Owners Steve and Shelli Coleman opened Hallow Bamboo in Prospect Park last month to offer authentic Jamaican cuisine to diners in the area, who formerly had to travel to Philadelphia when they wanted outstanding Jerk Chicken and other Jamaican specialties. (PEG DEGRASSA – DAILY TIMES)
PROSPECT PARK — The Delaware County dining scene seems to have it all: Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, Chinese, and the list goes on. This summer, diners’ options expanded when Hallow Bamboo opened at 913 Lincoln Ave. in Prospect Park, offering authentic Jamaican cuisine.
Hallow Bamboo, 913 Lincoln Ave., Prospect Park is a newcomer to the Delaware County dining scene, offering authentic Jamaican and American cuisine for eat-in, take-out and delivery. (PEG DEGRASSA/ DAILY TIMES)
Jamaican-born Shelli and Steve Coleman of Glenolden opened in July in the former location of Route 420’s Famous Crab Cakes. The new restaurant’s menu offers meals rooted in authentic Jamaican spices and flavors.
Choices include Curry Goat, Oxtail, Jerk Chicken, Spicy Jerk Chicken Alfredo, Curry Salmon, Jerk Shrimp, Vegetable, Beef and Chicken Patties, Brown Stewed Snapper, Coconut Snapper Fish and many other mouth-watering creations. Sides include Vegetable, Shrimp or Steamed Cabbage or Broccoli, Mac and Cheese, a variety of fried rice, and more.
Oxtail, Rice & Peas with Mac and Cheese is one of the meals offered at Hallow Bamboo in Prospect Park. (PEG DEGRASSA/ DAILY TIMES)
Chef Steve Coleman takes out some authentic Jamaican Jerk Chicken from the oven. Coleman realized a lifetime dream of his when he opened Hallow Bamboo in Prospect Park this summer. The restaurant offers Jamaican and American cuisine at affordable prices. (PEG DEGRASSA/ DAILY TIMES)
A pan of authentic Jerk Chicken, seasoned with Jamaican spices, is fresh from the oven at Hallow Bamboo in Prospect Park. The new restaurant also features Jamaican dishes like Curry Goat Meal, an Oxtail Meal, Jerk Shrimp and other specialties. (PEG DEGRASSA/ DAILY TIMES)
Additionally, the restaurant offers American Cuisine, too, including salads, seafood, chicken wings, french fries, fried chicken, quesadillas, and vegetarian platters. Hallow Bamboo also carries a full line of Jamaican soft drinks and other beverages.
To top off their meals, diners can enjoy desserts, fresh and homemade, by Diane Daley of D’Alicia’s Pastries in Yeadon or authentic imported Jamaican Rum Cakes.
Hallow Bamboo is Steve Coleman’s lifelong dream.
A resident of America for 27 years, he has been a chef his entire adult life, cooking and managing restaurants and working on cruise ships. Last year, he felt the timing was right to begin the search for an optimal location to realize his dream.
“Steve’s dream has always been to open a restaurant,” his wife said. “I helped him realize the dream. He feels like it will be a good legacy for our children and a great way to be a part of the community. We eventually hope to be the leading Jamaican restaurant in the area.”
The couple — both born and raised in St. Catherine, Jamaica — has a 2-year-old daughter Siana.
Currently, Shelli is Hallow Bamboo’s administrator and bookkeeper, and Steve does all the cooking to keep the meals consistent every time. Now that the restaurant is up and running, the couple is looking to hire, and encourages local residents to apply.
Both Steve and Shelli say that they have been impressed already with the support of the local community, and they are thrilled how positive the reviews have been on Google and on Facebook chat sites.
“We’ve only been open for a month and we have gotten so much support from local residents and neighboring
businesses,” Shelli remarked. “Customers that have stopped by to taste our food have already been back one or more times. We don’t want to be a restaurant that only serves the Jamaican community. We want everyone to come in and enjoy a meal here.”
The Colemans said that they are looking forward to being a part of the local community in Prospect Park and all of Delaware County.
“We hope Hallow Bamboo will benefit the entire community,” Shelli said.
Hallow Bamboo
• Location: 913 Lincoln Ave., Prospect Park
• Hours Monday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Sunday: noon to 8 p.m.
• For more information: 484-494-6265 or hallowbamboocuisine@gmail.com.
