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Chef Darian Bryan brings an authentic taste of the Caribbean and Jamaican flavors to New York through his Buffalo-based restaurant, Bratts Hill, and private chef services.
Bratts Hill is a two-part Jamaican fusion concept that offers a fast-casual lunch service by day and transforms into an upscale dining destination by night. Just down the street is The Plating Society, Bryan’s luxury private chef service that caters to events and provides elevated dining experiences.
“I’m just trying to shine some light on Jamaican food here in Buffalo,” says the Jamaica native about his goal for both. Through his inclusive concepts, Chef Bryan serves up something for everyone, enriching Buffalo’s culinary scene with the vibrant flavors of Jamaica.
From Buffalo Bills to Bratts Hill
Growing up in Clarendon, Jamaica, Bryan developed a passion for cooking early on. “My love of food and passion began back in Jamaica when I was a little boy,” he recalls. “My mom used to have a cook shop, a takeout Jamaican restaurant, and I used to help her in the shop each and every day.”
Building on the skills he learned in his mother’s cook shop, Bryan moved to New York in 2012 to pursue his passion for cooking, studying culinary arts at Erie Community College and later hospitality management at Buffalo State University.
After graduating in 2017, he worked his way up in local restaurants until a chance encounter with an NFL player opened a new path. “I met a football player, Vontae Davis, from the Buffalo Bills,” Bryan recalls. “He asked me to be his personal chef, so I started cooking for him.”
The opportunity allowed Bryan to launch his private chef services and opened the door to work with other players on the team. “That’s how I became this NFL chef—I pretty much cooked for the entire team,” he says, reflecting on his journey.
With a growing following and a desire to share Jamaican flavors with a broader audience, Bryan began envisioning a space of his own. That vision eventually led to the creation of his luxury private chef service, The Plating Society, and soon after Bratts Hill.
Jerk Hut and The Plating Society
The Plating Society came first in 2022. Chef Bryan created a modern commercial kitchen space to host private lunches, dinners, corporate events and cooking classes. “Every night, it’s just something different,” he smiles. “Always new people and new menu items to keep it fresh.”
With a kitchen to cater to the upscale crowd and support his needs as a private chef, Bryan set off to establish a space in Buffalo to celebrate his culinary roots and meet the growing local demand for Jamaican flavors and cuisine.
“So, I started doing Jamaican pop-ups called the Jerk Hut. It’s just, like, once a week—over the summertime, just Wednesdays—so they can have my Jamaican food,” he explains. “And they loved it so much, they kept asking for more of it. So, I’m like, it’s only right for me to open a Jamaican restaurant.”
In June of 2023, Bratts Hill officially opened, named after the hill in Jamaica where Chef Bryan grew up. “In the daytime, we got fast casual Jamaican takeout, just like my mom used to have back in Jamaica…and at night, we got upscale fine dining,” says Bryan proudly.
The two-in-one restaurant caters to all, with the Jerk Hut open for daytime takeout and an inventive Jamaican fusion menu for evening diners.
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Experiencing Jamaican Flavors at The Bratts Hill
The Caribbean chef walks us through some fan favorites on the menu, starting with the lunch menu. “As far as the Jerk Hut in the daytime, Rasta-Pasta is everyone’s favorite,” he shares. “I make mine with coconut milk, heavy cream, jerk spices, garlic, onion and white wine. So, it’s like a jerk alfredo penne pasta with bell peppers, scallion, jerk chicken, shrimp, or oxtail on top.”
Some other hits on the lunch menu include the barbecue fried chicken, steamed snapper, and the stewed chicken and coconut lentils. The lunch menu is incredibly delicious and creative, but the real excitement begins around dinner time.
“We have this thing we call the jerk experience where the chef comes out to the kitchen,” he explains. “Chef Chris comes out with this cart, and he has jerk pork, jerk chicken, rice and peas, plantain and he chops up the chicken and pork right on the cart.”
This unique tableside experience ends with a beautiful display of food garnished with red pepper curls and served on a wooden plate shaped like Jamaica.
Some other popular options include the Rasta Ramen served with broth poured tableside and freshly made noodles, the goat ravioli with white truffle curry sauce, and the mango habanero lamb ribs.
The experience wouldn’t be complete without the ambiance and music, which add to the Caribbean vibe that Bryan and his team have carefully cultivated.
“We’ve got the service, the food, and the spices. I just want people to feel like they’re in Jamaica,” says the chef.
At Bratts Hill, every dish offers a new way to experience Jamaican cuisine. Whether it’s through classic Jamaican flavors at lunch or immersive tableside service at dinner, Chef Bryan brings the soul of Jamaica to Buffalo’s table—one unforgettable meal at a time.
For more information on Bratts Hill and The Plating Society, you can visit their websites. To learn more about Chef Darian Bryan and his upcoming projects, follow his Instagram and visit his website.
