Bacchanal Junction

Father & Son Open Upscale Caribbean Eatery

By Candance Waller

Father and son duo Parris and Tristan Jordan realized their dream six months ago when they opened Bacchanal Junction Restaurant and Bar, a Caribbean eatery bordering the towns of East Orange and Bloomfield. The well appointed restaurant offers an upscale atmosphere with affordable prices.

“The finishings are upscale but the pricing is reasonable. Our cuisine is a melting pot of food cultures from the East Indian and African, various European countries that colonized the island, and some Middle Eastern influences,” explained Parris Jordan. “Bacchanal Junction has general Caribbean flavors heavily influenced by Trinidad. Our most popular dishes are rasta pasta, jerk salmon, red chili wingers, and macaroni pie.”

Saturday night is Caribbean night with a DJ and sometimes live entertainment such as steel bands. The restaurant also does a Happy Hour Tuesday-Friday from 4:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.

Tristan, the younger Jordan is a mixologist who has made several beverages to incorporate sorrel, the national drink of Trinidad. Sorrel-Tini and Sorrel Sangria are two drinks he has developed for Bacchanal Junction Bar and Restaurant. Patrons can also find other island-styled drinks such as Hibiscus Buccaneer and Caribbean Kiss Pisco Sour. “You won’t find these drinks anywhere else,” he said. “The sorrel drinks have been really well received by our customers.”

The restaurant located at 558 Arlington Avenue, Bloomfield NJ, is a large space, almost 5,000 square feet. Decorated in greens and browns the walls are adorned with artwork depicting Caribbean culture and daily activities by David Moore a Trinidadian artist. The ceilings are high with exposed beams. Flags from various Caribbean countries are on display and sounds of the Caribbean fill the air.

Already the owner of Limin’s Cafe Caribe, located just five minutes from Bacchanal Junction, Parris knew he wanted his new venture to be in the same area. Parris purchased Limin’s Café Caribe in 2019 from a family member.

Limin’s Cafe Caribe features traditional Trinidadian cuisine. Parris wanted a broader Caribbean menu, a bigger space, parking, and a liquor license for the new restaurant. When the location on Arlington Avenue became available and checked off all his needs, Parris, who has an extensive background in real estate, said he quickly jumped at the opportunity.

Parris Jordan and his son both have degrees in hospitality from New York University and both received prestigious awards from the program. Parris, who came to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago to further his education, has worked in the food industry for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality from the New York City Technical College and a Master’s in Hospitality with a focus on Real Estate and Finance from the Tisch Center of Hospitality Management at New York University. He has taught at New York University and worked as a consultant helping investors with the feasibility of opening and operating various hospitality related investments in the U.S., Caribbean, and Mexico. Well-traveled, Parris has been to all 50 states, every island in the Caribbean, and several other countries, as well.

Tristan says he enjoys working and learning from his father. He started working in the hospitality field when he was sixteen. “The biggest lesson I learned is to always move forward to get things done. When things happen, I know I can’t dwell on it and instead find ways to fix the problems,” said Tristan, the eldest of three. “I also had to learn to not take things personally. I don’t let things that happen in the restaurant bring tension to my relationship with my father. Our relationship has gotten even better since we are working together.”

Father and son agree. They want to grow the restaurant and have a positive impact on the community. “Our goal is to share the Caribbean culture with those from the island and the greater community,” Parris said. “At Bacchanal Junction, we’re on a mission to celebrate the rich tapestry of Caribbean flavors and culture.”

Bacchanal Junction
558 Arlington Avenue,
Bloomfield NJ 07003
bacchanalnj.com
Limin’ Cafe Caribe
5 Winans Street
East Orange, NJ 07017.
973.674.2992
liminscafe.com