Chef Cherry may have gotten her formal start in culinary education at Reading Area Community College, but her cooking skills clearly are naturally imbued in her entire being and her roots in Jamaican cooking magic. This talented chef is one of the most generously happy people you’ll ever find, and her Jamaican restaurant in the heart of West Reading’s trendy eateries and cool shops reflects not only her uplifting persona, but all that she believes in: the goodness of people, the great gift of life and the joy of spreading cheer and health with numerous unique comfort foods that emerged from sunny shores in the Caribbean.
Housed in a brightly painted, easy-to-spot building on the upper end of Penn Avenue in West Reading, Cherry’s Jamaican Delight has continued to provide a dining destination — whether it’s dine-in safely, or a steady takeout and delivery business that persisted throughout 2020. Cherry’s seems thoroughly determined to deliver delightful cuisine through 2021 and the years to come. The walls are sun-yellow, and everything is decorated with the green, yellow and black accents of Jamaica’s national flag, pictures of lush vegetation, images of famed athletes and musicians, “No Problem” mugs (for sale), plus tablemats that showcase lessons on dialect—from “Choops” (that’s a small kiss) to “Ital Stew” (a salt-free Rastafarian dish).
Think fresh! Consider starting off with an island mindset, quenching your thirst with Cherry’s very original beverage menu. It includes Lemon Ginger Carrot, Red Beet Juice, Ginger Beer (soda), Cucumber Apple Passion and Calypso Mango.
Classic Dishes Abound: Enjoy Jerk Chicken or Curry Chicken
The establishment’s regular menu entrees list all the ways you can think of chicken: Fried Chicken, Jerk Chicken, Brown Stewed Chicken, Jamaican Style Barbecue Chicken and — of course — Curried Chicken. Most dishes come with some version of rice and peas, seasoned island-aromatically. You can always order a side of Fried Sweet Plantains, too, superbly sliced in thick, diagonal slices, much like a dessert before dessert, only not, because their sugar content is nothing like that of sweet bananas. Plantains are a staple food known for their digestive qualities, complex carbs, vitamin C and potassium, behaving more like a vegetable than a fruit.
New to Jamaican fare? If you love barbecue, do order the Jerk Chicken. The tangy spicing and grill-cooking style is what makes Jerk Chicken so distinctive, and when Cherry or her staff ask how you feel about heat, definitely say “Yes” and check out her amazing hot sauce. It’s not so spicy as to burn your ears, but rather delivers an oomph to the Jerk Chicken itself, akin to barbecued spare ribs. You’ll find yourself pouring it on (or dipping) and smacking your lips. Tender pieces of chicken practically fall off the bone, requiring all of your attention, plus plenty of napkins. (Doesn’t great food always require napkins?)
Paired with delicate rice enhanced by peas or beans, Jerk Chicken has a smoky flavor rivaling none. Jerk Fish, Jerk Salmon and other jerk options are also available.
Another fragrantly yummy option is Curried Chicken — not to be missed. It’s unlike any curry you’ve had elsewhere. Here again, the meat fairly falls off the bone. Cooked in a sauce with the intensity of a marinade, the taste and aroma are subtle at first, with a building heat.
Cherry also makes a traditional curry dish with goat meat, similarly tender. One diner describes the dish this way: “Here, the heat is in the meat, and the sauce provides a cooler balance.”
Herbal Steamed Cabbage is a lovely side, lightly piquant and oh-so-healthy.
From Oxtail and Ackee & Saltfish, to Numerous Vegetarian Specialties
For diners who favor pot roast but perhaps have never tried oxtail meat, you’ll find Cherry’s succulent Brown Stewed Oxtail to be stunning in its intensely rich flavor, saucily served cooked on bone, leaving the mouth humming with its satisfying, unforgettably, indescribably delish flavor.
The national dish, Ackee with Codfish, makes its mark on the menu as well, since Chef Cherry creates all the traditional dishes one could dream of.
Vegetarian dishes are never an afterthought here. “We serve many, many vegetarians,” says Cherry, “and many customers who are Rastafarian.” Regular customers flock to her restaurant where they can count on such faves as Vegetarian Fried Rice, Veggie Nut Soup, Vegetable Patties (like little pies), Veggie Rasta Pasta and so many other dishes.
Coconut and Rum Treats for Here or for Parties!
Traditional Jamaican pastries and sweet treats take time, Jamaican ingredients and loving care. From Rum Cake to Island Sweet Potato Pudding, Coconut Drops and Coconut Rock Buns, all these desserts are enticing. Call ahead and talk to Chef to place an order for special occasions.
Once you’ve had “Nuff,” just make sure you “Walk Good” (Safe Travel) home. Do come on back and let these culinary delights melt away your worries.
Cherry's Jamaican Delight
711 Penn Avenue, West Reading
610.372.0100
facebook.com/Cherrysjamaicandelight
Hours: Sun-Fri: 11am-9pm
