Jerk chicken bowls and tacos, jumbo wings: Caribbean restaurant opens in Kansas City

The owners of Mesob Restaurant & Rhum Bar, a midtown Caribbean and Ethiopian restaurant, have added a fast casual operation next door.

Taste Island Grill specializes in bowls, tacos and jumbo whole wings.

The most popular bowls: the Reggae Vibs with jerk chicken, curried brown rice, pinto beans, peppers, onions, steamed cabbage and corn salsa for $12; the Beach Party with fried tilapia, pinto beans, white rice, steamed cabbage, spicy tomato salsa, sweet plantain and chipotle lime mayo for $13; and the Island Love with pork shoulder, white rice, black beans, corn salsa, pepper, onions, sour cream and spicy tomato salsa for $11.

Tacos come with jerk tilapia, jerk chicken, grilled steak or pork shoulder.

It has a variety of sides and toppings, such as guacamole, sweet plantains, curried brown rice, fries and corn salsa. Drinks include mango and black tea sparkling water.

A year ago, Mesob started offering Taco Tuesdays as an option during the pandemic. Later it added $1 wings on Wednesdays. The specials were so popular, customers wanted them to be offered daily.

“It wasn’t something we could produce daily, not with a full restaurant on a Saturday night,” said chef Cherven Desauguste, owner with Mehret Tesfamariam. “It’s not a competitor of Mesob, it is something different — a more affordable version of Mesob, and quicker.”

He was raised in Haiti and relocated to Miami around 1990, where he went to culinary school. Tesfamariam worked in restaurants in New Jersey before relocating to the Kansas City area in the mid-1990s. She met Desauguste while they were working at Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa.

They first opened Mesob in 2012 and later relocated to 3601 Broadway Blvd. Taste Island Grill is at 3605 Broadway.

Hours are currently 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.