Queenies, Surry Hills

Queenies is the first restaurant that I have dined at that belong to the Drink and Dine Group. The company, led by Executive Chef Jamie Thomas, has under their belt The Abercrombie, The Carrington, The Norfolk, Santa Barbra and The Forresters, all of which are on my to go list and have yet to tick any off.  Sad face. Queenies is a Jamaican bar and kitchen that is located above The Forresters and takes you to a place where you’d always dream of going, somewhere in the Caribbean.

I must admit I’ve never had any exposure to the Jamaican cuisine so it was definitely going to be an interesting first time experience.

One step in and I am already loving the vibe. I love the steps that lead you to the bar and restaurant upstairs – the words and colours have definitely caught my attention. It’s almost as if you’re reading a menu.

It’s a Friday lunch service so there’s no crowd to beat. It’s always good catching up with some friends. Reggae music is playing in the background and I can’t help but bop along to the beats.

This is what’s on the menu today.

Bammies $10 for 2

Of course we tried both flavours of the bammies (Jamaican flatbread) on offer. I’m not sure how the flatbread was cooked but it did remind me of something similar to savoury pie pastry. First we have the prawn, mango & ginger bammy which was refreshing. It was almost as if there was a mango salsa which really made it a delight to eat. Next was the pulled pork and pineapple bammy. It was just out of this world. The pulled pork was so tender and flavoursome with the pineapple adding a sweet and fresh touch. It was a real shame that I had to share half of it…..

Fried Pork Burger with pineapple salsa, slaw and spiced mayo $16

And our mains arrive. Sadly I don’t have the biggest appetite so Mr. Park and I share. The sweet potato fries are one of the best fries I have ever eaten. Yes this is a big call but I do love my fries.  Super dooper crunchy on the outside and fluffy in the middle. If ALL fries/hot chips were cooked like this, I’d be such a happy camper and life would be sweet. The accompanying jerk mayo had a real punch to it and I found myself cleaning out the little bowl nearly all to myself- oops, sorry boys.

Up close and personal

Before devouring my half of this baby, I thought I’d take an innards shot. Hello, layers! The pork is super crunchy yet retains its juiciness. Every bite you can hear the crunch, and its that sound that makes me smile. It tastes good and sounds good. Oh yes. The bun is lightly toasted and is suprisingly fluffy, with the generous amounts of salsa and slaw giving freshness and textural balance.

There are complimentary sauces that are available on the table. I had a taste of the las’ lick jerk sauce and it worked wonders with the sweet potato fries.

BBQ Jerk Chicken with jungle slaw and fries $18

I’ve heard plenty about this jerk chicken. Did it really live up to all the hype? You bet it did! The spices of the jerk spice rub really infused the chicken which gave it the incredible flavour. The skin was charred and flavourful whilst the chicken itself was tender and juicy. It’s no wonder why Raff raves on and on about it.

I enjoyed my first taste of Jamaican food, and I’m very sure it won’t be the last. There’s definitely a greater use of tropical fruits within dishes, but that sure doesn’t bother me as I quite like the fruit and protein combo.

It was a quick and satisfying lunch, but am looking forward to and already planning my return visit so I can try the other things on the menu. Perhaps this time a dinner visit is in order.

Queenies
Corner of Foveaux and Riley Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Tel: +612 9212 3035

http://www.forresters.com.au/queenies/

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