Bites Nearby: Jerk Kitchen

Jerk Kitchen is hidden away in the parking lot, unobtrusive and easy to overlook. The restaurant is very quiet and casual. There is outside and indoor seating; though it is limited. The atmosphere is reminiscent of a family diner, and the restaurant really appears to cater to takeout.

Service: The service is very friendly and helpful. Never having eaten Jamaican food, my server had to explain almost every item on the menu to me, and she did so with a friendly smile.

Entrees: The large portions left me unsatisfied and hungry; however, as I said, I've never had Jamaican food before so I was not sure what to expect.

The prices were very reasonable. Most of the dinners can be ordered as a small or large serving, and the difference in price is about one dollar. The entrees come with rice and peas; vegetables and plantains, white rice or broiled dumplings; and banana and yam.

The brown stewed chicken, which is $6.50 for a small serving and $7.50 for a large, is mildly spicy and a little tough.

The jerk chicken, which is $6.99 for a small and $7.99 for a large, was tough and dry with a sweet coating. I've never had jerk chicken so I am not sure how easy it is supposed to be to chew, but I was working for my meal.

The rice and peas were average. They tasted like the instant rice and beans you make from a box. The vegetables were stringy and bland, while the plantains were greasy.

Sides: The coco bread, which is $1.40, is a very dense bread. What can I say? It was bread.

Bottom Line: Jerk Kitchen is a comfortable and welcoming establishment. The chicken is tough and dry, and the sides are average.

Location: 2821 Chastain Meadow Pkwy, Marietta 30066

Phone: 770-794-4473

Hours: Monday through Wenensday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Related Topics: 11-18-11 Marietta, Chicken, Jamaican food, Restaurant Review, and Small Business