Jamaica Plain News (https://www.jamaicaplainnews.com/tag/il-panino-cafe-grill)
It's been a bad few weeks for Jamaica Plain restaurants. First Carrot Flower's owner said they were closing in May, then we learned that Old Havana closed, and now it looks like Il Panino Cafe & Grill is also closed. From looking into the space there is only tables and chairs left. There's no sandwich boards on the wall, no food, and no drink refrigerators. The signage remains outside of the site at 268 Centre St.
Il Panino Cafe & Grill, which expanded from the North End to Jamaica Plain years ago, plans to open a take-out only branch at 172 South St. The restaurant is known for its thin-crust pizza, calzones and subs. Its namesake sub is a Caprese plus prosciutto. Jamaica Plain News has reached out to Il Panino, which anchors the corner of 268 Centre St. in Jackson Square, about timing for the expansion.
Patio season is in full swing. You might think you know every outdoor restaurant space in the neighborhood, but click through — you may find some you didn't know about. My bet for best patio some of you might've missed is the nicely designed space behind Simpli Bar & Bites in Forest Hills. Of course it's hard to make a gallery like this comprehensive. Please add any omissions in the comment section or email me at chris@jamaicaplainnews.com and I'll add a photo.
Domino's Pizza can sell two pies for $10. A neighborhood shop like Il Panino Cafe & Grill can't match that economy of scale. "Small business is always under attack," said Lakis Vlahoulis, owner of the 268 Centre St. restaurant known for its calzones and thin-crust pizza. "We can't compete."