Island flavor peppers this West Grove restaurant

Annemarie Brown, originally of Jamaica, serves customer Joseph Lockhart Jr., of Miami. Brown prepares and serves all of the food for an average of 80-100 customers per day out of the take out location. Photo by Chelsea Matiash.

Accompanied by his young son, West Grove native NFL star and former University of Miami Hurricane Frank Gore recently paid a recent visit to a place that gives him not only a taste of home but home-style cooking.

Although the running back for the 49ers now lives in San Francisco, Gore likes to stop by the West Grove Food Zone when he is in town. Known for its Caribbean flavor and friendly service, the take-out restaurant also attracts Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade and several of his teammates.

Whether serving sports star or nearby residents, owner AnnMarie Lambert is known for greeting all of her Food Zone patrons with a generous smile.

“It’s all about personality, so we always try to be friendly with our customers,” Lambert said.

She bought the business at 3360 S. Douglas Ave. from her brother, Hilton Brown, who owns of Hilton’s Laundromat next door.

“I like to establish a relationship with my customers,” Lambert added.

Relying heavily on word-of-mouth advertisement, the Food Zone is a constant hub of activity in the neighborhood where customers line up in front of the takeout station window to place their orders.

Lambert does not disappoint, said a customer who did not want to be identified for this article.

“I come here most days before I head off to work because it’s a lot of great food for a good price,” the customer said.

Lambert, who lives in Miami Gardens, said she recognizes the importance of the West Grove, now known as Village West, and has put her own professional stamp on the business by adding new equipment and uniforms for the staff.

Before buying the Food Zone, the Jamaican native who came to the United States a year ago, gained experience as a cook at other restaurants including Flannigan’s and Pescado’s. Lambert brings that experience to the dishes she prepares for Food Zone customers while adding her distinctive Jamaican accent to the menu.

While customers can choose from a variety of food ranging from $1 hot dogs to $8 fish dinners, there are some traditional Caribbean favorites such as jerk chicken, oxtail and curry goat.

“We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, so there’s something for everyone,” Lambert said.