Spencer Williams, Contributor
China Express, East Japanese, Jewel of India, Habibi Latino or Café Aubergine, whatever cuisine your heart desires can be found at The Market Place - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
Market Place on Constant Spring Road, has become a buzzing venue for diners wishing to experience a myriad of cuisine. The restaurants: China Express, East Japanese, Jewel of India, Habibi Latino and Café Aubergine, have all been there for some time, and the little dessert café Sweet Temptations has recently moved in. All these eateries open out on to a large patio that houses tables and chairs for dining, and a bar owned by Café Aubergine.
The car park is packed pretty much every time I've ventured there for lunch or dinner. I often have to pull in close to the gate-way and walk down, getting annoyed after discovering that there was in fact one free spot right next to the entrance of the dining area after all! Of course, the walk most certainly does a man of my size plenty ofgood!
On entering the courtyard, one is greeted by a hostess. I am curious to know which eatery she is attached to because all she does is smile and pleasantly greet each customer. No 'Welcome to Café Aubergine', or 'Welcome to China Express' et cetera. Who is she working for? Is her purpose just to say hello? If so, it seems like an awfully expensive way to welcome patrons. Surely, it'd be cheaper to buy a parrot and train it to repeat a greeting! Sorry, I can't help myself sometimes. I think it's a rather lovely touch that this young lady is posted there solely to make us feel at home.
Rather apt COURTYARD
I have to say that the name 'Market Place' is rather apt. On entering the courtyard, you are presented with a choice of places from which to pick your food. Okay so it's not exactly the same as Kingston market where everyone is selling pear, onion, potato and pumpkin, and the feelings of loyalty to one lady, or the lower prices of another help you decide who to buy from.
Market Place is set up much more sensibly where the choice is 'What type of food do I fancy tonight? French, Mexican/ Lebanese fusion, Indian, Japanese, Chinese or decadent desserts?' What if you equally love all these cuisine? Then sit in the middle and order from each!
Yes indeed, you and your friends can sit at any table outside and each of you can order from a different restaurant if you wish, except Café Aubergine who have an al fresco section all to themselves. It's a bit of a shame really, as I have wanted to eat there for the last couple of months. But every time I go with a group of friends, they prefer to dine at one of the other choices because they are less expensive. The deal is that if one person from your party orders from Café Aubergine, you all do.
And just as a food market might be a bit of a social gathering for buyers, so is the Market Place. No sooner do you step past the hostess when you'll hear your name being called from across the way. Even if it is clear that you are there for aromantic dinner a duet, friends, family and acquaintances alike will be beckoning you over for a quick chat. It's quite fun actually once you're seated and tucking into your main course, folks whom you wouldn't normally run into pop up unannounced to sit and have a drink with you.
And speaking of having a beverage - isn't it a good idea if Café Aubergine kept their central bar opened on Friday and Saturday nights until perhaps one or two in the morning? I am fairly certain that this would prove successful. There is nothing like a night cap, or four, before heading home. And trust me, after having stuffed my gut with food like a pig, the last thing I feel up to is heading out on the town to some nightclub. I'm either going to cry 'wee wee wee all the way home' or, 'preferably' I'd stay right where I am and stuff myself with some rum or wine!
Market Place, 67 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10. Open: Mondays - Sundays for lunch & dinner.
