Restaurants

bb.q Chicken Restaurant Franchise Coming to Centre Street

By |

The worldly popular bb.q Chicken restaurant chain will be opening a new Boston location on Centre Street where Cafe Beirut used to occupy. bb.q Chicken has more than 4,000 restaurants across 59 countries in the world, with several franchises in Massachusetts including in Allston, Kenmore, and on Boylston Street, as well as in Lowell, Quincy, and Cambridge. The menu includes 14 flavors of fried chicken including honey garlic, secret sauce, galbi, Caribbean spice, gangnam style, hot mala, and more. The menu also includes kimchi fried rice, spicy bowls of ddeok-bokki, assorted sides like French fries, pickled radish, cheesling fries, and more. The space (654 Centre St.) is currently undergoing renovations before it opens.

1,019 Views
Restaurants

Another Arepa Restaurant Coming Soon, This One in Jackson Square

By |

A popular West Roxbury arepas restaurant is bringing its authentic Venezuelan cuisine to a new location in Jamaica Plain's Jackson Square. A sign of the window at 270 Centre St. says Viva Mi Arepa is coming soon.The space was previously Il Panino, which closed during the pandemic in 2022. The menu includes various arepas such as a Pabellon (shredded beef, black beans, sweet plantains, and cheese), reina pepiada (Venezuelan-styled chicken salad and avocado), pernil (oven-roasted pork), and more. There are also cachapas -- a Venezuelan hot corn pancake with cheese and assorted toppings (chicken, pork, beef, etc).

703 Views
Restaurants

Evergreen Eatery & Café Wants Beer & Wine License

By |

The Evergreen Eatery & Café is looking to get a beer and wine license to go along with their menu. Representatives of the restaurant will be discussing their desire for an alcohol license at the Jamaica Plain Business & Professional Association on Wednesday at the JP Seafood Cafe, which by the way, is owned by Phil Paik, a super name person who also owns Evergreen. Evergreen serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, but drinks are limited to coffee, water, and soft drinks. But it sure would be delicious to have a cold beer with one of the cafe's smash burgers. In many places in the U.S. a restaurant's desire for a beer and wine licenses wouldn't be much news.

539 Views
Restaurants

Momo Masala Now Serving Nepali and Indian Food in Hyde Square

By |

Jamaica Plain's newest restaurant is Momo Masala, now serving up Nepali and Indian food, adding another food option to Hyde Square. As its name advertises, the restaurant features momos, which are a type of steamed dumpling in Tibetan and Nepali cuisine, and on the streets of Kathmandu. Momos are served steamed, fried, or soupor chili (chili is steamed and cooked with onion, tomato and green pepper, according to the restaurant's menu). There are eight different types of momos on the menu including a hariwali momo masala, which includes chopped spinach; and a tandoori momo, which includes Himalayan spices and masala. Along with momos, the menu is varied with lots of options for vegan and vegetarians (cauliflower, eggplant, potatoes, chickpeas, tofu, paneer) and non-vegetarian (shrimp, goat, chicken, lamb) with tikka saag, rogan josh, vindaloo, curry, and korma varieties.

974 Views
Restaurants

Shea Butter Smoothies Now Open Serving Fresh Pressed Juice, Bowls & 11 Types of Lemonade

By |

Got a hankering for some fresh pressed juice, or an acai-based bowl with fresh fruit? Then check out the newly-opened Shea Butter Smoothies. Located at 617 Centre St., the restaurant also offers 11 different types of lemonade. Yes, 11 types of lemonade at $6.50. Lemonade options include the nipsey blue (blueberry puree, freshly squeezed lemonade), sparking ginger lemonade (ginger puree, lemon juice, and sparkling water), and dragon fruit limeade (vegan/gluten free dragon fruit puree, with freshly squeezed lime juice topped with club soda, garnished with dragon fruit and lime.

682 Views
Business

Nicole’s Restaurant Now Open in Hyde Square

By |

The Hyde Square restaurant scene continues to grow and grow -- and now has a second new pizza restaurant open in less than a month -- with Nicole's restaurant now serving up pizza pies and more. This is Nicole's second restaurant, with the first one in the South End. The Jamaica Plain restaurant recently opened at 367 Centre St., where Captain Nemo's had resided for 25 years before closing in September 2023. The restaurant sells specialty pizzas for $14 each including Hawaiian, meat lover's, chicken inferno (ranch base, jalapeño, buffalo chicken), chicken pesto, Tremont (white pizza with tomato, onion, grilled chicken and topped with BBQ sauce), and more. There are also BYO pizza that comes in small for $9.50, large (available gluten free) for $15, and vegan for $18.

1,124 Views
Business

Café Beirut Closes Citing Regional and Worldwide ‘Socio-Political Events’

By |

Lebanese restaurant Café Beirut closed permanently this past weekend, wishing good luck to the next occupant of its Centre Street spot, and encouraging people to support local businesses. In recent years the restaurant was known for its varied menu with large portions and authentic Lebanese fair such as pumpkin kibby, cod samak, bastorma, as well as falafel, kabobs, roll-ups, shawarma, and more. A note in the window explained why the business was closing:

1,636 Views
Business

Update: Bluefin Menu to Include Chowders, Lobsters Rolls, Ceviches and More

By |

The Bluefin restaurant and fish market is currently building out its Centre Street space, and we've got an update on the menu and other fishy details. "We will be a fish market foremost and you will also be able to order at the counter and eat at a table," said owner Jason Tucker to Jamaica Plain News. "So far the menu looks like oysters, chowders, lobster rolls, ceviches, poke bowls -- pretty casual and fresh food." Many people may recognize Tucker from being the farmers market manager for Reds Best Seafood which brings seafood to the JP Farmers Market behind Bank of American on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Tucker said there will be 18 seats for dine-in service.

1,388 Views
Business

Drawdown Brewing Now Open, Serving Up Small Batch Brews

By |

Not sure where to watch international soccer games? Drawdown Brewing has got you covered. The new brewing company opened recently at 3204 Washington St., and prides itself on being malt forward in their beer and big on sports. So big on sports that they got a variance from the city that permits them to open as early as 8 am to show international soccer games. "We will be prioritizing women’s sports, college sports, soccer and LGBTQ+ programming," says Drawdown's website.

1,006 Views
Restaurants

Mario’s Restaurant Now Open in Hyde Square

By |

A new pizza restaurant is now open in Hyde Square by a familiar face. Pizzaiolo Mario Bailote, who became well-known from his time making pizza's at Same Old Place on Centre Street, and then opened his own restaurant in Roxbury, is now the proprietor of Mario's located at 8 Perkins St. The restaurant just opened, so business hours will change as staffing ramps up, according to a post on the restaurant's Facebook page. Hours right now are: 4-9:30 pm through Dec. 28, 11:30 am to 9:30 pm on Dec.

1,606 Views