Story

Lorna’s Caribbean began with a bold vision from Matari, son of Lorna. After overcoming a federal case and immigration challenges, Matari chose to leave the streets behind to focus on his family’s future. That’s when the idea of opening a restaurant took root.

Matari convinced his mother, Lorna, to leave her nursing career and join him in bringing their Caribbean flavors to the community. Though skeptical at first, Lorna couldn’t ignore Matari’s reminder of how her home-cooked meals always left his friends scraping the pots clean. In August 2006, Lorna’s Caribbean Restaurant opened its doors.

Six years later, they expanded to downtown Miami, but Matari ultimately decided to focus on their Miami Gardens location. In 2016, unforeseen plaza ownership changes forced them to shut down for what was expected to be six months—but turned into a 2.5-year hiatus.

Finally, in May 2019, Lorna’s Caribbean & American Grille reopened, stronger than ever. Despite the challenges of COVID-19 in 2020, Lorna’s has remained a staple of the community, proudly serving authentic flavors and standing strong in 2024.