Dropped in for lunch and spoke with 2 employees while waiting. Nice place. Good vibes. Solid food read more

Downtown Caribbean Eats - Rice and beans, curry goat and baked Mac and cheese - Caribbean Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Amazing food in the middle of it all. The service was great i was welcomed with open arms by the staff. Originally i wanted a regular beef patty. But they had OPTIONS! I got the oxtail and mac/cheese patty. It was like heaven on my tastebuds. I couldn't believe it. The ambiance of the store was very cultural and close to home. I also had a currant roll heated which i never tried before, and i must say I WILL BE BACK read more

Downtown Caribbean Eats - Inside - Caribbean Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Bruh!!!!! Just phenomenal!!!!! Best since I was in the ATL scene Some of these reviews sounds like they never ate ox tail or curry goat! Yo! It ain't. Chicken nugget, flavors in the bones baby! Get a plate jerk chicken, rice and beans so full of flavor! Get the Pattie's with pepper sauce! Them Pattie's and pepper sauce is on point! Y'all talk to David he's in the kitchen and the owner. This place is alive! Come get it read more

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I would rate this as a solid 3.5. Food was decent with a good portion size. We went before going to a show at the prudential center so the pricing was better than inside the stadium. I've had better Jamaican food for about the same price in the city though. All the food was seasoned perfectly. Mac and cheese was my favorite of the meal but I normally like creamier versions. The chef and the person taking the order was very nice. Chef asked if I wanted hot sauce in it and I said yes. He warned me it was hot but it wasn't bad at all. Person taking the order suggested I eat the roti like a burrito and I would if the curried goat didn't have bones! Good thing I read prior reviews that noted this so I didn't bite too hard or I would've chipped some teeth. read more

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I was in the mood for Caribbean food and wanted to give this spot a try. I called in my order of the whiting special and shrimp patty. When I arrived parking was terrible so parked illegally. I ran in and grabbed my food and paid. I first dug into the patty which was good and not messy. When I had the whiting special it was pretty good and very filling. I had a good experience. read more

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Service with a smile and give us the best best food. We are so lucky to have found such a gem in downtown Newark. Oxtail stew was super tender and flavorful. The rice was fluffy and my son eat the whole thing up. Cabbage is everything and so was the Mac n cheese. Everything was perfect. We will be back! read more

Was in the area doing some work so decided to stop here for lunch. They have alot of good food options but unfortunately they didn't have alot of things on their menu whether it be they don't carry it anymore, didn't have it today and/or wasn't ready yet (at approx 1pm). So I decided to go with what they did have and got a chicken patty and coco bread and a Sorrel drink. I liked that the colored wasn't super thick and bready so it didn't overpower the patty ad most coco breads do. The patty itself had a good flavor too. I would return read more

Downtown Caribbean Eats - Caribbean Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Got a Roti dry as hell no taste also who put peppers in a Roti yuck also got a chicken patty with bones in it and red and green peppers Yuck. vegetable Patty Also had a bone in it. The oxtail dinner the oxtails meat coming off the bone. That is good the plantain was under cook the rice no flavor and for a large plate I got maybe 4 oxtails Horrible never again will I go to this place? read more

Soo where do i begin. I came hear because a friend recommended it as well as looking up the reviews i definitely figured i should try it. it's easy to find although there is not any parking not that it is the establishments fault because it is located downtown barely ever any parking. I went in afternoon 2ish only one other person in there still took me ten minutes to placey order. The size portion for a large is small honestly not worth the $17 the food was just okay. The rice and peas tasted like Caucasians made it to be quite Frank n who gives oxtails without the stew sauce I know it's an American thing but that's the best part of oxtails I expect my rice to have some sauce with it. The plantains were good the cabbage not so much. So overall would I come here again DOUBT it there's way better spots than here in Newark especially if you want to get your moneys worth. No shade I'll provide photos read more

Downtown Caribbean Eats - Oxtails rice and peas plantains and cabbage - Caribbean Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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My husband and I ate here several times and always loved the food. We are both chefs and decided to cater our wedding anniversary party as opposed to cooking for a change. We were a little hesitant as we can be quite particular. David was very professional in helping us get the correct quantities for our party. Our guests loved the food as did we. A few of our favorites were the oxtails and beef patties. Thank you David and team for making our party so special and memorable. Keep up the good work. read more

I patronized this place on 2 separate occasions. Overall, the food is underwhelming if I'm speaking honestly. Service-wise, the cook was very friendly & attentive. The restaurant itself is a nice space & usually there's one or two people dining in. Now...my very first time, I ordered an oxtail dinner w/ a side of mac&cheese & I may have gotten a veggie patty. The oxtail was tender but lacked flavor. I really enjoyed the mac & chz though; it had a smoky flavor to it & was seasoned well. The rice & peas were okay. The cabbage was good as you would expect it to be well as the veggie patty. I decided to give the place a 2nd chance & ordered a stewed chx dinner w/ the same sides as I did the the first time & got a jerk salmon patty. Again, the stewed chx was tender but REALLY lacked flavor which frustrated me a lot! The rice & peas were dry this time, I didn't even eat it. The jerk salmon patty was decent but I was expecting a traditional type of jerk taste as it was just spicy I probably won't patronize this place again but I do wish them the best in their endeavors moving forward read more

Food was terrible oxtail and rice no taste stew chicken and cabbage old cabbage taste like freezer burn and salty worst food ever 50 dollers in the trash couldn't not eat it read more

Sister came up to NJ from Florida. Picked her up at Newark Airport. I'm from NYC but I wasn't too familiar with any Newark restaurants. Found this restaurant on Yelp. OMG! The food was Excellent!!! I had the jerk chicken with rice, cabbage and sweet plantains. The jerk chicken tasted so authentic. Nothing artificial about its appearance or taste. The rice was moist and the cabbage was so good. Best Caribbean platter I've ever had. My sister had the curry chicken with white rice and cabbage. I've never known her to be much of an eater but she surprised me. She said that she's eaten at a lot of West Indian places but this one was the best. She added that the chicken literally fell off the bone. Even the people who work in this restaurant are great. This place gets five stars. read more

So we were craving some legit Caribbean food and decided to try this place out. It looked promising online with an exhaustive menu but we were really disappointed with the food. We got the seafood patties and veggie roti, both were underwhelming especially the veggie roti. Roti lacked the flavors and wasn't prepared the right way, it was that bad we had to go to another to have our lunch. The staff though was super nice and courteous, but we won't be coming back. read more

Downtown Caribbean Eats - Caribbean Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

It's hard to find good Caribbean food in NJ, PERIOD! This place leaves much to be desired. The Stewed Chicken was dry. The Rice & Peas was dry and not flavorful. The Peanut Punch was off. Seems like an Americanized version of Caribbean food. This place isn't really traditional, especially the menu. Watered down flavors. read more

First time visiting this spot.. I only ordered the beef, shrimp and chicken patty.. delicious! I will never order from another joint patties after eating Caribbean Eats.. It was so flavorful and you actually taste the meat not mushy what the other restaurants sells you.. Definitely homemade and worth the price.. The only thing is the parking but it's ok.. I travel 30 minutes for this patties and didn't regret it.. I would be back!!!! read more

Pros 1. FRIENDLY, Enthusiastic Staff 2. Flavorful/Tender Curry Goat 3. Flavorful Sweet Plantains ( I think it's Seasoned with Cinnamon, if so GENIUS) 4. Cabbage was Good 5. Beef Patty was Perfectly made (Not Flaky and Messy to Eat with Textured Beef & Chopped Peppers) 6. SUPER Flavorful Mac n Cheese with a nice Kick of Heat. 7. Jerk Chicken was Good 8. Curry Chicken Roti was Good 9. Housemade Hot Sauce was Beyond Hot! 1 Drop of the Hot sauce is all you need. Trust me... Ha ha 10. Chicken Patty was Good Cons 1. Not in Downtown Jersey City. Ha ha read more

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So I found this spot making my way downtown any who. I came about this spot stopped in and asked the question is the chicken roti de-bone. The young new lady stated no. My mate stated you about to lose your trunk card she want on to point to the owner and said "No he's about to lose his trini card. Long story short we walk out and ask him. His response was beautiful. So we decided to finish getting what we needed and go back. We ordered the medium oxtail, peas, rice with cabbage and sweet plantains. The chicken roti with no bone and a small bake Mac & cheese. Let me help you out OMMFG this food was delicious. I loved everything from the rice to the bread . It did have some hiccups. I can taste cinnamon in the rice I don't know if that what it was but it had a taste not bad but good, plantains nicely cooked and sweet. Now the oxtail. I asked for gravy and didn't get any. I also was given 3 oxtail and I expect if I'm spending $18 on a meal give me a meal. The roti was very satisfying and bread delicious. how I miss that Mac & cheese right now. I can go on about that it was the best I've ever tasted in any Caribbean spot. Would I go back. Hell yea. I might In the morning. Thank your for ya hospitality. read more

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I cannot believe I paid $6 for a Patty smaller than my hand. For reference I am a 4'11 woman with small hands. The audacity of this restaurant. I placed an order through DoorDash for two patties, coco bread and a cream soda. They called to let me know they were out of the soda but failed to mention they were out of one of the patties and instead just refunded it even though they just had me on the phone. Now I'm stuck with this one mini Patty and dry hard coco bread. Will not be ordering from here again read more

Downtown Caribbean Eats - Jerk Salmon Patty - Caribbean Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Stumbled across this place and have been several times in the last few weeks. Customer service is awesome. The seating area was clean. The serving station and everything visible in the kitchen area was always clean. For the food, the patties are amazing. Only bad thing about them is if they sell out of my favorites (shrimp and crab). I've had the snapper a few times as well and it's always super tasty. Cabbage and other sides are solid as well. They have these drinks called Veggiterry*, tried a few and would recommend (pick a flavor you're comfortable with). You can dine in, but I usually order to go. I strongly urge you stop by this place. Buy patties with your main course. I maintain a pescatarian diet and they are accommodating. read more

The energy in this eatery lines and walls and welcomes you from the street with cleansing smudging at the door :) Everything I've eaten has been delish! I go out of my way to walk here from work to get lunch on days I don't make it. Chef Kimani has a particular style and taste that's refreshing in Caribbean cuisine. It's the elevated flavors are exactly what you'd expect from an urban Caribbean restaurant. The owner David (I believe) is kind and normally the person who checks you out/serve you. I love that! Decor and environment Easy and great for a quick casual bite. Most get food to go or eat quickly and leave. Food They have a wide range of TASTY patties from oxtail to crab to traditional beef to veggie. Star loss -Breakfast only on the weekends. Not fair because Jamaican breakfast is elite compared to American breakfast lol -Like most Caribbean restaurants, everything is from scratch/made that day so like most Caribbean restaurants, they run out of menu items. If your staying at Indigo Hotel or in the downtown Newark area, you won't be disappointed! read more

I've eaten here before a while back, so I came in expecting a similar service as before. Service wasn't terrible, but staff didn't seem to want to be there honestly & they weren't welcoming much at all. Food was mid. Alright enough to eat because I was hungry, but lacked the flavor that you'd expect from a Caribbean restaurant which was even more disappointing than the service. Little to no flavor at all really. The max & cheese was good, but the rice & peas were bland, stew chicken was dry & the cabbage was undercooked in my opinion. Would like to maybe give them another try considering some of the other reviews, but definitely wouldn't go out of my way to come back here... read more

Food was significant. I didn't know it would be that spicy I love it like the rest, but I need to taste the food. If you're into overtly spicy JA food, this is the spot for you. read more

Good vegan options... the vibe is great, Very clean. And you can sit down and eat in... read more

My order was ready for pick up. I got the oxtail dinner which was reasonably portioned but it reminds us all the price of oxtails tho... That being said my main course was good with a nice portion of gravy. I had one shrimp and one veggie patty which were delicious. I'd definitely order from here again. read more

Downtown Caribbean Eats - Oxtail dinner - Caribbean Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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2nd time eating here and I decided to put my carnivorous ways to the side. When I asked about what vegan options were available, I was presented with their vegan street rice, a collective of sweet peppers red onions and vegetables, it was the most incredible meatless dish I've ever tasted to date. Makes being vegan feel easy ! So much flavor, no ingredient overpowered the other, I dined in and savored every bite and as I ate two other people walked in asking what was on my plate and they too purchased the vegan street rice! Extremely satisfying read more

Downtown Caribbean Eats - Caribbean Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

This food is phenomenal! From someone who knows what Caribbean food should taste like, Downtown Caribbean Eats is hands down some of the best Caribbean food that I've had in this country. The service is superb. read more

Do your taste buds a huge favor by checking out this amazing place. It's a hidden gem and those oxtail empanadas changed my life.

The Jerk salmon with rice and peas is so fresh and delicious . The workers are great and polite! I will definitely be back!

The patties are their best but a bit pricey imo. I once got the oxtail stew with rice and their roti on two separate occasions (the goat first and then the chicken). Both to me were lacking in flavour or maybe there just wasn't enough salt. I don't know. I loved the mac and cheese but I'm a lover of M&C and anything pasta so I'm biased. Last thing, the person in the front who serves you the food (nice guy) is slow in putting the food together. But I'm still going back for their patties. read more

I had the oxtails combo and a side of Mac and cheese. I'll start by saying great portion. Great packaging. Good cleaning of the meat where there's more meat than fat on it. The reasons for the 3 stars is the taste. It taste just okay. I understand due to its location they're probably tailoring their seasoning but I thought it would be different because all the great reviews. The Mac and cheese was also okay. Didn't taste like smoked cheddar baked southern Mac and cheese but it tastes better than easy Mac. Again if it had more flavor I would have given it 5 stars as the portion and the meatiness on the oxtail was great. One suggestion would be to cook the meat a bit longer as it was slightly tough but not too bad. Thanks for bringing diverse cuisine to my neighborhood. read more

While in town the for the Mary J Blige concert we ordered delivery from this place. I had the shrimp patty while others had chicken wings. I guess I should have had the wings too because they said they were good. However, the shrimp patty I had was a little bland couldn't taste or see the shrimp and I don't know what else the filling consisted of maybe some vegetables that included corn. I think I will pass on this one next time. read more

OMG!! They have lobster patties! It is soooo good. Don't complain about them being $8ea because had I known it would taste this good and fresh I'd pay $10. I consider myself to be the oxtail queen, but their oxtails are second best. Lean, tender, succulent with just a touch of some spice. Please community let's support this business so that it becomes a staple!! read more

Downtown Caribbean Eats - Caribbean Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Was in town for just a weekend. My hotel was less than a mile from this location. We were not only hungry but had a specific taste for caribbean food so decided to give this place a try. After waiting almost an hour our food finally arrived - delivered by Grub Hub. I'm not sure what happened but the fried chicken and stewed chicken lack favor. There was no sauce on the rice and peas. The only flavorful thing was the plantain. VERY DISAPPOINTED to say the least. I hope this was a one off experience and not the norm for this establishment. read more

I was really excited to try this place due to the great reviews...however peoples taste buds must be way off...I ordered the small oxtails for $11.00 ..the portion size was great however I should have known it was not going to be good when they did not ask me what type of gravy I wanted on my rice (also the rice tasted like the 10 minute boil in the bag rice) ....the ox tails although well prepared and slow cooked lacked flavor especially Caribbean flavor it honestly just tasted like beef stew.. In addition the young lady at the front turned me off due to her handling money and food..with SWV nails.....I will be back to try the patties because I saw the young man making them and they looked amazing however as far as an entree I'm done. read more

First, let me provide a disclaimer...I usually visit an establishment a few times before writing a review. All businesses can have good days and bad days...and I feel it important to be fair. As such, I do not do many reviews, as I find if I was not thrilled on the first visit, I may go again...if I am still not thrilled, I never go back. AS a foodie...I only offer up reviews if the food is really bad, or really good. As such, I am either trying to share my love for the food, or warn others so they can prepare themselves and make their own decision. Then...BEFORE I write a review, I consider the following in order; Quality of the food. Cleanliness of the kitchen. Portion size. Then I put the eatery in a specific class...take out, eat in. I will start with reverse order. Most smaller establishments are either take out, or eat in. Those that try to do both usually fail miserably. I was pleasantly surprised that Downtown Caribbean Eats is a fantastic place for takeout, but have very comfortable seating. This is not bullet proof takeout. There are a good number of individual tables, as well as individual seating options for those who want to eat without conversing with others. This makes DCE a great place to have lunch away from the office, without worrying if you can get a table. This is a NEW establishment...and from appearances, built from the ground up, as everything is brand new. The wall treatments, the seating, the floor and yes...the BATHROOM. Which takes me to my next criteria, cleanliness. It is easy for a NEW business to look clean, because it is new. However, many new places do not have an exposed kitchen. From the counter where you place your order, you can see the entire kitchen...nothing is hidden. You can see the commercial refrigerators, the ovens, the food preparation areas, even the back wall is clearly visible...and CLEAN! Next on my list is the portion size. As a foodie, I want all the food I can get for my dollar. I also want to be able to eat my food while it is hot, take out or eat in, without having to find another plate or bowl. DCE provides your food in a sturdy container that will keep the food from spilling out, and if you have leftovers, you can reheat them in the same container. Did I say 'leftovers'...yes...the portion size is excellent. Not so much that you cannot finish the food, not too little so you are still hungry. I have a tendency to get my favorites in a dinner plate, but always seem to sneak in a few beef, goat, or shrimp patties. Yes, I said goat and shrimp patties...which leads me to my next section...quality of the food. First...let me state...Caribbean Food covers a very wide area, with many different locations around the world adding their own tweaks to the ingredients and how the food is presented. I grew up in Brooklyn, and was introduced to specific style of Caribbean Cuisine...however, I will not list the Countries across the Globe that have Caribbean food...this review is already too long and if I leave anyone out...well, you know. At the time of writing this review, I have visited Downtown Caribbean Eats four times...once midday, the other times were in the evening on my way home from work. The food is fresh. It is not all prepared in the morning in one shot. Food is prepared throughout the day. This means that even though you see the food when you walk in...and it is prepared...it is still freshly made. And you can tell by the flavor. My favorite has always been Curry Goat...I always base my reviews on how well that dish is prepared. My second favorite is the standard beef patty. On all except for one visit, I had the Curry Goat. The one time I did not, was when the chef was in the middle of making a salmon dish...which I could not wait for. Okay...back to the Curry Goat...the dish was meaty. For those of you who eat Curry Goat, you know that often you get bones, bones, bones, them some meat. This dish from DCE is Meaty. I opted for the rice and peas, and was then asked if I wanted gravy...meaning...put some of the Curry Goat Gravy on top. I mention this because another review stated that the rice was dry...which is the way some people prefer...me...give me the Gravy. And yes...I used a capital 'G' to emphasize gravy. So...within my four visits, I have ordered almost everything on the menu...as I pick up food on the way home for three people...not including the additional patties for late night snacking. I cannot say that I ordered everything, because the chef continues to make different things on different days. Although I left once without my Curry Goat, the stewed chicken was fantastic. Sorry...I digress...along with each plate I get the plantains and the cabbage...simply rounds out the wonderful taste of the DCE offering. By the way...if you want more spice...simply ask, if the chef is not to busy...they will accommodate your requests. read more

This is the best part of working in real neighborhoods! Oh man... the goat curry was bone sucking delicious. The gravy from the curry... wow. Spot on sides. Friendly service. Spotless clean. Big Home Run!! read more

Was in town for business, and was really craving some Caribbean food. We don't have too many options that I know of on the west coast. Decided to try this place out and I really enjoyed it. Really wanted to try some jerk chicken and it was very good. The cabbage with rice and beans were good as well. Also had the beef patties for the first time and I wish I ordered more. read more

This spot always comes up on Uber eats local so I was excited to see that it was downstairs to a event I was invited to this weekend. I help my friend set up her table for the event when we got hungry. She had the oxtail Entrée with Rice and peas,cabbage & plantain. I got two orders a jerk wings. My wings were soggy, sitting in jerk juice and ate dry or should I say a little over cooked. My Bestie wasn't excited about her meal either. The oxtail were dry. The rice was watery and the cabbage had no flavor. She told me the only thing good was the plantains. We both just closed our containers in disappointment. In total we spent $49.10 with our drinks. Oh yea Apple pay don't work. They still have the machine that asked you those two questions about US Visa debit. I was like ma'am what do I select. Long story short I won't be going back and do not recommend. No shade cuz I rarely write reviews but this was needed read more

Bumped into this cozy cute carribean spot on my way home last week and I had to go back and order triple. Take it from this Trini girl when I tell you their Mac and cheese is THE BEST I've ever had from an outside place. I drive about 5 miles to get there, decent parking and staff very warm and pleasant. read more