2026-08-26. Jamaican Jerk Pit. Ann Arbor, MI…read more
OK. So this is really the only game in town when it comes to Caribbean foods, so it's getting an extra star just for that.
In all honesty, the food was definitely nothing to write home about. The menu covered all the staples, Jerk Chicken, Curry Goat, Curry Chicken, Dhalpuri Roti, Oxtail, Rice & Peas, beef patties, and even deep fried plantains. Unfortunately, nothing wowed me.
We ordered Jerk Chicken, Curry Goat Roti, Oxtail, and a plate of the plantains. Sides included mixed veggies and rice and peas.
Jerk Chicken. The chicken was nicely cooked, but the seasoning was light and I didn't get that semi-blackened finish off the grill like I'm used to. We were sharing all the dishes, so I asked for the spicy sauce on the side rather than smother on. I went with the medium and this spice was on par with what I expected. The taste of Scotch bonnet was front and center and the heat intensified as you put more on. 2 stars.
Oxtail. The oxtail was much tougher than it should have been, but the sauce was flavorful. 2 stars.
Goat Roti. I had asked for this deconstructed rather than wrapped. The curry goat was deboned and the curry was decently flavoured. The meat was also cooked nicely and not tough. 3 stars. The roti was a different story. When I unwrapped the roti, the yellow split pea (dhal) filling spilled out and surprised me. From my experience, the filing should have been rolled into the dough before cooking and should have been a thin layer as it's typically very dry. On the bright side, the Dhal was prepared properly and was crumbly rather than mushy. The spices were light probably catering to local tastes and only subtle hints of cumin, garlic, and heat was noticeable. 2 stars.
Plantains. There are two types of Caribbean fried plantains:
Maduros (Sweet) made from very ripe, yellow-to-black plantains sliced on an angle and pan or deep fried once until caramelized and tender.
Tostones (Savory) made from green, unripe starchy plantains that are sliced, fried once, smashed flat, dipped in garlic salt water, and double-fried to make them extra cripsy.
The plantains here were clearly supposed to be Maduros, but they were under ripened. 2 stars.
Overall I've had better pretty much with everything we ordered, but I know this is very subjective and heavily reliant on personal preference. Locals clearly love this place since it has over a 4-star rating, but I have to go against the grain here. There are things that I just can't overlook (the toughness of the oxtail and the dhal with the roti) and these are my primary reasons for the "I've had better" 2-star rating. I am bumping my rating up to 3 stars because this is the only game in town; so if you do have a craving for the Caribbean, something is better than nothing...
If you'd like to experience more, come dine-with-me.yelp.com I'd love to have your company! Bon Appétit!