Congolese Restaurant Chez Biso Takes Over Former Portland Sushi Space

A restaurant serving Central African food is set to open on Oct. 10 at 11 Brown St. in Portland, the Portland Press Herald reported.

Chez Biso, a 90-seat venue owned by Joceline Lesso with her husband, Patric Lombo, as general manager, is moving into the storefront last occupied by Tokyo Sushi Ramen.

Lesso previously ran a restaurant in the Congo and later worked in Maine as a caterer, cooking out of a shared commercial kitchen, according to Heritier Nosso, who advises the couple on the business. Nosso said customers pushed her toward a permanent location after she wound down the catering operation, citing demand from Congolese, Angolan, Rwandan and Burundian diners who have few local options for the cuisine.

The menu is to include fumbwa, a stew made with wild spinach; liboke ya mbisi, fish cooked in banana leaves; and pork feet simmered with beans, alongside American standards such as smashburgers, fish and chips, wings and lobster rolls.

The name translates from Lingala as "at our home," and Nosso said the goal is for guests to feel they are eating a home-cooked meal rather than dining out.

He added that Chez Biso na Biso, a former Washington Avenue restaurant with a similar name, had separate owners and is not connected to the new business.

This story was first reported by Portland Press Herald - Maine Sunday Telegram.