Find out what’s hot and what’s new in the restaurant scene in Central Mass.

Downtown loses eatery. Viva Bene, a fixture in downtown Worcester for 23 years, closed its doors Jan. 1. For those who bought gift cards, email vivabene.ristorante@gmail.com for a refund. What we don’t understand is since the owners knew they lost their lease, why did they continue to sell gift cards if they were closing?

The fix is in. With the Fix Burger Bar moving from Shrewsbury Street to Grove Street and into the site that was occupied by the Northworks, what is going to happen at the Shrewsbury Street location? We hear that The Niche Group will be creating a new concept restaurant and will leave the cuisine up to the chef. This may change from month to month, which will keep guests coming back to try new foods.

Heading up to Boston. The annual Boston Wine Expo kicks off Feb.13-14 at the World Trade Center. This annual event is one of the largest wine expos in the country and attracts oenophiles from throughout New England. There are literally hundreds of exhibitors giving out samples of wine from all over the world. Most major wine-producing countries are represented. In addition to wine tastings, there are chef demonstrations and a variety of exciting seminars. The cost of the event is $90 and tickets may be purchased at wine-expos.com.

Pizza, pizza. Antonio’s, the Amherst landmark pizzeria, will be open soon on Worcester’s Chandler Street, right next to the Walgreen’s and across from Foley Stadium. It should be open by late spring. It has consistently been voted best pizza in the Pioneer Valley.

55Pearl St. Our sources tell us that Vickie Mairiano, owner of both Spiritual Haze and Electric Haze, will open a restaurant at 55 Pearl St. in Worcester. The former GAR Hall has been home to previous restaurants, including TiNoVo and 55 Pearl. We hear that it will be a farm-to-table concept using local products. No opening date is set yet.

British Beer Company. BBC on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street is in full construction mode, with a March opening planned.

Another Chinese restaurant. A new Chinese restaurant will be opening on Route 56 in Oxford at the site of the former Route 56 Roadside Bar & Grill. The Roadside closed two years ago, and the space has been empty. We hear that the bartender from Jasmine in Auburn will be the owner. The address is 24 Leicester St., North Oxford.

Small market. The new café and specialty market, Viriditas, at 6 Waldo St., Worcester, opened Dec. 16, selling a range of food products in support of the local food community. Father and son, Robert and Tim Moynagh, co-own the business. Robert Moynagh also owns Moynagh’s Tavern, which is in the same building, with an entrance on 25 Exchange St. By the way, if you are interested in the definition, Viriditas (Latin, literally “greenness,” formerly translated as “viridity”) means vitality, fecundity, lushness, verdure or growth.

Nemroff moves. Chef Bill Nemroff, who has manned the range at a number of area restaurants, including Ceres Bistro in Worcester, recently left Old Sturbridge Village for the head chef position at The International in Bolton. Maybe cooking over wood at OSV was just too much for him.

If you can’t go to Holden, go to Sturbridge. Wilson Wang will be opening a second Baba Sushi in Sturbridge later this month. He first tried to open in Holden, but the town elders shot him down. Well, the people of Sturbridge are the winners here. Chef Wilson does great sushi.

End Times. The iconic Old Timer in Clinton shut its doors the last day of January. However, the pub portion will still serve alcohol and light fare through Super Bowl Sunday. The Clinton landmark had been in the McNally family for 3 generations and almost 90 years, first opening in 1929, as the Depression began. In a sense, it personified Clinton’s Irish heritage. In a business where the average restaurant is open for only a year, it is a testament to hard work and devotion. We wish the McNallys well.

By Paul Giorgio