I recently visited Ripe Kitchen & Bar near the Bronx, and it turned out to be a really memorable dining experience. The restaurant has a warm, intimate atmosphere with dim lighting and a relaxed island vibe that makes the place feel cozy and unique. The food focuses on authentic Jamaican and Caribbean flavors, and everything I tried was rich and satisfying. One of the standout dishes was the jerk ribeye steak, which is actually one of the restaurant’s most popular items. The seasoning had a great smoky jerk flavor that paired perfectly with the tender meat. The drinks were also a highlight. Their rum punch and tropical cocktails complemented the food really well and added to the overall Caribbean atmosphere. The menu includes other favorites like oxtail, jerk chicken, and Rasta pasta, giving plenty of flavorful options to choose from. Service felt friendly and relaxed, and the whole place had a lively neighborhood feel. Overall, Ripe Kitchen & Bar is a great spot if you’re looking for bold Caribbean cuisine, strong cocktails, and a laid-back island vibe just outside New York City. I’d definitely come back again.

Joey Lopez

Food was amazing! I had the Jerk Ribeye. Wifey had Oxtails. Atmosphere was nice. Will definitely be coming back again.

Sharon Mckenzie

The customer service was amazing. Food was wonderful and the atmosphere was beautiful. I would definitely go back love this place.

Abby Bee

Ripe’s jerk steak is always a hit! And the price is unbeatable for that size and amazing taste. Tonight was my first time dining in as I usually order to go, and the atmosphere in the dining room is comfortable/laid back with background music but not too loud that you cannot talk with the person you’re eating with. The service from our waitress was phenomenal as she was so sweet and attentive. We came on a week night with less staff there so the service was slightly slow at times but the food came out quick & hot!

K Omari Fullerton

This is my go to Jamaica sit down Jamaican restaurant in the Bronx area. I celebrated my nephew's birthday. Delicious food. Excellent staff. I will be at Ripe Kitchen on my next trip to New York.

Brittany Griffith

Friendly staff, lovely drinks and delicious eats. Crab cakes for the win. 🥇 Kerri knew the perfect recommendation for each of us. See you again soon!

Hunter Stidham

Ripe Kitchen & Bar is described as a “glorified hole in the wall” by its owner. It surely is, and it’s a whole vibe! Ripe is the vision of chef Nigel Spence, a Jamaican native who complete his degree at the Culinary Institute of America, following with time working at the Food Network, most notably Bobby Flay. In fact, his Jerk ribeye steak beat Bobby on his own show. On my first visit, I had to try the steak, which according to the menu has sold close to 150,000 plates. The steak is 16 oz. It’s a mix of lean and fat, and the menu is VERY clear about that. I would say the steak is probably about half and half, or maybe 60/40. I stuck to the lean, but that’s a me thing, not a them thing. The flavor is something I can’t describe, maybe because I’ve never had jerk flavor on a charcoal grilled steak before. I thought it was delicious—grilled and seared on the outside, medium to medium rare inside. I requested medium, and it might have been a little on the rarer side of that, but it really was just perfect. It came with tasty rice and beans as well as a refreshing green salad. I also got a side order of spicy fries, which were hot and seasoned, in a huge portion. I had the rum punch, which is quite strong. I was surprised, but their mojito is one of the best I’ve had. All of their drinks are simple—nothing fancy—tropical—things that make you feel like you’re on island time. The decor also makes you feel like you’re on island time—bright reds, plants, photos of Jamaica. Spence has said in his own words that this will never be a white tablecloth establishment; he wants it unpretentious and wants his crowds tipsy and inclined to sing and dance at any moment. This is more than a restaurant, it’s a community! Prices are super crazy reasonable. The steak meal was 32 dollars. Drinks 13-15. Service laid back, but welcoming. You could tell they didn’t care who you were or where you came from, they were just glad you were there! The owner/chef himself bussed my table and was there helping his staff, and that means a lot to me. The menu also has oxtail (only certain days), Rasta pasta, jerk chicken, a jerk chicken quesadilla, various iterations of plantains, shrimp, curry. I think next time I’ll either try to quesadilla or the pasta (which can be served with shrimp, chicken, or vegetarian). The parking is street parking. The outside is pretty unassuming and you can pass right by if you’re not paying attention. On warm evenings they open their patio and have live music, otherwise they play reggae overhead. I went around six on a Saturday and was seated immediately, though there were already several tables occupied (it’s a fairly small place). I spent a couple hours there and by the time I left, several more people had come to the party. It was all locals here. And everyone besides me was Black. That tells me I was in the right place. Can’t wait to go back.

+7

Vanessa Plus Four

Went here for dinner with my friend. My friend enjoys coming here, so she invited me to check it out. I definitely must say, clean, nice, great customer service, and I totally enjoyed the food. I ordered Jerk steak, pepper shrimp, curry goat, & rasta pasta with shrimp & chicken. The drinks were awesome, too. I will return next month to try other dishes. Thank you.

Dee Ellis

Excellent food. The steak dinner is delicious. The quesadillas were terrific. Overall it’s a great place to enjoy a good meal and a refreshing drink. Make sure you have cash although an ATM machine is available.

Donovan Scott

After reading mixed reviews, I decided to try Ripe to see the improvements since the renovation. Much to my surprise, the atmosphere and ambiance was perfect for my date night with my fiancée. The bar was festive and the back a more calmer area. The space is very intimate but even with the seating arrangement patrons seemed well comfortable in their space. The food... the food... the food. Omg. I'm sorry, don't laugh. I haven't had oxtail and rice and peas more well seasoned my whole life. I never eat the fat off the oxtail since me born. All down to the fry plantain was properly fried and delicious. I even joked that for the price, they probably give you two piece a meat and half a cup of rice. A full plate a food them serve. My fiancée had the snapper and we exchanged samples and believe me she's not easily impressed and she was wowed. I definitely will be returning and if you haven't already been here; you're already missing out. They are cash only but provide an atm so that's not an issue to worry about if you ran out without.