By Paul Giorgio

Kyoto ~ not just a city. Kyoto Japanese Restaurant will be opening shortly at 535 Lincoln Street in Worcester. The sushi bar will be located in the old Lincoln Plaza in the building that once housed R.H. Whites and is now home to Bally’s. The eatery will be on the upper level.

TriBeCa ~ not just a part of New York. TriBeCa at 92 Shrewsbury Street opened its doors in the middle of November. The former Café Amore site has undergone an extensive interior redecorating, putting this place in the top tier of elegant area restaurants. This should come as no surprise since Brian Duggan, one of the owners, is an interior decorator. The menu at TriBeCa could be classified as modern American. Gary Killeen, late of Thyme Square on Hudson, is minding the range while sister Jean Killeen is the pastry chef.

This ain’t the old Coral. Coral Seafood, a Worcester Landmark, recently reopened in its new digs. “Digs” actually does the new location a disservice. Coral, which was once located on Green Street in Worcester, has made the big leap to Shrewsbury Street with a multimillion dollar investment in the old Lawless Cadillac dealership building at 225 Shrewsbury St. The hip, urban design is a testament to the idea that Worcester is becoming an urban mecca for foodies. One thing that hasn’t changed is that you are still treated as part of the Voyiatzis family when you eat there.

Kiss the Cook! Leslie Lofgren opens new venture. Leslie Lofgren, whose family owned the Whistling Swan in Sturbridge for a number of years, has started a new catering company called Kiss the Cook. In addition to the catering, she will also offer party planning services. Her telephone number is (508) 612-3708.

Relish this. Relish in Barre, the creation of Chef Glenn Gonyea, has expanded its hours. The new hours are Monday – Saturday 11:30-2:30; dinner is served from Monday – Thursday 5-9pm, Friday and Saturday until 10pm, and on Sundays the restaurant is open 1- 8pm. Gonyea puts out very good food in a pleasing rustic setting.

Anthony’s closing? It appears that Anthony’s Restaurant at 172 Shrewsbury Street will be closing its doors at the end of the year. Anthony’s, in business for nine years, serves great Italian food in a classy atmosphere. Owned by Anthony DeSantis, who grew up less than a mile from the restaurant, this is truly a family business, with walls full of pictures of his mom Lena and his dad Pat.

Anna’s closed. Anna’s Hungarian Kitchen, located in the Regency Suites on Southbridge Street in Worcester, closed its doors at the end of October after less than a year in operation. The cuisine was a new one for Worcester and it appears that Hungarian food does not really have a big following here ~ or maybe it’s the site, which previously housed Caesar’s Bistro.