There are many Caribbean restaurants out there, but Old Nassau is the only one serving purely…read moreauthentic Bahamian cuisine. Their menu is extensive, and they have everything from grilled, fried, steamed, and sautéed seafood, to salads and classic sides (such as plantains).
The most unique items that are Bahamian staples include:
- Conch, cooked in various different ways (cracked / battered and fried, steamed, made into salad, made into burger)
- Banana Pancakes and Fried Fish (the Bahamian version of "chicken and waffles" that's popular in Southern US restaurants)
- Peas Soup (only available on Saturdays)
- Rice & peas (classic staple that comes with every "dinner" dish / combo)
The most popular items are the "dinner" combos, where you get to choose from various main dishes (the protein), and they come with either rice & peas or white rice + 2 sides (options include steamed veggies, coleslaw, garden salad, plantains, and macaroni pie). They also serve "snacks" and a la carte items if you want the individual items without the rice or sides.
Ordering is done at the counter. The restaurant was pretty busy when we came. Food took about 15-20 minutes to cook as they were made to order, and the staff brought the food to our table. Everything was delicious! Portion size was just perfect.
My favourite dish was the Grilled Salmon. We got to choose the spice level, and I chose mild / no spice. It was perfect and my favourite dish out of everything we ordered.
The Grilled Shrimps were just so-and-so... I found them to be quite salty.
Steamed Conch was good and I loved the chewy texture, but the sauce was salty and a bit spicy. I liked that it came with onions and carrot slices, but I wish the sauce wasn't as salty or spicy.
The rice & peas and sides were all excellent, especially the Garden Salad (simple but fresh, with a mix of leafy greens, yellow bell pepper, carrot, cucumber, and tomato) and Plantains (I liked the hint of savoury sweetness that went well with the salty dishes). The Steamed Veggies were cabbage. Macaroni Pie was a nice comfort food with cheese on top.
They also sell guava sauces and various Bahamian spices on the counter. You can also order individual sauces with your meal, including Guava BBQ Sauce, Guava Butter Sauce, and Coconut Butter.
Drinks selection includes Old Nassau Punch, Sky Juice (which is made of coconut water, condensed milk, and spices), Coconut Water, and different variations of Switcha - tamarind, mango, soursop. (Switcha is the national Bahamian beverage, a tart and tangy homemade limeade often made with key limes, sugar, and water. )
There are grab-and-go desserts in the refrigerator, including Guava Duff, Coconut Duff, and Pina Colada Duff. These are sweet doughs filled with boiled and spiced guava, coconut, or pina colada ingredients (white rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice), then rolled into a log, steamed or boiled, and traditionally served warm with a rich, buttery rum or brandy sauce. The dessert, which features a spiral pattern when sliced, is a staple of Bahamian culture. Guava Duff is considered the national dessert of The Bahamas.
When we took the Guava Duff to pay at the counter, they offered to heat it up if we wanted to eat it there (so the sauce on top would melt and pour over the log cake / dough). We got it for to go instead.
Overall, excellent and tasty food - great tastes of The Bahamas. Service was superb and very friendly. Ambiance was nice, relaxed, and casual.
The restaurant seems to always be busy (with diners eating in, those getting take-out, and Uber Eats / delivery drivers), so it's a good testament to the quality of their food and service.