Jamaican native Deloris “Pauline” Nicholson never anticipated living in South Dakota, let alone opening a restaurant in the Midwestern state, but how can anyone say no to the sweet, persistence of a 4-year-old? “I came out to visit my granddaughter Adassa around her birthday, but she didn’t want me to go back to New York. She said ‘Grandma, you should open a restaurant here.’” 

Pauline was living in New York and working in healthcare along with cooking on the side for her church, weddings, and anything else that came up. She traveled to Rapid City for the first time eight years ago to visit her son Dueval, who moved to the area for school, and Adassa. 

Pauline, who had been cooking since she was a child, did not think much of her granddaughter’s pleading until several years later when visiting again. “My second trip I was out here for two or three weeks and then you just fall in love with the place. That was it. I went back to New York, quit my job and moved out here.” 

It was a few months later, April 2018, that Pauline opened A&D Jamaican, introducing the Black Hills to her authentic, homestyle Caribbean food.

Adassa and Dueval inspired the name for the restaurant, A&D, And Adassa even decided on the location. “She insisted I buy this place,” Pauline said of the strip-mall space next to a Mexican store and the Morningstar Café. The corner spot along North Lacrosse Street had been vacant for a while. Pauline toured the spot with Adassa by her side whispering “Grandma take it.” 
“This is what God wanted me to have,” Pauline said. 

Now celebrating her 4-year anniversary, Pauline, who locals also lovingly call “mommy” has enjoyed bringing a new taste to the area.  And the locals along with visitors have loved the authenticity of A&D Jamaican. With many of her regulars Air Force personnel, she recently received clearance to deliver to Ellsworth Air Force base. “Everything that is cooked they love.” Popular fare includes oxtail, jerk chicken, goat curry, and brown stew beef. Pauline says she plans to add jerk pork to her offerings this summer. The ambiance, like the food, gives the feel of Jamaica with red, yellow, green, and black colors spread throughout the establishment along with a painting of Bob Marley.

Pauline has a few part-time employees, however, handles most of the operation on her own, arriving to work anytime between 6:30 – 8 a.m. and leaving around 9 or 10 at night. Even a boot strapped to her foot from a break she sustained eight years earlier does not slow her down. Everything, down to the seasoning, is authentic and made from scratch by Pauline which is why sometimes she runs out of an item until the next day when it can be prepped again. “Some people wonder why as a restaurant I can run out of food – it is because everything is authentic.” 
Pauline usually takes time during the winter to visit Jamaica with her family, however, says she spends most of her time cooking there as well. “Even in Jamaica everyone loves my cooking,” she chuckles.

Her hope for the future of A&D Jamaican is to bring more people in to taste the traditional-style food. “We have a lot of things that Rapid City doesn’t know. They just need to come in and try it.”

A&D Jamaican is located at 710 N Lacrosse St #4, Rapid City. Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11 – 8 p.m.  Friday and Saturday 11 – 9 p.m. The restaurant also has a drive-up window.