Mexican to Portuguese food lovers: Here's the new restaurants set to open in 2024

Seth Chitwood, The Standard-Times
·4 min read

NEW BEDFORD -- From Mexican to Portuguese cuisine, new and exciting restaurants are set to open in the upcoming year. With a variety of owners, some seasoned veterans and others venturing into the restaurant industry for the first time, the city will welcome a new wave of unique dining experiences in 2024.

These restaurateurs are in all different stages of preparation, gearing up to join the already impressive roster of delicious eateries in downtown New Bedford. Here's what's adding to the tantalizing menus already thriving food scene in the area.

Former Union Flats restaurant replacement to open soon

Al Santos, original owner of The Black Whale, is working with general manager of Cultivator Shoals Michael Gadbois to create a Portuguese-inspired restaurant set to open in January 2024.

Tom Consol sets up the new espresso machine at the new New Beige restaurant opening next month on Union Street in New Bedford. Reflected on the machine is Al Santos, a co-owner of the restaurant.
Tom Consol sets up the new espresso machine at the new New Beige restaurant opening next month on Union Street in New Bedford. Reflected on the machine is Al Santos, a co-owner of the restaurant.

"The initial open will be a sort of Portuguese Spanish style restaurant bar," Gadbois said. "The bar will stay where it is with changes that have already been made. It is finished work at this point."

Howie Hallows, co-owner, walks the main floor of the soon to open New Beige restaurant at the bottom of Union Street in New Bedford.
Howie Hallows, co-owner, walks the main floor of the soon to open New Beige restaurant at the bottom of Union Street in New Bedford.

Upscale Mexican restaurant heading to Union Street

At 22 Union St., construction is underway for a new restaurant under the ownership of The Black Whale’s Steve Silverstein set for summer 2024.

“Servedwell is going to create an upscale Mexican place where the bar is hopping, the food is bright, flavorful and affordable, the music a little bit louder and the art is stimulating,” Silverstein said.

The Baker inches close to opening his Fairhaven restaurant

With the success of his bakery The Baker on Pleasant Street in New Bedford, chef and owner Brandon Roderick will also be taking his talents to Fairhaven Village with Olivia's – in the space once occupied by the popular Elisabeth's restaurant.

“I just love restaurant life and I am excited to be in that element again, versus our quick service model at The Baker,” Roderick said.

More: Many new restaurants were added to the SouthCoast food scene in 2023

Roderick is currently renovating the space, collaborating with a Fairhaven designer in an effort to create a welcoming and uplifting environment, similar to the one that customers previously enjoyed at Elizabeth's.

"We're just really excited to complete the renovation and get into the space. Hoping for late January open but lots of moving parts," he added. "It's going to look and feel so good when it's finished!"

Tabor Cafe eyes summer 2024 at former 'Me & Ed's' spot

According to a previous Standard-Times article, after renovating the former Me & Ed's Family Restaurant since May 2021, the Tabor Cafe could be open for business as early as this summer.

The first floor will feature a breakfast-lunch spot, open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

When that restaurant closes at 2 p.m., a lounge in the basement level will open. It will also be serving food from the first-floor kitchen. There will also be a take-out window, as there had been at Me & Ed's.

The lounge will open at 2 p.m., and will feature specials of the day, like fish and chips on Fridays, as well as bar food staples like hamburgers and chicken wings, he said. Patrons can stop by the lounge as they wait for their take-out, or eat in, or just watch a little football on TV

"I hope it becomes what I think it should become, a neighborhood place," Moniz said.

Tropical Smoothie out, Starbucks in at this Fairhaven location

After announcing it would be closing on August 24, Tropical Smoothie owner Karyn Ferreira told her Facebook fans she was being ousted from 29 Alded Road, to make way for a Starbucks. (Luckily, she found a new location at the former C&G Tile store in the CVS plaza in Fairhaven.)

More: 'The place where October never ends': New horror-themed shop opens in downtown New Bedford

Now set for fall 2024, Starbucks was approved last month to demolish the building and start construction immediately.

Riko's pizza set to replace former Buster's in Dartmouth

According to Riko's Pizza social media, the former Buster's will transform into the hot oil pizza franchise. With locations already in Miami, New York and Connecticut, this will be Riko's first Massachusetts location.

Renovations are already underway in the building, with preparations to open by mid-2024.

Korean BBQ lovers eye Hungry Pot in 2024

Restaurant chain Hungry Pot, which has five other locations, is in final preparations to open its newest spot on State Road in Dartmouth by early-2024.

According to its website, Hungry Pot is a one-of-a-kind Korean BBQ and Hot Pot restaurant where customers can indulge in unlimited servings of various meats, seafood, and vegetables.

This dining establishment places a high importance on customer satisfaction, striving to provide a new and distinctive culinary experience in a pristine setting with prompt service and quality ingredients.

Did we miss one for next year? Let us know and we will add it to the list!

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports.Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Restaurants set to open in the New Bedford area in 2024