Braintree's Lychee Bistro Ready After Successful Soft Opening

BRAINTREE, MA — After a soft opening lasting several weeks with limited hours, a new Asian fusion restaurant in Braintree is ready to offer more.

Lychee Bistro & Lounge will celebrate its grand opening Friday at 1177 Washington St., where Tiki Palace used to be. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Charles Kokoros, members of the Town Council and other key stakeholders at 11:30 a.m. Reservations for the public will be open at 5 p.m.

"The investment in the property was tremendous, and the final product is really a wonderful job," Kokoros said. "I think the food is going to be tremendous as well."

Owner Tuan Le described the food as a mixture of East Asian tastes with European and American influences, served primarily tapas-style. He said signature dishes like the corn ribs and the ahi tuna tacos are made by a diverse group of talented chefs with an array of cultural backgrounds.

Le also said the restaurant's vibe is somewhere between family casual dining and a more upscale experience like Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse. That ambiance has resonated with customers. Le said more than 1,000 customers came through the door. Many complimented the new layout, which Le spent three years working to bring to fruition, including amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"It was super successful," Le said. "It was overwhelming support from Braintree and all the surrounding communities. "I spoke to almost every single one of them (the customers). By Sunday, I lost my voice."

Launch night

Le said he'll celebrate opening night with live music. Though the restaurant doesn't have a license for regular performances, the town granted Le a temporary entertainment license for the night. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Bandicoots will perform.

For the first month, Le said he's also doing gift card giveaways. Every $100 spent will result in the customer earning a $20 gift card.

When can I go to Lychee?

After Friday's grand opening, Lychee Bistro will be open four days a week. Business days are Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., on Thursdays and Sundays, and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. But Le said he's open to potentially staying open later for bar service.

"The other days allow us to spend more time on prepping, and then we cook fresh," Le said.