FYI: So, this is the same "A Beautiful Life" Jamaican that also had a location/cafe in DTLA. They closed one location and decided to rebrand in Hollywood.
Decided to come here for a party of six. I didn't know what to expect because reviews seemed to be all over the place in taste, quality, but also specific to location.
Food:
- Jerk Lamb Chops $46
Received 4 lamb chops (aka lamb lollipops! They were so tiny and had two small bites of meat on each.) This was an entree. It arrived on an appetizer plate (for size reference). This dish at best should be half the price. Absolutely too expensive for what you receive and there weren't enough bites to tell you about the taste.
- Escovitch Snapper $42
Whole fried snapper, pickled Scotch bonnet, onions, carrots, allspice. This dish was flavorful, but still a bit smaller than anticipated for the price.
- Oxtail $40
I would have love to try this dish which states a slow braised oxtail, rice and peas, and fried plantain . Unfortunately we were told the restaurant was OUT OF OXTAIL. As this was the main protein in three of their dishes, it was quite disappointing. It was also sad because we arri one hour after the restaurant opened.
- Islander Eggrolls
We Requested Oxtail, but unfortunately there was no more oxtail to be served. They did however mention that they had Oxtail egg rolls and the OG Oxtail Mac for ordering. I was told they were the remaining Oxtail for more popular items to stretch. Not something I recommend saying to a customer. I get you're trying to make more money by having more options available, but you just told me that you didn't have any, and seeing the options being delivered to tables makes me believe there's not much oxtail in items either.
- Jerk Chicken Entree $22
My friend ordered this meal and said it was tasty, but her date expressed that it was not enough for any adult. He Stated there was hardly any Chicken wings on the plate. (There were three to be exact!) not a meal worthy of $22
- Water
We asked for plain water in glasses. They brought us a carafe of water and we served ourselves. When the bill arrived, we were charged for each person $8 for the water! this was not a brand name, fizzy water, or water in a glass. This was just tap water. I had to refute this charge because it made absolutely no sense.
Be advised, they do charge a 20% service charge (on top of the bill). It is not listed on the menu or anywhere else in the restaurant.
Interior:
The decor is a tad bit better in photos than it is in reality. The place is nice, but more vibrant in the images. It's a tight space (meaning you will sit very close your neighbors - and likely make friends). I don't recommend coming as a large party. It's very hard to accommodate the way the seating is fixed. There were about 6 or 7 tables that sat two-people comfortably and three (if you wanted to get cozy cozy). My party of 6 occupied 3 tables with a arm-high partition between one of our tables. The front door bench would be nice for a large party, BUT... it's right by the front door, so you get that breeze every time the door opens, people will literally stand right next to you (because there is no waiting area), and the seats are very low and the bench is narrow (I'm short and it was uncomfortable). It's okay if you are just coming for drinks, but be forewarned.
Location:
In a trendy part of Hollywood, so plenty of places to go before and afterwards. Nestled on the side street with minimal signage, but still easy to find.
Parking:
A few feet away from a parking lot. Otherwise, it's like any other visit to Hollywood. Get in where you can.
Customer Service:
I made several phone calls to this place to book a reservation. I always spoke with Asha, who is completely helpful and super friendly.
Who are they?: it was hard finding information about this specific location online. I think it's because it's still very new. And website is simply the menu.
Overall (3 stars): I would like to support once they've been there longer and fixed the glitches of a new business location. People were super friendly and vibe was cool. read more