Chef Erik was PHENOMENAL. Omg this has been the best restaurant hands down Ive been to in Austin, Texas! The service from Jacob was PERFECT. I informed him of my onion allergy and he made sure I still have an amazing experience without missing out on dishes I wanted to try. Food: woah... everything is so unique and Caribbean/African coded as well as flavorful. The Roti I can eat in my sleep lol. The Wild Boar was tender and falling apart. The Suya was a off the menu item and an award winning dish. The cabbage was so flavorful. The desserts were 100/10. The watermelon and papaya salad I can eat EVERYDAY!! The ceviche is so unique. My Lord I loved everything here. Ambiance: the black art, the decor, music and vibes are top tier. 1000000/10 recommend. read more

Canje - Roti, Plantains, Wild Boar Pepperpot - Caribbean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I was in town for a work event and this place came highly recommended--a group of us made a reservation and came for dinner. We came in to a beautifully decorated space with a colorful and vibrant aesthetic. They recommended we order to appetizers, two mains and two sides to share but each of us were feeling very different dishes. I ordered the pepper shrimp which had the right amount of heat and fish rundown which while okay on its own needed a rice or roti to eat with it. I was excited to try to the cabbage and was not sure about the raisins. The server told me it was just a topping and that they can put it in the side (which I asked for). The cabbage not only came out much later than the rest of the food, it had raisins mixed in and ended up being the worse dish. They took it off our bill but definitely felt misguided. Also, it got really loud in the restaurant and was hard to hear my colleagues at the table, so be mindful of that when making a reservation. read more

Canje - West Indian Curry - Caribbean Near Me - Austin, Texas

Caribbean meats upper scale dining. We were visiting from California and we have delicious Caribbean food at home, but mainly fast food take out/no dining in service. So this fit the vibes and aesthetics for a nice sit down Caribbean meal for date night, celebration, or just because. However, two things: they had "valet" for a man to back our car into a spot which we could've done & then tip as you like. It felt very odd and unsure of how much to tip despite the quick "put it in reverse" idk if this is just a thing here in Austin. But he was pushing is QR code for Venmo the whole experience. 2nd, it was way too loud and dark to see or even have a convo. Loud music and all the conversations blurred each other out. Man I wanted to get out of there ! As for food, they did ask if we were okay with spicy but man all the food was spicy that it masked all the other flavors. Super cool to incorporate suya as we've been watching and hearing about it in food shows but I don't think it was used in a way to complement the food. It was just like bam I am suya ! My fave was the beef patties. The tapas are very small. Smaller than photo size prob so make sure to order enough or asks your server. The chicken was very hefty and was given bbq sauce to help mild the spice. Nice to have but it did not pair well with the Caribbean flavors. The price is decent compared to what we have but compared to Austin prices a bit higher. All and all looks cool, nice place to experience maybe once, but a pass for us next time. read more

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What an amazing experience! I am Jamaican and I have been craving delicious Caribbean cuisine in Austin. And I am happy to say, I finally found my go to spot. First, the food is absolutely delicious. The plates are small to medium sized so they are great for sharing. My wife and I tried the ceviche, beef patties, pepper shrimp, West Indian curry, jerk chicken, roti and cucumber pineapple chow. The jerk chicken is huge and flavorful. I love the sauce on the side to add some flavor to it. By far, my favorite item on the menu. The West Indian Curry is savory and pairs perfectly with the Roti. The ceviche is absolutely delicious and has a mix of different flavors that I wasn't expecting. The beef patties are different than what I am accustomed to in Jamaica, but I enjoyed the taste and the twist they put on the dish. The cucumber pineapple chow was light and appetizing. The pepper shrimp was savory as well. All of the dishes we tried were exceptional. We also enjoyed the ambiance. The establishment has free valet parking, which you do not find often in Austin. There are nice seating options indoors and outdoors. We loved the aesthetics inside from the decor to the paintings on the walls to the lighting. The music had me in a great mood all night. They played a mix of reggae and Afrobeats. The service was phenomenal. We only drank water and didn't order any beverages. But it seemed as though every time our waters were low, someone would show up immediately and refill them without us having to ask. The food came out reasonable fast. We couldn't have asked for more. We will absolutely be returning here again! read more

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Canje is yet another reminder that Austin's food scene just keeps getting better and better. We brought a group of eight colleagues for a business dinner, and it was one of the most memorable dining experiences of our trip. A helpful note: for parties of eight or more, the restaurant pre-selects the menu and serves one portion per person of each dish. At first I wasn't sure what to expect, but it ended up being the best part of the experience because we got to try so many incredible dishes. Honestly, everything was spectacular. A few standouts were the pink pineapple, plantain chips, ceviche, sweet potatoes, and the beef curry. The atmosphere is hip, vibrant, and beautifully designed. The service was warm, attentive, and made the whole evening feel special. One thing to know: it is loud. The music is part of the experience, and conversations may require you to lean in a bit. But the energy is fun, lively, and completely fits the vibe of the restaurant. I truly loved it here and would absolutely return the next time I'm in Austin. read more

Canje - Pink Pineapple ! - Caribbean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Got into Austin for the weekend and we were looking for a great place for a late dinner. We were probably an hour or so away from closing time but the staff still accommodated us and was really nice about it. We were seated at the bar and got a couple of drinks to start off. We ordered the smoked avocado escabeche and loved it - the plantain chips (I think) really worked well with the avocado. For mains we had the west Indian curry and jerk chicken. The curry was very flavorful and the chicken was spiced perfectly. I'd recommend, and would go back! read more

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We came in from out of town and booked a reservation on a Tuesday night to try Guyanese food. Restaurant is absolutely gorgeous on the inside and service was decent. I didn't expect the entire restaurant to fill up so quickly on a Tuesday out of all days. But as our server said, "Canje is objectively good," hence you can expect a busy crowd along with your delicious food. We ordered a few dishes to split including: -ceviche (5/5) wasn't sure about peanuts in it but it was incredible -jerk beef patties (2.5/5) my husband loved them but they were not my thing -Guyanese style roti (10000/5) this is a must have side dish to soak up any sauce -fish rundown (5/5) honestly probably the best dish we had i would come back just for this -wild boar pepperpot (4/5) my husband loved it and i liked it. Very unique flavors but it was good -passion fruit flan (5/5) honestly one of the best desserts I've ever had we were fighting for this read more

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This spot is legit! I had a great time dining here and everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Even the regulars. I arrived about 5 mins late due to Lyft issues but they were able to seat me after two parties. My coworker made reservations but couldn't make it because she was too tired. She showed me the menu and Yelp pics, before hand, so I knew I was going to go regardless of if she came or not lol. Upon arriving I could see that they had plenty of parking and once I was dropped off and entered the restaurant, I was quickly greeted by the hostess at the front desk. The place has a nice, dark romantic like feel to it with a candle on every table. They have a cool bar area but I noticed a few of the spaces were reserved. This place must really get packed if the bar seats are reserved lol. Anyway, my waiter came and suggested a few items that he thought I would enjoy. So, I decided to go with the pink pineapple appetizer, which is pink pineapple and watermelon with basil and a yellow Ali armarillo spicy sauce. It was amazing! For my main dish I decided on the fish rundown, which was dipped in coconut sauce and had chunks of dumplings in it. It was very good! Lastly, I ordered a Guyanese style roti, which is like Indian naan bread with butter and salt. It was good but I love garlic naan and cheese naan so this was a little simple for me but it was good when dipped in the fish coconut sauce. Lastly, I ordered their version of an Arnold Palmer, which was lemonade mixed with hibiscus and it was fire!! Overall, I'll definitely be back here again and I'm telling all of my friends about it. This is a great place if you are looking to try Caribbean food. OOOOO 5 out of 5 Afros read more

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Really amazing ceviche, beef patties (so good we added a second order), wagyu beef suya, roti, plantains, wild boar pepperpot, and jerk chicken. If there's anything I'd sub out next time it'd be the chicken, which was excellent but I'd like to try the curry or one of the other mains. read more

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Delicious curry and roti, jerk chicken was amazing the first time, but felt like the heat hasn't been the same in following visits.

Canje is hands down the best food I've ever had in Austin. Every dish was packed with flavor, but the pink watermelon and the curry were absolutely dreamy--creative, perfectly balanced, and unforgettable. A huge shoutout to Cal, who made the experience even better. She was incredibly knowledgeable, attentive, and recommended so many amazing options that we probably wouldn't have ordered on our own. Every suggestion was a hit. From the food to the service, everything exceeded expectations. If you're looking for a special dining experience in Austin, Canje is a must-visit. I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu! read more

Canje - Collared fish - Caribbean Near Me - Austin, Texas

What a fun, unique dining experience! It was my first time with Caribbean style food dishes and they did not disappoint. I love the family style theme which allowed our table of 4 to order multiple things for everyone to try. Our server was great, not overbearing but present when needed. Random shoutout but the Valet gentleman was so incredibly kind and welcoming, I'm not sure his part of the team but he was THAT impressionable I wanted to note him on a Yelp review about the restaurant lol read more

Canje - Caribbean Near Me - Austin, Texas

Came to celebrate our anniversary and had a great time! They offer complimentary valet parking which was amazing. It is business casual and the space itself is modern. For part of our dinner there was a DJ (who was great), however it was SO LOUD. For the first part of dinner we barely talked and when we did we were yelling at each other. Our waitress was wonderful and attentive without hovering. A dish you MUST get is the coconut bread! Also recommend the hush puppies, the group (if available) and the ice cream dessert. Not pictured but also enjoyed the roti as a side for the grouper. read more

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Beautiful spot with delicious food and drink. Our server June suggested we get multiple plates to share which was a great decision, we decided on the oxtails, plantain chips, roti, coconut rice, and jerk beef patties for three people. This was a great amount of food for us to share. The service was great and we were well taken care of. read more

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Had an amazing first visit for my 34th birthday dinner. They were extremely welcoming and even gave me a signed card and off-menu avocado escabeche, which really made the night feel special. They were also very accommodating of my gluten and dairy allergies, marking up a menu for me and walking through the options in detail, which I really appreciated. We went with two appetizers, two entrées, and two sides for two people. By the end I was stuffed -- and even had some chicken to bring home. Overall, it was hits all around. Every dish really brought something special and felt exceptional within its flavor profile. The pink pineapple was pure vibrancy in a bowl and a perfect way to kick off the meal. The jerk chicken had the ideal level of spice for my tastes -- starting with heat and then rolling in delayed waves that really built into something deeply satisfying without going overboard. The wild boar pepperpot delivered all the comfort and richness of a pork adobo, but kicked it up a notch in both depth and intensity. The grilled cabbage is also worth mentioning. At places that know how to treat cabbage, you can expect a deeply savory, flavor-packed dish -- and this absolutely delivered. Overall, a very positive experience and very reasonably priced for the quality. Would definitely go back and highly recommend. read more

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We came on a weekday night with a reservation. 1. It is LOUD and dark- especially inside. Outside is more milder in noise. Keep this in mind if you have sensitive ears or don't want to scream at your dinner mate. We ate outside so we felt more comfortable with this. It's like being at a bar. 2. Food is good. Best on the menu were the coconut fish and the bread. Those were 9/10, the rest we ordered were quite ordinary. 3. Parking is street, packed even for a weekday, but we spent maybe 5 min searching and eventually found something 4. Service was great, but food took awhile to come out, and we were hungry, so a little impatient. Would I return? Meh, not sure. I'd probably get takeout and reorder the fish and bread naan thing, but I'd definitely feel more comfortable eating at home. read more

Canje - Curry - Caribbean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Canje offered something new and exciting, and reminded me that I used to be able to tolerate spice. Keyword, used to!!! With that being said, hospitality was a 10/10, as was the diversity each dish brought to the table. Absolutely loved the coconut buns with the thyme butter, which had a little spicy compote in the center. Phenomenal. The jerk chicken is obviously a must. It paired with well with the coconut rice, which balanced out the robust flavors. Wagyu skewers were a pass for me. The side order of cucumber and pineapple was so refreshing, definitely something I feel inspired to recreate at home! Their canquito was also our favorite cocktail. read more

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This is a flavor explosion place. It also kinda of feels like a low key club. The music is blasting and the vibe is electric. We ordered the beef patties ( they are a little small). Then we curry chicken which was full of flavor. read more

Went to Canje for the fifth time and it was just as amazing. We had the ceviche the jerk chicken, the boar pepper pot curry, the plantain chips with the amazing sauces, every single thing was absolutely amazing. This place never disappoints. So happy to see chef Tavel received another taste maker award for being the best pastry chef in Texas read more

Crossed off another restaurant that I've been meaning to try! I came for my birthday dinner to Canje with some few friends, and service was really great throughout the night. Our server took the time to ask for allergies and even came back with a marked up menu to show us what was a definite no and a soft order, and that was a very thoughtful gesture. Every plate that came out was met with really great reception, and we all loved the flavors, plating, and vibe of the restaurant and food. I highly recommend getting the fish entree (I believe it might be a seasonal item), roti, chips, and dessert! I don't think you can go wrong with anything at Canje. I can't wait to visit again!! read more

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I went to Canje about two years ago, and instantly penciled it in as an Austin favorite. My fiance and I raved about it and talked about going back constantly. We finally made it back on a triple date, and found that my idea of Canje may have been better than the reality of Canje. The ambiance is fun; if "island business casual" makes sense if your head that's how I'd call it. Service was solid, if unspectacular. It's sadly the food that underwhelmed. I remembered the dishes being so simple yet so flavorful, and I found the dishes lacking in any gastronomical punch this visit. The wild boar was a very nice dish, but the jerk chicken was bland and almost dry. The coconut rice and hush puppies were good, and the pink pineapple was a surprising highlight. Canje is still good, it's simply lost a bit of the greatness I once experienced. read more

Amazing place with a very innovative menu that always delivers. We had most of the menu between the 6 of us. The service is very informative and helps guide the table. We did not find the restaurant loud, like we had read previously. The volume was fine when we were there. Highly recommend this place. read more

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Exceptional service and incredible food! I came here for my birthday dinner, and they truly went above and beyond for me and my friends. I'm a big fan of Caribbean flavors, so finally getting to try this spot was a treat. My standout dishes were the ceviche and the plantains. The plantains had that perfect sweetness with a hint of salt that brought out the caramel flavor. And the ceviche with lime juice and taro chips on the side... so good. The vibe is great too, definitely date night friendly. They do recommend sharing everything family-style, but honestly, the portions were so tiny. That's my only critique.... Everything else? Amazinf I'd absolutely come back!! read more

Canje - Playing, cucumber and pineapple, jerk chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Demoting my previous review from 4 stars to 3/3.5 stars. Food - 3.5/5 Service - 4/5 Ambiance - 2/5 I would say this place is a 4 out of 5 if you're seated in the outdoor patio. If you're seated inside? Way too loud, especially if you're in the old dining room. I've had decent service and average service. We did Saturday night dinner at Canje last night after a year of having not visited and definitely had longer wait times than we remembered for some of our dishes and had to furiously look for and signal for more water on some occasions (the food remains delightfully spicy). The food portions were smaller than I remember. I noticed the ceviche was noticeably smaller than the dish I previously photographed. The avocado escabeche is good but definitely small for the cost. The wagyu suya skewers are minuscule bite sizes. Only the Suppa dishes feel truly shareable. We paid roughly $200 for four people, no dessert and no drinks and 2 out of 4 people left feeling not full. I would say Canje does not feel as worth it as a nicer dining experience as previous visits any longer. read more

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Canje lives up to the hype with phenomenal food, unique menu options with Caribbean and Guyanese influences, and excellent service! It's a pricier dinner but it's worth it! FAST FACTS: * Reservations - available online through Open Table * Parking - free lot with valet available Thursday through Saturday * Pickup - available online through their website SERVICE - We arrived at 7:50 pm for an 8:00 pm reservation on a Friday night and were seated right away. They had a card at the table to celebrate my birthday and our server took great care of us from start to finish! The service was excellent! PRICING - The total was $106.08 after tax ($8.08) but before tip for plantain chips ($12), coco buns ($12), ceviche ($18), jerk beef patties ($16), West Indian curry ($28), Guyanese style roti ($6), and coconut rice ($6). They included a complimentary drink (they gave me a non-alcoholic option) and a scoop of ice cream with plantain chips for my birthday. I think the pricing is reasonable for the quality of food and portion size. PLANTAIN CHIPS (8/10) - A great little bite to split! You get a good size bowl of plantain chips with two different dipping sauces... an aioli and a mango salsa-type sauce. I'd order this again! COCO BUNS (9/10) - I could eat about 10 of these... they're so soft and buttery! You get 2 buns with a side of thyme butter for spreading. I'd order this again. CEVICHE (9/10) - Phenomenal! I've had a lot of fresh ceviche in the Caribbean and South America and this was still one of my favorites! In addition to the fish, there's plenty of sweet peppers, dragon fruit, onions, and peanuts with taro chips for scooping it all up. I'd order this again. JERK BEEF PATTIES (8/10) - You get 2 patties with a pineapple hot sauce on the side for dipping. The patties are super crispy and the jerk beef filling is so savory. The sauce isn't very spicy but it's packed with flavor. I'd order this again. WEST INDIAN CURRY (9/10) - Delicious! You get big chunks of the wagyu beef with plenty of potatoes and cabbage. It's very filling but definitely order some roti and/or rice on the side to soak up the broth. I'd order this again. GUYANESE STYLE ROTI (8/10) - This pairs well with the curry. It's buttery and soft but with a little crisp on the outside. It's a pretty big piece that's perfect for sharing. I'd order this again. COCONUT RICE (7/10) - Again, this pairs well with the curry. The coconut flavor wasn't super strong but the rice was cooked well and it's topped with green onions. I'd order this again. This was my first time dining at Canje but I would absolutely come back and recommend it to others! It was a fantastic meal from start to finish and was a great option for my birthday dinner. We were so impressed that we ended up booking a reservation for Hestia two 2 weeks later and had an equally fantastic experience there as well! read more

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An incredible overall dining experience. They were so accommodating when I had to push my reservation an hour back on a Friday night. All of the food was so flavorful, but the wild boar pepperpot was the show stopper. The meat was so tender, almost melting in my mouth. The flavors were sweet with a salty savory punch and the roti was the best pairing. Use your roti to sop up the extra sauce when you finish the meat! Big fan of the pineapple sauce that came with the jerk patties - had a bit of a kick to it! Our server was so welcoming and even comped our plantains because they came out a bit late towards the end of our meal. Could not recommend Canje enough. A must if you are visiting Austin! read more

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Had an amazing visit while in town for the weekend. My waiter was the best! He offered great suggestions and was sure to check in to get my thoughts. I started with the jerk beef patties, they had a lot of flavor but I wish there was more filling. For my main I got the jerk chicken and rice on the side. The chicken was juicy with a punch of flavor. Be warned that it is on the spicier side. My waiter recommended I end the meal with the ice cream and I'm glad I listened. It was a unique dessert with the right about of chocolate and tangy On a Saturday night it is very lively and a favorite for date night or groups. Would highly recommend making a reservation as the bar area is small and seems to fill up quickly. read more

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Canje was just alright. The place is rowdy, the service is nice, and the staff's recommendation were pretty neat. But the food wasn't a complete home run. The complementary pink pineapple was pretty good. I'm a fan of pineapple, so this starter was very refreshing. The sweetness, acidity, and spices melded brilliantly, making me devour the fruits quickly. The Wagyu Beef Suya was easily the best thing I had. The presentation was cute, but the cook on the Wagyu was simply superb. It phenomenally seasoned and juicy, and the surrounding spices gave it a nice kick. The onions weren't too strong to make an impact and were pretty scarce (maybe make them pickled)? The Wild Boar Pepperpot and Guyanese Roti came together. It makes sense because Rotis go well with a sauce, and it would be a waste to throw away the leftover Pepperpot sauce (apparently they use it to make their Cassareep Ice Cream). However the Pepperpot would've definitely matched better with the coconut rice because the sauce was quite sweet and not viscous. The Pepperpot is extremely similar to Szechuan Braised Pork Belly, so this dish had a very familiar, but welcoming feeling. I was still hungry so I got the Jerk Beef Patties, but they were just over priced empanadas. I prefer the empanada to be gushing with flavor instead of having a dip. I wasn't impressed by the tastes and sizes, so I was pretty disappointed. The Tres Leches was also just alright. I've had some pretty good ones, so I might have a preference in how they are prepared. The cake was light, airy, moist, sweet, and had notes of sourness from the seasonal jam. With all of that said, none of it fully delivered. I think the cake could've been at least 50% more sweeter, and the seasonal jam made the dessert more interesting/different instead of more tasty (to me at least). Overall, I'm satisfied with the 5 dishes that I had and the price that I paid for. Although I had some good bites, I wouldn't give anything I had a strong recommendation. Do I regret coming here? No. Would I strongly suggest others to come here? Also no. I can see the appeal, but it wasn't for me. read more

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I've been wanting to check this place out for about a year now after it was recommended to me for Caribbean food, and I'll start by saying that my family and I arrived early, and there was already a line forming. Safe to say, unless you arrive early, I highly recommend either visiting on a weekday or making a reservation in advance. Once we got into the restaurant, we were greeted by a lot of wonderful tropical and cultural décor. The restaurant was very clean, organized, and had a couple of bar areas. When we were seated, the waitress introduced us to the menu and informed us that the entrées and sides are more for sharing between a group. The menu offered a variety of dishes from Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Trinidadian, and Haitian cuisines, to name a few. To start, we opted for the Plantain Chips, which were thin, crispy, and light, with a nice starchy flavor. The Epis Aioli that came with it was very herbaceous, tangy, and garlicky. Similarly, the Mango Calypso was also tangy and reminded me of Mango Chutney, with its sweet undertones. For the sides, we chose the Grilled Cabbage, Coconut Rice, and Guyanese Style Roti. The Grilled Cabbage was sweet, crispy, rich, and slightly acidic, with cashews adding a nice crunch. The Coconut Rice was mildly floral in flavor, and the green onions and parsley added a touch of sharpness without overpowering it. My personal favorite side was the Guyanese Style Roti, which was buttery, soft, and flaky, kind of like a cross between naan and puff pastry. For the main dish, the Jerk Chicken was wonderfully seasoned. You could really taste the floral flavors of allspice berries, cloves, and a hint of sweetness from the molasses in the marinade. Initially, I didn't think it was too spicy, but as I ate more, the heat from the habaneros and scotch bonnets really started to creep up. My only critique was that some of the white and dark meat was a touch dry, although other parts were moist. I can't tell if it was the meat itself or the cooking/preparation that caused this. For reference, the Jerk Chicken comes with the breast, thigh, drumstick, and wing, all with the skin still attached. The pickles that came with it were crunchy, garlicky, and tangy. The chicken also comes with Pickapeppa Sauce and was sweet and sour, which helped balanced out the spice from the chicken. For dessert, we had the Tres Leches. The waitress informed us that the fruit they use varies with the season, and for the Fall, they used apples. The Tres Leches was wonderfully moist, with the coconut milk adding a rich sweetness to the dish. The white chocolate and salted caramel had a buttery, slightly savory note, which enhanced the overall flavor. The apples provided a light tartness that balanced the sweetness from the other ingredients. To summarize, the service was excellent, and the staff ensured that we were well taken care of. The restaurant also featured beautiful Caribbean art, and the food was great. If you have not yet visited this restaurant, I would highly recommend checking it out when you can. read more

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Exceptional service and food. I went with a couple of girlfriends and we ordered several dishes to sample. Here's how I'd rate them: Plantain chips- 7/10. Something nice to crunch on but nothing to write home about. Beef patties - 9/10. These were really good. Great starter! Wild Boar Pepperpot -10/10. This is the dish I didn't know I needed! It wouldn't have been my first pick, but I'm so glad I got it. This had amazing flavor and paired well with their roti which I'd also give a 10/10. Jerk chicken- 8/10. Good! It was such a big dish we couldn't eat it all (since we had other things filling us up). But this was a good safe, traditional Caribbean dish. Grilled cabbage- 8/10. Nice pairing this with the pepperpot. The raisons gave them a surprisingly sweet touch but weren't overwhelming. Fried sweet plantains- 9/10 perfectly sweet! I'm not a fan of dry fried plantains and prefer for them to be a little on the softer, moister side. That's what these were! Cassareep ice-cream- 7/10. This was nice to try. It wasn't overly sweet and was a nice change from more traditional dessert items. I enjoyed the crunch from the puffed rice. Overall a great spot with flavorful dishes. The servers were attentive and it was nice that they described and explained the dishes as they arrived to the table. We also had many attentive servers and not just one person. It was nice that everyone was chipping in at all the tables! I really enjoyed this place and highly recommend. read more

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You know those meal experiences where you walk out genuinely stunned that every single bite and sip was interesting and delicious? That was my night at Canje. I went for dinner with my husband on a Thursday evening and I wish I remembered our server's name because she was so gracious and enthusiastic. You could tell she truly loves the food they serve and she took wonderful care of us. We ordered the wild boar pepper pot and the West Indian curry, both with roti, as our mains. The meat in both dishes was incredibly tender and so well cooked. The pepper pot had these surprising and complex flavors that totally drew me in. Every bite made me want another. The curry was comforting and familiar but still had unexpected touches that kept it exciting. The roti paired perfectly with everything and I was so glad we listened to our server and ordered two. For dessert we shared the ice cream and it was so unique and special. So many flavors and textures, each bite its own little adventure, and I know that sounds cheesy but it is absolutely true. I cannot recommend Canje enough. It is such a wonderfully special place. read more

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First time eating Caribbean style food and it did not disappoint. Jerk chicken has a little kick to it but it was cooked so well you hardly notice. Service was excellent and they did a really cool job on the inside. Parking lot with the restaurant in front and back of the building plus a valet option. read more

Dinner here last night was lovely. The food was amazing! Plantains chips were so thin and crisp and were great with the mango sauce. I loved the smoked avocado dish, and he said the beef patties were light and fluffy - and some of the best he's had. I really enjoyed the pepper fish, and he likes his curry. The guyanese roti was so good!!! Tres leches for dessert was one of the best I think we've had - mainly because of the light fluffy topping and flavor. I am not a trees leches fan, so the fact that I liked it says a lot. We had several people bringing food to our table and clearing plates. I believe Vincent was supposed to be our waiter as he introduced himself and took our order. Then he focused on other tables and didn't reappear at ours until much later. The only lesson to ask us if we were enjoying our food was a buser/expeditor... he was lovely, and I wished I had asked his name to give him a shout out here. When we were paying our check, Vincent had one last chance to ask anything about the food or our visit - he only asked where we were going next. So, minus 1 pt for service. read more

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Reservation for 5;45 on a Thursday, probably didn't need but hey, better safe than sorry. Initially had a table but upon arrival requested the bar and got acquainted with Molly at the bar. I believe the other bartenders were Emily and Rachel...maybe Sarah...they all were amazing. They were friendly and gave excellent recommendations for the menu. They had a very good understanding of the menu and what the things tasted like. Perfect since this was my first time. They provided a bit of background for the restaurant and the chef. Ordered a glass of reisling and got the Akara, Guyanese Style Roti, and the Wild Boar pepperpot. There was a surprise dish from the kitchen Pink Pineapple which was amazing. Everything was delicious. The Pink Pinapple had this amazing passion fruit sauce that paired perfectly with the fresh fruit. Great starter! The Akara also were amazing, can't believe this is black eyed peas! Light and fluffy and the flavor, words can't express. I will say the sauce that came with had a kick. The Wild Boar was fall apart soft and the sauce was deep. I found it to be a tad salty, but the Roti helped to balance it out. The Roti came out HOT nice to know it's fresh?! The crispy outside and extra flaky inside made this a perfect item to dip into the sauce of the Wild Board. Also got the Tres Leches for dessert and well, let's just say it lived up to the other dishes. I would love to go back and try other things. The location was dimly lit with the music pumpin! Loved the vibe for sure. The inside and parking lot filled up before the time I left around 7:30 ish. I can only imagine what a Friday or Saturday night must feel like in here. read more

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Excellent culinary experience. The variety of dishes, ingredients and flavors is really outstanding. With an homage to the Caribbean, the chefs do an amazing job of elevating basic dishes into wonderfully delicious meals. Our favorites were the curry, fritters, and the Jerk chicken. Service was excellent. read more

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Canje has been on my radar every time I visit Austin, and when I finally made it happen, I was stoked. I saved my appetite and went all in. I started with the Mango Palmer -- mango tea with whiskey. It started off light and refreshing, but got stronger as I kept sipping... so I didn't finish it because girl wanted to fully enjoy every bite of her food lol. For appetizers, we ordered the Jamaican bun and cheese, ceviche, akara, and beef patties. The beef patties were top tier. I won't say they were traditional -- usually the meat inside is super soft (which I'm not a fan of) -- but these had chunks of meat wrapped in a savory golden crust, and the pineapple pique it came with was perfection. The akara, though, was a miss for me. You really had to dunk the fritters in the pepper aioli to mask the fishiness. I normally love saltfish, so I'm not sure if it just wasn't cured right or what -- but it didn't hit. For mains, we had the wild boar pepper pot and the West Indian curry. MY OH MY -- the curry was incredible. So rich, and the meat was fall-apart tender. I've dreamed of trying pepper pot, and I'm glad my first experience was at Canje. It was very ginger/orange peel forward -- you could taste the time and effort put into building those flavors. And of course, I devoured a whole roti (and a half). Honestly, the roti was a star on its own -- flaky, hot, and the most beautiful golden color. The staff was super friendly and welcoming, and the vibe? Very Austin Caribbean read more

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I have been here three times, and all three times were experiences fit for a queen! The service is simply wonderful. The decor and design of the restaurant are a modern, clean-lined aesthetic. The food rivals even the finest establishments worldwide. Here are food suggestions based on what the flavors did to my mind, mouth, and belly! Apps: Beef patties Plantain chips Sides: Fried plantains Pepper rice Entrees: Jerk chicken Curry (beef) Dessert: Cassareep ice cream read more

Canje is definitely worth the hype. Great food and such a fun, lively vibe. I will say this: their food is definitely on the spicier side. If you can't take a lot of spice, be very careful of what dishes you get. I would lean heavily on the staff for recs. My favorite thing was the roti! 10/10. I recommend everyone to get it. The beef patties were good as well. Really liked the pineapple sauce it came with. The jerk chicken was solid, super spicy though. The cabbage was good but it had too much going on for me. The strawberry caipirnha cocktail was not my fave. It tasted more like water & liquor than strawberry. I would get another drink next time or ask for more syrup. read more

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Went to Canje on a date and the whole experience was amazing. The ambience is dark, attractive, and really sets the vibe. Presentation stood out too, the way the plates contrasted with the food made everything look as good as it tasted. I loved how the staff explained each dish as it came out, it made dinner feel more like an experience than just eating out. We had the beef wagyu suya which was so good, and the jerk chicken that was super moist and full of flavor. Not a single dry bite. After being away from Caribbean food for a while, it was refreshing to taste that kind of flavor again. I ordered the Mezcal Limelight and it was delicious. The pink pineapple with the watermelon and vinaigrette gave it this spicy tangy kick that worked perfectly with the fruit. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the cassareep ice cream. We expected more of a bowl of ice cream, but it came out with rice crispies on top, a middle chocolate glaze, and it looked more like rice. Not bad, just not what we thought it would be. Overall I'd give it a 4.5. Definitely planning to go back. read more

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Canje absolutely lived up to the hype. Every single thing we ordered was a 10/10. The beef patties were perfectly flaky and packed with flavor, the pink pineapple was incredibly refreshing and unique, the plantain chips were crispy and addictive, and the wild boar was hands down one of the best dishes we've had in Austin. The atmosphere was lively without being overwhelming, the service was fantastic, and you can tell so much thought goes into every dish. We'll definitely be back to try even more of the menu. If you're on the fence about Canje, just make the reservation--you won't regret it. read more