Jamaican restaurants in Montego Bay
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A
Native Restaurant & Bar
An excellent place to learn about Jamaican cuisine, this modest yet engaging spot features an extensive menu and open-air veranda. Try ‘goat in a boat’ (curried goat in a pineapple half) or ‘yard man fish’ (whole fish escoveitched or steamed). If you’re really hungry, consider the ‘Boonoonoonoos’ sampler (composed of ackee and saltfish, jerk chicken, curried goat, escoveitched fish, plantains and pineapple) – it’s like taking a crash course in Jamaican food.
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B
Ma Lou’s
With African-themed decor and exciting nouvelle-Jamaican cuisine, this small place tucked away in the Coral Cliff Casino is one of the nicest restaurants in town. The adventurous menu features delicacies such as roasted Peking chicken, curry with coconut and fried plantain, and specialty jerks. A nice touch is the large window open to the kitchen by the front door, where you can chew the fat with the garrulous chef.
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C
Marguerite’s
Adjoining Margaritaville, this celebrated restaurant provides a lovely setting from which to watch the sunset while drinking cocktails, followed by dinner on the elegant clifftop patio. The pricey menu edges toward nouvelle Jamaican and fresh seafood, but also includes sirloin steak and inventive pasta dishes. The chef displays his culinary chops at a central flambé grill.
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D
Pelican
Don’t be mistaken by the roadside diner appearance of this good-value local favorite. Its menu of Jamaican dishes is outstanding, highlighted by red snapper in parchment paper, cooked in wine and béchamel sauce. Other dishes include stew peas with rice and stuffed conch with rice and peas, but the Pelican also serves sirloin steaks and seafood. Sunday buffet is US$12.
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E
Pork Pit
Searing tongues for decades, this jumping jerk joint is MoBay’s best. Eat at open-air picnic tables shaded by a gargantuan silk-cotton tree that the chef reckons to be 300 years old. Finger-lickin’ jerk chicken, pork, fish and shrimp are ordered by the pound, with yams, ‘festival’ and sweet potatoes as sides.
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F
Hillside Restaurant & Lounge
This small, friendly eatery tucked behind the Coral Cliff Hotel serves daily specials like curried conch and oxtail stew, all made to order, hot and fresh. On most afternoons and evenings there is a fierce dominoes competition on the small terrace.
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G
Nyam ‘N’ Jam
This local fave, adjoining the downtown craft market, has real-deal Jamaican fare and daily specials including standards like jerked meat, and callaloo and saltfish – but also more adventurous choices like cow mouth, cow foot and oxtail.
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H
Pier 1
Although primarily known for being a nightclub, the waterfront setting away from the strip makes this a relaxing place to come for sandwiches, burgers or Jamaican seafood dishes like jerked conch with papaya.
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I
Dolly’s Café
This cozy pub-style dining room is the place for real Jamaican cooking. The menu features time-honored favorites like pepperpot soup, roast pumpkin and a unique, delectable snack that you’ll want to take along for the ride: baked coconut chips. You can’t do much better than Dolly’s hearty Jamaican breakfasts; standout selections include ‘steam fish and bananas’ and ‘mackerel rundown’ (salted fish stewed in coconut milk).
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