Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

In this file photo, the action was at Acropolis with (from left) Janette Conie, Fay Clunie, Ellisse Campbell and Christine Wong enjoying a night out at the restaurant. - Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer

Kingston is the hub of fine dining, complemented with great entertainment. Whether it's Chinese, Indian, Mediterranean, Japanese, Latin, or just good 'ole' Jamaican cuisine, the city is the place to meet your every palate need.

For the past 10 to 15 years, dining out has become the new craze in Kingston. As such, three years ago, The Gleaner-sponsored Kingston Restaurant Week (KRW) was born and it has proven to be an idea whose time has come.

But, to some extent, Kingston has always had a dining-out culture Back in the '40s and '50s, downtown was the place to dine.

Columnist Hartly Neita, notes that, back then, downtown was the business central with numerous restaurants in its environs.

Myrtle Bank Hotel, located on the south side of Harbour Street, was famous for hosting dignitaries such as Errol Flynn and Queen Elizabeth I. He notes that a number restaurants were located on Port Royal Street, which was very popular for lunch.

He explained that in the '70s, with the advent of the business in New Kingston, came the birth of several restaurants such as Liguanea Club and House of Chen. Today, New Kingston is buzzing with a variety of places for eating out.

Before this change in dining practices, a good ole home-cooked meal was the main course of day. Over the years, however, not only did our culture change, but so did our taste in food. In the past, Sunday dinner was rice and peas and fried chicken. Today, individuals want to tantalise their palates with a variety of scrumptious meals.

Marigold Harding, member of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, recalled that, growing up, dining at home was very important, especially on a Sunday.

"There was even a specific time for Sunday dinner. That is, when we had all our family discussions and problems were solved, etc.," she said.

Variable influence

Now, Sunday dinner is not subjected to the dinner table at home anymore. Some families prefer to enjoy Sunday dinner at a nice restaurant.

Mrs. Harding noted that there are a number of variables that influenced the change on our dining-out culture.

"We have become modernised and lazy, and we have a lot of single parents. They are stressed out at work, they face transportation problems and by the time they get home, they are so tired, it is much easier to grab something on the road."

Restaurants are also making dining out more appealing with very attractive menus.

Between November 10-17, Kingston will come alive during Kingston Restaurant Week with patrons scurrying to their favourite restaurants in droves, especially with drastically reduced prices.

See you then!