As a tourist of New Orleans, I expected my favorite food of the trip to be from a Cajun/Creole or Po' boy restaurant, but hands down, this was THE BEST food I had; and I ate out two or three times a day for 5 days!Our Lyft driver, Heather, suggested this place to us after I asked about Jamaican food recommendations. At the time, Jamleans had only been open for about 3-4 weeks, but she said it was worth it and I'm so glad we went with her recommendation.There is a small parking lot out front with free parking, but this is shared with 2-3 other businesses, so be prepared to find another area to park, but I tell you it's worth it!The restaurant is large and open and perfect for big groups, a nice date, or a solo visit where you can sit at the bar. There's a cute photo backdrop flower wall and a huge art wall which gives this place a unique character. We had a group of 7 and between our group we ordered so many dishes and it was a great opportunity to shout from the rooftops on how amazing this place is. While I haven't been to Jamaica (yet), I've been to numerous Carribean and Jamaican restaurants so I feel confident knowing that this was the best one I've been to.I WISH THERE WAS MORE THAN 5 STARS!!!!!Appetizers:- Jerk Wings: Honestly, best part of the meal. The sauce was so complex, rich, and full of spices. There was heat, but it was complimenting the variety of spices. The chicken was tender and perfectly cooked. Thankfully there was an extra side of sauce; the wings didn't need it because they were perfectly marinated and tossed, but I ended up adding it to other side dishes - I couldn't get enough.- Beef Patty: a flaky crust surrounding a moderately spicy mixture of beef. This is a perfect start to your meal - best eaten immediately. The flakes left on the plate (if there are any left) can be added to your main course!Entrees:- Oxtail: Tender, fatty, amazing! Everyone at the table was slurping out the marrow and we weren't shy about it. Perfectly cooked dish!- Curry Chicken: Bone-in dish perfectly coated in a mild curry sauce that you can tell was thoroughly marinated. The chicken was so tender!- Brown Stewed Chicken: Again, perfectly cooked chicken that was coated in a sauce that I can only described as delectableSide Dishes:- Collard Greens: They were stewed/sauteed to perfect soft bites that we bitter/sweet/savory all at once.- Cabbage: Wonderfully sauteed and seasoned - Sweet Potato: Tender squares of delicious potato. You can tell this was not a canned dish- Mac n Cheese: Sooooo Freaking Good! We had to order an extra side dish because we all wanted more.- Coco Bread: Soft bread with a slightly sweet smell yet mild flavor, turned out to be the best vessel to scoop up the leftover sauces from your entrees! - Red Beans and Rice: A great base to be paired with all of the entrees!The service here was that of close friends or family - we felt welcomed and taken care of. The owner/chef came out a couple times to check on us and we couldn't stop praising her for the amazing food she created. She was so humble yet appreciative of our presence. This is exactly the type of family business I want to support. After we left we told all of our Uber/Lyft drivers and any local people we could. I really hope that the community of New Orleans hears about this place because it was delicious and made by amazing people and they deserve all of the success. Not only was the quality of the food impeccable, the attention to detail and care put into each plate was evident. This restaurant could easily make it in New York, Los Angeles, or as a Michelin Star place right here in Louisiana. I'm sad that I live on the other side of the country, but I will definitely be back next time I'm in town!
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