Kushite’s Vegetable Cuisine
Location: 39 Lady Musgrave Road (Inside Eden Gardens)
Ph: 876-375-0642; 876-631-9101
Instagram: @kushitesvegetablecuisine
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Suga’s Ratings for South Avenue GrillÂ
Date and time of visit: Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 9:20pm
No. of diners: 2 adults
NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum
Parking: ★★★★★
Ambience: ★★★☆☆
Décor: ★★☆☆☆
Comfort: ★★★☆☆
Service: ★★★☆☆
Speed: ★★★★☆
Food quality: ★★★★☆
Serving amount: ★★★★★
Plating: ★★☆☆☆
Value for $: ★★★★☆
Suga’s Breakdown:
My husband and I were greeted by courteous staff. We had a 15-minute wait to be seated and it was observed that tables could have been cleared more quickly.
Food was served in reasonable time, which was excellent considering it was a full house. The serving size was more than adequate. Our Steaks were cooked to order (medium rare), well seasoned and grilled to perfection. My Chimichurri sauce tantalised my taste buds with spice. It was much preferred to my husband’s creamy sauce that did not have the flavour of Peppercorn. Best place to eat Steak in Kingston right now for a reasonable price. Best place in Jamaica? Marguerites Seafood by the Sea in Montego Bay!
Cocktails disappointed with no banana for my Hummingbird and no mint leaves for the Mojito. We also heard someone shout that there was no more steamed rice. Mega Mart is just up the road. No excuses.
Also, after so many years of going to this restaurant, I still have difficulty reading the menu and would appreciate more lighting while dining. String lights and perhaps uplighting from the garden and sides of the pool would suit their rustic-garden ambience.
Why is South Avenue Grill Buzzing with Diners?Â
It is no white glove service and plating is far from extravagant, but service is decent, food is in abundance on the plate, it tastes good and the price is right!
Our waiter, Kenyon was a bit nervous, but quite attentive and hospitable with a touch of humour. I would be happy to return and have him or one of the other pleasant waiters or waitresses serve my table.
My husband and I’s Succulent Steaks! #SugaEndorsed
*** Reservations Recommended ***
South Avenue Grill
Location: 20A South Ave, Kingston. JA. W.I.
Ph:Â 876.754.1380
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this Blog, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this Blog, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
This Veal Chop from Sugar Mill Restaurant was well seasoned and cooked to medium rare perfection. Since veal is from calves, the meat was lighter and more tender compared to a Beef Tenderloin.
The reputable, fine-dining restaurant, Sugar Mill is rated Suga’s Best Restaurant in Jamaica to date and was the well deserved recipient of the ‘Restaurant of the Year’ award at the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards once again this year, May.
***Prices quoted attract an additional 10% G.C.T and 15% Service charge. Locals get 20% off the bill***
Sugar Mill Restaurant
Location: Spring Farm Drive. Half Moon, Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Ph: 876-953-2211; 1-800-626-0592
Website:Â http://www.halfmoon.com
Hashtag for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: #SugarMillJamaica
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Suga’s Ratings for Blue Ridge Restaurant and Cottages
Date and time of visit:Â Sunday, August 12, 2018 at 3:30pm
No. of diners: 4 adults
NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum
Parking: ★★☆☆☆
Ambience: ★★★★☆
Décor: ★★★★☆
Comfort: ★★★★☆
Service: ★★★★☆
Speed: ★★★★☆
Food quality: ★★★☯ï¸Â ☆☆ (3.5)
Serving amount: ★★★★☆
Plating: ★★★★★
Value for $: ★★★☆☆
Comments: Panoramic view of the mountains, good service, tasty cocktails and savoury dishes and desserts with excellent presentation at a high price. Prices could be reduced for full value for money. Also, quite a few items were unavailable from the menu. Perhaps more preparation should be made for busier periods when the cottages are full and persons drive up to escape the heat on the flats.
Suga’s Breakdown
After some disappointing visits earlier this year in April and May from Suga Bears with regards to poor quality food and slow service, I was relieved to have a pleasant experience last Sunday from start to finish. I was impressed with my first visit to Blue Ridge Restaurant almost 3 years ago, so I was curious about what could have changed. I was told that one of their Chefs is no longer there for about two months now. We may not know for sure, but that could be one of the reasons. General Manager, Zoe Alexander was present and seen overlooking operations of the restaurant. Kudos to her and her courteous staff for a memorable visit.
What did we have?
Appetizers
My husband, Randy and Suga Bear friends, Ashleigh and Tennyson Arnold, started off with a tasty Tortilla soup, tomato based with black beans, corn, carrot and Chipotle seasoning, topped off with crunchy tortillas and cheese ($850 JMD + Tx+S.c).
However, I think everyone was quite jealous when I had the very last Creamy Crab dip that the restaurant had to offer. It was served with artichokes and roasted garlic ($1600 JMD +Tx +S.c). The taste of the crab was rich and it was delicious.
Cocktails
The cocktails were excellent. We had Sangria, Mojitos and Moscato infused Strawberry slushies.
Entrées
Tennyson enjoyed his Land and Sea Special, which was Chicken breast stuffed with seasoned crab topped with grilled shrimp and creamy garlic sauce ($4300 JMD +Tx+Sc).
My husband Randy enjoyed his Shrimp pasta. The sauce was not too heavy and was zesty with the right amount of herbs.
Ashleigh and I had the Salmon fillet in cilantro cream sauce ($3800 JMD + tx+Sc.) with a side of garlic mashed green banana ($400 JMD tx +Sc.).
Potatoes may be scarce at this time of year, but the mashed green banana as a side needs to be replaced. It was too chunky with no evidence of garlic.
We were quite satisfied with the healthy serving of well cooked Salmon served on veggies, that was enough on its own.
Dessert
I was going to pass on dessert, until I took a bite of Randy’s Oreo Cheesecake and ordered my own to pile on those calories that were definitely worth it.
Ashleigh and Tennyson fought it out too. It was a similar situation, where Ashleigh probably regretted ordering the Hot Chocolate, although she enjoyed that too.
It was a great day out and a refreshing break from routine activities and the humidity of the flats. If you decide to head up there and give them a try or revisit, ensure that you go up early to make it back before night-time and in a vehicle that can handle the rocky road.
Make the best of the rest of summer and head on up to Blue Ridge Restaurant, because they are once again, Suga Endorsed!
***Reservations recommended***
Blue Ridge Restaurant and Cottages
Location: Salt Hill Lot 9 East Rural, St. Andrew, Blue Mountain
Ph: 876-562-7580
Website: www. blueridgeja.com
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @blueridgeja
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Jamaica Liquor Warehouse, Deli & Bar
Location: 17 Lindsay Crescent, Kingston
Ph: 876-925-9427
Instagram: @jamaicaliquorwarehouse
***Closed on Mondays***
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Suga’s Ratings for Broken Plate
Date and time of visit:Â Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 8:15pm
No. of diners: 3
NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum
Parking: ★★★★★
Ambience: ★★★☆☆
Décor: ★★★★☆
Comfort: ★★★★☆
Service: ★★★☆☆
Speed: ★★★☆☆
Food quality: ★★☆☆☆
Serving amount: ★★★★☆
Plating: ★★★★☆
Value for $: ★★☆☆☆
SuGa Endorsement: ★★☆☆☆
Comments:Â
New restaurant with modern décor and comfortable indoor and outdoor seating by a faux garden. It was an expected full house on a Saturday night, 3 weeks after opening. I think the full house affected the attentiveness of the staff and the speed of the kitchen. The quality of the food was fair, borderline poor and at the end of the night I felt like I made a bad gamble in Vegas and lost. A Wine and Spirits list is currently available. A Bar with Blended drinks and Cocktails are in future plans. The Restaurant has potential and I will probably return, but I am in no rush to do so.
Suga’s Breakdown
Appetizers
We started off with the Spicy Rosemary Mussels and Duck Bruschetta. The Mussels were flavourful, succulent and indeed spicy. The Duck was tasty, but the bread was over toasted. It was deeply charred instead of golden brown. We could not bite into it. The use of tomatoes, which are traditionally added to Bruschettas was absent.
Entrées
The Oxtail Bolognese only had a trace of Oxtail and was predominantly minced Beef. When two of us ordered the Oxtail Bolognese, we were told it would have some minced Beef in it. We said no problem, but when it arrived, although it was savoury, it was predominantly minced Beef with a trace of Oxtail. I told our waiter, Chris that they need to rename the dish on the menu. Maybe they ran out of Oxtail too, but if so, we should have been advised.
Thankfully our friend who was just returning from Cabo and tasted authentic, richly flavoured Tacos enjoyed her Seafood Tacos even though she said the shrimp was a bit salty.
Dessert
The Maple Glazed Bacon Cookie Sandwich and Crispy Duffle Sandwich for dessert was tough as rocks. No wonder it was served with a kitchen knife. Note that we made that choice for dessert because the Fruit Parfait looked like a mixture of yogurt and canned fruit. But we still didn’t win. Tough cookies. Literally.
Service
I could see that with the full house, they tried and probably did their best, but the full house affected how attentive they were. Appetizers took too long to come out as well as our bottle of wine. The Wine we wanted was not chilled, so we told Chris that he could bring it out with the main. He seemed to have forgotten, so by the time we got his attention, we were almost through and just asked for a glass.
Suggestions from Suga
★ Hire additional staff for the Opening rush.
★Revise the Dessert menu.
★ Have the supervisor or manager take a walk around the restaurant now and then to get honest feedback from diners.
Good Luck to Broken Plate because I understand the concept and vision. We need more Restaurants that think outside the box, breaking away from the traditional menu in Kingston!
Broken Plate
Location: 14 Canberra Crescent off Munroe Road. Kgn. 6. Ja.
Ph: 876-667-6891
Email: [email protected]
Opening Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 11am to 10pm
Facebook & Instagram: @brokenplateja
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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Suga’s Ratings for Cellar 8
Date and time of visit:Â Friday, May 11, 2018 at 10:00pm
No. of diners: 2
NB. Ratings fill 5 stars maximum
Parking: ★★★★★
Ambience: ★★★★☆
Décor: ★★★☆☆
Comfort: ★★★★☆
Service: ★★★☆☆
Speed: ★★★☆☆
Food quality: ★★★★☆
Serving amount: ★★★★☆
Plating: ★★★★☆
Value for $: ★★★☆☆
SuGa Endorsement: ★★★☆☆
Comments: Cellar 8 has not only made changes to their space with a Deck, but their staff and management as well. Courteous, enthusiastic staff and delicious food. Service time could have been quicker and quality of drinks could have been better. Cellar 8 has always been a bit overpriced, but is no longer the new ‘it’ bar and has lost a superb mixologist. They should probably consider reducing their prices so customers can feel they are getting value for money.
Suga’s Breakdown
I thought Cellar 8 would have been busier 3 Friday nights ago, but with the opening of new Bars such as the Sky Lounge, they seemed to have lost their Friday night buzz. However, members of their new staff were courteous and the presence and supervision of the new management was felt. Since it wasn’t a full night, I thought service could have been a bit quicker, but our server, Davion was quite attentive and kept us up to date. Drinks were decent, but the gifted hands of their mixologust, Milton Wisdom who is no longer there, were missed. The quality of food was good, but the wrong Pasta dish was served to my husband, Randy. We wondered if the Chef was trying to sneak in the wrong dish, since it was similar to what was ordered and we were not told that the desired dish was finished. Anyhow, it was replaced soon after with my husband’s secondary dish of choice that he still enjoyed.
We were about to call it a night, but we were smartly interrupted by a purposeful temptation of a trolley full of Dessert wheeled to us to choose from.
We couldn’t pass that up. So I had the Strawberry Cheesecake and Randy had the Chocolate cheesecake. Sumptuous!
Cellar 8 Wine Bar
Location: Shop 10, Upper Manor Park Plaza
Ph: 876-613-5934
Opening Hours: Tuesdays-Sundays, 4pm – 11pm
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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New Restaurant, Summerhouse at The Liguanea Club, New Kingston is Opening to the Public sooner than you know!
Who’s responsible? Remember Two Sisters and a Meal? It’s the Rousseau sisters, Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau.
Stay tuned!
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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The Menu
Mystic Thai along with CPJ Ltd. will be hosting a 6-Course Wine paired Dinner with part proceeds in aid of the Sarah’s Children Charity next Tuesday, May 22nd.
About Sarah’s Child
The Sarah’s Children Charity was recently launched on March 8, 2018 on International Women’s Day at the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel and Spa in St. James, Montego Bay.
The focus of the charity is to spread awareness that it is not ok to remain silent when witnessing abuse. They wish to provide all the protection possible for our children and our elderly.
Sarah’s Children is the result of realising founder, Janet Silvera’s dream as well as her friends’ with the same vision to honour her mother, Sarah Darling-Findlay who led by example. They also share the same desire to give a voice to those without a voice.
Mystic Thai is one of Suga’s favourite and #SugaEndorsed Restaurants in Montego Bay, so it’s a win-win.
Book now!!!
***Limited spaces available, so Reservations Recommended***
RSVP to: [email protected]
OR Call: 876-889-2430
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Mystic Thai (Asian & Thai Cuisine)
Location: B11 – Fairview Towne Centre Unit, Montego Bay
Ph: 876-633-6535
Website:Â http://www.mysticthaijamaica.com
Opening Hours: Mondays – Sundays, 11:30am – 10pm
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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