02/07/09

Ja-fake-a Ja-fake-a

by jamaicandeb

It really causes me pain to give Jamaica Jamaica a bad score, because they used to be fairly decent before 2005. Now it is not even Jamaican food. According to one review, the owner died. Sorry if that explains it because the food is horrible.

• Pros: patties are fine if they have them.
• Cons: everything. plaintains were horrible, rice and peas were bland. yuck.

06/18/08

Jamaica Jamaica Restaurant Receives negative Criticism since the Sudden Death of Owner

by firstdaughter

As the daughter of the late Fernando Rainford, I feel obligated to let customers of Jamaica Jamaica Restaurant know about the sudden changes to our family business. I wanted to apologize to the loyal customers of Jamaica Jamaica located in RTP for the change in quality and service. Since the sudden death of my father on November 26th, 2007, there has been and will continue to be major changes in management and food production. As a re-birth and in dedication to my father, Virgils Jamaica in Raleigh opens its doors as a take-out and catering on June 18, 2008. We hope to continue his dream throughout this new chapter in our lives.

12/20/07

What a waste of time..

by lil_miss_brooklyn

Ok so let's start off by saying I'm severely homesick. I moved to Raleigh in July from Brooklyn NY and I work in RTP. I've grown tired of drive thrus and crave some real food for a change. Fast forward to today. I hear people say "Oh try this place their food is pretty good - All I can say is NOT - I spent eight dollars for a stew chicken dinner and the chicken was PINK!!! Along with the food being flavorless I was truly upset. I don't what others are used to but this is absolutely disgusting. If I didn't work 10 minutes away I'd give the plate of food back to them!!! True yardies don't serve food RAW - Bear foolishness.

• Pros: Staff was friendly
• Cons: Food UNDER cooked - NOT recommended.

09/11/07

Petty with the portions

by zensampler

Jamaica Jamaica used to be one of my favorite places to eat, but it has seriously gone down in quality over the years.

What I find most annoying is the tendency to cut corners, especially when it comes to the portions. They'll chop even tiny chicken thighs in two, so that their customary "3 pieces" ends up being three teaspoon-sized bits trying to compete with McNuggets in size. At least McNuggets aren't 50% bone! If you're lucky enough to be offered a whole chicken drumstick, it too looks like it came off a miniature bird, sold on special at BJ's. If it's your bad day, you may get shorted on the grudgingly offered fried plantains too. Order dinner to go, and your meal is 90% rice.

Come on, guys! Chicken isn't exactly an expensive meat. Up your prices if you must, but for heaven's sake stop shorting your customers on their protein! Going cheap and petty isn't a good way to keep up in the restaurant business.

• Pros: Tasty food, reasonable price
• Cons: Miserly portions esp. with the meat

05/22/07

This place is a joke and needs a name change

by mizztaffi

Okay, I get that cheap immigrant labor helps a restaurant's bottom line. However, some things can not be skimped on and, in this case, it is the actual authentic Jamaican cuisine I expected that is missing from this restaurant. I really wish I had known about some of the reviews out here. They are dead on. The food is unsavory at best and, at worst, is less appetizing than something I could buy in the frozen food section. Specifically, I had a really rough time digesting what they called "j_rk" chicken. They would do better to be honest and simply say that they specialize in bland, poorly seasoned food. I took 2 bites and ended up walking out with just a drink. They offered to give me something else, but after that, I was disgusted. Why would I even think to eat another bad dish.

Yes, you can call yourself a "Jamaican" restaurant all day and night regardless of what kind of food you serve. People with less refined palates may be able to tolerate and even enjoy the stuff that is served. Yet, anyone who really knows real Jamaican food and expects it from this place will be sorely disappointed. Better bets I have tried are Hot P0t (which I wish I knew then was right next door) and Taste of the Caribbean (owned by a nice guy from Kenya, but the cook is Jamaican).

• Pros: Server was courteous
• Cons: Food is horrible. Ick

12/28/06

Delicious food!

by jonesm01

My husband and I eat at Jamaica Jamaica once a week. It is by far the best Jamaican restaurant in the area. The food is delicious, and it has a very nice atmosphere. I love their sampler platter, which consist of j_rk chicken, curry chicken and shrimp. My husband loves the ox-tail.

I would like to reply to the person who wrote about the yellow rice. I like the idea of a restaurant serving a variety of food. It gives customers an option of trying different items. Even chinese restaurants are serving none chinesse items, and the cooks are not from china. So, get with it, we live in an international world.

I am an enlighlited second generation Jamaican and I eat yellow rice, white rice, etc., and I also enjoy other type of cuisine.

• Pros: Great food

11/06/06

This is not Jamaican food!!

by missbootie

I went there recently and could not believe my eyes......They are serving yellow rice which is actually Hispanic cuisine....No Jamaican I know eat yellow rice...that is a Spanish dish....also, I had the 'j_rk chicken' they were serving....that is not typical Jamaican J_rk chicken....I was extremely disappointed and upset....I asked for 'j_rk sauce' and they put tabasco sauce on it....It is apparent to me that they dont know what is Jamaican cuisine because all of the workers there are spanish speaking and dont understand a word of English.....I feel like I was mocked because I know what Jamaican food is since I am from the Caribbean...I cant believe they can get away with this...they might as well have a sign up that says "Chinese Restaurant" because what they are serving is NOT Jamaican food....Also the oxtail is all curried up and again not your typical Jamaican cuisine.....the way we make oxtail is totally different...I dont think these Spanish speaking workers even know what Jamaican food is....they need to do their research

• Pros: Convenient location
• Cons: It is expensive

09/08/06

OK at best

by ling924

I went to Jamaica Jamaica the other night with my fiancee, and was actually quite excited about it after reading the reviews. The shopping center was a bit down, but that was a good sign for me -- I love hole in the wall places. That said, I was not terribly impressed with the food -- or the service -- at Jamaica Jamaica, and probably wouldn't go back.

We each had the j_rk chicken, and were really hoping for good things from the fried plantains and the rice -- but neither of the latter really did anything for us; the fried plantains were overcooked. The j_rk chicken was decent, but I've had far better at other Caribbean restaurants elsewhere (not in the Triangle) and certainly didn't do enough by itself to merit a return trip. The restaurant was also deserted, and it was 7:30 on a Friday night -- a time when it should hopefully have been hopping. Our waitress couldn't understand us; after a couple of times through, she still misunderstood our order (and brought the wrong food).

I do have to give the restaurant credit for the decor and the music; it was a good atmosphere to eat in. Unfortunately, the eating itself left a bit to be desired.

• Pros: Atmosphere (Decoration and Music)
• Cons: Food, Service

A colorful Jamaican eatery in RTP.

by Contributor

In Short
The first thing that catches your eye at Jamaica Jamaica is the shocking-yellow paint on the walls. The second thing is the cafeteria-style buffet that runs the length of the right wall. Diners can fill their trays with jerk chicken, fried plantains, caribbean shrimp or oxtail stew, or sit and be served the same. Prices range between $5 and $8 for sandwiches and specialties, of which Samplers and vegetarian platters are included.

06/01/06

Over 7 Years of Enjoyment

by anaisfran

Jamaica Jamaica is the only spot in the area where you can get authentic and healthy choices. The staff add to the west indian vibe with accents and culture from around the world. I recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for healthy grilled and baked options as well as spicy and mild variety. I visit this place atleast once a week.

• Pros: Family Oriented, Healthy, Inexpensive
• Cons: Parking