Jerk. Jamaican Barbeque

Jerk. Jamaican Barbeque, 811 W. Chicago Ave., compact in size and lacking in customers. The dishes are ordered fast-food style at the counter, brought on a tray with water, napkins, and sanitizer if one wishes to dine inside. 

The staff was attentive, although, when asked to clarify if each order came with the same flavor of jerk chicken, they seemed confused and did not have a solid answer. Their renowned jerk chicken can be ordered in a multitude of ways, most of which involve a smoked outer crust, including quarters, chicken breast and chicken thighs. Each style is served with coconut rice and two choices of side dishes (plantains, jerk mac and cheese, coleslaw or corn). The chicken quarters fair on the spicy side, and the tanginess of the coating paired nicely with the well-cooked chicken pieces. Despite the apparent praise over the restaurant’s “Rude Boy Jerk” sauce, the meal was surprisingly lacking in moisture — everything tended to lean a bit dry, which, along with the spices, made it a hard dish to swallow. Still, the chicken encased inside the burnt exterior was soft, although it occasionally broke apart and physically separated from the crusted edges. 

For $17, the entire meal was medium-sized, with the chicken quarters coming in three distinct pieces. Overall, Jerk. Jamaican Barbeque Restaurant is a reliable dining experience in the Near North Side to grab a quick bite or to tuck in for a fast dinner with the family, but the experience is not enjoyable enough to be worth the price.