Jamaica Gates, Evanston

Hi

Jamaica Gates has finally opened, and it was... OK. We got Jerk chicken (seemed more like a stew to me) rice and beans and plantains. It was OK. I bet they won't succeed because the chicken is all chopped up, and you really have to pick at it to figure out what is chicken and what is bones. The flavor was good, and the chicken wasn't quite overcooked (on its way, but not quite).

The beans weren't fully cooked in the rice and beans, though they were close.

I hope they do well, we'll revisit in a month or so.

Jamaica Gates
"The Real Taste of Jamaica"
618 1/2 Church St.
Evanston
Across from the Evanston Library
847-869-1629
jamgates@yahoo.com

M-Sat 11:30am - 11pm
Sun 12:30-8pm

What kinda place is it? Fast casual, sitdown, quick service?

Very bright storefront, a few tables with a semi open kitchen. I keep meaning to try it and I really have no excuse as I am in the Celtic Knot next door quite a bit

I bet they won't succeed because the chicken is all chopped up, and you really have to pick at it to figure out what is chicken and what is bones.

I've eaten a lot of jerk chicken in Jamiaica and it is always served that way. The cook will take a half chicken off the fire, toss it on the chopping block and have at it with a cleaver.

What you end up with is pile of meat and bones. Kind of an avian version of rib tips.

JSM

I understand what leek is saying. A lot of Americans dont like to pick their way around their food, preferring it neatly packaged and easy to eat.

I'm used to it from years at Sun Wah and Caribbean American Baking Co.

LeeK,

how would you compare the jerk at Jamaice gates to the other Jerk in the area - Carribbean Bakery, Spice Garden Cafe, Linnette's, Jazmyn's ?

Octarine wrote:Very bright storefront, a few tables with a semi open kitchen. I keep meaning to try it and I really have no excuse as I am in the Celtic Knot next door quite a bit

Speaking of which, Celtic Knot makes up a FINE burger. My wife and I stopped in with our two babies and their gigantic stroller last Friday and were easily accomodated with appropriate location and quick service. The burger was charred on the outside, nice and medium-rare in the middle. The best burger I've had in Evanston.

A colleague visiting from out of town and myself tried Jamaica gates today for lunch. We shared an order of Jerk chicken and an order of fried fish. Now, I have not had jerk chicken for a while, and i am no Caribbean food conoisseur, but the chicken was wonderful: it was "chopped up" and served on a plate by itself with the sauce smothering it (the chopped pieces had sauce in between every crack... yum). The fish was good, but not the same as the chicken... but I
recommend it if you like the lightly pan-fried fish a la Caribbean... (not for lunch for me since I spent a while picking at it with my hands because it had a few stubborn bones).
Now, both dishes came with a side of red beans and rice. That was good also.... I think it had a hint of coconut (but I could be wrong). Very flavorful accompaniement to the juicy saucy chicken.

(they also had some meat pies that looked good... next time).

I think this is a welcome addition to Evanston (btw, prices are reasonable...total bill including soda $21).
Elie

(the place is brand new and looked like a family affair)

zim wrote:LeeK,

how would you compare the jerk at Jamaice gates to the other Jerk in the area - Carribbean Bakery, Spice Garden Cafe, Linnette's, Jazmyn's ?

I haven't had any of those, so I can't compare. The Jerk Chicken I have had in the past (at other restaurants or made at home) was more grilled-like, not saucy.

I just started working in Evanston. I can't wait to try these two places.

LTH,

Sorry to report Jamaica Gates is no more, empty as of 3.15.07. I was only once, for an Evanston Lunch group get together, but found it quite enjoyable. I can not seem to find the post, there were a number of reports and I posted a few pictures. Jamaica Gates was a family effort and I wish them well.

3.15.07


Enjoy,
Gary

I wanted to like this place, I really did. I gave them four chances, much more than I usually do. Each time was about the same: overpriced, scrawny portions, dried out or plain old badly cooked sides. I mean, 10 bucks for a 1/4 chicken dark with a scoop of rice so overcooked the grains have exploded into a mush, no thanks.

La Petit Amelia next door is much nicer, I am looking forward to to the Italian place that is supposed to open around the corner.

My sources tell me that the owners of Amelia have signed to take over the Jamaica Gates location and open up a burger place, sounds tempting, we'll see what happens.

Octarine wrote:La Petit Amelia next door is much nicer, I am looking forward to to the Italian place that is supposed to open around the corner.

Another Italian place? Any more information? I'm surprised, what with Gio and Dave's Italian Kitchen both located just around the corner to the east (although those two are admittedly very different from each other) and Va Pensiero, Campagnola, and now Trattoria DOC not too far away.

I agree with Octarine. I wanted to like Jamaica Gates, and I liked the owner. But my chicken was so underspiced. She was convinced that Evanstonians didn't want heat. All my protestations were for naught. Finally I told her that I would return with my own stock of pepper sauce. But I didn't make it back in time.

I have misgivings about La Petitte Amelia my cream soup was fine (I don't recall which it was), but my Croque Monsieur was dried out and lacked the butter rush that makes CM such a bistro standard.

Another Italian place? Any more information?

My cousin is Exec-Chef for both Petite Amelia and the soon-to-be-opened Italian place. It's supposed to be antipasti and pizza, casual. I can't remember the term he used to describe the place. I don't see him often, but I can let him know they need to ladle on more butter on the Croque next time I see him.