com/ Here’s a Wednesday special from Sharon: $12.99 PRIME RIB OR FISH & CHIPS ALL DAY EVERY WEDNESDAY Dine-in only
The went upscale and totally lost their client base. There is a limit to what people will spend.
A good example of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Mick Morgan’s was definitely a destination restaurant, not a drive-by, and is missed.
I’ve heard great things about MM, sad I didn’t ever make it. Luckily the great Dunn Gaherin’s is nearby.
A month or so ago, I revisited Grande Kitchen to see that the menu had been changed…it was more affordable and less fern-y. But I think people had tried the original and found it wanting at that higher price point. I agree that MM was a destination and a happy, hopping one that appealed to many tastes. I also agree that we are fortunate to still have Dunn Gaherins nearby!
Good riddance. We ate there once and the food was horrible. Gummy fried chicken. There’s really no excuse.
Mick Morgan was a success with good food served at reasonable prices to big crowds. Why did the old or new owners “fix” something at great expense that wasn’t broken?
Brian, Do you know what happened to Green Tea restaurant near the corner of Eliot St. and Rt. 9? As far back as I can remember (I’m thinking of “Trade Winds”), there has always been a reasonably priced Asian restaurant.
Sadly, Green Tea had to leave due to rising rents. Everyone was very tearful on the last days. The saddest thing is that it has now sat empty for a few months, with a huge banner on the fence stating “For Lease, Restaurant space” – so the landlord is definitely asking for higher rent. Green Tea was the go to for us for all 28 years that we have lived here. They have a location in Randolph but it’s not feasible for us to go there on a regular basis. Have been frequenting Mandarin Cuisine, Jumbo Seafood, IQ Kitchen, and The Dumpling House, but nothing tastes as good as Green Tea.
http://floorplan.24elliot.com/
On the commericial real estate broker’s site, it says it’s for lease at $35.00 per square foot. I did a rough calculation, and that comes to approximately $87,500. I don’t know if that’s monthly or annually. If it’s monthly, how can they survive paying $87,500 a month? Would have to sell a lot of chinese food. They did have a busy bar. Just miss Green Tea.
It’s so sad seeing successful businesses close because of high rents. It’s easy to blame online retail, but that’s obviously not what’s causing successful restaurants like Green Tea to close. We need landlords to feel they have a stake in the community.
Here’s an article on the same thing in NYC; though some factors may differ, it’s the same effect.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/dec/24/new-york-retail-shops-amazon-rent?CMP=share_btn_fb
@Claire, you are correct, Acapulco’s was there and left to move down the street to the bigger space at the old Ground Round.
I really miss Green Tea also. Great food and drinks. Loved the Spider Maki.
I liked MM but nothing about El Grande excited me.
I believe the site of the Green Tea is being considered for a marijuana dispensary .
Green Tea? How appropriate ;-)
Don’t even need to go before the sign commission, just keep the name.
I was surprised to walk by Deluxe Station Diner to see it closed. Going to open under a new owner
I heard it had a new owner and new menu a few weeks ago but was still open. I wonder why it suddenly closed. The Framingham location changed owners, too.
I think it was closed. It was after 7am and it wasn’t open and there was a sign on the door about the new ownership
Both Yelp and Open Table list it as closed.
I don’t see it listed as closed on either of those sites?? I do see some bad reviews of the new owners on Yelp, though..
Here are the links:
https://www.opentable.com/r/grande-kitchen-and-bar-newton-upper-falls
https://www.yelp.com/biz/grande-kitchen-bar-newton?adjust_creative=dWJMtmYxpd5N5yoyzSuhtA&utm_campaign=yelp_api&utm_medium=api_v2_business&utm_source=dWJMtmYxpd5N5yoyzSuhtA
Sorry – I thought you were responding to Claire and me talking about Deluxe Station Diner.
Sorry – I didn’t realize you’d changed restaurants. Just reinforces why I called in sick – my mind is non-functional today.
Feel better!
My error! I walked passed the diner after getting off the train and they are not closed. But it was right around 7am..maybe a few minutes before and not a light on. Maybe the new owners have implemented new hours
Thanks MMQC!