You’re walking through The Commons, desperate for a quick and filling bite to eat (you’ve eaten pizza for three days straight, so Sammy’s is out). Suddenly, the doors of Center Ithaca open and out wafts the delicious aroma of warm spices, meats, and veggies. Right across the entrance stands the answer to your prayers: Authentic Jerk, Ithaca’s new Jamaican grill.
To the more observant and/or locally obsessive, the name will sound familiar. Authentic Jerk had already operated within Center Ithaca as a pop up, but they’ve now established themselves in a permanent location in the building. That said, they still follow a similar structure, serving the pre cooked meals out of buffet-style warming dishes. Now, since the building itself can feel a little impersonal, I would recommend taking the food and eating outside whenever meteorologically appropriate.
With its street-food set up and delicious recipes, Authentic Jerk is the perfect combination of casual and tasty. Most of the food exists in the stew-jumbo category, with flavorful sauces and sides. Overall, the meat is incredibly tender after its slow roast, almost enough so to cut with a spoon. The steamed yams are also delicious and just sweet enough to offset the rest of the savory dishes. Still, the food can be a little heavy, so plan your plate accordingly. For instance, I don’t particularly recommend ordering the chicken, goat curry, and oxtail, with a generous helping of rice and beans, mac and cheese, and vegetables, unless you want to feel a weight about the size of a small dog inside of you. Take it from me.
So if you’re hungry for some non-traditional comfort food, I definitely recommend trying Authentic Jerk! The food is good, portions generous, and prices reasonable. What more could you ask for? When you do go, bear in mind that the hours are a little strange, so I highly recommend checking the website first. Enjoy and happy eating!