Negril Notes

Kuyaba Restaurant - Review

January 14, 2007

Info:

Norman Manley Blvd - Mid-Beach
Between Legends and Beach House Villas
(876) 957-4318
Website

Food:

The food at Kuyaba is very tasty and well prepared. The menu is more varied than most in Negril, classic Jamaican dishes mixed with Jamaican variations of American, Italian and Asian favorites. I’ve eaten at Kuyaba half a dozen times. I love the Chicken Kabobs over rice pilaf. Pasta Carbonara and Lobster Thermador are both well done.

On my latest trip we enjoyed Dessert at the bar. I had warm Rum Cake with Ice Cream, wow. My friends shared a creamy cheese cake, which they enjoyed with moans of happiness.

Drinks:

After dinner hour, most of the restaurant turns into a luxurious lounge. The bar is one of the nicest in Negril, it has an almost Polynesian feel, and the most unique hanging hammock bar stools I’ve ever seen.

There is a decent wine list with about twenty selections. It’s nice to order a bottle, for $20-$50US, to add some real elegance to your dining experience.

I’m a cold beer guy, but when I go to Kuyaba I find myself ordering rum filled foo-foo drinks complete with umbrellas and big fruit garnishes.

Ambiance:

Kuyaba’s has an ambiance that changes from day into night. During the day, it’s a wide open place with a big bar in the center with a clear view of the beach. If you want some sun, grab a beach chair and go lay out, or just sit at the bar and enjoy the view. In the evening the moonlit sea is within earshot, while the darkness seems to enclose the place making it a quiet, even intimate experience.

My first time at Kuyaba was in February 2002, it was nice then, but it gets nicer every season. The owners continually upgrade, adding new rooms, new landscaping, beautiful stone patios, and walkways.

Looking for something special, something romantic? Try white tablecloth dining on the beach. I’ve never done it, but if I was trying to impress, this would be the ticket.

Service:

Service is very good at Kuyaba. It’s casual for breakfast and lunch, but for dinner they really turn it on. Candle lit tables with white tablecloths, and well trained experienced waiters. Kuyaba is one of the top five restaurants in town.

Value:

Breakfast and Lunch are very reasonable for such a nice place. You’re going to pay more than the Jerk Cart out in front, but here you really get what you pay for. Dinner is pricey by Negril standards, but by the time the check arrives you have no qualms about paying the freight. They accept all major credit cards.

Notes:

When my friend asked for a romantic place where he could propose to his girlfriend, I told him to go to Kuyaba on the beach, or Rockhouse in the cliffs, depending on his preference.

Kuyaba is beautiful, and just keeps getting better. It’s great for a nice lunch or a dress-up dinner, but is casual enough to get drunk with your friends at the bar. I highly recommend it, four and a half angels out of five.

4.5 Angels