If the cold Wisconsin winter has left you longing for a tropical getaway but your checkbook is saying
o,"" fear not! An authentic taste of the islands is no further than Jamerica, 1236 Williamson Street.
Willy Street is home to several culinary gems, but too often undergrads avoid it due to its distance from downtown. However, it is definitely worth bribing someone to drive you there to explore its cafes and restaurants, and Jamerica is the perfect place to start.
The first colorful steps up to the restaurant warn customers that they are in for a relaxed, reggae-filled dining experience. The mismatched tablecloths and dinnerware (some of which appear to be borrowed from an Chinese restaurant) only add to this atmosphere.
The walls are lined with posters of German Shepherds dressed as Rastas and yellowed photographs of reggae stars, giving it a unique, distinctively un-Midwestern feel. In fact, it's quite easy to forget you are in Madison except for the wintry breeze that slices through the warm air whenever a patron opens the front door.
Two coolers against the walls hold interesting beverages, from Jamaican beers and Ting grapefruit soda to many tropical juices. One favorite is the passion fruit-carrot juice, which is great to soothe your mouth during a spicy meal.
To start off your Jamerica experience, try a trusty Caribbean favorite, fried plantains ($2.50). While a few more per plate would have been enjoyable, the plantains were piping hot and perfectly fried. They were served with a spicy salsa that was an excellent compliment to the sweet, soft plantains.
The dinner menu includes favorites such as Jerk Chicken to more unique items like Curried Goat, Jerk Catfish or Mango Rundown Shrimp.
This is a great place to try authentic jerk dishes. For those customers who have eaten at some restaurants that consider ""jerk"" seasoning to be pouring too much spice on chicken and burning it (the similar fate afflicting far too many Cajun blackened chicken dishes), Jamerica's tender, hot-but-not-too spicy Jerk Chicken will be a pleasant surprise. At $10, the dinner plate includes three large pieces, accompanied by a spicy salad, rice and beans. However, be warned that if you are someone who does not like pulling small bones out of your chicken, this meal is not for you.
The Mango Rundown dishes are some of Jamerica's best treats. These dishes can be made with your choice of shrimp, catfish, salmon or tofu. At $10.75, the tofu dish is enormous. Rice and beans are covered with a mixture of vegetables and firm tofu pieces, then smothered with a sweet, tangy mango sauce. The creamy yellow sauce is not too runny, but not too thick, and its mixture of sweetness and spiciness is honestly mouth-watering.
For dessert, delve into a slice of Key Lime Pie ($3), and notice it's authentic pale yellow color. That's right, real key limes are yellow--never trust a green key lime pie. The slice was nothing spectacular due to the bland, thin crust, but the sweet citrus flavor was a decent end to the meal.
If you find that you enjoy Jamaican food, you can always try your hand at cooking it at home since Jamerica, in addition to the restaurant, houses a store. Shelves of jerk seasonings, Caribbean herbs, spices and canned goods line the walls near the checkout counter, enticing diners to do some creative cooking in their own kitchens.
And, if you need some substance to reenergize you from a night out on the town, Jamerica now offers a Sunday brunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. According to the staff, the morning menu items range from more unique Jamaican breakfast foods like plantain porridge to traditional ones like scrambled eggs and omelets.
Jamerica is no doubt one of the most unique and flavorful places to dine in Madison. Fortunately, the quality of its food lives up to its promising and authentic d??cor.
Perhaps Jamerica is best sized up by the poems, pictures and letters half-heartedly tacked to its walls. In the words of one poster, written by a six-year-old future food critic, ""Jamaican food is spicy, hot hot hot! Jamaican food is good, yum yum yum!\
