Ocho Rios Jerk Center — Restaurant in Jamaica

visited at dinnertime about a week and a half ago. I ordered a large janga soup and a jerk burger (~approx. $16 USD, which i thought was a great price) and decided to sip on a drink while waiting for my order. The bar tender was very pleasant but charged me $24 USD for a bob marley drink. the drink cost more than my entire order. not sure if thats regular here but she Didn’t tell me the cost before making the drink but i had already ordered it so i didn’t complain at the time (plus i was a bit buzzed and ready to leave). I searched for current local prices for the same drink online the next day because that’s absolutely outrageous and the most i saw was $11 USD which is about what a standard cocktail costs in california, where im from. Either the bartender doesnt know how to convert JMD to USD, do basic math or i got scammed. I really dont know if she was being honest as the drink wasnt on the menu and I’m from the US. i love my people and i prefer to support local business especially above tacky foreign business chains like margaritaville but i hate feeling like a cash grab so if it comes down to it id much quicker go somewhere more trusted, consistent, and regulated for a drink than somewhere where i feel like prices are being made up based on who you are perceived to be. its really sad because the place is such a vibe but that kinda ruined it for me. so just be aware and come in chatting patois i guess.

(PS if the restaurant reads this i would love to hear an explanation. does it really cost that much to make that 16oz cup? was there no way to make it cheaper (ie. house / well liquor) , im open to changing my opinion and even deleting my review, because i like to refer people to good local business, but $24 for a little frozen tourist drink seems a bit insulting in my opinion and i fear thatll be what i remember about this place moving forward. for context, coming from california they dont even charge you that much on rooftop bars in santa monica, downtown, or hollywood which are huge...

Cons: The quality of food at Jerk Center is trashy if it is not jerk chicken! I have tried various items on the menu such as the veggie wrap, curry goat (pictured above), chicken panini, salad, jerk chicken, jerk burger. So, I feel I can say I have given Jerk Center a fair many chances to demonstrate that they can serve good food. The only thing I have found to be palatable is the jerk chicken. The cost of the food given the quality is not worth it. Today, I got the veggie wrap and literally the wrap was only lettuce and a few diced (less than 10) tomatoes in a tortilla wrap. Some of the lettuce was clearly old and brown. Beyond disappointing. I ordered a margarita with sugar on the rim and was brought a margarita with salt and was told they didn't have sugar, so they used salt. Sent the drink back because if you can't meet the request, then come back and say so, don't make the drink I specifically said I didn't want. They have 1 cashier to take the order of over a dozen people, which took at least 20 minutes and then another 20 minuted waiting for the order from the takeout window. I had planned to eat some of my meal there, but after having to wait so long, I had to go. The curried goat is dry and I can get almost double the portion size elsewhere for the less than what Jerk Center charged. Service quality needs significant improvement. Parking can get easily congested.

Pros: There is usually a nice ambiance and music playing. There is a decent sized seating area for those that want to dine in. The sides (fries, bammy, rice and peas) are generally ok. Sometimes you do have to specify fresh fries. Servers are...

I recently dined at Ocho Rios Jerk Center, and I am compelled to share my disappointing experience. Unfortunately, the service was abysmal, and I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this establishment to others.

I ordered a platter that included 1/4 jerk chicken, jerk pork, and jerk sausage. The server did not ask which part of the chicken I preferred, and when the food arrived, it included a breast quarter. As someone who does not eat chicken breast, I politely requested a substitution for a leg quarter. The server returned from the kitchen stating that there were no leg quarters available, which is why they served the breast. I then asked if it could be substituted for something else, but the server declined, stating that substitutions could not be made once the food had been brought to the table.

Unsatisfied, I asked to speak with the manager. The manager reiterated that no substitutions were possible and that the leg quarter would not be ready for another hour and a half. This level of inflexibility and lack of accommodation was shocking.

The staff appeared to be inadequately trained, and their understanding of customer service was severely lacking. They failed to grasp the basic principle of striving to satisfy the customer. The experience left a lot to be desired, and it is clear that significant improvements are needed in both their service training and their approach to customer satisfaction.

In summary, Ocho Rios Jerk Center failed to meet even the most basic expectations of good service. Until they address these fundamental issues, I cannot recommend this...