Jamaicaway

At times, American food just doesn’t do it for your hungry tummy. At times, your tummy craves more: more flavor and more variety with a Caribbean twist. That’s when you find yourself making a beeline toward Jamaicaway Restaurant and Catering. 

The restaurant rests inside the Farmer’s Market, but don’t let the modest façade fool you; the big tastes of Jamaicaway make up for the humble space. The restaurant seats 52 diners comfortably.

The eatery is owned and operated by native Jamaicans dedicated to bringing tasty, authentic  Jamaican cuisine. Real Jamaican ingredients are used to season the fare in the traditional Jamaican way. As an added bonus, the restaurant serves vegetarian dishes sizzled and tossed in typical spices native to the island nation.

Perhaps the most popular entrees are the chicken options. The restaurant serves Jerk chicken, a Jamaican specialty that is seasoned with native herbs and spices resulting in a tangy, spicy taste. The dining spot also offers curried chicken, brown stew chicken, mango chutney fried chicken and barbecue chicken. 

Jamaicaway also serves other classic Jamaican dishes including curried goat, braised oxtails and ackee and saltfish, a native vegetable that resembles scrambled eggs served with salted codfish. 

Selected tropical fish appear on the menu for diners to try. The tilapia, salmon and red snapper are served pan-fried or steamed in Jamaican escoveitch, a sauce that combines herbs and spices in vinegar, or Jerk seasonings. 

The vegetarians aren’t excluded from enjoying the Jamaican experience. The restaurant serves vegetarian meat options seasoned with the native flavors. Some entrees include Jerk/Curry Gluten, Tofu Trio, Coconut Delite and more.

After lunch or dinner, follow up with traditional Jamaican desserts such as Rock Cake, Trifle and coconut cake.

The restaurant caters for corporate functions, wedding receptions parties and more.

Jamaicaway is open 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; closed Saturday.

- by Leah M. Caudle , Nashville Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Leah M. Caudle

Leah Caudle is a professional storyteller with experience in covering local, community and feature stories. While at newspapers such as The Tennessean in Nashville and The Lexington Herald-Leader in Lexington, Ky., Caudle also has experience in shooting and editing videos and photos to accompany stories. The Western Kentucky University graduate received degrees in print journalism and Spanish in 2007 and also has expertise in the areas of public relations, copy editing and proofreading.