Ground Floor: Jambayz Island Grill opens at Lindale in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Jamaican flavor experience has returned to Cedar Rapids after a two-year hiatus.

In its first incarnation, Jambayz Island Grill was a popular lunch-only restaurant located in the Witwer Building downtown, serving the authentic Jamaican cuisine of co-owner and chef Wesley Thompson's homeland.

Due to lease restrictions, the business closed after just six months. Thompson and Shanna Kirsch-Thompson, his wife and business partner, spent the next two years regrouping and waiting for the right opportunity to reopen.

Inspiration came in the form of a Food Network program, 'Food Court Wars.” About a year ago, the couple watched an episode in which a team of aspiring entrepreneurs won space in a mall for their own Jamaican-concept food court restaurant.

'It reinspired us to look at a different angle for the restaurant,” Kirsch-Thompson said. 'We had been considering Lindale Mall and couldn't pass up the opportunity. It felt right.”

Jambayz Island Grill opened Aug. 1 in the Lindale food court. The restaurant's location has required a few changes in terms of how the business is operated.

'We had to tweak the menu options so they would be more appealing to shoppers,” Kirsch-Thompson said.

The new menu features Jamaican staples like jerk chicken and pork served as sandwiches on coco bread (a slightly sweet Caribbean bread made with a splash of coconut milk) with a choice of side or as entrees with coconut rice and beans and fried plantains. Vegan options also are available.

Kirsch-Thompson said a common misperception about Jamaican food is that it is overly spicy. 'We actually serve it mild and customers can request to up the heat to medium or hot.”

Another adjustment has been new hours. No longer serving just lunch, the restaurant is open seven days a week during mall hours.

'My husband only has a half-day off each week,” Kirsch-Thompson noted. 'That has presented some challenges, but we are finding there is some down time to catch back up during the day because the traffic is more spaced.”

In addition to Thompson, who serves as head chef, Jambayz Island Grill employs a staff of four. Kirsch-Thompson handles the marketing and accounting for the business.

She said people have been excited to find a new type of cuisine at the mall.

'There are such diverse cultures in Jamaica that the food truly is a cross-cultural experience,” Kirsch-Thompson said. 'Just because it's different doesn't mean it's totally off your taste bud radar.”

At a Glance

'Owners

: Wesley Thompson and Shanna Kirsch-Thompson

'Business

: Jambayz Island Grill

'Address

: 4444 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids

'Phone

: (319) 531-0900

'Website

: www.jambayz.com