Hands down the best catfish I have had in recent memory, and the house made jerk sauce is fantastic. Service is prompt and cheerful. read more

Janet & Ray's - Hanging with the family!! - Caribbean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We drove by the sign westbound 22nd just past Craycroft many times and commented about wanting to try this restaurant. About a week ago, my husband met the owner while both were shopping at Fry's. We figured it was fate and should check it out. We had lunch at Janet & Ray's yesterday (Sunday). Based on my experience, their fried chicken is top two in Tucson and number one for locally owned. It was amazing! Crispy on the outside and moist and the inside. My sides were mac & cheese and black-eyed peas. I almost went for the collard greens; after seeing them served, I wish I had... next time! Also, the catfish next time. It looked great! Beyond the great food, we were greeted upon arrival, as was everyone, the restaurant was immaculately clean, with friendly and attentive staff, large servings, and a pleasant environment. read more

our waitress was friendly and great. the portion sizes may seem a bit small to some but i personally don't mind and it was more than enough for me. definitely something different for tucson read more

This was my first time in here and i was blown AWAY! The food and service were absolutely IMPECCABLE! I ordered the jerk chicken, mac and cheese, and black eyed peas and it was so amazing! The jerk chicken was sweet and spicy and overall had a flavor that was stunning!! Its my favorite jerk chicken that I have had in town! Then for my sides I had the mac and cheese which was so beautifully seasoned and was the perfect amount of cheesiness and i also had the black eyed peas which reminded me of home! The food had a perfect balance of homestyle and restaurant quality! It was absolutely amazing and I cannot say enough good things about it! For a drink i had their Pineapple Jamaican soda and it was the perfect drink to accompany my meal! I will be returning so i can try all of their specials. read more

Janet & Ray's - Jerk chicken, black eye peas, mac and cheese - Caribbean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Delicious feed and awesome staff. We has the fried chicken with mac and cheese. Banana pudding was a must.

Food was excellent and service was good. Atmosphere was relaxing, good music playing. Mac and cheese was great with cheese stretch! The menu changes often, as told by our server so we'll definitely come back. read more

When I went to this place it was so clean the roof was nice floors clean food very good but the Mac & cheese was kind stuck in a glob but it was still good the wait time only took 10 min or less the service was good the server nice read more

Janet & Ray's - Caribbean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The service is refreshingly amazing and the food is yummy! Oxtails YES fried chicken & Catfish YES Potato salad Mac&Cheese yummy! So very flavorful. Definitely a keeper!! read more

My sister and I were driving around, trying to figure out where to go for lunch and nothing sounded good. Too same, same, too much salt, not enough flavor, etc. Then, we happened to spot this place. I reminded her that we had been to a Caribbean place, once before, and it was pretty good. So, we decided to give this a try. This place is not pretty good. This place brought me out of a week long doldrums before we even tasted the food. Very friendly - and very beautiful- staff, nice layout, lovely artwork. And, then, we got the food and it got better. Ginger beer,- very good quality. Jerk chicken, like I have never experienced before. Wasn't too sweet, too spicy, too salty, too not spicy .. no .. it was just right. Well, it wouldn't be for my mother, but I needed something to wake me up. Had it with collard greens and yams. The collard greens were very well cooked and quite tasty. The yams were a total surprise. I thought it woud just be like some chunks of yams or something. Nope! They were both sweet and spicy, in a way I actually thought of trying something ike before but everyone said "Please, no!" Well, please, yes! We'll be back. Oh, and the appetizer of jalapeno poppers was great, too. Next time we want to try the fried okra. Can't wait! Thank you, everyone we met there! You were friendly, professional and informative. You gave me one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had, all the way around! read more

I was visiting from St. Louis and found this little gem on Yelp. I was headed to the airport a couple hours later to catch the plane back home but wanted to eat first. I am so thankful we decided to stop by Janet & Ray's. The establishment was very clean, music amazing, the owner and employees were very nice. Now to get to the food. I ordered catfish, macaroni and kale salad. My husband ordered jerk chicken, macaroni and potato salad as well as a catfish dinner to take back. I am not really a big kale person but when I tell you, this was the BEST kale salad I have ever had. The catfish was crispy on the outside, moist and juicy on the inside. The size of the fish was huge, I couldn't eat it all, so I packed it to take back home. My husband was also pleased with his jerk chicken and sides. I tasted his jerk and was very pleased as well. To quench our thirst we ordered Jamaican pineapple soda. This was really tasty as well. I also ordered the banana pudding to go but forgot to take a picture. I didn't get a chance to taste it until the next day. After returning home, the next day I put the rest of my fish in the air fryer and can tell you it was crispy and still moist. I let my daughters take a bite each and they raved about how good it taste. I finally tasted the banana pudding and it was another hit. Mind you, the banana pudding traveled from Tucson to St. Louis in a plastic bag and held up pretty good. I am very impressed with everything I ordered and will definitely return if I'm ever in Tucson again.... DON'T SLEEP ON JANET & RAY'S, you won't be disappointed.... read more

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The food looks nothing like the picture. My fried catfish was like fish jerky. Food took almost 30 minutes to prepare and from what I could see (it's an open kitchen) it was already pre prepped. I give this restaurant, just to be nice, 1/2 a star. read more

This food was so good I order catfish with Mac and potato salad and some of the best sides I've gotten at a restaurant. Service was very friendly and they check on you often! I've been wanting to try this place for a while and I'm glad I did. This restaurant exceeded my expectations! read more

Mannnnnnn this place has some of the best Caribbean cuisine , The Sunday menu was amazing best fired chicken and waffle combo I've ever had, that fried chicken on some award winner shit. Jerk chicken is amazing I'm coming back for the ox tails and curry goat Everyone is nice , the establishment is very welcoming which is a plus from the servers/cooks to the owners read more

We tried this restaurant for lunch today and were very impressed. Our waitress Kia was very kind and informative about the menu, as well as all the staff. It has a great vibe, plenty of parking and something I personally always look for, an emaculant bathroom. We will definitely be back soon. read more

Let's get right into it, I ordered fried catfish, beans & rice, & collard greens w/ side of cornbread & banana pudding for dessert, my girl ordered the fried chicken with black-eyed peas w/rice, & the mac & cheese. Catfish was delicious, greens were delicious, the beans & rice was okay, the cornbread was fire, the banana pudding was bananas (crazy good) i did taste my girls plate and the chicken was smackin, the black-eyed peas on point, next time ill order the black-eyed peas instead of the beans & rice, the mac & cheese was like mama use to make it was really good, but putting aside how good the food was the thing that impressed me the most was the customer service, AWESOME!!!! I'll definitely be going back and I highly recommend this location read more

The service and friendliness of the staff were great! Very upbeat, and they much improved the ambiance that was otherwise just okay. We had the fried chicken and the jerk chicken and very much enjoyed them both, though I think the fried was the favorite for both of us. For sides we had "peas & beans" which was plain white rice with a few black beans tossed in, the mac & cheese which was a firm, casserole type - not creamy, fries & coleslaw. None were noteworthy other than just okay. We will go back for the chicken though! read more

Not 3 stars but I'll give it that and I'll tell you why. Where do I start... Walked in this afternoon, no customers, music blasting and fans at full spin. Nobody greeted me and had to ask where the menu was and what I'm supposed to do. Robin seemed nice but didn't seem very interested in serving. I ordered jerk chicken, sweet fries and coke slaw. She repeated the order mentioning onion rings so I corrected her it was sweet fries no problem. Never asked what I wanted to drink. Tried waving her down but had to approach her to get some water. Food arrived and instead of jerk chicken I ordered I received fried chicken. It was dry, the cole slaw was dry, but the sweet fries were great and the ONLY reason for 2 stars regarding food. Milkshake was good but not for $10. Ridiculous price. In all fairness they sent me home with some jerk chicken, still a little dry but it was ok. Over $40 spend and I'll never go back again. read more

This was the third time we tried to go to Janet and Ray's since it's reopening a month or so ago. The first two times it was closed with a sign on the door during supposedly open hours. The third time we called ahead. We went on a Friday because online it says that is the day there is a menu with lots of fish. We went midafternoon so it wouldn't be crowded. It was not. We were disappointed first that both kinds of red snapper were unavailable. We ordered fried catfish baskets. Everything was just frozen food warmed up. It was ok , but nothing more . One portion of fish was very large, one was medium. We asked if there was usually snapper, were told yes , someone had just gone to get some at the store. Maybe that should have happened in time for the day's service. The Cole slaw was good, maybe actually made there. Service was very friendly, on the slow side. My order of fish sat on the counter while waiting for the other plate to come. Food was reasonably warm but not hot. The place felt not really ready to be open. We really wanted to love this place but it was aggressively mediocre. Will not return. Very disappointing. read more

Food is amazing our large family had oxtail, catfish, chicken plate, chicken and waffles-peach cobbler, goat curry, chicken and waffles-banana pudding, plantains, jerk chicken, cabbage, coleslaw, fries chicken and waffles- caramel crunch, beans and rice, Mac and cheese, potato salad, Jamaican soda. Service is beautiful, consistent, accommodating, hospitable. I couldn't get a hold of them through phone or social media. I finally went a day prior to our dinner party and yet they still accommodated our family of about 11. They catered to us promptly. Others in the restaurant looked very happy and satisfied with the service as well. The ambiance is very clean, very comfortable, casual, nice paintings on the wall, music is perfect to drain out other conversations between tables. We were celebrating our February children, celebrating family. Right before we left our February children were celebrated with a wonderful slice of cake by the owner she gave them a choice of flavor and my adult children picked red velvet and it tasted heavenly. My family can't wait to go back again for date nights and family celebrations. Thank you! read more

A group of us decided to meet here for lunch this week. Unfortunately they had a very limited menu due to a death in the family. We appreciated them being open anyway. I had the fried chicken dinner with potato salad and onion rings for my two sides. It was three generous pieces of chicken that had a nice crispy coating. It was moist and flavorful. The potato salad was spicier than I liked, but many of my friends really liked it. The onion rings were terrific...Very crisp and yummy. Others had the jerk chicken, which they said was quite spicy and flavorful for those who like their food with a bit more zip than I like. Another one had the fried catfish and said it was very good. A few of them got the kale salad for a side, which many of them thought was too sweet. The staff was all very friendly and attentive to every request. I would like to go back and try more items when their full menu is back up. read more

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The food is fresh, smells delicious, and tastes great! I highly recommend coming here! read more

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This is a great new spot! The menu apparently changes daily and when I went it was caribbean cuisine. I ordered oxtail served over rice and beans with mac and cheese and festival (fried dough) on the side. I really enjoyed it my meal and want to go back and try the food on different days. The service was great and there was a steady stream of people for a late Saturday afternoon. read more

Janet & Ray's - Oxtail and mac and cheese - Caribbean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

What a gem! Today was our first visit to Janet & Ray's but it won't be our last. We were immediately greeted by several very friendly employees, one of which told us to sit wherever we would like. She followed up promptly with Friday's menu and made several recommendations since it was our first time to the restaurant. I ordered the catfish dinner, while my wife had the Caribbean jerk chicken with kale salad. While we were waiting for our dinner to arrive, the owner Dolly, stopped by our table, not for a cursory greeting, but an honest to goodness awesome conversation. Both meals proved to be exceptional! Our first visit to Janet and Ray's Caribbean soul restaurant felt more like a Sunday evening family dinner at our house. Both the food and the company were fabulous! I can't wait to return for Caribbean Saturdays and soul food Sundays. read more

My family and I came here on a Saturday evening for dinner. The staff instantly greeted us upon entering and they were all very friendly. They do not have a liquor license so we called and were able to bring in our own for a cab fee. We pre-ordered lobster Mac and cheese, which was so cheesy. Just amazing! We ordered a few more dishes. Jerk chicken, very flavorful with a spicy kick. Curry goat, the meat was very tender. There was also a live DJ, which I think is a Saturday special. It was my first time trying Caribbean food and I was not disappointed. Overall experience was 10/10, definitely recommend and we will be returning. read more

Such a needed addition to the Tucson food scene. Great environment with friendly staff. I had the fried chicken with potato salad and kale salad. Everything was amazing. The fried chicken batter was flavorful and crisped perfectly. The chicken was warm and moist. The potato salad had amazing flavors and the kale salad dressing was sweet (but not too sweet) and creamy. My better half got the jerk chicken with a side of rice and paes and coleslaw. Her sides were excellent and the jerk chicken was phenomenal. The spice of the jerk is still making my mouth water and lips tingle perfectly half an hour later. I want to try the entire menu. read more

Terrible food terrible customer service and owner is rude and nasty. I don't recommend. In the owners word s " if you don't like it don't come" read more

A great new fresh spot in Tucson with soul and Caribbean food. I've eaten here twice now and everything we've tried is GOOD. If you are looking for a different twist on a burger and love seafood, the surf n turf burger is it. A burger with crab, shrimp and a special sauce. The catfish, fried chicken and jerk chicken are great too. Last Friday they had a DJ T-Roy in the house which added a nice atmosphere. They are new and growing so have patience you won't be disappointed in the food. Check their Facebook page to find hours and the menu for the day as it changes. read more

Food looks great. I've tried to dine here 3 times. They're closed Monday and Tuesday. Fine. I'm sitting here 1230 on a Wednesday and they're closed again. Come on y'all. I want to support! Operating a business and cooking are similar in the sense that consistency is key. Run a food truck if you're keeping irregular hours. read more

8 people I counted working for only a handful of customers. Waited over 45 mins for food and My wife and mine food came out 30 mins apart and her sides and main course came out all different times. I had chicken and waffles and server did not explain there were different types So back it went. My chicken was a wing and leg both overdone . ( not usual breast with c&w) I had to stop someone and ask where food was and to refill drinks. If this little place wants to stay in business it needs to step up its game big time Wont be back read more

Great experience, the owner is very friendly service was great, very very clean restaurant

When you enter Janet & Ray's you feel like you have arrived to the best local Caribbean restaurant. They have a chalkboard menu, so you know it's going to be good. I had the Escovitch Snapper with Kale Salad and Mac and Cheese. First let me say, I made so many yum sounds while enjoying my snapper that my husband commented on it. The snapper was cooked and seasoned to perfection. I cleaned the bones! The kale salad was sweet and the Mac and cheese was the cheesiest I have ever had at a restaurant. Don't miss the chicken and waffles! I will be back to try that jerk chicken! Come in early to miss the rush. read more

Janet & Ray's - Escovitch Snapper with Mac & Cheese and Kale Salad - Caribbean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

This is from a visit in around 2021 that somehow never got published. Delicious food. Excellent customer service. Worth the visit. read more

Long wait, and were the only customers, got home with food, and was very disappointed. Lobster had no taste,waffle was salty, catfish was very salty,jerk wings were horrible. Carrot cake and chocolate cake was hard,stale, and very dry way past use by date. When I visited the establishment when it first opened, it was great. Now, it's not even close to being good. Very disappointed and a waste of money. read more

They are new and it still shows. A bit unsure of their processes. The food was really good though but I wont be getting the chicken and waffles again though which was what I had made the trip for. I got a basket of wings and a waffle.. I thought this was maybe 1 or 2 large wings on a waffle.. usually you see boneless with waffles... but these were impossible to eat together. I had a good basket of plain wings and a dessert.. read more

Janet & Ray's - Chicken and Waffles - Caribbean Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Fun place , we were there on a Sunday so , it was a gospel brunch ! Jerk chicken was truly amazing , lots of flavor , mac and cheese is what it should be , simple , gooey , tons of flavor , and the greens ... Both of us loved our meals and we'll be back Those give away shortbread cookies .. those need to be sold by the lb ( or dozen ) best I've had since I was in London . Service was efficient and friendly . read more

Its the vibes for me + the best food around = an amazing experience. If you enjoy flavorful food as much as I do, then this is the place for you. read more

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Went here for lunch today and it was a very limited menu. However, the service was excellent & the curry goat ($20.5o) was quite tasty and it was enough for 2 meals, My sides were spicy cabbage and mac 'n cheese. Also came w/a piece of ripe plantain. Had a nice chat w/Dolly, the affable owner, read more

It was my first time at Janet & Ray's and I ordered the jerk chicken with a side of mac & cheese and rice & peas. The chicken was well-seasoned and it was a generous serving. The restaurant is clean, plays good music, and the service was great! read more

I had fried chicken and it was so dry that I could only eat one piece. The rice and peas tasted like leftover food that was reheated! The service was mediocre at best. The ambiance was fine. Definetly not authentic Caribbean food. read more

Catfish, Jerk Chicken and sides are on point. Live the food, hours are a little confusing. Best home cooking in Tucson