Quincy eatery offers cuisines of two island nations. Where you can set sail to on Water St

QUINCY – After owning a small restaurant in her native country of the Philippines, Rose Belle Martin said she dreamed of bringing her passion for cooking Filipino cuisine to the area after immigrating to the United States about a decade ago.

Her husband, Uton Martin, also loves to cook, but his specialties come from his native country of Jamaica. The Randolph couple didn't let that stop them.

"We got the idea to put the two cuisines together, and people love it," she said. "It's an interesting combination."

The Martins opened Bright Light Authentic Jamaican & Filipino Cuisine about two years ago.

"It’s a great spot. It was already a Filipino restaurant before, so it fit," Martin said. "My husband worked in customer service and hospitality, so it worked out."

Martin said they were feeling "dark and very sad" during the pandemic, but her husband reminded her "at the end of the tunnel, there will always be a bright light."

She said opening the restaurant gave them hope, so they decided to name it Bright Light.

Bright Light does have a few tables and chairs for customers to sit and eat, but it's mostly a to-go restaurant. During the week, Martin said they sell an equal amount of Jamaican and Filipino food. But on the weekends, she said people travel from all over for the Filipino cuisine.

"We're one of the only Filipino restaurants open. It's hard for people to find," she said. "It's all word-of-mouth recommendations, and most of the people who come in come back and are happy and bring more friends. It's been a really good feeling."

She said the popular Filipino dishes include lechon kawali, a dish with crispy deep-fried pork belly; pancit bihon, stir-fry rice noodles with chicken, pork or vegetables; and lumpiang Shanghai eggrolls. Jamaican dishes include oxtail stew, curry goat and jerk chicken.

Martin said the couple has dreams of someday expanding the restaurant into a larger space.

"It takes time, but I can see it in the future," she said.

Bright Light Authentic Jamaican & Filipino Cuisine

Location: 143 Water St., Quincy

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

Contact: 617-481-4099