Ten restaurants have opened or reopened across Newton since December while eight others have closed, reshaping the dining options in village centers and along the Needham Street corridor.

Seven of the 10 new arrivals are one-of-a-kind local businesses, according to a Fig City News roundup published Aug. 16. The outlet's dining directory now lists 182 spots citywide, though the increase from 160 in December largely reflects the addition of chain locations to the tracker rather than net new restaurants.

What opened

The biggest newcomer by footprint is Wonder, a multi-brand food hall at 170 Needham St. that opened March 19 with roughly 20 restaurant concepts under one roof. It's open daily, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

In Newtonville, Amarin of Thailand landed at 313 Walnut St. on Jan. 9, completing a move from Wellesley where it had operated nearly four decades.

Chestnut Hill's The Street picked up two tenants: Madras Dosa Co. opened March 2 at 9 Boylston St. (its third Massachusetts location) and The Sweetish Fish, a Swedish candy shop, opened its first permanent storefront at 33 Boylston St. on May 1.

Newton Centre saw Formosa Bun & Dumpling Factory hold its grand opening March 28 at 740A Beacon St. Owner Kristina Pan's pan-fried bao buns first built a following at Newton's Taiwan Day festival. Nearby, Tea22 opened softly in June at 212 Sumner St., a tea house in the former Pon de Joy space.

In West Newton, Antonio de Trizio and Nicolas Ruiz opened Mexicana Grill & Cantina at 1391 Washington St. by early April, replacing their own Ninebark Kitchen + Drinks at the same address. The neighborhood's newest addition is Moments Cafe at 1284 Washington St., which held its grand opening Aug. 7, pouring specialty coffee and ceremonial Japanese matcha alongside fresh pastries.

The Halal Guys opened April 18 at 55 Needham St. in the former B.Good space. And in Newton Upper Falls, The Biltmore Tavern at 1205 Chestnut St. reopened July 27 under the team behind Needham's Blue on Highland, after closing for renovations in February.

What closed

The highest-profile departure was Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse at 55 Boylston St. in Chestnut Hill, which served its final meals June 28 after a 13-year run. A sale of the adjoining Showcase SuperLux theater to European exhibitor Kinepolis Group left the restaurant without a lease.

"We're closing because we don't have a lease. We can't stay in a space that's not ours," owner Steve DiFillippo told Boston Magazine in June. He said most employees would move to other Davio's locations and that he's looking for a new Chestnut Hill space.

Other closings: Ninebark Kitchen + Drinks (1391 Washington St., West Newton) in early 2026, replaced by its owners' Mexicana concept; Limani (33 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill) in January; Scafidi Bros. Market & Deli (1134 Beacon St., Newton Highlands) in February, less than a year after opening; Pon de Joy (212 Sumner St., Newton Centre) in early 2026; Clover Food Lab (835 Washington St., Newtonville) on May 28 as part of the chain's company-wide shutdown; and Thai Amarin plus San Ryo Ka (287 Centre St., Newton Corner) in June.

What's next

Lockheart, a Wellesley southwestern-style bistro known for tacos and cocktails, won a 3-0 vote from Newton's Board of License Commissioners on June 16 for the historic former train station at 70 Union St. in Newton Centre. The restaurant is still awaiting state ABCC approval; its attorney told Fig City News on Aug. 16 that the license could come through in "a few weeks hopefully."

CircleBack Kitchen & Bar, from restaurateur Roger Zeghibe of Beantown Pub and The Hub Pub, is taking over the former Hopsters space at 292 Centre St. in Newton Corner. The 55-seat restaurant plans all-day dining with a 12-seat bar. Its state liquor license was issued in November 2025, but an announced January 2026 opening never materialized; the restaurant is currently hiring staff.