Dining Out: Flavors of the Caribbean entrance at Coney’s Footprints Café

Caribbean food with a twist is on the menu at Footprints Café, which will soon celebrate its 10th year in Coney Island.

Situated conveniently across from the Thunderbolt and just steps from MCU Park, the eatery – which branched out from the 16-years-young original Footprints on Clarendon Road in East Flatbush, and also has a take-out-only sister location on Flatbush Avenue near East 26th Street — offers up flavorful Caribbean fusion food that flaunts its West Indian roots while also borrowing from the cuisine of the American South.

“What we try to do is offer a little more than just regular Caribbean food,” explained General Manager Linden Clarke, describing Footprints’ menu as a “fused cuisine, a little bit of Southern and what is termed modern Caribbean food.”

The result is a cuisine that is sprightly and sultry, with intense flavors that tease the palate and are simultaneously deeply satisfying.

We sampled a variety of Footprints’ appetizers, and found them well-cooked and savory. The Codfish Cakes ($5 for four) were dense, crispy on the outside and mildly briny. The Fried Calamari ($10.95) were classic – crispy and perfectly salty – and the Fried Plantains ($3.25), soft and sweet, and meltingly delicious.

The Jerk Wings ($7.25) epitomized the complex flavors of this quintessential Jamaican preparation – hot but not overly so, with background notes of sweet, warm allspice. In contrast, the Honey Garlic Wings ($7.95) were sticky and sweet and deceptively tame at first, with a heat that sneaks up on you, though it never overwhelms.

As a main dish, my companion and I shared Jerk Chicken over Rasta Pasta ($15.95) – the eatery’s most well-known specialty – and were entranced by the combination of spicy meat and creamy, cheesy pasta with its grace notes of jerk seasoning.

“What made Footprints famous? Rasta Pasta,” noted Clarke, stressing, “It goes with almost anything. You can pair it with almost any seafood or meat.”

We also dug into the Chicken and Waffles ($8.50), which was so popular at Footprints’ all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch that it was added to the daily menu as well, according to Clarke.
We could certainly understand why as we indulged in perfectly fried chicken served atop a freshly made waffle garnished with whipped cream, and artfully placed cinnamon sticks and star anise. Accompanying the dish was a portion of cinnamon and star anise-inflected honey which added an inimitable fragrance and flavor.

We also sampled several desserts (each, $6) – the Carrot Cake, which was studded with fruit; the Red Velvet Cake; and the Coconut Cake, flecked with shreds of the stuff. All boasted cream cheese frosting, and dense, rich, moist interiors.

Besides the Sunday brunch, the Surf Avenue Footprints is also launching a Wednesday Night Seaside Party, on the restaurant’s balcony, highlighting the food and spirits of the West Indies as well as Caribbean music. The event will continue weekly, said Clarke, “Till it gets too cold to be outside.”

In addition, there’s live music on weekend evenings, karaoke on Thursday nights, and Footprints does on-site functions and catering as well.

“Anyone out there who hasn’t visited us yet,” concluded Clarke, “now is the time to visit. We’re getting better every year.”

Footprints Café
1521 Surf Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11224
718-265-2530 or 718-462-0120
Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m.
Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.
Free delivery: 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. with minimum $15 order
www.footprintscafenyc.com