Other restaurants in Jamaica
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Rick’s Café
You’ll join the touristy throng at this ever-popular West End institution. The somewhat pricey menu features steaks, fresh seafood and Cajun fare. The loud music precludes an intimate meal, but if you’re in the mood for a party – or a dip in the pool between courses – this place fits the bill. While you eat, local divers try to outdo each other from the 10m-tall cliffs.
reviewed
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Red Bones Blues Café
The in-crowd is in at this former colonial house, now a beehive of cultural and culinary activity. Inside, the shukka-shukka of martini shakers keeps time with the music, and the walls are beguilingly bedecked with photographs of jazz and blues legends. The food? Stellar dishes include chicken breast stuffed with callaloo and jerked cheddar in a white wine sauce, or the seafood trio of shrimp, mussels and salmon sautéed in a spicy coconut sauce served on a bed of pasta. Opt for patio dining overlooking the gardens or the handsome bar. Call ahead to snag a table – they’re in high demand. It also screens occasional art films in its garden.
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Kildare Villa Great House
For a snack or meal, head to Kildare Villa Great House, at the eastern end of Buff Bay. It’s a colonial structure operating a well-stocked gift store selling patties and desserts. The Jamaican seafood restaurant upstairs offers patio dining and serves such fare as ackee, saltfish and brown stew chicken (US$7), and staples such as fried chicken and curried goat (US$4 to US$12). There’s a grocery store attached.
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Cool Runnings Beach Bar & Grill
This beach bar and restaurant is a good first stop; the proprietor represents local guest houses and can help you find accommodations. The food is well prepared and tasty – everything is made from scratch, including a wickedly rich mayonnaise. One of the signature dishes is a lovely coconut cream fish (US$8). On Saturday night there’s a beach party playing old roots reggae and R&B.
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Sister Lou’s River Stop
For an excellent lunch experience, be sure to tell your guide that you want to visit Sister Lou’s River Stop, on the Salt Spring tributary, where delicious stuffed crab backs (US$3.50) and pepper shrimp are served up. It’s a great place to have a Red Stripe and watch the river drift by, or just watch local kids jump from a nearby bridge into the river.
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Jimmyz Restaurant & Bar
On Fisherman’s Beach in central Whitehouse, next to a pavilion where local fishermen sell their catch to wholesalers, this eatery is popular with old sea salts. The menu has fresh juices, including an exceedingly peppery ginger tonic, and dishes featuring steamed fish, chicken, ‘sea puss’ (octopus) and a particularly excellent spicy conch stew.
reviewed
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LTU Pub
Providing a perfect setting for a sunset dinner, this small clifftop open-air bar and restaurant features an eclectic menu with Jamaican dishes, delicious creations like chicken with callaloo and cream, an array of steaks and burgers, and quite possibly the only schnitzel in town. Just south of Rick’s Café, it’s a favorite haunt of expats and their local friends.
reviewed
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Howie’s Healthy Eating
If you’re really hungry, do as Jamaican truckers do and pull into Howie’s Healthy Eating, on the A2 at the turnoff for YS Falls. Here all sorts of good Jamaican cooking is done in big pots bubbling over wood fires. Choose from a number of soups and stews, fried fish and, of course, huge helpings of ‘swimp.’
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Coconuts
Whether you stop in for a ‘ménage à trios’ plate (coconut shrimp, conch and chicken samosas), have a jerk chicken quesadilla or dig into a steak, the terrace at Coconuts invariably keeps you here longer than you intended. And why not? The view of the bay is stellar, and the drink specials ease you into the evening, when Coconuts becomes a lively bar.
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Anna Banana’s Restaurant & Sports Bar
Overlooking a small beach on the southern lip of the harbor, this breezy restaurant-bar specializes in hearty Jamaican breakfasts, jerk or barbecued chicken and pork and, for dinner, large plates of conch and lobster prepared the local way. The curried goat is particularly good. There are two pool tables, darts and friendly, accommodating service.
reviewed
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Nikkita’s
Outstanding French–Caribbean fare that lives up to its expensiveness. In an elegant if dark dining room with marble floors and wrought-iron chairs, you can feast on mouthwatering mahi-mahi, broiled or baked lobster and an array of steak dishes. The perfect spot for a last-night-in-Jamaica send-off bash.
reviewed
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Georgian Dining Pavilion & Almond Tree Terrace
At Round Hill resort, 15km west of Montego Bay, Georgian Dining Pavilion & Almond Tree Terrace serves continental and Jamaican dishes. Dining on the terrace is a romantic indulgence and worth the splurge for the setting. Afternoon tea is a bargain at US$3. Nonguests should call ahead.
reviewed
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Gloria’s Rendezvous
On the main square are several economical options serving justifiably famous fried, steamed and escoveitched fish with bammy or rice. The most celebrated is Gloria’s Rendezvous, serving tremendously delicious local fare and seafood from an open-air kitchen.
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Mi Yard
This economical choice provides a good breakfast spot with omelettes, ackee and saltfish and other hearty fare. Later in the day – and all night long – the classic Jamaican menu features fish and chips, brown-stewed fish and fried chicken. Dine in the garden or on a shady patio.
reviewed
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El Campay Gallo
You’ll be warmly welcomed as if you’re one of the family. This exuberant family-run place serves traditional Cuban dishes like empanadillas (meat-filled pastry) and potent cocktails. If you’re lucky, the owner will display his considerable talent as a jazz violinist.
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Lobster Bowl Restaurant
This spacious restaurant has an old-time nightclub feel and features the artwork of Joe James. As the name suggests, lobster and seafood figure prominently on the menu. The property also includes Joe’s Bar, with tons of character. Rio Bueno is 52km east of Montego Bay.
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Brewery
Grab a seat in the roomy dining room or out on the patio overlooking the strip and sample the large portions of Jamaican, Mexican and American dishes that lure visitors and locals, many of whom stick around as the bar takes over. Wednesday has a lobster special.
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Chill-Out
Just down the beach from Cool Runnings, this is another popular thatched beachfront eatery and bar. Try the steamed fish and vegetables liberally seasoned with allspice (US$9). Sound-system parties are frequently held in the evenings.
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Sports Club Restaurant & Bar
Sports Club Restaurant & Bar, beside the entrance to Round Hill resort, 15km west of Montego Bay, offers Jamaican fare served in modestly elegant surroundings.
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Shadows
With tables surrounding a comfortable outdoor bar set back from the street, this casual place serves good Jamaican and Chinese. The seafood specials are always a hit.
reviewed
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Groovy Grouper
Location is the attraction of this spot on Doctor’s Cave Beach. The food – from burgers to lobster – is average, but on a beautiful breezy evening you may not notice.
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Sweet Daddy’s
A local favorite serving fresh fish, lobster and hearty breakfasts. The cook and proprietor says that she ‘takes good care of vegetarians.’
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Why Not on the Dock
On a large deck over the water, this spot serves conch soup, sandwiches and grilled chicken, shrimp and lobster on Friday and Sunday.
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Rising Sun
Next to the gas station, this Swiss-run eatery is recommended for smoked marlin appetizer, pizzas and curried shrimp.
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Q-en Coffee Shop
This small grocery store is also a good spot for Jamaican breakfasts. Bicycles and kayaks can be rented here.
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