SHARON, Pa. – Joseph Altenor moves confidently through the kitchen of Haitian Sensation, the restaurant he co-owns with his wife, Kristine. As busy as he is, he still stops to enjoy the rich aromas of jerk chicken, oxtail and freshly made rice and beans that fill the air.
“Everything we do here is all natural. We cook authentic Caribbean food,” Altenor said. “It’s not just about cooking – it’s about having the passion to cook. About knowing what your taste buds are telling you.”
Haitian Sensation started as a coffee shop and has grown into a full-service restaurant celebrating its 10th year in business.
The restaurant has become a local fixture, offering traditional Haitian dishes, including its signature jerk chicken, which can be customized to various spice levels and is served over rice and beans or mac and cheese. Another popular dish is the oxtail, which is browned on the stovetop before being slow-cooked for six hours.
“People go crazy over the oxtail,” Altenor said. “When we are out, some people get upset, and I can understand why.”
The restaurant recently moved into a larger space on Shenango Avenue, providing more room for seating, music, gatherings and a gift shop.
“This is our third move into an even bigger space, so God is working in ways I cannot even explain,” Altenor said.
Kristine Altenor left a career in banking four years ago to work alongside her husband, launching Sweet Sensations, a baking business inside the restaurant. She specializes in cupcakes, wedding cakes, Bundt cakes, rum cakes and royal icing sugar cookies, which are primarily sold at the restaurant.
“I consider myself more of a decorator, so I like to decorate,” she said.
Kristine said the community’s support has played a key role in their success.
“We definitely feel embraced by the community,” she said. “A lot of restaurants don’t make it past a couple of years, and this year we’re celebrating 10 years.”
Haitian Sensation has also become a gathering place, not just for food lovers but for those looking to support a mission. The couple has adopted a village in Haiti, returning each year to complete a project to help the people there. They also raise money for Haitian relief efforts through the restaurant. One project included constructing a learning center.
“We want to serve the community and serve Haiti,” Altenor said. “We are a safe place for people to come and hang out, to hold fundraisers, to serve God. My wife and I are committed to serve God. It’s not about what we are doing – it’s about what God put in front of us to do.”
Customers from across the region frequent the restaurant for both the food and the warm atmosphere. Lindell Bridges of Hermitage appreciates the friendliness of the staff and the variety of options.
“Everybody here is really friendly. Joseph and everyone are friendly, and I like to support local.”
Soraya Hejazi, also of Hermitage, has been dining at Haitian Sensation for years and eats there as often as she can.
“I heard from so many people how wonderful the food was,” Hejazi said. “Joseph is such an amazing chef, and he provides such personalized care and attention to every one of his customers.”
Stephen Kelleher of Mount Jackson has been coming since the restaurant first opened.
“It is amazing,” he said. “A lot of these dishes are nontraditional, and that’s what makes them unpredictable and fun. Honestly, anything that is on my plate from this restaurant is awesome.”
Altenor said new customers often tell him they weren’t aware of the restaurant before but are happy they found it, which he finds encouraging.
“That means we still have room to grow.”
Pictured at top: Joseph Altenor, co-owner, of Haitian Sensation, makes jerk chicken.
This story is the latest in our new series, Iconic Local Foods, which spotlights the dishes that have become synonymous with life in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys. Have a favorite local food you think should be featured? Share it with us HERE.