Fresh Coconuts crack open and upbeat Reggae plays in the background as the strong but subtle scent of spices wafts through the air on the corner of Chestnut and North Franklin in Lancaster City.
Tasteful ocean blue walls and Caribbean inspired art enhance the good vibes, sending visitors on a mini-vacation away from Central Pennsylvania and transporting them to the island Nation of Jamaica. This experience is exactly what Damian Cavalo, owner of Caribbean Wave, was going for when he opened his Jamaican Jerk restaurant's doors three years ago.
Cavalo was born in Negril, Jamaica and found his way to Atlanta, Georgia on a work visa. Through the encouragement of family friends, he came to visit Lancaster and fell in love with the city, its people, and its potential for growth. Eventually, when he relocated to Central Pennsylvania, he would drive past the restaurant's current location while declaring he would someday own it.
This became a reality in 2017, and Caribbean Wave has been selling authentic, healthy Jamaican food ever since.
Learning to cook Jamaican food from a young age, Cavalo pulls inspiration for his recipes from his grandmother. “The type of cooking I learned from her was very traditional”, he says. “It was all done over a woodfire. I would go out to the bushes and collect the wood and watch her prepare our meals from scratch.” Channeling this deep connection to food while running a popular restaurant in the United States has remained an important part of the process to Cavalo. He goes on to describe the connection of Jamaican food to sea and land, from being a very seafood heavy cuisine to blending earthy spices such as turmeric, thyme, and ginger to create the right chemistry of flavors.
Oxtail, Jerk Shrimp, and Jerk Chicken have been the consistent crowd favorite menu items. “Jerking” refers to the process of coating seafood or meat in spices and slow-cooking it over a fire or grill, allowing the spices to really immerse themselves into the food. Cavalo recommends ordering the Oxtail for any first time visitors, claiming “It’s a simple dish, but one that is hard to get just right.” Visit often enough though, and the palate expanding options are plentiful.
Caribbean Wave’s social media manager, Jade Grove, personally loves the Curry Shrimp over coconut milk rice with a side of greens while Cavalo’s favorite flavor profile is simmered into the Honey Brown Stew Fish. The sides dishes are just as tantalizing as the rest of the menu, with peppered cabbage cooked in coconut oil, plantains, honey yams, and okra to name a few.
It is common to see roadside stalls in Jamaica selling fresh coconut and fruits while driving across the country. Cavalo wanted to bring this same concept to the restaurant by hosting events focused on similar healthy treats such as coconut water straight out of the coconut, smoothie filled pineapples, and one of their newest menu items, the Green Lifestyle Immune Booster. Blending kale, aloe, cucumber, ginger, fresh orange, and more, it’s sure to have you feeling healthier by the last sip.
The food is undeniably delicious and authentic, but the island aesthetic of the restaurant and Cavalo’s dedication to sharing more than just Jamaican cuisine is what makes Caribbean Wave a foodie paradise. He explains that his goal is to not only bring the recipes and good vibes from his Motherland to Lancaster, but also to help Lancaster residents feel as though he is bringing them to Jamaica. “I am an advocate for Jamaica in what I do. I want to introduce people here to healthy, enriching food, good music, and the notion that everything is going to be alright. Come in, have some coconut water, eat some food, and feel better.” You will often spot him out of the kitchen, checking on customers with a wide smile.
While Caribbean Wave is currently open for take-out, limited dining-in, and outdoor seating, the staff looks forward to implementing larger community events in the future such as kids days, hosting live reggae concerts, and other holiday specials. What started out as a dream to own and operate his own Jamaican restaurant, has turned into a reality that has contributed to the growth of culture, community, and excellent food in the city Cavallo now proudly calls home.
Carribbean Wave
701 E Chestnut St Lancaster, PA 17602 | 717.945.6311
