Mona’s Jerk — Restaurant in Essa

3 stars because the service truly is amazing and the staff are very friendly and accommodating. That warrants the second star. The juice gets the third. So as a Caribbean born and partially raised young man. I can appreciate the long hours and strenuous attention to detail the recipes require to deliver true authentic soul food. This is not that. This is WASPY suburban mildly seasoned bland food. Given the demographic and geographical location of this restaurant I can understand why the flavour is DIALED WAY DOWN however, I feel if that’s what needs to be done to sell food then why bother? I ordered the “jerk chicken with rice and peas and coleslaw” with a side of oxtail only. Got a festival and some fried dumplings along with a few patties. Mango carrot to wash it all down. The chicken was not jerk. It was over sauced and under seasoned bbq chicken. Rice was inedible and flavourless. The coleslaw was actually decent. Think fish and chips style with vinegar. Not the typical coconut milk style coleslaw you come to expect from a jerk house. The oxtail….. I can appreciate the mention of being purchased locally. Truly can. But it was awful. You can tell it’s been rushed. Again. Under seasoned and very very bland. The festival actually wasn’t bad tbh. Chef put their foot into that one and it shows. Well done. I could take or leave the dumplings. Nothing to write home about. Patti’s were Tiniels so I mean you get what you get.

The saving grace and the other half of the second star you wonder? ? ? THE MANGO CARROT JUICE!?!?! Absolutely amazing and reminiscent of the real deal juices the dreads used to make in jars and sell down at keele and eglington. Job Well done.

Would I go back? Nope. Not for food. Maybe juice. Do I want a...

Mona's Jerk - Angus, Ontario Jerk Pork, BBQ Chicken, Rice, Potato Salad, Cow Foot Soup, Kola Champagne Approx $20 Song this makes me think the most of: More Love - Victor Wooten

Mona's Jerk is an unassuming joint tucked neatly away in a strip mall behind a Domino's off the main street in Angus. The inside is quaint and minimalistic-- a lone table with two chairs in front of the window was the only available seating.

With the help of the two lovely ladies behind the counter (introduced to me later as Kate and Mona herself) and one of their regular patrons, I was given a large plate of food from the Caribbean; a region whose cuisine I've never had much experience with.

What followed was some of the best food I'd ever had.

The Jerk Pork was divine. Never have I ever had meat so tender that a plastic fork could easily shred it. It's slow burn of spice warmed my tongue and my insides. The chicken, too, fell off the bone with ease.

Special mention goes to the potato salad. I'm not a huge fan of cold vegetables, but I'll make an exception for potato salad in two instances: My buddy Troy's homemade stuff, and Mona's.

The cow foot soup was brought to me in the middle of my meal. A surprise, but a welcome one: The perfect pick-me-up for a cold winter's day.

It was so good I had to take my belt off to eat all of it.

The secret ingredients at Mona's are Time and Love- slow cooked to perfection and served fresh by caring staff. I'll definitely come back. Mona and Kate are a treasure, and so is the food at...

I can not find the words.... The owners. The food. The feeling of instant community and family they both give. Wow.

We went in after they had closed (they had just closed and allowed us) and they were gracious, kind, engaging and generous. We didn't feel hurried at all or that they wanted to get us out so they could end their day. The conversation was fantastic as they patiently explained all they had to offer and a bit about each dish.

My partner had the oxtail and goat with rice and tried each of the salads. Everything was phenomenal. Even the hot sauce on the side. Packed a delicious kick that wasn't too overwhelming and destroyed the taste of the food. It complimented it perfectly.

The beef patty was delicious. Not your standard by any means and the mac salad was by and far my fav though the potato and coleslaw were good as well.

We have already recommended Mona's to several friends and family members and hope to get back ourselves soon. Shame it is closed on Sundays as that is our only day off but as she said Sunday is for church...