Silver Spring’s Caribbean Spot Celebrates Its Third Anniversary

American and Caribbean food restaurant on Georgia Avenue is getting ready to celebrate its third anniversary on March 23.

Photo Courtesy of Society Restaurant and Lounge

The Society Restaurant and Lounge reflects the diversity of downtown Silver Spring, according to owner and former NBA player Jason Miskiri.

“… Silver Spring is truly a reflection of Society’s menu and mission of ‘good food, good people, good will.’ Also the surrounding residential community of homes, apartments and condos includes a huge influx of families and urban professionals that are seeking out an establishment like Society that includes fine dining and live music,” Miskiri wrote in an email to MyMCMedia.

Miskiri moved to the U.S. from Guyana with his family when he was four years old. The family moved to Takoma Park, where Miskiri wrote the neighborhood is home. He attended Montgomery Blair High School followed by approximately two years at Montgomery College. He then was recruited by the George Mason University Basketball Team in 1997 and graduated in 1999. He also played for the Charlotte Hornets in the 1999-2000 season.

According to Miskiri, his NBA career was short lived due to a debilitating back injury that required surgery and a slow recovery.

He then decided to become an entrepreneur and opened the Island Flavors Restaurant in Laurel in 2007, which along with Society Restaurant and Lounge, provided job opportunities to his siblings whom for many years supported the family by working at McDonald’s when Miskiri was a young boy.

Although the Laurel location has closed its door, Miskiri is getting ready to open a new restaurant in D.C. The place does not have a name yet but is scheduled to open Summer of 2015 near U Street and 12th Street.

Miskiri also wrote that Society Restaurant and Lounge is the only restaurant in downtown Silver Spring with a rooftop- Olivia’s View. A staff member at Society was proud to add that she was inspired to work for the restaurant because it was one of the only Caribbean restaurants in the D.C. area that served fresh food made to order in the Caribbean tradition.

“The community favorite hands down is the Society jerk chicken, rice and peas made with coconut milk and sautéed cabbage. The chicken is marinated for 24 hours,” Miskiri added.

Miskiri plans to celebrate the special occassion with a small get together of family and friends at the restaurant.

About Aline Barros

Aline Barros is a multimedia reporter and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at Abarros@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter at @AlineBarros2.

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