Elevated Caribbean flavors meet a fun, lively atmosphere w/ soca music & an open kitchen. A culinary legend at the helm, expect creative tasting menus & a memorable fine dining experience.
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.
This East Village gem offers an exciting fine-dining take on Caribbean cuisine, helmed by a celebrated chef. With a lively atmosphere, innovative dishes, and a focus on quality ingredients, it provides a unique culinary journey. Be prepared for a potentially pricey but memorable experience.
Kabawa offers an elevated Caribbean dining experience with a tasting menu that showcases innovative dishes. Highlights include a flavorful roti platter, tender braised goat, and a unique jerk duck sausage. While many rave about the culinary artistry, one reviewer found the Chuleta Can Can excessively fatty, though others praised it. The bar next door, Bar Kabawa, also offers excellent rum cocktails and delicious patties.
"The roti platter, braised goat, and jerk duck sausage are frequently praised. The rum drinks and patties at the adjacent Bar Kabawa are also highly recommended."
Customers generally have a very positive experience, praising the innovative and delicious Caribbean cuisine, lively atmosphere, and excellent service. However, some find the pricing to be on the higher side.
Important Note
Some users found the Chuleta Can Can to be excessively fatty, and the overall pricing can be high.
"Responding to the OP's idea that "New American" restaurants should be more prominent, this user questioned why they should be prioritized over innovative ethnic establishments like Kabawa."
Neutral"The user questioned if restaurants like Kabawa are truly American, given their ethnic influences and techniques, suggesting a need to promote dishes specifically conceived in the US using American farms and techniques."
Neutral"Kabawa is recommended, although noted as being a bit overpriced, it's considered good and offers a different experience compared to Chicago's food scene."
Positive"The user visited Kabawa and found it fun, but felt the food did not meet expectations."
Neutral"Kabawa is recommended as a place to go."
Positive"The user lists Kabawa as a place they are considering visiting."
Neutral"The commenter mentioned hearing great things about Kabawa but had not personally dined there."
Neutral"While liking the food, the commenter preferred Bar Kabawa. They felt the bill at Kabawa, despite the goat dish being good, wasn't worth it, partly due to the fixed price and the NYT's description of the tamarind not living up to expectations."
Negative"The Chuleta Can Can was highlighted as the commenter's favorite dish of the year, and they also appreciated the bathroom ambiance with coqui sounds."
Positive"The commenter stated that this was their favorite meal of the year, finding everything to be stellar."
Positive"This commenter noted that the restaurant only offers a prix-fixe menu but still considers it a superb restaurant."
Positive"This was the commenter's favorite meal of the year, but they were surprised by the static menu without seasonal changes for a chef-driven restaurant."
Neutral"The commenter briefly stated that the restaurant was 'so good there'."
Positive"The commenter is looking forward to their reservation in a couple of weeks."
Positive"Responding to a question about eligibility for Michelin stars, this commenter confirmed that Kabawa is still eligible."
Neutral"Following a discussion about new additions to the Michelin Guide, the commenter questioned if Kabawa is still eligible for a star."
Neutral"Kabawa is highly recommended after the user had dinner there, praising its great food and large portions at $149/person. It was considered the best among several highly-rated restaurants."
Positive"Kabawa is suggested as a good fit for a date night, offering an interesting concept and great food without being stuffy."
Positive"Kabawa offers a fun experience at either the bar or the main dining area, with delicious food and kind service. Its memorable Caribbean cuisine is a unique option for tourists."
Positive
