Caribbean Paradise

«Tasty Caribbean food in east Durham from a family-​run restaurant»
Saw this place when going to Joe’s Diner yesterday, so decided to come give it a try for lunch. Again, the neighborhood seems to be in the process of trying to revitalize, so it’s not «upscale» by any means.
The restaurant is family-​run and humble, but clean, high-​quality, and very friendly. I ordered the oxtail (yes, just what it sounds like) with 2 sides: cabbage and candied yams. The oxtail was very tasty & tender– I REALLY like the flavor of the meat, though it’s a tad fatty and the sauce was a little thicker than I would have preferred. The two sides were both excellent– especially the cabbage that came with a nice seasoning and tossed with grilled peppers. For a drink, I ordered the «Irish moss” — a milk-​based drink made from seaweed that had a cinnamon-​like flavor. Quantity of food was quite good– see picture uploaded. I was full at the end of the meal, which says a lot.
My dining partner got the curried chicken– I had a bite and it was very good– a bit different in seasoning from Indian curries. He also ordered ginger beer (non-​alcoholic), and it was perhaps the strongest ginger beer I’ve ever tried– very good as well. Lots of other interesting options to try on the menu (it’s in the pictures section of this review), like plantain, coconut rice, etc.
Price was good– lunch dishes with two sides ranged $ 8 – 10, which is good for what you’re getting (a lot nicer meal than a burger or other sandwich). They also did have sandwiches for less.
The restaurant itself is, as I mentioned, humble– no air conditioning, which was a bit uncomfortable in midsummer at lunchtime (though they did have a fan), and their leaving the door open brought in a few houseflies (but not many). We were also waited on by the owner’s young daughter, who was a little inexperienced but tried to help. Still, it was very comfortable and clean, and I liked the friendly atmosphere. The owner herself came to check on us to make sure we were happy with everything and told us about how she hopes business will pick up.
I’d go back: A-​OK. 3.5 stars, but I’ll round up. :-)