Four Reasons to Visit Boardwalk Boutiques Plaza on Maple Road in Amherst
Italian, European, Chinese-Cantonese, Thai & Burmese cuisine
“Italian sausage sub near me,” I typed into Google with the hopes of discovering a solution to a specific craving. What I found was even better. This is how I discovered Marco’s Italian Deli at 960 Maple Road in the Boardwalk Boutiques Plaza. In addition to top-notch Italian sandwiches, this plaza is also home to restaurants featuring European, Chinese-Cantonese, Thai & Burmese cuisine.
What I had been craving was just your basic sausage patty sub with the standard cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, on onion. What I found was the Big Johnson, grilled sausage patties with melted provolone, topped with crisp capicola, red sweet peppers, red onion, lettuce, tomato, and a garlic mayo. We also ordered the Sinatra, a steak patty with spinach, portabella mushrooms, Fontanilla cheese, and garlic mayo. We can’t wait to get back and try more of their gourmet “sangwiches,” although we’ll definitely be getting the Big Johnson again. Other menu options includes panini, burgers, traditional submarines, and muffuletto.
Marco’s Italian Deli participates with third party delivery apps but there are about 40 seats for on site dining as well. Just make this your lunch spot because they are only open till four (p.m.), Monday through Saturday.
Eastern Pearl, a Chinese-Cantonese restaurant, anchors the plaza at 938 Maple Road. Jeff and I enjoyed dinner here a few months ago. Jeff’s plate arrived sizzling—marinated and stir fried beef with vegetables in a spicy Szechuan sauce. I kept it simple with an order of chicken chow mein and we shared an order of buffalo chicken rangoon, a special at the time. The menu includes familiar Chinese dishes as well as Cantonese specialties.
Choose Eastern Pearl for dinner, Tuesday through Sunday. They open earlier for lunch, Friday through Sunday. This is a full service restaurant but you can also order takeout through their website.
Roma Thai & Burmese Cuisine at 964 Maple Road, it the business just to the right of Marco’s. Admittedly, it’s been a few years since we last visited this restaurant with friends. I don’t recall all of the dishes that we ordered and shared, but I did still have my pic of the Thai Basil Fried Rice [above]. Open for either lunch or dinner, Tuesday through Saturday, both table service and takeout are available.
To the left of Maroc’s, a newer business finds a home. Filled with Love Cafe and Market at 962 Maple Road, opened in September of 2025 after expanding from their original location in Pendleton. While we have not eaten here, we did pop in to take a look around and discovered an assortment of tempting desserts. Additionally, the menu offers a variety of European-style toasts, bagels, and snackable bites. For beverages, choose from a variety of smoothies or a full coffee bar menu. The market focuses on local, organic, and European inspired foods and a comfortable sitting area is available to gather and relax. Open 8a-5p, Monday through Friday, and 8a-3p, Saturday and Sunday.