Open Caribbean Kitchen | Our Story
Bold island flavors, right here in Louisville
Open Caribbean Kitchen is Chef Ernst Pierre's love letter to the islands — Haitian, Dominican, and Trinidadian traditions, served with soul right here in Louisville.
Chef Ernst Pierre and his roots
Chef Ernst Pierre grew up with these flavors. Every dish on the menu is a direct expression of that heritage — not a watered-down interpretation, but the real thing.
Where tradition meets passion
The Haitian jerk chicken spaghetti — boneless jerk chicken, sautéed onions, sweet peppers, and the restaurant's house sauce — is the kind of dish that doesn't exist anywhere else in Louisville. It's one of the most talked-about things to come out of this kitchen.
Portions that mean it
Generosity isn't a marketing line here — guests regularly note that a single order can feed a family. The food comes out hot, fresh, and piled high, because that's the standard Chef Pierre holds every plate to.
Louisville claimed it
With nearly 500 reviews and a devoted local following, Open Caribbean Kitchen has become a destination on Poplar Level Road — covered by Eat Drink Talk, featured on Lemon8 as a spot where "you get your money's worth," and championed loudly by the people who eat here every week.