Grace by Nia opens in the Seaport this week

Meals Information

The jazzy ‘getaway’ opens its doorways Thursday.

Grace by Nia opens within the Seaport on Could 11, including not solely one other new restaurant to the bustling nightlife space, however a further music venue, this one highlighting jazz.

Roxbury native Nia Grace, proprietor of Darryl’s Nook Bar & Kitchen and The Underground Cafe + Lounge, collaborated on the venue with veteran Boston-based leisure big Huge Evening, which operates 20 eating places, bars, and membership venues, together with the Seaport’s Empire, The Grand, and Scorpion Bar.

Set prominently on Seaport Boulevard and styled like a conventional supper membership, the 5,000 sq. foot tiered venue features a lounge with a stage on the primary ground with adjoining restaurant seating.

Boston-based design firm Niemitz Design Group led the design group, which labored carefully with Grace on creating her classic imaginative and prescient.

“I needed to see a number of the outdated issues I like about locations like The Cotton Membership, The Copa, and The Strand Lodge that was right here in Boston,” Grace instructed Boston.com.

The nostalgic look pairs smoky coloured ground to ceiling drapes and a daring colour scheme with blue and teal, interspersed with fascinating wallpapers, and plenty of textures.

“It’s wonderful, it’s a murals,” Grace mentioned. “It is without doubt one of the most beautiful locations in Boston. There are gilded, gold finishes all through; there’s a lot detailing. It takes me 10 occasions to go searching and catch all the pieces — after which I nonetheless come again 10 extra occasions and see extra.”

The thought was to create a transportive visible expertise: “You would by no means really feel overdressed right here. It’s Hollywood, Vegas, and Harlem multi function,” she mentioned.

Music programing consists of dwell bands, in addition to late evening DJs.

“Jazz is a basis for our dwell music, however we can have soul, R&B, funk, and blues,” Grace mentioned. “There is no such thing as a unhealthy seat in the home. The gallery is rather less lively, for dinner or dialog.”

Simply because the music seems to the long-lasting musical creativity of America’s South, the meals menu is impressed by Southern cooking.

“The menu is impressed by my roots and has dishes from the South and from the islands,” Grace mentioned.

Menu highlights embody Maryland blue crab desserts, fried Cajun-style oysters with garlic and parmesan; vegan crimson curry with cauliflower, candy potato, and grilled naan; jerked Caribbean spatchcock hen; gumbo ceviche served with plantain chips; and fried hen with carrot cake waffles.

“The spice, vanilla, and cream cheese are a pleasant candy ingredient to the hen. It’s tremendous decadent; it’s one for the adventurer,” Grace mentioned.

For dessert correct, there’s pecan pie made with bourbon, wealthy chocolate tart, and peach cobbler cheesecake: “It’s extra of a mousse and far lighter,” Grace mentioned.

Black and minority-owned spirit and wine corporations are optioned for the drinks menu, which is able to embody “outsized cocktails” for brunch, Grace mentioned.

Grace described the venue as a mini staycation, offering all the pieces for a full night out in a single spot.

“You can begin with cocktails, have dinner, and watch a present,” she mentioned. “And perhaps add dessert and a few dancing after. You may name a night right here your full getaway.”

Grace by Nia is open each day, 4 p.m.—11 p.m. and for brunch, Sat. & Solar., 11 a.m.—3 p.m. at 60 Seaport Blvd., Boston.