ALLENTOWN, Pa. – As fall’s brisk temperatures take hold, a new restaurant is heating up downtown Allentown’s dining scene.
Mikey’s Caribbean Restaurant, specializing in traditional Jamaican cuisine, opened Aug. 8 at 438 N. 8th St.
- Mikey’s Caribbean Restaurant opened Aug. 8 at 438 N. Eighth St. in Allentown
- The eatery is named after Jamaican-born owner Michael Frazer
- Popular Jamaican entrees include ackee and saltfish, brown stewed chicken, curry goat, jerk pork and oxtail
The space previously housed other dining establishments, including Peruvian and Ecuadorian eatery The Cebiche House, Peruvian restaurant El Buen Gusto and, most recently, Latin American eatery Flama Tropical.
Mikey’s, named after Jamaican-born owner Michael Frazer, serves popular Jamaican entrees such as ackee and saltfish, brown stewed chicken, barbecue shrimp, curry goat, jerk pork and oxtail.
Fish, including snapper, parrotfish and sliced kingfish, can be prepared in your choice of three styles: steamed, brown stewed or escovitched.
Entrees, starting at $9.95 for small platters and $12.95 for larger platters, are served with your choice of rice and peas, white rice and coleslaw or steamed vegetables.
“Our oxtail, ackee and saltfish, fried chicken and jerk chicken have definitely been top sellers,” executive chef Marsden Palmer said.
Customers also can enjoy Italian dishes, including baked manicotti, lasagna and chicken Parmesan, along with Italian-meets-Jamaican dishes such as jerk chicken pizza and “rasta pasta” (creamy alfredo sauce, choice of penne or fettucine and add-ons such as broccoli, chicken and shrimp).
Other menu highlights include appetizers such as beef patties, chicken wings and macaroni and cheese; and hot and cold sandwiches such as crispy chicken, meatball Parmigiana and Italian subs.
“We specialize in authentic Jamaican cuisine, but we’re also serving American and Italian dishes like burgers, cheesesteaks and pizza to help please everyone."Marsden Palmer, executive chef of Mikey's Caribbean Restaurant
Pizzas, starting at $11.95 for a medium cheese and $13.95 for a large cheese, include specialty varieties such as taco, Hawaiian and white pizza deluxe and Mikey’s Supreme (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, black olives and mozzarella cheese).
“We specialize in authentic Jamaican cuisine, but we’re also serving American and Italian dishes like burgers, cheesesteaks and pizza to help please everyone,” Palmer said.
Mikey’s, with seating for about 70 customers, features cosmetic upgrades that include walls painted in the Jamaican flag's colors: gold, green and black.
The eatery supplements another downtown Allentown Jamaican restaurant, Winston’s, on North Seventh Street.
Mikey's hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Takeout and catering are offered. Info: 610-434-8180.