Golden Crest brought the flavors and familiar faces of Uniondale together as the longtime Jamaican restaurant celebrated its grand reopening Sept. 19 with dozens of people.
Owner Kenneth Johnson welcomed customers back to the Jerusalem Avenue eatery following a three-month renovation that refreshed the restaurant while maintaining the community atmosphere it has built over nearly three decades.
The celebration featured Jamaican fried fish and gave longtime customers a chance to gather, reconnect and see the restaurant’s updated interior. Golden Crest reopened for business March 26 after renovations that included new flooring, tables and chairs, kitchen equipment, coolers, a ceiling and restroom upgrades.
Johnson, who is originally from Kingston, Jamaica, opened Golden Crest after seeing an opportunity to bring traditional Jamaican cooking to Uniondale. Over the years, the restaurant has become known for dishes including curried goat and jerk chicken — and for serving as a gathering place where customers talk, listen to music and play dominoes.
Nearly 30 years after opening, Golden Crest’s newly renovated space begins another chapter of serving food, culture and community in Uniondale.
