This isn’t the first time the dynamic partnership of husband-wife team Chyrisse Crisp and Chef Edwin “Chrissy” Crisp has produced a hit New Rochelle restaurant. In 2012, the pair opened now-closed A Place 2 Go Caribbean restaurant, and fans have been hungry for something new from the Chef Chrissy since its closing.
KRAVE A New York Eatery opened in April on Division Street’s happening restaurant row. “There are other Jamaican restaurants in the area, but there aren’t many where you can sit down with a date or your family and have a true dining experience” says Chyrisse. The vibe is more stylish than A Place 2 Go had been, with a vibrant green couch for snapping Instagram pics, and a glass-enclosed room that can be rented as event space.
The menu hits on traditional Caribbean flavors and contemporary global ingredients. Cod fish cakes, served with house-made mango aioli, are a popular appetizer, featuring generous flakes of fish and an incredibly crunchy crust. Jamaican classics such as ackee and saltfish, escovitch, and, of course, jerk chicken are a nod to Chef Chrissy’s mother, who would cook dinner every night for a tight-knit household.
Much of the menu fuses Caribbean flavors with influences from around the world. Crab-and-lobster spring rolls get delightful (yet mild) heat from Scotch bonnet peppers. Mediterranean ingredients show up in the branzino, drizzled with jerk sauce and served over callaloo greens. Meatballs are made with goat, a common protein in the Caribbean, and doused in savory curry sauce. And some of the Westchester’s best friend chicken is made in a Dutch pot, which is frequently used in Jamaica.
On select nights, the indoor smoker creates an intoxicating scent throughout the restaurant as Chef Chrissy smokes brisket and barbecue ribs using his house-made rubs and sauces. One Sunday each month, the restaurant hosts a pop-up buffet brunch, including bottomless drinks (it’s 23+), live music, and a Caribbean twist. Start with chicken and waffles and cornmeal porridge. Then, try the Guyanese chow mein and brown-stew chicken. Wash it down with the house rum punch, a vacation in a glass full of fruit nectars and overproof rum.
What’s next for KRAVE? A Cooking with Chef Chrissy YouTube channel will feature live demonstrations, and cooking classes are also planned, which will include a meal and signature drink.
KRAVE A New York Eatery
8 S Division St
New Rochelle
914.740.7240