For a good choice of restaurants you will need to go to Ocho Rios, there are plenty mentioned in the ‘Insider Pages’ on this site.

In Runaway Bay / Salem there is the restaurant at the H. E. A. R. T. Hotel.

Among the eateries in RB are a couple of rustic beach eateries which provide good traditional Jamaican food – Flavours at the westernmost end and Sharkey’s by the Fisherman’s Beach at the easternmost end. Sharkey’s is the better IMO and the bar top, made by the owner’s wife, is well worth going to see. You could also try the Sports Bar on the roof above the shops in Salem, Shipwreck or Tek It Easy.

Thanks. As we're not especially looking forward to authentic Jamaican cuisine, e.g. curried goat, aki and cod, etc., we're a little nervous. We're even thinking of bringing some meats and foods from the US with us! How big of a chore is the trip from RB to OR?

if you've rented a villa you can request the cook stay within a safe realm of food... stick to the stewed chicken side of things and you'll still end up with a very flavourful meal that isn't really all that exotic...

most jamaicans cooks can prepare a mean omlette :) many cooks can also prepare authentic chinese food quite well too... (maybe not any better?)...

regardless, if you have a cook, provide them with a menu (before hand if you can) of foods/dishes/meals you'd like to have and i'm sure they'd try to accomodate the best you can... if you just ask them to stay with chicken/beef/pork, do request that... (and if you are adverse to hot (spicy) food, also make them aware).... if you opt for pork, ask for it to be trimmed.... it isn't always and some may find that disturbing :)

also if you can, do try to have turkey as it is beyond unbelieveable there...

there isn't an abundance of mainstream dining in Runaway Bay... Ochi is 20-25 min away and has a good sampling of more upscale restaurants and american fast food (burger king, kfc, and i think a pizza hut, along with margartiaville, hard rock cafe and the like for burgers and other diner/bar food...)

remember in a villa, you really do have the choice of what foods you will eat, so if you don't want to have something, make that clear... most jamaican foods are delicious and you will likely be pleasantly surprised :)

Chelle

Chelle, thanks for the details (BTW, I love your avatar...I have a similar photo of my feet in a hammock that is my desktop, and I nearly used it here as well!)

We're in a strange place between nervous and excited: In six years of going to St. Martin, we refined the trip to a wonderful degree of familiarity and comfort. It was always easy for me to remember the waiters, bartenders, and other locals from one year to the next, but eventually I came to really believe they remembered us too! The dollar/euro value has wreaked havoc on the French side - where we go - causing many favorite places to close, many local friends to relocate, and some annual American acquaintances to stop coming. Hence, the thought of trying someplace new. I've been to Negril a couple of times, many years ago as a single guy and once with my wife before we were married. She'd been all over the Caribbean and poo-pooed the food in Negril. At the time, I was pretty low maintenance food-wise, and subsisted largely on pizza and pasta.

While we've got plenty of experience staying in villas, this one has some features we've never had, and are excited to experience, namely a private beach and cook and butler. With the excitement comes the nerves, though, as my 14 yo daughter fears the solitude on the beach and we've already covered our food concerns (a guy on another forum said "Your cook should be able to blow your mind with some great creations. Keep an open mind about trying new food with different textures and taste" , then added "*EAT MEAT AND FISH S L OW L Y-- they contain bones!" yikes!)

Do you think I'm crazy to be considering bringing a cooler full of beef, chicken, and fish on the plane? I find myself reminded of our first meal on St. Martin in 2003. Wife had a salad with chicken at Chez Raymond, right on Baie Rouge, and the chicken was mostly the pieces we would trim off before cooking.

"Do you think I'm crazy to be considering bringing a cooler full of beef, chicken, and fish on the plane"

YES, absolutely crazy! :) seriously... even if they allowed you to do this (HIGHLY unlikely with the state of affairs with air travel these days) they have grocery stores there with fresh meat/poultry/fish that blow what you will get in the US out of the water (the livestock is not forcefed mechanically engineered food like they are in North America... trust me you can usually tell the difference, i'm telling you just TRY the turkey!)

if you want boneless cuisine, ask for it, not really a huge issue... when they cook the stews and whatnot with the bone in, i think it tends to add to the moistness/tenderness of the meat(poultry)... it's also cheaper to buy bone in... but it most certainly can be prepared bone out (keep in mind chicken and beef bones are fair sized and not really that much of an issue, just eat around it, i wouldn't say it's a choking hazard for anyone who chews their food more than once :)

fish may be a slightlier trickier one but it's still quite possible to get it boned... one should always be careful with fish, i've gotten fish at upscale restaurants in Toronto with bones, so it's just never a given...

as for the isolation... i'm not sure where you are going, but Runaway bay has it's own little activity, some local hang out spots, a few fun little restaurants/bars ect... it's fairly walkable in that its safe, but it is also a pretty small town with a fair number of AI resorts... if you are in a 'villa community" i'm sure that there will be one or more beaches that are "shared" with the villas (even the ones that have small private beaches usually have more common larger beaches that people use for longer walks or whatnot)...

by nature, villas can be a bit more isolated than say a large AI resort... 14 is a really tough age to keep occupied... maybe consider bringing along a companion for her?... the additional cost (outside of airfare) would really be minimal (we're talking maybe 100 overall in food, add in maybe another 50 in incidentals, and that's about it)... and the value of not constantly hearing 'i'm boooooored" might be well worth the expense! if you can talk the other child's parents into footing the airfare, you're set :)

otherwise, well you can always hope there are other kids in her age group around... keep an eye on those local boys tho around your little princess tho! :)

Alternately you can consider more of an AI resort rather than a villa if you think the food and isolation will be too much... there are plenty of options to suit every style/budget... not sure what that might be, but i'd suggest Rose Hall Resort (not Iberostar), or maybe Sunset Jamaica Grande.. both are decent properties with water parks so you'd have a good family experience... where your daughter would surely find tons to do... beaches properties are more upscale versions of the same... Starfish would provide a more economical option... any of these have a variety of more mainstream dining options...

Regardless, there are ways around all the concerns you have to find the perfect Jamaican experience for your family...

Chelle

btw... my avatar was taken up at Strawberry Hill, in the blue mountains above Kingston (Jamaica obviously :) ).... So many people have those "toes at the beach" shots, I decided to put my flare on it... i'm not a huge beach person... LOVE the mountains, so i took that while I was relaxing by the infiniti pool... takes me back there everytime I see it... most phenomenal place with the most phenomenal views...

:)

Chelle

I believe Chell00 is correct in saying you are not allowed by customs to take raw meats internationally. The same applies to agricultural products such as frutis and veggies.

Jamaica has enough to offer that you will find things you like.

"The same applies to agricultural products such as frutis and veggies."

as a side note, you can bring fruits and veggies across (Canadian, i think US is the same) boarders but there are rules behind it... i think they cannot be indiginous (sp?) to the area you are visiting... and of course amounts within reason for personal consumption... (i guess you'd have to go thru other channels/fill out other paperwork if you wanted to bring more in for whatever reason)... I've brought back (and claimed) mangoes, soursoup, and some other fruits with no issues... sometimes you wont even be searched, they will just ask what and how many/much if you state you have fruit...

i've seen a lady who i shared an AJ flight with get searched... she had a whole large carry on of produce and they separated out things she couldn't carry across... much of it was potato, scallion, ect...

it was quite amusing actually because the guy who was searching her didn't need to take the items out of the bag... he could just feel thru the (grocery bags) of what they were and say "mango", "pear (avacado)", "scallion - that's a no no" ... i was getting searched by an EVIL lady (for contraband because of course 6 trips to Jamaica in 14 months makes me a mule (insert rolley eyes here)) and she went into the back (to apply for another job or something) and i was watching this guy searching this lady's bag and laughing... she come back out and demanded to know what was so funny... i said "this guy man... he's good.... if i'm every on a fruit feeling game show i want him as my partner... " she actually didn't reprimand me for not minding my business so i guess she must have been mildly amused :o)

i digress, i really dont' think my info added much value, i just like that story :) i'm pretty sure for all sorts of reasons, raw meat isn't all that good or a necessary travelling accessory :) you can get good and bad cuts of meat anywhere... ask your cook to get the more prime cuts being aware of course that you may pay a premium... you'll be fine... :)

Chelle

hey...for any who are REALLY familiar with Runaway Bay, maybe this will tell you where my villa is, and, by extension, what my "walking around" situation might be like. The villa agency says:

"Across the street from the villa there is restaurant and a plaza with a supermarket (Taylor's supermarket and wholesale), internet cafe and some clothing stores."

anyone know this neighborhood?

Hey djeddieo... let's see, where should I begin? If you are staying in a villa that is near Taylors Market then you are on the West side of Cardiff Hall... right by Taylors are some shops like the Book Nook, Post Office, Digicel shop, Police Station and a handful of others I can't as easily recall. Flavours Beach Bar & Grill was mentioned and it is on the East side of Cardiff Hall which will be about a 1/2 to 3/4 mile walk from the Police Station... the sidewalks are nice and it is a safe area... you'll pass FDR and Breezes along the way. You can get Jamaican style food at Flavours and also Lobster... if you like fish, don't worry... the snapper in JA is great and you can ask your cook to fix it for you as spicey or mild as you like.

If you go to Salem which is about 3 miles approx. East of your villa you'll find L&M Meats where you can purchase things you might be more accustomed to eating like for example you can get a beef roast... it'll cost ya though. Anything that is imported in is usually quite dear in price. You can buy ham & I think even turkey... but again, be prepared for sticker shock!

We own a villa in Cardiff Hall and I'm telling you this because you've stated that you're not really looking forward to the JA cuisine... we have lots and lots of guests that come to our house and are "picky" eaters... most all have come away liking dishes that they never thought they'd try, letalone "enjoy"... so please go with an open mind and a hungry tummy because you just might be suprised! I would not recommend steaks in Jamaica... JA beef is not grain fed and tends to be tough. If you get imported beef/steaks then that's another story, but again it will be pricey.

I have to echo the "no don't do it" remarks from the others regarding taking your own meats etc. Not only is it illegal, but if by chance your luggage does not make it on the same flight as you then you might as well kiss it goodbye (not the luggage but the illegal foods inside) because all luggage that comes in unattended and thus must be delivered to your accomodations is automatically searched...

You can go to Ocho Rios from Runaway Bay and it's about a 30 minute drive (12-15 miles I'd say)... you can check out Evitas which is an Italian restaurant... you can also check out a nice little pizza house in the Pineapple district (I think it's called Michelles ?)

If you're truly worried about the food, then take some snacks with you (those aren't illegal) and at least you know you won't go totally hungry, lol. Seriously, take your own snacks cause american junk food is also quite pricey in JA.

What is the name of the Villa where you're staying? If it is actually a part of Cardiff Hall then you'll also have access to the same beach that our guests do which is called Ocean Park Beach... there is a little beach bar there that belongs to one of the beach villas and they also serve food ... some really good fried chicken can be had there.

Just to your West about 3 miles (give or take) is The Ultimate Jerk roadside restaurant & bar... sometimes they have live music... they almost always have great jerk food and escovitch fish.

Back the other direction in Mammee Bay you'll find another great Jerk restaurant called Scotchies (Scotchies has the original restaurant just outside of Montego Bay and then they have opened this new one just about a year ago or less which is approx. 5 miles West of Ocho Rios)... right next door to Scotchies is another new establishment called ... thinking darn it... seem to be suffering from CRS... it is an Irish named pub and although I've not been inside it the outside is quite impressive and looks like they spent plenty of cash to build it.

So go & enjoy and let your guard down a bit... the food in Jamaica is fabulous and one of the reasons that I cry almost every time I have to leave to come back to my Indiana home... try some, you'll suprise yourself.