Another shameless plug for Caribbean Taste
Unlike the other (way better) niche chain restaurants in Durham, Golden Krust Caribbean restaurant works under the hierarchy of hats. Having worked at Arby’s in high school, I think I can speak with some authority on the subject. When you walk into Golden Krust, your order is taken by a teenager wearing a blue baseball hat. The people actually assembling the food wear slightly less awkward visors, also blue, and neither the manager nor the guy from corporate is wearing a cap at all. No matter how nice that teenager is or how much the franchise owner hopes you come back, the food at places like Golden Krust and Arby’s is basically interchangeable, and I think it has more to do with the hats than people realize.
Golden Krust, which just opened in the North Duke Crossing shopping center, is technically a “grill and bakery,” but it’s hard to take a bakery seriously when almost everything is made and shrink-wrapped off-premises. I got a curried goat combination (which included beans and rice, 2 slices of fried plantains, and some cabbage salad), which was about $10, and a jerk chicken “patty,” which is their meaty take on the Toaster Strudel.
If there’s one food that should be overpowering, it’s Caribbean curry, but somehow the goat was both flavorless and, inexplicably, nearly 3/4 bone. The cabbage salad was essentially boiled cabbage. At least the rice and beans and plantains hit the spot.
Golden Krust Bakery is sort of a front for the vaguely charitable Golden Krust Foundation (one of their goals is to “develop and implement programs and services”), so in that respect it’s money well spent. But considering Durham’s size, why would you anywhere besides the incredible Caribbean Taste? Seriously, go there and get the jerk chicken and a festival as soon as you can. Unless you really like goat bones.
Golden Krust (map)
Monday – Thursday: 10 am – 9 pm
Friday – Saturday: 10 am – 10 pm
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I generally agree.I generally disagree.
I was looking forward to eating at GoldenKrust… what a disappointment.
Has anyone eaten at the African themed restaurant on Board St. which is located on the same block as Watts Grocery and Broad St Cafe?
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You mean Palace? http://carpedurham.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/palace-outside.jpg
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Reviews I’ve read of other GK locations were not jazzed about the patties and I don’t think they mentioned the curried goat, but they were pretty enthusiastic about the jerk chicken. I’ll be giving that a try.
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Indeed, I do mean the Palace. Has it been reviewed here?
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Indeed, by two of us: http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/palace-international/
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If you want some really good Jamaican food, where the goat is flavorful and the cabbage is off the chain, visit the Dr.’s Cove Jamaican Restaurant in Durham. 821 North Miami Blvd. You won’t regret it!
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[...] not be the biggest fan, but according to DNR it was at least several times as good as the goat at Golden Krust. The chicken patty was even better, but the mind-blower for me was the veggie roti. If you [...]
my family is really interested in Coffee Franchise like Starbucks. we are still saving money for the franchise cost.,.”
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I don’t think that the review post by DNR was fair. At the time it was written, the restaurant had just opened and was still working out a couple of kinks. For one, the food does not look anything like the food that is pictured in his review. The boxes are the same, but the portion sizes are larger. In terms of everything being made off-premises, it is actually not true at all! All of the cooked food is made fresh every day. For those that are sad that Trinibago and Doctor’s Cove have closed down, the chefs that worked at both restaurants are the chefs at this one! So how can the food be as bad as the review stated?
I personally am of Caribbean descent, and I come to this restaurant more so than to any other “Caribbean” restaurant in the area. Golden Krust’s main clientele are people of Caribbean descent, which honestly says something about the quality of the food. It’s cheap and it’s honestly quite amazing. They are the only Caribbean restaurant in the area that serves items such as roti (which could never be prepared off-site and shipped). In response to DNR’s comment likening a beef patty to a Toaster Strudel, the comment sounded slightly ignorant. Beef Patties originate from turnovers and is a standard snack food in Jamaica (definitely in existence before a Toaster Strudel).
Granted, Golden Krust is a chain, and as such the food does not taste exactly the same as it did at Trinibago and/or Doctor’s Cove. Since the brand needs to be as consistent as possible, the food will not be spicy. But it is certainly not bland at all. As a person that grew up on curry, this certainly hits the spot when I do not want to go into the kitchen.
Honestly, if you are a true foodie, you would ignore the review that gave inaccurate information and just try it for yourself. I did, and I’m hooked.
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I went there once and needless to say will never go back. The meat was almost all bone and cartilage and the plantains were like rubber. I definitely went home hungry.
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Q`~”
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