Potwah Diner & Bar: Authentic Jamaican Flavour in the Heart of Half-Way-Tree
From the moment you approach Potwah, with its bold signage and welcoming slogan — “If yuh luv Potwah, cum nyam wid we” — you know you’re in for something special. Stepping inside, you’re met with the rich aromas of home-cooked meals and a menu that reads like a love letter to Jamaican culinary heritage.
Tucked away at 8 Hillview Avenue, Potwah Diner & Bar might be one of Kingston’s best-kept culinary secrets. Established in 2011 strategically beside a car wash, this wooden eatery has grown into a beloved local gem known for hearty Jamaican meals and a welcoming vibe that feels like home.
I stopped by recently and had the Curried Goat ($1,500.00) — tender, flavourful, and simmered in a rich, aromatic curry sauce. Paired with jasmine rice and crisp slaw, the dish hit every note of comfort and authenticity. The bottle of freshly made otaheite apple juice was a very refreshing complement to the spice and depth of the curry.
With weekly staples like stew peas, mackerel, ackee & salt fish, and a vibrant “SunDeh Dinna” tradition, the menu is a celebration of Jamaican heritage. There is a wide range of natural juices — June plum, pineapple-ginger, passion fruit — are crowd favourites, adding to the overall home-style feel. I told my wife about this great place, only for her to remind me that when we were in between housekeepers a couple years ago, it was Potwah that put food, including Sundeh Dinna on our table, for many weeks! In the middle of my lunch, I received instructions to bring home an order of fried chicken with curry gravy and rice and peas — it can’t get any more Jamaican than that.
Potwah Diner & Bar
• 8 Hillview Avenue, Kingston 10
• 876-770-2362 / 876-285-7448
• potwahdinerandbar.com
• Follow: @potwahbarandrestaurant
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