Baltimore resident ONeil Spencer is bringing Caribbean flavor to downtown Towson.
Spencer opened Sunset Jamaica in a space previously occupied by Andy's Bistro and Creperie—also called World of Crepes Cafe—on Feb. 3. Menu items, which range from $8 to $12, include traditional Caribbean fare such as jerk chicken, oxtail, escovitch fish and curry chicken and goat.
Entrees are served with plantains, vegetable medley and a rice and peas dish. Callaloo, a popular Caribbean dish featuring leafy greens, can be subsituted for the vegetable medley for a $2 upcharge.
"I have [culinary] training, but I have been cooking since I was 8 years old," said Spencer, a native Jamaican. "This is my first American restaurant."
Spencer said he purchased the business, located at 7 E. Chesapeake Avenue, from Leo Stojanovic, the former owner of Andy's Bistro. Stojanovic had initially intended to convert his restaurant into an eatery called Rastas' Caribbean cuisine.
Though the awning at the restaurant still bears the Rastas' name, Spencer said he plans to change it to read Sunset Jamaica in the coming weeks.
The restaurant is currently open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Hours of operation are subject to change.
