About Us
Ria Ramkissoon and Alasdair Cotter are the team behind Harry’s Daughter. Their gastropub in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood of Jersey City - named for Ria’s father – was inspired by her passion for the food and feel of her childhood in Trinidad and Tobago, and it shows. Threading a fine line between relaxed and refined, the food elevates the flavors of Caribbean home cooking in unique and thoughtful ways, and Alasdair’s drink program combines tropical flavors with the latest trends in cocktails. Harry’s design details also shine. The hanging chairs, lush tropical wallpaper from Ghislane Vinas and the woven basket lights designed by Ria and made by the visually impaired in Port of Spain, Trinidad transport you far away from the everyday.
The result is a reflection of unique professional backgrounds. Together they spent a combined 30 years’ in the hyper-competitive NYC restaurant and bar scene.
A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Ria has been a successful fashion designer, restaurant manager and all-around entrepreneur in New York City. Her work has been featured in Glamour, Essence, Women’s Wear Daily, and she was a speaker at TEDx Port of Spain. She runs back of house, manages the food program, and was clearly responsible for the décor.
Alasdair trained in Acting in Ireland and Italy, but he was practically born into the hospitality industry. He has over 15 years of experience, beginning in his family’s bar in Ireland, then overseeing the bar operations of some of NYC’s busiest watering holes. Alasdair manages the front of house, including the bar program.
Ria and Alasdair both live where they work, in Bergen-Lafayette, Jersey City. In their free time, of which there is little, they enjoy being on the ocean, going to the theatre, and hanging with the restaurant’s new mascot Sasta, a black pug puppy.
“The menu at Harry's Daughter, a Caribbean gastropub, incorporates ingredients like Scotch Bonnet peppers (aka Caribbean red peppers) and jerk spices.” - The Best Wings in Every State, This is Insider.com