Updated Nov. 19:
Speculation heated up in Wellesley over the weekend that Sweet Basil, an Italian restaurant on Great Plain Avenue in Needham, might be expanding and opening up at 13 Central St., in Wellesley Square, where the Milestone restaurant now resides (We see that local realtors Donahue & Maley Team have been hearing likewise.).
Milestone owner Charlie Papakonstantinou confirmed Monday night that he has received generous overtures from several suitors but that the restaurant has not been sold and remains open.
Milestone, which features southern European cooking, opened about 4 years ago at time when the economy was rough and other businesses in the area like Thunder were shutting down. The restaurant, which replaced a family favorite called Vidalia’s, has been profitable, according to Papakonstantinou, who has local roots at his family’s Wellesley eatery, The Maugus Restaurant. “I like to think we’ve done something good with this restaurant, having helped keep that corner of downtown alive during the recession.”
We emailed an inquiry to Sweet Basil on Monday, though didn’t hear back. What we do know is that Sweet Basil owner Dave Becker is no stranger to town, having done a cookbook signing in Wellesley earlier this year.
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