Pepper’s Island 1701 E 4th Ave., Ybor City Trinidadian restaurant Pepper’s Island officially debuted last August. The official opening of Pepper’s Island marks an important chapter for owner Rodney Dhanraj’s life, who had a long-term goal of opening a restaurant in honor of his grandparent’s 60 year-old roti shop back in Trinidad. Guests can dive into dishes like stewed chicken, curry duck, and paratha aka “Buss up Shot.” Photo by Kyla Fields Credit: Kyla Fields

Piping hot plates of Caribbean food are once again a thing on the corner of East 4th Avenue and N 17th Street in Ybor City.

Trinidadian restaurant Pepper’s Island— located at 1701 E 4th Ave. in the space that formerly housed the beloved Cephas Hot Shop— officially debuted last weekend.

During its soft opening phase, Pepper’s Island will be open from 7 p.m.-1 a.m. on Fridays, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays—with a DJ bumping Caribbean music each night.

At its opening weekend, the restaurant dished out entrees and small plates to be featured on its slightly-limited, soft opening menu—including classic Trini dishes like curried chickpea-filled doubles, aloo pie stuffed with spiced mash potatoes and pholourie fritters served with a side of tangy tamarind sauce.

Pepper’s Island

1701 E 4th Ave., Ybor City, FL

website

In addition to these street food-inspired a la carte items, Pepper’s Island also offers curry goat, chicken and beef on different days of the week.

On social media, Pepper’s teased expanded operating hours and a full menu rollout sometime in September, adding dishes like stewed chicken, curry duck, and paratha aka “Buss up Shot” to its daily offerings.

Owner Rodney Dhanraj tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that starting next month, Pepper’s Island will be open seven days a week, but specific hours will be “subject to change depending on customer traffic.” He also stresses that all of the restaurant’s dishes are made-to-order and hopes his first wave of customers can understand that Pepper’s Island just launched its soft opening phase.

Dhanraj, alongside his family and friends, have spent the last several months building out the Ybor City restaurant, which was originally slated to open in July.

The official opening of Pepper’s Island marks an important chapter of Dhanraj’s life, who had a long-term goal of opening a restaurant in honor of his grandparent’s 60 year-old roti shop back in Trinidad.

For the latest information on Ybor City’s newest restaurant, head to its Facebook page or Instagram at @peppers_islandrestaurant.

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