Love this place, right across from the Capitol! Unfortunately, they are only open weekdays, and I don't work close by. The couple times I've stopped been have been on a Friday near a 3 day weekend, so they haven't been fully stocked or offered oxtail which is what I truly want. But their food is really darn good, authentic, and the type of curry my wife's family is familiar with. The owners are super duper nice, wonderful to talk to, and again, the food is spot on! The jerk chicken has a hefty kick, but that's why they give you a big helping of the beans and rice to stem it down. The roti wrap is what is missing from your life! The roti is your tortilla on steroids without taking away from the flavor of the curry, it holds all of the curry together, and it doesn't drip out, it's the real deal! We even ordered more roti on its own to take home for ourselves. They would be perfect for brunch on the weekends, and the owners said they've considered it, but it just doesn't work for their business model. Call them ahead of time to order ahead, which I will be doing very very soon for my roti fix! read more

Across from the Capitol building. The Roti and Jerk Chicken are so good! Great Caribbean cuisine! Went here with my co-worker for lunch. The food is delicious. The shop is very busy especially during lunch hours. Great service and generous amounts of food. I will go back. read more

Cafe Connection - Cafes Near Me - Sacramento, California

Today I tried this restaurant for the first time...the food was Excellent...or should I say bomb dot com...we ordered curry chicken and jerk chicken with a side of beef patties....truly tasted like it was straight from the island. The owner was very pleasant and kind...location and parking was great. A must try and go again and again. I finally found great caribbean food in Sacramento. I went back again 2 weeks later and got the oxtail...everything was great including the rice and peas...great Jamaican food...A MUST TRY! read more

Friendly service, yummy food and good portion size! I had the chicken curry plate and my boyfriend had the goat curry plate and also tried the jerk chicken. Both of us really enjoyed our food. I tried the peanut dressing for the side salad and that was good too. read more

I was impressed by the huge servings. The lady was super sweet and I told her it was my first time there and she definitely told me what was good. I had the jerk chicken and rice. It was yummy. read more

Cafe Connection does not disappoint. Few places in the area offer Caribbean food. The jerk Chicken is sooooo goood! Try it with the salad and peanut dressing. I could have this everyday. Def check it out and support this small business next time you're in the area. read more

My husband found this place which was recommended to him by one of his customers. Hubs knew I was looking for a place that served good home cooked Jamaican food like they do back home. So on a 1/12/2016 hubs called me up during lunch and asked me to get the address and place a order for him to go pick up for our lunch. I called in and was greeted by a very warm well manner gentleman named Ken whose the owner of the place. Told him it was my first time and that I have never been there so I needed a little time to look over what they had on Yelp. He was very patience with me while I was browsing through the menu and pictures on yelp. Told him I was excited to have their food because I had such a difficult time finding a Jamaican joint close by, we have to go to San Francisco to Jamaican food, plus finding patties felt so impossible to me. I came to the conclusion hubs wants gonna have jerk chicken with rice and beans, also came with a salad. Salad dress Ng choices were: ranch, peanut, vinaigrette, or thousand Islands. I told him I wanted roti and then he let me know that they had daal roti (made with beans in it). Plus I added 2 chicken patties and I asked about the soup and he said they had chicken and corn and that I would Love it. Told the gentleman that my husband was around the corner and would be there in about 15 mins to pick up the order. Hubs got to there and parked right outside but it was in a no park zone. The gentleman was nice enough to let my husband know when the food was ready and even brought it out so my husband wouldn't get a ticket. So freaking awesome of him and kind as well. Hubs got home with the food and started to open everything, and oh man I loved all the smells. I started to take a bite of everything. It all feels like home cooking to me. The jerk chicken had a nice kick to it and it was tender and complement the rice and peas so well. The chicken pattie was so tasty and I loved they used whole chicken (I'm use to ground chicken patties) it was dense and filling. The chicken and corn soup had so much flavour to it with a kick, it felt nice for a cold day like today. He was right I didn't just like it, I loved it. Hubs agrees with and loved and enjoyed the food as much as I did. He said it's a place he will definitely be returning to and eating at least once a month or more. We will be back again and I will eat through your menu. Lol not only do they have Jamaican food they also have other sandwiches and breakfast is as well they are not open on weekends, only 7am - 5pm from Monday to Friday. Update: OMG!! Friday is oxtail and rice and peas day!! I barely got a order in. Ken almost sells out before lunch even hits. But damn I loved that oxtail and the flavourful sauce it's cooked in. I love it all. On another day I finally went in person to order the food and ken was super friendly in person as he is one the phone. I just love this place. Will be back. read more

See all

Anyone who knows Jamaican food know this place is trash. Jerk chicken wasn't prepared right and looks and tastes nothing like it should. Chicken and beef patties were dry, old and completely bland. One star for curry chicken and sorrel. read more

See all

Today is the first day I want to cafe connection and the food was amazing. The service was Excellent, they were friendly knowledgeable. And the prices were extremely reasonable. This is the place you must try. And I will be returning. read more

Jerk chicken was good. Small portion but very tasty. Would like to try some other foods from them but they are only open on weekdays.

Great Lunch spot, owners are always pleasant and welcoming. Indian/carribena food, good jerk,great curry dishes. Last visit I had cabbage and chicken, which is not made often. Was hesitant but glad was encouraged to try it, it was delicious. Will definently be ordering that when available. read more

We found ourselves downtown and hungry for a late lunch. After many failed attempts to find a restaurant that was open and serving take out, we came across Cafe Connection. My husband tried the Curry Chicken burrito and I tried the Jerk Chicken burrito. They were both good and we will definitely go back. read more

Cafe Connection - Menu - Cafes Near Me - Sacramento, California

Honestly, the Jerk chicken plate tasted like leftover- more than a week. My partner Oxtails were ok, but it lacked spice. I'm miffed because all of the rating are 4.5 and up something isn't adding up here. Also, no plantain, no cabbage, again just miffed. Just not a good experience and I will pass on eating here in the future. read more

This place is a gem. The owner is so sweet and such a good chef. The menu is solid, and there are usually pretty unique specials. I recommend the roti with curry. The roti has a crunch but is chewy. The curry is flavorful and spicy. They sell a Jamaican spice which they use in their food. You've got to try it. Such a great place. read more

I love Ken and Debbie! I have been grabbing lunch here for a few years now. They are always so friendly and happy to see you! My fav is the corn soup and chicken roti wrap! read more

Cafe Connection - Cafes Near Me - Sacramento, California

This place is on par with sol Cubano as the best Caribbean food in Sacramento. They absolutely kill the game with their jerk chicken and Jamaican curry chicken. Their lunch special is so much food for 7.50, it's very hard to pass up. So hard to pass up in fact that I get profusely angry on the weekends when they aren't open, especially when I get my jerk cravings. I spoke with the owner a while back (nice lady) and she said they would probably stay open on the weekends once the arena and downtown plaza is open. They had better. The place is jam packed for the lunch crowd, and with good reason. My only gripe - no craft beers on tap. Kind of hard to wash down such scrumptious food with a bud light. read more

Cafe Connection - Cafes Near Me - Sacramento, California

The jerk chicken, spiced chickpeas, and any of the curries are fantastic. Bonus: Ken and Debbie make you feel like guests as they make some of the best food in town. Great lunch spot. read more

Small black owned family business! They lady in the front who I believe is the owner is great! She's always so friendly and helpful! They have the best chicken curry you must try! I live in Elk Grove and go regularly to downtown to eat at this amazing establishment! Support local guys! read more

The name "Cafe Connection" doesn't let in on the wonderful cuisine that is served up here. Located across from the Capitol along the same row of shops as See's Candies, seating is plentiful and comfy and the first thing you'll notice is the smell of Carribean cooking. They do have traditional sandwich fare, but why settle for a boring sandwich when you can get jerk chicken with beans & rice, jerk burgers, curry chicken and the like? I got their daily lunch special -- it's not written up on the sandwich menu. Look for the small whiteboard. With a drink, it came to $8.14 with tax. I got the jerk chicken plate: spicy tender chicken over beans and rice with a side salad. Wow. My friend got the jerk burger. And that first bite is hot! Spicy hot! But then your mouth succumbs to the heat and all you want to do is eat more. Service is genuine and friendly. The owner passed out samples of their banana fritters - three for $4.50. If I hadn't gained weight and am trying to whittle down my bondakadonk butt, I would have inhaled a plate of these. Free WiFi, which is a bonus. Ask for the password, you'll crack up when you hear it! read more

It's ok but the jerk chicken was dry, likely made the previous day and not well seasoned. The chicken was probably what they use in their wrap vs whole pieces. Just very average. read more

Stumbled across this place on Yelp yesterday and decided to check it out. Went with the Jerk chicken salad and was not disappointed, either by the flavour or the portion size! I plan on going back to try a few more items on the menu and also to eat in, since they have a few beers on tap. read more

For quick, affordable Downtown lunch, Cafe Connection is a great option. Their daily specials are pretttttty freakin' good. My favorite is the Jerk Chicken, which is served over rice and beans with a simple side salad. With a drink it comes out to something like $7 or $8. They also regularly have great stews and soups, and their Chicken or Vegetarian Curries are both really good (Pro Tip: you can ask for half Chicken curry, half Veggie - best of both worlds). The owners are relaxed and nice, and make you feel welcome the moment you walk in. Looking forward to trying some of their specialty drinks and smoothies sometime. Also, they have a pretty decent beer selection. read more

Cafe Connection - Jerk chicken special. - Cafes Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

This is a dual purpose caribe cafe and breafasty just across from the state capitol building. This review will be specific to the breakfast part of the restaurant. Parking is street only which means there is no parking, not least because currently there is small amount of street construction going on. This is a mediumish to small sized restaurant. the inside seating is of the unremarkable table/chair combos. The outside seating when available is of the not really comfortable patio ironmongery. The outside seating is not recommended due to construction/weather issues. If outside seating is your preference, get it to go and pop over to the capitol grounds next door. The claim to fame here is the caribbean menu, which I totally didn't try as I came in way too early. I am pleased to report that the breakfast here is fairly solid. The burrito options are easily the best in the area, and the cheesy hash browns in a cup are reasonably epic. They bottle and sell their own take on hot chile sauce which is interesting. On the downside anything other then the plain jane coffee choices are simply not worth your time or money. A word to the so called barista-a mocha is not a cup of coffee with a pump or two of syrup at the bottom. Boo on you sir! Service on my visit was a tad hit and miss. It was along the lines of one person working and the other two guys simply glued to a movie on an ipad. Not the best look when there are three people waiting, but the counter girl-who rang up all orders, ran the kitchen, and well, everything else was doing absolutely the best she could -she's only one person. So while I did enjoy the food-and if you are stuck with the hungers in the capitol building in the morning this is a credible choice-the three star review is entirely due to the substandard coffee products. This spot would totes be better off just offering convenience store coffee. read more

A gem in the downtown business area shadow of the capitol. This spot serves up fresh heaping portions of tasty goodness. On my last visit I had the chicken curry salad with their famous homemade peanut salad dressing. The amount of chicken curry topping fresh mixed greens was amazing. The flavors all came together with just the right amount of spice and sweetness. The owners are also great cracking jokes with regulars and inspiring new comers to try something different. They also offer wraps and sandwiches. My hubs goes between the jerk chicken and the turkey club. Check it out and be surprised. read more

Cafe Connection - Club sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Sacramento, California

I ordered the veggie curry lunch plate and a small house made Sorrel (hibiscus drink) for only $11 plus tip. The food was delicious! The curry is more similar to an Indian curry than a Thai curry and was not too spicy yet very flavorful. I also thoroughly enjoyed my drink. Sorrel is fuscia in color but not sweet, like a good herbal tea. If you park in the building, they will give you a $5 parking voucher for you if you buy at least $5 of stuff from them. read more

Cafe Connection - Veggie curry - Cafes Near Me - Sacramento, California

Solid, reasonably-priced and very flavorful lunch make Cafe Connection a great spot for you to check out soon. I came in with a friend on a thursday around 12:30 and there was a bright and homey vibe as we waited in line. They have daily specials, plates and a-la-carte meals to go or dine in. The tables and chairs could be more comfortable, but the window and outside seating looked much better. I wanted more tropical music, it was rather eclectic. Service with a smile! We ordered after asking a ton of questions and paid easily with the gentleman at the register. You can tell they like to chat with the regulars, but it didn't slow anything down. Main dishes are ready buffet-style while salads and sando's are made to order. I had a delish chicken curry plate at only $8 with tax. It was packed with flavor without being too spicy. There was so much perfectly cooked white meat I was surprised they make any money. The salad was nice if a bit frilly and well dressed with lots of interesting options like the zesty thai peanut one I had (too zesty for me). The rice and beans were well prepared but lacked much flavor. My friend had a large salad with lots of fixins and chicken and was stoked on the price. Get out of the office for a quick, tasty and well-priced lunch over at Cafe Connection. read more

Wow. This place is unbelievable and definitely a hole in the wall in the sense that it's so hidden away. It's a gem, that's for sure. I was in the area for See's to buy as a gift but could not leave the area after smelling some sort of roasted food like Indian but definitely smelling a bit more different and even more fragrant. I then stumbled into this place which has a misnomer because it is NOT just a coffee shop which you would think since it's called Cafe Connection.. but I am so glad I popped in there. Initially I was going in to ask them what smelled so good and was about to leave but one of the customers, a well-dressed man in a suit who looked like he ran an entire bank building or something in downtown Sacramento basically stopped me and said, hey, you should definitely try the food. Soooo I did, even though I wasn't hungry. The smell was over powering and just drew me in like a firefly to light. I am SO GLAD I DID!! I got the roti bread with Chicken Curry (special of the day- Tuesday) and it was the most amazing meal I've had in a while and I eat lots of good food! It is on the spicier side but I love that since it gives my stomach a kick. But the seasoning and everything is amazing, I will definitely be coming back here asap. On another note- the owner, a half chinese and half jamaican man was SO NICE. He stopped to take my order, talk to me and we even got to talking about another Jamaican restaurant in Davis, CA that is called Delta of Venus (which I've reviewed) but Cafe Connection BEATS them by far- this place is much tastier and according to the owner, "More authentic, mon!" very cool guy. Glad to know he's making my food! Don't take my word for it!! Go eat and review this fantastic little place. It is extremely clean as well which is great. A fantastic deal as I'm stuffed (I'm a big bodybuilder type so that's not easy!) and all for $8, quite a deal. read more

Cafe Connection - A bit messy (man handled it on the way back to the office) but INCREDIBLY tasty. If you could only have Smell-O-Vision. Chicken! - Cafes Near Me - Sacramento, California

Great spot. I just wish they served oxtails more often. All of the options are greater for lunch and dinner. Friendly owner and delicious food read more

Avoid this place at all costs. Gross food, nasty customer service. They make their smoothies with milk, fruit, and syrup (gross),but that isn't made clear on their menu. I politely asked to return my smoothie after tasting it because I can't drink milk. The man working did refund our money, but in the process cursed at us all the way out the door (f* you, I don't need this s***, get the f* out of here). I've never been treated so rudely at a business. read more

Recently I realized that I haven't been to Cafe Connection for awhile. The last time I had been there, several years ago, I liked the food but somehow it fell off my radar. One day walking down that stretch of L St. I can smell the rich spices coming out of Cafe Connection and it made me want to check it out again. Oh man, I'm not going to let time go by and not lunch here again. I've had the jerk chicken plate and the curry chicken plate and both with salad ($7.50) are Very delicious. The jerk chicken is grilled and Spicy (I like!). The curry chicken is rich with spices, is warmly spiced and delicious. I really enjoy the rice and beans to accompany each, but am looking forward to trying the coconut rice or the mains over salad. I am glad to have re-discovered Cafe Connection. I won't be a stranger again. read more

With parents from the Caribbean I've been wanting to try Cafe Connection ever since their signage on L street caught my eye. I was sad to find out they are only open on weekdays and closed by the time I get off work so I was determined to try them out on on one of my days off. We finally got the chance to stop in the Friday before Christmas. Anticipating a smaller crowd, their menu was somewhat limited and items were already starting to run out but luckily we got there just in time for the Curry Chicken and Jerk Chicken. I got my Curry Chicken over coconut rice while my husband had his over beans and rice. EXCELLENT! The curry chicken brought back flashbacks of our trips to Roti Shops in Florida (the closest I've been to authentic Caribbean food aside from mom and dad's). It was very flavorful with hints of masala and spice. I really enjoyed the coconut rice. It was fluffy and balanced the spiciness from the chicken. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his jerk chicken. He said it was really good and he would order it again. Not knowing when we'd get the chance to stop in again we got 3 beef patties to go. Also very good and worth a try. Before we left I stopped and talked with Ken, the owner. He was very nice and happened to be from the same island my parents were from- Trinidad. He let me know I could always call in an order and pick it up on my way home since lunch hours are almost impossible for me to make. Ken also mentioned they sometimes have Soca and Reggae parties in the summer. Sounds good to me! Can't wait to try their oxtail, curry goat and roti the next time I get a chance to visit. read more

This place is right across the Capitol in Sacramento. And if you are walking outside the restaurant you can smell the delicious food. Every time, I pass by this place the food smell makes me hungry. So today, we decided to try out this place since I forgot my lunch at home. So sad.. . I went in and sampled the chicken with potato curry. After I took one bite, I knew this is what I have to order. The restaurant has a strange name. It's a Caribbean restaurant. You can see the pictures of the food outside the window. And the name of the restaurant is written in small writing and you don't know where it's located looking at the sign. Anyways, the food was good and I will definitely go there again. I recommend people to try the chicken curry. It tastes like indian food. And you get salad and beans on the side too. It's a really good deal for $7.50. read more

Wow! Delicious food and the nicest customer service. Got the jerk chicken burrito and it I was huge

You can smell how delicious the food is from the sidewalk. I had the burrito and it was absolutely huge. Enough to save for a second meal. There's a bit of a kick to the food which connects back to their roots. DONT order through the yelp app, the employees will get confused, also Yelp has the wrong prices, and most likely are overcharging you. If you need to pick up, simply call in an order. read more

The oxtail though! I've been here a handful of times, each time trying to get my hands on the oxtail but it's only served every other Fri. I finally remembered to check in on the right day and was well rewarded. Very tender and well seasoned! I've also tried breakfast items, various lunch sandwiches and other specialties like the Jerk Chicken. Their rice and beans are legit. I've never been treated badly here, but according to some other yelper's interactions with the owners, I can definitely see that happening. Until I get cussed out, I'll probably be a repeat customer (every other Friday of course). read more

I never heard of this place before today. I was really craving beef patties and Yelp brought me here. I read reviews about them running out of jerk chicken early in the day since that's their special on Thursday's & Friday's. I came in around 3:30 on a Friday and yep they were running out of it. Luckily I was able to call in my order & the super nice lady put a plate to the side for me. When I got there I was greeted by the same lady (I believe she is the owner) she was so sweet and took care of me. I ordered half curry chicken/half jerk chicken plate with rice & beans and salad. Delicious!!!! I also got the chicken pattie and beef pattie (both 10 out of 10.) They give a lot of food so I'll be having it for dinner tomorrow as well :) All in all, I'll be back again for sure. read more

Cafe Connection - Jerk chicken & curry chicken w rice & beans - Cafes Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

As I walked by this place, I was like, is that curry I smell, acting like Scobby Doo when he smells food. Hahah. So I decided to walk in and noticed the ambiance was very nice and contemporary. I was a little shocked because I assumed this place was a small coffee shop that served sandwiches and drinks. I ordered the chicken curry which came with white rice and a mixed salad over ranch dressing for $7.50. The curry was more liquidly that expected because I'm used to curry being thicker. As for the taste, it was very flavorful but a tad bit on the salty side. I was hoping there was more rice because it was pretty saucy. For $7.50 I was expecting a bigger portion too. My buddy ordered the shredded jerk chicken with rice. I tried the chicken and it was very tasty and spicy. It had a good kick where your mouth still has the hotness marinating on your tongue. After we finished our plates, the owner came out and greeted us asking how the food was and served us some complementary oranges as a dessert. I thought that was very nice of her. Overall, I'd give this spot another chance. read more

Cafe Connection - Chicken curry over rice with a side salad - Cafes Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

My favorite place to eat near the Capitol. Great jerk chicken and both chicken and veggie (vegan) curry. Sandwiches and salad options too, though I always get the jerk or curry over the red beans and rice. Very affordable and pretty quick. I've eaten here dozens of times... The owners are super nice, you generally get a little reggae music with your meal, and it's a nice respite from the bustle of the day. Check them out. read more

Got the roti wrap and jerk chicken. The wrap was great and very flavorful while the jerk chicken was flavorful but dry. Will try it again and hope for the best. read more

DON'T USE GRUBHUB!!!!!!!! The restaurant does not work with GRUBHUB and is not paid by GRUBHUB. Transactions can be cancelled. Call the restaurant or use other delivery services. Everything else is great food is delicious. read more

Cafe Connection - Jerk chicken sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Sacramento, California