Vibrant Caribbean flavors meet fine-dining flair. Exciting tasting menus, chef-driven creativity, and a lively atmosphere make this a must-try.
Bryan Kim reviews Kabawa, a Caribbean-inspired restaurant in the East Village, praising its fun atmosphere and unique fine dining approach with dishes like jerk duck sausage and braised goat.
Sonal Shah reviews Bar Kabawa, an East Village spot where rum cocktails and Caribbean patties fuel a lively party atmosphere, praising its creative drinks and flavorful snacks.
Kabawa offers a unique culinary journey through elevated Caribbean cuisine, helmed by the acclaimed Chef Paul Carmichael. The restaurant provides an intimate and lively dining experience, often around a chef's counter, where innovative dishes blend traditional flavors with fine-dining precision. From the acclaimed bread service to standout dishes like slow-roasted goat and pepper shrimp, Kabawa delivers a memorable and flavorful exploration of Caribbean culture.
Kabawa is celebrated for its elevated Caribbean cuisine, with standout dishes including a flavorful bread service, exceptionally tender goat, and vibrant pepper shrimp. While many rave about the unique flavor combinations and quality of ingredients, some reviews mention dishes like the Chuleta Can Can being overly fatty and advise caution.
"The goat dish (often referred to as goat curry or slow-roasted goat) is frequently highlighted as exceptional and a must-try. Other praised items include the bread service, pepper shrimp, and various patties."
Customers generally praise the innovative and flavorful Caribbean cuisine, with many highlighting specific dishes as exceptional. However, some find the experience, particularly the Chuleta Can Can, to be excessively fatty or overpriced for the value.
Important Note
Some diners have found specific dishes, particularly the Chuleta Can Can, to be excessively fatty (60-70% fat to meat ratio), leading to disappointment for some. Pricing is also noted as being on the higher side by a few reviewers.
"Kabawa is an excellent restaurant that aligns with the dad's preferences, and sitting at the counter allows for interaction with the kitchen staff, which might interest a foodie."
Positive"While Kabawa was good, the bread course was the most memorable part, and it might not be worth the price."
Neutral"Kabawa is a great choice, and sitting at the bar offers a view of the kitchen's activity."
Positive"The commenter found the menu for Kabawa to look very good."
Positive"The original poster mentioned Kabawa has incredible goat dishes, but noted it is on the more expensive side."
Neutral"Kabawa is mentioned as a restaurant in Chinatown."
Neutral"This user expressed a negative opinion, comparing Kabawa's goat curry unfavorably to "elevated trash" and mentioning Tatiana."
Negative"In response to a comparison with Caribbean goat dishes, this user clarified that Kabawa's preparation is not a stew and uses different techniques, stating it changed their perspective on goat meat."
Neutral"This user questioned if Kabawa's goat curry is superior to Caribbean options in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx."
Neutral"This user seconded the recommendation for Kabawa."
Positive"The goat curry at Kabawa is highly recommended and is considered one of the best dishes currently available in the city. The reviewer noted it was perfectly cooked."
Positive"Kabawa was pretty good, but the commenter advised skipping the Chuleta add-on due to its high fat content."
Neutral"Kabawa was found to be a good option for a full pescatarian dinner, offering a large amount of food, although it is noted as the most expensive among the options."
Positive"Kabawa is recommended."
Positive"This commenter believes Momofuku-affiliated restaurants are generally overhyped and, given Kabawa's connection to the Zabar scion, suspects it might not be stellar."
Neutral"This user mentioned Kabawa as one of their favorite restaurants."
Positive"This commenter found the pepper shrimp at Kabawa to be fantastic, even better than the goat, praising its subtle flavors and the quality of the shrimp."
Positive"This commenter echoed the original poster's experience, having ordered the same dishes at Kabawa and finding the meal mediocre."
Negative"This commenter visited Kabawa early on and found the experience underwhelming for the price, with the bread course being the best part. They noted it missed the mark for upscale Caribbean food in NYC."
Negative"In contrast to the negative reviews, this user has had multiple stellar experiences at Kabawa with outstanding food, unique wines, and great service. They also highly recommend the rum-based cocktails at Bar Kabawa."
Positive
