Top 5 Restaurants for Lunch

Get to Centre Street and you’ll find Jamaica Plain buzzing with activity. It’s no wonder the stretch boasts some of JP’s best restaurants for lunch. Beyond choosing these 5, it was nearly impossible to determine an order from best to, well, fifth best. Below, we have our top 5 restaurants for a lunch-time fix, listed in alphabetical order.

City Feed and Supply

A hip and sustainably-oriented joint, it’s hard to go wrong at City Feed and Supply. Located on the corner of Centre St. and Seaverns Ave., City Feed’s deli is popular for its cool mix of veg-friendly and omnivorous menu options, with everything from a Farmer’s Lunch sandwich to a smoked Turkey and Brie pressed panini. Beyond that, they’re pretty dedicated to the community and local environment. City Feed states that they “source locally whenever possible, and feature nitrate free meats in most of our sandwiches.” Not to mention, they stock some of the most popular organic and vegetarian brand names, like Amy’s, Annie’s, Liberté yogurt, Barbara’s Bakery, and perhaps most importantly, they feature Equal Exchange coffee.

672 Centre St.
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
P: 617.524.1700

Ghazal

One of Jamaica Plain’s finest Indian food restaurants, this is a “can’t miss” when it comes to lunch. Ghazal offers a daily lunch buffet with some of the tastiest Indian food. And if you’re a vegetarian, you’ll be more than happy with the selection. There are just as many vegetarian options as there are meat dishes. Top off your lunch with some chai tea, and it’s a complete, not to mention delicious, meal. With such a fantastic buffet, the only setback is trying not to overeat!

711 Centre St.
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
P: 617.522.9500

The Purple Cactus

If you’re looking for California-inspired cuisine or Mexican fare, then head over to the Purple Cactus. With fresh ingredients and a vibrantly decorated interior, it’s one of the coolest and tastiest places to dine. The restaurant’s menu has been lauded by the Boston Globe for bringing out “the best in such ingredients as turkey, brown rice, goat cheese, and black beans.” The praise continues for the behind-the-counter staff, “and the cooks know how to make tofu sing.” So whether you’re craving a squash and corn burrito or some good ole vegetarian chili, the place is the place!

674 Centre Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
P: 617.522.7422 (Take-out)
P: 617.522.7588 (Catering)

The Real Deal Deli

Pizza, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and combo plates…the menu is almost overwhelming. But with such a wide variety of offerings, the Real Deal Deli really is one of the best lunch deals in all of Jamaica Plain. With a friendly set of staff, the restaurant is always full around lunch time. Order one of their “panini’s off the press” and you’ll find yourself presented with a nicely-sized toasted sandwich (not some dinky half panini that often gets served at other restaurants). Oh yeah, and did we mention they won the Boston Phoenix award for Best Sandwich ‘09?

1882 Centre St.
West Roxbury, MA 02132
P: 617.325.0754

Sami’s

It just so happens that one of Jamaica Plain’s newest restaurants also happens to be one of the best. Sami’s, which initially began as a food truck in Longwood, has introduced a refreshing and delicious selection of Mediterranean and Lebanese cuisine to JP. If you’re a fan of falafel, shawarmas, hommous, and other Mediterranean wraps, then be sure to add this to your permanent list of lunch-time dining spots.

654 Centre St.
Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130