To: The World Caribbean Bistro - From: My brief review

[mingo.jones]

To: The World Caribbean Bistro
786 Broadview Ave.
Toronto, ON
M4K 2P7
[phone]

Wanted to write up this review to contribute the community's input on the restaurants surrounding the Danforth area.

I've been to the World Caribbean Bistro a few times for takeout and it's a lovely little restaurant that doesn't have any real features identifying it as a Jamaican or West Indian establishment besides the big Jamaican flag hanging outside and inside the establishment. As far as I know, the restaurant was the former home to a fine Japanese restaurant "Lily's" and it appears the new owners kept much of the dark wood and rich bistro pub seating.

I have tried only a couple of dishes from their menu and they all have been satisfactory. My favorite is the oxtail dinner with rice and peas. The oxtail comes with a nice beefy slow cooked sauce and very flavourful. I suspect the tastes are mild when compared to the other West Indian cooking. The rice wasn't sticky but was perhaps too soft which I believe was due to it being cooked way too long. There was also a small side of coleslaw which was nice and creamy. All together the dinner was around $11 for a modest portion - that is don't expect Mr. Jerk type portions.

The other dish I've tried was their curry chicken roti (bone in of course) and again it was satisfactory. The chicken was moist and flavourful but I found the sauce a little too runny for my liking. My preference is for a richer and thicker sauce that could be held up with the pieces of roti bread. Speaking of the bread, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Not chewy and in my personal opinion, it was wanting of a starchier taste. The meal was priced around $7.

The other menu items looked just as reasonably priced but I think many may find it a little below average in terms of quantity to price ratio. The staff was welcoming and warm. The restaurant is stil waiting for their liquor license which I overheard will not be ready until January - I hope they get it sooner. In the meantime, I'll continue to drop by every so often to support them and sample more of their dishes. I do hope they won't get forced out by the landlord like the previous business.

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Mr. Jerk
3417 Derry Rd E, Mississauga, ON L4T1A8, CA

Caribbean Bistro
2439 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4P, CA

The Real Jerk
, Toronto, ON M5G, CA

[Matt H]

I hope they do well also. This is a great opportunity to fill a void in the Jamaican restaurant market; having a proper sit down restaurant with nice decor, liquor license and good food is tough to find.

Did you happen to catch any other items on the menu? With everyone jumping on the "offal" bandwagon, I have never understood why Jamaican restaurants in TO insist on serving the same repetitive menu's as everywhere else (Jerk, Oxtail, Stew Chicken, etc..) Having a proper restaurant setting is a perfect opportunity to serve things like Mannish Water, Cow Cod Soup or Tripe and Beans. Heres hoping they do something different.

[mingo.jones]

Sorry, didn't see this reply - there menu isn't unique. If any of the things you mentioned they may have trip on their menu. I had their take out menu but I don't remember all the items. And I do hope they survive and thrive.

[SpicyFoodLover]

To: The World Caribbean Bistro

786 Broadview Ave

Toronto, ON

M4K 2P7

I ordered take out for the 1st time yesterday and had the large Jerk Chicken dinner with rice and peas and I am not pleased. The rice was too over cooked and soogy like. The peas were salty and watery. It contained 2 drumsticks and 1/2 thigh and was the smallest chicken pieces that I've ever saw. This did not look like a $10.99 meal.

I hope that they survive too. This is an opportunity for them to improve on food quality and serving size.

[terrycar]

This seems to be symptomatic of Caribbean restaurants if my last few take out orders are any indication-prices rising and portions shrinking.