Maraval Road & Rust Street: A Neighborhood of Good Eats

It’s not quite the Avenue or Movietowne, but St. Clair’s Maraval Road and Rust Street are becoming quite the culinary nexus with everything from Creole to Korean dining options.

Today, Maraval Road is home to nearly ten restaurants including Golden Bell Korean Restaurant, Chinee’s Barbecue, Humzinger juice bar & kick ass kitchen, Dopson’s Roti, Eagle’s Chinese Restaurant, Lawrence of Arabia, Heresford Recreation Club, Kamwah Chinese Restaurant and Trotters.

Head down the block to the end of Rust Street and you’ll meet RuStreet restaurant.

Across the street stand Paprika Restaurant and All Italian, a gourmet store proffering Italian wines and foods.  What’s not love about a place with a wall lined with Prosecco?  All Italian has you well covered for meals at home with vital supplies like organic pastas, sauces, pestos along with olive oil, and imported Italian desserts.

Stretching the boundaries to include a bit of the Newtown and Woodbrook neighborhoods, we have to shout out Zabouca Breads opposite the intersection of Tragarete and Maraval Roads.  And of course, Newtown is also home to one of our favourite restaurants – Buzo Osteria Italiana on Warner Street.

Address Book for Some Our Favourites in the Neighborhood:

Golden Bell Korean Restaurant – Try the boneless fried chicken, the mando (Korean-style dumplings slathered in yummy red sauce), or the seafood fried rice for lunch.   Dinner yields an expanded a la carte menu (try the the kimchi fried rice) and Trinidad’s only Shabu Shabu experience.  # 58 Maraval Road, (868) 628-0214.

Chinee’s Barbecue – Line up with the lunch crowd for well-priced BBQ in a take-out container and tons of sides.  The sauces here are legendary.  # 52 Maraval Road, (868) 622-2858.

Humzinger juice bar & kick ass kitchen – This is the place in the neighborhood for healthy pasta dishes, sandwiches and wraps, and as it name suggests, juices made to order from fresh fruits.  # 50A  Maraval Road, (868) 222-9464 (ZING).

The Verandah Restaurant (St. Clair, Trinidad) – Popular with the executive set for its lunch specials, drop in to Verandah for a lunch respite in a pretty atmosphere.  # 10 Rust Street, (868) 622-6287.

Brauhaus German Brewhouse – If you’re in the mood for a taste of Germany and beer, head to Brahauas for what is surely the widest selection of European beers in Trinidad & Tobago.  # 16 Rust Street, (868) 622–7705.

Paprika Restaurant & Bar (St. Clair, Trinidad) – More club than restaurant according, Paprika is the place in this neighborhood to be on Friday and Saturday nights.  # 15 Rust Street, (868) 622-5930.

RuStreet (St. Clair, Trinidad) – Serving up a busy nightlife scene and an “international menu, signature cocktails and affordable drinks,” RuStreet offers lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday.

All Italian (St. Clair, Trinidad) – Imported Italian pastas, pestos, sauces, olive oils, truffle oils, desserts, jams, organic coffee and of course wine are stocked at this retailer’s culinary ode to Trinidad.  All Italian also carries locally-made Italian Cheeses from Dolce Valle Dairy.  # 15A Rust Street, (868) 62 ITALY (624-8259) or 683-4162.

Zabouca Breads – Chris Marshall turns out fantastic multi-grain breads, scones, freshly-made pates, etc. using high quality ingredients including organic flour.  Gluten-free breads are also baked daily.  # 73 Tragarete Road (across the street from the NP gas station), (868) 341-1966.