Island in the Sun
1236 MacArthur Road
(610) 435-4347
Need an escape from winter's low, dark clouds and bone-chilling cold? Try Jamaica--via MacArthur Road. Open since April, Island in the Sun serves authentic Jamaican food that will warm your soul like the tropical island sun toasts your skin.
As you can see from the image, the restaurant is in a non-descript retail strip on MacArthur road just south of Home Depot. A sign on the front door asks that guests not use profanity. It's a perplexing but wholly acceptable request made difficult by the quality of the food, which could easily evoke a phrase punctuated with a four-letter word like, "****, this is good!"
My culinary compatriot, Rob, joined me in trying two of the more unusual dishes: oxtail and curry goat. Both were simmered extensively, making the meats tender and savory. The oxtail was especially dark and flavor-packed. The goat awakened our taste buds with ample (but not overdone) curry. Side dishes were outstanding. A warm cabbage salad was crisp and toothsome. Plaintains -- fried to a perfect golden brown -- were expectedly starchy and delicious with hot sauce. The "best supporting side dish" award, however, went to the rice and peas, which were flavored with coconut milk and allspice for a sublime Jamaican side.
We also sampled a beef patty, the Jamiacan version of a turnover. A lightly browned crust encased a mildly spiced, almost pureed beef mixture. It had an odd texture, but alluringly subtle taste.
Of course, the menu includes expected Jamaican dishes like escoveitch chicken and fish, jerk chicken, and brown stew chicken and fish. Cow foot, manish water (goat soup) and cowfoot soup are intriguing options that beckon for trial next time. (I get the feeling that not all entrees are available every day.) Prices are reasonable. Most lunches are $5.95 - $7.50; dinners about $2 more. The decor is spartan, but acceptable. After all, you're not going for a visual experience. You can close your eyes and imagine sandy beaches, clear Caribbean surf and palm fronds swaying in the tropical breeze. Add the aroma and flavor of island food and you have a mini-vacation to Jamaica. Everyting is irie, mon!
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9 comments:
Doesn't look like a place for vegetarians!
You're right. Not many things on the menu that don't have meat or fish in it.
I thought it was a tanning place! I'll check it out.
Maybe you could get some dreadlocks, Bernie, along with your tan!
Tried the jerk chicken today. Not what I had been used to with jerk chicken but good. Lotta food for lunch. Also, tried part of my friend's beef patty. Very good. (He had curry goat and like you said, was hard-pressed to abide by the "no cursing" rule.) Also, ginger beer!
Irie!
We ate there but I think it works better for take out.
Jay
I just heard there was a new Indian Restaurant open at the north end of MacArthur Road mall area (around Burlington Coat Factory/T.J.Maxx area)
Can anyone confirm this? I'm desperate for a good curry.
I will try the Island's Goat Curry once the holiday shopping rush is over...
Yes -- I just heard of the new Indian place last week. I'm hoping for something a little bit different than Nawab. I've been to Indian places in Chicago and Vegas that have a wider selection of authentic cuisine. My wife's a big Indian fan, so we'll head up there soon.
Our friends own this restaurant. Great food. Authentic food from authentically friendly people!
I visited island in the sun and tried the brown stew snapper and mon it was great ,worth every penny i mean it was deliciousand it was just warm hospitality , next time i will tried the brown stew chicken .good job guys keep it up this is what the valley needs good caribean food .good luck guys
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