After a hectic day, SUE SMITH and a friend settle in for a relaxing night of great food, Caribbean style

IT had been a rubbish day, stress levels were through the roof and I was running a good 45 minutes late for dinner at Moshan Island Grill.

We rang ahead with grovelling apologies but the staff member who picked up the phone was already horizontally programmed in relaxed mode.

“No worries,” she said, barely drawing breath, “see you soon.”

And suddenly there I was, back in Barbados circa 2000.

This colourful, family-run Caribbean restaurant in the heart of Old Town was like finding a soft duvet to fall into at the end of a hard slog.

A soft reggae beat welcomed us through the door, past the bright Caribbean colours — yellows, reds, orange, pink and green chairs, and a wall mural of a sunset and palm trees that just screamed “relax, don’t worry, every little thing is going to be all right tonight.” And it was.

Despite initially being worried I might be too agitated by the turmoil of the day to do the place justice, this little gem of a restaurant in Newport Street didn’t disappoint one bit.

And as the evening progressed I began to relax to the point I wasn’t so much soaking up the ambience as positively wallowing in it.

Wiltshire’s only Caribbean bar and grill evolved when the owners missed the food so much after their holidays in Jamaica they decided to introduce the good old-fashioned recipes from the West Indies to Swindon to include traditional favourites such as jerk chicken and rice and peas.

We shared such a plate of jerk skewers (£5.95) which were scrummy and succulent and spicy.

I opted for the goat curry with calaboo rice (£8.95) and my companion had brown stew chicken with rice and peas (£8.95).

I can’t remember the last time I ate goat curry, probably as a trendy young person (in my mind) living on the edge (also in my mind) in London, many moons ago.

I had forgotten just how gorgeous it is.

“Why don’t we all eat goat more often?” said another friend when I was regaling her with the details of my foray into Caribbean food shortly afterwards.

Probably because no one else offers it, I guess.

There were a few bones in my curry, which I was warned about, but the meat was so tender and falling away by itself anyway it was hardly noticeable.

“I always go for the brown stew chicken at Moshan,” said my dining friend between mouthfuls.

“It never disappoints. This one is spicy, tasty and perfectly cooked.

“Absolutely no complaints from me.”

The menu at Moshan is simple and short.

Other starters included jerk pork belly, aloo balls, soup and Jamaican patties while mains offered up a mixed grill (£20.95) mint or jerk lamb shanks, jerk steak (16.95), rum steak, Barbados bake and Caribbean vegetable curry.

The restaurant promises laughter, enjoyment and relaxation. Tick, tick, tick. And in bucket loads.

I am now a big fan of Moshan Island Grill.

I love it and I can hardly believe my luck that It’s just a few minutes walk from work.

Will I go back?

Well, was Bob Marley a reggae artist?

Too right I will.

One of those bright pink chairs has got my name all over it.

Moshan Island Grill
Newport Street
Old Town 
Swindon  SN1 3DP
01793 495256
moshanislandgrill.co.uk

Parking: No
Disabled access: Yes

Our ratings:
Food: 9/10
Choice: 9/10
Decor: 8/10
Customer Service: 9/10