I was a loyal customer of Da J*** Pit for years and despite growing up in Evanston, had never had Claire's. While her and her son decided to merge earlier this year and Da J*** Pit closed, I hadn't been here until tonight when I finally needed my Jamaican fix. They didn't have their greens so I ordered the cabbage as my side with my j*** chicken and rice and peas. The j*** chicken was perfectly done, not too spicy, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cabbage was chopped nicely (I recall larger chunks before)...very tasty, and the rice and peas were fresh and moist. I love, love, love the Mac & cheese from the former place so I got a side of that too and it was as good as I remember. I forgot my plantains (I'm a Caribbean woman, how could I forget??), but I'm glad they're here and the food is just as good if not better. My husband loves ox tails and I know from friends that they are good here so I will be back. We have several Jamaican restaurants in the area, but this is my place. So glad Claire taught her son to cook and they are in this same location she's had for years on Emerson, minutes from my house.
Isaac McNary
Great little spot to get some Jamaican food! The chicken was perfectly cooked, very juicy and tender. The rice was delicious and the cabbage side was great too. I only have one complaint, my stomach wasn’t big enough to finish it all off!The staff was friendly and advised that my chicken might take 15 minutes, in case I was in a hurry. I was fine with waiting and I am glad I did. It was worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicole Hom
Moved to downtown Chicago from NY a couple months ago and passed the Da J*** Pit location during a trip to Sam’s Club. Happened to be in this neighborhood again and realized Da J*** Pit relocated to Claire’s Korner. I can finally say I finally found some outstanding Jamaican food. It’s worth the price and the drive. We got the oxtail with oxtail gravy over rice and peas - side of mac and cheese. As well as 1/4 j*** chicken with oxtail gravy over rice and peas - side of cabbage. Oh, and a beef patty! The flavors exceeded my expectations. We will certainly be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rice
R Spence
Very small space serving Tasty Jamaican Specialities. Tender jerked chicken w Good spice. Fried Plantains and rice and peas were tasty as well. No dine in w limited ordering area. Street parking nearby. Give it a try!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rice
Mark Ottinger
Stopped in for some takeout for lunch, everyone was friendly and chit chatting, brown stew chicken was incredible, greens are next level. Plenty leftover for dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brown Stew Chicken
B E
Absolutely delicious. The hubby has been craving good ox tails for so long. Hands down great food, great people. So good my pic was after I ate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rice
Straightdrop Black
I love Claire food she’s one of original people on north side with real authentic Jamacian food like my pops make it she make good food curry good j*** good brown stew curry goat anything name it and the seasoning is all right everything cooked to perfection you can taste the food and tell it’s made from the heart
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nikka C.
Delicious j*** chicken! We had 2 dinners with rice and peas, plantains, and the greens. We also ordered shrimp and Mac and cheese. Everything was solid and their staff was super nice. Support local businesses!!!
Billy Chiguil
Drove to the original location and saw they relocated. Decided to drive a little further to the new location and I was not disappointed! The food was super good, tasted fresh and authentic. The guy who took my order also made the food and was super friendly. Definitely coming back!
Perry M.
This is a to go restaurant only. Order early because they run out of food depending on what you want. I ordered some j*** chicken and heard that they ran out of it later in the day. Delicious Jamaican food. A little bit salty and definitely on the spicy side. Not quite the island quality but very good. The plantains the rice the cabbage, oxtail and j*** Chicken are all delicious.
First of all… Claire’s opens at 12, not 11am… error on the google page. I ordered a large oxtail dinner, 1/4 dark, and a dozen patties… everything was absolutely PERFECT. The portion size and flavor of the oxtail was worth driving across Chicago for, hands down.
Ugina Gardner
I ordered the XL oxtail w/ rice and bean, cabbage and plantains for $27.56. I wish I would’ve taken a photo of the small portion size container, my food look nothing like the photos on Google :-( I will never go back there it’s not worth the money. I should have went to the Chinese restaurant. This was a waist of time and money.
Faith L.
I absolutely love jamaican food. I gave Da J*** pit in Evanston a try, and was recently disappointed to learn that they (Da J*** Pit) will be merging with Claire's Korner. This is disappointing because of the terrible customer service I experienced from the Da J*** Pit. Because of the merge, I will have to decline Claire's Korner. Claire's son (Da J*** pit owner) is going to run the building into the ground with his bad attitude and lack of professionalism.
Andrea Bradin
Great food, we drive almost an hour to eat here
Jonathan Sammons
Man, I don't necessarily know about jamaican food like I am a pro... but all I can say is this food made my day. Got the 1/4 dark with only cabbage. I will be thinking about this meal for days. So good!
I was a loyal customer of Da J*** Pit for years and despite growing up in Evanston, had never had Claire's. While her and her son decided to merge earlier this year and Da J*** Pit closed, I hadn't been here until tonight when I finally needed my Jamaican fix. They didn't have their greens so I ordered the cabbage as my side with my j*** chicken and rice and peas. The j*** chicken was perfectly done, not too spicy, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cabbage was chopped nicely (I recall larger chunks before)...very tasty, and the rice and peas were fresh and moist. I love, love, love the Mac & cheese from the former place so I got a side of that too and it was as good as I remember. I forgot my plantains (I'm a Caribbean woman, how could I forget??), but I'm glad they're here and the food is just as good if not better. My husband loves ox tails and I know from friends that they are good here so I will be back. We have several Jamaican restaurants in the area, but this is my place. So glad Claire taught her son to cook and they are in this same location she's had for years on Emerson, minutes from my house.
Great little spot to get some Jamaican food! The chicken was perfectly cooked, very juicy and tender. The rice was delicious and the cabbage side was great too. I only have one complaint, my stomach wasn’t big enough to finish it all off!The staff was friendly and advised that my chicken might take 15 minutes, in case I was in a hurry. I was fine with waiting and I am glad I did. It was worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Moved to downtown Chicago from NY a couple months ago and passed the Da J*** Pit location during a trip to Sam’s Club. Happened to be in this neighborhood again and realized Da J*** Pit relocated to Claire’s Korner. I can finally say I finally found some outstanding Jamaican food. It’s worth the price and the drive. We got the oxtail with oxtail gravy over rice and peas - side of mac and cheese. As well as 1/4 j*** chicken with oxtail gravy over rice and peas - side of cabbage. Oh, and a beef patty! The flavors exceeded my expectations. We will certainly be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rice
Very small space serving Tasty Jamaican Specialities. Tender jerked chicken w Good spice. Fried Plantains and rice and peas were tasty as well. No dine in w limited ordering area. Street parking nearby. Give it a try!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rice
Stopped in for some takeout for lunch, everyone was friendly and chit chatting, brown stew chicken was incredible, greens are next level. Plenty leftover for dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brown Stew Chicken
Absolutely delicious. The hubby has been craving good ox tails for so long. Hands down great food, great people. So good my pic was after I ate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rice
I love Claire food she’s one of original people on north side with real authentic Jamacian food like my pops make it she make good food curry good j*** good brown stew curry goat anything name it and the seasoning is all right everything cooked to perfection you can taste the food and tell it’s made from the heart
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious j*** chicken! We had 2 dinners with rice and peas, plantains, and the greens. We also ordered shrimp and Mac and cheese. Everything was solid and their staff was super nice. Support local businesses!!!
Drove to the original location and saw they relocated. Decided to drive a little further to the new location and I was not disappointed! The food was super good, tasted fresh and authentic. The guy who took my order also made the food and was super friendly. Definitely coming back!
This is a to go restaurant only. Order early because they run out of food depending on what you want. I ordered some j*** chicken and heard that they ran out of it later in the day. Delicious Jamaican food. A little bit salty and definitely on the spicy side. Not quite the island quality but very good. The plantains the rice the cabbage, oxtail and j*** Chicken are all delicious.
Restaurantji Recommends
First of all… Claire’s opens at 12, not 11am… error on the google page. I ordered a large oxtail dinner, 1/4 dark, and a dozen patties… everything was absolutely PERFECT. The portion size and flavor of the oxtail was worth driving across Chicago for, hands down.
I ordered the XL oxtail w/ rice and bean, cabbage and plantains for $27.56. I wish I would’ve taken a photo of the small portion size container, my food look nothing like the photos on Google :-( I will never go back there it’s not worth the money. I should have went to the Chinese restaurant. This was a waist of time and money.
I absolutely love jamaican food. I gave Da J*** pit in Evanston a try, and was recently disappointed to learn that they (Da J*** Pit) will be merging with Claire's Korner. This is disappointing because of the terrible customer service I experienced from the Da J*** Pit. Because of the merge, I will have to decline Claire's Korner. Claire's son (Da J*** pit owner) is going to run the building into the ground with his bad attitude and lack of professionalism.
Great food, we drive almost an hour to eat here
Man, I don't necessarily know about jamaican food like I am a pro... but all I can say is this food made my day. Got the 1/4 dark with only cabbage. I will be thinking about this meal for days. So good!