The former Momofuku Ko space in the East Village has been transformed into two restaurants: Kabawa, where Barbados native Paul Carmichael pulls from his experience cooking around the world for an exuberant choose-your-own-adventure prix fixe meal; and the more casual Bar Kabawa for daiquiris and patties next door. The Kabawa prix fixe is a true delight: $145 for a starter, main, dessert, and plenty of surprises from the kitchen.
How do you make fine dining fun? If you’re trying to channel the spirit of the Caribbean like chef Carmichael, you hire a team whose members exude joy when they talk about the dishes influenced by the chef’s heritage, put on an energetic soundtrack, and throw a disco ball in the wine room.
There’s a short cocktail list with influences from the Caribbean — a rye, peanut, and whey option was a recent standout. But don’t overlook the wine list. Kabawa inherited Momofuku Ko’s wine cellar, and the friendly, knowledgeable sommeliers can recommend bottles under $100 that pair beautifully with the menu — we went with a mineral-heavy red from Sicily.
The counter-top seats look into the open kitchen in the center of the space. Come with a group of four if you can — you’ll get seated around a corner, which is ideal for conversation, views, and tasting as much of the menu as possible.