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Chef Trini’s

3.2 (16 reviews)
Open • 7:00 am - 8:30 pm

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Nneka M.

This place is a new Caribbean hidden gem in the area of Spring Valley. My boss highly recommended me trying out this place, and Im so glad that I did. The owners are a Trinidadian wife/German husband duo, who decided to bring authentic Caribbean dishes to this side of suburban DC. The restaurant is located near the back to waghal's market, but you can also enter through the restaurant's main entrance on a nearby side street. Parking is absolutely glorious since you can either park in the shopping center lot, or find street parking, with both options being free. :) The restaurant is small, so reservations are highly recommended. And the food is tasty and feels very home cooked. That oxtail stew is probably theee BEST flavor oxtail Ive had in the DMV area....round of applause! The doubles are good, but not great, and the salt fish fritters were absolutely delicious as well, especially with the accompanying sauce. I look forward to my return and trying out the highly recommended curry goat and fried red snapper. The customer service was personable and attentive, and the restaurant is quaint and clean, with some nice outdoor seating available. The bar area is small, so maybe not the place for a happy hour, but you'll definitely enjoy the food and the appreciate the quality. yelp pro tips: they are closed on weekdays from 3pm-5pm; and they're available on uber eats. Overall, I highly recommend!

Maria L.

Yummy Greek Salad Pita with chicken-- good price and good service. It was super hot today-- but you have the choice of sitting indoors or outside. This place is also attached to Wagshal's market. :) I want to come back and try the shrimp dish!

Doubles??

Actually the least authentic "Trini" food I've ever seen. The doubles was actually channa tacos served with an Asian sweet chili sauce! I was shocked.

Trinidadian street snack

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1 year ago

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5 months ago

How about change the name or get a chef who is actually from Trinidad? The doubles are not doubles. There is no roti on the menu.

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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Review Highlights - Chef Trini’s

“That oxtail stew is probably theee BEST flavor oxtail Ive had in the DMV area....”

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St James - Modern Caribbean - Roti (veggie)

St James - Modern Caribbean

4.3(485 reviews)
4.0 mi•U Street Corridor
•$$$

St. James Caribbean was definitely a win! The food was delicious, flavorful, and reasonably priced…read more The fried snapper, oxtails, and paratha roti platter were 10/10 across the board. Everything was seasoned well and full of flavor. My guests are originally from the islands and gave the food their stamp of approval, which made the experience even better! The music was on point, the atmosphere was lively, and the wait staff was friendly and attentive. It's a great spot if you're looking for good Caribbean food, good vibes, and reasonable prices. I also learned that their sister restaurant, Cane, offers a more culturally rooted Caribbean dining experience. I'd love to try both and compare, especially because the flavors at St. James were so good. Definitely recommend and would come back!

I ordered the crab fritters, pepper shrimp, and a Tropical Crush mocktail. I loved the mocktail! It…read morewasn't too gingery, which I appreciated. The crab fritters and pepper shrimp were both great, and I really enjoyed the black rice. My waiter suggested getting the spice on the side, and I'm glad I listened because it was super spicy! I sat downstairs at a two-person table. I would've preferred a booth, but it didn't seem like they had any. The hostess and waiter were both nice. My only food complaint was that collard greens were the only vegetable option. It would've been nice to have another choice. I loved the playlist as well! My friend got the oxtail and said it was pretty large and good. Overall, I enjoyed my meal. I'd go back if someone invited me, but it wasn't a place I left raving about.

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St James - Modern Caribbean
St James - Modern Caribbean - Channa Pies

Channa Pies

St James - Modern Caribbean - Honeybee drink is with Beyoncé's new liquor, sir Davis amazing

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Honeybee drink is with Beyoncé's new liquor, sir Davis amazing

Seta Oasis

Seta Oasis

4.5(13 reviews)
3.9 mi

I came here with my wife and her friend... I was the designated driver. They had a few drinks. They…read morementioned how much ice was in their first orders of drinks, but the waitress served them more drinks and the second orders had less ice and they liked it. I had plain Coca Cola with ice. They also had rum punch and they loved it. My wife's friend had some steamed fish with vegetables and she said she enjoyed it. I had a piece of it and I do concur. Yum, yum. The jerk chicken wasn't that spicy but I loved that it was grilled. Our waitress, Mara was awesome, she was quick to bring our drinks and refills. She was very inviting. And she kept bringing more drinks for my wife and her friend. I don't drink. So I stayed with my water and soda. I also enjoyed the World Cup game on their bring screen. Great sound and the lighting is very relaxing. Not too loud, which is a wonderful thing for me.

Celebrate Black History month by supporting Black owned businesses…read more I attended a fun cigar event held in the VIP room on the second floor of SETA Oasis, which featured an open bar. We ordered a variety of chicken wings, along with french fries and some light fare. The VIP room has a lively ambiance, equipped with four large-screen TVs, seating for 60 people, making it perfect for events. From the outside, the building appears smaller than it actually is, as it's a multi-level venue that can host various events simultaneously. The restaurant downstairs offers a Caribbean menu that has received positive reviews, particularly for its brunch. It's also heartwarming to note that the restaurant is named in honor of the owner's late mother, Seta, adding a personal touch to the experience. I plan to return and explore more of their offerings in the future.

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Seta Oasis - Irie stickers, vegetarian

Irie stickers, vegetarian

Seta Oasis - Rum punch

Rum punch

Seta Oasis - Seabreeze (876 martini)

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Seabreeze (876 martini)

Caribbean Grill

Caribbean Grill

3.8(213 reviews)
4.0 mi
•$

There are several other posts about how great the Cuban Sandwich is, and believe me, it was…read moreexcellent, but the star of my meal was the fried yuca. If you're a yuca fan, this is the best yuca I've ever had. Despite it coming straight from the fryer, there was zero residual grease or oil on these things. They didn't even need salt which blew my mind. Of course, using the green/yellow dipping sauce made them even better, but I ate most of them on my way home without dressing them up with anything. I had issues with calling ahead and ordering, but the food made up for that and I will 100% be back to try more.

Caribbean Grill is a small, local spot serving tasty, Caribbean-inspired food with a clear Latin…read moreAmerican fusion twist. You would only know this if you were brought up on Caribbean seasonings. The beef empanada was a standout--unlike any I've had before--with a subtly sweet dough wrapper and a rich, stew-style filling inside. The rotisserie chicken (the most popular order) was freshly cooked, juicy, and well-seasoned, though it could use just a bit more punch. The Masitas de puerco (pork cubes) were moist and not overcooked, and the veggies--broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower--were fresh and thoughtfully prepared. Worth noting: the staff isn't Caribbean, so expect a Latin American interpretation rather than strictly traditional Caribbean flavors. Still, solid food, honest execution, and a worthwhile neighborhood stop.

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Caribbean Grill - Front of serving counter.

Front of serving counter.

Caribbean Grill - Whole Chick(jerk)

Whole Chick(jerk)

Caribbean Grill

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Jerks of the Caribbean - Inside of the beef patty

Jerks of the Caribbean

4.5(75 reviews)
6.1 mi

No, this is not jerk chicken at all…read more I really wanted to enjoy Jerks of the Caribbean, but unfortunately, this was one of the most disappointing jerk chicken meals I've ever had. The chicken itself was moist and juicy, but it had virtually no flavor or depth. Jerk chicken should have layers of seasoning and that unmistakable jerk flavor. This tasted bland and, honestly, nothing like the jerk chicken I know and enjoy. I have nothing positive to save about the shrimp tacos on cold tortillas. Sauce tasted like Italian dressing lol The best thing on my plate was the potato salad. Unfortunately, even the mac and cheese had a problem: the noodles were severely overcooked.

Jerks of thr Carribean is a 3 min walk from the Bible museum. After walking around the museum I was…read morefamished and decided to stop by for some food. The staff there were extremely friendly answering all questions about the menu. The place was well lit and clean. All of the food is on display on a steam table so you're able to see what your food looks like beforehand. I was shocked that a restaurant selling Caribbean food didn't sell plaintains and sweet potatoe was offered as an alternative. Not even the same thing but okay. I ended up ordering oxtail. I wanted rice and peas but he said it came with white rice. I also had cabbage and sweet potatoes as my side. I had less than a quarter cup of rice and it was swimming in gravy. The food was subpar at best, unfortunately. I gave three stars cause the customer service was amazing but I can't co-sign the food.

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Jerks of the Caribbean - Interior

Interior

Jerks of the Caribbean - Oxtail, Mac and cheese, callaloo greens

Oxtail, Mac and cheese, callaloo greens

Jerks of the Caribbean - Oxtail white rice underneath, sweet potato and cabbage

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Oxtail white rice underneath, sweet potato and cabbage

Trini Vybez Restaurant And Bar

Trini Vybez Restaurant And Bar

4.4(21 reviews)
3.5 mi•Columbia Heights

I guess this place is just now reopening because the restaurant was empty. Although we were the…read moreonly patrons in there, the DJ was rockingggggggg!!! Every song he played was a bop. The food was . This was my first time trying Doubles and It was so good. If you're a fan of chickpeas and curry, it's a great starter. I had the mixed platter with curry chicken, curry shrimp and oxtail with basmati rice and spinach. It was sooooooo delicious. A healthy portion so I was able to take half home. Parking is horrible so brace yourself. I'm going back for sure!

So I have actually tasted this before and thought it was so amazing I need to go to the new…read morerestaurant! For me the service was excellent. I mean there was only another couple at the time I visited but also the food came out quickly so huge plus! And the restaurant is spacious and casual so enough space for large parties. Overall I enjoyed it but there are a couple things that fell short! I ordered the chicken roti platter. 1.The roti! It's a very small portion served in a small coconut shaped bowl compared to the amount of food you got on the platter. I thought more was coming and unfortunately it was balled up in shredded little pieces that were kind of dry and i couldn't eat it properly with my sides. I thought maybe I had a bad batch but my friend had the same portion and complaint. Unfortunately no pic of that. 2: Honestly the plating is meant to be aesthetically pleasing but it was very hard to eat bone-in chicken out of a bowl on a saucer full of more bowls with a knife and fork. It was better when I took it to go and had a plate at home. Please reconsider this for the diners experience. 3. The doubles was my fave! It's a small app but very delicious and had a slight kick to it.

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Trini Vybez Restaurant And Bar
Trini Vybez Restaurant And Bar
Trini Vybez Restaurant And Bar

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Lydia On H - Jerk wings

Lydia On H

3.6(153 reviews)
6.8 mi
•$$

I have been here a few times mostly for work related events. This is an African owned and inspired…read morevenue. The owner was motivated by his mother and grandmother. The menu has a mix of African and soul foos options. All the dishes I have had have been flavorful and cooked so good. Drinks have been hit or miss and are on the pricey side. The venue has 2 floors. The first floor has an outdoor patio in the back. The second floor is smaller and has a Speakeasy.

Lydia on H is a cozy Afro-Caribbean restaurant in Washington, D.C., offering a unique fusion of…read moreMalawian and Caribbean flavors. It's a small but quaint spot with a mix of booth and table seating, making it a nice place for a relaxed dinner with friends. As a picky eater visiting for the first time, I kept my order simple with wings and rice. The wings were the highlight of the meal--crispy, flavorful, and well-seasoned. The rice, however, was disappointing. It was dry and lacked seasoning, and I found myself wishing it had at least a little butter and salt to enhance the flavor. The mocktails were delicious and complemented the meal well. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. The music was at the perfect volume--easy to enjoy while still being able to carry on a conversation without shouting, which made for a pleasant evening with friends. Our server was attentive, friendly, and made us feel welcome throughout the meal. One small note: the ladies' restroom was clean but very small and narrow. It had a hook-and-latch style door but no place to hang a purse, which would be a nice addition. Parking on H Street is always a hit or miss, so plan accordingly if you're driving. Ratings: * Food: (3/5) * Atmosphere: (3/5) * Service: (4/5) * Dinner with Friends: (5/5) Overall, Lydia on H is a pleasant neighborhood spot with friendly service, tasty wings, and excellent mocktails. While the rice missed the mark for me, I enjoyed the company, the conversation, and the relaxed atmosphere. I would consider returning to try other menu items.

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Lydia On H - Facing the kitchen

Facing the kitchen

Lydia On H - Drums and fries

Drums and fries

Lydia On H - Rum punch and Margaritas

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Rum punch and Margaritas

Chef Trini’s - caribbean - Updated November 2026

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