Di Dragon (2-10pm Mon.-Thurs., 2-11pm Fri./Sat., 2-9pm Sun., US$15-25/lb., or around US$60 for a modest meal for two) is an informal backyard Chinese food restaurant specialized in seafood dishes. Try the ginger scallion, black bean sauce, or salt and pepper shrimp, king crab, blue crab, snapper or lobster, and you'll have no regrets.
Call or email for assistance planning your trip: +1 (212) 203-0064 | reservations@moonjamaica.com
Meat
Kingston
Summerhouse
Summerhouse (open daily for breakfast 7am-10:30am and lunch 12pm-3:30pm and Wed-Sat for dinner 7pm-9:30pm) is the brick and mortar manifestation of celebrity chef sister duo Michelle and Suzanne Rousseau, made famous in their local food television program Two Sisters and a Meal. Located in the heart of New Kingston on the terrace of the Liguanea Club where a young Sean Connery stopped off for a martini, shaken not stirred, after outmuscling a couple thugs on his way from the airport in the first James Bond film, Dr.
Pallet
Pallet is a welcome recent addition to Kingston's maturing restaurant scene that serves properly prepared food in a relaxing, informal setting. Conceived around a triple entendre where live art and music meet scrumptious comfort food and repurposed freight pallets serve as furnishings and decor, the restaurant, bar and music venue is the brainchild of celebrated young chef Shea Stewart and business partner Ricardo Barrett. The menu includes fish tacos, served in hard shells with a tangy cabbage pickle and queso fresco drizzled on top.
Pita Grill
Pita Grill (Mon-Sun, 24 hours) serves pita wraps and comfort food, from middle eastern vegetarian and meat staples to American breakfast items.
South Avenue Grill
South Avenue Grill (Mon-Sat 12-10:30 p.m., US$13-36) serves American-style grilled food in an open-air setting with tables shaded by umbrellas set around a reflecting pool. The bar makes a good margarita, but the food quality is average and many menu items, even those based on easy-to-find ingredients like potatos, are routinely unavailable or in short supply.
Susie's Bakery & Coffee Bar
Susie's Bakery & Coffee Bar (8 a.m.–10 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m. Sun.) has prepared foods like lasagna and made-to-order sandwiches, as well as excellent natural juices. The pastries sold at Susie's are all homemade, ranging from mouth-watering whipped cream–filled eclairs to tiramisu and passionfruit cake (US$4–8). Dinner is served starting at 6:30 p.m. with items like pork chops, steaks, ribs, and fish (US$6.50–33.50).
Red Bones Blues Café
Red Bones Blues Café (noon–11 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 6–11 p.m. Sat., bar menu continues till the last customer leaves) has great albeit pricey food (ranging from US$17 for linguine to US$50 for grilled lobster) and a nice ambience with regular low-key events like fashion shows, poetry readings, and cabaret performances on a cozy stage in the garden. There's live music on Fridays, a world music selector on Thursdays, and poetry on the last Wednesday of every month. A gallery on the property features Jamaican painting, sculpture, ceramics, and textiles.