A new Jamaican restaurant is set to bring jerk chicken, oxtail and a dining room mural of palm trees and the island's flag to South Bethlehem. Jammin Yaad Vybz, located at 738 E. Fourth St., plans to hold its grand opening on Nov. 15, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 2 p.m.
Bethlehem’s 2011 Eastern Gateway Vision Plan described Fourth Street as both a major east-west route and a neighborhood street lined with homes, businesses and a school. The plan identified vacant buildings as a challenge along the street and called for measures such as illuminated storefronts and other activity to enliven it. Jammin Yaad Vybz will add a food business to that South Bethlehem corridor.
The family-run spot describes itself as serving authentic Jamaican cuisine with a touch of soul, according to WFMZ.com. Co-owner Alicia James said the grand-opening celebration will run from 2 to 8 p.m. that day at the South Bethlehem address, with the ribbon-cutting kicking things off. The dining room is expected to seat around 16 guests.
A Husband-and-Wife Team With Deep Jamaican Roots
James will run the restaurant alongside her husband, Demaro Young, who was born and raised in Jamaica before moving to the United States at age 15, per the same report. Young, 31, has a longtime passion for cooking and has spent recent years preparing food for catering orders and church events. Church parishioners who praised his cooking encouraged him to open a restaurant, James said.
James herself is a New York native with Jamaican roots. The couple has said they are excited and thankful for the support they received from the community, including help finding the restaurant's location, James told the outlet.
Soul Rolls, Oxtail and a Menu Built on Comfort
The planned menu leans heavily on Jamaican staples, including stewed pork, curry chicken, jerk chicken and oxtail, served with sides like rice and peas and cabbage. The restaurant also plans to offer fresh chicken, shrimp and vegetarian soups, along with a large menu featuring many vegetarian options, and locally made desserts such as sweet potato crumb cake.
One item already has fans: soul rolls, egg rolls filled with oxtail and macaroni and cheese, served during a soft opening. James said they were one of the biggest hits. Jammin Yaad Vybz, whose tagline is “good food, good vybz, great times,” also plans to offer takeout service and catering.
A Mural Finished in Just a Couple of Days
The dining room features a colorful palm-tree and Jamaican-flag mural that brings a bit of the island indoors. It was painted by Katie Csordas, a student at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts. James said Csordas completed the mural within a couple of days and that it turned out amazing.
Once open, Jammin Yaad Vybz plans to operate Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 3 to 8 p.m.
Serving food in Bethlehem also involves local oversight: Bethlehem City is listed as a local health jurisdiction. Pennsylvania requires restaurants to obtain a retail food facility license before serving customers. The state says those licenses are not transferable to a different proprietor or location, and that operators should contact the local health authority when their facility falls under local jurisdiction.
Joining a Growing Caribbean Presence in Bethlehem
The new restaurant isn't the only recent addition to Bethlehem's food scene. The Gully Kitchen, an Indian street-food spot, held its own grand opening over the summer at 203 E. Third St., offering free bowls and seating for around 70 guests across two levels, with co-owner Tushar Paul describing a menu of custom, freshly prepared Indian street bowls, as reported by wfmz.com.
Jammin Yaad Vybz will also share the city with D & S Kitchen, another Jamaican restaurant that describes itself as authentic and sits in the heart of downtown Bethlehem. That restaurant says it is co-owned by sisters Debbie Aldred and Sophia Young, both born in the Jamaican countryside, who say they are bringing dishes learned from their mother to the Lehigh Valley after 40 years, according to d-skitchen.com.
