For some, comfort food means the kind of rich, high-calorie dishes found at places like Cracker Barrel or at numerous restaurants specializing in traditional “Southern cooking.” For the loyal customers of Rashe’s Cuisine, that comfort food goes beyond tasty cooking to include a consistent and friendly presence in the community.
The presence of Rashe’s Jamaican restaurant was sorely missed in Athens during the summer months, as the brick-and-mortar location at 585 Vine St. was closed. Although Rashe’s Cuisine’s food truck continued to serve at events in Athens, the reopening of the staple on Wednesday, Aug. 7, brought back a coziness all its own, and the Banner-Herald stopped by for lunch as soon as possible.
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Owner Rashe Malcolm was quick to dispel any rumors that she was on vacation for the past nine weeks that the Vine Street eatery was closed. Malcolm told the Banner-Herald she spent the time away from her restaurant hosting the HEALTHYouth summer camp program, which gives kids hands-on culinary arts experience in an entrepreneurship learning environment. The goal is to demystify the restaurant business and inspire youth by letting them see how the proverbial sauce is made.
“A big thank you to Puma Yu’s, The National, Weaver D’s, Strickland’s and many others who have hosted our campers,” said Malcolm. “You name it, we’ve been there.”
Rashe’s is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and offers table service, takeout and delivery. While there is no on-site dining room, the nearby Greenway offers free parking and picnic tables overlooking the historic trestle bridge and a way for customers to stretch their legs after their trip to Jamaican food paradise.
Malcolm told the Banner-Herald that their restaurant will always offer classics like jerk chicken and pork, oxtail and curry chicken, but depending on the day, specials like spicy pumpkin, curry-stuffed salmon and goat will also be available. Lunch plates of peas and rice start at $7.35, and the average price for sides is $3.15. When the Banner-Herald visited, we ordered the lunch menu, which consists of a main dish and a side dish.
Jamaican dishes can sometimes seem deceptively heavy, but the reason Athens has supported Rashe’s for the past four years has to do with Malcolm’s commitment to offering typical Jamaican flavors that are easy on the body and have a clean, home-cooked taste from start to finish. This reporter’s personal favorite has become the oxtail, which is more tender than rib meat and covered in a light-tasting brown sauce that is irresistible when combined with peas and rice.
For online ordering, menus and more, visit rashecuisine.com.
