Most of his early memories of cooking are in his grandfather’s kitchen. “He was the most amazing chef,” Chris smiles. “I used to stand on a wooden stool and we would make arancini together. I remember trying to imitate his every move and just hoping that one day I would have that sort of talent and love for cooking.”

Now, Chris stands in the center of his very own kitchen at Sip Wine Bar on Washington Street, poking fun at a chef named Sammy as he carefully places four mini arancini onto a plate coated with oven roasted tomato sauce. “Everyone on my staff has been with me for over five years…they’re like my family,” Chris says as he nods to the chef. “Sammy’s the only one who knows my grandfather’s recipe.” Around the corner, Chef Peter arranges the spicy tuna cho—a combination of rice, spicy tuna, and scallions inside a beautiful layer of freshly sliced avocado and sprinkled with bright red tobiko.

Chris brings out the two dishes plus a dozen more for me to try. Each plate is more brightly colored and delicious then the next. From salads and sandwiches to flatbreads and sushi, the eclectic menu has something for everyone. Even better, the most intricate dish can be prepared in eight minutes—a fast-paced, yet upscale dining experience perfect for the Theatre District.

“I spent two years talking to people to find out what sort of dining options they want to see in Downtown Boston,” Chris says. “The menu goes all over the board with ethnicity and plate size because that’s what people want.”

The upscale-casual restaurant also has more than 45 different wines to choose from, some of them showcased on a grand chalkboard wall located in the main dining room. Wine is presented in four ways—a sip so you can try different varieties, a half glass, a full glass, or by the bottle. I wash each bite down with a sip from the daily wine flight selection of spicy South African reds.

When I’m almost certain that I can’t eat anymore, Chris tells me that we should visit his other Downtown restaurant Papagayo. The Mexican restaurant and tequila bar is located just steps away on West Street.

“This neighborhood didn’t exist a few years ago, but that’s all changing,” he tells me as we walk along Washington Street. “As new developments, restaurants and bars continue to draw more people in, the area has become more approachable and the Boston Improvement District (BID) is working hard to keep it clean and safe. Believe it or not, when we first opened Papagayo, we were the only restaurant on the block—now there are 10, so it’s our priority to create relationships with the locals and offer great food, drinks, and service.”

Papagayo stands the test of time. The interior combines bright, colorful paintings and Mexican art with old-world Bostonian charm. In fact, the wood tequila bar located on the first floor is the original. According to Chris, the scuffs and nicks seen in the wood pre-date Papagayo and come from patrons spending late nights dancing on the bar after having one too many cocktails.

As for the menu, Papagayo is known for its hand-hacked guacamole and street tacos. The fish tacos are a crowd favorite and combine pan-seared tilapia with avocado, cabbage slaw, and green garlic mojo sauce carefully stacked on a soft flour tortilla. I add a little extra guac to the mix because, why not? Chris has the bartender prepare the Rona Rita, a house specialty drink that consists of a massive frozen margarita with a salted rim and topped with an upside down Coronita beer—the perfect drink for those who can’t decide between liquor and beer (and it tastes good, too!). From the fresh ingredients to the list of over 180 tequilas, Papagayo is one of the most unpretentious, casual, and authentic restaurants in the neighborhood.

So, what’s next for Chris Damien?

“Right now I’m focusing on making Sip and Papagayo even more stellar,” he says. “The secret to a truly successful restaurant is working and improving within the four walls—and I don’t mean the walls of the restaurant—I mean the minute I walk out my front door at Millennium Tower into the Downtown Boston neighborhood.”