Flavas Jamaican Grill - Carribean, South San Francisco

314 Linden Ave, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 244-9785
Parking: street parking
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-3pm, 5pm-8pm, Fri 11am-9pm, Sat Noon-9pm, Closed Sundays

Last Visited: February 21, 2015

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Flavas opened about seven months ago and although the restaurant isn't very big, it seems to have a strong clientele with many repeat patrons whom order to go.  The restaurant has nice succulents on each table and has a casual look in its decorations with mirrors shaped like a school of fish on one wall and art on the other.

The combination specials are listed on a large sign on the wall.  Daily specials are also available.  

- Cod Fritters (5) - Served with tomato chutney, these pan fried seasoned codfish batter fritters grow on you with each bite.  I was expecting something like a bacalao fish cake where you can see the texture of the fish more distinctly, so I was initially disappointed that I couldn't see the fish or taste it in a noticeable way.  The batter has been blended so that the contents are smooth and you see some fresh herbs.  After a few bites, the crunch of the outside batter and the balance of the chutney with the fritter starts to get addictive. It's a good dish if you know what to expect.  $7

- Curried Goat - A Jamaican delicacy, the curried goat is cooked until it falls off the bone (beware though, there are a ton of small bones in this curry).  The dish is described as being cooked with Island spices.  It's unlike any other curry that I have tried - well seasoned with a kick to it.  I couldn't detect any gamey taste.  If you've never had goat, this dish is a lot like beef stew.  A scoop of rice and red beans mixed together and sauteed cabbage and carrots are served with the goat.  A few slices of golden sweet fried plantains balance out the flavors.  This is definitely a unique dish. $12.95

- Combo #2: Jerk Chicken and Oxtails - Two pieces of chicken (leg and thigh) are grilled until tender and glazed with house made jerk sauce.  Two oxtails are braised until tender with carrots, thyme, and scallions. The spices of both of these are warm and welcoming.  The meat is juicy and tender and the jerk sauce has a little kick to it too (not quite as strong as the goat dish though).  This dish is also served with a scoop of red rice and beans, sauteed vegetables, and sweet plantains. $15.95

Although I didn't try it, I suspect the jerk cheeseburger is good.  The teenager at a nearby table had a burger with fries, and after devouring one, he ordered another.  The fries looked beautifully golden.  I might check this dish out next time.

During my visit on this evening, the tables were all full.  Only two people work the front of the house and manage the take out orders too.  It takes a while for food to come, but it's well worth the wait. This is very good comfort food, and the portions are hearty.  Flavas does need to focus more on attention to detail to improve it's service - during my visit, I was given a dirty plate, and they dropped silverware on their tile floor, which is pretty noticeable because of the noise.  They also don't clear dirty plates after the appetizer round.  However, they're good at refilling the water glasses when there is a spare moment.

The flavors stand out amidst the field of restaurants in this city and good quality comfort food is always welcome.  I'll be back to try their mac & cheese, Jamaican patties, and other dishes some time soon.