Jam Cafe

First time trying this place since my husband brought it home for take out. I ordered jerk chicken, rice & peas, and macaroni and cheese. When I opened the container everything looked delicious. I did not care for the rice & peas and macaroni & cheese. Rice was very dry as well as chicken (although he asked for extra jerk sauce). Chicken was flavorful but was not spicy enough and tasted more like grilled chicken vs jerk. My husband ordered shrimp & jerk chicken rasta pasta which was delicious. I guess I will have to try something different next time…

We made a real quick U turn to this place when we saw the Jamaican flag waving in the air. As we entered the store we didn’t smell any aroma so we didn’t know what to expect.
As usual we settled on the jerk chicken, peas & rice, side salad, and plantains. They take pride in presentation as they splash dried parsley over the plate and the neatly packed rice. So for the food… it was ok. The chicken was flavorful, a little spicy though. Not sure if there are different heat level here but she didn’t ask if we wanted mild or hot. The rice wasn’t good to me it taste a little burnt and dry. The plantains was equally dry. If you are like me, who likes the sweet and moist plantains, this is definitely not it. The plantains were sliced thin then deep fried but It wasn’t ripe enough.
It looks like they can party though because they have a DJ and big speakers!

I’m not that big of a fan of Jerk Chicken but one thing I know for sure about jerk chicken is that it’s supposed to be flavorful and preferably grilled or almost grilled. It was my first time coming into JAM Café even though I’ve driven by it no less than a thousand times. It never really appealed to me to come in because it always looks dark and closed.
So the other night when my boyfriend and I decided to be adventurous for dinner, we actually drove past JAM and I told him, what the hell, let’s make a u-​turn and give it a whirl. So we did just that and I was a little apprehensive coming in after parking. Even though it’s located in a little strip mall, it’s at the end next to a tree line that’s kind of dark. I probably wouldn’t come by myself. Upon entering there were 2 young girls sitting by themselves in a wooden booth and over to the right were about 4 or 5 older gentlemen playing dominoes. They said hello to us although I doubt they work in there. Two ladies at to bar greeted us as well as asked if we were dining in or taking out. We were taking out and were handed menus. I decided I didn’t want to order but my boyfriend ordered their jerk chicken that came with rice and peas. While waiting they offered us something to drink to which we declined. No one else had come in by the time they brought out our food. I think it was $ 10 or something but it wasn’t expensive. That’s a plus.
While waiting I noticed the place was clean despite the darkness of it and it smelled clean. We got home and first impression was «oh it smells good and looks good!,» but after a few bites of his chicken, BF said it wasn’t better than he’s had before and probably won’t order again. He couldn’t even finish it. Said even though the portion size was great, the jerk flavor was definitely lacking as well as the desire for a grilled jerk chicken. Rice was chewy, probably undercooked or with not enough water. He said «good try» and «thanks, but no thanks.»
Sorry, JAM Café! The search for good jerk chicken in the area is still on!

Jerk chicken was tasty but definitely needs more jerk. Rice and peas was a bit dry… With a little extra gravy I believe it would be phenomenal. The curry chicken is very good. Beef patties were extremely dried out and hard (very disappointed there as I looked forward to enjoying mine) and the plantains were greasy but good. Definitely one of the better Caribbean restaurants in the entire Hampton Roads area. Will return to try the African (Liberian) side of the menu… cannot wait to try the CASSAVA LEAVE!!!

Delicious flavors lacking precise dish preparation. We decided to go carribean on a Sunday after church so we were expecting to get till. My I order brown stewed red snapper which came out delicious, but the style cooking was more escovitch (fried, then sauteed) than brown stewed (sauteed). My wife ordered the curry chicken and ¼ a plate of jerk chicken. I didn’t try her curry chicken but the jerk chicken tasted just like chicken without the jerk. The house juice came out to be very good and would have been refreshing if not so sweet. If the snapper was more stewed and the jerk chicken was more jerk definitely 5 stars.

I love this place! I have had the blackened fish (I think that’s what it was called), the jerk chicken (I love the spicy sauce on the side), and of course almost all of the sides and beef patties. Customer service is awesome too.

Decided to come here for lunch with my sister despite the lack of reviews. We were prepared for disappointment as the other local Caribbean restaurants leave much to be desired. We are Trinidadians from New York and pride ourselves on knowing good Caribbean food. Jam Café, a mix of Jamaican and African cuisine, turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The food was delicious! I had the stewed snapper with rice and peas and steamed vegetables. My sister had the jerk chicken with baked macaroni and rice and peas. While the rice and peas wasn’t that great, everything else was delicious. This is definitely our new go to Caribbean spot.

Being that I am from NY, there is Jamaican restaurants everywhere and they are all fairly good. I could not find that in VA until now. jam café is great for when you are craving Caribbean food! I had the Jerk chicken and it was pretty good and I like the Mac and cheese as well. The rice and peas was not very good but I will be coming back to try something new !!!

This place is great! The food is so yummy and beautifully plated. The atmosphere is really cool and authentic. The service was good. They have a nice full bar. I really liked it. I would definitely go back.

Hate giving bad reviews, especially because I love Jamaican food. I’ve read a few good reviews about this spot on here so decided to give it a chance few days ago with a friend. The place was empty except for two gentleman shooting pool near the bar. I ordered jerk chicken, green beans, and their Mac & cheese. The waitress was really pretty, but was in a bad mood that day. She didn’t even check on us or refill our waters once. I even had to get up and find her to ask for our check. The only thing good about the meal was the sauce on the side to go with the chicken. The green beans were from the can and everything tasted like it had been microwaved, except the Mac & cheese it was very cold in the center. If anyone knows of any good Jamaican restaurants around the Virginia beach area, please let me know. Thank you

We ordered the Curry Chicken and Jerk Chicken. We enjoyed our choices and would order again. We also enjoyed the atmosphere. The décor was up to date and clean, booths comfortable, music was loud, but fit the theme, and sports was on the television. We were there using a
certificate. We would go back.

Bob Marley music, rum punch, and an owner and staff that treated us like family. Add in a menu of popular Jamaican dishes plus an unexpected selection of African (Liberian) specialties created daily by the female, Liberian-​born chef, and you’ve experienced Jam Café — a Virginia Beach restaurant that opened a short, six months ago.
Jam Café is cozy in size with a small bar and booth seating, a pool table and an area big enough to get up and wind your hips to the reggae tunes, if in the mood to boogie.
This Thursday evening was empty, and when I say empty I mean my husband, son and I were three of four guests, with only one person at the bar, plus a small group of the owner’s friends.
I wondered why locals hadn’t discovered this place and was concerned that the food would not be good.
Dim lights, authentic reggae music lightly, pounding through the speakers, a simple light show that decorated the floor giving you an «it’s okay to dance» invitation, and a menu that is unexpected with the added African (Liberian) specialties. Could the empty seats be caused by the food? I was eager to solve this mystery.
We ordered two popular Jamaican dishes — the jerk chicken and curry chicken, both served with two sides. «Mac and cheese and green beans, and callaloo rice and collards, please.» We also decided on the dish suggested by our waitress — the Liberian favorite — cassava leaves with white rice.
Upon our request, the chef visited our table to educate us on a couple of things. I asked what Callaloo rice is and she explained — white rice with shredded callaloo — a spinach-​like leaf of a tropical plant originating in West Africa and used in Caribbean cooking. Cassava leaves — the leaves of the yucca root, cooked and eaten as a stew as part of almost every meal in Liberia. Fed and educated.
Minutes later we were enjoying our rum punch. The best rum punch I’ve had in Hampton Roads, it was almost an exact replica of what I’ve had in Jamaica. Fruity, strong, and tall, just like I remember my rum punch from my last vacation to Negril. For a moment, I forgot I was still in VA. A few sips in, and dinner arrived.
The jerk sauce was served on the side. A good choice by the chef, because the sauce literally made me «jerk» and beg for water. A heaping, mouthful of rice and gulps of water later, I was ready for more. The chicken was flavorful on its own but I like the challenge of a jerk sauce that makes my eyes water.
I enjoyed the curry chicken and sides as well, but it was the cassava leaves dish that I couldn’t get enough of. A mild, sweetness hits the front of the palette, while the back of the palette enjoys spicy Jamaican pepper and smoky flavor from the smoked turkey leg that was generously added, offering a piece of meat with each sweet-​peppery bite. Earthy, rustic, African, soul food at its best.
A Liberian restaurant in Hampton Roads may be difficult to keep open and busy, so I understand creating a menu and atmosphere inspired by the Jamaican owner’s roots, but it was clear that what makes this Jamaican Café special is the heart and soul put into the Liberian specials.
Convinced that the food was not the reason Jam Café was empty, I wrote it off to timing. Opening only months before two busy holidays, I am hopeful that the new year will get people eating out again, and to this Holland Road spot that is worth a visit.
We had planned to make it back soon after our first visit but have not. Mainly bc it is almost a 30 minute drive from our home.
I do hope their traffic has picked up bc this establishment is worth it.

I went here for lunch one afternoon. It was empty except for one other person at the bar. I ordered the oxtail with rice&peas and cabbage. It was ok. I expected more oxtail for the price of the meal (It was about $ 13). The service was good. I would probably come here again and try something else off the menu.