The Jib Room

Critic's Review

The Jim Room is Closed

*****

I've thought about getting the jerk wings at the Jib Room for quite a while, but I never seem to make it there. It's the kind of place where I try to avoid dining in; it's a small place with regulars that just isn't comfortable for outsiders. But I'm about to name my Best Conch Chowder in Fort Lauderdale, and I wanted to try theirs first, since they are a caribbean restaurant. So I ordered the chowder and the wings; a strange but interesting lunch.

The packaging wasn't very tight and most of some cole slaw that was included didn't survive the trip upstairs. Luckily they wrapped the chowder in plastic so only a bit of it spilled out of a flipped over container; no damage done. When I put the chowder into a bowl it was different than any other I'd had before; it was a brownish and chunker, almost like a gumbo.

I didn't like the chowder at all. It had a musty taste; a little spicy and hearty but not really anything I'd want to have again. I had to salt it but I couldn't quite get it to a point where I liked anything about it.

The wings were blacker than I expected; frankly I never know what to expect with jerk wings as they're all so different.

This was the first time that I got wings of any kind without any dipping sauce whatsoever; there were just by themselves. I tried one plain, and it was very good. Not too spicy, but enough taste infused to eat by itself. I tried another with some Hidden Valley Ranch I had in the fridge, and it was much better. Ranch just goes with jerk wings; the only place that serves ranch with their Jerk wings in town is Coconuts. It should be the norm.

I could see grabbing some wings at this place sometime; or maybe taking them out again. It's not really the kind of place I'd want to hang out.