Day-O! Caribbean Food in the East Bay
Written: May 02 '02 (Updated Feb 04 '03)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Food and Presentation: |
 |
|
| Ambiance and Decor: |
|
|
| Quality of Service: |
|
|
|
Pros: Possibly the best Caribbean Food in the East Bay.
Cons: Tropix ends in -ix
The Bottom Line: Day-o... Day-ay-ay-o. Carribean / Jamaican food in the Bay Area.
|
|
|
| megugrrrl's Full Review: Tropix |
Tropix Backyard Café is the place to experience Jamaican/Cuban/Creole/Latin American cuisine. Prices are decent, the atmosphere conducive to enjoying a fruity cocktail or a Red Stripe with your meal. Being within the Kaiser Permanente Empire in Oakland (on Piedmont) this cute little restaurant fills up pretty quickly with RN's and MD's for weekday lunches so expect a wait.
The main dining area at Tropix features bright yellow and orange walled rooms accented by teal and woodsy textures. The fragrant aromas of island spices waft through the dining rooms, courtesy of an open kitchen. The smells and bright colors juxtaposed with a black and white checkered floor, calypso music and conversations in full swing isn't as bad as it seems; for some reason, it actually feels like it should be this way and re-emphasizes a bright and casual atmosphere.
On pleasant days, wait for a table in the "backyard cafe" - Tropix's outdoor seating section. Diners are protected from the sun by trellises and/or those giant patio umbrellas that filter out the heat. (Dining al fresco is always makes everthing taste better.)
Appetizers
For starters indulge in their golden spicy Crab Cakes ($8) served with a chipotle remoulade and I'd also recommend their calamari; a lot of times calamari can get too greasy, but not at Tropics. Or, while not as tasty, opt for something out of the ordinary and try the Yucatan Corn and Black Bean Cakes ($5.95) with interesting textures and flavors courtesy of a tangy lime sour cream sauce. For something really different, try the Stepback Callaloo ($4.50) - a concoction of fresh collard greens, red chard, okra, and garlic, braised together. The Callaloo is a delight, but could be a little crisper, but then again, I don't know what real Callaloo is supposed to be like. Can't make up your mind? They offer an Island Sampler ($9) With cod/potato croquettes (with an herby sauce), grilled veggies on skewer (with a delightful spicy coconut-peanut sauce - I think it's called a Mambo Skewer), and an aforementioned Yucatan Corn and Black Bean Cake. Appetizers range from $4.50 - $9.
Entrees
While entrees are served with rice, beans, a veggie medley, or mashed potatoes (mashed sweets and plain ol' mashed), it is imperative your get the hunks of warm cornbread with a spicy, tangy mango chutney as well as the Platanos Maduros Fritos ($5 on the appetizer menu) - fried sweet plantains with a dark black bean sauce to accompany your meal. Although the latter tends to be a little greasy, not ordering these is like not getting fries with your burger.
Their Jamaican Jerk Chicken seems to be popular ($12.95) - which is a simple grilled chicken breast infused with with thyme, chiles, garlic, green onions, and those magical Caribbean spices. Similarly, the Drunken Chicken (also $12.95) marinated in white wine, garlic, and herbs and served with a spiced yogurt resembling Indian raita is a safe dish. Both are flavorful and satisfying, yet the grilling dries them out too much for me.
Instead, opt for the exciting Cajun Gumbo ($12.95), an intense filé gumbo with soft chunks of chicken and andouille(a deliciously spicy smoked pork sausage) over rice. Feeling porky? Poppa Rigoberto's Mango Pork ($14.50) satisfies with its pork loin under a tangy sweet mango glaze served with greens and chipotle mashed potatoes (although without the knockout punch that the Gumbo delivers.) Bistec de Palomilla ($14); a marinated Cuban-style top sirloin steak (read pounded thin) with a garlic sauce is another nice option. If you're truly hungry, get the Eggplant and Mushroom Curry ($11.50) which is a simmered melange of eggplant, mushrooms, peas, and chiles. Great for accompanying your entree and a meal in itself.
If you happen to have space for dessert, I'd recommend their moist, sweet Bread Pudding of the Day ($4.75) - make sure you have a lot of space though, because this puppy is heavy on the belly. If you can't get enough plantains, they serve them caramelized with gelato as well. Another dessert worthy of ending your meal with is the Coconut Flan $5.00; the tropics' version of custard flan.
Service is generally good at Tropix; helpful waitstaff with nice timing. Of course, depending on the crowds, service can appear either a little too slow or too rushed. If you decide to go, dress casual and try new things.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
megugrrrl
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Location: Oakland
Reviews written: 147
Trusted by: 321 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.