What’s hot and what’s happening now in the restaurant scene.

More than just fire. Fireflies in Marlboro has received permission to expand its patio seating area and add some fire pits and an outdoor bar that seats eight. Might be a great place to sit and eat on a warm summer night.

So long, farewell. Worcester’s Shiraz restaurant on Park Ave has closed after 22 years of operation. Shiraz was the last Armenian restaurant in Worcester and was owned by Jack Kochian, who runs the restaurant with his wife Koharig “Corina.” Interestingly enough, Worcester has the third-largest Armenian population in the country. Only Waltham and Fresno, Calif., have more Armenian Americans.

Upscale eatery open. The Dead Horse Hill opened the first week of May. Dead Horse is located at 281 Main St., near the Palladium, and is co-owned by Jared Forman (Strip T’s, Gramercy Tavern, Momofuku), Sean Woods (Ribelle, Strip T’s, Craigie on Main) and Albert LaValley. These Boston transplants have opened a restaurant that “features refined American cuisine and impressive craft cocktails in a fun environment,” according to a press release.

Don’t beat a dead horse. Speaking of Dead Horse Hill, Zagat’s, the national bible of good food and restaurants, recently did a piece on Dead Horse Hill. The article discussed Boston restaurateurs discovering Worcester. It’s a good take on the Worcester dining scene, but it is something we have known all along and have tried to keep a secret from the rest of New England. Worcester has a great dining scene with affordable prices.

Pizza pizza. Word is that Dacosta’s Pizza Bakery will open at 44 Millbrook St., near Glennie Street. The owner is importing an authentic oven from Naples, so hopefully, there will be a spot on Worcester’s West Side for authentic Neapolitan thin-crust pies. DaCosta’s is owned by Marc Felicio. Unfortunately, pizza-lovers will have to wait until the August opening to give it a try.

Baba in Sturbridge. Baba Sushi opened second location at 453 Main St. in Sturbridge after being denied in Holden. In addition to the restaurant, there is a private dining area that holds up to 30 people. The sushi restaurant is owned by Wilson Wang, and it is his first restaurant off of Park Avenue in Worcester.

Dianna’s opens. Dianna’s Neighborhood Bistro opened on the corner of June and Chandler streets in Worcester during the first week of May. The place is owned by husband-and-wife team Richard and Dianna George. The BYOB eatery is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. The spot has been home to a few places. The Struck was located here, and Le Mirage occupied the space for a number of years. The restaurant is offering fresh food grown locally.

New, not vintage. Shrewsbury Street’s Vintage Grille has hired a new chef. John Gremo is a graduate of Newbury College and the University of Nevada. He has worked across the world and alongside celebrity chefs such as Diners, Drive Ins & Dives host Guy Fieri.

By Paul Giorgio