A wonderful experience at Caribbean Spice. We were headed out of town and wanted a quick bite so, we decided on Jamaican patties. Caribbean Spice was easy to locate and a gem of a find! The service was top notch starting with the owners two of whom engage at the start; followed by the worker who were all pleasant, engaging and knowledgeable with the recommendations offered. The menu is short listed of all the Jamaican faves that are obviously made with love, careful attention by a seasoned expert. Everything we tried was excellent! I wish they offered chicken patties but, the other options made up for that. The beef and cheese coco loaf... tasty and filling so order up a dozen. Banana bread yummy and tasted like it was homemade from scratch. The decor is light, bright, clean and highly representative of the island of Jamaica. Make a trip and order some of everything!! read more

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I Expected better food please do not believe the prior ratings food not authentic Jamaican I could have done better cooking at home a real waste of my $17 for Jerk chicken Service good but U will go back food not good read more

I stop by Caribbean spice to pick up two patties beef and cheese the place was clean and I came at a good time it was easy to be served faster My only complaint is that they have kind cuts back the meat portion from the way they use to make them I would love to give them a 5star but 4is the best thing for right now read more

Well, I just moved to Gainesville and was hoping there'd be some good Jamaican food in town, but honestly, I wasn't expecting much. I ordered a large jerk chicken, and man, it was so good my wife and I were able to split it and still be satisfied. We also got a couple of patties -- spinach and vegetable -- and both were excellent. I asked for some hot sauce, and the owner personally came out and gave me some really great homemade sauce. I'm so glad this place is here in town. We'll definitely be back soon read more

A1! First the service was excellent, the two gentlemen working the front were awesome, friendly and knowledgeable! The recommendation were excellent choices. We got the Oxtails and Brown stew chicken lunch portions and they are very generous. The flavors were amazing and we definitely will be back! I can't believe I've only found them now after all these years they been here! Such a hidden gem and the restaurant was very clean including the bathrooms! Highly recommend. read more

I love everything about this restaurant. The food is excellent, and the service is as well!

Overall: This is another Gainesville staple. If you like Jamaican cuisine, come here. Ambiance: Lots of parking. Lots of seating inside. Good for groups. This place is definitely bigger than their old location YEARS ago on University Ave. I do miss that place though bc when I was in school it was just easy to walk to. Service: You walk up and order. It is quick and they are friendly and you can ask questions about portions and differences between menu items. Food: If you are craving good old fashioned Jamaican patties, they run out bc that's how much ppl love it. They have a variety of options from spicy beef to vegetarian. Their jerk chicken does have heat so be fair warned! The only reason I am giving 4 instead of 5 stars is because of price. I know the economy has changed and Gainesville is different but the Jamaican parties in Miami are cheaper. I think this place should actually be updated to $$ instead $ Overall, seriously come here! read more

Caribbean Spice - Caribbean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

This is the go to spot for fresh and delicious Jamaican patties in town. I stopped in for a late lunch and was craving a spicy beef patty. Depending on the time of the day, it can be a hit or miss on what variety of patties they offer. When I walked in around 3pm - they had spicy, mild, beef and cheese, and veggie patties. I ordered a spicy beef and veggie patty which came out to $7 and some change. The spicy beef were fresh and I believe they had just made them as they were piping hot. As soon as I bit into the patty, the contents spilled out everywhere. The patty is super flaky and fresh and the spicy beef has the perfect amount of spicy and flavor. They do not skimp out on the filling at all. The veggie patty has a sweeter patty and is softer in texture than the meat patties. The veggie filling is made up of cabbage and carrots and has peppery taste but flavorful. It pairs perfectly with the sweet exterior of the patty and same of the beef patty, the veggie is packed to the brim. Definitely stop by Caribbean Spice if you're looking to taste some authentic Jamaican patties that are a great treat to add to your meal or just to eat on the go. read more

Best Jamaican food in the ville Great service always very friendly. Never enough spinach patties; must spinach fiends in the city . best cornbread in the world and patties are fire. Plenty of parking, comfortable couches & seating.. whatever you need its here. You can tell its made with love read more

Came in late one day for a lunch and got the curry chicken special. Asked for extra curry and the sauce did not disappoint. The meat was tender. I wish the curry itself was a little spicier, however. The service was quick, however the ambiance of the restaurant is somewhat lacking. That being said, the quality of the food is solid. Looking forward to trying the jerk chicken next time! read more

Great Jamaican food! The oxtail and cabbage are excellent! I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Caribbean Spice - Oxtail and white rice with cabbage. - Caribbean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

What a perfect twist on traditional beef patties . The Coco Bread loaves are super popular and sell out! Get there early or order ahead. Overall service was friendly and fast. The space was clean and well designed. Definitely worth a visit when in Gainesville read more

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The best oxtails I have had in a long time. The service was polite. I didnt want the cabbage as a side so they allowed me to get double rice. The rice was cooked to perfection and the oxtails were tender and seasoned perfectly. I would definitely eat from there again. read more

First this place came recommended from both a friend and yelp so i had to try!! Walked in and was greeted by super friendly staff and took my order right away as i already knew what we wanted. Walking in the smell of the food is SOOO good, and the music playing in the background was very reminiscent of an island atmosphere. I have traveled to numerous Caribbean Island and felt like i was back on the islands!! The order was ready in about 5 minutes and i couldn't wait to get home, My wife could not stop saying WOW as she ate the oxtail dinner!! She said hands down it the best she has eaten!! Also my Curry chicken dinner looked and smelled and tasted amazing, best curry chicken i have had to include the islands!! The servings are more than ample. Definite won't leave you hungry!! I can see why it was recommended for me to try!! And i am already planning on going back later this week. read more

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Food was awesome! I had the curry chicken and my spouse had the stewed oxtail. Friendly service. Busy restaurant! Good music playing in the background. We will definitely be back. read more

Caribbean Spice will always be at the top of the list for me! I have memories of my dad taking me there when I was younger and have been in love with their patties and coco bread ever since. I finally made it back to Gainesville, and was able to pay them a visit. I made sure to get there as soon as they opened because I know the Pattie's go quickly! I ordered spinach patties, spinach and cheese loaf, beef and cheese, and coco bread. I was hoping to get a turkey and cheese, but they were out that day. Everything was just like I remember it. The coco loaves are my fave. I could seriously eat one every day. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in town. Caribbean Spice is guaranteed to provide good quality patties. My only regret is not ordering more! read more

Caribbean Spice - Caribbean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Caribbean spice food is exceptionally good! I ordered three oxtail dinners and the portions were huge! The restaurant is spotless, and the owners, both of whom I met today, were terrific. I highly recommend! You will not be disappointed. read more

It's been a while, so I just wanted to reiterate to the world just how good Caribbean Spice is! I go in here all the time, and though I tend to get the same thing each time, the food is always top-notch! I love their spicy patties, and combining one or two of those along with a standard meat-and-cheese patty, I have a solid lunch! One of these days I am going to have to have a talk with them and see if I can get Chris to make me a spicy meat-and-cheese patty! I am always greeted warmly there, and my orders are taken quickly and delivered fast as well. Sure, sometimes they are out of one or another types of patties, but that is kind of a good thing in my book, because it means that they are getting solid business and will remain in business for years to come. read more

The oxtails gravy was so salty this time and the server forgot my beef patty! I paid $49 for a lunch platter and a dinner platter, very disappointed this time! Please check the salt content for flavor I could barely eat the food. read more

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I would say the food is almost a four. The Goat curry had too much curry and the oxtail was a bit too fatty. However, I think my biggest issue with this place was the service. I called to try to place an order and was talking to the gentleman for about 30 seconds where he then told me can he please put me on hold and then had me wait almost 5 to 10 minutes where I eventually just hung up the phone. And then called again maybe 15 minutes later as I was driving over, and I placed my order. When I got there, my order was not ready to go, and they weren't even sure if they were able to fill the order because they ran out of the goat curry. read more

Caribbean Spice - Oxtail - Caribbean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Nice people good Jerk chicken at counter, clean tables, had a Ginger beer to ,easy parking

Haven't been here for the last 20 years or so. It was real good back then when they were on University Ave. Better atmosphere in their (fairly new) spot and I can swear the food is even better than before. Christopher Chung, the owner hasn't missed a beat! Patties are home made, something you won't find in many Jamaican restaurants. They're usually frozen and warmed up. I had the jerk pork dinner and it was delicious. Pork was tender and cooked to perfection. Noticed they have a food truck as well. Jealous of Gainesville cause I don't have this back home. read more

Sizeable portions and friendly, informative service. The flavor of the jerk chicken was distinctive, strong and different than others that I've had although jerk can be as varied as curry. Restaurant atmosphere focused less on decor and more on food service. Not bad and may return. read more

Caribbean Spice - Jerk chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I have eaten here 3 times while traveling for work, once I had curry chicken and twice I had curry goat. Both meals were incredible. I eat as keto as possible so I did not have rice and picked around the potato. The staff was both helpful and friendly, if I had questions they were willing to help. Most people seem to come here for the Jamaican patties, during lunch they were out of one variety or another but always had most varieties available. These were made in house so they took some extra time. This will be a Gainesville regular every time I am there. I always try to include restrooms. The condition of the restrooms gives a good indication of the condition of the kitchen. These restrooms were clean and well stocked. read more

went on 12/15/2025. the curry chicken was absolutely disgusting. no flavor/no salt, stingy with the sauce, and the rice was dry. it didn't even smell like curry, so i should have realized something was off. the reviews said it was the best which is why i went. i don't know if this was just an off day, but i will never go back. it was so bad that my night was ruined after i ate it and i had to go to chipotle for a new meal. this was a waste of $16 and ended up in the trash. do better!!!!! read more

The food here is always good. And the service is always excellent. I will continue. I love all the way on the other side of town so I am willing to drive all the way from over there just so I can come all the way over here to get my Jamaican beef patties. read more

Ordered Brown stew chicken which was great. Tasty. Ample portion. Vegetables. Not too salty. The curried chicken was also very good. However, I would have preferred actual chicken pieces, rather than diced chicken. Take-out service was fast. The place is nice. Bob Marley image on wall panel is a nice touch read more

LEGENDARY beef PATTIS also generous portion... they really got it all here and the owner has been serving Gainesville and the surrounding communities my entire life. Today's lunch was provided by their catering services and I'm so excited and grateful and just emo AF about lunch today SO HERES 2 THEM !!!!!!! read more

I tried here because of the rave reviews and was thoroughly disappointed on almost every aspect. I will say that the service was pleasant and while spartan, the restaurant was clean. I ordered the jerk pork, which is my most often ordered when in a Jamaican restaurant. I thought it was a bit pricey, but not so much that I balked. When my food came out, I asked if they had a hot sauce. The woman replied that they did and that it was made in-house (I am anticipating good things)...BUT, it was not ready. This was at noon on a Tuesday. They didn't see themselves running out prior? Anyway, opening my box of food, I saw a few cubes of pork with a dry rub with rice and beans and the cabbage. Where's the jerk sauce? I guess they determined this to be jerk pork because they through some spices on it. This dish missed the pure wonderment that a plate of jerk should represent. Jerk pork (or jerk chicken) should make your soul yearn for an island, the ocean, and a gentle breeze. It should have your heart singing a reggae song of celebration. Good Jamaican food should be an experience, the only experience this was was a stinging disappointment. read more

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I've been a Caribbean Spice junkie for over 7 years and it seems that either the recipe has changed or the owner has lost his passion for cooking. The place is always very neatly kept. Clean countertops and tables. Owner isn't very nice to the employees and it shows. I ordered my top favorite the oxtails and I have not been satisfied for months but I continue to return because I know he has great food but it isn't the same. read more

Caribbean Spice - DINNER PORTION OXTAIL - Caribbean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Food was ok. I had better Jamaican food because my wife is Jamaican lol. If you never had Jamaican food you probably think this was good but for me someone who's had home cook Jamaican meal this is not not good to me. read more

Caribbean Spice - Unrelated chicken with cabbage and rice and peas. - Caribbean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

We went for lunch and the line was understandably getting long. There seemed to be only one person cooking in the back, one person at the register and one person starting orders with those food items that are made in advance. The owner was present and behind the counter, however, unfortunately he was motivated to assist his employees in moving the line along and getting patrons their food any faster, he just seemed to be interested in chatting with customers, and while public relations is key, lets not do so as to run counter with patrons getting their orders filled, which is already in competition with the volume of take out orders. Please note, this is a counter service only establishment. I do wish Yelp would add this feature to their app/site, I think that users would find it helpful. If you prefer table service for nearly $50 (price for using a credit card, which was not indicated with cash prices on the menu, just that those advertised are cash prices) for two meals, then I'd suggest you keep scrolling. I really am a proponent of mom and pops, but it gets harder for all involved with this choice of pricing structure. Also, provided an establishment makes the user aware of this in advance, you could either choose elsewhere or go to the ATM. Another feature I think Yelp should consider given so many restaurants are shifting to this pricing structure. As for the ambiance, save for the homage to Bob Marley, I would say there isn't any, and that's ok. Most importantly it was clean and orderly. I got the oxtail, which was divine in flavor and fall off the bone tender, but it was without question the smallest size oxtail I have ever seen or ordered... perhaps they were severely malnourished....over rice, pigeon peas and kidney beans which were fabulous. However the cabbage was seriously lacking in flavor and amount, there was no more than 2 heaping tablespoons in the portion. The spinach patties was unique and although it seemed like it was sitting in the warmer for awhile, the interior was delicious. When asked by the owner for feedback, I regret not being transparent, however, I truly thought he'd look at me and say "what would you know?".. I spent a number of years during and after college in NYC and I ate my way through a lot of incredible ethnic food which Jamaican occupied many of those calories. My husband got the jerk chicken, same sides and the mild beef pattie (out of spicy). He stated chicken was spicy enough, cabbage was tiny and lacking in any discernable flavor and he didn't care for the same rice and bean mix ... to each their own. I thought it hit the spot. Portions of rice were generous, not of the meat, so at least there's that for leftovers. I really want them to succeed, but I can't justify going back at this juncture based on price vs. portion of actual protein... but you be your own, informed, judge. read more

Food is not the best. The service is only good to certain demographics. Stereotypical design and unwelcoming ambiance.

With the recent closing of a nearby favorite, Reggae Shack, I went to look for my next favorite Caribbean restaurant to meet my needs. I am pleased to report that those needs were met and exceeded. The flavors experienced in the food as well as the quantity was more than sufficient. Alas, I did indeed go for the most expensive item on their menu, the Oxtail dinner, as well as a Beef Patty. While daunting, it definitely met and exceeded expectations. The meat was incredibly tender. The Beef Patty was juicy. The spices were perfect. I also had the opportunity to try my friend's order of Jerk Chicken, a very good value option with amazing flavor still. We arrived later in the evening (they should extend their hours) and that's where the service can seem a bit lacking. The Chef/owner had a bit of an attitude but the art is separated from the artist and I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't impressed. A bit of a pricey play for a night out but one you can't replace. Will gladly return again! read more

Caribbean Spice - Braised Oxtail Meal and Jerk Chicken Meal with Mild Beef Patty - Caribbean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Jerk chicken is still great. Rice and beans were hard to eat. steamed cabbage was missing in my plate. Not as good as I remember.

I'm sooo hype that Caribbean Spice is back! I never got to experience it before, so when I heard that they were coming back into town, I was on the hunt!! Luckily, the new spot is only up the street from my home!! The Owner and staff are extremely sweet, (which is abnormal when it comes to Jamaican restaurants, I usually like a little attitude with my Oxtails back in South Florida LOL). The menu is fixed per day, I always seem to miss the Oxtails other than my first visit there and they were delicious! Not too fatty, flavorful and I had about 6 large pieces in my small order which wasn't bad at all. Not terribly cheap, but Caribbean food is definitely something difficult to find in this town, at least authentic Caribbean food (like what Reggae Shack used to be!) My only complaint? No plantains and cabbage! That's a staple for island meals for me, super odd that they don't have it there, but believeeee me, it doesn't stop me from visiting! The Coco Bread is AWESOME! And if you're a real Caribbean food fan, you know that you HAVE to put your patty in your coco bread and THEN enjoy! read more

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came in for lunch, the owner/ partner and the girl working register were super friendly. Explained what I was getting between lunch and dinner portions. got to say best spot in Gainesville. came for the oxtails and they did not disappoint! their home made scotch bonnet pepper sauce will make a man out of ya! def will be back before I leave! read more

Caribbean Spice - Caribbean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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I just wanted to give a noticeable mention to Jay and Cameron for exceptional "Customer Service". Thank you both for making me feel like a valuable customer. You're an outstanding TEAM!! Andrew P. read more

Jamaican patties are one of favorite things to eat in the world. Caribbean Spice seriously knows how to deliver an amazing patty. I ordered a spicy beef patty and coco loaf bread. I had never tried coco loaf bread before eating here. Apparently, you are supposed to place the patty in between the bread like a sandwich. At first I thought the bread was really basic and unnecessary but the more bites I took the more I enjoyed it. The spicy patty was soo good. I have had plenty of patty experiences growing up, including eating them in Jamaica. These patties REALLY hit the mark in my opinion. If they were a bit cheaper I would give 5 stars. I can't wait to go back and try more items on the menu. read more

Caribbean Spice - Caribbean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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This is the best Jamaican food I have found North of Orlando . I had their oxtail and it was tender and flavorful. They are very polite and helpful and it made the entire experience very pleasant. They also use high quality Meat without antibiotics and hormones. Great taste of Jamaica!!. read more