Caribbean Taste Budz

Yaneak

I get take out from this restaurant on several occasions for over a year now. The owner and staff are nice and friendly. I love their oxtail and beef patties.

I went in expecting dinner. I left questioning the very concept of reality. First, the building itself seems to have been constructed in a parallel universe where architects hate humans. The walls were misaligned, the ceiling sagged like it was mourning, and a single, flickering light overhead created shadows that seemed to whisper, “Why are you here?” The entrance mat was sticky—like a portal designed to trap souls. My shoes protested violently as I stepped on it, and I briefly considered amputating my feet just to escape the adhesive horror. Once inside, the air assaulted me. It smelled like wet newspapers left in a closet with a single shoe and the faint regret of a thousand broken dreams. My lungs burned, my sinuses flared, and I swear I could hear the air itself groaning in despair. A ceiling fan rotated at the speed of glacial movement, stirring despair into the already tragic atmosphere. I sat down on a chair that had clearly been passed down from the Stone Age. When I shifted my weight, it emitted a series of sounds—cracks, pops, groans—that could be interpreted as a complex language of suffering. The table wobbled like it was testing my patience. There were stains on the surface in patterns reminiscent of ancient constellations—but instead of stars, they were old spaghetti sauce. The menu looked like it had been printed during a war. Pages were torn, faded, damp, and one was inexplicably sticky with something I refused to identify. The handwriting of the specials appeared to have been scrawled by a frenzied raccoon in a creative rage. Dishes included “Mystery Meat Surprise,” “Something That Probably Was Once Food,” and “Chef’s Emotional Breakdown Platter.” I chose the safest item: soup. The bowl arrived lukewarm. The liquid quivered as if it had consciousness, and the aroma was simultaneously pungent, metallic, and vaguely apologetic. I took a sip and experienced a flavor so complex that my brain short-circuited: notes of sadness, despair, and wet cardboard intermingled with a hint of existential dread. I pushed the bowl away and wept quietly into my napkin. Attempting to use the bathroom was another saga. The door would not open without a Herculean effort. The floor was sticky. The sink produced a trickle that sounded like a dying animal. The mirror was scratched and fogged, making me look like a character from a psychological horror movie. The toilet barely functioned. I am certain the plumbing was designed as a social experiment in futility. The staff, when they appeared, moved as if they were in slow motion, trapped in a parallel reality where human interaction was optional. Asking for water took fifteen minutes. Asking for the check took twenty-three. My existence was tested. My patience was burned to ash. When finally escaping, I felt sunlight as if it were a spiritual intervention. Birds chirped in joy. I collapsed on the sidewalk, grateful to be back in the real world. If this place were a movie, it would be “The Neverending Nightmare: Restaurant Edition.” If it were a natural disaster, it would be on the Richter scale of 12. If it were a lesson, it would be “How to Permanently Question All Life Choices.”

Finally a Jamaican restaurant in Queens that sells flavorful Janaican food. I ordered food through Uber eats 3 times, and I'm happy to say that all 3 times the food was good. I've ordered oxtail, curry goat, and fried chicken. Please don't reduce your standards. I've actually given up on ordering out Jamaican food in Queens because the quality food has always been bad, and felt like I just threw my money away, so I was quite happy when I decided to give this restaurant a try and the food was delicious. Keep up the good work.

Absolutely love this Caribbean spot. Jennifer helped me at this location. The curry chicken and curry goat are always on point. The meat is tender, the flavor is rich, and the spices are just right. Whether you order it with white rice or rice and peas, the sides are consistently fresh and cooked to perfection. The portions are generous, the service is friendly, and there’s a real home-cooked feel to every meal. If you pay with cash, they even give you a discount. This place has definitely earned a regular spot on my food rotation.

I only leave reviews if my experience was either Very good or Very bad. However, this food was absolutely DELICIOUS 10/10! Also, shout out to the owner for being a really good communicator and great with the customers. I ordered curry goat, stew chicken and mac & cheese. The portions are big and the taste is even bigger. Thanks so much for a wonderful experience! PS. I have no photos because I destroyed that food :)

Jennifer was great at multitasking. She provided excellent customer service with a smile, working the register and serving up the delicious food!!! I had the 6 dollar chicken plate, a nice and delicious meal for lunch.

This oxtail special is really tasty! Im definitely going back to try their other stuff. The place is definitely small, and dimly lit. But if you're ordering to go, it shouldnt matter There was no menu at the time, but they kindly gave me a rundown of whats available Waiting time was not long at all

Just Random

I went in expecting dinner. I left questioning the very concept of reality. First, the building itself seems to have been constructed in a parallel universe where architects hate humans. The walls were misaligned, the ceiling sagged like it was mourning, and a single, flickering light overhead created shadows that seemed to whisper, “Why are you here?” The entrance mat was sticky—like a portal designed to trap souls. My shoes protested violently as I stepped on it, and I briefly considered amputating my feet just to escape the adhesive horror. Once inside, the air assaulted me. It smelled like wet newspapers left in a closet with a single shoe and the faint regret of a thousand broken dreams. My lungs burned, my sinuses flared, and I swear I could hear the air itself groaning in despair. A ceiling fan rotated at the speed of glacial movement, stirring despair into the already tragic atmosphere. I sat down on a chair that had clearly been passed down from the Stone Age. When I shifted my weight, it emitted a series of sounds—cracks, pops, groans—that could be interpreted as a complex language of suffering. The table wobbled like it was testing my patience. There were stains on the surface in patterns reminiscent of ancient constellations—but instead of stars, they were old spaghetti sauce. The menu looked like it had been printed during a war. Pages were torn, faded, damp, and one was inexplicably sticky with something I refused to identify. The handwriting of the specials appeared to have been scrawled by a frenzied raccoon in a creative rage. Dishes included “Mystery Meat Surprise,” “Something That Probably Was Once Food,” and “Chef’s Emotional Breakdown Platter.” I chose the safest item: soup. The bowl arrived lukewarm. The liquid quivered as if it had consciousness, and the aroma was simultaneously pungent, metallic, and vaguely apologetic. I took a sip and experienced a flavor so complex that my brain short-circuited: notes of sadness, despair, and wet cardboard intermingled with a hint of existential dread. I pushed the bowl away and wept quietly into my napkin. Attempting to use the bathroom was another saga. The door would not open without a Herculean effort. The floor was sticky. The sink produced a trickle that sounded like a dying animal. The mirror was scratched and fogged, making me look like a character from a psychological horror movie. The toilet barely functioned. I am certain the plumbing was designed as a social experiment in futility. The staff, when they appeared, moved as if they were in slow motion, trapped in a parallel reality where human interaction was optional. Asking for water took fifteen minutes. Asking for the check took twenty-three. My existence was tested. My patience was burned to ash. When finally escaping, I felt sunlight as if it were a spiritual intervention. Birds chirped in joy. I collapsed on the sidewalk, grateful to be back in the real world. If this place were a movie, it would be “The Neverending Nightmare: Restaurant Edition.” If it were a natural disaster, it would be on the Richter scale of 12. If it were a lesson, it would be “How to Permanently Question All Life Choices.”

Tamara Holness

Finally a Jamaican restaurant in Queens that sells flavorful Janaican food. I ordered food through Uber eats 3 times, and I'm happy to say that all 3 times the food was good. I've ordered oxtail, curry goat, and fried chicken. Please don't reduce your standards. I've actually given up on ordering out Jamaican food in Queens because the quality food has always been bad, and felt like I just threw my money away, so I was quite happy when I decided to give this restaurant a try and the food was delicious. Keep up the good work.

K D (NaWa)

This oxtail special is really tasty! Im definitely going back to try their other stuff. The place is definitely small, and dimly lit. But if you're ordering to go, it shouldnt matter There was no menu at the time, but they kindly gave me a rundown of whats available Waiting time was not long at all

JhomasE

Jennifer was great at multitasking. She provided excellent customer service with a smile, working the register and serving up the delicious food!!! I had the 6 dollar chicken plate, a nice and delicious meal for lunch.

Daniel Liu

Absolutely love this Caribbean spot. Jennifer helped me at this location. The curry chicken and curry goat are always on point. The meat is tender, the flavor is rich, and the spices are just right. Whether you order it with white rice or rice and peas, the sides are consistently fresh and cooked to perfection. The portions are generous, the service is friendly, and there’s a real home-cooked feel to every meal. If you pay with cash, they even give you a discount. This place has definitely earned a regular spot on my food rotation.

Shannon Gilmore

I only leave reviews if my experience was either Very good or Very bad. However, this food was absolutely DELICIOUS 10/10! Also, shout out to the owner for being a really good communicator and great with the customers. I ordered curry goat, stew chicken and mac & cheese. The portions are big and the taste is even bigger. Thanks so much for a wonderful experience! PS. I have no photos because I destroyed that food :)

Sandino Slim

This Is A Great Spot For Jamaican Take-out Likes -The Food Is Well Seasoned -The Ginger Island Drinks Are Delicious -They A Good Portion Size Food Minor Dislikes -The Sweet Plantain Was Didn't Taste Ripe -Didn't Give Enough Jerk Sauce

Food is great ordered here twice. HOWEVER HERE IS THE PROBLEM. First time herewas great, older lady in 40s, positive, genuine repsectful and asked what i wanted. She told me the prices of each side so i chose the medium. She seperated the hot sauce from the chicken which was great. She gave a good amount and decent amount of meat too. So I was definetly thinking of coming back a second time. However this is my second time experience. Second lady was terrible. Young lady in her 20s with eyelash extensions. Music was way too loud like a bar, i thought i was in a nightclub but good thing it was Christian music. Lady was so focused on singing and "praising the Lord" she ignored my order smh. I ordered a small jerk chicken with cabbage on the side, and she charged me for a medium. Comparably less chicken than my first experience. This lady needs to learn some customer service skills from the first older lady. It seems Gen Z these days dont have much respect for an older man like me. She claims to be praising the Lord but lied to me about the prices. I was questioning her status as a Christian. Definely the front end person server/cashier is a represaentaion of the restaurant and as this review is written we can see the big contrast. Sorry love the food but that young lady with eye extensions kinda skinny, def turned me off 10000% that i cant even like the food.

The oxtails were OK. They are not as great as people say. The collard greens are horrible to be honest I wouldn’t recommend this place for anyone. I feel it was a waste of my money.

Johnson Yao

Food is great ordered here twice. HOWEVER HERE IS THE PROBLEM. First time herewas great, older lady in 40s, positive, genuine repsectful and asked what i wanted. She told me the prices of each side so i chose the medium. She seperated the hot sauce from the chicken which was great. She gave a good amount and decent amount of meat too. So I was definetly thinking of coming back a second time. However this is my second time experience. Second lady was terrible. Young lady in her 20s with eyelash extensions. Music was way too loud like a bar, i thought i was in a nightclub but good thing it was Christian music. Lady was so focused on singing and "praising the Lord" she ignored my order smh. I ordered a small jerk chicken with cabbage on the side, and she charged me for a medium. Comparably less chicken than my first experience. This lady needs to learn some customer service skills from the first older lady. It seems Gen Z these days dont have much respect for an older man like me. She claims to be praising the Lord but lied to me about the prices. I was questioning her status as a Christian. Definely the front end person server/cashier is a represaentaion of the restaurant and as this review is written we can see the big contrast. Sorry love the food but that young lady with eye extensions kinda skinny, def turned me off 10000% that i cant even like the food.

Ivette Ramos

The oxtails were OK. They are not as great as people say. The collard greens are horrible to be honest I wouldn’t recommend this place for anyone. I feel it was a waste of my money.

Low energy! Young girl at the front seems like she doesn’t want to be there ! The guy who was cooking was very nice. It’s sad we can’t support our people because our people don’t support us when we are spending hard earned money! I hope they change the young lady at the front desk .. she should not be dealing with customers being that she lacks customer service

I genuinely hate leaving reviews like this, but there are many factors at play. First is the attitude. The server was just cold. I genuinely believe if I was Caribbean or of a demographic that is common around Jamaica avenue, I would've been received better--that's how cold it felt. The second issue--food was just terrible. I ordered the large oxtail with extra gravy. Yes, I know oxtails are expensive and inflation probably is leading many restaurants to skimp out, but this was just ridiculous. They did the ole "fill it up with mostly rice's and veggies so we can skimp out on the meat" trick. It tasted off, almost like I was served from the night before. It was dry. Oxtail is suppose to be gelatinous, but I got mostly bones. Flavorless and no gravy. And basically 4 boney pieces. This is one of the few occasions where I'd say stick to the franchise---Golden Krust.

The level of disappointment when I got home. To spend your money and get this is unacceptable. The jerk chicken patty was either old or was left in the heater too long. To note I had no issues prior to today's visit.

this all I get for 17$ Lmaoo it’s not my first time here it’s always bad attitude and misfit portion for the price and the food not even that good L 👎

Joka Man

Low energy! Young girl at the front seems like she doesn’t want to be there ! The guy who was cooking was very nice. It’s sad we can’t support our people because our people don’t support us when we are spending hard earned money! I hope they change the young lady at the front desk .. she should not be dealing with customers being that she lacks customer service

Richard M

I genuinely hate leaving reviews like this, but there are many factors at play. First is the attitude. The server was just cold. I genuinely believe if I was Caribbean or of a demographic that is common around Jamaica avenue, I would've been received better--that's how cold it felt. The second issue--food was just terrible. I ordered the large oxtail with extra gravy. Yes, I know oxtails are expensive and inflation probably is leading many restaurants to skimp out, but this was just ridiculous. They did the ole "fill it up with mostly rice's and veggies so we can skimp out on the meat" trick. It tasted off, almost like I was served from the night before. It was dry. Oxtail is suppose to be gelatinous, but I got mostly bones. Flavorless and no gravy. And basically 4 boney pieces. This is one of the few occasions where I'd say stick to the franchise---Golden Krust.

Floyd N

The level of disappointment when I got home. To spend your money and get this is unacceptable. The jerk chicken patty was either old or was left in the heater too long. To note I had no issues prior to today's visit.

GG Lv

this all I get for 17$ Lmaoo it’s not my first time here it’s always bad attitude and misfit portion for the price and the food not even that good L 👎

The girl at the front has terrible attitude. The food was decent, probably tasted better if she was nicer to customers. I don’t expect high quality customer service from a Jamaican restaurant in Queens, but she needs to be trained better…

Food is really good however I'm so tired of getting bone. And I order from them twice a week, but I'm just going to have to spend my money at places that give more meat. Smokehouse, golden Krust, etc. I love their food but everytime I order oxtail or curry goat I get nothing but bone,rice and cabbage and it's not fair for the price. Do better for your customers.

michelle

The girl at the front has terrible attitude. The food was decent, probably tasted better if she was nicer to customers. I don’t expect high quality customer service from a Jamaican restaurant in Queens, but she needs to be trained better…

Sadé Figeroux

Food is really good however I'm so tired of getting bone. And I order from them twice a week, but I'm just going to have to spend my money at places that give more meat. Smokehouse, golden Krust, etc. I love their food but everytime I order oxtail or curry goat I get nothing but bone,rice and cabbage and it's not fair for the price. Do better for your customers.