Kingston’s Cuisine is a Jamaican restaurant located at 15 Catherwood Road in the K-House Karaoke Bar near Ithaca Mall. They are open on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Roshawna Thomas, the owner of Kingston’s Cuisine. Roshawna immigrated to the United States from Jamaica at eighteen years old. She initially lived in Queens, New York, then moved to the Ithaca area to attend Tompkins Cortland Community College. After completing her associate’s degree in Elementary Education, she transferred to SUNY Cortland, where she was a Resident Assistant (RA). As an RA, she would often cook delicious Jamaican food in the dorm kitchens. Roshawna graduated from SUNY Cortland with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and became a teacher during the COVID-19 pandemic. She later realized that teaching children was not for her and that her talents could shine even brighter in her food.
When asked why she decided to start Kingston’s Cuisine, Roshawna responded, “The Ithaca area and Upstate New York were lacking quality, ethnic food. Most restaurants serve burgers and fries, and it is hard to find food for someone accustomed to more variety.” She founded Kingston’s Cuisine in November 2021 to address this lack of food options. As someone from New York City, I can relate to the shock of having limited ethnic food options when I moved to Ithaca.
The name “Kingston’s Cuisine” is an ode to Roshawna’s Jamaican heritage. Rashawna was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, which is known for its delicious food.
While at Kingston’s Cuisine, I tried the fan favorites, Rasta Pasta and Jerk Chicken. When I took the first bite, I immediately realized why these dishes are so popular—they are absolutely delicious. The Rasta Pasta’s jerk-infused alfredo sauce and perfect balance of sweet bell peppers lived up to its name. The jerk chicken by itself made me miss having access to Jamaican food in New York City. I also tried the Barbri fries, which were perfectly seasoned.
I highly encourage anyone to grab a plate at Kingston’s to experience this delicious food for themselves. Customers can Direct Message @kingstonscuisine on Instagram, or order in-person. Kingston’s Cuisine offers takeout, eat-in dining, and catering. Their most recent catering service was at Cornell University’s Cornellval festival which celebrates Caribbean Student heritage.
