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The Evolving Crayfish Wendaze

Published:Tuesday | March 13, 2018 | 12:00 AMJody-Anne Lawrence/Staff Reporter
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Lionel Rookwood
Garlic shrimp is a must-try and is perfect with bammy and these green plantains.
Lionel Rookwood
You will be captivated by just the aroma of the curried shrimp.
Lionel Rookwood
The beauty and brains behind Almond Tree Sports Bar, Stacy-Ann Hazel.
Lionel Rookwood
Fried fish served with bammy and ripe plantains.
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From just a bar to now offering a wide array of seafood, Almond Tree Sports Bar, most popularly known as Crayfish Wendaze, is a spot you must try.

Opened in 2007, Almond Tree Sports Bar was, as the name suggests, just that - a place to enjoy your favourite bottled spirit and have a good time. But in 2009, owner Stacy-Ann Hazel had a light-bulb moment. Her partner at the time only ate seafood, and she was gaining a new appreciation for it. So she thought, why not expand?

She started her menu offerings on a Wednesday, and called it Crayfish Wendaze. Pretty soon, everyone seemed to have forgotten that it was a bar. Crayfish Wendaze overshadowed the original name of the location because of its flavourful crayfish options, which included plum, soy, curried, garlic, and boiled. Naturally, the menu evolved, giving customers more options - lobster, fish, crab, shrimp, and conch. Each day started to take on a life of its own, and soon, there was Shrimp Mondaze (with offerings of fish, lobster, and conch), Pasta Tuesdaze, Seafood Thursdaze, and Lobster Fridaze.

The original Crayfish Wendaze spilled over into Crayfish Satdaze. These are the only two days when the full menu is available to customers and the only two days you can enjoy crayfish at the establishment. Customers can choose to dine in the small area, have their orders to go, or request delivery.

Located in New Kingston, Almond Tree Sports Bar offers delivery to surrounding areas, including the Norman Manley International Airport and Portmore. The restaurant also offers crab - curried, boiled, garlic and soy. Lobster is also offered in a variety of flavourful options.

There is the platter special which includes lobster, crab, and crayfish. Sides range from bammy to another Jamaican favourite - plantain - both green and ripe. Hazel hopes to expand by adding a few more outlets very soon so that her customers who have come to love Crayfish Wendaze can enjoy it any day, anywhere.

Almond Tree Sports Bar/Crayfish Wendaze can be contacted at 787-3598 or by visiting 6 Garelli Avenue, Kingston.