On a busy opening day in Newton Upper Falls, families shuffled in and out of Wonder Group’s newest, and eighth, Massachusetts location, drawn by the promise of something different: a single restaurant serving dozens of cuisines under one roof.

“We have 15 to 20 restaurants inside an innovative ‘infinite kitchen,’” said Patrick Cartier, market director of Wonder in New England.

At this location at 170 Needham Street, which opened March 19, Wonder offers 29 different restaurant concepts spanning a wide range of cuisines, from Thai and Indian to Mediterranean.

“It definitely solves the mealtime dilemma of ‘What’s for dinner?’” Cartier said. “If someone in your family is looking for a salad, you can grab one from Royal Greens. If you’re looking for something a little more Mediterranean, you can build a custom bowl from Yasas.”

On opening day, guests were greeted with free cannolis from Modern Pastry and whimsically designed tote bags by Boston artist Julia Emiliani. Inside, customers gathered around iPads, scrolling through what felt like an endless selection of options.

“I saw something on Facebook and was curious about what it was,” said Kit Yuen, who stopped by with her daughter Ava before deciding to order pizza.

“This place is just awesome, and I know I’m going to love it here,” Ava, 11, added.

Wonder Group has opened its newest location in Newton Upper Falls. Photo by Celine Hijazi

While the Wonder team worked quickly and efficiently to keep up with orders, the operation behind the scenes is anything but simple.

“It takes a lot of time and effort,” said Nathan Sasso, the location’s general manager. “Our chefs and teams have worked hard, and the kitchens are specially designed to maximize efficiency so we can produce a wide variety of food consistently.”

Sasso, who has spent more than 20 years in the culinary industry, said the concept fills a unique need in the Newton area.

“Here in Newton, it’s a one-stop shop,” he said. “We put a lot of attention into everything we’re doing—we put our love into it. That’s what we’re here to deliver.”

Adorning the new location, like the tote bags, is a colorful tapestry by Emiliani, a love letter to Boston and its food scene: a “wicked good” banana split boat floating against the skyline, the Red Line weaving between salt-and-pepper shakers, and three ducks marching along with their bowls—all orbiting a simple promise at the heart of Wonder’s concept: made to crave.

In a space designed to bring dozens of restaurants together, the message is clear: whatever you’re craving, it’s already waiting for you.

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This story is part of a partnership between the Newton Beacon and the Boston University Department of Journalism.