My dear friend who is a life-long resident of Ebbets Field has been telling my about Balboa for quite some time. Yesterday, I took her up on her offer to meet here. I had a wonderful experience! It was even more endearing to find out they've been a staple in the community for almost three decades. The drinks were potent, the food was DELICIOUS and PLENTIFUL, and the service (Marisa, Miriam and Luis) was excellent. Luis, the owner/chef, has got to have the cleanest kitchen in Crown Heights....SPOTLESS!!! Marisa was kind enough to regale us with stories about the business, her years in the neighborhood and her meeting/marriage with Luis. Really, it was such a genuine experience - the kind you just don't have anymore; folks who came in appeared as if they were coming to see family. I certainly wish I could shout it from the rooftop for the folks to flock here and indulge in a Brooklyn institution. As I type this, I'm already plotting my return. Thank you Balboa, and I apologize for just discovering you. In my Tupac voice - "You are appreciated." read more

This is my favorite place to go out and have a nice time with my wife. Atmosphere is great and food is awesome with excellent prices. Variarity of special drinks. Highly recommend !!! read more

Buyer Beware! I ordered delivery through Grub Hub. They called me about 20 minutes after to advise me that what I ordered was no longer available. Let's fast forward past the fact that it took almost three hours for my food to arrive after the Grub Hub call. The restaurant didn't have my original request and I had to change my order after I already paid. So, the food arrives ALMOST THREE HOURS later and though it's hot, taste is lacking in the Mac and Cheese. Looks like they boiled noodles and added cheese. NEVER again! What did they do to remedy this situation, you ask? ABSOLUTELY nothing. No offer of additional food (though I would have declined). No refund for the food I purchased. Bad customer service from every angle. Again, NEVER again. read more

I usually come in here to get dinner when I'm in school late. Tonight I was highly disappointed about the service. Maybe because my Mac n cheese was a bit on the mushy side the staff was rude. I ordered take out as usual and was told it will be about 10 minutes, I was about to have a seat when the staff person told me only people who are dining in can sit here. You have to stand in front by the bar. There were 3 other people in there and 2 were already seated at the bar and about a little over a dozen tables for 2....I brought someone in with me, their first time and their last...rudeness doesn't get repeat customers or even new. read more

Balboa Restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

love love love!!! sexy atmosphere with a spanish caribbean cuisine mixed with soul!!! great prices, drinks, and service!!! read more

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We walked quite a distance looking for a place to eat in the area and happened upon Balboa! My daughters had the quarter baked chicken I and I had the stewed chicken. Everything was absolutely delicious!!! It was happy hour so I had a tasty margarita. After all was said and done we left feeling happy and satisfied. After walking about 3 blocks, we were approached by the waiter who had chased us down because I left my credit card!!! What a noble gesture. I am so grateful for their kindness and hospitality. Will definitely return!!!! Nadine read more

Jerk chicken with vegetables and rice and beans= Spicy delight . Small diner with a friendly staff. Food is cooked fresh and timely. I enjoyed my meal and would certainly go back again for some Caribbean meals. read more

Balboa Restaurant - Jerk chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My food did finally arrive ten minutes after I posted my initial review. I could tell that it had been in transit for some time as it was merely warm. There were apologies and GrubHub blame shifting by the delivery guy. Today I was issued a 50% refund by Balboa. They also sent more apologies through GrubHub. I do appreciate the gesture but I have learned my lesson. I can't call on them for delivery anymore! I did find the food to be average; good for last minute, last option grub but not my first choice. read more

Exquisite drinks and food. The rich and succulent flavors were a palatable celebration! The lively entertainment and friendly staff made it a worth while experience. I will be back with more friends! read more

Celebrating two friends' birthdays tonight at this wonderful locale. We were eight in total and were greeted with smiles as soon as we walked in. Three of our party had been here previously but most of us were first-time visitors. Let me tell you, it WON'T be our last time. The food was plentiful and DELICIOUS! The owner/head chef greeted us before we placed our orders and after we were served to make sure everything was to our liking. The wait staff was attentive without being intrusive. We enjoyed the food so much that we even got to-go orders. Can't wait to bring some more friends to Balboa. OH, and his "secret "sauce? To die for! I had the salmon but saw other dishes I'm eager to try. read more

Went in to the Wednesday evening jazz and had a great Green Bowl (spinach, kale and broccoli with garlic) and BBQ Chicken leg quarter. Husband had the Jerk Chicken plate. The food was great. The jazz was exceptional! Free improvisation by pianist Eli Wallace, bassist Brian Courage and drummer Billy Mintz. Fine Room for listening, full bar, cleaner than many jazz rooms in NYC. Great Brooklyn jazz hang! read more

I've been patronizing this venue for over a decade. Everyone is always so pleasant & nice.the baked quartered chicken is heaven sent. You can't be in this area and don't have a plate of food. Keep up the good work. read more

Balboas Caribbean Restaurant has some of the most delicious Caribbean food I've ever tasted. Everything on there menu is absolutely amazing. Diva and her students read more

I enjoy having dinner at Balboa Restaurant. Besides the great food or full bar available to make any drink cocktail I want. You also get the pleasure of listening to live music some nights. read more

Balboa Restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Very good food....and the prices are right. The staff is also super friendly and accommodating.

Food made me and my mom sick, We were throwing up for hours. I would not recommend this place to anyone.

Excellent place to eat! Well hidden in Bedford Ave in Brooklyn, this place has one of the best foods and the prices are moderate. If you are ever in this neck of the woods stop by and try BBQ ribs or Oxtail stew. Say hi to the awesome panamanian chef and the best waitress Kelly. You won't regret it! read more

This place is not good. Did not enjoy. Service is slow and the prices are high. The food and salad dressing is a bit too sweet.

I only gave 4 stars because 5 would be perfection and I've only tasted two things so far. The two meals I tasted literally, like 15mins ago, were amazing. We had the food delivered to the house and it was still nice and hot. Forgot to take pictures. First glance of the food, I knew it was going to be great and we ate it. We had the BBQ wings and the grilled tilapia with the vegetables and mashed potatoes...boyyy let me tell youwill be back I mean, will order again...now let me go enjoy my cinnamon knots from papa john's read more

Recently discovered this place. Friendly staff and the best jerk and BBQ wings. More than worth checking out. Great drinks too. Perfect neighborhood spot. Enjoyed the music too. read more

Noce little spot in brooklyn. Get the bbq chicken with rice and veggies. Good stuff. Good service too.

It's mediocre food. And the time it takes for the food to come (45-50 minutes) it should be better. And the main women is rude and don't know how to treat people of color. read more

I had a terrible experience here. They were out of multiple items. The ribs were the worst I've had, the mac and cheese tasted like instant. Over $60.00 for four people. There are many other restaurants in the area, I won't waste my time or money again here. read more

Worst place to order from they didn't send one item and when I called they told me that I was lying. They seem to be doing fine without my business never again will I order from them. Food was not all that good. read more

This restaurant is directly across the street from my school, Medgar Evers College and yet I've totally missed out on a gem the last year and a half. The food is not to die for but they are very attentive and you can even go in a study if you need, granted you order something of course. What I will keep coming back for is the cow foot soup, which I've never had before today but will certainly do so again!!! read more

It's a nice little restaurant, the owner is pretty friendly. I haven't been disappointed with the food since they have been open, I just wish they had more Caribbean snacks like beef patty & coco bread, doubles, etc. read more

I've been here several times, but today I tried their grilled shrimp...dadah! LUUUVED IT! We ordered another serving. Enjoy coming here,its in the community, food is good and inexpensive. Try their calamari, my appetizer of choice and my friend loves the white sangria! read more

My boyfriend and I went there last week to use the living social voucher that I got. The food and the service was amazing! Balboa is the nicest, sweetest person ever! I ordered the ribs and they were very tender and juicy. Their home made hot sauce blew us away!! It was sooooo good. I will definitely be going here on a weekly basis from now on. So yummy! read more

The food is delicious & plentiful, their cheesecake is amazing. The owners are very friendly & accommodating, I stumbled on this place w/ my dog & the owner brought my food out for me so I wouldn't have to tie her up. They are expanding the dining area to the back to include a space for a live band. They are also going to put in a bar & new doors. I know this because the owner gave me a tour while I was waiting for my food & gave me a free sample of their delicious sangria. Don't underestimate this place since they don't really have a sign, check it out for yourself. Also, I don't care what kind of food this is supposed to be, I just know its yummy! read more

This place is adding a lot to the neighborhood and is worth a visit for great jerk chicken and an amazing music series on Wednesdays. Glad there is increasing nightlife in the area!! Can't wait to come back, try the ribs, have a delicious cocktail, and hear more great music. read more

Wow! What huge portions for $4?!?! Yes FOUR DOLLARS! I always get the 1/4 chicken with bbq sauce and side of rice and beans and steamed vegetables. Beers are $4. For a good, cheap, filling, healthy (not greasy or anything!) meal, this is the place!! read more

What a delicious lunch I had here recently! Jerk chicken, mac and cheese and salad. $8. What? Best, tastiest deal in NYC! The hostess and staff were wonderful. I did walk past the restaurant 3 times before I figured out that the unmarked store front was Balboa, and how to get into the restaurant. read more

Just had the vegetable roti and a refreshing glass of sorrel juice. Roti, for those that don't know, is kinda sorta like a burrito tortilla. So it was like a big square burrito with some typical Caribbean vegetables inside, flavored with curry spices like turmeric. They also had an excellent homemade chili sauce to give me that kick I always crave in everything (but my sex life). Sorrel is a hibiscus juice popular among Jamaicans and other West Indians, and is a lot like Mexican 'Jamaica' juice. It doesn't hurt that this place is owned by a compadre de Panama. Expect updates soon as I detail through the vegetarian section of the menu. read more

I am a Flatbush native and I think that because of the neighborhoods demographic shift, a lot of businesses run their business to please the new comers. Their is nothing wrong with that but I say do not forget the natives. With that being said, I think that it's a shame that a place that claims to be a Jamaican restaurant would only give 1 side. Literally...1 side...Everyone from this area knows that it is your meat, rice and peas (or white rice) vegetable (mostly cabbage) and occasionally plantain. They charge to much. Their food is bellow my expectations in terms of flavor and they just are not at all what I expected.... read more

I had the pleasure of hanging out in the back room of the Balboa restaurant with a beer and listened to some adventurous musicians that created n amazing atmosphere. The staff is wonderful and friendly. Can't wait to come back! read more

The food here is quite delicious! We were looking for something good to eat after our zoo visit. We enjoy ethnic food so we gave this a try. If you're expecting a fancy atmosphere this is not the place. But, what you do get is a clean restaurant, good waitstaff, a chef who asks how you liked your meal, and delicious & affordable food. At our table we tried the chicken with brown sauce $8, curried chicken $8, chicken wings $6, and salmon & shrimp $22. The food was nicely prepared, plentiful, and included lots of vegetables. It was our least processed meal in our little NYC visit (a good thing in my mind!). I'd give this place a try! read more

Mr Balboa, marissa, and Manuel are the best!! Balboa Restaurant has the most delicious food and drinks. Happy hour is amazing!!! Definitely will be back!!! I recommend this place to all!!! read more

Definitely will be ordering food from here again the food was absolutely delicious in case you was wondering what I ate I had the tilapia with mashed potato and vegetables and also I had the barbecue wings who don't love a good barbecue I've been living by this place for a while and I've never tried it now I'm about to become a regular read more

You know, I haven't the slightest clue as to what kind of restaurant this is. They sell things like baked chicken with potatoes but then they also sell roti and oxtail. I work across the street and my co-workers frequent this place but no one can tell me what kind of place they are because menu is not very focused. Judging by the owner's accent though, I am going to assume Panamanian all the way. I just know that the employees are so damn nice and the food is yummy. I had Salmon with mashed potatoes and salad which was delicious. Btw, you've gotta really look up to find this gem because it is so low key. Balboa is a neighborhood favorite that I hope stays for a long time. read more

I used to love this place! & I mean LOVE this place!! My go to meal was their BBQ chicken, rice & peas with a side of salad. The last time I bought a BBQ chicken dinner from them I took a piece and the middle of the chicken was PINK! Actually, I wasn't even sure if it was pink or just bloody. I don't understand why they don't cook their chicken. Who the hell wants to eat raw, pink, bloody chicken? Not me. That is exactly why I won't be eating anything else from here. read more