Jonkanoo

Just when you’re bored out of your mind with modern Mexican and Korean spin-offs, an authentic take on Caribbean bursts onto the Sydney scene. Seated in a beautifully decorated pale blue and white weatherboard setting, decked out with eye-catching wooden string lights casting interesting shadows onto your repurposed wood table, you’ll admire photo memorabilia. You’ll eat small tings and bigga tings; indeed there are heaps of tings you will adore – except alcohol. Their liquor licence is coming… but I couldn’t contain my lust for coconut bread and ‘slaw accompanying their authentic Jerk Pork ($16/half pound, $32/pound). This meant I found Oysters Natural with ‘Jamaican Gravy’ ($3.50/each) rather torturous, as their pickled vegetable ‘gravy’ is served in a Captain Morgan Rum bottle. Rum would’ve picked up my Mint and Lime Juice with Coconut Foam Float ($8) rather nicely. My fault for not being able to resist the opportunity to wrap my lips around Trini Carnival Doubles ($12) overflowing with curried chana, pepper and mango; this place being much cheaper than an airfare to Trinidad! Soused Mackerel ($16) served with ginger ale and sweet potato chips tastes quite fishy, suiting a good slather of Uncle Tyrone’s Caribbean sauces. Despite already including scotch bonnets, fried Escovitch Fish ($26) loves a splash of those tings too!

Jonkanoo
583 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Ph: (0415) 922 240 jonkanoo.com.au
Jamaican $$$