I've been wanting to check this place out for about a year now after it was recommended to me for Caribbean food, and I'll start by saying that my family and I arrived early, and there was already a line forming. Safe to say, unless you arrive early, I highly recommend either visiting on a weekday or making a reservation in advance. Once we got into the restaurant, we were greeted by a lot of wonderful tropical and cultural décor. The restaurant was very clean, organized, and had a couple of bar areas.
When we were seated, the waitress introduced us to the menu and informed us that the entrées and sides are more for sharing between a group. The menu offered a variety of dishes from Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Trinidadian, and Haitian cuisines, to name a few. To start, we opted for the Plantain Chips, which were thin, crispy, and light, with a nice starchy flavor. The Epis Aioli that came with it was very herbaceous, tangy, and garlicky. Similarly, the Mango Calypso was also tangy and reminded me of Mango Chutney, with its sweet undertones.
For the sides, we chose the Grilled Cabbage, Coconut Rice, and Guyanese Style Roti. The Grilled Cabbage was sweet, crispy, rich, and slightly acidic, with cashews adding a nice crunch. The Coconut Rice was mildly floral in flavor, and the green onions and parsley added a touch of sharpness without overpowering it. My personal favorite side was the Guyanese Style Roti, which was buttery, soft, and flaky, kind of like a cross between naan and puff pastry.
For the main dish, the Jerk Chicken was wonderfully seasoned. You could really taste the floral flavors of allspice berries, cloves, and a hint of sweetness from the molasses in the marinade. Initially, I didn't think it was too spicy, but as I ate more, the heat from the habaneros and scotch bonnets really started to creep up. My only critique was that some of the white and dark meat was a touch dry, although other parts were moist. I can't tell if it was the meat itself or the cooking/preparation that caused this. For reference, the Jerk Chicken comes with the breast, thigh, drumstick, and wing, all with the skin still attached. The pickles that came with it were crunchy, garlicky, and tangy. The chicken also comes with Pickapeppa Sauce and was sweet and sour, which helped balanced out the spice from the chicken.
For dessert, we had the Tres Leches. The waitress informed us that the fruit they use varies with the season, and for the Fall, they used apples. The Tres Leches was wonderfully moist, with the coconut milk adding a rich sweetness to the dish. The white chocolate and salted caramel had a buttery, slightly savory note, which enhanced the overall flavor. The apples provided a light tartness that balanced the sweetness from the other ingredients. To summarize, the service was excellent, and the staff ensured that we were well taken care of. The restaurant also featured beautiful Caribbean art, and the food was great. If you have not yet visited this restaurant, I would highly recommend checking it out when you can. read more