COCONUTS CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT & BAR— REVIEW

PALO ALTO, CA

The soft melodies of reggae music met me at the door as I beheld the vibrant world that waited on the other side of the glass.

Perhaps naively, I thought that I was only there to try the jerk chicken and oxtail— the unspoken measure of any good Jamaican restaurant in North America.

I sat on the patio. The limited outdoor space was well-optimized with enough room between tables but enough tables to seat incoming guests.

And according to plan, I ordered the jerk chicken and oxtail combo.

The jerk chicken was prepared to a classic standard: crisp exterior, tender interior, with a faint smokiness and the tangy, peppery punch of house-made jerk seasoning.

The braised oxtail was traditionally prepared to fall-off-the-bone tenderness in a quintessentially delicious brown stew.

The jerk chicken and oxtail combo is served with fried sweet plantains and rice and peas/ The portion is generous.

Impressed, I took another look at the menu.

The flaky, buttery pastry of the Jamaican beef patty paired with its aromatic beef filling was a culinary delight. Upon request, the patty is served with a scotch bonnet hot sauce that strikes a stellar balance between pepper and vinegar.

The mac & cheese is a crowd-pleasing menu item: wonderfully cheesy, creamy and tangy. It is not a traditional Caribbean macaroni pie.

The passionfruit lemonade— a humble lemonade elevated by a passionfruit liqueur— was a joy to experience.

I look forward to my return to Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar in anticipation of trying the curry goat.

Jerk Chicken and Oxtail Combo: $19

Jamaican Beef Patty: $4

Mac & Cheese: $7

Passionfruit Lemondade: I can’t remember and their online menu doesn’t say, but probably somewhere around $7