Caribbean carbs, Ting and ginger beer

They use really little plates, see? That's why I had to hit the buffet three times when I had lunch recently at Da Blue Lagoon.

No, really, it's because everything I tried was so good, I had to try them all again just to make sure. And then I needed just another bite. I did sort of overload on the carbs, trying not only the rice and beans and rice pelau but also the island mashed potatoes (complete with skins and deliciously lumpy). But I also sampled the mildly spiced spinach Florentine and a vegetable dish that was heavy on the cabbage (fine with me because I actually like cooked cabbage).

In addition to jerk rib tips, this day's buffet offerings included a spicy, stew-like dish called chicken rundown, as well as chicken fricassee and jerk chicken, all of which proved quite tasty. Dessert was a plate of cookies, which I skipped (opting, as I mentioned, for another bite of mashed potatoes and rice instead).

To drink, we had Pepsi, Ting (a grapefruit soda) and grabbed a D&G Old Jamaican ginger beer for the road. Two lunch buffets and two sodas will set you back 20 bucks.

A previous dinnertime visit saw slooooow service, but we were more than happy with the serve-yourself lunch buffet. The atmosphere is no-frills, but is colorful and pleasant, and the outdoor dining area continues the island theme. We did, however, miss hearing a bit of reggae music while we ate.

Much too much CHICKEN!!!!

Variety is the spice of life! So why populate the buffet with so much chicken, it's Da Blue Lagoon not the Da Blue Chicken! Can we try pork, beef, or anything else as well?

Had their food at a wine fest

Wine festival at Easley Winery downtown and they were there. My husband and I had some Jamaican beef patties from Da Blue Lagoon and they were great!