Business

Watertown Bids Farewell to China Rainbow, a Dining Destination for More than Half a Century

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China Rainbow, a Watertown dining institution since 1973, closed on Dec. 20, 2025. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Word spread fast after the announcement that one of Watertown’s dining institutions would be closing. Diners lined up to get a seat at opening time, and good luck finding a seat at dinner time. Fans of China Rainbow wanted to get one last tasty meal and a Mai Tai before owner Tammy Young retired after more than 50 years.

Business

Watertown Restaurant to Close After 50+ Years, 2 New Eateries Opening in Town

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China Rainbow

A fixture on the Watertown eating scene, China Rainbow, will be closing after more than half a century. A post on Boston Restaurant Talk quoted a note posted by the owner of China Rainbow. Thank you for your patronage. I am deeply grateful for the memories, laughter and loyal support over the years and will cherish the time we’ve spent together. I love you all.Tammy

Fans still have time to enjoy a meal at China Rainbow, which will be closing on Dec.

Food

Bar ‘Cino Introduces New Brunch Offerings in Watertown

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New brunch items available at Bar ‘Cino in Watertown. Bar ‘Cino in Watertown added new items to its brunch menu including a spinach and fontina frittata, a breakfast sandwich with chicken sausage and stirred egg, and a scrambled eggs and fontina grilled pizza. See more information in the announcement from Bar ‘Cino, below. Newport Restaurant Group, an award-winning collection of unique restaurants and hospitality venues located throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts, is pleased to announce new brunch items at its Bar ‘Cino locations in Watertown, Brookline, and Westwood, and the addition of brunch on Fridays in Brookline. For more information or to make reservations, visitwww.barcino.com.

Around Town

Kids Eat Free at Watertown Restaurant on Halloween

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Watertown’s Branch Line restaurant will host a Halloween party, and invites families to join in the fun. Children will eat for free on Oct. 31, and there will be music and games. See info from the restaurant, below. On Halloween, Branch Line is hosting a biergarten party on their covered, heated patio.

Business

See Who Won the First Annual Watertown Business Coalition Pizza Fest

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The joint winners of the First Annual WBC Pizza Fest: Gigi’s Pizza Co. (left) and Johnnie’s Pizza & Wings. The Watertown Business Coalition handed out the Golden Slice to the winners of the First Annual Pizza Fest at the Faire on the Square. The contest in which people voted online ended in a tie. See the announcement from the WBC, below.

Around Town

Gore Place Hosting Farm to Table Dinner

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The following announcement was provided by Gore Place:

Sunday, September 21, at 4:00 p.m. Come celebrate the Farm at Gore Place and the end of summer! Gather with guests from across Greater Boston for a seasonal, chef-curated meal celebrating local agriculture, sustainability, and community. In case of rain, dinner will take place in our spacious and modern Event Tent. Tickets are now available at goreplace.org. Dinner will be supervised by Chef Ian Davey.

Charity

Watertown Restaurant Holding Sweet Fundraiser for a Food Pantry

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Bar ‘Cino’s gelato is just one dessert to choose from in the No Child Hungry This Summer program. (Courtesy of Bar ‘Cino)

Bar ‘Cino, located at 47 Main Street in Watertown, is pleased to announce a new fundraising effort to support the Centre Street Food Pantry, a local food relief agency serving Brookline, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, and Wellesley. From August 17 though August 31, 50 percent of dessert sales will be donated to the Centre Street Food Pantry’s “No Child Hungry This Summer” program. In a survey of families who visit Centre Street Food Pantry, more than half reported that their children did not receive subsidized meals in the summer, while the remainder who brought their children to an approved meal site said they came home and were still hungry. In response, the Centre Street Food Pantry has held the “No Child Hungry This Summer” fundraising campaign each of the last four summers to raise funds to provide lunch food items to approximately 1,400 children each month from June through September.  

“We are so grateful to the work that the Centre Street Food Pantry does for families in need and humbled to have the opportunity to support their efforts,” said Gary Morrison, Regional Manager, Newport Restaurant Group.