New York, NY September 17, 2026 – The Grotto BK, a family-run restaurant serving authentic Jamaican and Caribbean cuisine, announces its grand re-opening – a new sleek, contemporary aesthetic, a fully rebuilt and expanded kitchen, a new bar (coming soon), a new patio following a year long structural overhaul and aesthetic renovation. The cozy venue, which is also referred to as “modern industrial vibe” meets “modern Brooklyn sexiness,” invites food lovers to have a seat at the dining table for a mouthwatering meal featuring family recipes passed down through the generations.
“I’ve always believed there was an opportunity to present Caribbean food in a way that feels both authentic to who we are and elevated in the experience we provide. With The Grotto, we’re not trying to reinvent our culture, we’re creating a space where it can be celebrated at its highest level. My vision is to build a brand that makes our guests feel like family and represents Brooklyn and the Caribbean beautifully, and is still here for generations to come,” says Amelda Ashley Hazle, co-owner and managing director, The Grotto BK.
In addition to the new sleek designs. The Grotto BK elevates its menu with three new additions – ackee tostones, Bashment Branizo (steamed, grilled, stewed, escovitched), and oxtail pasta. Popular menu items include the following:
- Appetizers: escovitched shrimp, crab cake, and guacamole and plantain chips
- Entrees: Grotto signature oxtail, jerk chicken , jerk pork, hot honey lamb chops, curry goat and curry chicken
- Sides: oven baked mac and cheese, rice and peas, Grotto pasta, plain rice, plantains and mixed vegetables.
- Desserts: rum and raisin bread pudding, chef mommy’s carrot cake,
The Grotto BK “Bar Bites” menu will include the following items.
- Grotto Wings: Crispy wings with your choice of jerk, scotch bonnet honey, or sweet chili
- Oxtail Loaded with Fries: Crispy fries topped with tender braised oxtail, rich oxtail gravy, and scallions
- Grotto Smashburger: Smashed beef patties, melted cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, and jerk mayo on a toasted bun served with fries
- Fried Jerk Chicken Sandwich: Crispy fried chicken, jerk sauce, Caribbean slaw, pickles, and jerk mayo on a toasted brioche bun served with fries.
- Jerk Pulled Pork Sandwich: Slow-cooked jerk pulled pork, Caribbean slaw, pickled onions, and scotch bonnet jerk BBQ sauce on a toasted brioche bun served with fries
- Grotto Taco Trio: Three signature tacos (see below).
- Fried Shrimp — chipotle mayo and slaw
- Jerk Chicken — Caribbean slaw
- Escovitch Fish — crispy fish with escovitch peppers and onions
The intimate venue seats 22 food enthusiasts in the front of the restaurant and another 40 food lovers on the outdoor patio. A new bar, which is still under construction, will serve 40 individuals popular Caribbean cocktails: Lychee Margarita/Lychee Martini, Passion Fruit Daiquiri, Sorrel Mimosa, seasonal tropical blends with passion fruit, guava, and pineapple. The new bar is scheduled to open in the coming weeks.
“My husband and I worked hard for many years to provide for our family, and because of that, I missed most dinners with my children. So being able to build The Grotto BK alongside my daughter at this stage of my life means more to me than I can put into words. The food represents our Jamaican roots, our culture and the traditions we want to preserve. Knowing that what we’re creating today can become a legacy for our children and grandchildren makes it even more special,” says Amelda Josephine Smith, chef, co-owner and culinary director, The Grotto BK.
The Grotto BK is located at 321 Nostrand Avenue. Visit The Grotto BK or email thegrottobk@gmail.com to make a reservation. The restaurant is open Wednesday to Friday from 4 p.m. to Midnight., Saturday from 1 p.m. to Midnight and Sunday 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.. and is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
About The Grotto BK
The Grotto BK is a family-run restaurant inspired by the feeling of having a Jamaican Sunday dinner: food is meant to be shared, stories meant to be told, and community gathered around the table. Led by mother, chef, co-owner and culinary director (Amelda Josephine Smith) – daughter and co-owner and managing director (Amelda Ashley Hazle) duo, The Grotto BK serves authentic Jamaican cuisine in Bed-Stuy.
Four years in the making. A lifetime in the pot.
Growing up, we rarely ate out. My parents cooked, and nothing ever tasted quite like home. So we opened The Grotto to give Bed-Stuy, and beyond, a seat at our family’s dining table.
After a year away rebuilding and expanding, we’re back! Bigger, better, but still rooted in the same family, recipes, and traditions that started it all.
Mom and Dad are 80 and 81, and they’re still in the kitchen every day, making the food that raised us and now, we get to share it with you.
The restaurant’s decor is described as “modern industrial vibe” meets “modern Brooklyn sexiness.” “The Grotto BK opened in 2021.
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