If Chipotle had a soulful, culturally rich cousin... it would be Spice Black. Period…read more I've been seeing this place all over social media, so when I found myself in the area, I had to see what the hype was about. First off, parking is easy. It's in a shopping center, so nothing stressful there, and the restaurant itself is easy to spot. Walking in, the first thing I noticed was how clean, polished, and classy everything looked. Even though it was busy, it didn't feel chaotic. The staff immediately greeted me and asked if it was my first time which I appreciated. They didn't just rush me through the line; they actually took time to explain the menu, how the bowls are built, and offered samples. That alone made the experience feel welcoming and intentional. Now let's get into the FOOD. Everything looked fresh. They have about four rice options (which is already a win), and I went with the pineapple coconut rice. For my protein, I chose grilled chicken, but they also offer shrimp, salmon, and even a mushroom option for vegetarians and honestly, the mushrooms looked so good I almost switched. For my added sides, I kept it simple because I really wanted to taste everything. Collard greens and sweet potatoes. But they also had plantains, and okra....real deal soul food options. Then you get into the fresh toppings. Slaws, carrots, pickled veggies. I kept it light. I finished my bowl with collard green pesto (which intrigued me, and I'm glad I tried it) and added an étouffée sauce over my rice... and listen!!!!! That combo? Chef's kiss. I grabbed a tropical punch juice, and just like everything else, it tasted fresh and well-made. Let me say this clearly: the food is a 10/10. If you're someone who will give Chipotle chance after chance, then you absolutely owe it to yourself to try Spice Black. 10/10. Worth your money. Worth the hype. Worth the experience.

In December a friend was in the area and asked me if I ever tried Spiced Black.. umm, have I ?!?!…read moreI've actually been a handful of times since they opened but it has honestly been a whole and about time that I actually write a review. This spot can get quite busy with folks picking up to go orders, but the line moves pretty fast. You can create your own bowl but with so many choices, I stick to my ole reliable Pineapple Coconut Curry Bowl while my friend got the Spicy Tomato Jollof. Both bowls are hearty, bursting with flavor and heavy. The Coconut Curry Bowl with Salmon added is creamy, nutty and a little sweet while the Spicy Tomato Jollof bowl with BBQ Chicken is tomato based has a rich flavor, vibrant color, and spicy. Our respective bowls were sooo good and were devoured quickly that I forgot to take a pic. This is a great change from Mezeh and Chipotle and tastier!

I found this place by luck. The place I was looking for closed before I got there so I started…read moresearching for Caribbean food. I am pleased that I found this place. The service was within the normal range for homemade food; and the staff was pleasant. I felt comfortable; although the area is a bit isolated at night. For a takeout place, this place is a 5. Their menu features Carribean and American dishes. I ordered a curry chicken dinner and a chicken patty. The food was delicious. I had plenty of leftovers. Real poultry, rice, beans and cabbage..hmmmmm. It's all in the seasoning.

I had some business in Upper Marlboro and had a moment to drop by here before heading home. It's…read morebeen on my radar ever since it opened two years ago, and I've always wondered how it is. As soon as you park, you hear the reggae blasting. It's a rather small building, but it's colored up and is quite inviting. Some bits could use touch ups though, but it really adds to the charm! I went inside and there were just a few people in there. There's only one or two tables, so it's definitely a to-go type spot. Some patties are on display, always nice to see. I started browsing through the menu -- I was delighted to see a lunch special on jerk chicken & curry chicken, and so many combo entrees at what I'd say are reasonable prices. Combos were like curry & brown stew, jerk & curry, etc. I just got the lunch special (curry chicken) for myself, and the ackee, saltfish, and callaloo combo platter for my parents. It took about 15 minutes, and they gave me the heads up on it taking a while which I appreciated. When it was ready, I made my way home. I loved everything about it! The rice & peas surprised me... the rice appeared to have a basmati base. Do other spots do that? Am I just unaware? It was delicious (and had that slight coconut flavor I love), but I have never seen it before. Loved the cabbage, plantain (though there was very little), and the chicken itself. Great amount of food too! Based on this experience I'd definitely go back. Can't wait to try other things!

This place is located in a old Pizza Hut. Stopped by after leaving a winery and wanted to grab some…read morefood to go. The jerk wings and beef patty were really good. I was surprised that this place has a full bar. I definitely plan to come back and sit down and enjoy those vibes. Service was actually very good. I know there's this ongoing joke that if you go to a Jamaican or Caribbean spot and the service is good, then the food probably isn't, or vice versa. The service here was good here and the food was good.

I noticed it's very difficult to find authentic Jamaican food in the DMV /Maryland. I've heard so…read moremany transplants with the same feedback. I decided to try this restaurant and honestly What a disappointment. I ordered 2 entrees, extra sides and an appetizer. Our waitress, Ivie F brought 12 pieces of wings when we ordered when we only ordered 6 as per the menu. Once we brought it to her attention she said sternly "well I heard 12" and walked away. What kind of service is this? I ordered the following menu items: Oxtails- 1out of 5 very watered down, sauce extremely dark and flavorless Jerk wings- 2 out of 5 Callaloo- 4 out of 5 very hard to find vegetable here in the US. This was very well prepared String beans -3 out of 5 Fish- 3 out of 5 nice presentation but overcooked/ dry Festival- 2 out of 5 Lemon drop- 3 out of 5 The food didn't taste authentic nor traditional. The flavors felt watered down, too much sauce or just plain salty. My husband (originally from Jamaica) who owns a Jamaican restaurant in another state figured he would help a fellow Jamaican out by giving some tips. The manager explained that the people in Maryland like it this way but he wouldn't cook it like this at home! Lol I've never heard such a response as a Caribbean restaurant you should take pride in authenticity always. I highly doubt with this experience I will be back.

The food is EXCELLENT! The oxtails, while not huge, are extremely tender and incredibly flavorful…read more Honestly, the best I've had in the DMV! My wife gets the curry chicken and LOVES it! And everything tastes like it was just made. But what we like just as much is the customer service. When we order from DoorDash and ask for extra sauce/gravy, we get EXTRA! The portions are huge and there's no skimping and no upcharging. And the gentleman who answered the phone when we called to extend our gratitude after a great meal was so pleasant and appreciative. Eat here! I promise, you'll love it!!

Had the goat curry roti. Very interesting style compared to o what I'm used to having…read more Goat was flavored very well, a little bit of spicy kick. Parking was a bit tight. I recommend going past the restaurant and parking further up in the parking lot.

"Mixed Feelings ?" The curry chicken dish was actually delicious ( hence the 4-stars ) seasoned and…read morethe chicken was tender. I felt a little rushed when I was ordering... And certain things revolving around the menu and availability of different dishes ( like Ox tails) wasn't made clear to me. And for the life of me I don't know why the food was so oily ? With that said, once I transferred the curry chicken to a plate and actually got to the food... all of my worries were washed away by the delightful Caribbean cuisine.

Stopped by Just Jerk in Lanham, MD for lunch and wow. This place stays busy, and for good reason…read more The spot is super small and pretty dilapidated, but honestly, when I see a place like this, I already expect the food to be FIRE, and it didn't disappoint. This was my second visit. The first time, the service felt a little cold, but this time was a huge improvement. The women at the front desk were working non-stop; taking in-person orders, answering phones, packing food, handing off Uber Eats orders, basically running the entire operation. They were clearly working hard and keeping everything moving as efficiently as possible despite how packed it was. I ordered the large brown stew meal with cabbage only, plus an extra order of jerk chicken (dark meat, mild). The food was exactly what I hoped for: comforting, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Bottom line: the food had to be good because this place stayed BUSY!!! Definitely worth the wait if you're craving solid Jamaican food.

This place hits the spot each and every time. My favorites are the blackened salmon, macaroni and…read morecheese and greens. If you are in the area and want some good soul food, don't walk...run!

Spent this afternoon at one of the local wineries and was in the mood for some fried fish…read moreafterwards and stopped here on my way home. The fish was seasoned very well...my fried shrimp were tooooo salty...the mashed sweet potatoes were ok...greens bland, Mac & cheese-eehhh & the potato salad disgusting. Smh...this place has definitely fallen off since I remember...WHAT HAPPENED?! lol Isn't the saying: "things get better with time" ??? Not in this case... Oh & my hush puppies were ok...& that caramel banana pudding was tooooo freaking sweet for me... I was disappointed... was rooting for this spot! I remember when the owners were first beginning... not too many good local soul food spots that have good potato around here... & the customer service needs help! Happy Yelping!

I recently "hired" Ruby's to cater a party at my home after enjoying their food at another event…read more Since that first impression was so positive, choosing them for my own gathering was an easy decision. The ordering process was smooth; I had a friend help me modify the selection, and another handled the pickup. The food was absolutely delicious. In fact, my only complaint is that I didn't order more--everything disappeared much faster than I anticipated! The only area for improvement involves the online inquiry system. I submitted a custom catering request through the website and never received a response, so I would recommend a more consistent process for monitoring and replying to digital inquiries. Despite that minor communication hiccup, I will definitely be a repeat customer. The food is truly excellent!

I went with the bbq jerk all white meat chicken. The regular jerk kitchen is too spicy. It was…read morequite as juicy as I would like but the jerk sauce compensated for it. The cabbage, collards, and Mac & cheese is quite good. Also, I tried the red velvet rum cake. It was very moist, heavy on the rum sauce. One of the best Jamaican restaurants in the DMV. Seems like everything is made to order as there was an approximately 30 minute wait.

I must give an update -- I have been hearing about their breakfast for a while, and I finally got…read moreto try it a few weekends ago. It's something that's only available from 7:00-11:00am on weekends, and I'm usually sleeping in or just not ready to get out of the house that early. My family and I were leaving for NY early on a Saturday morning, and I had no choice but to be awake and ready. So before we took off, I took advantage! It was around 8:30am and I was the only one in the restaurant. But it smelled amazing in there and they were friendly and happy! I had glimpsed the menu online, and I was scanning their screens for it above the register, but they had their regular menu up. I was walked through the options, and even got to taste a few things. I got to try sa\da roti for the first time, and I was intrigued. It's very similar to pita bread, but after looking it up I learned of the subtle differences. I was able to put pumpkin, smoked herring, saltfish, or eggplant & potatoes in it. I got food for my parents as well, so I settled on quite a few things: -Sada roti w/ pumpkin -Sada roti w/ eggplant/potatoes -Bake & saltfish -3 aloo pies Everything... was... STELLAR. I tasted the smoked herring and I honestly wish I got that in something, but I most certainly will next time. Is this the best Trini restaurant in the DMV?!

Very authentic Trinidadian cuisine. The doubles, paratha, and dhal puri are a must have with a cold…read moresolo. They also do sorrel and mauby that is delicious

Talk about a hidden gem, I was glad I stumbled upon it! I had a friend who wanted breakfast but…read morespecifically asked for a hole in the wall vibe. Google assisted with this hefty effort lol. Once we were there it was definitely giving good food and good vibes. Seat yourself space and reminder me of back home vibes. I will definitely be back!

The food hots yours soul Breakfast Li ch or Dinner Ms.K's is…read morea winner The price is right and you leave with a smile Get here early

No complaints , food has been nice and consistent since coming here. A nice spot to get some…read moreclassic Caribbean dishes if you don't feel like cooking it yourself at home.

I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER! I wish I could give zero stars! I sat on hold for 23 minutes after…read morecalling back 2 times before that, for being placed on hold for 5 minutes. The lady said they had their lunch rush. While I was on hold, my husband walked in and there were TWO people in front of him! I finally hung up and called back again only to hear a man say they aren't taking anymore orders! I start explaining to him what happened and he says they are packed! They weren't packed before that! He put me back on hold now they aren't answering! I will NEVER order from here again! I heard the chick flirting with a customer before that while I was waiting! TRASH! The audacity of the man to say he's not gonna argue with me!