I really like the owner, Georgie. She's got a no-nonsense type of temperament that reminds me of my aunt. But if you don't understand where she's coming from, you may easily be taken aback or even offended by her attitude. She's an older lady who runs the establishment all by herself and although Bloordale is a vibrant neighbourhood, it's also a place where you're guaranteed to serve people with a few screws loose once in a while. So I believe her sometimes abrasive attitude is a form of protection.
Despite this, if you're patient and give her a warm and genuine smile, you will eventually uncover her warmhearted nature.
Indeed, she makes everything with love (and lots of flavour). There are 3 dishes you simply MUST try in no particular order:
1. The jerk chicken sandwich. It's rare to find chicken breast that is so tender and flavourful. Its topped with a creamy coleslaw and served inside a delicious, soft bun. For some crunch, ask for a bag of spicy plantain chips.
2. The patties. Georgie certainly is the Queen of Patties. She's even won competitions (you'll see the news articles displayed proudly near the entrance). I find it refreshing that in a city where every corner shop is selling mass-produced, preservative-laced patties, you can still find authentic Jamaican patties made by an authentic Jamaican woman. And they're really, really tasty.
3. Oxtail with rice and peas. First off, the rice is decidedly average, but the oxtail makes up for it. Why? It's some of the most juicy, fall-off-the-bone, flavourful, hearty, sumptuous oxtail I've tasted.