New African restaurant opening in downtown Portland

Central African flavors land on Brown Street with the opening of Chez Biso

11 Brown Street, Portland – This Saturday at noon, the former home of Tokyo Sushi Ramen will welcome diners to a new culinary experience, a 90‑seat restaurant called Chez Biso. The venture, co‑owned by Joceline Lesso and her husband Patric Lombo—who will serve as general manager—promises a taste of Central Africa in the heart of Portland.

Lesso, whose roots trace back to a restaurant she ran in the Congo, has been operating a catering business out of a Maine commissary kitchen for years. After her catering clientele began asking for “real African food,” she decided to bring those dishes to a broader audience. “Because many African people, not just from the Congo, but from Angola, Rwanda‑Burundi, and Central Africa, they love Congolese dishes,” explained business advisor Heritier Nosso. “It’s so difficult to find these dishes locally, so she decided to open an African restaurant.”

The menu will feature traditional specialties such as fumbwa—a wild‑spinach stew—liboke ya mbisi, fish steamed in banana leaves, and pork feet simmered in beans. For those leaning toward Western fare, Chez Biso will also offer smashburgers, fish and chips, spicy wings, and lobster rolls, all prepared with the same care and attention to flavor.

“The name Chez Biso means ‘at our home’ in Lingala,” said Nosso. “She wants people not to feel like they’re at a restaurant, but like they’re eating from their home—food made by somebody who cares about your health and wants to make sure you’re satisfied.” This hospitality ethos is a core promise of the new establishment.

Patric Lombo, who will manage daily operations, noted that the space will be open every day from noon until 10 p.m., giving diners plenty of opportunity to sample the diverse menu. The 90‑seat venue will be a welcome addition to Portland’s dining scene, especially after the closure of the former Chez Biso na Biso on Washington Avenue, a different restaurant that shared a name but had no connection to the new venture.

Guests can expect a blend of authentic African flavors and familiar comfort foods, all served in a welcoming, homestyle setting. With its strategic location on Brown Street and the promise of fresh, hearty dishes, Chez Biso is poised to become a new hotspot for locals and visitors alike.