I recently made the trip across the river from UNF to visit Irie Diner in Orange Park. I've had a love for Caribbean cuisine ever since I was young. The powerful aromas of curry, the strong spices of jerk and the tantalizing texture of slow cooked oxtails prompted my visit to the highly reputable Irie Diner. After my visit, I've decided everyone should experience the food, hospitality and ambiance of this wonderful restaurant!
The Food
It'd be silly to leave out how great the food was as I describe my visit to Irie Diner. I decided to keep it simple, savory and adventurous with the Jamaican Style Oxtails. Don't be put off by this typically abnormal dish, it will never disappoint those lucky enough to taste it. Like most great food in the world, this dish is an example of making something amazing out of something considered to be worthless. Some of the least fortunate places in the world have developed some of the greatest recipes ever. It turns out seasoning and braising a collagen filled fatty meat for hours, creates one of life's greatest pleasures. Born out of passion, prepared with plenty of love, one of my favorite dishes was suddenly before me. I paired my oxtails with traditional rice and peas (that's rice and beans for us mainlanders) and sweet plantains.
In the interest of self-care, I decided to treat myself to dessert. Per the server's recommendation I ordered the mango mousse, which was light and flavorful. The perfect end to a heavy lunch, consisted of bright citrus notes and delicate presentation.
Local and Hospitable
Based on food alone, Irie Diner exceeded my expectations as a restaurant. However, they have much more to offer—mainly, their supreme hospitality in the sustainable local setting that we should all appreciate more. Supporting local restaurants and businesses is of the utmost importance to both the growth of our culture and our economy. Consider this next time you choose Chipotle over a place like Irie Diner. I'd also be doing the restaurant a disservice by not mentioning their phenomenal hospitality. Before I even entered the restaurant I had the opportunity to meet the General Partner Peter. We spoke briefly about Spoon, UNF (his daughter is a student!) and our shared passion of food. In addition to excellent service staff and a welcoming environment, this added moment made my experience that much better.
Atmosphere
The third and final characteristic that allows Irie Diner to stand out as a great local restaurant is the comfortable ambiance. The restaurant is clean and tastefully decorated. Steel drum centric tropical music plays at a healthy volume to put the entire place in a great mood. An even better sound was the distant echoes of laughter flowing from the kitchen. That happiness is apparent and translates into the food.
If you still remain somehow unconvinced, I urge you to visit Irie Diner. From the food, the hospitality, and the supporting of a local business to the good times ambiance, you will not be disappointed. I guarantee it!