Austin B.
Yelp
tl;dr heavy platters of slightly pricey and okay-to-great Jamaican fare are the rage at this hole-in-the-wall takeout joint
As I searched for non-stadium food around Yankees Stadium, Flavas was a routinely recommended option. And promising authentic Jamaican eats and large portions, it was an easy choice over the Hard Rock Cafe.
The small space feels even smaller due to the heavy-duty glass structure fencing customers off from the kitchen. Contemporary music and chatter between patrons echo loudly around the room. The yellow walls are decked sparingly with the required NYC restaurant code posters, broken ordering touchscreens, and a muted flat-screen TV playing CNN. Two mismatched tables are squeezed into the tiny area. Mains and side dishes sit in trays along the display counter, but with such quick turnover, new batches routinely replace old ones.
My girlfriend and I arrived just before 5PM, and not a moment too soon -- a line quickly began forming just after we ordered. We opted for Jerk Chicken and Oxtail Stew Combo Plates, with sides of Butter Beans and Tomatoes, Sweet Candied Yams, Mac & Cheese, Collard Greens, and Ripe Plantain.
Both platters were enormous: our large takeaway containers were loaded nearly to the brim. The chicken was slightly dry and therefore was well-complemented by its thick, sweet-and-spicy jerk sauce. The sauce was so good that we couldn't help but dip our plantains and mac & cheese into it. The tender oxtails, coated in a light gravy, melting in your mouth with fatty decadence. Of the sides, our favorite side was the sweet and fluffy yams. We also enjoyed the flavorful (and wholly standard) collard greens and the sweet, well-cooked (but underseasoned) plantains. Meanwhile, the mac & cheese was limp and underwhelming (despite being a fresh batch), and the beans were underwhelming and bland.
Service was forgettable, but we listened as another customer complained multiple, separate times about not receiving the correct items in her order. While a few items hit the spot, others were mediocre at best. And at a hair over $40 for two (mostly comprised of the oxtail platter), Flavas was no cheap eat and won't become a regular part of my routine. However, for a hungry belly in the area looking for an eclectic cuisine, Flavas is sure to leave you satisfied.