Where Every Plate Tells a Story: Jerk and Jambalaya Brings Caribbean Soul to Rehoboth Beach
Something special opened its doors on May 16, 2026, at 70 Rehoboth Ave in Rehoboth Beach’s First Street Station. Jerk and Jambalaya, Sussex County’s newest Black-owned restaurant, is not just a place to eat—it’s a place to belong. With the warm tagline “Welcome to the family. The pot’s always simmering,” owners Sintelle Taylor and Godfrey Fitzgerald have created something perfect for Rehoboth Beach: a place where strangers quickly become regulars, and regulars feel like family.
Chef and co-owner Sintelle Taylor brings Le Cordon Bleu training from both Paris and London to the Sussex County table—a world-class pedigree now serving the community she calls home. Her partner, Jamaican-born Godfrey Fitzgerald, is a hospitality and small business expert who brings warmth, cultural depth, and Caribbean authenticity to every detail. Together, they have created their first Caribbean-focused eatery, and within minutes of walking through the door, you feel it.
The menu is a joyful bridge between cultures. Signature dishes include Yardie Jerk Chicken, slow fire-grilled and smoked to perfection; rich Bayou Gumbo Love with shrimp, sausage, and okra; Creole Shrimp and Grits Bowl; Braised Oxtail Stew; and Ackee & Saltfish Brunch—Jamaica’s national dish, served on weekends. Sides range from Fried Sweet Plantains to Velvety Mac ’N’ Cheese to Honey-Infused Butter Cornbread. Sweet endings include warm Cobbler, seasonal Cake Slices, and the indulgent Jamaican Black Cake. Refreshing non-alcoholic craft mocktails—like the Island Breeze Refresher and Spicy Mango Cooler—round out a menu that invites everyone. Many dishes can be prepared vegetarian upon request, and every ingredient is fresh—never frozen. Full menu at jerkjambalaya.com/menu.
Seniors dining solo are especially welcome—the team treats every guest like family, and that warmth is unmistakable within minutes of arrival. Open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday 11:30 am–8 pm and Sunday noon–7 pm, with dine-in seating for 25 and convenient carry-out, Jerk and Jambalaya is easy to access for all.
Good food has a way of doing what little else can—it opens doors, starts conversations, and quietly builds understanding between people who might never have shared a meal before. Taylor and Fitzgerald bring that spirit to everything they do, and they’re building it into their community as well. The restaurant actively welcomes job applicants of all backgrounds—students, adults, career changers—and the staff takes genuine pride in mentoring the young people who walk through their doors looking for a start.
Food has always been one of humanity’s most powerful bridges. At Jerk and Jambalaya, the pot is always simmering—and the family always has room for one more. Stop by 70 Rehoboth Ave, First Street Station, corner of Wilmington and 1st, and pull up a chair.
Jerk and Jambalaya
Address:
70 Rehoboth Ave, First Street Station
(corner of Wilmington & 1st),
Rehoboth Beach, DE
Hours:
Mon–Sat 11:30am–8pm
Sunday Noon–7pm
Open 7 days a week
Dine-in & Carry-out
Vegetarian options available
All fresh ingredients
Alcohol-free craft cocktails
Website: www.jerkjambalaya.com
Now Hiring: accepting applications
