AJW is a family-owned spot, and I really enjoyed being able to order in Haitian Creole. That…read morepersonal touch made the experience feel welcoming and familiar. My only suggestion would be to keep Haitian patties available every day! They're such a staple, and having them consistently on the menu would easily take the experience from good to 5-star for me. Overall, I love seeing a family-owned business bringing Haitian culture and flavors to the area.

I cannot believe that I have never left a review!!! I was so happy when AJW was established and was…read moreone of the first customers. My family has celebrated birthdays, recitals, etc here. Anyhow, the staff are friendly, the food is delicious, and the ambiance is a mix between chill and festive. My favorites: Legume with Diri ak Djon Djon (aka Black Rice); also fried turkey with rice and peas; and most of all the red snapper. The mac and cheese is fantastic and I always have a soft spot for salade russe. Sooo. I have a lot of favorites. Just go and try some Haitian food. I will add more photos the next time I go.

My son and I ordered 1 large oxtail meal and 1 large curry goat meal with some baked mac & cheese…read more The food was absolutely delicious. The goat was tender and the oxtails were also. The oxtails were very favorable and the rice and beans with cabbage was outstanding. Some very lovely ladies served us and they were very nice and welcoming. The restaurant itself had a nice feel to it and you could smell all of the good seasonings in the air. I'll definitely be returning to Roy's

The food was Overpriced and UnderSeasoned. The oxtail did not have gravy and was not flavorful. Not…read moreto mention $30 for a Small is Diabolical! I will NOT be returning!!

The food was absolutely great! I made it a point to try this spot, before heading back home (New…read moreOrleans). I add that point because if you know New Orleans food, you'll know how discerning native New Orleanians are about food - period. Upon arrival to Good Religion, I was a little shocked by the look and it being in NY; however, I am accustomed to good food from unassuming places. I will admit I am not a fan of buffets, but Good Religion is more than a buffet, it's your auntie's kitchen. There is a difference!

Great tasting food and big selection. Clean, and before you make your selections, you have to use…read morehand sanitizers and plastic gloves, which is a great idea. The meat (chicken) I had from the smoker was delicious, yummy salmon and curry chicken. We both got bottled drinks and food that they weight and it came to $60, kind of expensive for what it is and for the neighborhood.

Oxtails fall-off-the-bone tender! Lady in the afternoon was…read moreso friendly and welcoming when I asked for a menu. I ate the oxtails and posted pic of jerk chicken

First Choice never disappoints! I ordered take out and the food is always hot and flavorful. I did…read morea special order that's typically not on the menu and the associate that I spoke to was really nice about accommodating my request. I ordered the ital, calaloo and chickpea stew as one large platter. Of course, the rice and peas, plantains and cabbage are included in the platter. I will say the chickpea stew was a bit salty, however without the saltiness it still tasted good. The veggie platter combination was the best creation developed and I honestly feel like they should put it on the menu. The cocoa bread was amazing! Soft, plushy and sweet. You can enjoy it with or without the patty. Oh, and their patties are good as well! I enjoyed everything that I ordered from First Choice and I definitely recommend anyone to give this caribbean restaurant a try!

Service: 1 Just…read morebought some property in Albany, NY with my man, all the way from Los Angeles, CA!! It was a cloudy day, we wanted some decent Caribbean food & found Umana. Black businesses in LA respect their people and take their businesses very seriously, so I assumed this place would do the same. Unfortunately, we were treated like pests over a small misunderstanding. The waitress-Mercy, misheard me on our drink preferences & began giving us the good ol " Caribbean" cold shoulder . Why so sensitive? The sorrel sangria had way too much cinnamon. Also, I wanted pikliz with my meal, but she did not return after the drink mishap. We quickly learned, this is not a BLACK BUSINESS, this is an AFRICAN BUSINESS & they will quickly show you the difference. Food & Drink: 3 Goat roti gave a a little stomach ache, but it was decent. Oxtain was not tender, not good. The plate was mostly bones & gravy & rice. Plantains & jollof were good. The drinks were delicious though, but they were not strong at all. Price: 2 Spent 100$ so basically 25$ for each item, including the drinks. Overpriced and very small portions. The sides are literal pints, like the babyfood jar size. I was like ??? We usually pay this much at high scale Haitian restaurants in Manhattan, and completely understand the price because we are experiencing amazing customer service, food, ambience &scenery. Better to order takeout, but i heard it very difficult to do that here. Idk lol weird. Black/Indigenous Americans, do not bring your money here. You are not completely welcome here.

Umana Yana - Washington Ave, Albany, NY If you're looking to…read morestep outside of the ordinary and experience bold flavors in a welcoming atmosphere, Umana Yana is a must-visit. This was my second time here--my first visit was dining in with friends, and this time I ordered takeout. Both experiences were consistently impressive. Known for its Ethiopian dishes and outstanding vegan cuisine, Umana Yana brings African culture to life through its vibrant décor, flavorful food, and thoughtfully crafted drinks. Every detail reflects passion and authenticity. It's no surprise that actress Tabitha Brown made a stop in Albany to experience the restaurant's highly praised vegan offerings. That's a testament to the reputation they've built. For my meal, I ordered the jerk lamb lollipops, jollof rice, and slaw. The lamb was tender, juicy, and packed with just the right amount of jerk seasoning. The jollof rice was rich, well-seasoned, and full of flavor, while the slaw added a fresh, crisp balance to the meal. On my previous visit, I tried the wings and waffles, and they were equally delicious. Two visits, two different meals, and not a single disappointment. Whether you're a longtime fan of African cuisine or looking to try something new, Umana Yana offers an experience that's just as memorable as the food itself. If you don't know, now you know. Add Umana Yana to your list--you won't regret it!

It's nice to try new flavors. And boy are you in for a treat. It's location was also somewhat of…read morea surprise. This gem is located inside the Celtic Hall. I knew there was a kitchen, but if you didn't know, Bespoke is there waiting for your order. Bonus, today was there was a craft fair going on. Two fun things. Ordered Garlic shrimp which had garlic, onions, peppers and small hot peppers. Chef even inquired how spicy I'd like it. Nice! SO had the oxtail stew. Both were accompanied by 2 sides. I ordered the cabbage (nicely sautéed with onions) and the Mac and Cheese (delightful). SO got plaintains and the cabbage. A lot of food in an 8x8 recyclable container filled to the brim. Parking off street. Friendly people. Great food. This will need to be revisited since there is more on the menu to eat.

Everyone there was good vibes and down to earth. Great food! I've been to JA and this reminds me of…read morethat true JA cooking! Out of all the other spots around this one is the place to go. I posted the updated menu because I ordered off the old one over the phone and thought it was cheaper - but NO COMPLAINTS AT ALL! Still a great deal and so worth it! I forgot to take pictures of the Red Snapper plate and Jerk Chicken but highly recommend

Incredible spot for a delicious lunch! I stopped in on a…read moreweekday for lunch with a friend and was delighted to see so many tables and a fully stocked buffet that smelled amazing. You first choose your size: either the medium, which will run you between $8-10, or the large size for $11.50-13.50. I got the medium stewed chicken with yellow rice. They filled it to the brim and it was $10 - you cannot beat that! It was absolutely delicious. I got a bottle of water too and sat in their comfortable dining room. They had several different protein options: salmon, pernil (pork), stewed beef and more. There's definitely something for everyone. Do yourself a favor and stop in!

Can you guys stop selling those humongous steroid baked chicken that looks like turkey parts but…read morethey not cuz it's steriods..... And put some "whole" red beans in your red beans instead of red bean soup slop.... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Everything nice! I always get breakfast, saltfish & calaloo with rice and peas and plantain with a…read morefruit punch on the side. Be patient or order ahead. There's plenty seating inside or you can take it to go.

Sorry no photos. My company pays for my travel. First time here in New York. Yo, the food was…read moreflavorful, oxtails with rice large order, came with 4 oxtails and a lot of yella rice. The texture was precise. I'm from the south so to be up here out my environment was an experience but , whoever in the kitchen. Yea you did that. Thank you. Service was great. Will be back

I've been to this spot a good 3 times starting from when it became jamrock. I've only got kingfish…read moreand curry shrimp before last night and it's always been good! It's no way the same chef cooked my order last night. Jerk salmon, brown stew kingfish and shrimp rasta pasta. Got a few sides and it came to $80. Worst $80 I've ever spent at a Jamaican spot. Everything was terrible... Don't know what happened to this joint but you can only skin a sheep once.

I stopped in recently for takeout at Jamrock Caribbean on State Street, formerly Roy's Caribbean…read moreRestaurant. The place offers takeout, on-demand delivery service, and a spacious dining area to the left behind wooden gate. Since it was a Saturday, I decided to order the Shrimp Rasta Pasta ($16.99 plus tax) since they make it to order and on Fridays and Saturdays too. I took a seat in the dining area as I waited for about 12 minutes when my food was bagged and ready. This pasta dish is an Italian-Jamaican fusion dish, which was served very hot in a round foil container, a good portion with penne pasta in a spicy cream sauce with bell peppers, seasonings & spices and tender shrimp (cleaned). It was about the size of two meals which I enjoyed over two evenings for dinner. I would definitely order rasta pasta again and I would try their Red Snapper (Escovitch Fish), Jerk Chicken and Meat Patties too.

We are staying in the Pine Hill neighborhood, just for the night, having driven five hours from…read moreQuebec City, and having had a great meal there. So tired, and weary, packing and unpaking. We had to go for a walk after being cooped up, and found Irie Vybez on Central Ave. so many ethnic restaurants nearby, but this one stood out. Good business vibe, and when we asked about her soup, she gave us a sample. It was nicely spiced, but too spicy for my wife. So we got... the curried goat. Was it ever a good choice. The goat was succulent and well spiced; not too hot, but I gave it a good shot of jerk sauce! the rice and peas were a great accompaniment, and the plantains... wow!!! The quantity is huge! We can't wait to finish it off for breakfast, before our plane ride home! It's too good to even leave a grain of rice in the dish. Oh, service was fast friendly and accurate.. we couldn't have asked for more!!!

The food is absolutely horrible here.Whenever my sister goes here the food has to be thrown away,…read moreit cannot even be fixed with seasonings the chicken always has a burnt taste.The service is mediocre at best. The establishments ambiance is okay.The food is genuinely horrible it taste like its hell sent please do better