Jamaican flavors abound at this Randolph restaurant

RANDOLPH — Nearly two years ago, the governor announced restaurants must shut down for indoor dining due to the pandemic.

On the same day, The Well Jamaican Restaurant in Randolph opened its doors and was left to adjust to the new environment of take-out only.

Today, the restaurant at 55 Mazzeo Drive is still open, serving traditional Jamaican food and pressed juices with a tropical flavor.

Opening during the midst of the pandemic was challenging, but the owners kept their heads held high and continued their journey, fighting through many obstacles. With the help of their supportive community, friends and family, the restaurant was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The Well restaurant co-owners Mark and Okeelia Thompson present their signiture house dishes which are faithful to Jamaican cuisine, on Monday, March 7, 2022.

The Well restaurant co-owners Mark and Okeelia Thompson present their signiture house dishes which are faithful to Jamaican cuisine, on Monday, March 7, 2022.

The Well Jamaican Restaurant is owned by husband and wife Okeelia and Mark Thompson.

Both were born in Jamaica with similar experiences of cooking on the beach with friends and sharing recipes.

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Mark remembers growing up with very little, but his family and friends combined their resources to cook excellent meals filled with lots of flavor.

Mark and his friends would travel to Hellshire Beach in Jamaica, flag down a fisherman, and buy the day’s fresh catch.

This is the "Hellshire Platta" dish from The Well restaurant in Randolph, Monday, March 7, 2022.

This is the “Hellshire Platta” dish from The Well restaurant in Randolph, Monday, March 7, 2022.

The group then would walk further down the beach to cook the fresh fish and the other ingredients they combined on a coal and wood fire.

“The food in Jamaica is so natural and full of flavors without preservatives and chemicals. So we try to incorporate that in our restaurant as best as we can. Natural food tastes better, and less is more when it comes to cooking,” Mark said.

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Mark and Okeelia find that natural food without preservatives gives dishes a unique flavor and they try to utilize local natural ingredients to bring a taste of Jamaica to Randolph.

Some of the fan favorites at the restaurant include fire-grilled jerk chicken, Rasta pasta with homemade alfredo, oxtail, and plantain cups. However, If you have an itch for a drink that reminds you of a beach getaway, the pressed juices made in-store daily will surely satisfy the craving. Flavors range from berry medley, soursop, strawberry passion pineapple, guava strawberry to Irish moss and strawberry kiwi.

Having finished preparing the dough, The Well restaurant in Randolph co-owner Mark Thompson places the jerk chicken pizza into the fire brick oven for baking on Monday, March 7, 2022.

Having finished preparing the dough, The Well restaurant in Randolph co-owner Mark Thompson places the jerk chicken pizza into the fire brick oven for baking on Monday, March 7, 2022.

The menu dives straight into traditional and some American cuisine and a taste of vegetarian, from simple Jamaican dishes such as ackee and saltfish to curry chicken and red snapper cooked to perfection and garnished with vegetables.

The Well Jamaican Restaurant has many more dishes to choose from on its diverse menu. Visit the website www.thewellja.com for more information on the menu.

Hours of operation are Monday -Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 1
1 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Enterprise staff reporter Alisha Saint-Ciel can be reached by email at [email protected] You can follow her on Twitter at @alishaspeakss and Instagram at Alishaatv . Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Randolph Jamaican restaurant: The Well has Rasta pasta, jerk chicken

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