It's always good to try something new so as a total Caribbean food rookie, jerk chicken and rice and peas have not been something I'm too familiar with.

So when the well-named Jerk n Tingz added to its already popular takeaway offering in Dover last year with a new restaurant at the St James complex, this was quickly added to my list of places to try.

My culinary quest began on Saturday evening and was disappointed to find it fully booked which would suggest this is a popular – and hopefully – a good destination.

So returning 48 hours later on Monday, I had high anticipation and hopes I would be well-fed and satisfied.

The restaurant also calls itself a rum bar and there's about 20 or so different rums from around the world including Kent and the Caribbean.

One stood out mainly because at 62% alcohol level it was intriguing – perhaps a bit too much for a school night so "maybe next time", I told myself.

And there definitely will be a next time.

Being a newbie and not really knowing where to start aside from having my first taste of jerk chicken, I decided to order things I'd at least heard of.

Possibly one of the most iconic dishes in Caribbean cooking is ackee and saltfish (£7).

Having heard of ackee, I looked up what it was and found out it is a fruit.

Alongside a fragrant, punchy salsa with chilli heat and the saltfish, it offered the sweetness and balance to the dish and was definitely something I will eat again.

Plumping for a range of side dishes to go with the chicken – mac and cheese (£4), rice and peas (£4), plantain (£3) – it was a nice surprise to be served a dumpling too but was a great addition to the smorgasbord.

In yet another case of over-ordering the second table being pulled up alongside hinted there was quite a lot of food to come...

But I was quickly reassured by the waitress that it was often the case people would take their extras away.

The half-chicken (£10) arrived and I quickly knew the quarter would have been a more sensible choice but I knew lunch the next day was sorted.

Plantain is now another favourite and the dumpling was very different to the suet lumps you'd normally associate with school dinners.

It was light and fluffy and almost a mix between a savoury cake and biscuit which went extremely well with the Ital curry (£11) – I'll come on to that.

The main event for me was my first taste of jerk chicken and it was a flavour burst which was everything I was hoping for.

It's hard not to think of comparisons to that peri-peri chain we're all familiar with or the colonel's secret recipe but they can move over – Caribbean-style is how to do chicken.

Being a newbie, I don't know if this is like a Jamaican grandmother's home-cooking but at Jerk n Tingz, it's slightly sweet, sticky and rich finishing off with a tingling on the lips with heat from chilli. To me, it's delicious.

There's excellent veggie options too.

The Ital curry – made with sweet potato, lentils and chick pea – was excellent and one of the best tasting curries around.

Put it alongside a jerk-seasoned creamy mac and cheese and perfectly cooked and tasty rice and you've got a banging dining sensation.

Never one to say no to pud, I was tempted by the lemon cheesecake and this was a decadent one and highly recommended with a subtle zing but luxurious and smooth cream cheese topping.

The surroundings are clean and modern and with the huge Bob Marley mural overlooking the restaurant, the soundtrack of some reggae classics and a few cover versions – including a Caribbean take on an Ed Sheeran classic – it's almost as though you're tricked into thinking you're far from Kent and more like Kingston.

So the food is great, the atmosphere is great and so is the decor and the friendly staff answered every query or question about the menu.

In truth, I'm definitely a Caribbean convert and will definitely be aiming to make way through the menu on future visits – the thought of goat curry is already getting my stomach rumbling.

Scores

Food: Absolutely packed with flavour and freshness ****

Drink: Excellent choices with a crisp Red Stripe, specialist draught IPA and range of specialist rums ****

Decor: Modern with a twist featuring artwork similar to graffiti-style seen on buildings in Jamaica ****

Staff: Friendly, helpful and answered all questions about the menu *****

Price: Very good value for money ****