J’s @ Purvis Street – Latin Cuisine with a Twist
PUBLISHED February 28th, 2013 12:00 am | UPDATED May 9th, 2018 03:13 am
The latest addition to Purvis Street’s line of restaurant is the simply named “J’s”. After a refurbish, restyle and complete revamp in general, the formal El Toro has recreated itself into a venue that is really worth a visit.
What makes J’s so unique is its welcoming vibe, and this goes more than a smile at the door and good service. There is no alcohol served here and all the meat and ingredients are halal. There’s even no shellfish on the menu as well making it kosher friendly! How about that?!
We started off with a steaming bowl of Chipotle meatballs ($16) served with nachos. Utterly delicious – think, firm juicy handmade meat balls in a fresh, tangy tomato salsa. Honestly I could hardly taste the spicy chipotle within but these were so tasty it didn’t even matter as I swiftly polished off the bowl’s contents.
Next up were the Jalapeño Poppers ($15). Mozzarella stuffed peppers, then breadcrumb-coated and deep-fried, served with a generous side of guacamole and salsa. Whilst being quite tasty, the entire time I was lamenting the lack of beer available here. It would be a perfect match!
Moving on to the Quesadillas ($20), I think this is the first time I’ve ever eaten them and not had insanely greasy finger afterwards. Stuffed with all the right ingredients, these pizza-shaped slices of avocado, grilled chicken, cheese and veg are surprisingly light. Dip in some salsa and chipotle for an extra kick.
For me, the easy winner of the day was the Adobo Chicken ($22). A truly delicious and more-ish dish. Marinated and slow cooked in a sealed bag, this sweet and tender chicken literally fell right off the bone, rammed with flavours of ripe tomato and smoked paprika. Mix it up with some chimichurri, salad and stuff in the steaming tortillas….foodie heaven! Just a beautiful combination of flavours, and something very unique.
Sadly I cannot say the same for the Fish of the day which was a little uninspiring.
This was more than made up for by the first dessert which was not just visually stunning, but more than just a little palatable. Just look at it! Choco-heaven!
In essence, this is what J’s is about. Comforting food, and a welcoming atmosphere and vibe that will make you feel at home. I’ve already been back with friends since writing this review and thoroughly enjoyed round two.
Written by The City Nomad
