Golden Choices
Green Acres Mall, Valley Steam
Cuisine: Jamaican
Hours: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Anyone who has ever dined in the food court upstairs of Green Acres Mall knows that there is a wide variety of cuisine from which to choose.

Until recently, however, there was no representation from the Caribbean.

Golden Choice Restaurant and Bakery just remedied that shortcoming.

I recently visited the second-floor food court – just a short ride over the Queens border — in search of something to quench my thirst and appetite and was absolutely delighted to find that a Jamaican eatery had taken its place among the various other dining establishments.

Having gone up just to get something from the juice bar, I immediately rethought my choice upon seeing that there was a place where my picky palate would probably find something.

The impressive menu boasts Oxtail, Curried Goat, and Escoveeched Fish (fried tropical fish marinated in a sauce of sautéed onions, hot and sweet peppers, pimento seeds, oil and vinegar).

There was also Jerk Chicken (chicken parts baked in spicy island seasonings) and an impressive variation on the beef patty theme, featuring callalloo, soy, shrimp and chicken patties alongside the old beef standard.

 I quickly decided that I wanted the salt fish and ackee for $7.

Never mind my resolve to avoid fried foods at any cost.

I simply could not resist this tempting treat of the tropics.

I compromised by having plain white rice as the accompaniment, as opposed to the fried dumplings and boiled green bananas I saw on display.

I’m glad I did.

Spicy and not too oily, the ackee and saltfish would’ve worked well better with fried dumplings but I was trying to skimp on calories.

 I left Golden Choice stuffed and proud of my choice.

– Marcia Moxam Comrie