I was searching for some authentic Caribbean food and decided to stop by Lawrence's and it was definitely a great decision! Tucked away off the main road, this spot immediately brings you into Caribbean culture the moment you walk through the door. The atmosphere is warm and the food absolutely delivered. It had been a long time since I'd had truly tender, flavorful oxtail, and their Oxtail & Curry Goat Combo definitely satisfied my craving. I ordered the large combo plate, which came with rice and peas, cabbage, and plantains. Both the curry goat and oxtail were packed with flavor, perfectly seasoned. I also ordered a beef patty with coco bread, and I couldn't even wait until I got home to try it. The beef patty was flaky and filled with seasoned beef, while the warm, slightly sweet coco bread took it to another level. It was the perfect combination ,10/10! read more

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I go here the other day because I'm craving some Caribbean food. I order some brown stewed chicken but ask him can I get fried plantain instead of broiled. After some back and forth I thought he understood what I wanted and was going to make it happen. I get home to find out he gave me the broiled anyway. SMH, I don't know who this guy was who served me but it wasn't the owner, some guy with a beard. I've been coming here for years so I've met the owner before. It won't stop me from coming but I'll be ify about placing an order with the guy who took my order the other day or better yet I should've checked the food before I left. read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Brown Stewed Chicken, I asked for fried plantain and they gave broiled anyway. Does that looked fried to you in the bottom right corner? - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Did a take out : Ordered oxtail & jerk chicken & Beef patty (Patty was good) Both entrees came with rice with beans , cabbage (flavorful ), plantain Moving to Charlotte from Miami I was excited to find a Jamaican restaurant The food here is so so but not bad either read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Oxtail & jerk chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I drove 40 minutes to try this caribbean spot and they forgot half of the platter. I'm missing my jerk chicken plus plantains and had to drive another 40 mins back to the restaurant. The lady taking orders also had a bad attitude. When i went back to get my full plate, the jerk. chicken had no sauce read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I ordered the Oxtails with come when rice &peas and veggies (cabbage/peas/carrots) and plantains. Ordered an extra sides of collard greens and yams. The food was fresh, hot, and the portion size was good. There was quick service and the prices are reasonable. There were several tables inside and outside where you can sit and eat. I noticed lots of people calling orders in and picking up to go. I heard a lot of others ordering the beef patties and one man started eating his before he walked away from the counter. I was very pleased with my food. read more

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I have had Oxtails before but nothing aside from my regular Caldo de Res. This is not the typical fork and knife type of dish, it requires finger-licking, bone-sucking to really enjoy the flavors and deliciousness of the meat. I ordered ahead for takeout, food was ready upon arrival. I was greeted with a smile by person at the counter. Quite nice place to enjoy the meal while listening to reggae music they have playing, very nice. read more

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I ordered takeout recently, and while the service was solid, the food was a bit of a mixed bag. The biggest letdown was the oxtail--it just wasn't tender or very flavorful. However, the sides saved the meal; the rice and cabbage were really good, and the Jamaican patty was excellent. The jerk chicken was also very tasty, though it was a little spicier than I usually like. The ambiance inside isn't anything special, but for a quick takeout spot, the service makes it an easy stop--I'd just stick to the chicken and patties next time. read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Oxtails - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The plate was not a large, my plate looks more like a small. The rice was overcooked and mushy I never expertise in a Caribbean restaurant. No jerk sauce on the chicken but it was tender. read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Combo oxtail and chicken large - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Oxtail was tender and delicious, jerk chicken was dry. Service is extremely slow so call in your order for pickup. I'll be back for the oxtails. read more

Had to bump up those stars since my last visit! I bought my daughter and granddaughter here. Customer service was on point today! Money was worth what was bought. My daughter wished her combination plate had more oxtail (2 reg PC and 2 small pc). My plate had adequate portions. But she said this will be her new spot for a restaurant treat. I'm glad that I do not live really close. Because I would be here A LOT. read more

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Stopped here at lunch time. They have a $10 lunch special M-Th. Beware: They charge a 2% service fee if you pay by credit card. I got the curry chicken lunch special. It was good and the cooked cabbage was excellent.. The beans and rice were OK but I really liked the plantains. The pieces of chicken were mostly bone and it was difficult to get the meat off without getting curry sauce all over yourself. For $10 though it's a good deal. Even meal combos at McDonald's are over that. I got one of their homemade ginger drinks ($7) and it was fabulous. To take home for dinner, I got 2 beef pies, 1lb of jerk chicken, and 16oz red bean soup ($5). The soup had FANTASTIC flavor ! The main complaint I have is that they put the soup in just a Styrofoam cup with a lid like I was taking home a soda. The lid broke on the way home inside the bag and soup got all over. I had about 3/4 left when I got home. Not many beans, chicken, or veggies in the soup, but the flavor is so good I would get it again. However, they need to give you a tall plastic soup container if you get it to go. They will give you scotch bonnet peppers on request. I'll be back to try some of their homemade desserts. read more

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Food was good and what I was looking for. Large portions and bang for ya buck. I didn't come looking for service, but you can eat inside or out read more

This modest roadside shack on West Boulevard serves up delicious Jamaican dishes in a clean but unassuming setting that won't disappoint! On a recent visit, I enjoyed a huge portion of wonderfully spicy jerk chicken that practically fell off the bone, along with a flavorful side of rice and peas. Order at the kitchen window inside and, if the weather's nice, grab a spot on the covered patio out front to enjoy some truly tasty Caribbean food. Lawrence also serves up a decent selection of Jamaican beers in bottles and cans, making it a fun place to meet friends for Happy Hour. Well worth a visit from anywhere in the Queen City! read more

Takeout dinner last night. The curry and oxtails tasted good. Nothing fantastic to rave about, just good. The cabbage and rice were overly salty. The service was good. read more

Fantastic food , we ordered the goat , roti and patty ..: by far best island cuisine in Charlotte

Let me start by saying that the food is good/tasty. I don't know if the guy misunderstood my order or what, but I asked for stew chicken. When I got home and looked in my plate, I had one piece of chicken, ham hock, oxtail and whatever other kind of meat that was available. LOL. I still ate it because I was super hungry and I didn't have the energy or time to go back. Like I said, it was good but it's a very good thing that I actually eat red meat. If they ran out of chicken, I wished they would have at least told me before just assuming that I would just be ok with it. Also, when I asked to change my sides, I was told that it came with rice& peas, cabbage, and plantains (2 little slices at that). Basically, I didn't have an option. I'm not say that I would never eat there again, but it seems like I would just have to check my plate before leaving. read more

We are from Knoxville and have a group of 11 kids. Most of them have never had Jamaican food before, and this was a great expansion of their pallet! The food was amazing! Service was so awesome! Friendly service!! 10/10 read more

This restaurant is no joke. It's not my fraternak Jamaican grandparents' cooking, but I won't take that away from them. Servings are large and filling. I ordered brown stew chicken. It's missing scotch bonnet in the recipe. Not a ding against them, though. The "grown people" sorrel had enough kick to it that I waited until I was at my hotel suite before drinking it. Big ups for outstanding service. I had passed on several recommendations for a few other Jamaican restaurants and I'm glad I took a chance going to Lawrence. read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Brown stew chicken, rice and beans, cabbage, plantains - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Great food and the staff were very friendly. We tried several dishes and they gave great recommendations.

Good Caribbean food from good Caribbean ppl. Always love and good vibes.great music and great quality and service.

We ordered a few dishes. We had the whiting with rice and sweet plantains, the oxtails/ jerked dark chicken (had ordered the oxtail entree but the young lady helping must have heard wrong), the stew chicken/ jerked dark chicken combo, the 5 piece wings with fries and a few drinks. Suprisingly it was not spicy! The jerked dark chicken was super dry. This place is over prices. Three entries and 4 drinks. Over $90. I've been to better that cost less read more

jerk chicken, oxtail, and curry goat!!!! all amazing. i would definitely eat here again! the only thing i could pick at about the place is the cake wasn't that good..maybe it was in the refrigerator to long and the mac and cheese wasn't the best but everything else SPOT ON. read more

Meh... I was really hoping for something that would knock my socks off with some flavor but this wasn't it. We really tried to like it and had a variety to get a good feel but it was mostly bland. I had seen a few prior reviews saying the same, but this place came with some islander recommendations so we had to try. I guess I expected some spicy scotch bonnet type flavors somewhere in this meal but there was zero heat. That might be what some folks like but having a sauce or something would have helped. Jerk chicken - honestly this was a really good smoked chicken but I have a hard time calling it jerk chicken since the jerk seasoning wasn't pulling through. Juicy smoked chicken would have been a better name. Oxtail - the oxtail was pretty good but it didn't have any flavors passed general braised oxtail. This could have been served over pasta and you could have called it Italian food. Beef stew roti - again, right up the middle. This could been called Midwestern beef stew and you would know exactly what it tasted like. The roti was pretty good to start but dried out almost immediately and became tough and crispy dry. Beef patty - generally bland. I don't even have a comparison but it was just okay. Rice and beans - I pretty much love rice and beans so these were awesome. I'm not sure the "gravy" that was poured onto them was really needed but it didn't have a strong flavor anyway. Sorel - I have never had this before and I don't exactly know what to think of it. It was so thick and concentrated we didn't even drink it until we got home and mixed it with some sparkling water. read more

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Freshly made chicken wings. I ate a few before i took this picture. Lots of jerk sauce.:) read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - 5 Piece Wing & 3 Piece Whiting Combo - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This spot is A1 -- so ignore the haters who wrote a review out of spite! Like I almost didn't come here bc of some of the negative comments!! IM SO GLAD I WENT TO TRY MYSELF! I grabbed 2 large oxtails plates and 2 beef patties for take out for my gf bday! Man was it good!! I haven't had authentic Jamaican food in a long time! The beef patties could use a bit more meat but they are fresh and homemade!!! Like what?! Oxtails has bones in it bc IT COMES WITH BONES. if you ever had oxtails you know some pieces are better than others. Period. It was $70 but well spent. Y'all spend that much at chain restaurants w/ no problem. Go support these people man. They out here doing their thing! My gf was sooooo happy! Thank you!!! Thank you Thank you!!! Will be back! read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Oxtails (L) Rice n Peas Cabbage Sweet Plantains - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Arrived shortly after they opened and the places smelled like heaven. I ordered the oxtail entre, a beef patty and the ginger drink they had. The beef patty was super fresh and delicious, the ginger drink was awesome as well with just enough ginger for a little kick. The entree came with cabbage and dirty rice, both were fantastic especially when I put the gravey from the oxtail on the rice it was to die for. The oxtail was cooked to perfection and seasoned properly. Honestly I've been in town working for a month going out to eat everyday and this was the best meal I've had so far. I highly recommend and will be back on the future. read more

I just wasted $14 and I'm about to vent about it. Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant Please take off the authentic Caribean food. Or make it just Jamaican food. Because I just purchased a Roti from you all. And that Roti was horrible. The skin taste like Mexican tortillas doughs that they rebaked and refried. Who puts chicken legs inside of a Roti? Curry had no salt or taste. Please take Roti off your menu. Cause whoever's putting it together, aint doing it right? read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Dry and hard doughy - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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No complaints! Clean establishment. Decent portion sizes. Beef patty & curry goat also great (not pictured) Will be back! read more

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Gavin Lawrence, you rock. Our Yelp International Supper Club invaded your joint a few, warm nights ago and y'all stepped up serving us just about everything you make. Sitting outside under the lights, elbow-to-elbow, reminded me of backyard family gatherings. Pull up a chair, everyone's welcome. And that's how I felt: welcomed. Doesn't get much better than that in my book. Nice. I ordered the beef roti with chickpea wrapper. Tender, exquisite gravy that eventually soaked into the roti. Excellent. I also ordered 4 meat pies to go since before leaving home, my wife instructed me, "Don't forget the meat pies. Two of each, please." Got it! Everyone seemed to moan and groan over how good was the food. Some learned things they did, or didn't like, as much as others. It was a wonderful event. Still high on Lawrence's and I gotta say, "Give this place a whirl." read more

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Had a pleasure to dinning here recently.. I been to Jamaica TWICE. And all I have tried was their jerk chicken. But Lawerence offered soo much more. And even met Lawerence the man himself.. nice man.. I had the oxtails and curried chicken. The oxtails was out of this world. It's soo meaty and comforting. The curried chicken was a little dry. I'm guessing my pieces were the white meat. Their sweet plantains was really good. Rice and beans was awesome. And their cornbread is not what I have imagine it. It's more like a spice cake.. but really good and come out warm.. The place is a little small. So it's a little hard to have a group of your friends come. But all and all it was good. read more

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The l restaurant was clean, staff was friendly, prices were good. I ordered the special (curry chicken, rice and peas with plantain). The server was very courteous and kind. If this were a customer service review, they'd get a 5/5. The food was disappointing. The beans in the 'rice and peas' was crunchy and undercooked. The plantain looked like frozen plantain that wasn't fully fried. They literally had canned veggies on the plate- not sure where those came from. The curry sauce tasted like someone had spilled Knorr or Maggie boulion powder in it. Needless to say, I couldn't finish it. To the owners, change the chef; Everything else is working. read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Curry chicken special - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I joined Yelp International Supper Club for a dinner here. We tried several things on the menu: oxtail, jerk wings, chicken curry roti, and a beef patty. I think the beef patty and oxtails were my favorite. I love spicy food, but the jerk wings were a little much for me. It felt like it was a lot of spice for the sake of being spicy without adding flavor. Overall, I wish they would have served more meat and less carbs. It felt like everything had a ton of rice/fries/roti, but not much meat. Some of it was awkward to eat with the bones (chicken drumsticks wrapped in roti is awkward), but you can make it work. I think we overwhelmed them with the size of our group, but they did a good job of trying to accommodate us. This is a good option for Caribbean food. read more

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After living in Jamaica, I cannot count the number of mornings I wake up and craving Ackee and Saltfish with fried dumpling. That craving became insatiable and led me to Yelp to seek out a place where I could partake in a piece of Jamaica in Charlotte. After some light perusing, I came across Lawrence on a Thursday and by Friday I was there. When I arrived for breakfast (without checking the hours) they weren't open yet. Unfortunately, I didn't make it back until late that night and the Ackee and Saltfish was sold out (which I knew it would be but wanted to try anyway...one can hope). The cashier was very helpful and told me that I would be able to come back in the morning and she would have some ready. I ordered dinner for me and my family instead. Jerk Chicken, plantains, rice and peas. Every thing was absolutely delicious but I could not get the Ackee and Saltfish out of my head. So I woke up the next morning and headed over before running my errands for the day. Sure enough when I got there, they were finishing up the batch. I got my plate complete with boiled yam, green banana, dumpling (sadly--no fried dumpling) and fried plantains. It was absolutely delicious and hit the spot. Of course nothing can come close to fresh ackee right off the tree here in the states, but this was not far off and tasted like paradise. I also got a fresh Ginger Beer while I was there that was out of this world. Perfectly sweet and chocked full of ginger flavor. It's so nice to know that whenever I'm home in Charlotte, I can have a slice of Jamaica that will hold me over until my next trip. Note: They only serve Ackee and Saltfish on Fridays and Saturdays...so if that's what you want, be sure to plan out your visit accordingly. read more

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What can i say....... I am speechless, everything was excellent. Tried fish soup for the first time and was blown away. The deep fried snapper was everything i was looking for. The cabbage, the red beans and rice, all had me wanting more. I'll definitely be back sooner than later. Thanks for the fish soup, if you never had it i advise you to try it from here. Flavors are in every bite. Don't know the young gentlemen that took my order but he told me i would love the soup and he wasn't lying.. It's a must try. read more

My husband and I did a weekend trip to Charlotte, NC. He had a taste for some Jamaican food, and we came across this place. The lady at the counter was friendly, and there was a steady stream of people coming in. The restaurant is small, but has a seating area inside and outside for eating. The restroom was very clean, which was a pleasant surprise. Now for the food... My husband and I both got the oxtail platter with cabbage, rice and peas and plantains. I also got a beef patty. The cabbage: This cabbage was different. It had corn, and other vegetables in it. It was a little bland, but after adding some salt, it was very tasty. The rice and peas : I don't eat rice much, but this was very tasty. They put a gravy on top. I took a few bites because it was good. The plantains : I don't like plantains, but my husband said they were very good. The oxtails : Tender and very flavorful. Not spicy at all. They tasted more like down home southern oxtails more than Jamaican oxtails, but really good. The beef patty : It was my first time trying it, and it was really good! Flaky crust and just very flavorful. I can't say it was the best Jamaican food I've ever had, but the food was good, and definitely worth stopping by if you're in Charlotte. I would definitely go again. read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Oxtails, cabbage, rice and peas, plantains - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I have tried to patronize this place multiple times hoping it would get better. But lady night was the last straw. I'm angry at this point about $18 gone down the drain for mess. I ordered cabbage curry shrimp and plantains. Look at this mess... Do not go there people. He was rude and a thief. You took my money knowing I was in a rush. I will open my food for now on before I leave. I will never go back. I want my money back too. read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Nasty no flavor and no food - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

A friend suggested we try this place. And because I'm a foodie and love to try food from anywhere that doesn't have a "B" grade sanitation score or below. For the record, they had am "A" sanitation grade) I went along. This is a get it and go restaurant. There is some outdoor seating available. Because we both ordered oxtails, our food didn't take long ( other people who were there where there when we got there and was still there after we received our food.... not sure what they ordered. We ordered oxtails with two sides, please note you don't get to order your two sides, it comes with cabbage and rice, and that's your two sides. The oxtails were ok. But lucky to get oxtails in the middle of the week as most Jamaican restaurants only serve on the weekend. The oxtails were small but tender. The sides were very bland. I've been, I've tasted and now I know for myself. read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Oxtails Meal - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I ordered the large jerk chicken with cabbage and yams. I received 1 drumstick, 1/2 of thigh and 1/2 of another drumstick! The large portion of the containers were filled to the top with rice and beans- it was like a pot of rice in each one. My boyfriend ordered curry goat, Mac and cheese and cabbage. There were only 10 small pieces of goat, and the macaroni and cheese did not have any cheese!!! The noodles were stuck together from being cooked. The was no yellow or even white color from any cheese. The cabbage was shredded into thi thin strips and didn't fill the small portion of the container. I know it's TMI but we both ended up in the bathroom several times. What a waste of $48.58! read more

This place has amazing food. I was so impressed! The young woman who took our order was warm, and patient with our questions. The fact is that this food is EXCELLENT. It's flavors are deep and rich. I feel like the mixed reviews come from misunderstanding the cuisine. They have expectations of the anemic version of jerk that they've had in the past, making them unable to embrace the authentic depth of goodness you get at Lawrence's. If you've ever been to the Caribbean, you'll appreciate the simple, easy ambiance. Don't be snobs people, just enjoy the great food! Tip: get the sorrel. So good! read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Stewed beef, rice and peas, cabbage, plantains, carrots - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Ordered take out 6/2. When I got home and opened the food. This is what it was. Collard green tasted like it came out the can. The fish was either warmed or a day old. It was not freshly fried. And the plantains looked like the plantain out the box. Really terrible. I was disappointed. Quality of this food was bad. I ended up trashing it read more

Lawrence Caribbean Restaurant - Collard greens plantain and 3 piece Whiting & Two Sides - Caribbean Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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