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| - Most Caribbean restaurants in Toronto, and other cities I've been to, cater mostly to a takeout crowd. Having a proper sit-down Jamaican restaurant is a big deal, at least to Jamaicans. Or maybe just me. Chubby's has done a geat job in putting this place together, elevating Jamaican food to a whole new level and audience.
From the outside, it's a plain white house with a simple neon sign over the front door. Stepping inside revealed the WOW factor. The decor is so tastefully upscale in a manner that reminds me of a plantation style resort in Jamaica - the rich rustic woods, furniture, murals, lighting fixtures, and more. It's a beautiful space!
The menu is a reflection of Chef Donavon's Jamaican heritage and includes staples such as Curry Chicken, Curry Goat, Oxtail, Jerk Chicken, Jerk Pork, Rice & Peas, and more. There are also "Likkle Bites" and modernized versions of classic Jamaican dishes - Saltfish Fritters (mango-lime-papaya salsa), Double Dip (ackee and lentil dips, micro vegetables, jerk spice dusted chips), Ackee and Saltfish Bites (sweet peppers, onions, tomatoes, fried dumplings), and other creations.
My friend and I started off with the Spicy Jerk Chips (plantain, taro, jerk spice dust) and Slow-Baked Jerk Wings (wild honey, scotch bonnet dust, lime zest festival). The plantain and taro chips were sliced paper thin and were ultra crispy and tasty with the jerk spices. The wings were perfectly spiced and cooked and the serving was enough for up to four people as an appetizer. The delicious little festivals are not to be forgotten. Yummy!
For our main course, we ordered Curry Goat and Oxtail. The meats and rice arrived in separate bowls, perfect for sharing. Both dishes were cooked really well and were rich in flavour. The meats were tender and the gravies had the right consistency to stick to the rice.
To finish, we shared a Rum & Raisin Bread Pudding with warm caramel sauce and vanilla bean gelato. Perfection! I won't be sharing this next time.
I almost forgot about the house-made hot sauces that were brought to the table with our meal. If I recall, one had papaya and the other, passion fruit. My memory may be wrong but they were both very good.
My dining companion for the evening, a Jamaican chef who has cooked for US Presidents and Royalty, was as impressed as I was with the overall experience. As mentioned earlier, to me, this place has the feel of a resort, so does the food, a very good resort! They've done a lot of things right and I wish them lots of success. I'll definitely be back!
Disclosure: Donavon Campbell, Chef de Cuisine at Chubby's, and I worked together at a golf/banquet facility years ago where he was the Executive Chef. If this review seems biased, it's not because of my relationship with him, it's because I'm a Jamaican who loves good Jamaican food!
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