Fall River restaurant scene: Get ready for these tempting options coming soon to the area
Ashley Schuler, The Herald News
Updated 10 min read
No matter what you crave, Fall River-area foodies will have a lot to look forward to this year.
From dinner with a water view to elevated eats and upscale cafes to new neighborhood gathering spots, 2024 will be filled with delectable sweet and savory surprises.
Down by the bay, where the restaurant scene grows, a hub for foodies is taking shape along the Fall River waterfront.
Fare along the Taunton River runs the gamut from pub grub to upscale, and it's all within walking distance for folks who want to sample a little bit of everything.
The Ferry Street stretch alone, already home to a number of popular spots serving up casual, quick-bite and formal options — including Pier 52, Tipsy Seagull, Tipsy Toboggan, Canned Heat Brewery and Dockside Cafe — is poised to welcome another to its lineup in 2024.
And over on nearby Water Street, a long-time restaurant building that's churned out a variety of different cuisines in its past lives, will celebrate a new chapter.
Shannon Raposo and James A. Primo III, seen here in this Nov. 17, 2023 photo, are owners of the new Primo on Water Street, set to open on the Fall River waterfront by early 2024.
Primo on Water Street, Fall River
Primo on Water Street will be the first to make its much-anticipated debut, bringing authentic Italian cuisine — and much more — to a prime city spot.
There's been a lot happening behind the scenes at 36 Water St. over the past year as owners Shannon Raposo and James Primo III work to reinvigorate the vacant building, which formerly housed Boneheads and Water Street Cafe, and make it a waterfront must-stop once again.
Their vision for the restaurant is quick bites by day — with a "a New York type of deli" — and traditional sit-down dinner, drinks and entertainment by night.
The menu will mainly focus on authentic Italian cuisine, featuring family recipes passed down through Primo's Sicilian family, as well as some unique Portuguese-Italian fusion offerings the pair expect will go over well in this region.
No opening date has been set yet for the restaurant, but in November they had hoped to welcome patrons in the beginning of the new year.
According to Primo's Facebook page, they are currently hiring for all positions and a weekend of in-house meet and greet interviews are planned for Jan. 16-18.
Morgan's Cantina, Fall River
On Ferry Street, things are going to get even more lively — and not just in the summer months — as Borden Light Marina owners Michael and Nicole Lund, who also own and operate Tipsy Seagull and Pier 52, introduce a new dining destination to the city.
Plans are in the works to transform a storage building on the marina property into a higher-end Mexican restaurant named Morgan's Cantina, serving up craft cocktails and authentic cuisine.
"My goal is to create an atmosphere where people can get dressed up and go out on a Saturday night and enjoy good Mexican food. We could use a place like that in this area. It's just something different," said Nicole Lund, noting the restaurant is named after their daughter.
Unlike the Tipsy Seagull and Pier 52, which are seasonal, Morgan's Cantina will be a year-round dining spot. It'll also be smaller and more intimate than their other establishments, with seating for about 55 people.
Once renovated, the two-story Ferry Street building will house Morgan's Cantina on the second floor, and offices on the first floor. With floor-to-ceiling windows along the front of the building, Lund said the new restaurant will boast views of Mount Hope Bay and "of course, the sunsets that we are known for down there."
At the helm in the kitchen will be Daryn Andrade, head chef at Pier 52 who also manages the kitchen at the Tipsy Seagull. For those worried about finding parking, Lund noted that the Cantina will have its own dedicated lot.
According to Lund, they are aiming for a November 2024 debut.
Lund said they are also hoping to add a little something sweet to the marina this year — specifically an ice cream shop, which will serve as a perfect after-dinner stop for Cantina patrons and Ferry Street visitors.
"A lot of people in the city forget that Ferry Street exists and there's a lot to do," she said.
Magoni's Ferry Landing on Riverside Avenue in Somerset, owned and operated by the Magoni family since 1951, was put up for sale last year and a new restaurant family is looking to take over.
New chapter for Magoni's site in Somerset
Across the Taunton River in Somerset, 2024 will be bittersweet at the iconic 681 Riverside Ave. restaurant property.
It marks the end of an era for the recently closed Magoni’s Ferry Landing — a beloved Italian family restaurant and lounge for over 70 years — and ushers in what's expected to be an exciting new beginning for the landmark town site with a view of the Taunton River.
Dave Gorman, whose family owns the Sakonnet River Grille and the Four Corners Grille in Tiverton as well as the Palmer River Grille in Warren, confirmed in September that they were in the process of purchasing the property.
They're eyeing a renaissance for the restaurant space, Gorman said, which would include a building revamp and infusion of new flavors in line with their other restaurant locations. Changes would also include a new name, one that is Somerset-centric and honors their new home.
According to Lindsey Bshara-Leviss, listing agent for Salt Marsh Realty Group, a closing on the property is expected within the month.
Magoni's final day of business was Dec. 31, hosting one last hurrah for patrons with a New Year's Eve party. Bshara-Leviss, whose family are long-time patrons of the Somerset eatery, was among those in attendance to celebrate its farewell. She said the NYE event "was a big success, the place was filled."
Society Coffee Bar owners Keith and Debra Viveiros with Chino (short for cappuccino) at their new location on County Street in Somerset.
Society Coffee Bar, Somerset
Good news for those seeking an upscale cafe experience — a new option is finally on the horizon.
The transformation from bank building to boutique coffee shop and lounge is nearly complete at 891 County St., Somerset, home of the upcoming Society Coffee Bar.
Keith and Debra Viveiros first launched Society Coffee Bar in Taunton in 2022, and the Westport couple are now expanding their brand at a larger, second location with added perks such as a drive-thru.
Plans are to make the Somerset spot a go-to get coffee by day and cocktails by night. According to Keith Viveiros, the shop will be "coffee-forward" and "drink-froward," with a variety of breakfast offerings and small lunch menu.
And local fans of Mirasol's Chippi will be chipper to discover they can get a similar tasty java fix closer to home with Society Coffee Bar's No. 1 seller, The Quinny, described as "elevated iced coffee milk with a jolt."
The pair, who got the keys to the building last March, had hoped to be up and running by summer 2023. A Dec. 29 post on the Society Coffee Bar's Facebook page promises it will be worth the wait.
There is still no definitive opening date, but the Viveiroses say they are shooting for early February. Staff is in place and interior renovations should wrap up within the next month.
JR's Seaside Tavern is now open in Swansea's Ocean Grove neighborhood, at the site of the former Happy Clam.
JR’s Seaside Tavern, Swansea
It was an exciting kickoff to 2024 at one new Swansea spot for entertainment and eats.
JR's Seaside Tavern made its official debut New Year's weekend, taking over the former Happy Clam location at 378 Ocean Grove Ave.
A post on new owner David Duarte's Facebook page welcomed locals to ring in the new year at the tavern's New Year's Eve party, featuring food, drinks, and music by local band Wicked Acoustic.
"My wife and I are excited for our new place, our new chapter in life and just want to thank everyone who helped make it possible," the post reads.
The sale of the small neighborhood bar and restaurant was finalized last month, and new owners' plans include a complete rebranding and a menu featuring a mix of American and Portuguese cuisine.
A glimpse at Seaside Tavern's menu was posted on its new Facebook page the first week of January. It includes popular American pub grub like chicken wings, loaded tots, burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches, as well as pub grub with a Portuguese twist — from an Azores Island Burger to Portuguese bifana sandwich, chourico and chip grinder, codfish cakes, Portuguese stuffies, Lisbon-style littlenecks, and shrimp Mozambique, to name a few.
Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, Swansea
It's been close to a year since the owners of Fiesta Mexican Restaurant set their sights on purchasing the former hibachi spot in Swansea. Now it appears construction is finally getting underway at 1027 GAR Highway, which previously housed Umi’s Japanese Steakhouse.
The family-run restaurant chain got its start at 117 County St., Somerset, in 2006, slowly expanding its business since.
Swansea will be their eighth location, featuring a full-service, dine-in restaurant like its original Somerset site and its 207 Rhode Island Ave. location in Fall River.
While there is still much renovation to be done, Ramirez said he hopes to have the Swansea spot open within the next three months.
Donut Factory, located in Fairhaven, will soon be opening a second express location on State Road in Dartmouth.
Donut Factory, Dartmouth
Things are about to get a lot sweeter along Route 6.
The Donut Factory, which currently churns out gourmet sweet and savory treats from its Fairhaven shop, announced this past fall plans to open an express location in Dartmouth and it appears those plans are finally coming to fruition.
Their long-awaited Westport site fell through, but owner Jackie Webb says construction has finally begun just minutes away at 246 State Road in Dartmouth.
Soon Greater Fall River foodies will be able to find Donut Factory's creative selection of doughnuts, eye-popping over-the-top milkshakes and savory offerings such as linguica rolls and steam pockets a bit closer to home.
According to Webb's latest Facebook post on the project, they are anticipating a late January opening of the Dartmouth site, which will be a scaled down version of their main Fairhaven location.
Donut Factory doughnut creations on display at their Fairhaven location.
Pine House Kitchen & Bar, Tiverton
Pine House Kitchen & Bar advises local foodies to "prepare your palates." They'll be coming soon to a familiar Tiverton spot.
Dartmouth native Jared Machado is slated to take the helm at the distinctive cabin-style Crandall Road eatery near the intersection of Stafford Road and Route 177, formerly Wally's Taphouse.
The family-run restaurant will feature scratch-made comfort food that runs the gamut, from pizza to seafood dishes to various smoked meats and homemade desserts.
According to Machado, they don't have an opening date just yet but the sale is expected to be finalized soon.
