A new Jamaican restaurant opened this year in the spot formerly occupied by a Mellow Mushroom pizza joint. It’s the third location of chef Charles Blake’s 14 Parishes, the first being at the Pythian Market and the second, on Clio Street, having closed a few years ago. It brings a welcome dose of Caribbean spice to the Uptown neighborhood.
The menu has the standards you’ll find at restaurants serving the Island’s cuisine: jerk chicken, pork and shrimp, stewed chicken in brown gravy or curry and oxtails are always available, but ask about specials like jerk duck, curry goat or whole fish.
Definitely do not pass on the sides, as it’s hard to imagine eating Jamaican food without rice and peas, callaloo or plantains, and they’re all excellently prepared. We also recommend at least one order of the festival bread, a slightly sweet, elongated fried dough that is completely addictive and which pairs especially well with the spicier dishes on offer.
The restaurant has two bars, one in the downstairs main dining room, and another upstairs. Both are overseen by chef Blake’s wife and partner, Lauren, who doubles as the event planner for the space upstairs. As you’d expect, rum is the focus, and if you like that spirit you can’t go wrong with the bobsled (hibiscus, ginger and white rum) or the rum punch (pineapple, orange, cherry and dark and white rums).
Also check out …
Pythian Market
234 Loyola Ave.
