Restaurants in Jamaica Plain

At 88 Wharf Riverfront Grill, chefs craft New American dishes from scratch with ingredients such as fresh meats including North Atlantic lobsters, greens, and tart macintosh apples. Visitors enjoy entrees such as nested tenderloin steak and appetizers that include steamed mussels in a dining room noted for soft lighting and hardwood floors, as well as water-front views and an intimate bar. The grill also hosts special events and private functions.

Peppered with paper lanterns and serene Eastern artwork, Mela Indian Cuisine offers an extensive menu of modern-minded Indian cuisine. Behind the bistro's striking pink and gold windows lurk chef specialties such as the subz panchmael, with a trifecta of bell peppers, artichokes, and bean sprouts drenched in panch-phoran-flavored tomato and green cardamom sauce ($15), or the beef coconut curry flecked with mustard seeds ($13), offsetting sweetness with spice, not unlike a gingerbread cookie in a bikini. Hot-stone entrees are seared by diners at the table on a sizzling oiled stone slab, with delicious DIY options such as prime lamb chops ($21) and scallops and salmon ($24). Mela Indian Cuisine also harbors abundant vegetarian options including fresh dishes such as Gobhi Charchi, cauliflower cooked up with ginger, garlic, potatoes, and Indian spices ($13), and subcontinental classics such as charcoal-fired tandoori, fiery meat, fish, and vegetable curries, and creamy masala. Raging inner fires can be quenched with a cool pistachio shake ($4), not to be confused with the official dance move of the Nut Farmers’ Annual Ball.

Discovered in 1953, pizza is the only food to have been eaten on the moon, blessed by a pope, and endorsed by Olympic marathoner Gezahegne Abera—the ‘triple crown’ of food honors. With today’s Groupon, $10 gets you $20 worth of food and drink at Mangia Neopolitan Pizza. Mangia isn’t considered a sit-down restaurant per se, so your Groupon is good toward carryout and delivery ($1.50 charge) of pizzas, calzones, salads, and drinks, but only at the South End location. Pizza Problems sold an unprecedented 300 copies in 1981, and was even briefly adapted into a Saturday morning animated series, although viewers objected to Pepperoni’s portrayal as a softheaded comic foil. Activavision Studios recently announced plans for a 30th anniversary relaunch of the Pizza Problems franchise, a mature-rated gore fest featuring the sultry voice talents of David Hyde Pierce.

At Redbones, eaters seated at the counter gaze at the busy pitmaster and team of cooks, who pull five types of ribs, fish, and jerk barbecue from atop the charcoal. During dinner, diners peruse a menu of authentic bites with vegetarian and gluten-free options available. The pulled-pork sandwich graces a toasted roll with pickles and slaw, chaperoned by a toothsome pair of beans and potato salad ($9.99), and the grilled salmon with crispy potatoes ($15.99) pairs seafood and tubers better than a fish tank carved from a giant potato. More than five types of ribs include the thick-cut, country-style Arkansas–style variety ($13.99+) and the slow-smoked, oversized Texas–style flavor (16.99+), and the sausage dinner couples homemade encased meat with dirty rice and beans ($10.99).

The high-end elegance of the restaurant’s atmosphere sets the tone for the accompanying menu. There are traditional rice dishes, such as murg biryani (basmati rice cooked with chicken chunks, nuts, and spices; $16), and beef options, such as beef vindaloo (beef cubes cooked with potatoes, a touch of lemon, and a tangy sauce; $15). Tandoori-style dishes with chicken ($14 for a half-order) or shrimp ($22) are offered alongside other lamb ($15) and seafood ($20–$21) options.

Dining out is much more pleasant than dining in—it's annoying to take turns role-playing waiter, and restaurants are much less likely to have Roombas underfoot. With today's Groupon, $25 gets you $50 worth of drinks and dining at Bina Osteria, a restaurant with great food and atmosphere.