JamDown

CLOSED — Drove by here and the sign has been taken down and the windows are covered in black garbage bags. Never got a chance to try it.

Another bookmark off the list, but I agree with Lia M; there’s good food here, but if you know Jamaican food, then this place is not going to knock your socks off. Authentic? Yes. But for those familiar with the island — and I mean the REAL Jamaica, not just the tourist sections — most places that look like Jam Down (ambiance, décor) serve it up about the same way; they’ll feed you, but you won’t think it’s the best dish you ever had.
That said, THIS little place tries hard — as we say inna yard (back home) «Dem likkle, but dem tala-​WAH!» When we went in on a Sunday afternoon, it was a one-​woman show. Meaka was greeting the customers, reciting the menu and taking orders all while cooking the food, pouring the drinks and serving you at the counter or tables. And yeah, she also gave you your bill, collected the money and bussed the tables.
All this with a gorgeous smile, great patience and in a place with no A/​C! Girlfriend gets an extra star from me!
Watch what you order, though, b/​c it can be a little pricey. But the jerk chicken was good, as were the rice and peas. Fish was so-​so, ox-​tails were alright. Missed out on the patties, though. Maybe next time… i-​ree!

Great people and great patties, but the curry chicken meal wasn’t good at all. I am Jamaican and expected much better, plus we just moved here from Atlanta where good Jamaican food is plentiful. We haven’t found our spot yet. Sorry JamDown.

No one ever needs to ask what I want to eat, because I will always want Jamaican. Always. I crave it. JamDown was good, but did not blow me away. The woman owner was so friendly and welcoming, which I really appreciate.
By the time I visited, they were out of coco bread, so I just ordered jerk chicken for myself and curry goat for dining partner, along with spicy patties. I enjoyed the jerk chicken, which was spicy and all-​around delicious. Rice was fine, though my Caribbean friend thought it left much to be desired. The curry goat was really good — fall-​off-​the-​bone tender and served with tons of sauce. Patties were spicy, but nothing out of this world. The platters come with salads, which are made fresh, and you can choose which veggies you want, which is nice. I would go back though — I liked the curry, and want try it with chicken. And hopefully there will be coco bread!

I like the atmosphere of this place, very local, very small-​time. Plus, the prices are great, 5.99 for a huge lunch platter, 7.85 for a bigger dinner platter. But honestly, the food is simply not very exciting. Last time I ordered, they messed up both meals, giving me curry chicken orders when I wanted jerk. Not to mention, the guy serving barely said a word to me.
Definitely worth considering for lunch, but other than that, there’s better places.

Had driven by this place a bunch but it was always closed when I passed by… finally found it open one blistery cold and snowy night in DC when I was craving jerk chicken and Sweet Mango up the street was closed after a fire… one guy was working the counter and another the kitchen, I think they were father and son because the guy in front kept shouting «dad» through the intercom back to the kitchen LOL. Dad came out and was raving about how all their food was natural, fresh, and that they try to use vegetarian ingredients whenever possible.
I could smell fresh okra cooking, which reminded me of Jamaica and for a split second I was not in freezing DC but out in the country– maybe Sav– sitting on the porch waiting for dinner to cook… Ahhh anyway back to reality!
We got there pretty early and they were out of jerk chicken. I was crushed, but sucked it up and ordered the curry chicken. Got it with rice and peas, plantains, and okra. Then the Son told me they had one piece of jerk chicken so he threw that in. Yay! The chicken was good, there was something different about the rice and peas but I couldn’t quite figure out what it was… The okra was super fresh, I also heard Dad mention they had coconut calaloo, which sounded amazing and I’ll have to try next time. Also, when you order a dinner special you get a free natural juice– and I was so excited they had sour sop juice! double yay!
There was somewhat of a wait to get the food, but I just chalked it up to them being on Jamaican time. No worries mon!
Oh and they didn’t have breadfruit, which I am on a never-​ending quest for in DC, but I forgive them… Overall, great Jamaican food, I recommend it!

Yum! If you’re looking for good, cheap Jamaican food and a really fun time, go to Jamdown. Meaka lets you sample everything, from juices to patties. It’s a relaxed environment where you can’t help but feel at home. Also note the hilarious intercom system between the kitchen and downstairs The tropical ginger juice was my favorite! Meaka told us a patio, televisions, and a full juice bar will be up and running by valentine’s day.

I was greatly saddened by the loss of Naby’s Island on H Street and needed something to fill the Jamaican food void. A friend recommended JamDown to me, and I figured I’d give it a shot after reading all the rave reviews.
JamDown will not only meet your expectations, but exceed them! The food here is delicious and surprisingly healthy. As soon as you walk in, you’re warmly greeted, and can’t help but smile from the positive vibes in this place. The smells, the colors, the sounds are all a part of a great experience.
On my first visit to JamDown, I went with the curried chicken, okra, and seasoned rice; my wife got the jerk chicken, okra, and rice and peas. The food is delicious, and wholesome in comparison to a lot of the greasier/​heavier Jamaican meals I’ve had before. On the opposite end of the healthy food spectrum are the Jamaican patties, which I just simply had to have! The spicy beef and vegetable patties are really good and if you can’t handle a whole one, they have mini patties as well. A nice bonus during our visit was the free juice! I thoroughly enjoyed the tropical punch, and really liked the kick from the sorrel ginger juice as well.
The food at JamDown was terrific, and my wife and I found ourselves back there again within a few days of our initial visit. I wish JamDown would kick it up a bit on the spiciness, but this place is a true gem otherwise. Great prices, great service, huge portions and great food.

Food was great! Staff extremely friendly. I got the stew chicken and the jerk chicken plate lunch specials. The juice blends they have are kind of pricey but soda is regular price.

What an amazing place filled with amazing people and wonderful food.
I have been to Jamaica several times and I have to say, this is the most authentic place outside of Jamaica that I have ever been to.
The staff is gracious and thoughtful. I got to taste several of their juices before ordering mine. They have a natural juice bar that is so fantastic, I might stop by just for a juice.
As soon as they opened, there was a line for carry-​out and the customers were MORE than happy to wait. Everyone was excited to get their food and start eating.
The food was spectacular and very reasonably priced. With such warm staff, great food and a true appreciation of each and every customer, it would be hard to stay away from this gem.
I recommend the jerk chicken and any of the desserts. Fantastic place tucked away on Georgia Ave.

i got the vegetarian burger and i have to say i took one bite and threw it out. the burger itself was not tasty, the tomatoes pale, the lettuce boring and all on a boring and deflated white bun.
i did enjoy the plantains very much.
and as for mika — what they say is true. her appearance behind the counter was the best part of my experience. stunningly beautiful and friendly she had me taste the different juice options before ordering. i went with the ginger lemonade which was deliciously gingery and warming.

I literally bucked a U-​turn when I saw this little spot, draped in Jamaican colors.
So glad that I did. Although this place is probably half the size of my living room, they’re doing it big. Big personality, big flavor, big portions. The only thing they are not doing big are their prices.
The owner (Mika I believe) was so incredibly bubbly and engaging. On a mission to quench my thirst with a sweet, Caribbean fruity drink, I decided to order the Island Punch after she told me almost a dozen fruits that are blended to create it. Instead of just bringing me out my punch, she brought out three sample cups of a few other juices and some sorrel.
She told me that at JamDown, they want you to know exactly what you’re getting before you get it so they are very generous with samples, both food and beverage.
I ended up getting the fresh, pineapple ginger juice instead. It reminded me so much of something that would be served with dinner in Jamaica. It’s a little sweeter and thicker than most pineapple juice, but if you’re Caribbean or have experienced a variety Caribbean punch, you will love it.
They have so many dishes as well from your standard patties and cocoa bread to escovitch fish, ackee and saltfish, stews, oxtail, jerk chicken, rum cake… the works. They don’t use salt, MSG or pork in their dishes. Lunch special are until 4pm and most entrees (even the large) will not run you more than $ 10.
And the music while you wait for your food could not be any better.
I can’t wait to come back and grub down. In fact, I called my mother as soon as I left to tell her about this charming place. We might come back together during the holiday weekend.
Truly an awesome, Caribbean food find!

me: i’m never going back to Sweet Mango café, I’m eating here if I want Jamaican foods.
friendly owner: we hear that a lot!
Why? Because…
1. Taste: the chicken is tender, not overcooked and is less fatty. The spice blend is awesome, it felt like heat echoing or coming in waves down my throat. Rice is softer and more flavorful than sweet mangoes.
2. Value: Their daily dinner special is $ 7.99. It includes a few pieces of plantain which the other place doesn’t offer except as a $ 2 side dish. The veggie was okra which I love. It is a more expensive veggie at the grocery store AND I can never cook it myself correctly. The cabbage and peas at Sweet Mangoes can’t compare. The portions of everything were huge. They also have a «snack pack» which is ½ the size of a regular styrofoam take out box but is $ 4.50 and includes a meat, rice, and veggies.
3. Emphasis on health: they don’t use salt on anything. Don’t let that fact lead you to think it’s not flavorful! No msg and no pork in any dish. No pork fat, flavorings, no by pork by products anywhere. (nothing against pork, but every once and a while, why not mix it up?)
4. Good atmosphere. Please note how I add this point last. I hate how restaurants with trendy/​chic/​novelty décor and shitty food and service get inflated stars on Unilocal.Yes, I’m talking to you Tryst, Old Ebbit Grill, and Jaleo. N-E-ways…this small business is a nice hole in the wall run by a stand-​up guy. The lady behind the counter is very friendly and knew the names of customers coming in. She explained what Irish moss was and made an effort to go find ingredients for a dish she originally thought was sold out for the night. The other restaurant just has cashiers who argue with me about what I ordered.
I’m coming back to try the jerk veggie burger, stuffed jerk clams, oxtail and goat curry, and jerk shrimp.

I’m a big fan of alchemy, so Jamdown’s Mika has won me over with her penchant for brewing crazy potions in the back of the restaurant. She’s the nicest person in the world. She’ll blend five different drinks out of things like Irish moss, sorrel flower, ginger and cherries and she’ll make you try each of her new concoctions. And they’re all pretty damn good.
The chicken is also outstanding. The curry chicken falls right off the bone, the jerk chicken is thoroughly flavorful, and they’ll drizzle it all with brown stew for no extra charge. The meals come with rice and peas, plantains, and the vegetable of the day (last night it was okra). The portions are HUGE.

Key point: try their homemade «natural juices». I had the Island Ice Team, which combined tea with a variety of dried fruits, honeysuckle, and ginger. They have another seven flavours.
This is my favourite of the 8 or so DC-​area Jamaican places I’ve tried. Much more character and hospitality than other Georgia Ave. Caribbean counters, and the food is notably a step above, on par with my previous first-​place, Fireside in Annacostia.
I had a patty sandwich (turnover inside of coco bread), and a plate of jerk chicken with rice and peas. They bake their own patties, and so that was great, and the jerk coating on the chicken was awesome. Chicken was slightly dry, but spices were very flavourful and dense without being just «burnt and pepper». The cook (owner?) mentioned their jerk chick recipe takes four days from initial marinate to serving.
The staff was very friendly and informal, reminiscent of hippie joints I used to visit on the West coast. Ambience was homey without being bleak or run-​down, but not kitschy. Portions were large, prices very reasonable, and the selection of entres, drink, and deserts was impressive.
Only things I’d like to see changed would be having collard greens as an option (which Fireside does awesome, cooked just a bit so still firm instead of mushy), and having a bottle of scotch-​bonnet hotsauce on the counter instead of just tiny little single-​serving cups, since I like _​lot_​of hot sauce.