The barrier island where Ocean City is situated may not be as isolated as the island they hail from, but for two Jamaican friends and entrepreneurs, the resort’s vibe reminds them of home.
That was the rationale for Dwight Green and Roy Salmon when they decided to open Ocho Rios Jerk and Tings on 120th Street in May.
“We love it here in terms of the beach, nightlife, social life, all that stuff,” Green said. “The one thing that we always thought was missing was just food.”
Ocho Rios brings authentic Jamaican cuisine with an authentic Jamaican ambiance. The kitchen churns out renowned Jamaican foods — Green said the oxtail is far and away the menu favorite — and vegan options as well like curry brown stew.
“Day 1 is cool, Day 2 it’s great, but once you get to Day 3 you feel like you’re having the same thing over and over, right? And so we felt like let’s bring something different,” Green continued. “Let’s add to the culture here in Ocean City … We wanted to bring not just the food but everything (in our restaurant) — the culture, the warmth. All that stuff, we wanted to bring to this space.”