Russell Jamaican restaurant opens new grab-and-go satellite location
HARTFORD — The Russell, the Jamaican restaurant that has been a downtown Hartford mainstay for 16 years, has opened a takeout-only satellite location in the South West neighborhood.
Hugh Russell, who owns both restaurants, said he hopes to succeed by using the same strategy he uses in his main location: by putting a Jamaican restaurant where no one expects to see one.
“You go to the North End and you are saturated. That’s because two-thirds of the residents are West Indian and most small businesses go straight to the target market,” said Russell. “I believe that folks love Jamaican food, love the flavors. But in this neighborhood it’s nonexistent. I amconfident I can take the Russell to any location and with our name and reputation, people will be behind us.”
The grab-and-go storefront at 881 New Britain Ave. opened on April 19. Russell said it offers “about 90%” of the foods offered at the downtown Russell. The Russell Grab-and-Go is open Monday to Saturday, whereas the downtown spot is open Tuesday to Sunday.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced many restaurateurs to change their tactics and the health crisis was the motivation behind Russell’s relocation of his downtown restaurant in October from Pratt Street to 187 Allyn St. The old location had 2,200 square feet and a capacity of around 60 people. The Allyn Street location has 6,800 square feet, and a capacity of about 180.
“We had enough space to distance the tables,” he said. “Even when May 19 comes and restaurants can go to 100% [capacity] again a lot of people still won’t want to do that. People will still be uncomfortable. It’s good to have more space.”
Russell said the grab-and-go was something he had been thinking about even before the health crisis. But the pandemic made the expansion even more timely.
“It wasn’t COVID that brought us here. It’s because this area needed takeout,” he said. “I also like that I am in a primarily residential neighborhood, where a lot of the small businesses are little mom-and-pops. We support each other.”
The interior of the grab-and-go is livened up with a mural by Hartford artist Che’ La’Mora and a painting by Middletown artist Pierre Sylvain of the old Russell space, which depicts Russell doing DJ duties. Two other paintings were created by Paige Boyd, the daughter of the location’s manager, Gabriel Boyd.
The menu offers classics such as jerk, stew or fried chicken, curry goat, oxtail, plantains, vegetarian and meat patties, and vegan options such as jerk tofu, stew chunks and “rasta pasta.”
Salads and sandwiches are offered including a jerk chicken cheesesteak. The Philly cheesesteak-inspired sandwich, made with jerk chicken instead of steak, was created by Boyd.
Russell said he hopes to create other fusion dishes on the menu. “We’re thinking of making a chicken quesadilla with jerk chicken or a shrimp quesadilla with jerk shrimp,” Russell said. “With experiments like those, we can be flexible.”
Acoupon on therussellct.com, for 10% off lunch, is valid until May 15.