The food is worth the wait at
Jamaica Jerk.
It's either the first or the last stop in the city, depending on where you're coming from. But it's not just a place to transfer lines - you can get some good grub here, too.
Best of the nightlife
Tally Ho Pub
Open since the early 1920, this neighborhood pub is hoppin' even at 4 p.m. on a weekday afternoon. But when we say "hoppin'," we don't mean raucous — more like pleasant, with locals chatting it up with one another while sipping beers, playing pool or throwing darts. Don't be intimidated by the faded two-drink minimum signs that pop up all over the walls: chances are you'll wanna have more than just two as the good conversation rolls, especially since beers only run $3–$4.
Good for groups
Jamaica Jerk
This Caribbean restaurant has proven to many antsy and anxious diners that a good meal is worth the wait. It's easy to keep your mouth entertained whilst you dream of curry goat and jerk chicken wings. Start with an order of saltfish and bammy or go for the greasy (but oh-so-good) conch fritters. Try a bowl of the restaurant's pumpkin soup and soak it up with a hunk of homemade cornbread. Before you know it, the entrees will have arrived. Bring an appetite, or a whole slew of 'em; Jamaica Jerk can accommodate private parties of up to 50 people.
Cheap eats
Bar-B-Que Bob's
If you can eat it, you can bet that Bob has already barbecued it. As a testament to the food and service, there are numerous notes spread across the three available walls from presumably satisfied customers thanking Bob for his delicious BBQ and incredibly friendly service, including one from Elvis Presley himself. Lunch specials range from $4-$6 and dinners range from $6.50-$10.50.
Where to chill
Cafe Senegal
Ministering to patrons and their families with soul-satisfying grilled meats and hearty West African stews, chef/owner Diaw Sow is like the Senegalese mother you never had (unless of course you happen to be from Senegal). If you're sick, her Ceebu jen, aka rice and fish stew, a hearty brew studded with eggplant, carrot, cassava, white cabbage and tomato, will nurse you back to health like the best chicken soup. If you're low on iron, her Debbe — peppery, grilled lamb topped with a sweet vinegar-tanged salad of olives, onion and tomato — will strengthen your blood. Just as welcoming as the food is the intimate narrow studio apartment-sized dining room. Outfitted with a neon hued sunset mural, colorful woven tablecloths, and a selection of wall-mounted African tribal masks, it feels more like your living room than an impersonal restaurant.
In-the-know spot
Tickie's Belizean Restaurant
This tiny joint has been doling out affordable food for just over a decade, and once you taste it, you'll know why the husband-and-wife team has kept it up as long as they have. The menu is full of Belizean staples, including conch fritters, chicken tamales and the more exotic salbutes, panades and garnaches (deep-fried masa filled with chicken, veggies or beans). The chicken tamale, meanwhile, is a super-plump mess with an entire tender chicken leg tucked inside.
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