Poll Winner: Dragon Court

As promised, I headed this past Sunday to Dragon Court on South Avenue for a little Chinese.

DC is definitely a good restaurant and is not expensive at all.

Although their food selection isn’t much different from what you find in other places that hoist this culinary flag, they make sure that their guests are well served and feel welcome.

This welcome starts from entrance door where a smiling host is waiting for you and invites you to be seated.

Moreover, servers and managers are very nice and they are always passing around the tables to check that everything is going well. No wonder why this place is often full of smiling clients and people wanting to celebrate.

I do not recall visiting DC without witnessing a celebration taking place.

This time wanted to try something that I had not tried before from their menu and I went for their SALT CHILI SHRIMPS. I was delighted to get that chili kick from the first shrimp that I ate. This is a dish that I recommend blindfolded.

Try also their Fish in Black Bean Sauce and their CHICKEN WITH BROCCOLI. These are exceptional and out of this world.

When visiting Chinese restaurants, I always advice friends to be adventurous. Often times, you will be pleasantly surprised. Trying something new will make you aware of the kaleidoscopic variety of flavors of Chinese cuisine.

You might end up with a different new favorite Chinese dish, which was the case for me this time.

So, dear blog readers, although I am still in the quest for the best Chinese in town, I can honestly say that the poll recommendation was accurate and DC was the best out of that list.

A piece of advice though, DC should pay a little more attention to their restroom facilities. Maintaining this place clean and presentable at all times adds up to the dining experience.

There is nothing worse than going to a nice place that has an awful restroom. That latter image could stay in your head and mar your dinner or lunch.

Dear blog readers visit Dragon Court and recommend this place to all your friends.

Keep on eating!

Ambrosia Restaurant at the Loshusan Shopping Centre

I have tried this place twice and I am not still convinced that it works.

There is something about that background noise of slot machines and roulettes that is really a deterrent.

When it first opened, I was glad to see a new place on that busy corner of the Loshusan Supermarket. But my first attempt was not very memorable.

Nonetheless, I decided to give it another chance and invited some friends to accompany me to the noisy restaurant. I do not want to sound repetitive, but those machines are exactly that... a constant REPETITION of blares and blooms and dins… strident NOISE!

We ate and let me tell you that their food was terrible. Apart from their appetizers, the rest of the food was really despicable.

I asked for a Jambalaya and it was like frozen paella that had been sitting on the kitchen counter for at least three days. I’d kill for a good Jambalaya, but their version of this dish from New Orleans was completely different from what I know.

I tried it though… BAD!

I saw my acolytes’ faces and it was not a pretty picture. Just imagine, they could not even finish their dishes.

Service was good, but our experience was completely marred by the BAD quality of the food.

They need to revisit the restaurant idea… serve just appetizers… call the TAPAS. Escape from the erroneous formula of CASINO and FINE DINING RESTAURANT that you are trying to pull off.

It’s not working.

So, my dear BLOG readers…. When in the mood for a nice dining experience at Ambrosia, you’d better try the CASINO!

Think it twice!

Keep on eating… and BETTING!

Hectic weeks! Jamaican, Japanese and more!

I have had some hectic weeks after Hurricane Gustav, but here is a compendium of what I have tried lately.

I was desirous of trying the new place at the Orchid Village, but it all resulted in disappointment when the person at the gate showed his lack of vision of what a new business place should offer.

This was on a Friday's night and the place is supposed to have a live band. Our party of eight was asked to pay for the cover, but we mentioned to this person that we were there for tapas and drinks.I was longing to try Chef Abrahams' tapas.

I am still curious about Jamaican tapas, since this Spanish concept is an art in various international cities.

The place was empty and he did not see that we would be ending up spending more money eating than sitting for a show that we did not want to see.

If you ask ME, you guys started off on the wrong foot!

Businesses need to know that they are to lure their clientele in different ways. If you want to put this new place in the Jamaican scene, it will not suffice to stick with old formulae.

This lack of vision made us run to Guilt Trip and let me tell you that this was the BEST thing that could have happened to us.

GT's food is excellent and their menu is whimsical and innovative.

I went for shrimp on a passion fruit sauce and it was FANTASTIC!

Unfortunately, GT's lack of change shows some neglect.

The place looks old fashioned. Dim light, plastic chairs and tables and poorly presented menus contribute to the allure of neglect that is effacing this place out of the Jamaican culinary scene.

Imagine, I had forgotten about it and I believe that my last visit was in 2006.

I hope that your comments on this post reach their ears, because it is really a pity that such a magical place falls in disgrace like that.

Nonetheless, pay a visit to GT and enjoy their dishes, but let them know that CHANGE is important for survival.

They need to revisit their concept, update their decor and illumination and reprint some new menus. This will be enough to re-launch this place and give it a deserved spot on Jamaican culinary scene.

I also had the chance to go back to East Japanese Restaurant at the Market Place.

What a delight!

This is my favorite spot in Kingston... without a doubt!

Excellent service, quality food and outstanding concept COHERENCE!

Every meal there is a fantastic trip to Japanese cuisine. It could be as simple as a Sashimi Platter or as complex as their lobster roll.

I recommend every single one of their dishes.

What I would recommend to EAST is to take advantage of our interest in Japanese food and introduce us to a monthly special. Let us try something new and let us learn more about this fantastic cuisine!

Thumbs up for their quality, service and growing improvement!

So, my dear blog readers, remember that we shape Kingston's culinary scene and it is because of us that these places remain, stagnate, improve or simply disappear. Let them know that they should care about what they offer!

Keep on eating.... SAYONARA

The Best Chinese. Part A

We all love Chinese food! I believe this is a world phenomenon.

We all have our favourite Chinese dish: spring rolls, fried wonton, chow mein, lo mein, saday beef, special fried rice, etc., etc., etc....

These strange words have even permeated our vocabulary and here in Jamaica their use is as current as patties and salt fish.

I recently went with a couple of friends to a fairly new restaurant at the Liguanea Post Office Mall. We really enjoy going there, because, out of the different Chinese places that I have visited in Kingston, this one really has a cozy and friendly atmosphere.

All the dishes that we have tried at Shan Hai are up to par. Well, I have to say that Chinese flavours are something that cannot be altered enormously.

Without any intention of being rude, I compare the local Chinese culinary experience with going to the local supermarkets. You may find some good prices at Loshusan, which are completely different from the good prices that you could find at the Sovereign or even at John R. Wong. No pun intended, if you know what I mean.

Coming back to Shan Hai...

Sitting there with my friends, I gave myself the task to find the BEST Chinese restaurant and when I say BEST, I mean one that has a large variety of GOOD dishes, which will certainly avoid the jumping from one Chinese restaurant to another to get a decent dining experience.

并且, this experience ought to be a complete one: a good selection of dishes + quality food + excellent service.

Shan Hai has the vast selection, like all Chinese restaurants, and up until last time, the quality of their food had always been fair. But there was something in my last meal there that will keep me from going back.

I tasted everyone's dish and it was the same flavour ALL OVER. The shrimp and the beef were the SAME. If I had to make a blind tasting, I would have failed at recognizing the flavours.

Shame on them... I was so happy with their performance until then.

On top of that, the cozy became noisy and the poor pianist suddenly drowned in the uncontrolled screaming of a big party of 10 sitting at a distant table... the irony of this is that they were Chinese... and among them, the OWNERS!

BAD experience... and BAD food. What a lethal combination!

I might consider to give Shan Hai another chance, because I remember the good times and food. But I will leave it for last.

拜拜

Keep on eating.... WELL!

Down with CHEZ MARIA!

Marrying different kinds of food in one place is often times a very hard task to achieve...

I believe that what makes a fusion place successful is not only the combination of food on their menus, but the coherence of their particular concept throughout that facility.

People visiting a fusion restaurant must be able to read that particular food concept from the minute they set foot on that place. They must see it on their décor, their ambiance and, needless to say, on their menu.

This is the case of CHEZ MARIA. They have a fantastic Mediterranean menu, which is truly representative of that region. But I personally think that they have failed at delivering this concept throughout their restaurant.

As soon as you enter CHEZ, you are hinted at the golden days of this place. Two bars, inside and outside dining, servers posted at the door to welcome the clients and mellow music.

Unfortunately, Chez Maria’s good 'ole days are gone and their brazen disregard is showing. Poor quality food, smelly napkins and tablecloths, plastic chairs, slow service, careless servers and disregarded clients.

My LAST meal there was a disaster. I was sitting at a big table with friends and we were not all served at the same time. I was really distraught at seeing that the place was almost empty and the servers were not efficient enough to take good care of ALL the guests… and there were quite a number of these SERVERS! This is clearly a management error and I would not want to imagine what would happen if the place were at least half full.

Although I think that their hummus is the best in town and that they are able to do better than my last experience, I prefer not to visit CHEZ MARIA again for a long time.

They need to have their place overhauled. We should not settle for less than better service and servers, better attention to detail and concept coherence all the way through.

So, my dear blog readers, when thinking to go to Chez Maria, think it twice. There are other options in Kingston where your dining experience will be far better.

Let CHEZ MARIA's people know that they have to take their business seriously or they will keep on losing clients.

Keep on eating ...and reporting!

CHILITOS (CHILL-EAT-OS) on Hope Road

JA-MEXICAN food!

What a clever combination!

I have been to Chilitos several times and my view has fluctuated every time I go. I was sold on this idea since the very beginning, because it seemed to be a new option among the scarce selection of fast food places in Kingston. But sometimes, I feel that I am not very attracted to the place itself.

Let me explain...

Chilitos not only did it present itself like a new option... it was a "cool" option. They have created a quasi-lounge ambiance in that old house located on Hope Road that makes me want to see where they can go. Unfortunately, they have not gone further.

This place gives you the option of seating at their verandah or even their at their porch listening to NICE music, which says a lot about their relaxed atmosphere. They also have a room filled with posters of music artists, some sofas, chairs and magazines, which reminds me of a nice bar that I visited once in Paris.

The Parisian bar in question was an eclectic mixture of furniture, music and drinks that was called Le bar sans nom (The Unnamed Bar) and it was characterized for a very laid-back and hip atmosphere. Once, I even saw Sydney Pollack entering that bar and I immediately realized that the place was set to be full of amazing stories.

Chilitos has the laid-back effect place (unintended comparison) and it's full of young people and music. The managers are very nice and the concept is attractive. However, even though I am fascinated with the idea of having a JAMEX (TEXMEX) restaurant and I am in tune with the lounge idea, I feel that Chilitos needs to pay closer attention to some details, such as lighting, tidiness, concept coherence and customer comfort.

We were lacking the variety of TEXMEX cuisine in Kingston and I believe this is a good start.

Nonetheless, go there, try their TACO SALADS, their FLAUTAS, their BURRITOS and their CHIMICHANGAS. If you find yourself spoilt for choice, ask one of the staff members and they'll be delighted to advise you about their options. Go with their FRESH juice options, which is far better than a soda pop.

If you want to take full advantage of the JAMEX experience, try Chilitos on a day where they have a live music group. You will be in awe at the mixture of Texmex food and Jamaican underground ambiance.

So, my dear blog readers... are you up for Jamex tonight? If so, drop by Chilitos and don't forget to let them know that we are expecting MORE!

Keep on eating and demanding good service!