The Best Jamaican Food on Earth I've been coming here forever and the food is unlike anywhere else I have ever been. I have been to Jamaica and nothing is close. I have brought friends here who live/ lived in Jamaica and they are blown away. I also lived in the Jamacian area in Harlem and never found a Jamaican Restaurant even close to this place. The staff are friendly and get the food out quickly. There is almost a couple people there and they have no problem handling the traffic. Place definitely has a vibe. Bonus it is down by Seaside Park so when it's warm enough I love grabbing my food to go and eating it in the park. Food: -Jerk Chicken This is by far my go to. If you can't handle a LOT of heat then this is not for you. 1st time my wife had it she couldn't hang but I made her try it again and again and eventually she built a tolerance and absolutely loves it. -Curry Goat My 2nd Favorite. Not too much heat and very tasty. Careful of the bones but the flavor is incredible. If you can't handle the heat of the Jerk this is a great option. -Stewed Chicken Good option. I don't get it too often as I prefer the Jerk but if I'm not in the mood for the heat or just want to switch it up this is another amazingly flavorful option. -Jamaican Patty's All of them are great Spicy or Mild Beef, Chicken, Veggie I usually get a patty with my order and rotate my choice with my mood or what looks best that day. Final Thoughts If you haven't been to Rootsman you don't know what Real Jamaican Food is. Get here ASAP!! Caution: Food is Amazing & Addictive read more

Before I get into the review proper, I've noticed that many older reviews had mentioned this place was Cash Only. Based on my visit tonight, they now accept card since I was able to my debit on this one. This place is primarily take-out, but there's tables inside where you can eat in if you wish. I opted to just get my food and be on my way. But before that, I do want to mention that the guy behind the counter pointed out on my visit that not everything that the menu reads was actually in stock (my visit came at about 7:30 pm on a Tuesday night). He did at least have the courtesy of telling me what was available, to which I had opted for the jerk chicken. I didn't know this upon my ordering, but apparently this jerk chicken gets rave reviews here on Yelp. I don't order this kind of thing often, and the last time I went to a place to order jerk chicken the food and atmosphere did not turn out good, so I was hopeful I would at least have a better experience here. The place itself is unassuming in a way something similar to how a hole in the wall would be unassuming. One thing I will say in this place's favor is that the price is very fair for what you get. I only had to pay $16.32 for the meal which honestly isn't bad at all. And hey, at least the employee had decent manners. Upon arriving back at the Bridgeport Station to start eating, that was when I had realized something had gone wrong. When I got to the bag I was given the food in, the take-out container completely destroyed the bag, telling me that this was not packaged well at all. Imagine if I had tried to drive this back home and then found that! They could probably do with making some sort of effort reinforcing the packaging before packing into a paper bag. To make matters worse, when I had opened the container to start eating, the food exploded all over my shorts! Not fun! But I was able to eat enough to form an opinion. As for the meal itself, the jerk chicken comes with cabbage and rice. I would have liked to have the rice separate from the chicken, but that was apparently not an option. I was kind of bummed out about that since the last time I had jerk spice on rice it ruined the rice. I will say quality-wise the food was better than People's Choice over in Norwalk. The chicken was juicy and the rice was at least cooked properly. The taste of the rice I will say did not taste much difference from the chicken, so it's definitely doesn't stand out too much. The cabbage was a wet cabbage, not to the point of mush, but maybe the next level before that. Good thing the chicken was actually good jerk chicken, even though it's not de-boned. Would I walk 20 minutes to come eat here again? If I had to. So far I'd pick this over several others if I am in the mood for Caribbean food. Just some better packaging would be nice. read more

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Really love the curry goat and chicken! The value is pretty good for the portions you get. Also love the jerk chicken patties. read more

Rootsman Kitchen - Entrance - Caribbean Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Found my new go-to place for delicious Jamaican food. Had jerk chicken with rice and beans and cabbage. Got medium size portion for dinner, and was full. The chicken was soo good!! Can't wait to go back and try other dishes. Great friendly service! Easy to get to, right off the highway. read more

Rootsman Kitchen - a neon sign in the window - Caribbean Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Service can be a lot better, maybe recommend an easier way to order. The oxtail I ordered were okay and that's pretty much it. The cashier was very respectful. Rice and peas was hot and fresh ! read more

Great food, the jerk was the best I've had...nice & spicy! Staff is great, they make you feel welcomed. A few good size tables to seat in and eat. Nice Jamaican vibe. Cash only!! I'll be back, ya Mon read more

Rootsman Kitchen - Small jerk chicken, peas & rice, cabbage.. pineapple ginger soda. - Caribbean Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Roots Man Kitchen is a delightful hole-in-the-wall gem tucked away in Bridgeport. Despite visiting on Easter Sunday, the lunch crowd was still bustling, a testament to the spot's popularity. I opted for the Escovitch kingfish and a small order of oxtail with rice and peas. The Escovitch kingfish stole the show, grilled to perfection served with a tantalizing blend of tangy and spicy flavors from the escovitch. As for the oxtail, it was everything I hoped for--succulent, tender, and utterly satisfying. Overall, the kingfish stood out as the highlight of the meal. However, one minor gripe I have with these hidden Caribbean spots is the clarity of the prices. While my two dishes were undeniably delicious, the total bill came to $42, leaving me wishing for an itemized receipt. I understand my Kingfish dish was a special but just seemed rather pricey. FYI... this place is Cash Only read more

Rootsman Kitchen - Easter Sunday lunch rush - Caribbean Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

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The Best Caribbean food in the City! They have been consistent for decades.The Oxtail and curry Chicken are my favorites and the Patties are incredible as well. read more

I was looking for some good food on my lunch break and this restaurant is close enough to my job ( I did not want to waste too much of my lunch break driving) I can't believe how good the chicken and rice plate is. Same with the beef patty. read more

To die for authentic Jerk chicken some of the best maybe the best I've ever had outside of Jamaica itself

If you're a fan of Jamaican food - or even if you're just looking to try something new - this place is a must-visit. Some of the best Jamaican food I've ever had! The portions are massive, and everything is incredibly fresh. They don't skimp on the steamed cabbage, and the rice and peas are always cooked to perfection, never overdone. I can never get enough of the curry goat and oxtail; they're two of my all time favorite dishes and they always nail them. And they'll always give you some extra gravy on top of your plate. The staff has always been beyond friendly and keeps me up to date if there is ever a wait for food. They also have a great drink selection. read more

Delicious food!! Warning: they don't do all-day breakfast. I went in there hoping for ackee and saltfish (breakfast) and an order of curry goat, but the guy working there informed me that they didn't have the breakfast stuff right now. To be nice he gave me a side order of curry chicken on the house!! How nice!! read more

Rootsman Kitchen - a plate of food in a foil container - Caribbean Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Roots man has real authentic Jamaican food at great price. Being from California we don't have many places like this around. Having never had Jamaican food my friend took me here as our first stop in my trip. ORDER: because I couldn't decide what I wanted we got the pepper steak and the jerk chicken with beans and rice and cabbage- decided to split it. On the side we had beef patties The beef patties were amazing and stuffed to perfection- so many flavors I could legit feel the taste buds throwing a party in honor of the food I was consuming. Onto the Jerk- The jerk chicken (which was my favorite) is a highly seasoned chicken dry-rubbed or wet marinated with a hot spice mixture called Jamaican jerk spice and has a bit of a kick to it. The Pepper Steak was tender and also seasoned but differently than that of jerk chicken. We had gotten the medium sized and I was not even close to being able to finish all of mine. I also elected to order the ginger ale- which was strong tasting and super tasty. The customer service was great, though I did not get the guys name whom helped us he was super welcoming once he found out it was my first time having RK and recommended what to order read more

Rootsman Kitchen - Pepper steak - Caribbean Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Just stopped in and in we ordered oxtail and the curry goat one word EXCELLENT the cabbage was very tasty can't wait to go back and get the jerk chicken read more

Absolutely delicious. Ordered take out- jerk chicken, rice & beans with cabbage. Looking forward to going again. Friendly & polite too. read more

Rootsman Kitchen - Jerk chicken rice & beans with cabbage - Caribbean Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Absolutely fantastic! So glad we found this! Very authentic and the guy at the counter was friendly and nice. Patties are excellent and so was the gost curry + steamed cabbage! We will definitely be back! read more

This is my first spot in ct and it's been consistent and good every single time I've eaten here. This is my favorite place to get chicken soup taste just like my granny and I will get it every time they have it! read more

Rootsman Kitchen - Large Chicken soup - Caribbean Near Me - Bridgeport, Connecticut

Best authentic Jamaican food.I love the oxtail and cabbage the curry goat everything is good

I had the curried goat here recently and it was excellent. The meat was super-fresh, the seasoning was perfect - spicy but balanced - and the rice and peas and cabbage were textbook. Best Jamaican food I've had outside of Miami. read more

In my opinion this is the preeminent destination for Jamaican cuisine in the Bridgeport metropolitan area.

Authentic Jamaican fair. A nice variety and selection of dishes. Large portions. Soup and some dishes rotate based on day. They even had goat head souo, which I was not able to bring myself to try. Very well cooked. read more

so i just had a meal from this spot. i had (3) patties; the veggie pattie was on point i will recommend that. the spinach was not as spicy or seasoned as i've had before. the curry chickpea is a complete miss for me. the pea itself was not cooked are soft enough, the curry flavor was too overpowering and the crust was a tad hard. the price is waaaaaaaay too expensive; for a small jerk chicken meal i paid $14 and a small small rice an cabbage was a whopping $9- no meat mind you! i paid but quite begrudgingly. i love supporting small businesses but this spot is not it. save you time an money an just buy a chicken an make it yourself. read more

Get the Stew Oxtail and the Curry Goat both under $20. Meal comes with rice, beans and cabbage. A definite find. The area is very sketchy, so be forwarned. The food is what you go for and based on my rating that's what drove it. Easily would have gotten 5 stars but you have to really get over the area. This is a definite take out place. Lloyd, the owner at first was hostile of me taking a pictures and asked what yelp was. But after another customer explained it he calmed down. Pretty intense. Leave the wife and kids in the car. Preferably park in front of the place. read more

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Rootsman is a take-out only restaurant serving up arguably the best Jamaican food in Bridgeport (based on the consensus of people living in the area). They have everything from jerk chicken, stew chicken, sweet & sour chicken to oxtail to steak to pot roast to hard dough bread, coco bread, etc. This place is very popular and busy so they often run out of food. I suggest calling ahead to check what's available and place your order, which will minimize your wait when you arrive at the restaurant. The restaurant is located in small, shady looking strip mall on Park Ave down the street from Seaside Park and the University of Bridgeport. The parking lot for the restaurant is small, often congested, and looks about a moment away from chaos, but don't be deterred...just plan to be in and out 5 minutes or less :-) If you are in search of good Jamaican food, I definitely suggest checking out Rootsman! read more

Been here atleast once a week since the start of the summer. Sweet and sour or jerk chicken are incredible, and if you get there early the plantains are cris read more

I promise you this is the best jerk chicken you've ever had in your life. I've tried so many other places but truly no one does it like Rootsman. read more

I had an opportunity to visit this restaurant and OMG!!! I understand before coming to this restaurant I had an opportunity to try out five other restaurants throughout Connecticut from New York City all the way to New Haven, but this restaurant right here, is the truth! I could tell from when the food came out of the store and they handed food to me, it was hot and fresh and you could eat the food with your eyes before you even start to eat it. You could smell the flavors of the food and it seems like it was made with love. Now, I can't recommend very many restaurants but I must tell you that if you want to try Jamaican Food for the first time, try this place! I even had a friend of mine to have the red snapper and it was so good. The way it looks with the caramelized sauce with mango and pineapple flavors was amazing. I will definitely be going back! read more

Absolutely the best spot in Fairfield county- hands down. Been coming here for years and they never disappoint. So: if you want Jamaican food done right; see rootsman read more

Me and my wife found this place ten years ago, and the food was so good we are still talking about it, even though we haven't been back since. Amazing jerk chicken and beef patties. read more

A large is enough for 2-3... we seriously over ordered. This was the best Jamaican food I have had in Connecticut. I have no roots to judge authenticity but the place seemed popular. Prices are very affordable. My kids liked the sweet and sour chicken. read more

Great food I had the stew chicken it was very fresh flavorful meat came right off the bone I will be back again

I love this place!!! I went to my first class at University of Bridgeport about two weeks ago and afterwards I was extremely hungry (class goes from 9-noon). So I'm driving back towards the highway and see this place off in a little plaza and basically took a tire screeching turn in order to turn in and park. I was impressed by a giant bag of scotch bonnet peppers in their fridge. Having tangled with a scotch bonnet last year that I ate fresh and raw first thing in the morning, I now have a lot of respect for said pepper. I really want to know what the chefs here do with scotch bonnets, because I'm a spicy food chaser (I make my own hot sauce and specifically ordered bhut jolokia powder online because I like food that makes me cry). But ANYWAY their jamaican beef patties are the best I've had. By far. They are flaky, spicy but with interesting layers of flavor from cooking the meat for a long time I imagine, and just delicious. Ever since my first class at U. Bridgeport, Rootsman has become an after-class staple. Also the guys that work here are really nice. Update coming soon once I sample their other dishes. Also, this place is ALWAYS packed. So so good. read more

Roots man has real authentic Jamaican food at great price . The quality is outstanding . All the vegetables are fresh , the rice is perfectly cooked , and the chicken is flavorful and delicious . They also have fantastic breakfasts. No need to eat anywhere else . Rootsman is the best food you will ever have. read more

I just picked up jerk chicken from Rootsman. It was absolutely delicious. I have been coming here for years and have never been disappointed. bless up. read more

this is one of my favorite, off the higway pit stops on my way driving to new england. really decent west indies cuisine served in a modest cafetaria style cafe. actually this place reminds me of a local dive i ate at in barbados. if you are doing a quick pit stop you can grab a vegetarian jamaican beef patty or the real deal beef patty. if traffic is really bad on I95 and you got some time to kill, go for the oxtail stew. it is killer good, meat sliding off the bone good. the staff is very friendly, west indies hospitality. wut-cunnai-gt-fur-ya-yng-fella? read more

5 stars for their jerk chicken with nice and beans. So damn good! I highly recommend and unfortunately I have not tried anything else because it is so good. However, I have had friends who order other things on the menu that they love. read more

I've tried many and Rootsman Kitchen is Still my favorite Jamaican food and jerk chicken by far. I hadn't been to RK in a while as i wasn't living or working in the area any more. I stopped in as i was passing on a long drive. Point on as always! I'll always come for some great Jamaican food when i'm in the area! Keep up the good work! read more

Authentic and best in class. Mouth watering beef patties with the flakiest crust ever. Exceptional chicken curry and jerk chicken flavorful and super spicy that will have you reaching for a delicious ginger beer. read more

Best Jamaican food Ive had in Ct hands down! The staff is great, they load you up with food. A large jerk chicken was more than enough for two people - one male one female. Will DEF go back more and more! read more

Great Jamaican food in a great location. They give out big portions and it's very affordable. Definitely a pillar of the South End.