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    Mama's Restaurant

    3.4 (66 reviews)
    InexpensiveCaribbean
    Closed • Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    MAMA'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Divey
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Mama's Restaurant

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    Teresa S.

    Honey, I love my West Indian food and will travel far to some good grub. I am usually in this area for job trainings and got tired of the lunch spots I was always going to when in the area. I checked Yelp for some Caribbean food and found this spot. Lo and behold they have lunch specials, woo hoo! Staff are always pleasant and work fast to keep the lines moving because it can get busy around lunch time. On my first visit I ordered the $5 curry chicken lunch special with rice and peas and plantains and it had the nerve to come with a cheap can of pineapple soda. Honey, I was balling for $5, LOL. I ventured there a 2nd time and this time ordered the brown stew chicken. I am surprised that both visits ended with a very satisfied belly, The lunch portion is sufficient enough to hit the spot until dinner and very affordable. The small venue is more of a take out spot but there a few chairs and tables for you to feast on your meal if needed. I am looking forward to my next visit so I can check out those oxtails which arent on the lunch special menu so it better be good! LOL

    See all the dark spots that's over cooled cheese

    This is the worst Mac and cheese I've ever tasted very dry over baked. The cheese on top was hard it had no creamy texture. I've had better at the local chicken joint. My first time and last to order here. For the price I paid. I feel it's not worth it.

    Mariana S.

    I went to an event, a friends 30th birthday last night and it was Catered by Mama's Restaurant. I thought wow that's brave, having a party catered with Caribbean food. You never know how folks are going to react or take Caribbean food but let me tell you, it was a success! Everyone enjoyed the switch up. I never seen a group people so happy with the food and I been to a lot of events! Everyone was going for second, thirds even fourths. People were not watching their waist line at all last night. Crowds favorites were the: *Oxtails, right amount of heat and spice! Meat so tender it fell right off the bone. *Jerk Chicken, amazing;Perfectly juicy and seasoned! *Rice and Peas! Some of the best Rice and Peas I ever had and I'm Dominican. I take my rice serious, I am a rice connoisseur. Fluffy, not sticky and right amount of seasoning! That was some banging rice. I wish this place was closer to my apartment! Great new spot! kudos to the cook!

    Racquel W.

    My Husband loved the food ...it is really good I will be take my family back here to eat. I will be trying there porridge very soon. Best Jamaica food in the area

    Tayla L.

    Found out about Mama's in November and have been back about 5 times since!! Their oxtails are amazing! Everything about them!!! Juicy, flavorful, big! (I despise those little pinky sized, mostly bone oxtails... Like wth?) I give theirs a 10 out of 10, hands down. They've renovated the place a few weeks ago for more kitchen space so hopefully that means more oxtails.... Hahaha. Plantains are always poppin' too. I've had their jerk chicken and it's not very memorable but if I happen to have it again then I will update this review. But goodness their macaroni and cheese needs help. I'm not sure if its traditional Jamaican style but all I know is it needs work. Oddly it's a layer of crusty cheese on top of bland noodles with maybe one egg and a splash of milk, lol. That's the minus 1 star. Other than that... The staff are cool and down to earth for sure! Very personable while also being fun. And again, OXTAILS baby! ($14 for a large with 3 sides, expensive but worth the splurge)

    Jazmin H.

    Fast free delivery in East Harlem. I typically order after 8pm and they often run out of favorites like the jerk chicken. Here's what I've had so far... Favorites - Oxtail - Jerk Chicken (authentically spicy) - Rice & beans - Ginger Soda - Fried plantains Less Favorite - Mac n' cheese - Stew Chicken They have a $6 lunch special from 11am-2pm with Curry Chicken or Brown Stew Chicken.

    Linda M.

    I had the most horrible service. MyJerk chicken was old. They refused to take it back. I took pictures of the plate. The food was not touched. When I opened the plate you could see it had been under the lights to long. They didn't care that I ordered the plate 2-3 times a week. I loved their chicken. What ever you do don't use your charge card. They won't return your money. So disappointed,

    Seating
    Sadia H.

    $7.00 for a greasy burned serving of jerk chicken, it was burned so badly I didn't know which parts were meat and which were bone! And a mushy mash of plantains, honestly they were so mushy I couldn't even tell you how many pieces were in there, all on a oily flavorless bed of cabbage, the oil seeped through the paper bag and collected like a puddle in the plastic bag! I walked 6 blocks to this place, what a dissapointment! Sorry, but it's no wonder this place was empty. The food was terrible, borderline disgusting :(

    Mr F G And Mrs M S.

    3.5 Stars! We got the medium jerk chicken platter & the medium fried chicken platter. Both platter came with rice, fried plantains, & veggies. The jerk chicken was good! The chicken were soft, tender & it's spicy! Really spicy! If you love spicy & able to handle it, you'll definitely love the jerk chicken here. The fried chicken was just decent. It was nothing special. The portion is definitely generous. Both of us have big appetite & we were full! We were definitely satisfied with our meal there. The place is small with only few tables. When we were there, most of the people that we saw was buying take out. The service was decent, they weren't friendly but they weren't rude either. All total, we spent $20. Great value!

    Full menu
    Michelle X.

    Good value. A filling flavor heavy meal will cost you less than $10. Most food items are pre-made and ready to serve, so don't expect to wait long here for your lunch. I ordered chicken with rice and beans and it was a very satisfying meal. It was served in a styrofoam container, so beware of sauce leaking if you are carrying your order far.

    Oxtail with rice n peas and veggies

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    3 years ago

    Great food!!! Speedy delivery services!!! Not too spicy jerk chicken!!! Curry goat is delicious!!! Stew chicken is amazing!!!

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    3 years ago

    food was delicious and the staff was being articulate on the food that she had already. 10/10

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    Jasmine's Caribbean Cuisine - Dinner at Jasmine's

    Jasmine's Caribbean Cuisine

    4.2(537 reviews)
    3.9 mi•Midtown West, Hell's Kitchen, Theater District
    •$$
    Minority-owned & operated
    Vegetarian friendly

    Came back again (on a much busier night w a lot more people) & we all left beyond satisfied! The…read morefood was amazing as always & the service was great too! I just wish they had better restrooms. This time we ordered: Drinks: Piña Colada -- 8/10 Strawberry Basil Lemonade w Tequila -- 10/10 Sorrel Marg-- 7/10 Sweet but good Food: Crispy Cauliflower -- 10/10 Oxtails w rice & peas -- 100000/10 Coconut Salmon -- 10/10 Jerk Chicken Wings -- 7/10

    This review is a little late, but I visited over the July 4th weekend and had a great experience…read more Even with a reservation, we waited briefly while the restaurant seated a party of six. The interior is cozy, with tables fairly close together, but they seemed to turn over quickly, so it was not an issue. The décor gave the restaurant a warm island vibe, and the music fit the atmosphere perfectly. The music was played at a comfortable level, so we did not have to shout across the table to hear one another. Once seated, we were promptly given water and menus. The service was great. Although I no longer remember our waitress's name, she was friendly and very attentive. She checked on us regularly and made sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed throughout our stay. As someone who grew up eating Jamaican food, I was a little skeptical, but this place far exceeded my expectations. I started with the codfish fritters, which tasted like home, except home does not serve them with such a delicious dipping sauce. I also had the Scandal Rum Punch, which was very good. For my entrée, I ordered the oxtail with rice and peas and vegetables. I was pleased that the oxtail was not overly fatty, and the meat fell right off the bone. I also really enjoyed the rice and peas. My only critique was that the oxtail had a little too much browning, but it did not overpower or negatively affect the flavor. They were also offering happy-hour specials on appetizers and drinks, which was a bonus. My company and I left happy and satisfied with full stomachs. I would definitely return to explore more of the menu.

    Photos
    Jasmine's Caribbean Cuisine - Dinner and appetizers

    Dinner and appetizers

    Jasmine's Caribbean Cuisine - Front Entrance at Jasmine's Caribbean Cuisine

    Front Entrance at Jasmine's Caribbean Cuisine

    Jasmine's Caribbean Cuisine - Chef Basil Jones and Owner Jasmine Gerald

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    Chef Basil Jones and Owner Jasmine Gerald

    S'Aimer - The decor of S'Aimers exudes the best of french Caribbean elegance.

    S'Aimer

    4.6(81 reviews)
    3.9 mi•Midtown West, Theater District, Hell's Kitchen

    We were able to get a last-minute reservation at 7p on the Sunday before Memorial Day and entered…read morewhat was a pretty empty establishment. There were only 2 other parties seated and we were seated immediately upon arrival. It's fairly dark inside and the decor reminds me a bit of New Orleans. I enjoyed the ambiance. The drinks were great! I had the cocobella while he had margaritas. The table bread was hot and fresh, so make sure they bring it to the table for you. We had the mussels for an appetizer, lamb chops and bass. EVERYTHING was excellent! The flavor of the broth for the mussels was Devine, so much so my husband used his bread to sop up all he could. The bass had great flavor and came with sautéed spinach that was well cooked. It initially looked like a small portion but turned out to be plenty. The lamb chops were cooked to the requested temp and seasoned well. We left no crumbs. This one is definitely worth a try!

    I came here to leave a review and am so distraught over learning that this place has closed! It was…read morehands down one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had - from the service to the drinks and the food. I dined there back in March and to this day I rave about the dish I had. The owner was extremely accommodating, pleasant and friendly. I hope they reopen somewhere else! He told us that he had another restaurant close by, I'll have to try that one if I can figure out the name of it.

    Photos
    S'Aimer - Greenery in The Garden at S'Aimer NYC

    Greenery in The Garden at S'Aimer NYC

    S'Aimer - The Garden at S'Aimer NYC. A place for quiet conversation in the heart of Restaurant Row.

    The Garden at S'Aimer NYC. A place for quiet conversation in the heart of Restaurant Row.

    S'Aimer - Set up for private event at S'Aimer NYC.

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    Set up for private event at S'Aimer NYC.

    Havana Central - $25 Girl Dinner, available every Tuesday featuring a Classic Mojito, Avocado Salad & Yuca Fries

    Havana Central

    3.9(3.3k reviews)
    3.8 mi•Theater District, Midtown West
    •$$

    I've must of passed Havana Central so many times and never realized it was there I have to say,…read morecolor me impressed. Arriving for our reservation the place was packed. It's a loud and vibrant atmosphere. They have a pre-theater prefix menu which we decided on. Empanada app was 3 large empanadas and each one was flavored and yummy. Also opted for the guac and chips app just to have something a little lighter. Entrees are served with rice and beans. The pernil was excellent. Super tender and garlicky. The ropa vieja was also very good, with deep flavors. Dessert was the course that was disappointing, which was such a bummer after a great meal. The flan was definitely overcooked, so the texture was off. The cafe con keche was decent. The prefix is a great deal which included a drink and it was a lot of food All in all, Havana Central offers some wonderful Cuban flavors and a great choice for a pre-theater dinner. Bonus, if you are seeing Buena Vista Social Club, show your tickets and you get 15% off the bill.

    The food was great! I got the maple glazed pork ribs, which was juicy and delicious! The ends of…read morethe ribs were crunchy too! The empanadas (beef and chilly cheesesteak) were great too! The fried pork appetizer was really dry. The sample plate was really good! The plantains were great. Plantain chips were very hard.

    Photos
    Havana Central - Interior of the restaurant

    Interior of the restaurant

    Havana Central - Lightly dusted, crispy Calamari

    Lightly dusted, crispy Calamari

    Havana Central - Blackberry mojito

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    Blackberry mojito

    Margon - Cuban sandwich

    Margon

    4.2(910 reviews)
    3.8 mi•Theater District, Midtown West
    •$$

    Sometimes you don't need a fancy reservation... you just need a tiny spot, loud kitchen, and food…read morethat hits like a heavyweight champ. Walked into Margon Restaurant in Midtown and instantly felt like I found one of NYC's secret cheat codes. Small space, big flavors, zero nonsense. The kind of place where you're elbow-to-elbow with strangers but everyone's united by one thing... serious hunger. Ordered the Cuban sandwich -- pressed, crispy, loaded with roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss, pickles, and mustard. One bite in and I stopped talking... which never happens. This thing didn't just deliver... it showed up early and over-prepared. Then came La Bandera Dominicana Braised beef swimming in savory gravy, yellow rice piled like a mountain, black beans doing their thing, and sweet maduros sitting on top like the victory flag. Simple. Comforting. Dangerous... because now I want it every week. Place gets busy, gets loud, gets chaotic... but it moves like a well-oiled machine. Years of experience and zero attitude. Just good people making great food. In a neighborhood full of tourist traps, this hole-in-the-wall is throwing haymakers. Sometimes the best escape in NYC isn't a rooftop... It's a Cuban sandwich and a plastic tray. And honestly... I'd pick that every time. #nycfood #hiddennyc #midtowneats

    The Food is pretty good overall. The beef stew falls apart nicely. The rice and beans are pretty…read moregood fillers too. Plantain is always good. My main complaint is that they are really stingy on portions. They always give 1 plantain and when I ask for more, the lady gives me a dirty look and says 1 is the limit. Took 1 star off since the meal is not filling enough for me, but I keep coming back because of the flavor.

    Photos
    Margon - People lining up to get their food

    People lining up to get their food

    Margon - Maybe mold on corner piece of Flan. Something go me ill an hour later.

    Maybe mold on corner piece of Flan. Something go me ill an hour later.

    Margon - Closeup of the Cuban Sandwich.

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    Closeup of the Cuban Sandwich.

    Peppas Jerk Chicken

    Peppas Jerk Chicken

    3.3(53 reviews)
    4.7 mi•Kips Bay

    Got to-go from here and thought that it was okay. We got their BBQ jerk chicken and thought that it…read morewas a bit on the pricier side for jerk chicken. It was super saucy, definitely on the sweeter side, and heavy on rice. Not bad but there are other spots I prefer more.

    The only jerk chicken spot I feel confident in in Manhattan is Simply Natural Grill, but that dude…read moreonly comes out in the Spring/Summer as he brings his grill out on the street and does God's work. I did my best to crowdsource a good jerk chicken rec from my Instagram story, and the overwhelming favorite was Peppa's Jerk Chicken. We took the bus up to 28th street, and arrived at what felt like the promised land for a jerk chicken plate: Bob Marley on a Jamaican flag, tin wall panels spray painted with scenery of the homeland, employees slightly rude with thick Jamaican accents, etc. We both got jerk chicken plates with rice & peas and plantains. I was beyond hopeful to have a new year round jerk chicken spot. However, my hopes were stabbed in the heart when I took one bite of the plantains. These were legitimately the worst plantains I've ever had. I couldn't even believe they served us these. The plastic fork couldn't even penetrate the surface of the fried banana, they must have been sitting for DAYS. I wish they just told us they were out of plantains. The jerk chicken and rice & peas were actually really good, but plantain-gate just left a bad taste in my mouth. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__

    Photos
    Peppas Jerk Chicken - Few seating inside

    Few seating inside

    Peppas Jerk Chicken - Small oxtail with pasta

    Small oxtail with pasta

    Peppas Jerk Chicken - Exterior

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    Exterior

    Mama's Restaurant - caribbean - Updated October 2026

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