I saw an Instagram post about Kabawa and had to check it out. I happened to be in the area yesterday, so I decided to pop in, hoping I'd be able to grab a seat at the bar since they had just opened at 5:30 p.m. I made it there at 5:47, and the place was already almost full, with only about five open seats at the bar. That was a sure sign this was going to be an experience. The host staff was professional and extremely accommodating, seating us immediately after they had a last-minute cancellation. The service was exceptional. The staff was incredibly attentive and helpful, suggesting dishes based on both their favorites and what had been popular with other guests. We chose the three-course prix fixe menu, where you make one selection from the appetizers, main courses, and desserts. To start, they served their spin on roti and fried breadfruit with four dipping sauces: curry chickpeas, a spicy habanero butter, tamarind sauce, and another sweeter sauce. All of them were delicious. For appetizers, we had the pepper shrimp, which was absolutely delicious, and the cassava dumplings served in a hearty vegetable broth--so good. The kitchen also sent out a special treat: fried prawn heads. You eat the entire head, and surprisingly, they were really good. For our mains, we had the skirt steak and curry goat, garnished with curry leaves. The curry goat was delectable. The sides included peas and rice, an amazing salad, beans, a stew, and sweet potato. There was so much food, but everything complemented each other really well. For drinks, we had the Carica Daiquiri with rum, papaya, and lime, and the Abuelo's Old Fashioned with rye, mauby, and pineapple bitters. Both were great. Lastly, I loved the interior design. The colors, wooden wall panels, and traditional wallpaper reminded me of growing up in the Caribbean. I especially loved how the chef incorporated his Bajan roots throughout the restaurant, not only in the food but in the overall aesthetic and experience. All around, 10/10 experience. The food, service, atmosphere, and attention to detail were all excellent. I would definitely go back. read more

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This place completely shattered my theory on appetizers always being the best dishes at a restaurant. The mains were incredible - in fact, the flan is the BEST FLAN I've ever had. We used the chase sapphire opentable credit so much it was less painful on our wallet than some of the other reviewers' I'm not a goat person but the goat was fantastic. The flavors came together so well with the salad, beans, and rice that they brought out. I also loved the complimentary roti. Despite the multiple positive reviews, the shrimp and the bread appetizers were just fine to me. Do not skip the goat or the flan. I am seriously still dreaming about the flan. Honestly, this review is a 5 primarily because of those two dishes and the roti. read more

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A night to remember (for reasons other than the food) So I pulled up on a Wednesday night solo at 7pm. I asked for a walk in and they said it would be probably an hour wait. No biggie right? I got a mocktail and stood waiting However. Somehow. The wait just kept stretching longer and longer. I ended up waiting 3 hours for a seat. Yeah. Now you may ask, "why didn't you leave Scout?" Well. They never told me it wasn't looking good. In fact. They actually kept encouraging me to wait. I was hoping, despite only eating one small meal at 11am that day, that if I sat by 9 and the food was amazing it would be worth it. I didn't sit down until 10:30 pm. Multiple empty seats had somehow passed me by, going to who know who. Then the food. Thankfully by this late hour, there were two seats open, so I texted a friend nearby and he joined me for the meal I waited a century for. We ordered the plantain and another app (I forget which says a lot) to start. Then the fish and the goat as mains. Everything was... good. But nothing took my breath away. Nothing was outstanding. Maybe due to the restaurant being relatively new still. Or maybe just needing more substance over hype. I left happy but also a bit disappointed. I can't say I would return. It didn't feel worth the $450 price tag. Mayyyybe worth 150-200? Sure. But with no wait. Otherwise. I'm eating somewhere else nearby. read more

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Fine dining, great service, good food what more can you ask for. It was great to watch the chef at work skillfully preparing our meals. We left stuffed and with leftovers. Date night was special thanks Kabawa for the attention to detail and making it special. Will definitely be back for that pork belly! Go here!! read more

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- finally got a reservation - they were very accommodating for my last minute guests - delicious drinks - very well made, quality liquor - everything is delicous I cannot recommend a single dish because its a matter of taste I'd recommend go with people and you can try multiple dishes there will be plenty to share i was so stuffed in the end - you get roti to begin your meal - you also get rice, salad, sweet potato with your main - great soundtrack - our dinner lasted roughly2 hours read more

Had a great experience here. It's an open-kitchen concept serving a 3-course meal with plenty of side dishes, and the portions are very generous, so definitely come hungry. The meal started with roti and 4 different sauces, plus a cube of fried cassava. The roti was super flaky and buttery, and all of the sauces were flavorful and paired really well with it. For the appetizer, I got the pepper shrimp, which is served raw. It was well-seasoned and packed with flavor, though a little saltier than I would've liked. For my main, I ordered the bass. It was simple but good. It came with four sides: potato, jollof rice, chickpea soup, and salad. The potato was the highlight for me--I'm still thinking about it. (Tell me, what is that green sauce?! ;) ) Before dessert, they served tamarind as a palate cleanser, which was a nice sweet and tangy transition. I ended with the flan, which was denser than I expected. I also wasn't too impressed with the dessert selection. Overall, the meal was really enjoyable, and the vibe was fun and welcoming. Everyone was incredibly friendly. I also had a great time watching them cook and prepare everything. read more

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Overall this was a very memorable meal that I recommend trying. Dinner felt like an experience, service was impeccable, and many of the dishes I've never had before. The only reason not for 5 stars is one of the mains was under seasoned. But with that said, I'd come back in a heart beat. Ambiance/ Service: elevated casualness, but lively and high energy, fun. Definitely try to sit at the counter if you can - it's so fun to watch them cooking and really adds to the experience. Even though it's casual, this is perfect for a date night or celebration. Service was amazing. Shoutout to the male bald waiter with glasses! Food: prefix menu but you can order à la carte additions for an extra cost. It's only 3 courses, but servings are pretty generous and there are some additional sides & bread so you won't leave hungry. Got the below between two people (we added one first course): -Pepper Shrimp: I should've known - it was soooo hot. If you have a low spice tolerance like me do NOT get lol. But other than that it was good. -Breadfruit Toston: the best first course. Loved this. A must order. -Cassava Dumplings: enjoyed. Warm, hearty. Dumplings reminded me of gnocchi. -Cobia: citrusy, refreshing sauce. Fish was a bit under salted though. -Goat: best main for sure. This feels like a must order. -Coconut Turnover: omgggg. Just order it. I will dream of this. It's basically a light doughy cinnamon roll in loaf form. read more

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Saw an article on Kabawa in the WSJ and was so intrigued by the concept of a fine dining, three-course tasting Caribbean experience. I made a reservation for two on a weeknight -- a couple weeks in advance. As soon as we stepped from the alleyway in East Village and through the doors, we were transported to the islands with deep, rich earthy hues, tropical patterns, and vibey music. The open kitchen takes center stage and the majority of the seating is at a giant wooden counter surrounding the kitchen. However, there are a few table seats available along the front wall of the restaurant. We were seated at the countertop and enjoyed the view of the kitchen in action. The menu is a three course prix fixe, but you can add dishes on for an additional cost. We each got different dishes so we could try a bit of everything: pepper shrimp (note, this comes raw!), mushroom pastel, cassava dumplings, duck sausage, black bass, and for dessert, the frozen treat of the day (coconut sorbet). Everything was absolutely fantastic from the service to the flavors to the presentations. There wasn't a dish I wouldn't get again. It took everything in me not to scrape the bottom of my plate to get every last morsel. The meal also included a roti appetizer to start with 4 different sauces/dips such as plantain mash, chickpea curry and chutneys. The entrees were accompanied by a spread of four different sides including, rice & beans, sweet potato and a fresh salad. The fresh tamarind in the shell was a surprise palate cleanser and it was super fun to eat! The staff were all very friendly and welcomed all guests with open arms. The cocktail and wine options are equally on theme, innovative, and high quality. Overall it was quite a flavorful feast and I enjoyed every single second of it! read more

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Tucked in a little sidewalk and next door is drinks by kabawa. I made a resy here and they have hooks by the counter. Love the open kitchen concept and it's cool to watch them prep the food in front of you. They also have a few tables on the side for dining but highly recommend counter seating. It's a 3 course menu but in between they give you some snacks from the kitchen. They gave me roti with 4 different sauces to dip to start with. I chose the pepper shrimp which is their raw red shrimp with thyme, goat for the main course and the birthday flan for dessert. I thought the pepper shrimp was overall a bit too salty. I saw the octopus and it looked really good on a crispy flatbread. The goat was good and fell apart nicely. Then they also gave me rice, a bowl of pinto beans, salad, and sweet potato. They also have a wine flight and cocktails/wine. They serverd a tamarind as a palate cleanser then finally dessert. Service was really good here but was it worth $145 pp meh. read more

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The wine pairing is so fun! The somm was really knowledgeable and it was really fun to have choices and try so many different things. Felt like you were at a friends place. The food is quite rich and you'll leave absolutely stuffed. They do not skimp on portion. Favorite was the goat and the pepper shrimp. read more

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Kabawa isn't a restaurant. It's an experience. It's 145 dollars prix fixe. You sit around the kitchen at the chef's counter (though there are a couple of traditional tables) and watch the chefs cook. The chefs interact with you and tell you about each dish. They are extremely affable and kind. The servers are also amazing, keeping your water filled, keeping your space clean, dishes bussed. You start out with a tray of dips and roti. The dips are all so different and taste great. They are light and a great starter. The first course can be plantains, cash sofrito, pepper shrimp, breadfruit toston (octopus with dog sauce and capers), mushroom pastel (steamed green banana and mushroom picadillo), or cassava dumplings (strewed with creole sauce and cucumber). I had the cassava dumplings and it was light, savory, and the cucumbers were just the right amount of refreshing. The entree course offers legumes, cobia, black bass, jerk duck sausage, skirt steak, chuletas can can (pork chop including loin, ribs, belly, and skin, brined, roasted, and deep fried). I had the goat, which was fall apart moist and tender and flavorful. For dessert I had the coconut turnover, which is made for two. It's HUGE. I could only finish part of it. Other choices are matrimony (citrus fruits and condensed milk), flan, or the frozen treat of the day. I also had their gin martini (very crisp, clean, strong). The swanky panky, made with mezcal, pineapple amaro, and limewash, Smoky. I also had the sorrel daiquiri made with rum, hibiscus, lime, and spices. It was also smoky and complex. I loved the experience so much that I went next door to Bar Kabawa (reviewed separately) to enjoy more cocktails. read more

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One of the best meals I've had in a really long time. The pepper shrimp was delicious and they give you this bread platter that includes bammy and roti!!! I ordered the goat, and I loved it. I also got the monk seal drink, and the coconut milk gave it such a creamy feel. I really loved the coconut turnover for dessert; it was so big but I could have eaten one on my own, that's how good it was. I'll definitely go again. read more

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Definitely deserves their title of best in NYC! I absolutely enjoyed everything from their tasting menu but my favorite dish was that coconut dessert, my goodness how I dream about that dessert! Beautiful chefs table design. Highly recommend! read more

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Some of the best food we've had in NYC. The ambiance is largely unchanged from the former Momofuku restaurant that was in the space, it's slightly industrial, large and open and dimly lit but not too dark. The server did not lead us astray with the food at all but I would say she wasn't the friendliest either. Not necessarily a bad thing read more

Kabawa - Goat (top right) and white fish (I think it was madai? Can't remember the name exactly, top left). - Caribbean Near Me - New York, New York

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One of the best meals I've had this year. Fine dining, but with little to no fussiness, just lots of tasty and interesting takes on Caribbean food. Service is top notch and warm. It's $145 for three courses along with a couple snacks on the way. The food was really well executed. Highlight was the steak we got (with a hefty supplement) which was covered in cassareep. It's a Caribbean take on a big steak and it's delicious. The coconut turnover was awesome as well. read more

I was at this very hard-to-get-into Caribbean spot a week ago or so with four others last Thursday. The place is small with a good amount of bar seating around where they cook, along with three flat tops (with us sitting at the larger one,) with the servers being professional and also knowledgeable about the menu. To drink, I had a Sorrel, which was $7 and nice (though my Jamaican coworker makes a better one, of course,) with someone else having a cocktail. They only serve one thing, which is a tasting menu for $145 a person, not including some large add-ons, with us ordering the entree and dessert add-on. To start, they give us two large plates as our amuse. The platters had Roti (another person presumed packaged but still tasty) as well as some Bami/Bammy, a cassava flatbread with a fun chewy texture. The breads were served with four dips: Pepper jelly with butter, plantain ginger chutney, curried chickpeas/channa, and a mango chutney. They were all well varied in flavor, with my preference being the excellent pepper jelly, which had a bit of a kick, along with the plantain chutney, as there were some nice warming spices. The curried chickpeas were nice, though I have preferred the more flavorful ones from some spots in Crown Heights, and the mango chutney was a tad sweet, of course, but was different than what I've seen before with larger pieces of mango. My favorite of the appetizers and possibly my favorite thing of the night was the Pepper Shrimp, or raw royal red shrimp with sorrel, scotch bonnet, and thyme. Outside of looking pretty due to the purple sorrel, the dish had a kick from the scotch bonnet, but not too much, along with some fruitiness. The raw shrimp texture went wonderfully with everything, and I would highly recommend this. The rest of the people loved the comparatively much larger Breadfruit Tostón with octopus, dog sauce, and capers, which I had to avoid due to my allergy. The Cassava Dumplings stewed with creole sauce and cucumber was also tasty and the lightest of the dishes, with the slightly chewy dumplings almost being mochi-like, and the chew was nice with the tomatoes and onion flavor. Finally, there was the Mushroom Pastel with steamed green banana and mushroom picadillo, which was fine. Though the mushrooms were well-cooked and it had an interesting texture with the plantain, the flavors sounded more interesting than it actually tasted. For main dishes, we ordered four, as one of them was an add-on for two people for an extra $75. The main dishes came with a few sides consisting of some sweet potatoes glazed with pineapple, some cooked-down tasty beans, a simple salad with a nice citrusy dressing, and some very tasty rice. My favorite of the main dishes was the Goat with spicy scallop creole. The goat was very tender, lacking any gamey flavor, and the sauce was delicious with habanero, dried scallop, and curry. It had a bit of funk, a lot of heat, and a lot of spices, and was perfect with the rice, and I would heavily recommend it. The add-on was, of course, the massive Chuletas Can Can served with recaito, which I would only really recommend if you have at least three people, as it is gigantic and a bit one-note. This consists of several different cuts of pork and includes a massive bone, which someone very much enjoyed munching on. This was very rich and fatty, with some pieces having a bit too much of a chew, and I think in general, it needed more acidity, such as how Crispy Pata is served with habanero vinegar in Filipino spots, with the only reprieve being the small salad to help cut down the richness. The remaining two entrees were a bit less notable but still pretty tasty. There was the "Jerk" Duck Sausage with poblano, which had some nice spice but was comparatively a lot smaller. The Skirt Steak with onions and green olives was also fine. The steak was tender with a bit of chew, as expected for the type, but the lack of sauce made it a tad boring outside of the olives, which was a fun twist. Finally, we split all the desserts (after munching on free tamarind,) with one of them being an add-on. Said add-on was my favorite of the bunch, which was the Coconut Turnover with caramelized coconut and cream cheese, which is an extra $15 for two and is very large. The soft texture of the turnover reminded me and someone else of the Chinese coconut pastries, with the filling being lightly sweet and pleasant, while the frosting wasn't too rich. This paired nicely with the Sorbet of the day, which was coconut as well, which was small but well prepared. The Birthday Flan with caramel and sprinkles was also well-made. It wasn't the largest piece of flan, but the texture was excellent. Last was the Matrimony, or a variety of citrus fruits and condensed milk, which was the lightest. The mix was a tad boring with a bit too much grapefruit. Out of review room. Not everything worked but I'd recommend if you can get in. read more

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Pretty good! Had some high expectations for this place, not sure if all were met but I would definitely come again. Menu was 3-course prix fixe for 145. Came with a friend and we shared so got to try two things for the app and main, then we got the $10 supplement coconut turnover for 2 for dessert. Mains came with rice and beans, salad, and sweet potatoes. I think my favorite course was the bread service. Probably the best roti I've had LOL and I loved the guava chutney and curry chickpea that came with it. I loved having reimagined Caribbean food, however, I'm not sure if there was anything I had that made me feel compelled to return. Also the palate cleanser was just a tamarind. I guess it's a novelty for most patrons but I grew up eating them. Nostalgic for sure but I wish they did something with it for that $145 we were paying. Coconut turnover was just okay to me as well. It reminded me of a common dessert in the Philippines called pan de coco - sweetened, grated coconut-filled enriched bread. Was their coconut turnover better? It had a cream cheese icing on it, but I don't think so. Bread was kind of tough. Service was really the star of this place. Laughed with our server and they genuinely make you feel like they love having you there. I would come back just to hang LOL read more

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I had dinner with my husband and another couple at Kabawa yesterday, and the experience was underwhelming, to say the least. The price was extremely egregious for the level of service and quality of food. It's a prix fixe menu with a starter, main, and dessert. The highlights of the meal included the free roti and bammy, along with the desserts. The deconstructed pepper shrimp was okay, but not amazing. I would have much rather had the real thing with a true spice kick. All the main courses tasted okay, not great. To top it off, the service was extremely slow. I mean, extremely. We waited an hour and a half for our main course, and then another 40 minutes for dessert. At the end, the bill was $1,200 before tip!! Huh?!? Make it make sense. The food and service did not match the price tag. I would never go back. read more

Kabawa - Black bass - Caribbean Near Me - New York, New York

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Kabawa is probably one of the most hyped restaurants in the city currently, so I obviously had to give it a try. Yes, it is a bit overhyped, but overall I had a great experience here. I dined here with a friend and together we got to try many dishes from their menu. The flavor profiles are not subtle here and they are not afraid to use spice when they want to. I think everything was quite good to excellent. The least memorable dish for me was probably the pepper shrimp although I know many people consider this their favorite. I personally didn't like the texture or the aggressive seasoning. However, I really enjoyed the roti (bread) course, the black bass, and the coconut turnover for dessert. It's definitely not a cheap meal but the food is plentiful and service was on point. I would come back and definitely plan on trying the bar next door. read more

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I had a quick 24 hours in NY and my friend informed me we had dinner reservations at Kabawa. I live in Texas so this restaurant was not on my radar and, I happily chose not to research as I wanted to be surprised. All I can say is WOW! This was one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time! From the moment we entered Kabawa everyone was curteous and kind! Every single person I encountered. We were a bit early to our reservation so we went next door to Bar Kibawa. What I loved is if you start there with cocktails, someone will come get you when your table is ready. Also, whatever you order transfers to your final bill so need to close out. We had seating at the bar which, I think is preferred as you get to interact with the staff preparing the food. Did I mention how kind everyone is? The menu is prix fixe with multiple options for each course. Kabawa is Caribbean cuisine meets fine dining. I opted for: pepper shrimp, goat, and birthday flan. My friend ordered: breadfruit tostón, black bass, and the sorbet of the day (coconut). The presentation and the flavors were PHENOMENAL. And it may not sound like we ordered a lot but there were delicious surprises along the way so bring your appetite. Again, everyone was kind! Jody our server, Denzel in the kitchen, and the gentleman from Haiti (forgot his name) that made sure we ate to our hearts desire! read more

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This restaurant is a tad overhyped and overpriced but the outstanding service and wide variety of food representing almost the entire Caribbean region make it a must visit. The bussup shut to start the meal was stellar with warm chickpeas and chutney to open up the palate. The goat shoulder is probably the best goat dish I've ever had. The chef mentioned that it was brined and slow cooked for three hours in a zingy Creole sauce with habanero peppers. Our waiter was very helpful and brought us off menu cocktails from Bar Kabawa next door including an amazing daiquiri with white rum. The coconut turnover for dessert is humongous but so worth it with shredded sliced coconut on a nine inch buttery loaf. The ambience is upbeat and the open kitchen concept is lovely. read more

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We would come back here any day, the experience from start to finish was out of this world. Their attention to details is impeccable and the food choices were amazing. We love the way the menu is setup to choose one from each section while also giving extras to make the meal complete. It was way too much food since we were enjoying it all. The environment is also so fun with the staff in front of you and the fun vibes all around. I hope everyone can see how great this spot is! read more

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Still incredible. The chuletas were everything I had wished for, and the cassava dumplings were another new favorite. The pepper shrimp remains a hall of fame dish, and my wife absolutely loved the skirt steak. The coconut turnover also remains incredible. read more

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Had a great time dining here last Thursday. Revisiting the NYC 100 best restaurants in NYC, and picked this place as a go to spot to catch up with a friend. The Prix Fixe menu isn't cheap, but it seemed very reasonable for what you get and the vibe. We decided to split the big sips wine pairing at the Sommeliers' recommendation, and tried two cocktails on top. Overall it was a fun experience, and I believe is deserves a spot on the top 100. I'm glad I went, and would go back. I would give this 5 stars except for the up charging. There are a lot of upcharges and some of them really don't seem worth it. Cons: Up charging. We paid the cost of almost a half another person to upgrade an app and a desert. The $50 extra for plantains seemed unbalanced (caviar is expensive, but there was not enough to justify the cost). It was tasty, but not a lot of caviar for the price. The 15$ extra for the coconut turnover seemed the most egregious. While very nice to look at, I wouldn't pay more than 15$ for the whole thing. The fact that there is an upcharge, and you have to split, means it is essentially the price of 3 desserts. The other free deserts looked yummy as well. Pros: The entrees were both spot on. I was worried about getting the duck sausage because I thought it might be too greasy, but it was well balanced and what I was hoping for, not what I was afraid of. The wine collection is pretty solid since it inherited from Momofuku's space, and the big sips wine tasting was fun, but a lot of it was wasted on us, as cheaper wine would have done the same trick. The quantity was as stated about 3 glasses for the same price as the main. However, the opening champagne was a highlight and both my friend and I looked into buying it for ourselves after. Details: I cam with a friend and we decided to split everything to try the most possible. I had the corn whiskey drink (Mam-Akasan) and my friend had the Sorel. He liked mine, and I liked his, so let's call it a wash. The were both well made. Overall the cocktails were solid and I would order more in the future. I used to pick breadfruit in Hawaii, but haven't seen it since, so was excited to try the octopus breadfruit tostadas. We also started with the plaintains with caviar. The mains were Duck sausage and the Goat Curry. Finally we split the Coconut turnover for desert. All paced well facing a chic open kitchen design. The Breadfruit Tostada, was tasty, but a little too fried for me to really taste the breadfruit. The octopus was well prepared. The Plantains with caviar were yummy. Plaintains are usually delicious, I am not sure the caviar adds that much depth too it, so caviar with plaintains won't be my new go to, but it was fun to pair, and went well together. The roti platter with different sauces came out, and hit the spot. Only one thing really stood out. My favorite was the fried casava cubes. The roti and dips were all solid, and the presentation was nice, but not something I would travel for, e.g Shukette's bread etc. I do prefer Malaysian style roti, but roti is delicious. Pro tip I learned later, ask for more roti to sop up the curry if I had planned ahead. The sips from the cellar started to flow by this time as well. I asked if there was a preference, or a tasting combo, and was told that it was just an open type of enjoyment. Not really catered to the food, but just good wines they are enjoying. Everything besides the desert was on the drier side, which I liked. The Champagne to start was the highlight. The Sommelier clearly enjoyed his job and I believe he was enjoying sharing wines he picked with the guests. The entrees are what stood out to me. They were both excellent and really brought everything together. The goat curry was just awesome. Nothing really to comment on. It was well balanced presented well and tasted great. The duck sausage was also excellent. They said there is a whole duck in the sausage, so I was worried it would be unctuous, but it was crisp and tasty. I really enjoyed it, especially as I almost skipped it worrying that it would be to fatty, and the safe dish backup would have been bass. The penultimate dish was a added palate cleanser, fresh Tamarind on ice. I have read others from India and Asia less excited about this, because it is much more common there. However, this was the first time I tried it fresh, and the first time is always more of an experience (same thing with finger limes at EMP). Tamarind is surprisingly yummy on its own. The final dish, I saw others getting and was glad we ordered it. The coconut turnover. It looks great. But taking the spot of 2 deserts, and with an up charge, it really needs to shine, and tbh, it just didn't. Maybe the most disappointing dish we had there. It was tasty enough, but didn't shine in anyway besides presentation. It tasted like a yummy coconut loaf, but not so elevated it is hard to find elsewhere. I would go back. I might avoid up charges. Pork looked great though! read more

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We had a very good experience here and would definitely go back. A lot of food for sure, so come hungry! Dishes that stood out: - Royal red shrimp - so good, will get 2 of these next time - Jerk duck sausage - very good Others were good: goat shoulder (a very tender curry) We skipped the pork as we'd heard it was just OK. Very fun to watch them cook it in front of you though. The tamarind pre-dessert which the NYT described as "the loveliest palate cleanser in town" was just OK but a very small morsel of food. I don't really get what is so "lovely" about this. People eat this in my hometown (Hanoi) all the time? The ambience was very lively and great. I love the bar seats around the kitchen concept. We saw the chef and he seemed like a rockstar walking around his stage. It was awesome. Everyone seemed happy to be there and sometimes that is all you need on a Friday night. read more

For the food alone I'd give 3 stars, but rounding up to a 4 given the strength of the service. The food is solid overall, but the flavors just didn't pop for me. We ordered the Pepper Shrimp, Octopus, Chuletas Can-Can and Coconut Turnover. The Coconut Turnover is luscious and a must-order (especially with a side of the Coconut Sorbet). The Chuletas Can-Can was cooked exceptionally well but the sauce and flavorings fell flat. We ordered a side of the guava chutney from the bread course to go with it, which added the much needed oomph (highly recommend the pairing!). The Octopus and Shrimp were fine but nothing that I'd crave in the future. We stuck with cocktails for the evening and had a similar experience, flavors were fine but nothing popped. Definitely make sure to sit at the Chef's counter. Fun to watch the food being prepared. Everyone was super friendly and happy to explain the preparations. Kabawa is worth trying and it's awesome that this style of cuisine is getting exposure as a fine dining experience. I just don't think I'll be back. read more

I had the pleasure of dining here this past week with some friends and had no idea what to expect, except that it was a 3 course prix fix Caribbean menu. The reality was so much more than that. The restaurant is right next to its sister establishment, Bar Kabawa and once you get inside there's a bar behind the host stand for waiting for your table. The restaurant itself is an open kitchen concept, with bar seating surrounding the kitchen in the center, and then seating at tables on the edges of the restaurant. Our server, who is so kind and amazing, explain to us how the restaurant worked and answered all of our questions about specific ingredients and spice levels. For drinks, I weny for fresh coconut water, and my friend had the pink soda. Both were super refreshing! Afterwards, we put in our order for all 3 courses at once. As a party of 4, we all tried each others dishes, so I'll write our thoughts on each below. Pepper Shrimp: this was easily my favorite. These are raw shrimp PACKED with flavor. So unique and refreshing. Seasoned perfectly, even if you don't like spicy food, you would like these. More peppery than anything. Soooo good. Breadfruit Tostón: The octopus and sauce on top was great. I love breadfruit but these were fried and pretty oily, so I couldn't have too much at once. Cobia: Delicious, light yet filling fish. Skirt Steak: If you want something a bit heavier, this is great. I loved the charred taste and the olives paired perfectly. Goat: Can be spicy for some but was just perfect for me and made even better leftovers! So tender and flavorful in each bite. The curry was perfection as well. Matrimony: Grapefruit, blueberries and other citrus. A good option for a light dessert as you will be stuffed by the time this course comes around. Coconut Turnover: One of their hits and for a good reason. Rich coconut in every bite. Very large portion as well, meant to be shared between two people. On that note, all portions are perfect/generous in my opinion. In addition to this, the restaurant also brings out small plate surprises in between and with courses! We had roti with four kinds of sauces. Roti was super flaky and served with fried cubes of what I think was cassava but I'm not sure. Every sauce/dip was incredible. This was such a great bread course. With our meal came rice, pinto beans, sweet potato like wedges and salad. The rice was soooo good, as was everything else. After our main course they served us tamarind on ice. I had never had tamarind still in the shell like this and thought it was cool to experience as a sort of palate cleanser before dessert. You will leave here stuffed!! I'm so glad I asked for to go boxes! The staff is super friendly and really takes care of attention to detail. The place itself has a lot of wonderful details added as well, from the patterned aprons to the Caribbean radio clips playing in the bathroom. I'd love to return here, especially to check out Bar Kabawa! read more

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Had a wonderful time at the newly opened Kabawa. The menu is organized into three sections for a prixe fixe of $145 without tip and tax. We picked one option from each of the three sections, and were also served a delicious bread course with accompaniments. The entree course also came with a collection of sides and rice. I found the flavors to be very satisfying, as every bite of food was delicious. The drinks were also rum forward, just like the bar side! read more

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Absolute must visit. We started off with Buss Up Shot (roti) and four dips, including a curry chickpea dip that was one of the best things I had all night. The Pepper Shrimp appetizer bursts with scotch bonnet flavor yet holds the line when it comes to the heat. The Goat, which is brined and slow cooked for hours, melts into a creole sauce that is so spicy it will hurt a little, but is also so good that you will eat through the pain. The only disappointment was the Black Bass, which was tough and featured a curry sauce that fell flat in comparison to other dishes. Pre-dessert you receive a raw tamarind as a palate cleanser, and at our service Chef Carmichael came around to show us how to crack it open which was a great touch. We ended on the highest note with the Coconut Turnover, described as a coconut Cinnabon and topped with a cream cheese frosting. I highly recommend counter service, which lends itself to parties of two, and the dress code is resort casual so you won't be out of place dressing up in fun colors and prints. @alex.eats.365 read more

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Overall a very enjoyable meal and great vibes. The restaurant is set with a large counter surrounding the kitchen area though there were a few tables. It didn't feel loud at all though and it somehow struck a nice balance between a communal meal but with intimate seating. The staff were all so kind and attentive, never overbearing. The meal is $145 for 3 courses with roti starter. It actually turned out being a pretty filling amount of food with all the sides and size of each. The roti came with a potato and 4 different accompaniments - each varied in spices and were tasty to mix and mash. To start was the breadfruit toston featuring octopus - pretty good and tender but wasn't too memorable, overall a solid dish. Easy to eat and well put together. The main I had goat with rice, beans, salad and over sauce creole. Cooked to be so tender and cut easily, warm, filling and so much flavor with the sauce. You can get extra roti to mop up sauce as well. The spiciness was balanced well with accompaniments - salad and rice. The beans were soft and hearty. Cocktail was a non alcoholic lime soda type drink that was delicious Dessert was so cool! A lemon sorbet served in coconut, provided with a fork to break off inner coconut that gave contrast and extra texture to the sorbet, was so sweet and good. With more people I'd recommend getting different dishes to share and sample as there really ends up being a very good amount of food and I was quite full from these courses alone. Can't wait to return! read more

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The best meal we've had this year. Everything was stellar -- food, service, atmosphere. We had the shrimp and the breadfruit tostone to start, then my husband got the skirt steak and I got the goat for main course. We split the coconut pastry for dessert. The meal also comes with a bread service: roti with four different dips and some fried cassava. With the main course, we were also given beans and rice and sweet potato. Plus, some fresh tamarind before dessert. I'm not sure I could pick a favorite thing -- the goat perhaps? It was certainly the thing with the most heat (I expected the shrimp, with the scotch bonnet, to be, but they weren't overly fiery). A lot of food, that's for sure. read more

The food was decent. Everything was seasoned well. The roti platter with the sauces was amazing. The chicken entree I ordered called Calypso Chicken (seasonal item so it's not on the main menu) came with the head and feet in the plate, which I'm sure might be off-putting to some guests. My server should have been more transparent explaining that to me. The ambiance was not what I expected. The restaurant is marketed as Caribbean inspired, but there were missed opportunities to really create that vibe. The kitchen staff worked very hard, and I appreciate that, but I thought that the seating around the kitchen area would mean a bit more of an interactive experience with the staff. For the price, I thought that some of what I was paying for would be atmosphere and I didn't really get that. Sidenote: The bathrooms were clean and looked well maintained. read more

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At this point I've been to Kabawa twice and I was blown away both times. The first time I went for a Chase Reserve event and the second time I went after making a reservation with a friend. One thing that stuck out to me is that the service and the staff were the same on both nights. They didn't treat the patrons any "better" on the curating event night than on the regular night. I loved sitting at the counter and chatting with the chefs about the food and its preparation. I truly believe sitting at a counter is the best way to dine. Every single thing I had was delicious. If I had to pick a favorite, it was probably the octopus. So good!!! read more

Incredible experience. Fine dining thats filling! Vibes and flavors that I couldnt help but love. I saw a couple of chefs I follow on social media raving about Kabawa and got lucky enough to snag a reservation. Its Caribbean fare so right up my alley. Its easily the best high-end Caribbean food I have had. It hits those soulful back home flavors with incredible flair and execution. The portions are bigger than typical fine dining places as well, which is greatly appreciated because there is nothing worse than spending $200 on dinner and then still being hungry. We started with complimentary bussup bread course which was delicious and spot on. Next was the cassava dumplings and breadfruit toston (there was two of us) the cassava are formed like gnnochi, it wasn't my favorite thing but wasn't bad. However, the breadfruit Toston was amazing. We had the Cobia and Goat for second course. Cobia was executed perfectly, it was a little on the sweeter side and delicious. I've never had Cobia before it was flaky and the flavors were really clean. The Goat was super flavorful. I will say I deeply respect the chefs for staying true to their roots because it is spicy as hell. Caribbean spicy, not American lol. So be warned that it has a significant kick but it is delicious. The entrees come with a tasty salad, some rice, and some korean yams. I was full after that but made room for the Matrimony (citrus in condensed milk) it was light and bright. Nice way to end my meal. Had several cocktails, don't remember the names but there were really good. The only downside to my experience was it took a long time (30 mins) to be seated. I wasn't in a rush but it was a pretty long wait. read more

The beau and I hit this place as soon as we read that it was named a top 10 restaurant in NYC. We got an early reservation and arrived at the restaurant oddly located down a wide dead end alleyway. Our server Anne was just incredible. She elevated the entire experience with unrivaled service and conversation. While the prix fixe menu is pricey, the quality and authenticity of the food nearly warrants it. The three courses are supplemented with bread, dips, and various sides. The goat is a must and the coconut turnover will blow your mind. A lovely and fun spot with mostly bar seats that I'd love to sit at next time to watch the chefs at work. Also, go next door for a nightcaps, especially if you like rum! read more

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Elevated dining meets Caribbean cuisine at Kabawa. Make sure you get a counter seat so you can watch the open kitchen, it's definitely impressive! Service is friendly, and the food is certainly unique and every dish is thoughtfully put together. Must gets: the octopus breadfruit toston as a starter, the cobia as the main, and end with the birthday flan. Honorable mentions: the chuletas can can as a main and the coconut turnover for dessert (although both may be too heavy to eat in one sitting, so take it home as leftovers!) I enjoyed my experience here and the dishes are likely not something I can whip up at home. read more

Kabawa - Caribbean Near Me - New York, New York

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Overpriced for flavors you can find in authentic restaurants in queens. The blend of Caribbean delicacies is overworked here. Tamarind is an accessible common fruit in any Caribbean grocery. read more

kabawa, a formal counterpart of Bar Kabawa, finally opened, and we made sure to make reservations for their 3-course prix fixe experience! From Chef Carmichael and Momofuku, the menu features a 'distinct perspective' on Caribbean cuisine. Choices of our 1st course were: +Breadfruit Toston - octopus with dog sauce and capers +Plantain - scrambled egg with salt cod and caviar For the 2nd course, we opted for: +Black Bass with curry +Goat with spicy scallop creole For the dessert and last course, we went for: +Coconut Turnover with caramelized coconut and cream cheese +and, the Matrimony - citrus fruits with condensed milk Service was friendly, and the wrap-around counter seating was great. +3-course prix fixe +friendly service read more

his restaurant deserves to be on every best list it's currently on. Started with the breadfruit toston octopus with dog sauce, then the cobia, which was so flavorful and ended the night with coconut sorbet. The service was exceptional and being able to see the kitchen in action was a treat. read more

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The food here was very good, but it isn't anything you won't find for way cheaper in any Caribbean neighborhood in the city (of which there are many). However, the prices are borderline extortionate for what you're getting - $145 for one appetizer, a main, and small dessert. The main comes with no individual sides - just a small bowl of beans and a few sides to SHARE. The curry fish was good, but not great. The set menu is one thing, but the centerpiece kan kan is an additional $75 surcharge for the person ordering....and there's a $50+ fee for the other person who did not order it as well?? So the price of ordering kan kan is basically the cost of having another person at dinner. Insane and insulting. Service is good but they do that thing where they fold your napkin every time you get up, and it's kind of annoying and creepy. And for a celebration, they added a candle to the dessert but nothing was comped or brought to the table (for an over $500 meal, this is crazy to me). Ambiance is fine, the big centerpiece seems to be the open kitchen which adds nothing for those seated at tables. I also suspect they make most of the food behind closed doors. A lot of hype but not a lot of payoff. We had great cocktails and patties at their namesake bar next door before dinner, and I'd stick to that if you want to go here. read more