Taste of Jamaica Cafe and Lounge

This place looks pretty sketch from the outside. Nothing like getting stared at the entire time you walk to the front door. I guess they don't see our types around there much, I don't know. Everybody was totally freakin' out about it, but I told them to suck it up and give it a chance, I've been to worse places. Anyway, we walked by the locals and made our way inside. What looked like a rough bar on the outside, was an ok looking place on the inside. It sill needs some more plants and stuff, but we were there for the food, not the ambiance.

The food here warrants a solid 3.5, service was friendly as well. They only had like 4 things to choose from, which is much less than what's on the menu. I had the curry chicken, peas and rice, and cabbage. To me, the curry chicken didn't have that bite that I love about curry. It was good, but def could have been a little better. I tried a piece of the oxtail, which was decent. One of the others said the Jerk there, was better than what they had in Jamaica, so I guess it was good. I tried to get Sorrel, but it was all gone. I never had it before, so I wanted to try it. After all was said and done, everyone was happy we went, even though they were cussing me as we walked in. See, some of the best places to eat, don't look like much on the outside. It's what's inside that counts.

My brother and I came here wanting to try something different and ethnic. This place was recommended by a Jamaican aquaintence of my brothers. I don't know why were surprised this restaurant looked like a hole in a wall considering it's located on Beltine.This review is based on how we percieved the food as newbies.

The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't memorable either. If you've had curry before, don't expect the curry meats here to be any different. Curry on any meat tastes like the same curry flavored meat. I had the jerk chicken. Definitely what I didn't expect, but it wasn't bad either. It reminded me of BBQ that's been chilling on the charcoal grill for a long time. Both the curry and the jerk chicken were tough. I guess that's how it's done in this Jamaican restaurant. The sides were pretty much like any side dish you can find at a soul food restaurant and it tasted no different. They didn't have a few of them available when we came.

My brother had the sweet tea thinking it was going to be southern sweet tea. I have no idea what they mix in it, but it will be the most interesting tea you've tasted. The flavor was like fruit punch... but with tea! We would love the recipe. They offer other drinks native to Jamacia.

Bottom line: Worth a try if your curious, but don't be surprised if you don't leave amazed. Try one of their non-alcoholic drinks!

Speaking strictly about the food..yikes. Out of EVERYTHING that was on the menu, some 20 something items, or close to it, they only had 3 choices available...3? jerk chicken, oxtails, and curry goat. I wanted curry chicken, BUT not available. I ordered jerk chicken and got it super quick..unusually quick. I bite into the meat and it is red through and through. Totally undercooked and tough as leather...All the great things I had heard about the food, I was expecting that meat to fall off the bone...BUT Alas..it was tough as hell and RED RED RED. not good. The rice/beans was all right..nothing extraordinary, and so was the Mac/Cheese. The atmosphere was great. Nice and small, friendly folks, good vibe..I would definitely go back to see a show or just relax..But the food DEFINITELY needs some work.