House of Dutch Pot: Jamaican Paradise on a Plate

Discovering my Caribbean roots sparked a journey to House of Dutch Pot, a Jamaican restaurant in Southwest Vegas. Featured by Guy Fieri on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” Chef O crafts authentic dishes that celebrate rich flavors while staying true to their origins. Intrigued by the praise, I couldn’t wait to try this Jamaican restaurant myself.

Chef O Brings Jamaican Fire to Guy Fieri’s Table

House of Dutch Pot in Las Vegas was featured on the hit Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri, making history as the first authentic Jamaican Caribbean restaurant to appear on the show.

Led by Chef Oniel “Chef O” Smith, a proud native of St. Thomas, Jamaica, the restaurant has built a loyal following with its bold island flavors and creative Caribbean dishes. During the episode, Guy Fieri sampled standouts like the oxtail house wrap, pineapple jerk salmon boat, and rasta pasta, all of which showcase Chef O’s deep passion for Jamaican cooking.

Chef O shared on Instagram that being featured was “mind-blowing” and something that “money just can’t buy,” especially for what it means for Jamaica and the Black community.

The spotlight from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives has opened new doors for Chef O and brought national attention to his story, restaurant, and food that he serves everyday.

Sip the Sunshine of the Caribbean

Once I entered House of Dutch Pot, I was greeted and immediately given the Caribbean hospitality and comfort. The menu provided incredibly interesting choices. House of Dutch Pot doesn’t serve any soft drinks that are common in every restaurant, for example Coca-Cola or Pepsi products.

Instead, authentic Jamaican sodas are offered, like Tropical Fruit Punch or a Pineapple Ginger drink. Both were made by scratch and anyone would need no further proof than the pulp that remains from the mixture of fruits being blended into these refreshing drinks.

Before moving on to other menu choices, these drinks were absolutely delicious and refreshing to have in this killer Vegas heat.

I have never been a big fan of ginger in drinks and won’t drink Canada Dry voluntarily, but the mixture of pineapple and natural ginger creates such a unique and tangy taste that isn’t too much to handle.

Not having the fizz to this ginger drink allowed the flavors to really fuse together well, and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t like ginger that much.

My Tropical Fruit Punch drink was not carbonated like a soda. It has natural acidic flavors that are rich in vitamin C and a distinct mango flavor, satisfying your sweet cravings.

Diving Into A Jamaican Jerk Journey

Jamaica is known for its own flavor, which is called Jerk. Jerk is simply the Jamaican way of seasoning to give it a very spicy, rich, and flavorful base.

My friend decided to try a dish with the famous Jerk on it, going with a goat curry with Jerk. The goat was incredibly tangy and full of Jerk seasoning, which bursts in your mouth along with the softness that the goat brings. Along with the dish, we ordered a side of house fries and sweet plantains as the sides.

I decided on the Jamaican national dish, which is the Ackee and Saltfish. Ackee is a fruit that’s part of the apple family, but lacks the sweetness or the crunchy quality of the apple.

When cooked, ackee looks like scrambled eggs, and then it is mixed with onions, bell peppers, and of course, the Saltfish to top the dish. For my sides, I went for the White Rice, which came as sticky rice, my absolute favorite, as well as a Jamaican bread called “Festival.”

Festival bread is compared to a churro on the menu to entice anyone who has never heard of it to try it.

We also ordered a side of Mac and Cheese Oxtail Wontons, which came with an incredibly rich and flavorful soy and gravy-like sauce.

All of these choices show Chef O’s mastery in translating the authenticity of his home country while still keeping his menu open for foodies like me to feel comfortable enough to try.

Taste The Tradition, Feel The Passion

Chef O has a gem with House of Dutch Pot and it comes to prove a few things. Anyone familiar with Jamaican Cuisine and its very rich style in flavor can recognize and enjoy this food comfortably, and see why Chef O has had great success.

Meanwhile, newer and less familiar seekers of new foods can find a burst of flavors, bringing about a brand new journey that everyone can embark!

So next time you’re in South Spring Valley area, give House of Dutch Pot and Jamaican Jerk food a try!