New Filipino-Jamaican Restaurant Opens In Metuchen

METUCHEN, NJ – A new casual restaurant serving a mix of Filipino and Jamaican flavors has opened in Metuchen.

Bonney’s BBQ celebrated its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday in the presence of community members and Mayor Jonathan M Busch.

Located at 387 Main Street, right next to the NYC-bound train station stairwell, the restaurant is founded by classically trained chefs and couple Jeanne Jordan and Damion Chambers.

“During the pandemic, Jeanne and Damion were both furloughed from top restaurant jobs in Los Angeles. So they took a leap, launching a Filipino–Jamaican street food concept from the back of a truck. It became a sensation. And now, Jeanne and Damion have decided to choose downtown Metuchen for Bonney’s permanent home,” Busch said in a social media post.

The menu features grilled and BBQ favorites like jerk chicken, siniglaw, along with small plates, fresh juices, and sweets.

Jordan’s culinary story began among the rice paddies and mango groves of her family's Philippine farm, where her grandmother became her first cooking teacher.

When Jeanne was eight years old, her family relocated to New Jersey, where her parents found work as professional bakers. Watching them deepened her fascination with the culinary arts and confirmed her desire to pursue cooking as a career.

Her formal training took her to the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, where she mastered classical techniques and contemporary approaches. She gained invaluable experience at renowned establishments including Mas la Grillade, Mas Farmhouse, and Boston's acclaimed Rialto. She further honed her skills at Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare and Justine's on Hudson in New York City, according to their website.

Chambers’ love affair with food traces back to his childhood on his grandparents' Jamaican farm, where he spent countless hours alongside his grandmother, sampling fresh produce and learning to appreciate the connection between land and plate.

At 15, he moved from Jamaica to New York, where he initially worked as a mechanic for a decade. He later enrolled at the French Culinary Institute to formalize his cooking education, the website said.

Chambers had the privilege of working under celebrated chefs including Floyd Cardoz, Ian Kittichai, Galen Zamarra, and Rocco DiSpirito. Today, he has established himself as an expert in wood fire grilling and artisanal butchering, weaving his Jamaican heritage into sophisticated contemporary cuisine that honors both his cultural background and professional training.

Bonney’s BBQ offers dine-in, take-out out and catering services.

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