Patties of Jamaica

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OPEN NOW - Closes at 6:00pm

This place is Indy's best kept secret. The Jamaican patties are the house specialty, hence the name "Patties of Jamaica". We have been eating these patties since we moved to Indy in the 80's. We buy them frozen, 12 for $10. We even take these to out of town friends who can't find anything like these locally - even in Chicago. It's a taste you can't get anywhere else, and the proprietor makes you feel as though you are in the islands. He greets everyone as "my friend" with his genuine, warm smile and makes all feel special. The atmosphere is that of a carry-out place, very small with a couple of tables, like that of a small pizza carry-out in Chicago. Don't go here for ambience, go to pick up some frozen patties and enjoy them hot from the oven at home. You will get a sheet of parchment paper to bake them on, you won't even dirty your baking pan.

I had the curry goat and it tasted ok but i was really dissappointed with how small the portion was, as well as the rice. I usually eat the rice and peas with my curry when I go to Jamaican restaurants but the rice and peas I got from there was just some plain white rice with some peas that was just thrown in with it, no flavor at all. I wouldnt go back there again unless i just cant find another place here in Indy that serves Jamaican food. Portion are like a kids meal size.

Food Quality/Presentation: 4 stars (out of 5). Service: 4. Cleanliness: 2. Ambience: 2. Perceived Value: 4. Overall: 3.2.



The physical facility here is a hole-in-the-wall, and the customer area could easily be kept cleaner. It did need cleaning, and it does need remodeling. But maybe that's why he can keep the prices so low.



But ambience/cleanliness is likely not why people go. It's the food, the food, the food, and the price, the price and the price. And service is good too; even if it's just to hear the owner greet you as "my friend" in his cool Jamaican accent!



The local radio hosts (such as Dave Wilson on WIBC) need to do a remote here and put him on the air as a local colorful character, and interview some of his customers during the dinner rush (4:30 to 5:45 pm).



This time I had the chicken curry stew. It wasn't as great as I remember the goat curry stew being last time. I forget the price, but it was a good deal.



The white rice was good, nothing exotic, just plain white rice, $.65.



I had a side of cole slaw, $.65. I was not creamy style, but was fresh. The sides are pretty small though. So if you're a big eater, get two of each side you want. The sides are only 1/3 or 1/2 cup in size.



Drinks are sodas, bottled tea, bottled water from the two coolers in front.



There are two little hard-seat booths-for-4 up front, so it's not really intended to dine in, but you can.



I also bought a couple loaves of bread for $1.25 each. They're on the menu as "hard dough bread", but it might be "sourdough". This is a GREAT bargain. I don't know how much it weighs, but probably a full pound. Same price as last year, too. I ate one whole loaf on my walk back home. Very soft inside and soft crust. Not sour, either.



Please leave a generous tip, because he really deserves more for the quality of food you get.



Get here early, as he closes at 6:00pm Mon through Thurs.



Menu Item Suggestion for New Diners: The patties, or the stew. But especially the BREAD!



You can also get frozen patties to go.