It’s not funny. It appears that a Japanese steakhouse, Sawa Steak & Sushi, will soon open in Shrewsbury in the spot once occupied by Newbury Comics, which has gone out of business. The restaurant will be next door to the Fidelity Investments office on Route 9.

Sweet Mother. That is the name of Worcester’s first Ghanaian restaurant, which will open in the first week of December on Lincoln Street. The space housed a pizza place for more than 20 years before becoming a Latin restaurant for less than a year. It is opposite the VA clinic if you are looking for a landmark. The Ghanaian population is growing in the city, and this gives us all a new cuisine to try.

Looking for happiness? The Shangri La Restaurant has completed its move from Seven Hills Plaza on Myrtle Street and recently opened on Worcester’s Front Street. This gives the City Hall area a full-service restaurant. Look for other restaurant openings adjacent to Worcester’s City Hall soon.

Coral Seafood update. The longtime owners of Coral Seafood on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street will retire after decades in the restaurant business. Teddy and Georgia Voyiatzis will retire shortly. Their son, Jimmy, who managed the place and cooked, will be taking a well-deserved vacation. Coral Seafood started in humble surroundings near Pleasant Street in Worcester as a fish and chip place. Then, it moved to Green Street before opening at its current location a decade ago. Son George, who owns the successful Fish in Marlborough, will take over the space after a short period of construction. The function space will be available during the change and all gift cards will be honored. Watch for a new restaurant to emerge after the first of the year. Ian Nal, who now runs Fish and formerly worked at The Oak Room in New York City, will be the manager. We wish Teddy, Georgia and Jimmy well, and we will miss them as much as we will miss the fried clams and scallops.

Stop wine-ing and have a happy holiday. The American Wine Society’s holiday party will be held from 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Shrewsbury Street’s Mac’s Diner. This has got to be a first for Mac’s, but it may be a look at things to come as owner Chris McMahon puts his stamp on the restaurant that has been in his family for generations. McMahon is the third generation to run the well-known East Side eatery.

New at the Rhino. Since we are talking about Shrewsbury Street, we can report that the Flying Rhino Café has instituted a few changes. In addition to its new fall menu, the Rhino is now doing Sunday brunch and a Sunday evening prime rib dinner. Check it out; Paul and Melinda Barber always do a great job keeping their customers happy.

Happy belated birthday. The Northworks Bar and Grille,106 Grove St., Worcester, turned 35 years old Nov. 13, according to owner Joe Marrone. We would like to congratulateMarrone and staff.

South County news. The Roadhouse Grille in North Oxford has been sold, and we hear it will become an Asian restaurant. Look for an opening after the first of the year.

News about Pepe’s. Pepe’s on Franklin Street in Worcester is going to start construction on a new restaurant further up Franklin Street near Chioda’s. According to Jon Travalio, one of the owners, they will break ground for the new place sometime in January. Travalio expects construction to take about nine months. Until that time, the current Pepe’s will remain open. The new place will feature a good-size function room. Pepe’s relocation may also help Chioda’s, which will remain a separate restaurant.

New at Tower Hill. Twigs Café at Tower Hill Botanical Gardens in Boylston has a new chef. Matt Landry, the former owner of Chloe in Hudson, has taken over the kitchen. Chloe closed its doors at the end of June after a decade-long run.

By Paul Giorgio