Bar Kabawa

I don't remember how Bar Kabawa ended up on my radar but I decided to give it a shot. Its a bar with West Indian flavors and bites. The music immediately caught my attention because they were playing The Mighty Sparrow. The energy in the space was a little more lively than I'm used to but I'm always down for something new. The drinks weren't really anything to write home about. I could see what each drink was going for but there was just something lacking in almost every case. Here's what I had: Subidor Swizzle - Rum and passion fruit, a simple combination that typical gets great results. This cocktail is good. The annatto is added to the drink to bring in some complexity but it feels slightly off in the drink. Not a bad drink by any means but a very discerning pallet may find it "off". 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Residente- Rum, vermouth blanc, hibiscus. So the El Presidente is one of my favorite stirred rum cocktails and this drink is a riff on it. While i get the idea they were going for I don't know what's missing. It's not sweet and has very little character to it. I want to say its my fault for asking for blanc instead of sweet vermouth but it would probably taste more like a Manhattan with it instead of a El Presidente. 👏🏾👏🏾 Gwayav - Dark rum and guava. So I'm not sure what this is and who it is supposed to appeal to but its not my thing. It's kind of bland which is an odd thing to say about a cocktail with guava in it. It drinks like a ti' punch without the lime and just the faintest whisper of any fruit flavors. It taste like there's sweetness but its mostly coming from the rum. Maybe this is a late night sipper but not for me. 👏🏾👏🏾

Some of the best cocktails (bay leaf daiquiri or the whole coconut with rum) I’ve had in NYC. If you prefer rum on its own, they have a varied and deep selection. But the food is also incredible - including some super flaky patties and the Solomon Gundy, a herring fish dip that I would order again any time I visit. However, the best part of this place might be the vibe. Service is super welcoming and the music gets you in the mood to dance like you’re in your living room.

This is more of a 3.5 star rating. The patties were good but...nothing to write home about. I had 3 different types and only the crab one stood out. But this is a cute place nonetheless and I would go back again for the vibes. Speaking of vibes, everyone was super nice and friendly. The wait staff is the best I have experienced in a very long time. I marked the service 3 stars because my drinks and food took forever. I saw other patrons items come out before our table so it could have been isolated incident but we ordered several rounds of drinks and food and all of them took forever to come out. It wasn't packed. The price did not justify the food or drink quality in my opinion. The menu could be expanded. If the prices were slightly cheaper I would have given it a higher rating.

Such a special experience. First off, the staff here are incredibly nice and welcoming. Like, are you sure you live in New York?? The rum cocktails are great. I really enjoyed the Guarav (similar to an Old Fashioned) but found the Kabawa Daiquiri to just be okay. Interesting wine list. The food is so good! Get the patties (short rib, curried shrimp and squash) and the coco bread and eat the patties like a sandwich!!

West Indian Vibes throughout with great rum (of course) cocktails and tasty eats.

Great spot that plays Sparrow and other West Indian jams while serving Rhum focused cocktails and an interesting take on patties. This is a rare combo. If you dont have a reservation, come early, since the bar area is first come first serve. There are all kinds of Rhums and spirits in the West Indies they could play off of, so it would be nice to see if they started trying spirit brands from the other islands. Looking forward to seeing this place grow. 💪🏼

Wow I had an amazing experience at the bar. Despite walking in close to closing time I received stellar hospitality at the bar. The drinks were thoughtful and delicious. A perfect way to end the night. Ko bar held a very special place in my heart and it’s so cool to see such an amazing concept follow it up!!

The sardines and okra were standout, on top of dope patty and rum cocktail selection