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Lakay Bistro

4.2 (9 reviews)
Open • 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM

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Mac n cheese with oxtails
Shari H.

Happened to stop by during their soft opening. With any new place there will always be kinks and understanding that they are still getting their footing. I was able to give them feedback in person as well which just helps them improve and prepare for the grand opening. Upon arrival the place was packed and I was surprisingly able to get a table right away. Nice minimal decor with wicker lamps. I was surprised at the amount of seating so that was good. Tables and bar seating in the front and additional tables and a bench in the back. Because it was a soft opening they were providing limited food items. They had a special where you can get 3 small bite items for $25. I was told that they only had the griot bites on tostones with spicy honey creole glaze and baked mac and cheese with oxtails so that's what I ordered and a rum punch. As I was waiting I kept seeing the tamarind rum chicken as well as djon djon rice (not on menu) being served. For clarity I asked again about the $25 deal and if the chicken was available. The waiter said the only additional item available was the conch. Then he came back to say they don't have that. To capitalize on the deal I ordered an extra mac n cheese with oxtails since they were out of the other options. I also asked to switch the tostones with djon djon rice after I was informed that it could be substituted. The griot and mac n cheese came out first. Which arrived with the tostones instead of the rice. The extra mac and rice arrived and the waiter comped the charge of the rice since it was supposed to be a substitution and not a side. All of this was going on and I still hadn't received my drink, which I ordered before my food. Overall the food was tasty. The djon djon rice had a nice heat to it. The mac n cheese had a good flavor as well. The amount of oxtails vary. You might just get one big piece or 3 small pieces. I asked for pikliz but they didn't have any. The rum punch was good and strong but not worth $15 for the glass size and the amount of ice they give. All this is happening and I kept seeing chicken being served. The table next to me received a double portion of chicken because they then ran out of griot. Lastly it took 30+ minutes to get a to-go box and additional time to get the check. I love that you can pay your bill from your phone but if that's the case it shouldn't take forever to get the bill. This happened to me and multiple tables. My bill needed to be adjusted to reflect the djon djon rice deduction. The food is good but the kitchen and waiters need to correspond. There is a difference between being told that something is sold out versus they will need additional time to prep. The bar is a bit slow. Again not a bad experience just a few kinks as they are new.

Rum Punch
Laren E.

I was looking for something good to eat and local and I lucked out and stumbled on this cute little restaurant a few blocks away from my home . The restaurant is beautiful decorated, low light and vibey. I went during their happy hour and order the rum punch which was good. The bartender was very helpful and helped me decide what to order. I got the trio ( recommend) , that came with mini portions of oxtails and Mac, shrimp and grits, and tamarind wing ( SLAMM'N). I tore that trio UUPP . Needless to say I will be back . Also this place is black owned . Definitely give it a try

Oxtail Mac n cheese
Linda D.

I ended my birthday weekend with dinner at Lakay Bistro and I am pleasantly pleased as well as proud. The owners Ali and Steve were extremely hospitable. The decor is beautiful and you get a nice vibe when you enter. The space is very nice size and I am grateful they've made their home in Bed Stuy. I will be going back soon. The oxtails w/mac n cheese was tasty and delicious. I also had the branzino with black rice. All well cooked and delicious. Don't forget to ask for Pikiz. Just yummy food.

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2 months ago

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3 months ago

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4 months ago

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Lakay Bistro R.

Thank you so much for dinning with us!

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7 months ago

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4 months ago

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6 months ago

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2 months ago

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6 months ago

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So happy we are able to meet expectations.

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6 months ago

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Rebel - Rebel Beef Rebel Griot Sweet Plantains Red Beans and Rice

Rebel

4.3(160 reviews)
3.9 mi•Lower East Side

Came here because I bought a Pulsd deal for dinner and wanted to try something new :)…read more Everything was was great - the experience, food, service! It was my first time trying Haitian food and I was surprised at how similar it was to Spanish food. Every plate we ordered was very flavorful and unique in taste. The sauces that came with our dishes were spicy (just how I like it) but so unique in spice too. I could have drank the sauces. There was nothing that we didn't like! The drinks were also simple, very light and yummy - not too sweet. The vibes of the restaurant were also very cute and dimly lit (but not too dim). They gave us the best seat in the house too - the corner window booth with views of the entire floor. It was a perfect date night! Will definitely be coming back and highly recommend if you're looking to eat some delicious Haitian food!

The food was like a 7.5 out of ten. I had the seafood fritters, which didn't really taste like…read moreseafood, more so of a dough taste. I also had the classic stewed chicken. It was good, but my food wasn't hot, so I'm assuming they hadn't just made it. It was also ridiculously overpriced for 2 pieces of chicken and rice. It could've at least came with plantains or an additional side. The service was also mediocre. Whenever I asked my server for something it seemed like I was bothering her. Overall, it was nice to see a Haitian restaurant in Manhattan, but you could definitely get more for your money by going to a Haitian place in Queens or Brooklyn. I probably wouldn't come again.

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Le Soleil Brillant Restaurant

Le Soleil Brillant Restaurant

3.9(136 reviews)
6.5 mi•Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West
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The food was Excellent. Small place not a lot of seats. A lot of people do takeout from here. I ate…read morein. The food is the Star of the show at this place.

I can't lie it's a bit hard to find this restaurant using navigation when walking is your mode of…read moretransportation, and you're not a native of the city. However, this is a hidden gem you should try. It appears to be a family owned restaurant. Decor is light and seating is sparse, so if you plan to bring a party of 4 or more I'd definitely suggest calling ahead to potentially make a reservation. We also came on an extremely hot day and sadly their A/C system wasn't working so it was on the warmer side. Not unbearable but a bit uncomfortable, so just keep that in mind if that's the case when you show up. What I will say when it comes to the experience and food is that it doesn't get more authentic than this. I asked for a recommendation and was told to order the griot, which was well seasoned and quite large portion size wise. The plate came with a rice of choice, two fried plantain, beans, pikliz and dipping sauce for the meat. Not bad for $20. I ordered to go because I had an event to go to, but can attest that they do a great job of plating their dishes when you dine in. If I'm ever in NYC again I wouldn't mind returning, dining in and hopefully trying something different like their Kalalou or legume which looks incredible.

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Djon Djon - Snapper

Djon Djon

4.3(126 reviews)
2.5 mi•Prospect Lefferts Gardens
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A gem for the best prepared Haitian food. I've walked past this place for years and finally decided…read moreto try it on a random Friday while visiting a nearby cafe. Firstly it was lunchtime and there were a number of tables filled. Looks like it was a lot of nearby lunch goers, good choice! We got a number of recommendations from the waiter after he suggested we try classic dishes but also the fish. Voting that came out was extremely flavorful. Haitians make the best fried fish. You can tell they season the flour and the fish. The gravy was awesome and the black rice and beans was nice n hearty. I brought my leftovers home to my son who devoured it. We also had drinks and those were well made and good as well. This my new Haitian spot. The chef took a peek outside to see how the service was going and I made sure to give a good thumbs and wink to reassure him he was doing the damn thing!!

Totally fooled by the reviews & pictures! Family visiting NY from Atlanta and decided to try after…read moreseeing the reviews. Beyond disappointing!Unbelievable that the white & Black rice both was so terrible which is the main staple of any Haitian cuisine. My family enjoyed nothing we ordered and could tell by all the food we left on our plates. I'm so mad because visiting NY which has a huge Haitian population, we were expecting the best ever!!! Well not at this one! Should've listened to the recommendations we received from others, but after looking at the high reviews, plus it was close to subway station we decided to try. What a costly $164 Dollar mistake! Literally soon as we landed back home we went to our normal favorite spot to get real Haitian food. Im still dumbfounded on how you mess up RICE! My young daughter said she makes better rice! The Chicken on her dish had a bad sour aftertaste. Vistors beware of this spot and the reviews!

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Akra Haitian Deli - These are the plate sizes smh

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4.4(38 reviews)
29.4 mi

My husband happened to see a van with the logo for Akra Haitian Deli when we were driving in Queens…read moreand we saw they are located in Huntington area. We are looking to live out east and decided to take the drive to see how the Haitian food was! Honestly, we have tons of Caribbean food in Queens/New Hyde Park area, but Akra was well worth the drive! We ordered the Jerk Chicken with Duriz Djon Djon- 10/10 recommend. The jerk chicken wasn't too spicy, it was juicy and flavorful. They also gave three big pieces! The rice was also well cooked and not too salty. We also ordered Griot with Bannan peze- it's a requirement if you're going to eat at any Haitian establishment. The woman dishing out food out said "this meat is a little dry. Sorry." We ordered it anyway and it turned out to be pretty good! The bannan was a little soggy, but really that's part of ordering takeout for certain food items. Lastly, we bought two bottles of their lemonade and it was delicious! A great balance of sweet and tangy! We would definitely come back!

I've tried Akra Deli multiple times, and while the food itself is delicious, the customer service…read morehas consistently been disappointing. On my first visit, everything was great. However, my next two experiences were extremely frustrating. During my boyfriend's early-morning visit, he was initially told there was no food available--even though the restaurant had just opened. Only after insisting did they offer limited options. Most recently, I ordered through Uber Eats and spent about $70. The containers were small and arrived half-filled. When I called to address the issue, the manager explained that because they pay Uber Eats fees, they don't provide full portions for delivery orders. That is not something any customer wants to hear, nor was any solution (like a coupon or replacement) offered. The food at Akra Deli tastes great, but the lack of consistency, poor customer service, and reduced portions for online orders make it hard to recommend. If you do choose to order, I strongly suggest going in person, otherwise you will likely not receive the amount of food you paid for. Overpriced and poor customer service!

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First Republic Lounge & Restaurant - Red Snapper with Rice and Beans

First Republic Lounge & Restaurant

3.9(107 reviews)
15.3 mi
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Made the venture to Jersey for a concert and knew I'd stop off for food. What better than Haitian…read moreFood on a Sunday! It was easy to find parking nearby on the street, we walked in and were immediately sat down. Service was great throughout the meal. The server did speak primarily to us in Creole. I can see how that may not work for someone who is not Haitian. Maybe having someone who did speak a mix. However, he was very nice and the food came out fast and was delish. Shared a griot fritay to start and it was definitely tasty and portion was good. For entree I had the legume with Beef with black rice. Tasty, spicy, and very authentic tasting. I can say they stay true to the flavors and don't water them down. The drink was ehh. I did not taste much liquor in the creole punch. Not worth it in my opinion. In terms of ambiance, I wish better music was playing. The set up was cool. Nothing amazing. If I was in the area again, I would come back.

Stopped by early Saturday evening for a drink with three young ladies. We sat at the bar we did…read morenot intend to have dinner. I was able to order a cocktail (mangotini) made just the way I liked it and it was super delicious. My companions ordered food which took some time come out. We only really ordered appetizers and everyone enjoyed their food. This place is not big so not too many tables. I will mention one thing I stated to the bartender....The bar chairs are INCREDIBLY uncomfortable. These seats were not made to fit full size adult derrière. Good vibe.

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3.8(351 reviews)
17.2 mi
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We were there on New Year's Day. Can't say much about our waiter but everything that each of us…read moreordered was delicious. The chef was very nice and accommodated one of our friends who is gluten free. He also enjoyed every thing that he ordered. The restaurant dining rooms were set up beautifully and we just had a wonderful time while listening to their music while we dined.

One thing I always look for when eating at a restaurant that specializes in food from a specific…read morecountry is whether people from that culture are dining there too. At a Thai spot, I expect to see Thai people. At a Mexican spot, I expect to see Mexicans. You get the picture. So at this Haitian restaurant, there are always Haitians enjoying the food -- which tells you everything you need to know. If you're looking for an upscale yet still authentic Haitian restaurant, this is it. No matter what you order, they always start you off with a soup that's hot, rich, and flavorful. I usually begin with the Haitian caviar and smoked fish empanadas, then move on to either the Saveur Creole goat or the red snapper -- always with extra gravy, because I can't resist pouring it over their black rice (don't judge me). It's BYOB, so bring your drink of choice or grab something from the shop right next door. Another thing I love is that the owner, Robert, is usually there. He'll stop by your table, talk with you, and make the meal feel like a real experience. And if you admire the artwork on the walls -- he painted all of it himself. If you go, tell him I sent you... maybe then he'll finally sell me one.

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Bunnan - GRIOT-PORK

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4.7(132 reviews)
3.1 mi•Flatbush
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The service at Bunnan was soooo good from the moment I walked in. It was not overly busy at the…read moretime, but they still had a nice steady flow and the energy in the place felt just right. The music was a whole vibe and really set the tone. I found myself enjoying not just the food, but the entire atmosphere around me. I have never been to Haiti, but the way everything was put together from the drink style cups to the music made me feel completely immersed in the culture. It felt authentic, warm, and full of life. It honestly made me want to experience the real thing one day, and I truly pray things improve so I can visit in the future. In the meantime, I will absolutely be back. That griot sandwich was everything I needed and more. Full of flavor, cooked perfectly, and very affordable which made it even better. The plantains were hot, fresh, and just right. I loved every single bite. This place really left an impression on me and I cannot wait to return.

I really wanted to try this restaurant because I follow and appreciate what Chef Nadege does for…read morethe Haitian community, so I was excited to support. The space is beautiful and very well decorated, and the servers were kind and knowledgeable about the menu. I ordered the djon djon rice bowl with oxtail, the fritay platter, and soup joumou, and we also tried the Sunday special with white rice and sos pwa. My dish came out after everyone else's, so I ended up taking it to go, which was disappointing. The fritay platter was a highlight. The plantains were crispy and the akra and marinade were well seasoned. My mom enjoyed her soup, but felt the sos pwa was a bit watery and could have been thicker. When I got home, the rice had a great texture but the aroma smelled slightly burnt, maybe they were going for a smoky flavor. The oxtail was well flavored, but I did find a small piece of plastic in my rice, which was concerning. Overall it was okay, but it did not blow me away. I have had better Haitian food at cookouts or family gatherings, though if this is your first time trying Haitian food, you may enjoy it.

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Lakay Bistro - haitian - Updated May 2026

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