Miss Lily's 7A Cafe
Jamaican restaurant · East Village ·
Island-inspired cocktails & Caribbean fare with a beach-shack vibe
Island-inspired cocktails & Caribbean fare with a beach-shack vibe
"Miss Lily’s has built an accessible brand of juice, jerk chicken, and rum punch that’s fun for the whole family, assuming your family is made up entirely of Instagram-obsessed urban skateboarders. They jack the reggae-electro beats high and cover the walls with colorful old vinyl and Jamaican concert posters. Miss Lily’s still has more downtown swag than most, and it’s a no bullsh*t good time. Plus, this food is really good. They’re serving the same jerk chicken and coconut-covered corn that they do at the original Miss Lily’s, and we’re happy to report that the new one doesn’t miss a beat. We wouldn’t be surprised to see this expansion kick into high gear soon - LA, Miami, Montauk - this concept works everywhere and would be even better by a beach. Food Rundown Jerk Grilled Corn Grilled corn on the cob, drenched in butter, aioli, and shredded coconut. You’re going to need some extra napkins. Miss Lily’s Peppered Shrimp One of their specialties, and they do it well. The shrimp are super crisp and juicy, and the pepper sauce is bold and delicious. Ackee Dip & Plantain Chips A potent Jamaican dip somewhere in between guacamole and ranch. Really tasty. Great to share for the table while you’re taking down pitchers of Sailor Jerry rum punch. Cod Fish Fritters Fantastic fried fish balls. We’re not sure exactly what makes these so good, but they are extra crispy and all kinds of delicious. Jerk Wings BBQ wings with all kinds of Miss Lily’s tasty jerk flavor. These should obviously be on the table. Jicama Fish Tacos Generally speaking, fish, aside from shrimp, should be avoided at Miss Lily’s. We keep trying and always come away unsatisfied, like with these tiny jicama fish tacos. There’s nothing to them. Bland, boring, and small. Jamaican Patty Melt Oh yes, you need some of this oozing meat sandwich. We loved their take on the classic patty melt, and the fries are no joke either. Jerk Chicken If you come to Miss Lily’s and you’re not a vegetarian, jerk chicken is what you need to order. The chicken is slow-cooked, then finished on the grill, and the jerk sauce is good enough to bottle. They also offer jerk shrimp, pork, tofu, and salmon in their jerk shop. All are good options. Oxtail Stew A Miss Lily’s classic. This is a heavy, unsexy plate of darkness, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t taste good." - Andrew Steinthal
"Cocktails, reggae and Caribbean fare, Miss Lily's Restaurant is a Jamaican style diner with checkered floors, vinyl booths, and walls decked out with album covers. Check out the VIP section accessible through a secret passageway. The "Variety & Cafe" next door is a casual West Indian record store-themed gallery boutique, Jamaican patty bakery, and take out annex, featuring legendary Melvin’s juice box organic juice bar. The front of Variety is home to Radio Lily internet radio station. A portion of all Miss Lily's Variety sales go to the Rockhouse Foundation a US registered charity supporting Jamaica's children and teachers." - 345 Design
"There’s a good chance you’ll end up on the dance floor at some point during your night at Miss Lily’s 7A. You might be sitting at a booth in the colorful East Village Caribbean spot eating jerk chicken and crispy fish tacos, or standing next to your table drinking piña coladas when the electro-raggae blasting through the speakers finally beckons you to join everyone under the disco ball. Before fully committing, we recommend getting one more order of fried fish balls. Not only are they our favorite appetizer here, but they’ll also help soak up the sneaky amount of rum in the cocktails." - bryan kim, matt tervooren, neha talreja
"Authentic Jamaican flavors and thumping reggae go hand-in-hand amid Miss Lily’s brightly colored booths and banquettes, retro artifacts and Formica-topped tables. A well-stocked bar and bins filled with produce set the mood for enjoyable classics brought to you at the hands of glam servers.Start with a classic Jamaican oxtail stew with tender, unctuous meat, beans, and carrots in a rich and savory gravy and chase it with a Pure Passion Margarita with jerk salt. Melvin’s “body good” salad tosses kale, radish, celery and apples in a citrus-ginger vinaigrette for a crisp bite. For the Jamaican specialties—think curried goat, jerk chicken, and callaloo—to a boozy rum cake, this Caribbean queen reigns supreme." - Michelin Inspector
"If you find yourself on Family Feud, and Steve Harvey asks you for words people associate with summer, you just need to remember a night at Miss Lily’s 7A in the East Village. Think about drinking piña coladas and frozen margaritas while eating fish tacos, followed by shots of rum with Red Stripes on the dancefloor while Rihanna blasts from the speakers. And then just say, “beach” - that’s probably the top response." - matt tervooren
