The flavors of the cakes and homemade juices here are astounding. I came for the Strawberry Rum…read moreCake but they were sold out. I decided to have a taste adventure and learn what a Jamaican Black cake was. Not a bad decision! Loved it. This cake tastes like Christmas! I'm thinking it's a dark rum that they use along with delicious fruits in the cake. You can really taste the marzipan, as well. How lovely! There is nothing plain about the unassuming Butter Rum cake. It is somehow flavorful, dense and rich while still maintaining a lighter flavor. Now onto the juices. Get them. Get 6. Get 12. We tasted the Pineapple Ginger. Meow meow meow meow meow. The Cherry Guava Ginger juice is so warming - ie ginger that brings much heat - and I love it. They have authentic Jamaican dishes here and I've tried and enjoyed the Chicken Roti long ago. I'd love to come back for the seafood dishes. They have many varieties of patties with coco bread. The beef patty with coco bread is the best amount of spicy heat for me. BTW, you could smell the curry all the way from the main road. I knew right away which restaurant that lovely smell was coming from. Their service was also fabulous with us. That's why they are 5 Stars.

So disappointed in my experience here. This was my 2nd time at this place. The 1st time was fine,…read morewhich is why I returned. Let's discuss my ratings: Ambiance: 2/10 very outdated decor; the small place had a packed hoarder look. I liked the reggae music being played which is why I gave it a 2. Service: average. It's a carryout type of place. 5/10. FOOD: 1/10. Let me break it down. Coco Bread-7/10, Calolloo-8/10. It was very oily and greasy but tasted fine. Brown Stew Chicken with rice and beans and cabbage. Chicken was dry and tasted old 1/10. Rice and beans were subpar-3/10. Cabbage was too oily and did not serve the PUNCH I wanted. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED! Want more authentic opinions? Check out my video reviews and more on my various platforms: CocoaAlmondJoy/CocoasJoy

Okay so while I really enjoy the Pattie's and coco bread, I wasn't convinced about the food…read more Well...let me say they made me a believer! Their jerk chicken, oxtails, curry and oxtail pasta are ON POINT! I've been a weekly regular at this restaurant for about 3 months now and to date, I haven't had a disappointing meal. Plantains are always sweet, the rice & peas perfectly cooked, and the dumplings & fried dough amazing. Guess you can see I like this place. The customer service is good and trust I always have questions and they keep the interior clean. The house made juices/drinks are a bit too sweet for my taste but the food is worth every penny, and the portions are hardy enough for 2 people.

I joined a group of about 8 friends for D&G's karaoke night on a Friday from 6-9pm…read more The karaoke itself was fun, even if there were just a few groups of tables participating. There is a small tv on one half of the restaurant that displayed lyrics while performers and the karaoke set up stood close to the entrance. The space felt a little small for a large karaoke and speaker set up but we made it work. The energy amongst the crowd (4-5 tables worth of people) was fun, and that's what matters most. After the karaoke, the hostess played about 30 mins of Caribbean jams which was fun too. During the event we had plenty to eat and drink. I had 3 rum punches (2 of which were during the happy hour window for $7) - they were not made to order, but rather came from a batch container. They were still pretty good and pretty strong but I would've preferred a freshly made drink. My girlfriend got a margarita to start (which wasn't that good) then switched to the rum punches. The bar was also low on glassware - so we often got drinks repoured into glasses we had just finished. Don't think the bar was prepared for a larger group that night. The food was solid, but not great. I had the regular fried wings and the jerk wings, for $9 during happy hour. Both wings were good, and I appreciate that the jerk wasn't too spicy. Strangely, I received 7 fried wings in one order and 5 jerk wings in the other order. My friend, who also ordered jerk wings, only got 4 wings in his order. Some consistency in order size would be better. On our way out, we ordered a couple patties (beef and curry chicken) and a curry chicken dinner with rice n peas and plantains. Theses choices were great! Wish I had ordered one more patty. The staff's friendliness and liveliness was the best part. The bartender was very friendly and did her best to manage the whole restaurant's drinks solo. The karaoke hostess had great energy. Even the kitchen staff and folks managing food orders were kind and pleasant. I could tell many of the guests were regulars; everyone seems very comfortable interacting with staff. If I'm in the area again, I'd totally be okay with stopping by for another rum punch and beef patty.

I ordered lunch on a weekday. It took about 20 minutes and the restaurant was pretty empty when I…read morewalked into to pick up my order. The gentleman and the cook in the back were very friendly. And the oxtails...LORD they were soooo good!! The flavor, the tenderness just 10/10. It's that good that I didn't want to finish eating it! I plan to go back and try their jerk chicken and beef patties. These are probably the best oxtails I have had in this area.

Finally made my way to D&D Caribbean Restaurant and the food was SO good. Like, OMG good…read more I ordered the brown stew chicken with a side of oxtail and cabbage (no rice for me). When I tell you that oxtail was falling off the bone? 10/10. The brown stew chicken was flavorful, tender, and cooked just right. The cabbage was seasoned perfectly, not soggy, not bland. Everything on that plate hit. No complaints about the food whatsoever. The space itself is small, clean, and minimally decorated. Nothing fancy, but very well-kept, and I appreciate that. Service was good. The owner personally took care of me and accommodated my request to swap out the rice for extra cabbage with no issue. I always appreciate when owners are hands-on and attentive. Now for the hiccup: the credit card machine wasn't working, so I had to pay via Cash App. Not ideal, but okay. What almost took me out was the attempt to add a service charge. I definitely spoke up because that extra $1? Yeah... it was about the principle. Sheesh. Overall, the positives outweighed the minor inconvenience. The food alone would have me coming back. And for me, that says a lot.

Sigh... I was rooting for this place. My husband oversold it and once I got there it was…read moredisappointing. The food was decadent. Not bad but what soured it was the extremely long wait time. The restaurant was clean and what I expected. Sundays are advertised as brunch only however due to a private party that was no longer an option which is one of the reasons we came. I wish I could give a better review, but this was my experience.

I was excited when I first saw the sign, cuz I was like... this can't be the same Sunrise I've…read moreheard so much about in DC, is it?! And it turns out that it is, and I was ecstatic!! I feel like we generally have way more Jamaican food than Trini food around here (and even less of other islands), so it's a nice addition. If I wanted to I could walk / jog there, but otherwise it's a 5 minute drive. It's on a corner in Roosevelt Center where an Asian restaurant used to be. Even up until now, I see the Trini flags everywhere, and there are some pictures that still haven't been hung up. Sometimes they play music in there, and sometimes they don't -- I wish they'd play it all the time, because otherwise it can get oddly quiet in there. As for the food... 90% of the time I go is for their Sunday buffet. It's less than $30 for an all you can eat (AYCE) that includes plantain, chicken, fish, desserts, and some fantastic vegan dishes that are labeled as such. They have a whole vegan menu, in fact. And it's lovely to see all those on top of traditional Trinidadian options. When they first opened, they only served doubles and certain other things on weekends -- not sure if that's still the case, but they had signage to indicate that. By the way, I love their doubles. The buffet is the perfect way for me to unwind on Sundays, but I should try exploring other times, haha. I feel like a Caribbean restaurant in Old Greenbelt is a first, and I'm delighted to see the representation. Room for improvement: keep the drinks stocked during buffet, and there have been instances where no one is at the front and I've seen people waiting for a bit, sometimes impatiently. Perhaps add a bell to ring?

Our community needed this establishment. The food is not only delicious but healthy. There are so…read moremany options. My favorite is the yellow rice, collard greens, sweet potatoes, and 1/2 shrimp and 1/2 barbecue chicken. I have also fell in love with the cucumber lemonade drink and tropical fruit punch. They give you a generous portion. My daughter and I make a trip once a week. I will be trying something new the next time I go. The service and ambience is excellent. The food is like a party in your mouth! I highly recommend Spiced Black.

If Chipotle had a soulful, culturally rich cousin... it would be Spice Black. Period…read more I've been seeing this place all over social media, so when I found myself in the area, I had to see what the hype was about. First off, parking is easy. It's in a shopping center, so nothing stressful there, and the restaurant itself is easy to spot. Walking in, the first thing I noticed was how clean, polished, and classy everything looked. Even though it was busy, it didn't feel chaotic. The staff immediately greeted me and asked if it was my first time which I appreciated. They didn't just rush me through the line; they actually took time to explain the menu, how the bowls are built, and offered samples. That alone made the experience feel welcoming and intentional. Now let's get into the FOOD. Everything looked fresh. They have about four rice options (which is already a win), and I went with the pineapple coconut rice. For my protein, I chose grilled chicken, but they also offer shrimp, salmon, and even a mushroom option for vegetarians and honestly, the mushrooms looked so good I almost switched. For my added sides, I kept it simple because I really wanted to taste everything. Collard greens and sweet potatoes. But they also had plantains, and okra....real deal soul food options. Then you get into the fresh toppings. Slaws, carrots, pickled veggies. I kept it light. I finished my bowl with collard green pesto (which intrigued me, and I'm glad I tried it) and added an étouffée sauce over my rice... and listen!!!!! That combo? Chef's kiss. I grabbed a tropical punch juice, and just like everything else, it tasted fresh and well-made. Let me say this clearly: the food is a 10/10. If you're someone who will give Chipotle chance after chance, then you absolutely owe it to yourself to try Spice Black. 10/10. Worth your money. Worth the hype. Worth the experience.

I must give an update -- I have been hearing about their breakfast for a while, and I finally got…read moreto try it a few weekends ago. It's something that's only available from 7:00-11:00am on weekends, and I'm usually sleeping in or just not ready to get out of the house that early. My family and I were leaving for NY early on a Saturday morning, and I had no choice but to be awake and ready. So before we took off, I took advantage! It was around 8:30am and I was the only one in the restaurant. But it smelled amazing in there and they were friendly and happy! I had glimpsed the menu online, and I was scanning their screens for it above the register, but they had their regular menu up. I was walked through the options, and even got to taste a few things. I got to try sa\da roti for the first time, and I was intrigued. It's very similar to pita bread, but after looking it up I learned of the subtle differences. I was able to put pumpkin, smoked herring, saltfish, or eggplant & potatoes in it. I got food for my parents as well, so I settled on quite a few things: -Sada roti w/ pumpkin -Sada roti w/ eggplant/potatoes -Bake & saltfish -3 aloo pies Everything... was... STELLAR. I tasted the smoked herring and I honestly wish I got that in something, but I most certainly will next time. Is this the best Trini restaurant in the DMV?!

The food is excellent, which is why I've been a frequent customer over the past several months…read more Unfortunately, the customer service is among the worst I have ever experienced. For a long time, I gave the restaurant the benefit of the doubt and assumed the issues were limited to the front-of-house staff. However, during my most recent visit, the owner took my order and provided an even worse customer experience than the staff. I regularly drive from Virginia to support this business, but after today's experience, I won't be returning. The problem isn't an isolated incident or a bad day. The poor service is consistent and happens every single time I visit. Great food can bring customers in the door, but respectful and professional service is what keeps them coming back. Unfortunately, that has not been my experience.

JCK has been on my list for a while to try; glad I finally stopped through for happy hour on a…read moreFriday. Their HH runs Mon-Fri from 5-7 and include 5-7 cocktails, beer, and wine that they offer at $2ish off the regular price. We stuck with the cocktails and had their Blue Lagoons (which are essentially electric blue vodka lemonades) for $8ish. They were tasty and after 2 of them, we were definitely ready to party. Next time, I want to try the rum punch for $10 - though I noticed the rum punch was premade (vs being made fresh per order). Unfortunately, there are no food offers on the happy hour. The spot was very empty when we arrived, maybe around 5.30p - there was one other couple enjoying time at the bar. Outside of the 8-10 bar seats, they have some lounge level seating, as well as more standard 4-top tables. At the very front of the area, is a small stage where DJ's and karaoke specialists set up. The food was really good; I had the curry chicken plate for $16ish and my girlfriend had the shrimp rasta pasta for $19ish. The food was very flavorful and came out piping hot from the kitchen. I'd get the curry again, for sure. The environment and vibe was the most enjoyable part of my visit; the hip hop and top40's music gave the place a great energy (but wasn't so loud that you couldn't chat. The bartenders were energetic, lively, and friendly. There seemed to be alot of regular patrons who knew each other and the bartenders - that's a really good sign. The star of the show was karaoke which started around 8 (when the bar was getting much more crowded). The karaoke host was great; she kept the group energized and led some karaoke style games and activities that I hadn't seen before. We ended up stay out way longer than expected because we were having such a nice time. I look forward to my next happy hour at JCK. Pro tip: It looks like they have coordinated, promoted parties twice a month on Fridays. And on the other Fridays, they have the 'standard' karaoke nights. Check their IG for the official, promoted parties.

This one slipped under my radar! If you know you know -- JCK is short for Jamaican Country Kitchen,…read morewhich happens to be right next door. I am no stranger to them, having seen their truck at Savor Bowie almost every single time I've gone. And I've driven by their brick-and-mortar multiple times, but never stopped. This one crossed my radar when my friend invited me to a soca party, and I was like "JCK Bar & Lounge? In Hyattsville? How have I never heard of that?" And now it all makes sense -- some time last year, Jamaican Country Kitchen expanded, and now they've got this place, DJ booth, dance floor, bar, lounge, restaurant, all in one. And I gotta say, it was a vibe. The staff was nice and I loved the decor and feel of the place. Bar was cozy and it was nice to be somewhere this late at night that still served authentic Caribbean food. They have happy hour, so I am going to have to return and get a deep dive on how they feel on a regular weekday after work. And I gotta see how their food compares to my other favorites nowadays!

I celebrated a significant birthday at TOC this past Friday on May 1st. TOC went above and beyond…read moreto make my birthday celebration extra special! I ordered 1/2 trays of plantain, cabbage, rice and peas, mac-n-cheese, brown stew chicken, curry chicken, and meatballs. Everything was delicious, hot and on point. My guest all felt welcomed, and had a blast singing karaoke! The bartender was amazing handling the crowd, and the drinks were made, perfectly. Thank you so much to Quacy for getting my order started and to Ma, who guided me the rest of the way, and answered all my questions. You're the best Ma! You were so patient and kind in helping me set up and making sure everything looked beautiful!! And, thank you to everyone else who helped prepared the food and provided assistance in the background I did not mention! God bless. All the best and continued success to this establishment! CF

Baybeeeee my beef pattie was sooooo good! I'll be back for that! But that jerk chicken and shrimp I…read morepaid $30 for? NO MA'AM! My chicken is dry. Chicken doesn't take that long to cook. The jerk shrimp is just boiled with some jerk sauce thrown on top. The cabbage isn't seasoned. I couldn't remem why I haven't came here in years, I now know! I made this comment so when I look for places, I'll know why.

First time trying something other than the beef patties and I enjoyed!!! Do they have attitudes?…read moreSome, yes!! But that's what makes the food delicious!!! The brown stew chicken was cooked perfectly, and I was pleasantly surprised by the mac & cheese. Usually I avoid mac&cheese at Caribbean restaurants, but this one tasted as good as it looked. I like my cabbage much softer than the way they prepare theirs, but that's my preference. I asked for pepper sauce on the side because that's the only hot sauce they offered. Patties!!! Get the beef patties. Crust is perfect, and so is the filling. Avoid the curry shrimp patty! After a couple bites, I noticed I wasn't tasting any shrimp. So i sliced the patty and opened it up, and there were TWO salad size shrimp in there, with curry sauce spread throughout the rest. I wish I took a picture. Drink: Their pineapple cream soda from the fountain is my absolute fav!!!

"Truth Is !!" When I walked into Dat Jerk I was surprised at its commercial feel ( not your usual…read moreatmosphere for a authentic Caribbean spot ) With that being said, once I actually got down to business and started eating my oxtails, all my reservations went out the window because the food was absolutely delicious!! The oxtail were so tender and tasty and they blended perfectly with my rice & peas. I was a little disappointed they didn't have curry goat on their menu... but for sure, when I'm in the mood for some oxtails Dat Jerk is my go-to !!!! If you're visiting the Woodmore Center make sure to stop by Dat Jerk... you truly won't be disappointed !!

Casual carryout may be BUT the cooking is so good! Curry Goat and Oxtails were great…read more And there is delivery via UberEats and Grubhub. The quantity of the mail dishes are generous. The roti skin is perfectly made. This place has become my new go-to place!

So, I'm disabled and don't get out of he house much. I've been craving Caribbean food, but here in…read moreBowie, there is a appalling lack of any delivery that's not pizza or Chinese. There is also a huge lack of ethnic food places (we've recently gotten an Indian food place). I was surprised when this place showed on Eat24 as delivering to my house. I was skeptical as they seemed a little far for delivery, but I tried anyway. The worst, I figured is that they call and say they couldn't deliver. Well, the food arrived not longer than pizza or Chinese would take. It was still hot, and very tasty. Ordered not only for me but my kids for when they got home from school. I ordered rotis, chicken and goat. My son's 14 and, so, is always hungry. The roti was actually enough to fill him up. I look forward to ordering again from them and trying mor from the menu.