Goodbye Tandoor, Hello Tacos: Ghazal Gives Way to Mexican

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Ghazal Indian Cuisine, 711 Centre St., will be closing. A Mexican restaurant is planned for the space.

Chris Helms

Ghazal Indian Cuisine, 711 Centre St., will be closing. A Mexican restaurant is planned for the space.

Ghazal Indian Cuisine, 711 Centre St., will be closing. A Mexican restaurant is planned for the space.

Chris Helms

Ghazal Indian Cuisine, 711 Centre St., will be closing. A Mexican restaurant is planned for the space.

A new Mexican restaurant from the team that runs Tres Gatos and Centre Street Cafe is planned for the longtime Ghazal space.

That's the word from Tres Gatos co-owner David Doyle. Here's how he describes the concept:

"We know we want the restaurant to be a casual, affordable, family-friendly Mexican eatery featuring tacos, ceviches, and other traditional fare, made with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible."

Doyle said the new spot would have a large selection of draft beer, plus wines from the U.S. and South America.

Jamaica Plain News hasn't spoken with Ghazal's owners, but Doyle Tweeted that the owner is selling Ghazal to pursue another venture.

As for timing, Doyle expects build-out to begin this summer, pending a transfer of Ghazal's beer, wine and cordial license. If all goes well, the fresh Mexican restaurant would open in the fall.

It's been a busy year for Doyle and the Tres Gatos/Centre Street Cafe team of Mari Perez-Alers, who is Doyle's wife, and Keith Harmon. They opened a revamped Centre Street Cafe, keeping Felicia Sánchez' famous brunch but switching most of the menu to a Mediterranean/Italian theme. That's while continuing to operate Tres Gatos, a Spanish tapas restaurant/record store/bookshop.

Doyle told Eater Boston that the third restaurant would offer new career opportunities for current Tres Gatos/Centre Street Cafe employees.

Jamaica Plain has a Mexican restaurant, Acapulco, next door to Tres Gatos toward Hyde Square. In the Centre/South district, there's Purple Cactus, which specializes in burritos.

The closure of Ghazal will leave JP with two Indian restaurants: Bukhara, a few doors down from Ghazal, and the new Tikki Masala in Forest Hills.

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