Jamaican Jerk Hut 1436 South Street (215) 545-8644
Take one step into the back garden of South Street's Jamaican Jerk Hut, and you will be transported to a Caribbean oasis (or at least, the closest thing to it that autumn in Philadelphia can offer), where patrons dine on Island Time. The seating - both outdoors and on the covered wooden porch - is reminiscent of dining in your own, twinkle-lit backyard. With live music playing most nights and outdoor movie screenings held on Thursdays at sunset, this place would be a wonderful September destination even if the food wasn't as stellar as the canopy of stars overhead. But luckily, the jerk chicken platters, cornbread, fried plantains and curry shrimp make the experience unlike any other culinary adventure in Philadelphia. The exotic tropical juices - made with ingredients like hibiscus flower and mango - make the perfect mixers for rum, so bring along some Captain Morgan and Red Stripe (traditional Jamaican beer) for a truly Caribbean journey. So, gather some spicy food-loving friends, grab a colored picnic table under the stars and relax far, far away from the everyday stressors of Penn. Call ahead Thursday mornings to check out the film selection for that evening.
