A Jamaican place I totally missed
A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about a new Jamaican restaurant on Williamson Road called Four Flavors Ja Merican. I thought it was the second Jamaican restaurant in Roanoke, assuming that Little Jamaica on Shenandoah Avenue is still open as of this writing. I was wrong!
It turns out there’s yet a third Jamaican restaurant in our fair city, Cliff’s Jammerican Restaurant, which is located at 1025 Orange Avenue between 10th and 11th Street. I went by there the other day and picked up a menu and talked to the owner’s son, Phil, who says they’ve been open about 8 months.
Phil’s dad, Clifford Folkes, was not in at that time. But his son told me his father is a native of Jamaica who moved to New York City more than 30 years ago. About 7 years ago, he moved his family to Roanoke.
Cliff’s Jammerican is a teeny tiny joint tacked on to the end of R Johns Laundromat across from Advance Auto. It is basically one room split in half by a counter, with an open kitchen on one end and a small dining area on the other. Actually, the dining area has one two-top and a large speaker blaring Jamiacan beats with a television propped on top.
The place was pretty much hopping for 3 p.m. in the afternoon, with folks coming in and out to pick up carryout food. It smelled really good and they had some big, well-worn pots on the stove.
This is Cliff’s menu:
Curry chicken, large, $7.50; small, $5.75
Brown stew chicken, large, $7.50; small, $5.75
Oxtail, large, $9.50; small, $7.50
Curry goat, large, $9.50; small, $7.50
Jerk chicken, large, $8.50; small, $6.50
Steamed fish (call in to order)
Hot dogs and french fries are also available
Have you tried Cliff’s Jammerican Restaurant? If so, what did you think?
May 29, 2012 - 5:23 AM
RSS feed 
So, tell us, what did you have while there? How was it? Which items would you recommend?
I had just eaten lunch when I stopped by there on Friday afternoon, so I took a menu to go so I can run over there for lunch one day.
But I wanted to get the word to everybody on the blog as soon as possible.
P.S. I will tell you there is more to come on this restaurant and the other Jamaican restaurant (on Williamson Road) which I just learned will also add African food to the menu.
I had the oxtails those guys sell. One word “AMAZING”. Keeps me coming back every time. I also recommend the Curry chicken.
Lindsey:
I got some carryout from there on Friday and loved every mouthful. Tried both the curried and jerk chicken. Both were served with rice and peas and some yummy cabbage. Very authentic Jamaican!
If there was one disappointment it was that Cliff needs to sharpen his cleaver. When he chops the chicken the dull cleaver sends bone shards into the surrounding meat.
This is a jewel in Roanoke’s culinary crown!
I’m glad you guys liked the food there. My column this Wednesday will look at all three of Roanoke’s Jamaican restaurants. Tasty, tasty research.
just met him up at krogers crossroads,we chatted a bit about the sunrise and then the food.Thanks for the blog, will check him out for sure.
What is the number? Do you deliver?