Mold Remediation in Quincy, MA

QUINCY − Idle Hour restaurant and bar in downtown Quincy will close permanently after a farewell party on Saturday, Nov. 2, according to a message posted to its website.

Idle Hour launched in 2018 under the direction of restaurateur Mathew Freid, offering original cocktails, craft beers and seasonal menu items. It is set to be replaced by Drifters Kitchen and Bar, which will feature bar pizza, according to owner William Falaro.

"To our loyal guests, incredible staff, gracious friends and family − THANK YOU for the unwavering support you have shown us in the last six years," Idle Hour's farewell message reads. "We have overcome many challenges throughout our time on Hancock Street, but we would not change the journey that has led us here."

Management recommends reservations for the restaurant's final dinner service on Friday, Nov. 1.

On Saturday, Nov. 2, Idle Hour will host a farewell party to "reminisce in the friendships and memories that we made together," the message reads.

Freid said in an email that he and his team are looking forward to seeing guests one last time.

"We hope that everyone can join us Saturday night for our farewell party, and to say thank you to Quincy for six memorable years," he wrote.

When will Drifters open?

It is unclear exactly when Drifters will open. Falaro previously said he's waiting for the state liquor license board to approve a liquor license transfer before he makes any announcement.

During an August license board hearing, Falaro, of Boston, described the restaurant's concept as "elevated American classics." In addition to American classics made in the kitchen, Drifters will likely offer a raw bar.

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Falaro has 18 years of experience in the restaurant industry working for the Broadway Restaurant Group in Boston. He bartended at Lincoln Tavern in South Boston, rising through the ranks to become the company's beverage director in April 2023, according to the license transfer application.

Partnering with Falaro on the new restaurant are Andrew Moccia, also of the Broadway Restaurant Group, and the creators of Quincy's Liberty Tavern – Nick Palermo, Michael Johnson and Evan Harrington.

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QUINCY − A small Italian restaurant chain has opened its newest location in Quincy Center.

Evviva Trattoria is on the ground floor of Nova Quincy, the 171-unit apartment building at 1500 Hancock St.

The restaurant, at Cottage and Hancock streets, has an open kitchen and bar, a 1,700-square-foot dining room with booths and high-top tables, a 500-square-foot private dining room and an outdoor patio in Kilroy Square that will open in the spring. It is the first restaurant in this space.

The space is “super-, super-cool,” and the patio is large and almost like having a second restaurant, Marcie Day, chief operating officer for Evviva (which means "hurray" in Italian), said earlier this year.

“This space is like nothing we’ve ever had before,” she said. "This plan has been in the works for a while and it's a great spot."

Evviva Trattoria is a Massachusetts-based sister restaurant chain to 110 Grill.

The chain, which has eight locations, opened a 6,200-square-foot restaurant at Hanover Crossing in the fall. It’s an open-concept design – you can see the cook tossing the pizza dough – and offers modern Italian food in a casual atmosphere.

Menu items include lasagna fritters, gnocchi Florentine and an Italian smash burger.

Much of Evviva's menu is either naturally gluten free or can be modified. All locations have an allergy-friendly scratch kitchen and a full bar.

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Quincy Center restaurant scene is ever changing

Evviva is the newest addition to Quincy Center, which has seen a shake-up in the restaurant scene.

The Fat Cat, a Quincy Center staple, closed earlier this year, citing "the ever-rising cost of goods and doing business."

Idle Hour recently transferred its liquor license to a new venture called Drifters Kitchen and Bar, which will feature a specialized take on bar pizza, according to owner Will Falaro.

Falaro told The Patriot Ledger that the pizza will consist of a 12-inch pie with very thin crust cut into squares. The larger size, thinner crust and novel way of cutting slices will distinguish Drifters' pies from other South Shore bar pizzas, he said. The 2,241-square-foot bar and restaurant is located at 1464 Hancock St., on a block that includes Alba Restaurant, Fuji, Pearl & Lime and other popular eateries.

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Evviva Trattoria

Location: 1510 Hancock St., Quincy

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Contact: 617-433-9655

QUINCY ‒ A city known for its diverse offerings of Asian cuisine is adding eight new restaurants at one fell swoop with the opening of a food court at the H Mart on Falls Boulevard. The popular Korean grocery store opened in 2022.

Last week, H Mart announced the food court would celebrate its grand opening on Friday, Sept. 13, though four of the eight vendors have already begun serving customers. The four open restaurants are Oh! K-Dog, Boon Mukshidonna, Hanchon and bb.q. Chicken, all described below.

By Friday, the four remaining vendors will open, and visitors will get 20% off their orders, an offer which extends until Oct. 13. The French/Asian bakery Tous Les Jour will not participate in the discount deal, according to H Mart.

Seated at a small table in the food court, Ruby Tran, of Maine, sat with a bowl of vegetable ramen, which she purchased from the Hanchon stall. The dish met her approval.

"We don't have H Mart in Maine," said Tran, who is visiting friends in Quincy. She said she comes to Massachusetts for better food options. After her meal, she intended to walk over to the grocery store and stock up on items unavailable in the Vacation State.

What restaurants are at H Mart's new food court in Quincy?

Oh! K-Dog serves South Korea's take on the classic American corn dog. Instead of cornmeal, Oh! K-Dog rolls each hot dog in a batter of rice meal and flour, to which a host of creative toppings are added. Prices for individual hot dogs range from $4 to $8.

Flavors and toppings include cheddar, mozzarella, squid ink, potato, sweet potato and hot Cheetos. The menu also includes several varieties of egg toast.

Falls Boulevard is the second Oh! K-Dog location to open in Massachusetts, according to its website. The other restaurant is in Burlington.

Paik's Noodle opened in Seoul in 2006 and has since expanded globally. Founded by chef Jong Wong Paik, the restaurant serves Chinese- and Korean-style noodles.

Its menu features Jajangmyeon, noodles with a black bean sauce, vegetables and pork and Jjamppong, a spicy noodle soup with squid, mussels, pork and vegetables. Dishes range from around $11 to $20.

This is the first location to open in the Bay State, according to Paik's webpage.

bb.q Chicken specialized in KFC, Korean fried chicken, known for its crispy texture and sauces. The chain opened a location in North Quincy on Billings Road in May 2022.

A second Korean fried chicken chain opened a new location in North Quincy last March, when Bonchon launched its fifth Massachusetts restaurant next to the Stop and Shop on Newport Avenue.

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Boon Mukshidonna serves casual dishes popular in traditional Korean snack bars. Its menu features tteokbokki, which are rice cakes served with eggs, scallions, seafood, meat and various sauces.

Boon Mukshidonna also serves ramen and Kimbap, which consists of rice, fish, vegetables and meat rolled in dried sheets of seaweed. In addition, customers can order varieties of fried rice and "mandoo," a Korean type of dumpling.

Gong Cha is a chain of bubble tea cafes founded in Taiwan 18 years ago. There are numerous locations in Massachusetts, mostly in Greater Boston, including one on Beale Street in Wollaston.

Umai Katsu's menu advertises ramen and udon noodle soups, as well as pork and chicken katsu, a dish where sliced meat is coated in panko and fried.

Hanchon serves Korean barbeque. The menu features Kalbi, short ribs cooked in soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil and garlic. Other specialties are Bulgogi, thin slices of grilled, marinated meat, and Bibimbap, a warm rice bowl with vegetables, meat, egg and chili paste.

Tous Les Jour is a French/Asian fusion bakery serving breads, cakes and pastries, as well as caffeinated beverages and fruit smoothies. The Korean chain opened a location on Billings Road in North Quincy in July 2023.

H Mart is located at 101 Falls Blvd. The food court opens at 11 a.m. daily.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

Reach Peter Blandino at pblandino@patriotledger.com.