We had an excellent customer service and the food was superb. The restaurant clean and very good. Had fun with the band

Upon walking in the establishment, The decor stood out! Nicely decorated with a platform on the center over a waterbed of roses. The staff were all hospitable- including Donovan, the owner. He took tie to chat with us while he was serving patrons in the restaurant. There was a calypso band of senior men . The music was a very nice touch. About the food-from appetizer to entrees, everything was delicious!! We scraped the bowl of the Cream of Crab soup. Each of our entrees were savory and seasoned very well. Even the sweet potatoes were soft and flavorful. I do recommend getting the lamb chops medium. A few things that aren't as appealing-One was the wait. We had reservations and still waited 30 mins before being seated, and there were available tables. Also, our drinks came out after our appetizers and food. Definitely a great new restaurant spot to visit. I would definitely come back. read more

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The owner was nice enough to give Russett residents 20% off their meal on Thursday, April 9. I had my reservations about this restaurant for a number of reasons, which a lot of things were dispelled as it had been mostly a good experience. They were doing a great job on service, cordial, answered questions, & food was solid. It was when the bill came. I was going to tip 20% for his good service, but I was pissed when there was an automatic 18% gratuity added to the bill for just two of us. That was so obnoxious. That's the crap they'd do in DC with their Initiative 82 nonsense. Or it is common practice for a large enough party to do forced 18% or whatever gratuity, which still is annoying. 90% of the time I'm tipping at least 18%, but what about the other 10% where the service sucks, slow, &/or surly?! They are subsidizing lousy servers with that guaranteed 18%. This place opened maybe last summer or so, and it was kind of a nice addition to Corridor Marketplace. I wasn't terribly interested in spicy Caribbean food, granted not all spicy. It's a Caribbean-Italian fusion. I checked the menu online not long after they opened and before deciding to finally give this local place in my neighborhood a try when they were nice enough to give 20% off. I determined the food is strange although they had some stuff that might be appealing but seemed overprice. $36 for lasagna seems steep to me, but it's oxtail lasagna so some fancy beef I suppose. Initially, I tried calling to make my reservation on Monday, but no one answered and then realized Monday is the day they are closed. I called 3 times on Tuesday afternoon, but no one answered, which was a bit of a negative. However, while on my 3rd call to them, I was on a walk, and I decided I'd try walking in since I wasn't all that far from Catherine's on my walk. The restaurant was dead as it was about 3:30 in the afternoon, and the server was nice getting my reservation in for an early dinner on Thursday as I had a meeting at 7 PM and also something enough I was ideally trying to do before that. My friend & fellow Russett resident arrived on time. We discussed the red ropes and carpeting outside, which I've always thought was too much. It blocks almost the entire sidewalk over there, which was one thing that turned me off to the restaurant originally. My older friend who walks with a cane made an interesting comment I didn't think of but agreed that it could be hazardous to someone with a cane, elderly, or handicap. Although I don't think the red rope/carpeting is necessary at all, perhaps they could consider pulling it back some. We were seated at a white table cloth seats. They have booth/table combinations, individual tables of varying sizes, and the bar area. Server promptly came over. The place is nicely decorated with good lighting, but was quite warm as the big windows brought in the hot sun even though it was only maybe 60 F outside, but I'm sure in the summer & when it's legitimately warm outside they have the AC cranking. I just water as I wanted to be clearheaded for the 7 PM meeting, but I heard from another neighbor there that the sangria drink was good & strong. My friend ordered a drink, but it never came for her, which she didn't care, but that was an error on their part. I asked the server several questions about his recommendations & various other aspects of the menu. I settled on what I had originally had leaned to when I had looked at the menu online and the Yelp reviews I saw. I got the rasta pasta with chicken. My friend got the oxtail lasagna. Although I'm not big on spicy foods in general, and the rasta pasta was pretty spicy, it still wasn't so ridiculously spicy that it detracted on the good taste. The portion size was bigger than I realized, which was a plus too. I could've pigged out and eaten the whole sucker, but I decided to not overeat and save half as a leftover. Based on some reviews/pics, I was thinking the rasta pasta wasn't going to be that big, and that it'd be one sitting. In 2024, my girlfriend & I had gone to an Italian restaurant, where the portion size was not much where I didn't have leftovers, which was annoying for the price there, and I had no 20% off or any sort of discount. I asked to try a bite of my friend's oxtail lasagna as I was curious to see what oxtail was all about. It was very good, but it's still not worth $36 although debatable with the 20% off about $29, I would've been satisfied with it. Further, it looked bigger than I was thinking. Water refill came in a timely enough manner, which always important. It had been overall a pleasant experience, and I was ready to give 4-stars, but as I said before the forced 18% gratuity was a big turnoff, which lowered it to 3-stars. Forced gratuity is a major turnoff. I might've considered coming back with the high full prices, but I won't come back with that forced gratuity nonsense. read more

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My first time visiting this spot! I came here for brunch with my friend. The decor and ambiance is very nice. I loved the decorations and the art. The red carpet entry had my thinking I was underdressed but I wasn't. Whew Our server, Eddie, was good. Very friendly and gracious. He didn't tell us anything about the menu or suggestions for what to eat but he did inform us about the 90 minute time limit for our table. It's a popular spot for brunch so I get it. The food was supposed to be a fusion of Caribbean and Italian cuisine but it seemed like more Caribbean than anything else. I had the rum pancakes. I do not recommend it. They were lukewarm, flat, and rubbery. I didn't taste any rum flavor. We also had mango mimosa carafe. I didn't taste any mango flavor. The better part was the steel drum band playing live music. They weren't too loud. And they played beautifully. It created good vibes. Overall this place was pretty mid to me. I would go back if invited but I wouldn't make an effort to go. read more

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I play pool league in this area once a week. As I was looking for restaurants to eat dinner, I came across this place on Yelp. It has mixed reviews, the menu looked great (never seen a fusion of Italian and Caribbean) so I decided to give this a try. They have a grand entrance. Small water feature with a stage for live music. Great place to take some pictures. 10/10 for the ambiance. We ordered mocktails as we were not in the mood to drink alcohol. The mocktails were decent. For food we ordered the crispy calamari, jerk chicken and Rasta pasta. Everything was very delicious. The service was phenomenal. It was decently crowded. Not too busy yet. Jerk chicken is a must try here. It's perfectly flavored and just the right amount of spice. You can order a side of scotch bonet hot sauce if you it extra spicy. Rasta pasta was very delicious as well. I love the spicy flavor in my pasta. I am so glad we tried this place. I am definitely coming back here. read more

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OMG the food here is delicious, drinks are great and exceptional customer service. the ambiance is beautiful. Catherine's did not disappoint. I totally recommend. read more

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This restaurant is really nice!! I haven't been in this area since I was stationed here 2011-2013. We came for an early dinner on a Thursday. The ambiance was set prior to walking through the front door with a red carpet and heating lamps. The staff was friendly and welcoming. The service was GREAT and the food was EXCELLENT !! I have ABSOLUTELY NO complaints about ANYTHING!! I will DEFINITELY return for brunch. 18% gratuity is automatically added to your check but the service we received was worth it!! Jackie was very attentive and offered great insight on menu selections. It is located in a shopping center so there is ample parking. They also offer military discounts. read more

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I came here to celebrate my birthday last weekend and had reservations. When I arrived, half of my party was already there; however, even after letting them know we had a reservation, we still had to wait to be seated while they sorted out other things that had nothing to do with us. My reservation was for 8, but two people got sick and couldn't make it, which honestly worked out because the table would've been tight. They're definitely trying to fit people into every inch of space they have lol. After we were seated, a waiter came over and took our appetizer and drink orders. The appetizers came out in a timely manner, but the drinks were a different story. Even after I ordered another one halfway through my meal, it still didn't come out, and my party had already started requesting the checks. Now, the vibes are really nice, I'll give them that. I liked the red carpet and ropes at the entrance, and the water feature in the middle of the restaurant is a nice touch. I also enjoyed the live singers, and later in the night they switched to a DJ. It was definitely a vibe, and I had a good time celebrating my birthday. Yes... we were line dancing and twerking over the lamb chops lol! As for the food: I ordered the cream of crab soup for my appetizer. It had a lot of crab, but unfortunately there were shells in it. For my entrée, I had the lamb chops with potatoes, plus a side of grilled asparagus that didn't have any seasoning at all, a little salt and pepper would've gone a long way. Since it was my birthday, they brought out two desserts for me , a very chocolatey cake with ice cream and I believe a bourbon dessert. The wait staff came to the table with lights singing Happy Birthday, which was really nice. I'd be willing to come back to try their happy hour and possibly brunch. Oh, and they do allow split checks, which was a plus read more

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This place is a hidden gem in Laurel. Found this place on IG and searching open table. My son wanted to take me out for lunch so we came here. The outside was so nice with the red carpet and ropes. And then getting to the door seeing all the bottle of wines used as decor was very cute. The art work on the wall brings out the whole Caribbean vibe. It makes you feel like you are in the Caribbean without getting on a plane. Jackie our waitress was amazing. Very friendly and professional. The food was so good. The spices. The presentation of the food. The portions. Everything was good. The only thing is that I am allergic to coconut and so most things are made with coconut, so I'm limited. I can't wait to come back for date night. I even told my mom to bring my dad. Thanks for letting me celebrate my birthday here, read more

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This is my first time here. I wasn't really sure what the vibe was gonna be considering most reviews say that it's classy romantic style of dress. Me and my friend did adhere to the suggestions, but also noticed that some people showed up more casual but towards the evening a lot more people showed up in dressy attire. The atmosphere and decor really nice definitely giving Ronan sexy. The live music was a nice touch. The staff was super friendly. The food was really good. The only reason why I didn't give it five stars was because the Rasta pasta was so good but the bones made me so sad lol! It was so flavorful and really filling and savory and delicious. I would definitely order it again. I would absolutely come back. read more

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I'm so glad Laurel has another restaurant to enjoy. This venue is quaint and offers Caribbean music and R&B vibes. I visited on a slow night without live entertainment so it was nice and ambient. Our sever wasn't the most attentive but I suspect it was due to her being one of two servers on the floor. The food was good. I tried the rum punch which was a bit too sweet. I didn't finish it. I tried the Mama salad with Italian dressing, it wasn't anything special. I thoroughly enjoyed the Rasta pasta because it was creamy and the right amount of spice. I'd return and get other dishes to explore. read more

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Attended brunch here with a large group of friends for a birthday celebration. Although small, the restaurant is beautiful. Mural on the wall, the decor, the yellow color palette was very welcoming, and the live band was a great touch. Unfortunately, this restaurant does not do brunch well. They were overwhelmed and perhaps short staffed to accommodate such a large party. We waited so long in between champagne refills that we went up to the bar to get it ourselves. Their brunch food left a lot to be desired. Strawberries and Cream French Toast was made with regular sandwich bread, it was soggy, and not good. Several people at our table tried it. Eggs lacked seasoning, jerk chicken tasted more like stewed chicken with a lot of gravy, no one enjoyed the rice and peas - it had no flavor, cod fritters barely had any fish in it - it was mostly dough. The only item everyone enjoyed was the Rasta Pasta! They did a great job with the seasoning, the amount of chicken, etc. Although we were disappointed with brunch, I would probably return to give them another chance by trying their dinner and appetizer selections. read more

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The food was delicious! We had the jerk bruschetta, the brussel spouts, and we all ended up getting the same thing for the entree because it looked so good. The salmon/shrimp dish served over potatoes. That part was a little odd - seemed like rice or pasta would've been the best to part with it. We actually asked for some rice and our server brought out a small bowl which really set off the salmon. Overall, it was a great dinner. The place was packed on a Saturday night - the band started playing around 8pm. It was nice as well. We were a little taken aback when our server said in the sweetest way possible that management might ask us to leave because we were coming up on being there for 90 minutes. Having just spent $340 for dinner for 3 people, THAT was a little hard to hear/learn. I will add that no one ever came to ask us to leave - though we ended up leaving about 20 minutes after the warning. Other than that (and that's no small thing), we had a good experience. read more

I had the opportunity to experience Catherine's in Laurel yesterday for Sunday dinner with one of my mentors. Upon walking in, I was immediately met with loudness. The restaurant is essentially one large open room, and unfortunately the acoustics are not great. Conversation can be difficult because the noise travels. The seating layout could also be improved--larger parties (more than six people) don't seem to fit comfortably due to the setup. Now, let's get into the food. I ordered the sorrel tea, which was really good and refreshing. For appetizers, I chose the jerk bruschetta. Honestly, it was jerk chicken on bread topped with mango salsa. While the flavors were there, the chicken was a bit dry. I think chopping the chicken finer and adding more balsamic glaze along with a creamy cheese would really elevate the dish. We also ordered the saltfish cups for the table. This appetizer featured saltfish salad served inside a crispy plantain cup--almost like a mini mofongo turned upside down. It was a creative and enjoyable dish. For entrées, my mentor ordered the oxtail lasagna, while I chose the jerk herb lamb chops. The lamb chops were the star of the night for me--not just because they were lamb, but because they were a generous size, cooked exactly how I requested, and seasoned perfectly. The dish came with rosemary smashed red potatoes and gravy, which complemented the lamb very well. Our waitress was attentive, and the food came out in a timely manner, which I appreciated. Overall, I would definitely return--mainly for the lamb chops and that sorrel tea! read more

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I spontaneously decided to meet a friend I hadn't seen in a loooooooong time here. He made a reservation and I met him there at our designated meetup time. I had been hearing about this spot for a few weeks and I was quite excited since it was a fusion I had never even considered before -- Jamaican and Italian. So I showed up, and first off, I was delighted by the little red carpet scene outside. How welcoming is that?? The size of the sign didn't match that entrance though, haha. Once I stepped inside I was greeted by wine bottles on each side, and then this really cool water installation in the middle of the restaurant. It's not a pool... it's not a fountain... but it's surrounded by palm trees and makes me want to travel haha. I found my buddy seated at a small table, and a lovely server took care of us. I ordered the jerk bruschetta and oxtail lasagna (I HAD TO), and my buddy and I shared sea and fire octopus. The salsa on the bruschetta made it noticeably cold, but the flavor was still on point. I really loved the octopus. And the presentation was spectacular. The lasagna... expensive dish, but sooo much oxtail in there. And it was so good I was devastated when it was gone!! My friend either got the snapper or escovitch, I forgot which one -- but he spoke highly of it. They have a sorrel martini that was so tempting, but I opted for N/A sorrel... and I loved it. It was gingery just how I like it! My buddy and I shared a bread pudding for dessert and that was great too!! The bruschetta might've been cold, but I know they were definitely still in their soft opening phase back then so I'm giving benefit of the doubt. They had a live DJ (one I happened to know all the way back from college, ha), and I was appreciative that one took the time to go around and ask customers how they felt about the volume. That's a big gesture to make sure he's setting the desired ambience and vibe, and I really appreciated it. With the great service, the experience was a win for me. I'm looking forward to returning for happy hour and to try more of the menu... I'm eyeing you, tiramisu and sorrel martini! read more

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I visited Catherine's on a Thursday night, and let me start by saying: this spot knows how to create a vibe. I was seated immediately in the center of the restaurant with no issues... until the issues arrived. As someone who's worked in restaurants before, I firmly believe great food can never outshine bad service. Ever. And anyone in the industry knows the unwritten rule: the server has about 5 minutes to greet the table and at least drop off water. I even gave them grace. But our waitress didn't make it over for almost 15-20 minutes. I actually set a timer after a while, and when she finally showed up, my 15-minute countdown was already at 6 minutes left. What We Ordered Sorrel & Water The sorrel was flavorful and refreshing, but getting a simple glass of water felt like trying to flag down a cab in the rain. Even the female manager/owner made eye contact with me--hand raised and everything--and still didn't acknowledge us. Calamari Perfectly fried, golden, crisp, and paired with a marinara sauce that actually tasted house-made. A win. Oxtail Lasagna Loved this twist on a classic. Rich, tender oxtail layered into cheesy lasagna? Yes, please. Bread Pudding The star of the entire night. Warm, soft, studded with golden raisins, and topped with a sauce I could've eaten with a spoon. I'd come back just for this. Atmosphere Now this is where Catherine's shines. The DJ was spinning all the hits, a live singer was doing spot-on covers of crowd favorites, and people were up doing every line dance you can think of. It genuinely felt like a party--fun, lively, and full of energy. Final Thoughts Catherine's is everywhere on IG and TikTok, and trust me, the influencers aren't lying about how good the food is. But what they don't mention is the service -- and it matters. A lot. Go for the food, go for the vibe, go for the bread pudding (seriously). But definitely go and form your own opinion... and don't forget to leave your honest thoughts, too. read more

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First Visit -Valentine's Day 3.5/4 Open table alerted me on 2/12 that there were reservations open for Valentine's Day at 6:45pm. They had a special guest, Gyptian, coming to perform. Sounded like a deal- get in, eat and see if I could see one of my favorites reggae artists! I saw on socials that the show was at 8pm; tickets were $30 at the door (90minute reservation slots). I tried calling multiple times prior to iron out details and I never got an answer on the phone. Reservation day: there was a little wait for my reservation. No problem. Decent food (stuffed salmon, buttery and flaky; not enough stuffing, with mash $50 no green veggies; a choice or two on the menu to order separately, but why?), good drinks and I did not get the yelp recommended bread pudding... darn! I got cannoli. They were ok and gave store bought. I was trying to get info about the upcoming performance. Turns out, now the show had a 10pm start time; $50 tickets. Sigh. I got a wristband for the performance since I was there early and they said it was ok to come back. I left and thought to go back at 10 since I already had my wristband. I got a gut instinct to just go in at 9:30. This was the chaos. People were lining up. These weren't people at the door for the performance only, these people still had reservations to sit and eat and that wasn't being honored. I heard that some people prepaid $60 per person for their reservation?? I haggled and struggled to get back in for standing room only and it was a bit uncomfortable standing over/ being close to patrons still dining. I'm sure you could guess that this show did not start at 10. I got to see Gyptian but that was HARD. I'm too old for this, lol. Despite ruining some couples' vday, and all chaos surrounding the performance, I would come back. Beautiful restaurant, they used tablecloths (fine dining should have tablecloths!), nice bathroom with the addition of a lotion dispenser! Staff were friendly and helpful from the time I stepped in until I left. Multiple people checked on me throughout my dining experience. A+ on that. Please, Catherine's- do what is necessary to manage ticket sales and hot performances. The stage in the middle of the restaurant was so TEEEE(as the kids say). read more

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The overall ambiance is nice. You walk in and the staff is warm and welcoming, they seem busy, but welcoming. I love the stage on top of the water in the middle of the restaurant. The live band was great! The tables for two are too small and close. I felt like we had too much going on at the table and watched another couple knock something on the floor as they attempted to pass to their seat due to close proximity of the tables. However, the lasagna was a miss for me. It tasted like Chef Boyadee. The oxtail was surprisingly spicy and I didn't love the meal. The jerk chicken received good reviews from our group. I would return to try other dishes and support the business and the ambiance. read more

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I visited Catherine's on a Friday night to celebrate my friend graduating. I honestly, had high hopes and expectations for Catherine's, but sadly they did not meet them, not sure if it is because it is still new. Any rate, we started off with the Crispy Calamari and it did not tickle my fancy at all; it was bland and the sauce was very watery. I defintiely had better elsewhere. We also got the Rosso Tropico, my friend loved the drink, but to me it just tasted like juice. For our entrees, we got the Oxtail Lasgana. My friend enjoyed she said it was hearty, but she would not get it again. For my entree, I got the Jerk Chicken with asparagus and brussels sprouts. It was a great portion. I like that they offered various spice levels. And of course, I got spicy. I also, got the Sweet Heat Shrimp and to be honest that was my favorite meal out of everything. It had the perfect seasoning -- only thing that I did not like was that the tails were still on the shrimp. Lastly, the bill -- I am not a fan of them automatically adding 18% gratuity. Honestly, the service was not that great, so that irked my nerves a little bit as well. Overall my experience was 3/5... would I go again, probably not. read more

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I love that Laurel has so many options! I've been following Catherine's since they first opened and was intrigued by their Jamaican/Italian fusion concept! They're still in their soft opening and don't believe they've had an official grand opening. I've been a few times and each time, was a great experience. Was warmly greeted by the guy at the door and the friendly hostess, Dajah. When I sat at the bar, it was for happy hour. Allan made great drinks and was engaging. I loved the sorrel margarita. My only complaint was that the bar was a bit high in comparison to the height of the bar stools. I recently met a friend for brunch. We made a reservation and I'd recommend doing so if you're not planning to sit at the bar. We did bottomless mimosas of course. It's worth $25! You're allowed to mix and match the flavors. I tried pineapple, cranberry and passionfruit. The cranberry was my least favorite and passionfruit was my favorite. I ordered the jerk chicken extra spicy with rice and peas and plantains. The jerk chicken was flavorful but still wasn't spicy enough. The sides were good. Our server was pleasant, made great suggestions and checked in on us. Even the manager, Denise and the owner, Donovan stopped by and chatted with us. Great customer service. The place is beautiful. I really love the vibe. The live music is a nice touch! Perfect for a date night, birthday celebration, or just a night out! Their website states an upscale dress code. I saw a variation in attire but I would say don't show up in flip flops or a tshirt! Add Catherine's to your list! read more

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Great ambiance and great food! As you walk in, the red carpet awaits your entrance. This place is beautiful and spacious. Sounds of the Caribbean Grace the atmosphere and the host is there to immediately greet you at the door to be seated. My guests and I ordered appetizers: the cream of crab soup, codfish fritters, and jerk bruschetta which were all delicious. I ordered the red snapper (head on) with a delicious sauce and guests ordered oxtail lasagna and Brussels sprouts. I also had a side of rice and peas. All seasoned well and the portions were great. The prices are average for the area and it's pretty upscale but not too bougie. The servers were great and attentive. As we were leaving, the reggae band was setting up but we will catch them next time. There is plenty of parking!! read more

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Food was just ok the lamb chops was cooked perfectly BUT wasn't seasoned enough The braided short ribs was too salty the potatoes definitely saved that dish The service was nice live music was too loud couldn't hear anybody at the table I felt like I was yelling the whole time The ambiance was nice ! Overall I'll give this place 6/10 read more

Catherine's Restaurant - Short ribs - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

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I couldn't believe when I saw that they were finally open! I swear I had just been over there recently, and they weren't. I jumped on Yelp and saw they needed some more reviews and instantly knew I needed to go there the same day. So what did I do? Booked a reservation, hit up my homegirl, and we met there for brunch. They open at 11:00 and that's the time I made my reservation so I had other things going on the remainder of the day. I walked in and the hostess was on the phone speaking with someone so I waited a few minutes but they didn't get off so I walked on over to the bar and started looking around. The bartender immediately acknowledged me and asked if they could help. I informed her of my reservation and that I was waiting for the hostess and she told me I could go ahead and sit down; she seated me and brought me menus. I can't remember her name but she was extremely helpful. She was very knowledgeable about their menu and answered all my questions about the Dolce Spritz. Even told me it was her idea, so of course I had to order it. I love an Aperol Soritz but not the bitterness so when she told me it was just like that but sweeter, I had to try. It didn't disappoint and I almost immediately felt it hit my system which reminded me that was the first thing I had to eat or drink that morning so I quickly sipped on some water and looked around, checking everything out. I decided to keep your traditional and go with the church chicken with plantains and rice and peas. I did request for dark meat because you can keep the dry breast and give me a wing and a thigh. I was asked if I wanted mild or spicy jerk seasoning and since I had never had it before and couldn't try this seasoning I decided to err on the side of caution and go with mild. It was a good level for first meal of the day. My homegirl got the salad with jerk chicken and bottomless mimosas. She said the salad was actually really good and although her chicken was less seasoned then mine, it was still good. The owner came over to get us but was pulled away multiple times and ended up neve getting back to us before I had to leave. I can see this quickly becoming a regular hang out for me on the future. I'll have to come back to experience their happy hour though. read more

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I went here to celebrate my brother's birthday. I was excited to try this new spot that merged Caribbean and Italian cuisines. We went on a Sunday evening. It's decorated nicely with a beautiful mural on the back wall. They also had a dj here but the music wasn't drowning out our voices which I appreciate. Our server was very friendly and energetic. I ordered the oxtail lasagna and it was delicious my only issue was that it didn't come with sides like the other entrees. I ordered a side of Brussel sprouts and they were pretty good. My brother ordered the inferno spaghetti and he said it was good. Definitely some more things on the menu I want to try so I will be back. read more

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Well, I am so happy that the end of my 21 day fasting with no desserts and no meats, I was able to visit this establishment. This restaurant is located in my hometown of Laurel Maryland in the corridor marketplace shopping center. It is definitely a hidden gem. The decor was absolutely stunning being that this used to be the cake plus store. In the middle there is a floating water pool, where a musician can perform. For Sunday brunch they had a steel drum band. The gentlemen were very charming and provided a wonderful island ambience to match the menu. Our drinks were very tasty and priced for the market that we live in. We had never had catfish, critters, but they were OK, the sauce was amazing in which they had a spicy cake. The cream of crab soup was very flavorful and filling. For our meal, I try something different with the beef, short ribs and hash. My eggs were undercooked, but I sent it back and afterwards it was superb! The combination of flavor with the tater tots and the beef short rib and peppers was amazing! And my egg was then cooked to perfection. My friend truly enjoyed her omelette, but there was also nothing left. We ended up staying because we truly enjoyed the ambience. Once the manager/owner came over introduced himself, we let him know that we were also celebrating my friend's birthday. He was so nice that he gave her a complementary dessert and cocktail. I swear everything from the hostess to the restrooms was immaculate. Definitely will come back here. This place definitely puts Laurel back on the map!!! read more

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***New Restaurant Alert*** I was going to wait until visit #2 to post a review, but like I was told as a child, "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today"! Let's start with the good! Gorgeous inside. Think of a slick Miami restaurant with little water ponds..etc! It has red carpet entry with a door man. We were a tad underdressed and wondered if we were literally going to be turned away. Luckily, they let us in.. Whewww, that was a long ride for almost nothing.. Lol! Continuing with the good, not a bad seat in the house. This restaurant is the perfect size and for it to be in a strip mall, I was in complete aww with what the owners have done with this space. Moving to the food. The calamari appetizer was delicious. She loved her Chicken Florentine and I liked my lamb chops. For $42 they have to give you more than 3 small lollipops, so definitely fix that!! Lamb is up there with a good Ribeye when I dine out but I'll never order chops at Catherine's again until they adjust the serving size. The bad. Service was OFF. We had a pleasant young lady who we thought NEVER served before in her life until she informed us that she had.. Lol! It was bad. She didn't have a good working knowledge of the menu. I ordered a Modelo on draft which was on the menu, 15min later, she informed me that they didn't have any draft beers available.. Huh, you didn't know that?!? Took another 15 minutes for my bottled Red Stripe. We were halfway through our meals before I got my first drink which was a freaking beer.. Smh.. Lol! The restaurant was a little warm but they did eventually turn on the AC, but it stayed on the warmer side. The live band wasn't anything special. Maybe they need to route the sound through the speakers that are hanging in the ceiling because the speakers they were using did nothing for their flow. We'll definitely be back and because they're so new, I'm rounding up with my four stars. Hopefully by our next visit, they would have made the adjustments all new establishments have to make! read more

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I came in craving the Rasta Pasta like it was about to change my life... and it changed it alright--just not in the way I hoped. It's usually on point, but last night? Very "we tried." The Alla Vodka Spaghetti clocked in at $36 and tasted like it should've been minding its business at $14. Respectfully, no. And the automatic 18% gratuity... on takeout? Oh, that's bold. That's confidence. That's... something. Overall: one and done. Your mileage may vary, but mine ran out of gas read more

Catherine's Restaurant - Take out receipt. Auto gratuity on take-out order. - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

They had me at fusion cuisine. A Caribbean Italian concept? That sounded amazing. With us having to pivot after our plans fell through, it seemed like finding Catherine's was just in the cards that night. It definitely looked like it was a nice place for a date night. I'm unsure if there was a dress code but my friend and I were able to enter with boots, sweater and a T-shirt. The red carpet entrance was chef's kiss and the decor was gorgeous. They had a live band with an incredible live singer who was singing all the hits. It just felt like an all around good time and everyone looked like they were all enjoying themselves. It was pretty busy but we managed to snag a table as walk ins. I will say our server was okay but she didn't seem very warm. I knew immediately I wanted to try the oxtail lasagna which must be their headline item on the menu but I have to say I was a little disappointed. Serving size was a bit small and I think my expectations may have been higher than what was delivered. However, I had leftover lasagna to take home since I didn't eat much that night. Reheated oxtail lasagna is a 10/10. I also had peas and rice which was a little drier than what I'm used to but I didn't mind it, it was still pretty good. I had it the next day with my oxtail lasagna and it was great as well. All in all, I really think the vibes with the live music really gave this place another star for me. With it being fairly new I'd return to see if there would be any new developments for sure. read more

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Long review, so here goes. Service : The girls and I were looking for a good place to eat for dinner, and came across this hot spot from Tiktok! So immediately we call the establishment after seeing online that they take reservations. The mobile hostess then (who we mistakenly did not get the name of), told us that we should arrive now in between tables if we wanted a quick seat. We tried and arrived 12 minutes later (we live close), and just like that, the new in-person host Deja, "greeted" us. Now when I put quotation marks around how she "greeted" us, I did that because... it was not a pleasant experience. It's my belief that the hostest can make or break your introduction, and Deja's... was not warm. She gave us mixed information on table availability when she told us that there were no tables available for the night, yet on OpenTable there was a table free in an another hour. It appeared as if she just wanted us to get out of her way to be honest, not as if she wanted our experience to matter. But right on queue it seemed, the owner Donnovan was walking around, greeting tables and parties, and being connected to headset, would look for table for walk-in dining. Which for THOSE efforts, it was appreciated. Long wait short, there was in fact, not a table free for our party of 3. So that reservation Deja said was unavailable, we snagged an hour later and shopped in the meantime. Hour later comes and return. Waited another 5-minutes for our table but when, was GREETED by Kayla. Kayla was the starrrr of the experience. She gave us food recommendations, her favorite drinks to make, just some of her favorites. Food : The table finally locked in on their meal and we decided on curry snapper with brussel sprouts, jerk chicken with 2 sides (brussel sprouts and rice & peas) and the lamb chops. All great, outside of the rice & beans, as it was very dry. But again, the same as I mentioned earlier -- Donnovan was walking around and with him asking if we were okay, we not only got that side addressed by having it swapped for extra brussel sprouts, but also.... Service: The owner Donnovan, walked over to our table and wound up talking with me about 15-minutes about our experience. He told me about the history of Catherine's as a restaurant and Catherine, as his mother and how her warm embrace brought us all together at the table. I told him most, if not all of the things mentioned above and what shaped our time. Ambiance : I am mindful that this is a new-establishment. I believe we've arrived within the first month of it opening. If they are to iron out some kinks, I would not mind returning. If it's in the near future, I think the best bet would be to come solo, order your food to go at the bar and listen/watch the live entertainment offered, until your order is ready. Also last thing, maybe..... pop some eye drops in before you go because...... this place is kinda smokey. Ventilation might hit others differently depending on the kitchen/work load. read more

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Arrived at 6:45 PM for our 7 PM reservation. I notify them at this time our party was going to decrease from 6 to 4 people. The host informed that they are a little backed up and should be a few minutes. So we sat at the bar and began to order drinks there-- all were well crafted. My husband really liked the scotch bonnet Margarita. Ambience is definitely a vibe- they had a reggae band going our entire time there as the vocalist worked the room and gave extra special attention to the birthday people serenading them. I continued to check in about our table and was getting similar responses of " a couple minutes" then at some point realized we weren't checked in. Eventually, we were able to be seated at 7:30. Our server Keisha was very prompt, warm and bubbly and knowledgeable of the menu. We ordered the jerk bruschetta, shrimp, codfish fritters, jerk wings. I realized the food wasn't coming out after a while so I asked the server how much longer and she said another 15 to 20 minutes as the kitchen was behind. We ordered our entrées immediately to avoid any further delay. When they arrived all were decent and my favorite was the codfish fritters and shrimp. For entrees, we got the lamb chops, jerk chicken, red snapper. My lamb chops are good, though I will honestly say the way people were raving on yelp I expected a bit more flavor. But I think most people would not be disappointed. My friend who got the red snapper ... It was the smallest red snapper I have ever seen lol and flavor wise was underwhelming. She was going to send it back without exchanging, but we encouraged her to get the salmon. Now. THAT should've been the first choice! The salmon was incredible. The guys seemed to enjoy their jerk chicken. Ended the night with the bread pudding, which I thought was delicious, but just a bit skimpy on the ice cream. I would definitely go back for the codfish fritters, sweet heat shrimp, salmon entrée, and bread, pudding, dessert... with an extra side of ice cream ;) Oh, and I gotta try the oxtail lasagna. I also hope that the restaurant works on their system for reservations because I also noted from other reviews that this seems to be a problem. read more

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I stopped by Catherine's in Laurel, MD on February 15, 2026 and overall it was a great experience! For starters, I ordered the codfish fritters. They were good and mildly seasoned, but the sauce they came with absolutely completed the dish. It tied everything together perfectly. My only critique is they were just slightly greasy, but still very flavorful. For my entrée, I had the Paradise Ital Pot and added grilled salmon. When I tell you that pot was FULL of goodness! It reminded me of a well-seasoned "kitchen sink" stew, packed with so many ingredients and seasoned to perfection. You can easily get more than one meal out of it. It was hearty, flavorful, and satisfying. Everyone else at the table enjoyed their meals as well not one complaint. The live music was a bonus! My only hesitation was the automatic 18% gratuity. I'm personally not a fan of being told what to tip, especially since I typically tip 25% or more for good service. I prefer having that choice. Other than that, I would absolutely rate them a 10/10. They're still new and getting into their groove, so just go in with a little patience. I'll definitely be returning! read more

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It's taken me a few days to write this review because I wanted to be fair, honest, and kind at the same time. I visited Catherine's Restaurant on my birthday (9/2). I understand they are still in their soft opening stage, but the prices are set at full menu rate, so I think it's only fair to share my full experience. First, the restaurant's aesthetic is beautiful--I truly loved all the thoughtful details in the space. When it comes to customer service and communication, there's definitely room for improvement. My party of six placed our orders at the same time, but the food did not arrive together. Some guests received their meals while others waited, and appetizers even came out with the entrées. Meanwhile, I noticed another table that arrived after us received all their food at once. As for the food itself, it was a mix: * The Rasta pasta was extremely watery and lacked flavor. * The codfish fritters tasted good but felt overpriced for the portion size. * The stuffed chicken and lamb were excellent--I would absolutely order them again. * The jerk bruschetta was amazing. * The cream of crab soup was very good. * The Copper Calypso cocktail was excellent. Overall, my visit was okay. The restaurant has great potential with its atmosphere and certain standout dishes, but there are a few adjustments needed in service flow and consistency to create a smoother, more enjoyable dining experience. read more

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Brunch to Dinner @Catherine's Italian-Caribbean Second Time...more thoughts about this restaurant: Ambiance: 5 stars- I love the large mural & the live Reggae artist and music I wanted to sing and dance...service was better than the 1st visit. Seating location was better than my 1st visit. Food Review is in the video. read more

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I wish I could give this place a 3.5 starts because I was going back and forth between a 3 and 4 starts rating. 1) There was plenty of parking 2) The asthetic and the experience was amazing. There was a red carpet at the entrance and people to welcome you at the door. air felt very luxurious. The decorations and the inside made you feel immediately excited. A lot of great pictures opportunities. 3) They had a band that was playing great music. They weren't too loud which was pleasant to be able to have conversations. 4) The service was great. We had to initially wait a little while to get a server but then it was amazing service and we got our food fairly quickly. I enjoyed that we didn't feel rushed to eat and leave. People were checking on us. 5) There was some issue with ventilation so it got a little smoky we were there and it stung my eyes. They opened the side door to allow 5 that helped a lot. 6) Food: Octopus: it had unique flavors that I really enjoyed. I've been thinking about it.Jerk Wings: they had a really nice flavor. I was expecting small wings but they were whole wings. Cooked perfectly and the sauce was yummy. Mussels: they had a heavy lime flavor so if you like lime these would be great. Jerk chicken with rice and peas: my friend said the chicken was good but that the rice and peas needed more seasoning. Rats Pasta: my friend said it was excellent. I tried a bit of the pasta. Oxtail Lasagna: It was. nice size. The oxtail was very moist and the lasagna was cooked perfectly. I wish it had just a tad bit more of that caribbean oxtail taste. I'd get it again. It's a very new restaurant, so I think if they tweaked the seasonings just a little bit more it'd easily be a 5 star restaurant. read more

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We went here for my lil sister's birthday and they had a live band. The decorations are pretty but the restaurant isn't functional. The tables are small but it gives an intimate feel. I ordered stuffed salmon with crab and cocktail shrimp it came with chunky mash potatoes and it tastes good. My sister got the fried red snapper and it was hot and delicious. But my other sister ordered the lamb chops and they were tough with chunky mash potatoes the flavor was there but too hard to eat. Overall the restaurant is beautiful I'll give it some time before we go again but I'd say try it out. I forgot about their service, it's a bit slow but they're trying. There's not bread or anything while your waiting so you don't notice how long your waiting until your food come out. And the drinks came out after the food. read more

Catherine's Restaurant - Side of plantains and sweet potatoes both too hard to eat. - Caribbean Near Me - Laurel, Maryland

Catherine's has such a beautiful aesthetic. The oasis in the middle really sets off the whole vibe. The music mix of Caribbean and R&B creates a chill, laid-back atmosphere, and the sound of the water is so soothing it adds to the overall experience. Drinks were definitely a highlight. The piña colada served in a coconut cup was adorable and tasted sweet, creamy, and strong. The espresso martini with tequila and Baileys was a unique twist and really well balanced if you don't do vodka. For food, I ordered the steak and eggs. While I asked for medium rare and it came out closer to medium well, the flavor was still really good, and the eggs were cooked perfectly over ready. The server was nice and was helpful with all of my questions. Overall, Catherine's nails the vibe and atmosphere, with great drinks and solid food. I'd definitely looking forward to coming back to try their dinner menu. Oxtail lasagna sounds like it'll hit the spot. read more

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Anytime a new Caribbean restaurant opens, I feel obligated to check it out, which is how I ended up at Catherine's. Starting with the positives: it's a large space that's great for group dining, and our server was extremely helpful. She was honest about what was (and wasn't) good on the menu, which I appreciated. The oxtail lasagna was DE-FRIGGIN-LICIOUS. While the portion size was a bit small for my liking, it was still very good. We did have a few hiccups with the rest of our order and ended up sending items back, but the server handled everything well and did her best to fix the situation. My biggest issue was the live musician. I'm personally not a fan of live music while dining, and it made the restaurant very loud. Because of this, guests had to raise their voices to talk, which took away from the overall experience for me. I might give it another try when it's quieter, but we'll see. read more

Went to the soft opening of Catherine's. It's a beautiful space and I enjoyed many things about my experience. First, I appreciate that the staff was continuously walking around checking on guests and making sure we were doing well. They also asked our opinion on everything and I thought it was nice they wanted feedback. I felt comfortable giving feedback to the staff. I tried the Sorrel Martini with gin but really wasn't a fan. It didn't taste much like sorrel to me and I was looking for it to have a more potent sorrel taste. They allowed for me to send it back and I got the caribello instead. It has rum, mint, pineapple, and ginger. It was delicious! I wish I ordered it from the beginning. For appetizers, we got the jerk bruschetta and sweet heat shrimp. Both tasted good but a con of the bruschetta was that the bread was soft and not toasted. Using crostini bread would be better or toasting the bread they have. But even though it was not toasted, I thought it tasted good. For entrees, we got the oxtail lasagna and lamb chops. The oxtail lasagna didn't wow me. Wasn't bad at all, but was just there. The lamb chops were delicious!! Our waitress was Tori and she was really nice and had good energy. There are several items on the menu I'm interested in trying, so I will be back. I should also mention, we didn't wait long anytime we put in an order for something, which was nice. read more

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This was my second time coming to Catherine's, but first time for brunch. Drinks were good. I forgot the name of mine, but it had vodka and prosecco. I had 2 and they were delish. For apps we got calamari and crepes. The calamari was pretty good, but it was lukewarm. The crepes came out cold. I asked if they were supposed to be cold and the waitress checked with the kitchen and they were. I wasn't prepared for cold crepes so I sent them back. For mains, I got the crab omelette and my date got the oxtail lasagna. Both were good, but get the lasagna. Oh the potatoes that come with the omelette are pretty terrible. Super dry, a little burnt, and no seasoning besides some jerk seasoning that does nothing for them. read more

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This place is fabulous. The food and service were impeccable. The ambiance was immaculate with a reggae band and singer to add the ambiance. Service was excellent, food was delivered quick and the waiting staff were very attentive. Overall I had a wonderful experience at Catherine's and recommended anyone in the Maryland to come here for great food and service you will not regret it. I will definitely be back. read more

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