Life > February 7, 2008

By Caitlin Kenney | Senior writer

You’ve probably never seen it before. It’s buried in a seedy shopping plaza off Stratford Rd. and Healy Dr., it has a tiny store front, an unlit sign and a dark interior.

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You’ve probably never even heard of it.

But don’t let Miss Annie’s humble storefront keep you from its delicious Jamaican and French cuisine.

You could call my journey to Miss Annie’s a mission, a search, a hunger perhaps … a hunt for fried plantains.

These crispy, warm cousins to the banana are like ambrosia to me.

As a Florida native, I’m serious about my fried plantains and the prospect of a plateful of these sweet treats was enough to send me to Miss Annie’s with an open mind and an open mouth.

I wasn’t disappointed. A generous side portion of fried plantains came to $4 and I was able to savor each simultaneously crunchy and gooey slice with pleasure.

Paired perfectly with my little plate of heaven was an entree of curried chicken with rice and cabbage stir fry ($14).

The curry was mild and savory and the cabbage stir fry was hearty and delicious.

The menu includes many Caribbean classics, none more recognizable than the jerk chicken ($14).

Miss Annie’s jerk chicken lives up to its name and my eyes were watering after one bite.

However, my dining companion who has a considerably higher tolerance for spice absolutely loved it.

The waiters were actually impressed that she finished almost every bite of the chicken.

“If you liked that, try the jerk pork next time,” said our waiter with a grin. “It’s even spicier.”

Halfway between the kick of the jerk chicken and the mellow flavors of the curried chicken was the beef stew in a light curry herb sauce ($17).

The beef was a special that night, replacing the normal offering of goat stew on the menu.

We were mildly disappointed that we wouldn’t get to sample the goat, but the beef was tender and perfectly seasoned.

The dessert menu includes sweet potato pie ($6.50) and a flourless chocolate espresso cake ($7) that smelled and looked delicious.

Miss Annie’s is tiny, with only about ten tables, and is only open for dinner.

The walls are bright tropical shades but the lighting is low.

If you bring a date, don’t order the jerk chicken … you’ll be sweating by the third bite.

But it’s a great place for a nice dinner and you won’t find this type of food anywhere else.

The service is friendly–but slow.

The waiters make a point of warning you that the food is slow cooked and made to order, so you’re going to wait a bit for your dinner. We waited 30-40 minutes between ordering and delivery. The chef wanders around her restaurant, checking on the diners and socializing with the regulars. The restaurant has a family feel, especially as the chef called her regular customers by name and asked after family and friends. It has a European atmosphere, the kind in which good company, good wine and good food turn into a dining experience rather than just dinner. You’ll want to go with friends who aren’t impatient. It’s about being willing to wait a bit for a truly great meal.