A seat at One Park is the hottest get on Kingston's ever-expanding restaurant landscape and should two of the establishment's co-partners Andrew Wilson and Wayne Greenaway have their vision plan realised: there's much more to expect in the months ahead.
Now, occupants of the Park Close venue, the former home of Buzo Osteria Italiana, One Park started taking reservations and walk-ins last month. While open to diners for lunch and dinner service, Greenaway told Loop that the restaurant is still in buildout mode.
"My hope is that once we complete the transition to One Park as a one-stop shop for Jamaica's culinary, entertainment and premium meat providers, we can continue to introduce our patrons to the type of international fare that we've heard the marketplace is looking for," he explained.
On offer are such steakhouse-inspired entrees as spicy-rub baby back ribs, jerked lamb rack and herb-crusted cowboy steak, complemented with seafood options as varied as garlic butter-seared salmon and whole roasted pan snapper with lemon on caper sauce.
Touting executive chef Craig Nicholas Green's curated menu as dynamic and agile, Greenaway expounded. Loop learnt there's premium grass-fed Black Angus steak cuts, grass-fed Ontario lamb and pork, and tender Chilean bass and calamari.
"The previous owner left us access to a top-notch pizza oven," Greenaway revealed. "We have worked together as a group to blend these elements with our vast international and culinary experiences to fuse with local flavours. For instance, some of our steak and lamb ideas were born out of our backyard cookouts in Canada and here in Jamaica"
Greenaway is a Montserrat-born, Briton and Wilson, Canadian of Jamaican parentage. Longtime friends, the duo's venture into the culinary world with One Park is an entirely new undertaking, as their previous joint business forte was entertainment-oriented.
"Drew and I had partnered in one of the more successful event companies in the Toronto urban scene decades ago," disclosed Greenaway who has a professional background in information technology and engineering staffing. "We produced memorable events with Ginuwine, 112, Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, New Edition, among others."
Wilson's cred as a party promoter originated in the early 1990s when he began organising parties for NBA basketball player John Salley in Toronto. "They [the parties] quickly became the talk of the town and this marked a significant shift in the party scene, especially with the arrival of an NBA basketball team. Working alongside Wayne, Jody Myrie and Tony Otto, we hosted large-scale, high-profile events that attracted thousands of attendees and established ourselves in the industry."
The other half of One Park's management quartet are Jamaicans Myrie and his wife Pat. Of them, Greenaway said they are family friends who he holds in high esteem as innovative business leaders. "When the restaurant opportunity became apparent, there was a natural synergy between our communal [and familial] history blended with our love of fine meats and culinary experiences. The Myries' business background, coupled with Drew's vision provided me with an opportunity I couldn't pass up."
Currently, in month two of their operations, and although the restaurant is becoming a magnet for both business leaders and celebs alike — dancehall icon Vybz Karel's post-Billboard cover a surprise birthday party was hosted there three weeks ago — One Park's co-partners are plotting to make the venue known beyond just good food.
"We want people to see us as a place you not only visit for special occasions but consider us your best option for lunches, happy hours, live music and viewing sporting events," Greenaway informed.
To this end, the full progression of One Park, inclusive of an overhaul of Buzo's decor should be completed by May. Wilson divulged that at the same time, an adjacent butcher shop will open where "we are excited to bring great meats to Jamaica."
Beginning next month, the trending establishment will introduce lounge nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
"Galentine's Day will be the launch of our Thursday Ladies night and will feature international DJ Starting From Scratch who has toured with the likes of Usher Raymond and is on tour with Russell Peters. That night will also be a wine tasting event where the ladies can come in and try different wines from different vendors," Wilson detailed, with Greenaway adding: "don't see us as a place you visit only for special occasions. Consider us your best option for lunches, happy hours, live music and viewing sporting events."
As Loop’s sit down crescendoed, with talk of plans still unfolding, Greenaway summarily declared: "We want to be an inclusive yet exclusive option on the Kingston culinary experience. We hope that people will see us as their primary option for great food, fun times and memories."
By Omar Tomlinson
