After seven years in North Plymouth, Jefes: A Betta Bar & Grille is packing up its tortillas and heading over the bridge. The family-run Mexican-fusion favorite is rebranding and relocating, set to reopen as Jefes Masa Cantina in East Wareham in the former Barnacle Bill’s building on Cranberry Highway. Owners are banking on more parking, better visibility and room for outdoor seating, with an opening anticipated in August or early fall 2026.
New Home At Former Barnacle Bill's
The new spot will be at 3126 Cranberry Highway in East Wareham, a storefront that previously housed Barnacle Bill’s Seafood until 2024, when the state seized its liquor license, according to Wareham Week. Owner Michael Grant Jr. told the paper at a May 19 Select Board meeting that the Plymouth lease is expiring and he is looking for “greener pastures” in Wareham.
Why The Rebrand
In an interview with What Now Boston, Grant said the new name, Jefes Masa Cantina, is meant to shine a brighter spotlight on the restaurant’s “handmade tortillas” and scratch-kitchen roots while keeping the tacos and burritos regulars already love. The outlet reports that the Cantina is expected to debut sometime in August or early fall 2026, depending on construction progress and final approvals. Grant told the outlet the team is developing new dishes inspired by the coastal region and plans to keep many longtime favorites on the menu.
What Stays The Same
Jefes' website lists the current location at 390 Court Street in Plymouth and highlights its hand-pressed, made-to-order tortillas and scratch-made menu, a craft the owners say will come along for the ride to the Cantina. The family-run operation has built a solid South Shore following thanks to its lively bar program and a menu that blends Mexican, Caribbean and Creole influences.
Timing And Transition
Local reporting indicates the Plymouth restaurant will keep serving through the end of June 2026 while the team builds out the Wareham space and pursues final approvals, per Wareham Week. Owners say the Cranberry Highway site offers more parking and higher visibility along a busy commercial corridor, factors they expect will support extended hours and outdoor seating.
What To Expect From The Menu
The rebrand will lean into masa and tortilla-forward dishes, with the team planning to keep longtime favorites while rolling out a handful of new coastal-inspired items. The restaurant has been noted by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism as a Black-owned South Shore spot known for its handmade tortillas and multicultural flavors, a distinction the owners say they want to expand on in Wareham, according to Visit Massachusetts.
For now, regulars still have a few weeks to soak up the Plymouth dining room before the transition kicks into high gear. The team says it will share opening updates as permits and construction move forward.
