A Takeout-Only Il Panino Express is Heading To South Street

A North End-born, Jamaica Plain pizza shop has a second location in the works. Il Panino Cafe & Grill is opening the takeout and delivery Il Panino Express at 172 South St., near the Arboretum, Jamaica Plain News reports.

An affiliate of North End restaurateur and workaholic Frank DePasquale, Il Panino Express first opened at 264 Hanover St. before it moved over to JP, expanded its menu, and became the Cafe & Grill in 2013. At that point, the North End eatery became the full-service Ristorante Quattro.

Now, DePasquale (Trattoria il Panino, Bricco, Umbria Prime, Mare, etc.) has helped his JP brethren expand the brand. "Thanks to my friend and brother, Frank DePasquale ... We are opening an additional location," owner Lakis Vlahoulis wrote on Facebook. "Thank you Frankie, without your help and guidance, this wouldn't have happened."

The Express location will not have the dine-in options that Il Panino Cafe has. The menu will be smaller, without pasta dishes, baskets of chicken and French fries, or beer and wine. "HOWEVER, we will serving the same highest quality, amazing pizzas, calzones, and salads, as at our mother store," Il Panino Cafe & Grill shared on Facebook.

Signs for Il Panino Express are up at 172 South St., JP News reports, and the newspaper has reached out to the restaurant group for an opening timeline.