My Jamaican friend suggested this place and I'm really upset that she did because now I crave it EVERY. DAMN. DAY.
First impression: I'm a sucker for hole in the wall ethnic restaurants. As an American born Korean, I feel strongly that the best ethnic food comes from places that aren't over the top fancy in appearance. With that said, Mercy's is in an old diner, with half of the interior partitioned for the kitchen and the other half for a smaller dining area. My friend tells me that the place is usually packed out the door, but my husband and I were lucky to come during off peak hours.
Before we even opened the door, we were greeted with an incredible smell outside; since we were there on Saturday, they were offering their jerk pork and I imagine that's what we were smelling.
Stoked from the free smells, my husband and I, being the fatkids we are, ordered probably too much food and then proceeded to eat every last bite in record time. I ordered the goat curry, rice and peas, plantains, and cabbage, while he got the jerk pork, rice and peas, plantains, and dumpling. We also got a beef patty to split.
The beef patty was nothing like we'd had before; it was a twinge empanada like, but with a buttery, lightly turmeric flavor and we absolutely loved it. The ratio of dough to meat was perfect, with neither overshadowing the other. It was one of those foods you know is bad for you but doesn't make you feel gross eating it (which js totally dangerous).
My goat curry was phenomenal; just the right amount of spice & heat and the actual goat portion was generous and very tender. It paired perfectly with rice and peas and I definitely enjoyed the heck out of the curry covered rice, once I finished the goat.
At home, I'm a big vegetable eater and normally a very conscious eater, yet I destroyed the cabbage despite not knowing if the mild sweetness was from sugar or not. And as for the plantains, oh the plantains, when can they ever be bad? I mean - fried, sweet & starchy? It's the trifecta of foodie heaven!
My husband's pork came plain, which surprised me upon appearance, but made sense after I tried it. I don't think I have ever had pork with such a perfect smoke ring and just damn perfect moistness. I was honestly taken aback by just how fantastic it was; I'm convinced it would win any smoked meat contest. He also loved his rice & peas and plantains, but we agree that the pork was the star of his meal.
Sadly, when he ordered his dumpling, he ordered it expecting meat inside. I take fault for that, though -- a Caucasian man being married to a Korean woman for five years will definitely make you think that all dumplings are filled with meat. Despite the misunderstanding, we still ate the dumpling and loved it as well. It was basically fried dough, reminiscent of Native American frybread and it was delicious at was sinful.
The bottom line is if you want a break from Columbus' infinite chain restaurants, get your butt to Mercy's. But maybe also don't because it's so good that I don't ever want to run the risk of going and seeing anything that I want sold out.
Just kidding! You should definitely go, it will change your life. read more