FOREST HILLS—Simpli Bar & Bites, the newest addition to Arboretum Place at 3840 Washington St., opened its doors last week.
The 45-seat café is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and is offering pastries, sandwiches, coffees and teas, in addition to beer and liquor.
“It’s a classy place to hang out,” General Manager Mike Merlis told the Gazette during a visit last week. “We hope people don’t feel rushed here. We want to make sure they leave happy.”
The café is decorated with photographs of the old Forest Hills elevated rail station and black, white and orange tiles. It is partially modeled on European cafés, where customers can get a sandwich and a beer or stop in for a cocktail in the evening. Most of the seats are located on an outdoor patio that may eventually host cookouts, Merlis said.
Simpli offers a selection of small batch bourbons, gins, tequilas, vodkas and beers as well as coffee supplied by Boston Common Coffee. Its menu, while small, offers muffin tops, scones, salads and sandwiches all day and more substantial items like lamb chops and flatbread pizzas in the evenings. The large salads are around $8, as are the individual flatbread pizzas. The pressed sandwiches cost around $7.
“We’re hoping to eventually update the menu seasonally,” Merlis said, explaining that that is not yet the case.
“Our focus is on quality,” said Brian McGinley, project manager for JP-based developers and owners WCI Group. “We really hope the community takes notice.”
Many of the café’s suppliers are located within 150 miles of JP, Merlis said, including breweries and produce suppliers.
Arboretum Place is located on Parcels V and W, previously owned by the MBTA. It is located on Washington Street near the Forest Hills MBTA Station. Simpli’s grand opening celebration is planned for early August.
Simpli can be reached at simplibarandbites.com or 617-522-2400.
The bar at Simpli Bar & Bites on its opening week. (Courtesy Photo)