Here’s Your First Look at the Joint Burger Bar in Jamaica Plain

The Chilacates team has taken over the space that formerly belonged to Grass Fed.

By Jacqueline Cain· 5/20/2019, 10:04 a.m.

New menu items: the Chilacates burger, with grilled peppers; and the Notorious PIG sandwich at the Joint in Jamaica Plain. / Photos by Ray Liriano

Jamaica Plain diners have a new burger bar in the neighborhood. The Joint softly opened for dinner over the weekend, serving up gourmet burgers and plant-based patties, truffle fries, and craft cocktails on Centre Street. Formerly Grass Fed Burgers, the Joint is the highly anticipated latest from Chilacates owner Socrates Abreu.

Abreu took over the small restaurant last year from Ten Tables owner Krista Kranyak Chalfin. Besides changing the name, the new owners completely revamped the space with reclaimed, weathered wood and a corrugated tin ceiling, and poured cement countertops and tables. Abreu also signed on chef Luke Miranda, who completely revamped the burger-focused menu.

Among the new signature sandwiches are half-pound burgers (all-natural beef, or Beyond Meat plant-based patties) like the Jackson Sq., with roasted garlic, caramelized onions, blood orange aioli, and mozzarella cheese; and the Chilacates, topped with marinated grilled peppers, adobo, guac, and jack cheese. There are also non-burger options, like Notorious PIG, with barbecue pulled pork and coleslaw; fried chicken and waffles; and a grilled chicken sandwich with maple aioli and extra-sharp cheddar. Choose among regular fries, truffle fries, sweet potato fries, or upgrade to poutine; there are also crispy onion rings. Other apps include popcorn chicken, wings, and mac and cheese.

Expect the menu to grow, too, Abreu adds, reached by phone early Monday afternoon. “I want to add a few things that make us who we are. Things like little empanadas, or some other tapas that have a little Latin flavor to it.”

The tiny, corner storefront doesn’t have its own bathroom (Abreu says he’s working on that, so stay tuned). But it does have a beer, wine, and cordials license. Abreu hired bartender Emmanuel Villalobo to create 10 new cordials-based cocktails to join a boozy milkshake program behind the bar. The new owner also installed a six-line draft system for beers to complement a selection of craft cans and bottles, and wines by the glass.

This weekend’s debut was a soft opening, as the crew quietly opened the doors Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening between 5-10 p.m. The Joint is now open nightly at 5 p.m. Stay tuned for more hours—lunch is in the cards—and menu items as the Joint gets going in JP. (UPDATE, May 28: The Joint is now open for lunch, every day at 11 a.m.) The new Joint is on Instagram at @thejointjp.

In other JP dining news, Thai and sushi spot Sweet Rice recently expanded from Charlestown with a second location on Centre Street. Sweet Rice is now open in at 697 Centre St. every day for lunch and dinner.

The Joint, 605 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, 617-553-2278, thejointjp.com.