Tracy L.
Yelp
It is the last day of September, and one thing we are just learning about is our uncanny ability to find phenomenal restaurants by happenstance!
Our newfound ability is what took us to Oak Cafe and Farmers Market.
We were actually in the mood for Haitian Bouyon on a Saturday. Btw, we made two attempts at the same restaurant, and both resulted in failures.
As we were about to board an extremely crowded bus, we decided to catch the next one. When we did, we happened to look more closely at the sign that read Oak Cafe and Farmers Market, and saw Caribbean and Soul Food beneath it in smaller letters. That was the game changer! As many years as we've seen that sign, we always thought it was a coffee spot-produce market.
Once inside, we were blown away by the length of the establishment! There were even two 70's-80's style loveseats near the entrance. And in the middle were sets of tables immaculately set for expected patrons with reservations.
We were greeted warmly by none other than the owner extraordinaire himself, Mr. Mitchell! He let us know the jerk ribs were gone for the day. They had cooked nearly 40 slabs over the course of two days! However, they had jerk rice, a dish in itself, and one we never had before. We added oxtails and steamed cabbage to create a double meal.
The jerk rice was unlike any rice we had before, e.g. Chinese, Trinidadian, Indian, Japanese. If you are a fan of jerk chicken, you MUST try jerk rice! An unlikely star in the lineup was the steamed cabbage. It too was unlike any vegetables we had before. What made it stand out was the way it was prepared. Unlike some steamed cabbage, which is somehow still crunchy, it was cooked to an almost melt-in-your-mouth manner. The seasoning far exceeded what we were used to, which was no seasoning.
Mr. Mitchell let us know to be sure to call to know if they had jerk ribs available because they tend to go fast. People even order multiple slabs for pickup later.
Speaking of later, Oak Cafe and Farmers Market, which is a store and restaurant, has been in the same location for eight years, said Mr. Mitchell.
They are doing well, and looking to move from that location. But as we all know, the rental market is no joke. But if a move does happen, be sure to enjoy them as often as you can while they are still here on Oakland Park Blvd, between the Burger King and KFC. The owner and staff will be glad you did!
