4. Honey Badger
Honey Badger, an experimental restaurant in Little Caribbean, is the brainchild of co-owners Fjölla Sheholli and Junayd Juman, the latter of whom hails from Trinidad. According to an article from OpenTable, however, the owners don’t even consider it a restaurant. The restaurant offers a 10 to 14-course tasting menu of “wild to table” dishes using many foraged ingredients, from wild fish to local honey. Juman considers these ingredients as “ugly produce,” meaning they are often neglected for blemishes or other inconsistencies.
The menu at Honey Badger changes daily, given that each day is essentially its own season. Past menus have included dishes such as peas and carrots with wild dulce seaweed, pickled herring with a blue algae aioli, crab tartine with a micro-green pesto, and grass-fed ribeye with hickory and burdock. Ingredients like monkfish liver, ostrich, and wild nettles (made into ravioli) have also made their way onto menus.
5. Veggies Natural Juice Bar
With locations on Nostrand Avenue and Franklin Avenue, Veggies Natural Juice Bar is a popular spot for healthy Caribbean-inspired eats in the neighborhood. The eatery offers a selection of salads including quinoa salad with organic mixed greens, pineapple, avocado, and cranberries. Its grilled jerk salmon is served with tropical salsa and spinach rice, while vegan options include ginger chik’n or pepper steak with coconut cream and spices.
The restaurant offers a handful of smoothies featuring a selection of fruits and vegetables, such as the Tropical Blend with mango, papaya, pineapple, banana, and strawberry. Also on the menu is a selection of juices, from their Island Breeze to their Weight Loss.