Flying Rhino

Since 2000, Flying Rhino Cafe and Watering Hole has been spicing up Shrewsbury Street with its colorful decor, fun atmosphere, and multinational menu. Flying Rhino defies simple definition, its food best encompassed by two words: eclectic and unpredictable. Flying Rhino 

challenges the traditional paradigm of the restaurant experience, offering classic dishes with a creative twist, inventive sandwiches, globally inspired entrees, tapas-portioned plates, and a multitude of exotic flavors that take your taste buds on a journey. With a menu of great variety and unmistakable quality, it is safe to say that everyone's tastes can be satisfied at Flying Rhino.

Goat Cheese Terrine

Sweet basil pesto and sundried tomato spread harmoniously compliment a generous mound of cool, creamy goat cheese, adorned with pine nuts and warm, toasted Ciabatta bread. This artful appetizer is a cheese lover’s dream – playing out the classic love affair between cheese, basil, tomato, and fresh bread.

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Colorful and fresh, this "Wild Bite Safari" appetizer encourages creative combinations and sampling of different Southeast Asian flavors. Featuring savory seasoned chicken, crisp shredded vegetables, and a choice of two tangy Asian dipping sauces (peanut sauce and soy), these fresh lettuce wraps are a light and flavorful way to satisfy your pre-meal cravings. Playing with your food has never been so rewarding!

Bayou Scallops
Succulent seared scallops rubbed with Cajun seasoning, and drizzled with spicy, creamy Bayou Dijonaise. Served with teriyaki infused rice and grilled asparagus. Light, fragrant, and pleasantly spicy, this dish showcases a fine balance between Cajun flavor and the delicate sweetness of the meat. This “Entrée Coastal” is highly recommended for any seafood fanatic. 

Jack's Sirloin
14 oz grilled strip steak covered with a tangy Jack Daniels demi glace, piled high with crispy fried onion strings, with a potato and vegetables on the side. A long-standing menu favorite, this sirloin bursts with flavor, the smoky meat playing against the sweet piercing flavors of fried onion and Jack Daniels sauce. The steak may be ordered “naked,” but it would be a shame to miss out on the whole experience.

Photos by Hannah Salzman-Gubbay

So where did the Flying Rhino get its name? The rhino - a symbol of size, strength, and rarity - flies around the world and gathers culinary inspirations along the way. Continually evolving and finding new ideas for recipes, the rhino embodies the free spirit and whimsical creativity that lie behind each dish.  

Co-owners Paul Barber and wife Melina originally wanted to open a tapas restaurant, in order to encourage customers to sample a greater variety of flavors. As the Flying Rhino evolved into being, the Barbers found a way to offer both tapas-portioned plates and entrees, all with the originality and diverse ethnic influences that they originally intended. "Menus are always flowing back and forth creatively, giving people a reason to come back," says the culinary couple. Instead of granting full authority to a head chef, the Barbers describe the menu development as a collaborative process. Each dish has a story, inspiration, and personalized touch that bring it to life.  

For Paul and Melina, dining out should be an experience that stimulates all of the senses. This philosophy is evident in the warm, intoxicating colors of the restaurant's interior, thanks to the artistic vision and talents of Melina, who paints the tables and tablecloths so that your food is placed upon a vivid work of art.  

This is a place that reminds you what can be accomplished with quality ingredients, passion, and a little bit of imagination. Comfortable and familiar, yet enticingly exotic, Flying Rhino invites customers to embrace adventure through flavor and fresh cuisine. Flying Rhino also boasts an impressive drink menu, so bring your friends to the "Watering Hole" and enjoy a night on the town. With a highly established reputation for excellence, warm atmosphere, and a menu that speaks for itself, there is no doubt that the Rhino will continue to bring fun, unexpected culinary delights to its customers for long beyond its upcoming 10th anniversary.  

Flying Rhino Cafe. Bold. Original. Delightfully Surprising.