Added May 31, 2007 by sharz of Burnaby Faaaantastic! My company had a group lunch at Kiss Ya Mama today and we all walked away with a big smile on our faces. Food was fantastic. I don’t usually eat much for lunch but I finished everything in my plate–as a compliment to the chef. Lisa first teased our appetitle with her Jamaican cocktail patties (with beef) as her and her crew were preparing the buffet. Then we all anxiously lined up for the buffet, which included 2 salads, Lisa’s spicy jerk chicken, tasty curry chicken, southern bbq ribs, rice and peas with coconut milk, and later on her ‘fall-off-the-bone’ bbq chicken. I didn’t try the bbq chicken because it came last, and I was beyond 
full at that point. But everything else was remarkable. My favorite was her spicy chicken–the meat was tender and every bite was flavorful; another co-worker couldn’t stop saying how good the rice was (I had to agree, it seemed like such a simple dish yet so memorable); and another co-worker really enjoyed the ribs, which was saucy but was not overly done–just the right amount of flavor. To quote how he likes the ribs, “they melted off the bones” Lisa and her crew were all very friendly and have this very upbeat attitude. Lisa was hilarious and made a sad occasion (it was a goodbye lunch for one of our favorite managers) a fun, full-of-laughs experience. The service was not the professional, attentive type that one would
receive at places like C Restaurant, but more like a nice, relaxed style that you get at your neighborhood family restaurant. During the lunch I kept thinking about the dinner scene in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, because that was the kind of homey atmosphere they created. Overall the experience was nothing like what we expected, but it was definitely a good one. Oh did I mention Lisa’s banana bread was one of the best I’ve had? It was soo good many of us asked for a second piece, in spite how full we all were. One guy even got 4, I guess that really says how good it was. 
———————————————————- Added May 31, 2007 by sukisukinow of Burnaby Trust me, you’ll wanna kiss HER mama On seeing the “Spice of Africa” sign outside we thought we were in for African fare. Instead we were pleasantly surprised to learn the location, under the new management of Lisa Brown & “Kiss Ya Mama,” now offers soul food. A warm, friendly Caribbean feel greets you when you walk into this cozy place. It has that easy, laid-back ambiance of the tropics. So mistakenly, we sidled up to the counter to order as one does in a typical Caribbean restaurant. The owner cheerfully ushered us back to a table where her friendly and charming colleague Xavier waited on us hand & foot with great info and meal suggestions. Every bite was just faboo. My husband had a rich tasty stewed chicken. I tried the sample platter offering a little bit of everything: peas & rice, curry, jerk pork etc.. It was so darn good we hired them to cater our next party with this plus dahl puri and a to die for sweet potato pie. On top of this all, we were thrilled to learn Chef Lisa Brown’s heart and soul pours bountifully over into more than just her delicious Caribbean and soul food dishes. Spreading the love, she dedicates much of her time and effort to feeding sumptuous meals to the less fortunate. She also teaches students the ins & outs of running a restaurant business. It is no wonder superstars such as Snoop Dogg love her. She can be seen on the Food Network this summer on the “Superstar Chef Challenge.” Hey Lisa, can I kiss YOUR mama? Added May 25, 2007 by Minna of New Westminster ———————————————————— A Carib gem in Burnaby This place just opened and I’ve already gone twice, with plans to go again next week (to try the escovitch fish) — it’s that good. It’s a little hard to find – the fact that the sign on the window still needs to be changed doesn’t help – but convenient as it’s only a block from Metrotown. 
On the first trip, the jerk chicken wasn’t ready yet and so I ordered the curry chicken and rice with beans. My co-worker ordered curry goat. Both were very homestyle in preparation, actually reminding me of what I’d
normally eat at home, but tasty nonetheless. On the second trip, I tried their jerk chicken rice special – much fancier in presentation and absolutely incredible (I ended up ordering a second to go). The chicken was nice and spicy, but not overly so, and was served with the most fantastic fruity drizzle on the plate. Spicy and sweet, it doesn’t get much better! To complement the food, various Caribbean soft drinks are available (my favorite being the champagne cola) and a small slice of cake was served at the end of both meals. Price-wise, lunch specials ran ~ $9 and entrees ~ $12. The decor/ambiance is low-key but welcoming, with posters and flags on the wall, including a wall of fame featuring photos of chef Lisa Brown with various celebrities, and cheerful Carib music playing in the background. Service is friendly and very casual. The waiter (there only seems to be one)
is very accommodating, and what he lacks in professionalism he more than makes up for with his great attitude. Overall impression, if I had to compare the experience, I’d say it’s like eating at a friend’s house – excellent food in an unpretentious atmosphere.
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