Bar Manje brings Caribbean staples with modern twist to Upper West Side | amNewYork

"“I reached out to him about doing something different than what we were doing at Good Enough to Eat at dinner time, and so that's kinda how it came about. I think we both wanted to put something that was new and interesting and exciting in the neighborhood that's different to the Upper West Side.”"

"“When developing the Bar Manje menu, John, first and foremost, wanted to focus on quality food at reasonable prices. There wasn't a particular item that they felt had to be on the menu, but John wanted to experiment with classic dishes and put his own twist on them. We didn't go into about the menu with must-haves. We just wanted to have a good price and a good quality of food.”"

"“I wanted the Caribbean food to be more fun. At other traditional Caribbean restaurants, everywhere would give you curry goat with rice. Oxtails, rice and beans. Some of these are my favorite, but they're more just me playing around with different textures and flavors, and seeing what happens.”"

"“Some of the more popular dishes include the jerk chicken, the oxtail lasagna, and the Jamaican patty, which is offered with three different fillings (goat, beef and veggie) and John only makes 15 patties a day. Other menu items include the Curry Crab Fried Rice, Ackee & Saltfish”"

Bar Manje opened on the Upper West Side at 520 Columbus Ave., taking over the space at night after Good Enough To Eat runs brunch and lunch by day. The restaurant is led by owner Jeremy Wladis and Chef Kingsley John, who previously worked together and chose the timing to offer something new for the neighborhood. The menu development prioritized quality food at reasonable prices, with no fixed must-have items. Chef Kingsley John aimed to make Caribbean food more fun by experimenting with textures and flavors while reworking familiar dishes. Popular offerings include jerk chicken, oxtail lasagna, and Jamaican patties with three filling options, limited to 15 per day, plus Curry Crab Fried Rice and Ackee & Saltfish.

Read at www.amny.com