DJONDJON

Homerun debut! Visited this restaurant back in February the week they first opened. They did a good job re-purposing the old space (RIP Bishops Wells) and making it look more trendy and inviting. They were still working on obtaining their liquor license back then but I could tell from the beautiful rustic bar that they would draw a crowd during happy hour. BYOB so they let us bring our own bottles without any corking fee. Really impressed with the friendly staff. The owner (Jacques) interacted with everyone, even people passing by and reading the menu. He also asked for our frank feedback regarding our dining experience which I really appreciated. Our waitress was also very attentive, patient and personable. Very pleased with the food. In NYC, you can only count on one hand the Haitian restaurants whose food really slaps. Our table of four enjoyed about everything we were served. Fast forward to these COVID times, the food is still the star of the show. Their menu served both classic Haitian dishes and a few modern ones, vegan options as well. All gluten free. You gotta win Haitians with the rice first. Their Djon-Djon (black rice) is wonderfully moist and well seasoned, properly accompanied with peppers and onions. Their chef won me with the goat, tasted it both fried (Kabrit Boucane) along with fried plantains and pikliz and served broiled in a nice kreyol sauce. The lambi (grilled conch) came out nicely textured. My husband took a chance on the Bali burger made with Herring and loved it. This past weekend, we enjoyed their brunch delivery. I was given a colorful omelette served on top of a crispy waffle while the hubs had the fried chicken and waffle. All their dishes (even if delivered in a box now) had a beautiful presentation. Will continue to support their business. I'm honestly hoping they make it through this current storm. One of the few places on my list to have a flavorful meal with delicious cocktail when this is all over.