Bradenton
When Delaney Hawkins-Shaw was a nurse at Tampa General Hospital, she would sell her husband’s home-cooked Jamaican food to the staff.
It was a hit.
That led Hawkins-Shaw down the road of opening a storefront. The Flavaz restaurant brand was created in Riverview eight years ago.
A second location — with a twist — was added in mid-October in Bradenton at 3306 Manatee Ave. W.
Flavaz Slice & Spice brings authentic Jamaican cuisine fused with classic Italian dishes.
“I was going to continue with Flavaz Jamaican Grill Bradenton, but then I’m like, ‘No, we have pizza,’” said Hawkins-Shaw, who is from Montego Bay, Jamaica. “So we did Flavaz Slice for the pizza and Spice to represent the Jamaican portion.”
Flavaz Slice & Spice, 3306 Manatee Ave. W., recently opened in Bradenton, serving dishes like the jerk chicken and jerk pork pizza. Jason Dill jdill@bradenton.com Retaining Godson’s pizza recipe, staff
The space was previously home to Godson’s Pizzeria, which announced its closing in October.
The Godson’s concept, though, was sold to Hawkins-Shaw.
“We bought their concept and their menu, but we shredded a few things,” Hawkins-Shaw. “We kept the pizza and the sandwiches, and then we added our sandwiches to it.”
Flavaz Slice & Spice, 3306 Manatee Ave. W., recently opened in Bradenton to serve Italian comfort with Jamaican vibes. Jason Dill jdill@bradenton.com
Some of the blended offerings on the pizza side include jerk chicken and jerk pork, or having both as a half-and-half pizza.
“The seasoning’s a little bit different,” Hawkins-Shaw said about the jerk-style pizzas. “But (Godson’s) were having barbecue pizzas, barbecue chicken pizzas before. It’s a little bit different and just a little bit different, but (customers have) loved it.”
Flavaz Slice & Spice, 3306 Manatee Ave. W., recently opened in Bradenton to serve Italian comfort with Jamaican vibes like this jerk pasta dish. Jason Dill jdill@bradenton.com Traditional Jamaican cuisine
Fan favorites include the deluxe pizza, the meat lovers pizza, the pepperoni pizza, jerk chicken pasta and jerk shrimp pasta.
There are also traditional Jamaican entrees such as brown stewed chicken, which comes with rice and peas or white rice or garlic mashed potatoes.
Oxtail and curry goat are served on the weekends.
It fits with the new restaurant’s slogan of “Italian comfort, Jamaican vibes,” that’s plastered on each of the five tables. The restaurant seats 24.
Flavaz Slice & Spice, 3306 Manatee Ave. W., recently opened in Bradenton, serving Italian comfort with Jamaican vibes. Jason Dill jdill@bradenton.com Learning Italian classics
To help mesh the Italian cuisine with the Carribbean flavors of Jamaican food, Flavaz retained some Godson’s staff.
“(They) taught us how to make the pizza, we taught (them) how to jerk chicken and all that stuff,” Hawkins-Shaw said.
Pizzas range in price from $13.99 for a 10-inch small that feeds one to two people and as high as $21.99 for a 16-inch large that feeds three or more.
Entrees cost between $12.99-$25, with appetizers such as beef patties, coco bread, cheese bread and garlic knots costing $3.99.
The pastas for jerk chicken and jerk shrimp are $15.99 and $17.99, respectively. There’s even a vegetarian/vegan pasta option for $15.99 that uses coconut milk.
Delaney Hawkins-Shaw, owner of Flavaz Slice & Spice, located at 3306 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton, holds up some dishes that go with the new restaurant’s “Italian comfort, Jamaican vibes,” slogan. Jason Dill jdill@bradenton.com What are the hours of operation and specials?
The roughly 900-square-foot restaurant also boasts an $8 daily lunch special consisting of either curry chicken, brown stew or jerk chicken and $1 wings on Wednesdays.
“As I did with my other restaurant, we’ll host spirit nights, we’ll donate to charities we need to,” Hawkins-Shaw said. “I don’t believe in people being hungry. As long as they come in and they ask, if they don’t have it, if they have $5 (then) I’m going to sell them $5 worth of food. That’s how I believe. So I’m here to be a part of the community and learn a little more.”
Flavaz Slice & Spice is open 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday and 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant is closed Sundays.
For more information, visit www.FlavazSliceAndSpice.com.
Flavaz Slice & Spice, 3306 Manatee Ave. W., recently opened in Bradenton, serving Italian comfort with Jamaican vibes. Jason Dill jdill@bradenton.com
Jason Dill
Bradenton Herald
Jason Dill is a sports reporter for the Bradenton Herald. He’s won Florida Press Club awards since joining in 2010. He currently covers restaurant, development and other business stories for the Herald.
Dining and Cooking