The food court is set up different from the other moderates in that you stand in line for each type of food and pay there, not at one pay station.
We caught the bus at about 8:05. Don't think that it was the first bus of the day though. It got us to MK by 8:25. We were not let into the park until 8:40 - 8:50. Things have changed since 9-11.
We have never eaten in the Port Royale rest. so I can't comment. The food court restaurants are standard WDW fare, pizzas, pastries, etc.
We like Jamaica because it is close to the bridge, but not too close to Port Royale and the noise from the bar and the big pool.