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Oasis on the Oxford Disappoints by Not Offering Items on their RW menu!

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Feedback on the Oasis on the Oxford was no bueno for Nyam and Scram yesterday. SuGa’s source had her heart set on the Curry Goat and Roti option but was surprised and disappointed to hear that what they have is on the menu board outside, not including that Restaurant Week option or the others, after specifically asking for the Curry Goat as well. She was told the meal still came with a drink as advertised so decided to proceed with ordering something else.

She found the Manish water, Stew Pork mixed with Fried Chicken and Rice and peas to be tasty, but was disgusted with the complimentary drink that tasted like artificial Lime juice and water.

For an establishment that does catering and events, they should know and do better.

Items from the RW menu at Evita's Italian

Winner Winner Lobster Dinner at Evita’s Italian for Restaurant Week!

Items from the RW menu at Evita's Italian
Items from the RW menu at Evita’s Italian

My my, Dinner at Evita’s Italian yesterday evening was certainly a treat as expected and definitely value for money. The service, ambience and food were all exceptional. SuGa Endorsement for Restaurant Week: ★★★★★

Good feedback has come in from other SuGa recommended restaurants as well, such as Black Orchid at Eden Gardens with no long wait, good food and value for money and Suzie’s Bakery’s yummy Jerk Chicken Pasta.

Continue to enjoy Restaurant week SuGa Readers and please keep the feedback and pics coming!

Tandoor! Spicy to the Core

Tandoor’s menu is filled with delicious, traditional Indian dishes. Probably too many though. There is even an Asian Fusian selection. Way too crammed and not easy on the eyes. Perhaps some images and more colour could be added for some enhancement. The waitress was polite and very attentive, however she could have assisted more with making suggestions from the menu. But with so many choices, could you blame her?

The ambience and decor need to be worked on majorly. The restaurant felt outdated and the colour scheme was mundane. The Indian show that was on the television by the bar on high volume wasn’t helping either. Where was the music channel?

There were only two other diners last Saturday night. This reminded me of my recent visit to Japanese Restaurant Cocoro. An indication that no matter how good and authentic the cuisine with decent service is, marketing and a revived ambience, thus giving a holistic dining experience, is important in such a competitive culinary atmosphere.

With that aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the Aloo Stuffed Paratha (Indian bread stuffed with potatoes – $295JMD) and Bhuna Gosht (Lamb pan roasted with garlic ginger tomato bell pepper & traditional spice – $1795JMD). The Bhuna Gosht was bursting with flavour and extremely spicy. Imagine I ordered medium spicy. The lamb was also roasted well, tender to the taste. Two thumbs up to the chef.

Tandoor Indian Restaurant

Ph#: 876-929-3568 / 876-929-5961

Address: 11 Holborn Road, New Kingston. Kingston 10.

Date of visit: 8/11/14

NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum

Parking: ★★★★★

Ambience: ★☆☆☆☆

Decor: ★☆☆☆☆

Comfort: ★★★★☆

Service: ★★★★☆

Speed: ★★★★★

Food quality: ★★★★☆

Serving amount: ★★★★☆

Plating: ★★★☆☆

Value for $: ★★★☆☆

SuGa Endorsement: ★★★☆☆

Get an Advantage on your Budget by Signing up for your Pop-Up Gourmet Card Today!

Pop-Up Gourmet can satisfy a variety of customers. Families, persons in the corporate sector that may have to buy lunch daily or host business lunch or dinner meetings, bar hoppers and ofcourse, the foodie that loves to dine at restaurants frequently throughout each month, all benefit from Pop-Up Gourmet.

Pop-Up Gourmet Advantage Card Holders can use their cards at over 70 locations in Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Port Antonio and the South Coast. Members can also enjoy special discounts and privileges at Food Lovers’ Experiences such as the annually held Simply Red ($500JMD off of ticket for 2014) and more.

It costs $6500JMD to sign up annually, where payment can be made online. They will also even come to you with a swipe card machine for payment! The card is valid for one (1) year and there is a referral programme for other benefits.

So how does it make sense? The average working person that buys a decent lunch including a beverage everyday for about $1000JMD and goes a little harder on the weekend can make back that fee in just over a month with 10-15% discounts at various restaurants and bars. Not to mention the family that eats out or gets take-out at least twice per week, that money is made back promptly.

Unfortunately, card holders cannot use Pop-Up Gourmet for Restaurant week menus but cards can still be presented for items otherwise. Also remember that Christmas is right around the corner with many outings, so the more you can save, the better.

Popular lunch locations include Toss & Roll, CPJ Market, China Express, Cuddy’z, Deli Works, New Leaf Vegetarian, JoJo’s Jerk Pit and More, Ocho Rios Jerk Centre, John Crow’s Tavern, Pier 1 and more.

Hot dinner spots include Caffe da Vince, Tamarind Indian Cuisine, Saffron, Fromage Gourmet Market, Evita’s, Opa, 689 by Brian Lumley, Mystic India and more.

When the end of the week comes and you are running up that bar bill, fret not if you hit up Macau, Bin 26, Cru, Margaritaville, The Deck and others.

I have enjoyed discounts of $500JMD and more from The Wine Shop, Christopher’s at Hermosa Cove and China Express to name a few. My Pop-Up Gourmet Card is so precious, I literally never leave home without it. One night I was hurrying to leave the house, switching from hand bag to clutch so carried just my cards and ‘get vex’ money, only to realise when I got to the restaurant that I left my debit card and only had my Driver’s License, Insurance card, Pop-Up Gourmet card and hardly any cash. Hilarious. But that Pop-Up Gourmet card popped me out of debt or having my friends pay when I was able to use my exact amount of cash as a result of getting over a $500JMD discount by presenting my Advantage card. Phew!

I have also found that when I have slightly overspent or was just within budget, the money from my discount can be used towards tips instead of having to find even more money to spend.

What are you waiting for? Check out http://www.popupgourmetjamaica.com/ for information on more participating locations, what’s hot in the culinary industry, benefits and to sign up now!

Also follow ‘popupgourmetjamaica or Pop-Up Gourmet Jamaica’ on Instagram and Facebook respectively, to keep updated on deals and when new Restaurants and Bars have signed on thus giving you more options to save!

Where to Nyam and Scram (30% off) for Restaurant week!

The Nyam and Scram Category finally has some actual deals this year!

Asia’s Cafe in York Pharmacy will offer their OMG Burger, Soup and Bread pudding all for $595JMD. While Michael’s Restaurant and Coffee Shop on Constant Spring Road will have Hot and Spicy Fried Chicken with Sweet Potato Salad and a Chocolate Chip Cookie for $440JMD.

Brick Oven will have a combo with Shrimp Patty, Apple Pie and a scoop of Ice Cream for $550JMD that sounds fattening and awesome at the same time.

Check out Suzie’s Bakery and Coffee Bar for their decadent Jerked Chicken Pasta, succulent Shrimp or Chicken Noodle Stir Fry, juicy chunks of Curried Chicken plus lovely sides, all for $995 each, inclusive of tax.

Super’s Spicy Doubles (Indian cuisine) in Mona is also a place to check out with meals ranging from $400JMD to $600JMD.

Oasis on the Oxford will offer combos of Curry Goat and Roti with vegetables and juice for $550JMD and Chicken Satay, Pumpkin rice cakes with vegetables and juice for $490JMD.

Have great lunches starting this Friday, November 14 to Saturday, November 22!

Go to http://www.go-jamaica.com/rw/ for more information.

Epicurean (*$4300JMD) seems more of the same for RW 2014, but what are SuGa’s Picks?

Same old Same old for the Epicurean category this year. Rojo practically has the same menu as last year. If no new restaurants emerge on the scene with Epicurean standard or none of the current restaurants improve enough to be added to this category, some new elements need to be incorporated to spice it up. Otherwise its ‘been there, done that’ or persons will just use the opportunity to host business meetings and dinners.

The Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel and The Restaurant at Round Hill Hotel and Villas (Montego Bay) seem to have the fresher, more interesting menus including Lobster Creole, Lamb Ribs, Oxtail Ravioli and Braised Short Rib.

Bon appétit!

Go to http://www.go-jamaica.com/rw/ for more information.

* Prices for each category include 1 choice of Appetizer, Main Course and Dessert. Beverages, Gratuity and G.C.T are additional.

The North Coast takes the Delectable (*$3800JMD) category for RW Jamaica hands down!

Majestic, Red Bones and Whitebones need to step it up, not only during Restaurant Week, but all year round. All roads lead to the North Coast! Fresh menus and ambience galore!

All courses at Calypso at Seawind Beach Club (Montego Bay) look great. Pan Seared Tuna Medallions, 12 oz Black Angus Rib Eye, Chilean Seabass, Chocolate Lava Cake with Mint Gelato and more. Dinner at Calypso is usually a treat.

The House Boat Grill will provide another exciting option in Montego Bay with their infamous Caesar Salad, Thai Red Curry Mussels and more for Appetizers. Thai Red Curry Lobster amongst other scrumptious meats will be offered for the main course and the Chocolate Molten Cake looks like it will be divine.

Christopher’s at Hermosa Cove, the hidden gem in Ocho Rios will offer their delicious Smoked Marlin Salad as an appetizer with a variety of other options. They will have Seafood Linguine with Shrimp, Conch and Fish, Smoked Ribs, Beef Tenderloin and more.

Go to http://www.go-jamaica.com/rw/ for more information.

* Prices for each category include 1 choice of Appetizer, Main Course and Dessert. Beverages, Gratuity and G.C.T are additional.

SuGa’s picks for Simple but Tasty (*$1850JMD) for Restaurant Week Jamaica!

The Tasty category is more on the simple side with dishes that most persons should be familiar with. A few restaurants still stand out in terms offering more value for money even though they do not have the greatest ambience.

ROE Japanese Cuisine, Tandoor Indian Restaurant and the Chill Out Hut Restaurant (Montego Bay) seem like great choices. Chill Out Hut will have Chicken Wings, Nachos, 1 lb whole Fish/Fish Fillet any way you like it, a Chicken and Ribs combo and more.

JoJo’s Jerk Pit and More usually offers a large serving of BBQ Spare Ribs, small desserts and basic appetizers.

East Japanese seems satisfactory with their usual Miso soup and Salads, simple Vanilla Ice Cream and main course including Shrimp Tempura and Teriyaki Chicken. However the choices at Northside Kitchen, aside from their location seem like more value for money. There is also a wider range of items to choose from.

The menu from Lillian’s at UTECH looks good with a variety of options. The quality of food is usually decent as well.

Pizza Hut – Dine In in Kingston and Montego Bay look like awesome Binge fests!

Go to http://www.go-jamaica.com/rw/ for more information.

* Prices for each category include 1 choice of Appetizer, Main Course and Dessert. Beverages, Gratuity and G.C.T are additional.