16 The High Street, Ealing W5 5DB |
Stuck on where to eat, being the foodie of the group I suggested we try out Turtle Bay following a recommendation from Alex of All4Thoughts.
This Caribbean
restaurant sat neatly on the strip in Ealing Broadway and as you walk in,
you're immediately taken 'back ah yard'. The dim lighting and
soft reggae music is brought together with fairy lights and rustic container
walls (reminiscent of a Jerk pan) to tease in a taste of the Caribbean.
In
fantasy, I was at a beach front restaurant overlooking the Caribbean ocean,
with the sound of soft waves lapping against white golden sand. In reality, I was freezing my butt off in thigh high boots, a big winter jacket
and leather gloves in West London!
Drinks
I had the Coconut and
Pineapple Punch. It was charming, and understandably milky however, not very fruity;
an enjoyable and pleasant pallet cleanse nonetheless.
Starters
Jerk Pot Pepper Prawns |
I was spoilt for choice
as there was a fair share of fish options, but typical me, opted for the
'Pepper Pot Prawns'. I’m proud to say this is one of the best food decisions I
have ever made – “If it ain’t broken don’t fix it” right?
The Pepper Prawns imitate
the 'Pepper Shrimp' you can purchase out and about in Jamaica. Well seasoned
and still in their shell, they are cushioned on top of flat bread which soaks
up the ‘Jerk gravy’. The dish was garnished with spring onions to enhance
flavour and add to the presentation. Despite the shrimp shells being a little
tricky to get off, they were worth the hassle.
Mains
Totally tempted by the
‘Jerk Glazed Salmon Fillet’ (sounds amazing I know), I decided to branch out a
little and order the ‘Trini Curry Fish’. On the seafood front, this dish
included salmon, prawns, squid and white fish. Flavour wise, we’re talking
coconut and sweet onion chutney partnered rice 'n' peas and flatbread;
obviously I ordered a side of plantain.
Trini Curry Fish |
This plate was like
nothing I’d ever tasted before! The sauce was smooth
but had a spicy edge; alternate mouthfuls presented the odd surprise kick of
flavour – sounds like a Caribbean man to me! The Rice 'n' Peas were…. ok.
Doesn’t quite make the cut when it comes to authenticity (my grandma does make mean
rice n peas) however it was a fair attempt. The plantain however, topped everything
off. Usually at Caribbean restaurants, you can expect four slices of
plantain for £2. Here, I was given a bowl full of sweet plantain
fried to my perfection for only £2.35 - winning!
Overall Experience
Out of all the Caribbean
restaurants I’ve visited, Turtle Bay is certainly among the top 5 in terms of
overall experience. It was an excellent
find and one I would definitely recommend and visit again. Most of the staff are
friendly and attentive, the food came in good time and they have happy hour
everyday from 5-7pm!
Although it doesn’t check
all boxes if you are familiar with Caribbean cuisine and their specialties,
often it’s worth pushing the boat out and trying something different.
Nans' cooking is always
hard to top but this aside, Turtle Bay offers a diverse Caribbean themed dining
experience infused with modern amenities.
WOM Spits and Chews
Chews:
- Portion Size
- Plantain!
- Happy Hour
- Open Kitchen - can see your food being prepared
Spits:
- One of our waiting staff were slightly unpleasant
- Traditional Dishes are not spot on
Total for 1 cocktail, starter and main = £20.35
Verdict? Chews :)
Jam.x
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