Chef Maynard McMillan, the culinary force behind NaFasi Catering, has quietly carved out a new home inside downtown Baltimore’s Lexington Market, serving Caribbean plates that are already pulling in lunchtime lines. Regulars say the stall stands out among the market’s old-school crabcake and comfort-food counters thanks to punchy spices, coconut rice, and a lineup of plant-forward sides. The arrival of NaFasi also tracks with a slow but steady shift in the market toward a more diverse, chef-driven mix of vendors.
According to FOX45, the new NaFasi Restaurant counter sits right on the Lexington Market floor, where McMillan is serving island-influenced Caribbean fare. The outlet’s BMore Lifestyle segment spotlighted the chef and his focus on bringing bold Caribbean flavor into one of Baltimore’s most traditional food halls.
About the chef
NaFasi started as a catering operation in the middle of the pandemic, then grew into a presence at markets and pop-ups around the region. As Nafasi Catering explains, McMillan leans on Trinidadian American family recipes along with fine-dining experience at restaurants including Zuma and The Source by Wolfgang Puck. That combination of roots and restaurant training shapes the counter’s style, marrying assertive spice with precise technique.
What they are serving
Local feedback and menu write-ups show NaFasi covering a wide Caribbean range, with jerk-seasoned proteins, curry dishes, oxtail, and coconut basmati rice, plus vegetarian and other plant-forward choices. Customers and listings point to plates like jerk chicken, jerk shrimp and curry cauliflower, often served over coconut rice and peas for a quick, carryout-friendly meal. The idea is to deliver restaurant-level flavor in a market-counter format. Restaurantji includes several of these options on its NaFasi page.
Where to find NaFasi
Lexington Market sits in the heart of the Market Center neighborhood downtown and posts visitor details and hours on its official site. Mapping tools and business listings place NaFasi inside the market’s downtown footprint, so shoppers should keep an eye out for the NaFasi counter on the main market floor. The visitor page from Lexington Market and listings on MapQuest both show the downtown location.
From Hollins Market to Lexington
Before taking space at Lexington, McMillan secured a stall during the 2024 reopening of Hollins Market, where local coverage noted his focus on seasonal, locally sourced dishes and reported that he was selling out of popular items during the launch. Reporting on that reopening cast NaFasi as part of a wave of small, Black-owned businesses gaining footholds in Baltimore’s public markets. For more on that chapter, see coverage from WYPR and Baltimore Fishbowl…