‘The heart of Jamaica’: Caribbean restaurant and late-night hot spot opens in Miami

Connie Ogle
·2 min read

Last November, Jrk! fast-casual restaurant opened in downtown Miami, serving the Jamaican favorites that had made it a hit at Treats Food Hall in the Aventura Mall.

Now, the team behind Jrk! is expanding its concept of traditional Caribbean cuisine, this time in a more upscale, speakeasy-style atmosphere.

The new Mangrove, which guests can access through the downtown Jrk! space, offers a nostalgic look at Caribbean culture, shifting between serving dinner and turning into a late-night lounge as the evening progresses.

Wayne Sharpe, co-founder and executive chef, calls it an “immersive experience.”

“Mangrove is a testament to our love for Caribbean culture, a celebration of authenticity,” said the Kingston, Jamaica native. “We’ve curated a space where every dish, every note and every moment transports you to the heart of Jamaica.”

To get to Mangrove, seen here through the window, you enter through Jrk!, its fast-casual sister restaurant on Northwest First Street.
To get to Mangrove, seen here through the window, you enter through Jrk!, its fast-casual sister restaurant on Northwest First Street.

To get to Mangrove, located on Northwest First Avenue, you enter through Jrk! at 95 NW First St. next to the Vietnamese restaurant Tam Tam.

The dinner menu includes such appetizers as jerk skewers, hot patties and jerk mac and cheese, while the main courses include ginger rosemary snapper, a fried jerk chicken sandwich and roasted salmon with citrus champagne sauce. There’s also curry oxtail, griot and whole or half jerk chicken.

There’s also a special cocktail menu which features drinks like the Red Red Wine (white rum, house-made sorrel, ginger and lime juice) and The Hotstepper (made with passionfruit). On Wednesdays, the space turns into what Mangrove calls a “reggae haven,” with happy hour from 5-8 p.m.

After all, Mangrove, says managing partner Max Pierre, is about fun.

“This project is about breaking down barriers and uniting people through food, music and culture.”

The interior of Mangrove Caribbean restaurant and late-night lounge in downtown Miami.
The interior of Mangrove Caribbean restaurant and late-night lounge in downtown Miami.

Mangrove

Where: 103 NW First Ave., Miami

Opening: Feb. 15

Restaurant hours: 6-10:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday

Bar hours: 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 6 p.m.-3 a.m. Fridays-Saturdays

Reservations: Resy

More information: mangrove.miami

Expect DJ sets at the new Caribbean restaurant and late-night lounge Mangrove in downtown Miami.
Expect DJ sets at the new Caribbean restaurant and late-night lounge Mangrove in downtown Miami.