Find out what’s hot and what’s happening now in the restaurant scene this month!

It’s technically not on a square. A new Tavern in the Square will be opening at the site of the former Spag’s in Shrewsbury. The small chain has nine eateries, with the closest one in Northborough.

Speaking of Shrewsbury. Work is progressing on the Hooters location on Shrewsbury’s Route 9. A late December or early January opening is anticipated, and the restaurant is already hiring.

North County news. The 435 Bar and Grille will be opening soon in Leominster at 435 Lancaster St. It plans to be open seven days a week, with the kitchen operating from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. The bar will be open until closing time.

Some Worcester news. Yummy Steak House is the name of the Japanese steak house that has taken the place of Hirosaki Prime on Worcester’s Grafton Street out by Sunderland Road. It was sporting a “Just Opened” banner in the middle of November.

Or was it just a mirage? Le Mirage, a longtime fixture on Worcester’s June Street, recently closed its doors. The Middle Eastern restaurant had very good homemade food but suffered from not having a liquor license.

A hangover hits the spot. Two new bars, The Spot and Hangover, will soon be opening on Worcester’s Green Street in the space that once housed the Center Bar and Primo’s. We hear that Danielle Spring and Jay Grayson will be the owners. Danielle was the former owner of Square 1 on Green Street.

Somethin’ fishy. Somethin’ Catchy Seafood Shanty opened the last week in November on Shrewsbury Street. It is owned by Angela and Rose Ellen Padavano, who also own Padavano’s Kitchen next door and Rosalina’s Kitchen on Hamilton Street.

It’s always been his dream. Dave Richardson recently opened up Flying Dream Brewery Company on Park Avenue in the space that, until recently, served as the home for Wormtown Brewery. Wormtown moved to Shrewsbury Street in Worcester.

Angry chef visits Sturbridge. One of England’s premier chefs and the host of numerous Food Channel TV shows, Gordon Ramsay, recently paid a visit to Sturbridge, where he ate at BT’s Smokehouse. Word has it that he loved the barbeque. Ramsay, who has the reputation for being a potty-mouthed, ill-tempered chef, was filming at The Vienna in Southbridge.

I’ll have a splash of water with my whiskey. Whiskey on Water is the name of the new bar that is undergoing renovations on the corner of Water and Harrison streets. It was formerly Jose Murphy’s. The bar, which will specialize in whiskies from around the world, is owned by the Erlich brothers, who own the Perfect Game right down the street.

The Hill gets new grill owner. Green Hill Golf Course’s Grill on the Hill will have a new operator this season. Jim and Melinda Taylor will be taking over from Savvas Fotiadis, whose family owns West Boylston’s The Manor and the Draught House. He did not seek to renew his lease with the city. Melinda has worked at the Grill for the past five years, and her husband Jim manages Bentley Pub in Auburn

Two places abruptly close. We hear that Art’s Diner, a bar on Worcester’s West Boylston Street, abruptly closed in the middle of November. Rivalry’s, a Shrewsbury Street bar next to the Flying Rhino, closed the last week of October.

By Paul Giorgio