Eating In Northeast: Jamerica, Langdon’s New Jamaican Eatery Is Now Open On Rhode Island Avenue NE

Just over a year ago we heard that a new Jamaican restaurant was coming to Rhode Island Avenue NE and we have been tracking its progress ever since. We recently learned through social media chatter that they have opened their doors for a soft opening while they figure out the finishing details. So, we had to go check it out.

The restaurant is colorfully decorated with a tropical mural on one wall and a long bar with brightly colored stools along the other wall. The bar isn’t set up for service yet, but that will hopefully come soon. For now they are offering up teas, coffee, juice and soft drinks.

The employees I spoke to said that they are still working out the menu. The day we were there, beef or veggie patties and plantains were offered for appetizers. I ordered beef patties, and they are pretty much what you would expect - a nice flakey golden crust with a flavorful filling. At $3.50 it was a tasty and affordable way to kick off the meal. We were hoping to try the veggie one as well, but they were all sold out. (Having grown up in New York and eaten in Jamaican restaurants there, I am used to being offered a spice/heat level for patties. At Jamerica they have one kind, which was very mild, but very good.)

For entrees, there was a “greatest hits” of Jamaican dishes: Ackee and Saltfish, Oxtails, Curry Goat and chicken offered up in a choice of curry, jerk, brown stew or fried. These meat based entrees are offered as “combo plates” so to speak, coming with a side of rice and peas and a vegetable. The day we were there the vegetable was cabbage. There were also two vegetarian entrees - vegetarian stewed peas with plantains and a mixed plate that came with jerk tofu, plantains, callaloo and cabbage. The chicken and vegetarian entrees are offered as lunch specials during the week for $9.50 - which is an incredible bargain. The portions we got were easily enough for two meals. The other menu items and chicken/veg items on nights/weekends run from $13 - $26.

We ordered the curry chicken and jerk chicken entrees (we were hoping to try the curry goat but it wasn’t ready yet, and I was too hungry to wait the remaining half hour it needed). Both dishes were so delicious. The chicken was falling-off-the-bone tender and the spices were so warming. It was the perfect balm for a grey and chilly December day. The curry chicken had that homey quality that has you reaching for more even though you are stuffed. The jerk chicken had a nice level of heat that slowly creeps up on you and has your mouth buzzing -but not too much- after a while. The rice and peas that accompanied both were pure comfort food and the cabbage was really tasty. It only took a bite or two to know that we would be back.

It should be noted that we got our order to go, so I can’t speak to the table service, but everyone we encountered was super friendly. I spoke to a man who I think was the owner (these days I kind of stay masked up and keep to myself) and he said that a website and social media will come soon. He didn’t seem too concerned about it though and said “as long as the food is good, people will come”. Well that it is, and we will be back.

Jamerica is open Tuesday - Saturday from 11:00 am - 11:00 pm and located at 2125 Rhode Island Avenue, NE. (We checked apps like Door Dash and Uber Eats and it looks like they are not available via delivery apps yet.)