Bestsellers Cafe Reopens, Big Jon's Opens and More Nearby Restaurant News

We know Winchester residents don’t just stay in town when they want a night out and a break from cooking. 

Restaurant coming and goings, new business and the best dishes and recipes are among the items that have appeared on Patch sites around the region over the past month.

Below is a look at the restaurant and food stories covered in the past month.

ARLINGTON

In this year's edition of Boston Magazine's Best of Boston issue, Manna House, at 9 Medford St. in Arlington Center was named “Best Korean” restaurant.

The magazine said, "For years we lamented the lack of quality Korean dining in this town. Once Manna House opened its doors, those complaints thankfully came to an end. Now we can dig into tendor bulgogi beef and sesame-oil-slicked jop-chae (sweet potato noodles), plus Chinese-influenced dishes like jajangmyeon (noodles with black soybean paste and diced pork) and kan pung gi (lightly fried chicken with a sweet and spicy glaze). And to think that once upon a time, all of this was just a dream."

MEDFORD

Rob Dilman has a lot of patience. The owner of Bestsellers Cafe at has waited since May—over five years—to re-open as renovations to the building snailed along.

Returning customers will find a similar book selection and store layout, but with a few upgrades, Dilman said. Large french doors open to small porches overlooking the Mystic River in the back of the cafe, hardwood floors have replaced carpets, and there's a new oven so the cafe bakes its own muffins and scones.

WAKEFIELD

In its near-decade of existence, Fred's Franks has built a following that extends throughout the area, with a high-visibility location heading into Wakefield from the Route 128 rotary.

However, on Monday, the owner of Fred's Franks, Carl Galasso, told Wakefield Patch that the business is currently facing some considerable uncertainty. Earlier in the day, he reported receiving a visit from a man identifying himself as a representative of a state agency who told him he would not be able to continue operating the hot dog stand on the site because it is on a state-owned highway right of way. Failure to move the stand could result in daily fines, Galasso said he was told.

About a week ago, one of Wakefield's newest businesses went into operation - Big Jon's Pizzeria is at 927 Main St., in the building formerly occupied by Nick and Ally's Pizzeria.

Wakefield's newest business owner is Jon D'Amelio of East Boston, who spent about three years working at Slice in Wakefield. He reported that he also spent about six years cooking at various restaurants in the North End.