We finally made our first visit to Pam's Kitchen after years of meaning to go - and it did not…read moredisappoint. When we arrived, there were a few tables occupied, and we were invited to seat ourselves. We chose a cozy booth near the kitchen. One thing to note: there are no physical menus; instead, you order and pay using QR codes at the table. We started with the aloo pies and, of course, couldn't pass up the jerk chicken. Everything arrived at once rather than in courses, but it didn't take away from the experience. Every dish was packed with flavor. The aloo pies had a taste reminiscent of samosas :: crispy on the outside with a warmly spiced filling :: and were served with a tangy chutney that complemented them perfectly. The jerk chicken was the standout. Tender, juicy, and beautifully seasoned with warm, balanced spices :: it was easily the highlight of the meal. It came with rice and peas (beans), which were some of the best we've had, along with a simple green salad that surprised us with its freshness and bright citrus vinaigrette. We also had the pleasure of chatting with Pam, who was just as warm and welcoming as the food she prepares. She mentioned that they often have live music on weekends, which sounds like a great reason to return. I also noticed they offer an all-you-can-eat buffet on Wednesdays, and after this experience, I'm especially excited to come back and try more of the menu. If everything else is as good as what we had, we're already sold. Oh! I almost forgot :: my husband ordered a wonderful drink, the Trinidad Smash. One sip transported us to vacation mode, instantly! So good!

I'd give the food 4 stars and service/ambiance 2. We ordered the jerk chicken sandwich and it was…read morepretty good. I loved the coconut fry bread it was served on! That was the highlight. The restaurant didn't seem very busy the night we came in, but they did have a lot of takeout orders. We placed our order via QR code at the table and waited... and waited. There were a lot of takeout orders coming from the kitchen but those of us dining in seemed to be sitting around a long time waiting for food and drinks. No one came to check on us and since we paid on the app, there was no interaction other than being seated and having our food brought out. I'd like to try other dishes but will just order takeout from now on.

Excellent vibe. You feel cool just hanging out here. I heard they have over 700 types of rum - the…read morebartender seemed to know all of them. True professional - his arms were a blur - you'd think he was part octopus! The Japanese Snow Monkey was tart, bitter, and chilled perfectly -- dangerously !delicious! The snacks are terrific. The beef brisket taco seemed small, but turned out to be just the right size. Solid corn tortilla, with an unctuous beef filling just oozing with flavor. The empanadas stole the show. Incredible pastry crust - flaky, chewy, and loaded with flavor by itself. They were stuffed to the seams with the respective filling, and the side slaw was a great palate cleanser. Kale and mushroom was delicate seasoned, each bite just melted. The Jamaican beef, though, was even better . The spice ratio was perfect. These are almost addictive. Note: don't know all the details, but two patrons next to me at the bar had little treasure maps and on the "hunt" to try all of the varieties by answering a bunch of questions. Check it out!

This is owned by the same group as Agua Verde by UW, but has more of an upscale tiki bar vibe…read more Food overall is mediocre. It's not terrible but for the price it's not really worth it, even at happy hour prices. Examples: meat is super dried out and flavorless, deviled eggs are $4 for one USDA medium (or maybe small?) egg. I think the only reason to go here would be for the convenience (proximity to the convention center, etc) or the cocktails if you like that type of drink. Or maybe for a work happy hour if the boss is paying! Staff were friendly and service worked like a well-oiled machine. Pretty small space overall, seating for maybe 20 parties plus a bar (unless there's a back room somewhere that I didn't see). There's a outdoor bar/counter; not sure if it's available during the warmer months or if it's now a relic of early COVID outdoor dining. They do take reservations. This is an automatic 20% service charge place, which is fine as they're very clear and upfront about it. The awkward part is the credit card reader then also asks you to add a 2%, 4%, or 6% tip and it's set up such that the user interface makes it more difficult to add 0 tip than to add an additional tip. Besides which, the wait person is staring at you (and the screen) the whole time. From a monetary perspective, I don't mind tipping an extra ~5% on top of the service fee, as I would have tipped around 25% regardless, but I hate coercive UX/UI design choices like this on principle because it's skeezy. I hope the 20% is at least going to the staff and not leaving them to tip out off of people's 2% tips because that would be rough....!

My first time at Island Soul and I was blown away. The food is rich and flavorful without being…read moreheavy. The servers were attentive without being overbearing - thanks Natalie and Hector! The atmosphere is a little noisy just because people were having a good time. I look forward to going back.

This place is one of a kind and so delicious for Carribean and Jamaican cuisine! If you have not…read moretried -- you must! We were celebrating my colleagues birthday the day before and were going to see a show at the Royal Room! We got drinks and I had the caprihlana and the Carribean Star! The Carribean Star is a MUST- TRY, the flavors of that drink were amazing! Both the tostones and shrimp ceviche for appetizers was out of this world! The fried catfish was breaded and crisped perfectly and their sides, especially the collard greens are tasty, a bit tangy and phenomenal! I was able to sample my coworkers dishes (they offered of course and I did too) and the goat curry -- try this too if you like curry! Such amazing flavor and tender goat! They do not take reservations but it's peak around dinner time and weekends! We got lucky with the last big table! The menu is creative and colorful. Staff is amazing! They actually had a location in Kirkland but had to close it and this location remains and is a HIT!

Must try! Delicious…read morefood with generous portions - overall a great value. Everything I tried so far was so well-seasoned and balanced. My absolute favorite though (so far) is the jerk pork. Selected the option for a lil heat and it was the perfect amount. Love that you can order a side order of the meats too in case you're indecisive like me and want to try multiple things. Located in U District Eats where ordering and pickup was super smooth via lockers (an introvert's dream lol). Easy pickup parking right outside. Will definitely be ordering again!

Delicious food! I tried the oxtail and the jerk pork, everything was so flavorful and the jerk pork…read morehad just the right amount of spice. Loved the veggie sides that came with the entrees too. Kiosk at the front made browsing the menu and ordering very simple. I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu!

It is NOT a Caribbean grocery store or market. Having some frozen Jamaican patties and a jar of…read morejerk seasoning doesn't constitute being "Caribbean". I was very disappointed as I just moved to the Washington area and Trinidadian by heritage I really thought I was in for a treat!

Nice little neighborhood spot that I go to for my snacks or to get a soda. The owner is a Jamaican…read moregentleman that is a character.