Caribbean Restaurant Kabawa is New York’s Most Fun Fine Dining Experience | Eater NY

"In the former Momofuku Ko space in the East Village, Barbados native Paul Carmichael pulls from his experience cooking around the world for an exuberant, choose-your-own-adventure prix fixe meal that’s a true delight: $145 for a starter, main, dessert, and plenty of surprises from the kitchen. Breadfruit toston is a hearty starter of an octopus-topped cracker; Chuletas can can carries an up-charge of $65 for two that’s worth it and leaves pork belly leftovers for days; and the sorbet of the day is a refreshingly satisfying way to end the meal, especially if it’s coconut. To make fine dining fun and channel the spirit of the Caribbean, the team exudes joy when they talk about dishes influenced by the chef’s heritage, an energetic soundtrack sets the tone, and there’s a disco ball in the wine room. Drinks include a short cocktail list with Caribbean influences — a rye, peanut, and whey option was a recent standout — but don’t overlook the wine list: Kabawa inherited Momofuku Ko’s wine cellar, and the friendly, knowledgeable sommeliers can recommend bottles under $100 that pair beautifully with the menu; we went with a mineral-heavy red from Sicily. The counter-top seats look into the open kitchen, and coming with a group of four gets you seated around a corner, ideal for conversation, views, and tasting as much of the menu as possible." - Stephanie Wu