Jamaica Jerk

The Chicago-Evanston border is a gold mine of Jamaican cuisine. Among the tried-and-true, we like this tranquil ocean-blue dining room. Conch fritters are juicy and flavorful; channa cakes (fried chickpea patties) are greaseless with fragrant curry notes; and the saltfish—slightly funky, salty pieces of dried fish hiding tiny morsels of bacon and peppers—is a must-try for the adventurous. Jerk chicken is deliciously seasoned but far from spicy, so speak up if you’d like more heat. Don’t skip dessert—coconut carrot cake and Grape Nuts ice cream are knockouts.