New York….The New Negril Village
After many months of hearing about the Caribbean restaurant Negril Village nestled in Greenwich Village, I decided to see for myself what all the buzz was about. Upon arriving late Sunday evening, I at first glance noticed how strikingly fashionable and cozy the place felt. The decor was of vibrant earthy tones, that can make any frown turn into a smile. Let’s not forget the bamboo flooring.There were paintings presumed of local artists from Jamaica which in a sense prepared you and your taste buds for what’s to come.
I was immediately seated…literally right next to the bar which gave me a birds eye view of the interaction between the bartender and the waiter/waitress. The staff were uniformed in black button down shirt and black trousers. As busy as this place was, the staff still managed to keep an upbeat spirit by singing and bopping to the reggae tunes which I later also partook in. The music wasn’t overpoweringly loud which was great.
At length, I not being Jamaican was unsure what to order but my waiter, patiently walked me through the menu and recommended that I try Rasta Pasta with Jumbo Shrimp. Instead of water I opted to try their Guava Mojito ($12) which had a reasonable amount of alcohol but not a trace of the flavors of “guava.” To my amazement my food took little under 15 minutes to be brought out to my table. My Rasta Pasta w/ Jumbo Shrimp ($23) was surprisingly warm, comforting and generously portioned. The jumbo shrimp was very succulent, fresh and well seasoned.
I wasn’t informed of any specials for Sunday evenings nor did I bother to ask.
Overall if you are in the NY area and want to take a trip to the Caribbean without breaking the bank, Negril Village is perfect. The main dining room is large enough to cater to any event while the Rhum lounge on the lower level is where the real party is. The menu varies from Ackee & Saltfish to Curry vegetable Tofu. The pricing is reasonable but beware of the gratuity. Negril Village is family friendly,perfect for a first date and just a nice place for a drink or two after work.
Would I go again you ask? Of course I will..I need a vacation!!
Negril Village in New York is the next best thing to Negril, Jamaica…
”Let your taste buds be the judge and everything will be Irie”
-BLACK Palette
