RW 2018 | The Spirit of Flavour - A serious business at Centro

Centro, located on the property of Courtyard by Marriott, takes flavour seriously and promises to wow your palate for this upcoming restaurant week. The fast paced hotel is usually home to a number of entrepreneurs and businessmen and women, travelling from North America, Canada and Europe. Because of this, Centro operates with a different approach, providing authentic Jamaican options with a creative 'comfort food' twist.

"We have long standing guests, so never say no to a new culinary venture. If what they desire is not on the menu, we go above and beyond to make it regardless. Breakfast is our best time of the day, while things tend to slow down by lunch and pick back up by dinner," lead server, Jason Carpenter told Food.

The Courtyard by Marriott, is designed for business savvy individuals so they boast a contemporary chic look, very clean and very modern. They don't use tablecloths and most tables come with a plug outlet to charge your electronic devices: talk about having your cake and eating it too. The indoor, outdoor and pool bar sections will be available for restaurant week.

Versatility is definitely the order of the day for Centro. One of their best selling dishes is the 'must have, jerked chicken pasta'. As the name suggests, it is a mandatory meal on their menu because it combines both loves - pasta and jerked chicken. Not only is the dish amazing in taste, it is prepared to the taste of persons who request it - they are able to choose how much heat they want. Added to that equation, are the natural seasonings which bring up all the spices, the jerk seasoning and the fact that it is reduced in red wine - palatable perfection in a plate is always the end result.

Their restaurant week menu will feature an interesting dish: the mannish water shots, served with curried goat. Carpenter shared that traditionally, persons add white rum to their mannish water pot. They've decided to take the taste up a notch by switching spirits to Campari, smoothly mixing in the bitters to create an even greater flavour. Pair that with the curried goat, and you would not have met a more ideal munching match for your stomachs.

While the food and beverage team, along with the kitchen staff at Centro play a significant role in its success, the star of their show, according to Carpenter, would have to be Damion Grandison.

"Damion Grandison is the host for the restaurant. He works during the busy periods - breakfast and dinner - and you will not find a more pleasant, dynamic and charismatic person anywhere else. His role is important, as it's not just about the food here. And he takes it very seriously. He seats persons, engages with and often buys the kitchen time to prepare the ordered dishes by encouraging them to beat the wait with the drinks menu. His attentiveness in the restaurant is on point, he is always fully equipped and his demeanor and energy are remarkable - he truly loves what he does and he's always fully equipped to take on the day. He's short in stature but his passion stands tall."

Centro (Courtyard

by Marriott)

1 Park Close, Kingston 5

Tel: 876-618-9900 or

876-618-9915