Changes Coming To The Waltham Restaurant Scene

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first edition of our new column called Waltham in The Kitchen. It will cover food news in Waltham as well as other restaurant happenings.

Waltham has one of the widest varieties of ethnic cuisines available in greater Boston. With its location right off of Route 128 and a number of colleges in close proximity, it is the ideal location for not only good ol’ American food but is also the place to travel the world, at least with your palate.

Coming soon:

Stadium Sports Bar and Grill, 342 Moody St. (opening TBA) – With locations already in South Boston and Quincy, . Offering “7 Days of Savings” specials and a number of entertainment options (music, comedy and open mic), not to mention a great place to catch the big game, Stadium is sure to be a big hit with the college crowd. Their menu runs from typical bar fare like wings, nachos and fried goodies to more creative items like paninis and Thai chicken stir-fry. Watch this space for news of their arrival.

Wings Over Waltham, 107 Lexington St., (opening TBA)- Wings Over locations pepper the East Coast, the South and the Midwest with a focus on college towns, because what college kid doesn’t crave some spicy chicken parts while pursuing a degree? Their menu goes beyond just wings (boneless and bone-in, with a range of sauces and spicy-ness), though. They also offer chicken sandwiches and burgers, ribs, fries and combo platters that fit into your student budget. With takeout and delivery available, good food fast can be yours quicker than you can say, “Dude, I have a serious craving.”

New on the Scene:

NY Pie, 934 Moody St., (opened in June) – There are many New York transplants in Waltham, whether they just stayed after finishing school or moved up here to enjoy all the perks of our suburb. The mostly take-out establishment specializes in authentic New York-style pizza and “Italian beef” (thin-sliced roast beef with extra juice on a big Italian sub roll. Ironically, this delicacy traces its roots to Chicago, not New York). They also have other subs, calzones, pasta, burgers and full dinners and you can order online and have your food waiting when you get there or have it delivered piping hot to your doorstep.

Pho & Spice, 457 Moody St., (opened in July) – Fusion cuisine makes its way to Moody Street at last. With “authenticity from Far East adventures with distinguished flavours from the West” (according to their Web site), there is something for every adventurous eater at Pho & Spice. Appetizers include traditional gyoza (dumplings) and chicken satay as well as more exotic banh xeo (Vietnamese crepe with shrimp, pork, onion, scallion, bean sprouts, tomato, cucumber and lettuce with homemade sauce). There are a number of soups and salads, traditional Vietnamese pho (soup with rice noodles and an assortment of meats and vegetables), stir-fried noodles and rice, Vietnamese sandwiches, and bun or banh hoi  (rice vermicelli or steamed rice cakes with a selection of meats and additions). They also have specials and combos, so step outside your comfort zone and step into Pho & Spice.

, 484 Moody St., (opened in September) – The newest addition to the lively Waltham Mexican food scene replaced the shuttered Tango Mango a couple of months ago. Watch this space for more details about this exciting location that offers not only fresh and original Mexican fare but also a plethora of tequila drinks and homemade infusions.