Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards judge for the parish of Hanover Aram Zerunian tantalises the taste buds at Smoked Marlin…

Team foodie Hanover set out on our mission for dinner at Smoked Marlin at 6:00 pm. It was our first time, and little did we know that such a nice cosy spot was tucked away on the shoreline. We walked in and looked left, and were greeted by the most amazing sunset in the west. We stood for a few minutes admiring the ocean and snapping away with our cameras. We ordered cold Red Stripe beers as we admired the vista.

We were greeted politely by the hostess with a warm, friendly smile. We had the option of sitting in the restaurant or on the deck outdoor and we opted for outside seating. There were steps leading to the ocean below and we couldn’t help but walk down to the sea. A group of men were in lively conversation and sipping drinks on the deck as well.

Located in Hopewell, Hanover, we would say that Hopewell is not quite a tourist spot but a lively local spot, probably reflective of most rural towns in Jamaica. The restaurant owner, Patrick Reid, takes in delivering fresh, good-quality food daily at a reasonable price. The manager on duty, Andrew Thompson, who is also one of the two chefs (the other being Devon McKenzie) was very attentive and was very au fait with the wine selection. We took note of the display of wines at the entrance to the restaurant and thought it was a clever idea. The restaurant was immaculate. We studied the menu and finally placed our orders. There was a wide range of Caribbean and Italian seafood and vegetarian dishes on the menu.

Our orders were promptly delivered and we started with chicken wings, red peas soup, fish tea and smoked marlin on toast. We found the soups and marlin to be extremely peppery but the wings were very tasty. The attendant explained that the menu indicated ‘hot’ but we considered it overpowering, and would recommend serving some of the pepper on the side since patrons don’t often read the fine print.

The main course however, was perfect! We had jerked conch with bammy, oxtail served with rice and peas, and curried shrimp with sautéd vegetables. We had to try the premier cocktail – Caribbean Cruise – and it was really good.

Surprisingly, for all the food and drinks we consumed, the price tag was only $ 7,600!

Smoked Marlin is open for business seven days a week with brunch on Sundays. It’s a good location for weddings, we think. The manager told us they are thinking about participating in the Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards and of course we encouraged them to promote their brand at this prestigious event! To top it all off, we researched and found that Smoked Marlin was featured in seven recent reviews on Trip Advisor, with five persons rating the restaurant excellent and two rating it very good.

Smoked Marlin Restaurant

Main Street

Hopewell, Hanover

Tel # 609-4181