Greetings to all. I am taking a moment to offer a humble and my honest review of Ocho Rios Jamaican Cuisine.
The importance of this review is to make sure, you understand the difference between actual Jamaican food versus saying your food is Jamaican.
Myself and my wife in our short time in this area of Virginia have had the opportunity to try various places that claim to be Jamaican or serve Jamaican food.
Myself and my wife have had Jamaican food from the DC and Maryland area, and various Northern Va locations. The Hampton Roads area as well.
But most importantly of all I am a true Jamaican . So growing up and even now as an adult ,my memories of my mother's cooking remain firmly planted in my mind.
So anytime I eat Jamaican food from anywhere and anyone, it is compared to my mother's cooking .
So honestly thus far in this area of Virginia this food has been the best tasting and prepared we have had to date.
The food was excellent, and believe me excellent is not a word I use for cuisine. But in this case it is well warranted, due to the fact that the food ordered came as close to my mother's cooking that I have ever tasted in quite a long time.
The food made me reminisce about my Jamaican past and my mother preparing a meal for the entire family and for others.
Even for my wife, who can be very hard on someone claiming to make or cook Jamaican food. My wife stated clearly the food was excellent in taste, flavor ,from the cabbage to jerk chicken ,plantain was tender and soft ,rice and peas, and even something we have never eaten.
The pineapple bread pudding was different, but tasted good compared to regular bread pudding.
So lets put it in perspective, this restaurant is still new to the area overall. So indeed a small location is understandable, the seating is limited, and you may have to wait a little for your meal.
So patience is needed, in a society that we want everything at the snap of a finger. I humbly say to you be patient, and understand the staff is small.
I am telling all of this to you, for a true point of ,i rather wait patiently for food that is well prepared, than fast food done wrong. Read that again to fully understand, what kind of food are you asking for ,food done right and well or done fast and wrong.
So as a whole, our experience was well, for in Jamaica, the best food comes from the small cozy locations ,not the locations with a all the hype .
Ocho Rios Jamaican Cuisine is worth the travel and wait and the patience.
One more thing the staff was very friendly and personable, and apologized for the meal taking a while to prepare.
Again in myself and my wife humble opinion, this was not an issue .
By the way the price for the food was reasonable and fair and good portion size given.
So let's review, you want true authentic, taste like your Jamaican mom made it, then this is your location. If you want much of the same, so that you can complain ,then you have other choices.
The reality is taste and opinions are subjective and in this day and age , if some good home style cooking, that reminds you of home or a simpler time, is what you are after. Then give this local business a try.
You might actually enjoy yourself and chew your food slowly cause you enjoy it.
This has been myself and my wife humble opinion and review of Ocho Rios Jamaican Cuisine.
This was our first time at this establishment and looking forward to returning.
Peace Be Unto You.