This cozy little eatery is located in Hartford city. This Jamaican restaurant's specialities are meat items such as Jerk Chicken, Caribbean Roti and various meat curries. There are some veggie options. I ordered the "veggie pasta" just make sure you let them know you only want the veggies and not the chicken with your order. They also have a side of mac & cheese and sometimes a veggie patty (I didn't see this on the in person menu, but it showed this online). There is enough seating to hang out for a bit. I would recommend this place if you love Jamaican food. Easy self-pay kiosk in the front and you grab your order to go or sit inside. No waitstaff but everyone is still nice! read more

Dunns River Restaurant - Veggie pasta at Dunn's River Restaurant (Photo by Deanna Troy Travels) - Caribbean Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

As far as flavors go Dunns nails it. The bammy, beef patty and snapper were my favorites. The oxtail was mostly fatty which would be my only complaint. Thank you Dunns! read more

Overall, the food was good. The portion sizes were generous for the price. I got the curried goat and really enjoyed it. It was flavorful and the rice and plantains were also good. The place would've gotten 4 or 5 stars, but unfortunately, there was a piece of hair in my food halfway through, which ruined my appetite. Otherwise, the food was good and service was good. Theres about 5-6 Jamaican restaurants in a half a mile radius, so the competition is stiff. I would recommend this place and would go again. Hopefully, no hair in my food next time! read more

Dunns River Restaurant - Curried Curry Goat - Large - Caribbean Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

This place used to have the best cocoa bread. Now I would say it's one of the worst I've had. The last two times I've ordered, it's been way too hard and falling apart like it's stale, instead of buttery soft. I don't know if the baker has changed. But I won't be ordering from here again. read more

I hate to write a negative review, but this place deserves it. I visited 1/14/23 and ordered a med pepper steak and rice and peas with a fried dumpling. I went in to grab my online order and when it was my turn approached the counter. The woman at the register had to be the most rude person I've ever dealt with in customer service. She says "what's the name on the order"? I repeated myself 3 times before I ultimately just showed her my phone displaying the order. She then proceeded to throw the bag on the counter, no thank you nothing. I got home and opened my meal. The $15.00 container was laughably half empty. I had to take a picture because it's hard to believe lol. I will never return . read more

Dunns River Restaurant - Pepper Steak - Medium $15 - Caribbean Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Ordered from this restaurant from ubereats for lunch! Great options, flavor, and portion size! I ordered the oxtail and jerk chicken pasta. The oxtail was super tender and fall off the bone, definitely one of my favorites! read more

Dunns River Restaurant - Oxtail/Beef - Medium - Caribbean Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

OMG - where should I start?? I have been a "member" of the fan club since this business opened! Happy for the expansion of the takeaway space. I went last weekend and ordered the oxtails and sides. It was enough for two, but I didn't share. Go and treat yourself - enjoy! read more

Taste of food is spot-on. Price is really worth it. Only draw back, the wait time. The workers there move like molasses. Don't go there if you don't have half hour to spare read more

Add this to your cheap eats list. It's mainly takeout but there is seating for eating in. I like the curry goat lunch. The small size is plenty of food w rice curry and salad. read more

Dunns River Restaurant - Interior - Caribbean Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Today we ordered medium oxtails rice & peas with a order of plantains and one fried dumpling. It costs $22.28. that would have been okay if it was worth it. Each oxtail was grissel and fat, the rice was hard and vegetables ( shredded cabbage) was ok, best thing was the plantains and the were like warm. It is May 10th at 11:00 am, when we picked up our order. This is unacceptable and not the first time I've experienced this with Dunn Rivers oxtails. I won't be recommending anyone to dine here owe by the way you owe us $22.28 at this point we would not eat here again. read more

Wooooo!! Okay guys. I first ate a "Kingston fire" sauced chicken wing which I added to my order for .80 cents. Nice wing (drum and flat) crispy meaty. Should have got 3! Next, the beef patty. Home made. Flaky crust. Amazing flavor. (I did not order coco bread so I don't know how it is) Last, the sweet and sour chicken was less than 10$! Amazing portion of a large dumpling, a whole boiled plantain and a large piece of boiled potato. Steamed vegetables. And a nice portion of fried chicken tossed in a sauce that reminds me of a sesame or orange chicken; but 50 times better. I will absolutely be back. I ordered from Uber eats 20 minutes away and it arrived hot. read more

Dunns River Restaurant - Sweet and Sour Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

By far the best Jamaican food I Have had. This is the spicy mango wings. I order 4. It comes with 4 full wings not pieces and it was cooked to perfection. Crispy and plenty of flavor. My husband ordered the curry chicken which came with rice and vegetables. They give you choices. You go in and scan the bar code for the menu or go to the kiosk to place your order online. Get your order number and with in 10 minutes our order was ready. There is parking and seating to eat and relax . My husband said the place has been around for years so they know what they are doing. read more

Dunns River Restaurant - Spicy mango Wings - Mango/Spicy - Caribbean Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

I ordered lunch from this place through Uber Eats. I enjoyed everything I ordered. Goat Roti was my favorite. I was goat curry and a nice big roti (unleavened bread). Kingston hot wings was hotter than jerk wings, and I liked it more because it was hotter. Jerk chicken pasta rasta was a colorful pasta. Coco bread was really soft. Beef pati was not spicy, but was good. read more

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I haven't tried Caribbean cuisine on too many occasions, so Dunns River was a welcome find/experiment. I visited Dunns River after work with a few coworkers who highly recommended their food for its authenticity and taste. I was not disappointed. Prices were fair, portions were large, and the food was full of flavor. The ambience was barebones, but the interior had plenty of seating. They also have a private parking lot with a few spots up front and on the side. Service was fast and friendly. We ordered a number of different items, but the highlights were the red snapper (drenched in a sweet and spicy sauce) and the jerk chicken. They have different plate sizes, but the smalls are quite large! We also had Ginger Sorrel which I've never tried before. It was more sugary than I expected, but definitely a treat to taste. Overall, if you're looking for an authentic, affordable, and unique experience into Caribbean food, Dunns River is a solid choice to explore! read more

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Called to make a phone order and was advised I couldn't because phone orders were backed up. Of course this isn't what I wanted to hear because I was tired and hungry from a long day of work. Anywho, I walked into the location to place the order. Wait time: 20 minutes Staff: pleasant Food: the jerk chicken with jerk sauce is my favorite. This day I ordered it, it was very good and juicy. Yesterday, not the same. The chicken was a little over cooked. But based on the eight times I've eaten from here, this was the first not so great experience. I'll come again. read more

Checking this place out for the first time with a coworker I had the pleasure of enjoying two beef patties with a cream soda to wash it down. It has all it needed, beef and some heat to wake me up. Finishing off with a cream soda will be just the start of my experience here. My coworker was enjoying the curry goat with rice a decent portion of rice, meat veggies and sauce. While we at we were enjoying conversations of what makes this place stand apart from other places. She shared that some places make some dishes sweet which is always the correct way. Again it's too everyone's own taste buds but I for one look to someone of the culture to inform me of what's good or bad. I'll be back to enjoy other dishes and make my own judgment. Located in the north end of Hartford is only a few minute drive from I-91. Parking is a little difficult with a small lot and sometimes can be difficult to get in and out of there depending on time. The inside is decorated well with awards and the culture of the people that take pride in their food and aim to create a community to go along with it. You had business people looking to grab a lunch to others that have been here chatting all day. I'll be back. read more

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I went there on July 11, 2024. The oxtails and jerked chicken plates. They were bland and dry.

Great spot!! Have taken out several times and food is great! I usually get a jerk chicken meal or brown stew chicken and my husband generally gets the oxtail meal, all of these are delicious! The patties are excellent too. They have baked goods, breads and a good selection of cold sodas and other drinks as well! I love getting a few Tings along with my meal when I go! Came in once to get a traditional island breakfast from here, ackee and saltfish, and it was pretty good! Not the best we have had but still very good. I feel this is a hard dish to get right so I was happy with how it tasted. The restaurant is pretty busy so if you go in to order you may have to stand in line for a bit but they do move people along quick. I usually call to place my order and then come by to pick up. This is usually our go-to spot for Jamaican food in the area! read more

Bottom line? The food was pretty good. Not much in the decor or ambience department. It has a kInd of confusing layout-- there was a medium sized crowd of take-out customers (some phoned in and some didn't) gathered around the sales counter with no discernable strategy of who gets waited on first. Traffic flowed both ways along the "line". I ordered a medium curry shrimp, a meat pattie and a chicken pattie. I didn't think the curry was too spicy- but it's kind of sneaky, it takes a long time to tickle your throat and lips. Great portion of shrimp in a thickish sauce, with some carrots and potatoes tossed in. The rice and peas were very good, as was the cabbage salad. Neighborhood was definitely sketchy, but thanks to Yelp, I now venture into places I didn't normally patronize. One last thing, some of the previous reviews described rude, shabby, or indifferent customer service here. I saw none of that. The sales people I interacted with were all smiley and sweet as can be. read more

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Best food, not just Jamaican, but overall, that I've had in a long time! The Rasta pasta with jerk chicken was phenomenal. Definitely try the fried chicken and macaroni and cheese as well. The mango smoothie is really worth it as well. I can't wait to go back. The atmosphere and staff are really cool too. read more

Had excellent oxtail and jerk chicken dishes from here the other day. The large was enough that even my teenage son had leftovers.

Today I really needed a good meal, missed lunch so I was looking forward to dinner. I ordered the stew chicken and had it delivered through Uber eats. Service was quick, but my chicken was dry and hard. Sad thing is I ordered extra chicken expecting my meal to be delicious. I ate two pieces and that was the end of it. The best part was the rice and peas, thankfully. Being diabetic I planned to eat more chicken than rice, but this time it couldn't be avoided. I think this will be the last time I order from Dunns. Food is too expensive not to enjoy. read more

Food was outstanding and fast believe it or not. Went in about 4:00pm on a Tuesday and was out in like 10min. Constant flow of traffic and cars outside you could smell goodness outside in the lot. Not mentioning that natural aroma Food was freaking awesome and not expensive portions are not be argued it was plentiful. Definitely going back read more

*CT LOCAL* Dunn's River Hartford Ct If your looking for a jump start into Jamaican cuisine this is the place to go. With many cult classics like oxtail, jerk chicken, curry goat this place has all your Caribbean needs and more. Great for sitting down or taking out. The food come out fast and is ready quick. What I had was ox tail with white rice( my preference) and I thought it was outstanding for the price. Comparing this to other Jamaican restaurants for the price and quantity of food the workers were not stingy with the meat. I recommend this place to many. *Disclaimer*Some staff can be rude especially for first time buyer and people who don't normally know about the food they're purchasing. But this is my experience and everyone has a different one. THIS PLACE IS FIIIREEEE 4/5 read more

Cornmeal porridge had more lumps than my a$$, had to take it home, then strain it, in order to enjoy ‍. Dunns you're slowly but surely losing me as a customer. read more

Dunns River Restaurant - Lumpy Porridge - Caribbean Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

They alway so damn rude here, but the food is good so I'll eat it again. But I get better treatment at benjis

Some of the most authentic Jamaican food in Hartford. Although the service is slow because it's a very busy restaurant just be patient the food is fresh and delicious. I recommend the curry goat meal and fry chicken with sweet and sour sauce you won't be disappointed. If you ever have a problem Tracy or Mark will be happy to correct the issue. read more

Ordered curry goat great flavor. I would definitely eat here again. Rice and peas were good too. Order jerk chicken and beef patties they were also pretty good read more

Dunns River Restaurant - Curry Goat - Caribbean Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

I was told about DR from co-workers who speak VERY highly of this restaurant. I went over for a favorite of mine, a roti. I justified that this would have been a great meal if I ate in. The flavor was very good but the overall dish wasn't anything to write about... (Pun intended) The breading wasn't the best quality being that it fell apart as I tried to put it together, and I didn't get enough curry chicken. (I counted three pieces of carrots and one small piece of potato, need I say more) most of the chicken was bone as well. Which led me to be a little disappointed. Because of the flavor I'd try something different on the menu, but I wouldn't eat in, it's a little small and congested for me. read more

Entree: medium oxtail, rice & peas, cabbage Price point: $$ Review: I've experienced a multitude of Jamaican cuisine in various locations, and this spot definitely leaves more to be desired. Maybe it's new management, maybe it's a sign of the times, but this long established staple in the community is on the decline. My food was not particularly well seasoned, the rice was stale, and the cabbage was tolerable. Dunn's River has lost it's magnetic appeal over the years, as the food quality has diminished significantly. Not to mention the attitude of the wait staff -- but that's just a part of the traditional experience at Dunn's River. Overall, wouldn't recommend, but if you're out late after partying, studying all night, or just have midnight cravings, they are open into the early hours of the morning to hook you up with a mediocre meal to get you through the night. read more

Jahm Ske's and Dunn's River are neck and neck in competition. Sometimes Jahm Ske's seasons their food better, other times it's cold or older. Dunn's River, to be honest, might slip up every so often, but they follow through with generally consistent quality food. I just hate when they sometimes leave those little black pepper balls in there. The taste is hard and overwhelming of black pepper. 1.) Service: Dunn's River moves pretty quickly. Normally I will find myself waiting in the midst of several people in front of me. If I were to time it, I would believe my order is ready in the matter of 5 to 10 minutes. The staff is nothing but sweet. No lip, no mean face, no attitude. Just sweet, helpful and accommodating. Kinda like the way the culture is in the homeland, Jamaica. Dine in or take out. You choose. 2.) Client base: The place I would say it pretty big for customers to dine in. It's amazing how many kinds of clientele come here. Business men, doctors/nurses, families, teens, etc. Apparently people love Dunn's River. 3.) Food: I have a dish or two that i'm comfortable with. I normally choose the Curried Goat with Rice, Peas and Veggies. It's normally served temperature hot, a little spicy, and the seasons are great with the goat tasting nice and juicy. Just watch out for the bones that are left in them, you're going to have to spit them out. They have a fridge filled with Cream soda, Birch and Root Bear, Coconut Water, and other soft drinks. 4.) Prices: Definitely an inexpensive place. A large entree. is anywhere from $9 to $12, depending on sides and add ons. 5.) Impressions: I come here for take-out. Fast, low price, High quality Jamaican food. read more

Dunns River Restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Let me start out by saying that I had no idea Connecticut had such a huge Caribbean population!! Wow. That said, Dunn's River was pretty good. The service was pretty fast for a Jamaica restaurant which is saying something because as a fellow Jamaican, I know we tend to take our time hahaha. The main reason I wanted to write this review was for the fried dumplings.WOW. Biggest dumplings I have ever seen and eaten in my life. They were als super tasty!! If you're ever in town and want some great dumplings, this is the place! read more

Yum yummm! I come from the Caribbean region and I must say their Ox tail dish is the REAL DEAL! It's the traditional flavor, with dumplings and all. Thank you for such a nice treat. I didn't want to get full. I wish o could kept on eating! The rice with peas that comes with is very nice and fluffy. I order extra plantains and the sides are very generous. Thank you for the trip down memory lane! read more

First time here , stopped in for lunch from out of town since i was told Hartford has a big Caribbean community . Place was busy. Simply ordered the Jerk Chicken side with Coco Bread. Chicken was dry . Not fresh at all like it was from the day before. Maybe i caught them on a bad day but was disappointed to say the least. read more

The evening Service is bad. Mark the owner need create a more swift and productive time system. Very very poor service

The food was excellent. It was a late evening choice. Glad they were open. I would go back when the menu is full to choose from.

WALK INS ONLYYYY no phone orders food isn't bad try the oxtail parking space is small hope this helped

I use to visit this spot. But no more, there customer service suck. No more recommendations from me. Jamaican people treat there own people like crap. That's my opinion. It might be a star restaurant but it get a 1 from me. read more

Had takeout here on Friday Night - January 25, 2019. The place was very busy with at least 35 customers waiting for food and primarily to takeout their orders. Lots of cars parked outside of this location, which is on the main road going through town. The Sweet Plantains were not very sweet and just a tad bit on the greasy side. The Chicken Wings were also a bit greasy, but tasteful. The Jerk Chicken Wings were pretty good, nice and spicy flavor. They were out of Jamaican Beef Patties as they were SOLD OUT of them. Disappointed about that. Perhaps next time, they can prepare or have an adequate supply of Jamaican Beef Patties. The staff was friendly and quite busy and trying to keep up with the orders received, but, they seemed just a little overwhelmed at the time. read more

The food is okay. It's always pack inside and no where to park outside. Sometimes the staff is nice it seems they are always rushing.