Pearl Island Café is a charming shop that offers delectable Caribbean dishes — which the cafe describes as a fusion of African, Amerindian, European, East Indian, Arab and Chinese cuisine, with influence from the indigenous population of the Caribbean as well. Not only does the Black-owned restaurant provide tasty bites in a sustainable manner, but they educate the patrons on what they’re eating and its history — one of my favorite aspects.
The café is situated directly in the center of the historic Jefferson School City Center which is a seven-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the Rotunda, right next to the Downtown Mall. Up until 1951, the Jefferson School was the only Black high school in Charlottesville, and the building now fulfills the mission of honoring and preserving the heritage of the local African American community.
The Center features a permanent historical exhibit, Pride Overcomes Prejudice, which tells the history of the Jefferson School through the voices of alumni and community members. It also houses a rotating contemporary art gallery and a robust event calendar, all of which combine to highlight Charlottesville’s African American history and culture.
While Pearl Island Café offers dine-in and take-out services, I knew of the restaurant first from their incredible catering service — a popular choice amongst numerous Charlottesville businesses and University organizations. Open noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, their hours are tight, but I highly recommend squeezing a visit into your weekday lunch rotation. My brother and I went on a Friday and found the place calm, yet bustling, and received excellent, fast service.
This quaint restaurant provides adequate parking and a driveway out front for patrons picking up to-go orders. Once we stepped inside the café and took in the bright colors and interesting artwork throughout the interior, we were hit with a mouth-watering, smoky aroma.
The blue and yellow tiled bar is used to take orders and pack food, with ambient orange lights hanging above and glass dividers that allow patrons to watch their meals being made. Displayed on two televisions mounted in the back wall is the menu — which details various platters and the accoutrements available including Jerk or Curry Tofu, Chicken, Sous Poulet or Sous Shu and Stuffed Plantain Scoops.
Additionally, each platter offered on the menu includes brown rice, salad, plantains, aioli and pikliz. Everything that our food or drinks were served in was compostable, and there is a compost bin to dispose of our trash placed right next to the door.
The center of the dining area bears just three tables, with a couple extra chairs available in case additional seating is needed. One corner hosts a small store, filled entirely with products that celebrate and educate patrons on Black culture, from children’s books that feature Black protagonists to shirts supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.
Pasted on this section’s glass windows are laminated cards that teach patrons about the less common dishes and foods they have available. One card details the restaurant’s namesake, while another describes pikliz — the traditional Haitian dish consisting of vinegar-based coleslaw.
My brother and I ordered the Trifecta Platter, which allows diners to select three proteins from either the vegetarian or meat menu, and is served with rice, salad, plantains and pikliz.
We ordered this hefty platter to share, selecting Caribbean Roasted Pork, Jerk Chicken and Creole Beans as our toppings.
This bowl was easily filled to the top, and every bite was an incredible explosion of flavor. For the amount of food we got, the dish was reasonably priced at $25, with a 25-cent upcharge for the Creole Beans and $1.75 for the Caribbean Roasted Pork. Despite splitting the bowl between the two of us, still, the portions were hearty enough to leave us thoroughly satiated.
First, I tried a bite with the Caribbean Roasted Pork, which melted in my mouth the second it touched my tongue. The rich tones of the pork combined with the succulent flavors of the brine it soaked in produced incredible flavors. This dish was further heightened by the addition of the side salad — the sweet aioli brightened the savory pork with its contrasting lighter flavor, and the crunchy arugula added a dimension of texture.
My brother’s favorite of the proteins was the Jerk Chicken, another luscious choice that fell apart at the touch of a fork. The crust of the jerk seasoning — a mix of paprika, garlic, cayenne, sugar and more — contrasted with the mild, juicy chicken and brought smoky layers. The tenderness of the chicken matched incredibly well with the vinegary pikliz, as the coleslaw added a hint of spice and crunch that elevated the bite.
We wanted a taste of the vegetarian offerings, and the Creole Beans that we landed on were a slam dunk. The red kidney beans were bathed in smooth, stewed stock sauce, enhanced by the tomato chunks and carrots floating throughout. Perfectly cooked, the beans were soft but not squishy, and when piled with brown rice on top of a plantain, it was close to perfection. The smashed and fried plantains had a potato-like texture, and the tangy yogurt they were dipped in brought a creaminess that mellowed out the smoky beans.
To wash our perfect bites down, I ordered the $6 Persimmon Lemonade while my brother got the $3 Limeade. Each of us argued that our own choice was better — mine tasted like a juiced persimmon with slight pulp to add some texture to the sweetness, and though his limeade was too sweet for me, he raved about the strong and authentic lime flavor that came through. While the Limeade was reasonably priced, my lemonade was costly, though I would pay it again to experience its unique taste.
Despite having experienced Pearl Island Café through their catering of events I’ve attended, this was the first time I had the chance to visit their physical space. Needless to say, I already have plans to return. Not only is the food mouth wateringly delicious, but the mission behind their restaurant is thoughtful and important.
In a space that was once the center of Charlottesville’s Black community and is now dedicated to celebrating African American culture, this sustainable, Black-owned local business is undoubtedly the latest addition to my list of favorite Charlottesville spots.
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