Brazilian acai bowl shop opening soon in Framingham

FRAMINGHAM — There are several spots to buy acai bowls in MetroWest, but Brazilian-born Gabriel Nunes Dias could never find one where the dish was prepared the way he used to eat it back home. 

This month, Dias is opening a Brazilian-style acai bowl restaurant at 102 Irving St. in downtown Framingham. The family-run business — called Acai.com — is opening in a 1,450-square-foot space that previously housed Danny Sullivan’s Irish bar, which closed in December 2018. Another bar, Connery's Inn, operated for many years in that same spot, and it was also later home to The Sports Lounge and The Tavern.

On Aug. 16, the project's common victualler license was approved by the Board of License Commissioners, and all other paperwork has been filed with the city, according to Dias. 

This is Dias' first business. 

Dias, who has lived in Framingham for three years, is originally from Minas Gerais, in southeastern Brazil. He plans to sell Brazilian-style bowls, smoothies and desserts featuring acai berries, an antioxidant-rich superfruit harvested from acai palm trees in Brazil's Amazon region.

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Dias said he wanted a name for the business that linked it to an online presence, but because there's already a business using "Acai.com" as a URL, Dias bought the domain name "Acaiframingham.com" for his business. But he still plans to use Acai.com for the storefront's name. The website is still in progress but will launch soon, he said. 

The name also has a double meaning — in Portuguese, “dot” means “ponto,” or point. “O ponto” translates to “the spot,” and what Dias is trying to bring to Framingham is "the spot" for people to gather and eat acai with friends — the way it's traditionally done in Brazil, he said. 

In Brazil, going to a shop that sells acai bowls means other acai dishes like desserts are also served, and customers can sit, eat with friends and listen to music, said Dias. While no live entertainment is planned for his business, music will be played over speakers, he said. 

The menu

The menu features a choice between small, medium and large acai bowls, served with a wafer straw, two simple toppings and the ability to add extra toppings.  

Simple topping choices include items granola, pineapples, condensed milk, grated coconut, crunchy pearls and Oreo cookie crumble with deluxe toppings like strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, grapes, mango, gummy bears, Paçoca (Brazilian peanut candy) and M&Ms. 

Four types of acai triple bowls are also featured, including the Bueno Trio Bowl, which is topped with white chocolate scrapes, Nutella, a Kinder Bueno chocolate bar and served with a Magnum ice cream bar garnished with strawberries.

Specialty desserts include treats like the Hula-Hula, which is half a pineapple served with acai or ice cream and topped with whipped cream, cherries, a wafer straw, syrup and a simple topping.  

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Acai smoothies will also be offered, along with Brazilian delights, like the chocolate and coconut delight (made with coconut pastry cream and dark chocolate ganache). Other Brazilian snacks, like kibes (Brazilian fried beef), chicken or beef esfiha (meat pies) and chicken croquettes will also be offered.  

Inside will feature seven tables with seating for up to 28 people, said Dias. 

Business hours are expected to be from 1-9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The store is closed on Monday. 

Lauren Young writes about business and pop culture. Reach her at 774-804-1499 or lyoung@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurenwhy__.