Island Jam!
The best Jamaican cuisine I have ever eaten!
My son who has vacationed a number of times in Jamaica agrees!
We had the Oxtail/Goat Combo and Chicken Combo of Brown Stew and Jerk Chicken.
Deeply browned oxtails are almost black and as good as it ever gets and the Goat had flavors of Cinnamon and Tamarind.
Brown Stew was as its name implies stewed until it and the sauce was a deep brown while the jerk chicken was mildly spiced.
They do provide a container of a surprisingly good hot sauce but ask for at least four containers for this amount of food.
Rice/peas excellent, plantains sliced and fried, different from
Tostones and a warm cabbage dish.
Fairly large dining area.
Don’t be put off or discouraged as you enter from the rear of the building.
Parking in the rear is generous.
North side of Racine, come in on Highway 20 and let your GPS be your guide.
Island Jam
3408 Douglas Av
Racine, WI
262-260-8895
Customer interface could use some work.
I tried calling for a couple of hours to order ahead and was reluctant to use the Internet ordering, so I decided to just drive on up and see for myself.
At 2:30Pm place was open, two people at a-table and someone at a video game slot type machine. Asked why they didn’t answer the phone and the person at the video game seemed to be put off. Said, no problem and they were taking orders previously.
Usually, this type of casual attitude is not a good omen but since I had already invested the time, I asked how long for an order. About 5 minutes as soon as I fry the plantains was the reply. So for the oxtails, goat and brown stew, I can see the necessity of cooking ahead but for jerk chicken? Anyway I asked the lady if she was the owner, no she replied. A fellow entered and appeared to also be an employee and I asked him if he was the owner, no he replied.
Anyway food was excellent. no dietary upsets, a Home Run unlike the Brewers.
You might want to bring your own Rum as the meager bar sported one forlorn bottle of Bacardi.
I went home and made Cuba Libre’s for my wife and myself and we sat outside and listened to the birds before eating.
-Richard