With food options ranging from Mediterranean to açaí bowls, restaurant openings in Newton have skyrocketed. Here is a guide to the latest food additions across Newton.
Wonder – Needham St, Newton
Wonder is a chain restaurant where customers can order from multiple high-end or celebrity-chef locations such as Bobby Flay Steak or Di Fara Pizza with free delivery services. Founded by Walmart eCommerce CEO Marc Lore, the chain purchased Grubhub last year for $650 million. The chain restaurant reports a value of over $7 billion as of May. Wonder plans to go from 46 to over 90 locations this year.
Furthermore, the Wonder app allows customers to browse 20-30 menus from various restaurants, enabling them to mix and match dishes. Wonder usually operates as an online service with chefs who cook in “ghost kitchens,” which is a delivery-only food establishment that operates without a dine-in space. However, some locations offer on-site dining, including the Newton, Framingham, Belmont, and Natick locations, which allow people to dine in the locations.
The restaurant will host its grand opening on March 19 from 4:30-7:00 PM at 170 Needham Street in Newton Upper Falls. At the official opening, Wonder will host a grand celebration. The celebration will include giveaways and surprises from local partners, along with free samples inspired by Wonder’s menu. The first 100 guests will receive “swag bags,” Wonder branded merchandise, and a tote bag featuring art from Julia Emiliani, an artist and illustrator working in Somerville. During opening week, between March 16 and 22, $1 from every order placed will be donated to the Boston Food Bank.
Halal Guys – Needham St, Newton
Halal Guys is coming to Newton at 55 Needham Street. The chain restaurant first started in 1990 as a food cart selling hot dogs in Manhattan, later switching to serving halal food. Founded by Egyptian immigrants Abdelbaset Elsayed, Mohamed Abouelenein, and Ahmed Elsaka, the restaurant serves Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes, such as gyros, hummus, falafel, baklava, chicken and rice, and more. Other openings are planned in Dedham and Downtown Boston as well. While the official Halal Guys Facebook page has not posted a set date for its grand opening, the Halal Guys Newton official Facebook page posts regular updates regarding the procedure.
Rush Bowls – Newtonville, Newton
Founded in 2004, Rush Bowls started in Boulder, Colorado as an acai and smoothie bowl shop. The owner, Andrew Pudalov, left a 15-year successful career in New York City to pursue his passion for health and wellness. He opened the first all-natural açaí bowl and smoothie bar in Boulder, located in the Colorado University Boulder campus. Rush Bowls brings quality ingredients, with over a dozen bowl options and smoothies to choose from or personalize, all featuring superfoods and fresh fruits and vegetables. Customers can create their own açaí bowls with a variety of bases and toppings, as well as smoothies and juices. They have announced a new location in Newton in the Newtonville community by Newton North High School, but the exact date of opening and address of the restaurant is not available yet.
Whether you choose to stay home and order in from Wonder’s various menus, eat delicious Middle Eastern food with friends and family, or treat yourself to a customizable açaí bowl, the new openings in Newton offer many cuisines worth exploring.
