
5

"At 6401 Riverside Boulevard in the Pocket, I watched successful pop-ups evolve into a permanent pan‑Caribbean spot led by Rafael Jimenez Rivera and partners. The cubano—made on Jamaican coco bread so it soaks up the tangy sauces—has emerged as a crowd-pleaser, and the mussels are brothy and fragrant with a coconut, lemongrass, cilantro, and garlic emulsion. Hearty vegan options include Trinidadian “doubles” (turmeric flatbread with curried chickpeas, pickled mango, and red onion), and the kitchen balances spiced dishes with cool “island wines” from the Greek and Canary islands." - Vanessa Labi