Bintimani Restaurant
West African restaurant · Roxbury ·
Sierra Leonean dishes like crain crain and pepper soup
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9557187/FullSizeRender__14_.jpg "Bintimani Restaurant by Terrence B. Doyle/Eater")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67449431/IMG_0149.0.jpg "Bintimani Restaurant by Terrence B. Doyle/Eater")
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9558013/IMG_0134.jpg "Bintimani Restaurant by Terrence B. Doyle/Eater")
Information
1127 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02119 Get directions
Sierra Leonean dishes like crain crain and pepper soup
1127 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02119 Get directions
"Owned by Sahr and Baindu Josiah-Faeduwor, this Sierra Leonean restaurant in Nubian Square had been a pillar of Boston’s West African dining scene since opening its doors in 2009, serving Roxbury and beyond for more than 11 years. After a months-long legal battle with the landlord, a judge ruled for eviction and gave the family 30 days to vacate their longtime space inside Mr. G’s Plaza; their son Aiyah described the deep personal and communal significance of the restaurant as a family and neighborhood hub. The owners have secured a larger new space in Providence and plan to reopen in July with an expanded menu and dining area while retaining staples like spicy okra sauce, whole fried tilapia, crain crain (a dark green mallow-leaf stew), and foo foo (a cassava dough ball for dipping); they also plan to apply for a liquor license. While Rhode Island gains a notable West African restaurant, Boston’s dining scene will be diminished by its loss." - Terrence Doyle
"Tucked away inside a shopping center at 1127 Harrison Ave. in Nubian Square, I found a small Sierra Leonean restaurant operated by Sahr and Baindu Josiah-Faeduwor since 2009 that has become a pillar of Boston’s West African dining scene. They cook the food they grew up with and built a loyal clientele despite a kitchen no bigger than a home kitchen and a dining room that fits only eight customers. Signature dishes I noted include spicy okra sauce, whole fried tilapia, crain crain (a dark green stew made from mallow leaves), and foo foo (a sticky cassava dough ball for dipping). The loss of the building’s anchor tenant after the property was bought by the Boston Real Estate Collaborative in January 2019 reportedly depressed foot traffic and revenue, and the owners—who say they have continued paying some rent but not the full amount, a situation worsened by the pandemic—received a Notice to Quit alleging $9,423.47 owed since March 2019 and face potential eviction despite the statewide moratorium." - Terrence Doyle
"Sierra Leonean food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tucked away inside Mr. G’s Plaza in Nubian Square, Bintimani is currently offering delivery from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., serving dishes like crain crain, foo foo with okra, and pepper soup with chicken. Order delivery: DoorDash" - Rachel Leah Blumenthal
"This Sierra Leonean spot is located in the same Harrison Avenue building as Express Cafe (see above.) Get the whole fried tilapia, and get it with okra sauce and crain-crain, which is a dark green stew made of mallow-leaves. There aren’t many tables at Bintimani, but if there’s room, eat there and chat with owners Baindu and Sahr Josiah." - Terrence Doyle
"An impossibly small, mostly take-out counter tucked inside Mr. G’s Plaza in Dudley Square, run by spouses Sahr and Baindu Josiah, who have been serving their Sierra Leone–inspired cooking to the neighborhood since 2014 with the stated aim of nourishing patrons. Despite the takeout setup, diners are encouraged to eat in; the whole fried tilapia is the standout, typically served with spicy okra sauce (fufu) and crain crain, a mallow-leaf stew that can seem slimy at first but wins people over. Everything comes with a bowl of white rice that, when mixed with the fufu and crain crain, is highly praised." - Terrence Doyle
Megann
Samantha K.
Joseph P.
James S. B.
Sidney D.
Darien Alexander W.
Seynabou Elisabeth D.
Theresa S.