Howard Seftel
Republic restaurant critic
Feb. 11, 2008 03:07 PM

Slowly, slowly, the downtown dining scene is building momentum.

The latest entry is the Bread Fruit, of all things a Jamaican restaurant under construction near the new ASU dorms.

Owner Dwayne Allen is a native Jamaican who has lived in Arizona for 18 years. He’ll be recreating his favorite childhood eats with the secret-family recipe jerked chicken. He also plans to emphasize healthy eating – nothing here will be fried. He promises the curry tofu will be “amazing.”

Why downtown? Allen thinks the area is on the verge of becoming a real, “no-car community.”  He foresees the business crowd coming for lunch, and downtown students and condo people filling seats at dinner.

Look for an April opening.

Details: The Bread Fruit, 108 E. Pierce St., Phoenix, 602-267-1266. www.thebreadfruit.com