It was so good! My friend visited me from out of town and we chose this spot to come and eat!…read more The service was good! Please forgive me I forgot her name, but the lady at the counter was patient and happy answer whatever questions I had about Trini Food! I had the oxtails with peas and rice and I liked it! I also tried doubles for the first time! It was a different texture for me, but I honestly enjoyed it (I do wish it was warmed up a little more, I definitely should've asked lol) The ambience is so cute! In my time of coming into that area I never knew it was there. Definitely a gem! Hope to be back soon!

I am here from Miami searching everywhere for good Trini food specifically bake and doubles. I…read morefound this place on yelp and google. This place is 50 minutes from my house. The first time I went was last week Wednesday in the afternoon. A very nice young man took my order. When I asked for bake and shark the woman who I assume is the owner came up to the front and told me bake and shark is only available every other Saturday. I asked her if it would be available that coming Saturday and she said no, next week, that coming Saturday would be meat pies. She was nice enough this day. My first visit I ordered doubles, curry chicken and stew beans and buss up shut. The doubles were pretty good, the curry was 2 chicken legs swimming in what was more like a ton of watery broth in which my beans got completely lost. The curry flavors were not very developed. There was no aloo. The roti was the best thing I ordered that day. I did not come that Saturday as instructed but I returned yesterday. Yelp and Google states the business opens at 11:30. I walked up to the door at 12:12 and it was locked. The sign on the door states they open at 12:30 on Saturdays. I sat in my car until 12:40 and went back in. There were already people in line being helped by the same lady from last week. When it was my turn I asked for bake and shark and she told me "next Saturday". WOW. I drove all this way specifically for that. At this point I'm already disappointed so I ask her what she does have. She tells me to "read the board". Then she says she will help someone else and come back to me. When I don't respond she says "HELLO" as if speaking to a child. Thankfully, the lady with the purple hair is nice and professional. When it's my turn to order I order sorrel, pholourie, doubles, curry chicken and spinach and roti. Curry chicken is my favorite so I want to give it another try. With these 2 visits alone I've spent about $70 so far. I get in my car and open the bag with the pholourie to eat on the ride home. They're ice cold greasy and soggy. How? The place just opened and I just walked out! I get home and try the curry chicken. Watery flavorless broth again. No aloo again. This time the chicken is not done. My spinach is drowning in this broth just like the beans because for some reason it's all put into one container with no separation. The doubles are a sloppy mess but edible. Once again the buss up shut is the best part of the whole meal. This was a waste of time, money, and gas. This is not a good representation of Trini food. I don't think I will return here. **UPDATE** I updated my review to one star after this wicked lady replied. This idiotic fool is messaging me over and over about my review! I haven't messaged her back not even one time. She's clearly nuts. Notice she never said anything I wrote was untrue. There's a huge difference between pink chicken (ie: smoked meat) and bloody slimy chicken that's clear in some spots. You are selling food to the public and you think chicken is always pink no matter how long you cook it? WTH?! Sounds like food poisoning and salmonella to me. And please tell me where is the big chicken?? You're serving drumsticks! Secondly, pholourie literally takes 1-2 minutes to fry- why would anyone fry it then let it just sit in a COOLER???? Who's expecting fried dough to be hot for hours?? I expect it to be freshly made when I order it duh! So she's cooking the entire menu all at once and just serving it, cold and raw. Disgusting. The standards and attitude on this woman are both gross. Eat this crap at your own risk.

I tried this place a few years ago at a Juneteenth celebration and always remembered their trini…read morepatties. When I walked out of my children's school this summer I saw the food truck and made my way there to order the trini patties. The owner gave me a sample of her freshly made juice. The flavor that day was a cantaloupe. It was so good that I asked her where I could find them regularly. The best way to know is to look at their Instagram page. The next day I went to the Oak Hill Plaza shopping center on Mechanicsville turnpike. I took the kids with me and we ordered the juice, and I learned they make different flavors based on what they have in stock. I requested several orders of the patties, their version of the seafood boil (which was because she gave samples while we waited in line), She also provided a sample of curry chicken, which I now know is just as good as everything else. If you're ever out and see this food truck, it definitely worth a try.

My go to for roti, doubles anything Trinidad food. It never lose its authentic flavor. I will be…read morecoming here forever please don't ever change or shut down. I get the vegetable roti or all the fixings! I must get doubles when I come here at least 3 minimum. One of my new favorite spots, so if you decide to check it out...wave Hi when you see me. lol

So being a born from New Orleans I'm more accustomed to our shrimp and grits . I got the shrimp and…read moregrits from La Bete food truck and the shrimp are fried , they taste fresh , the grits are thick which is ok but the kicker for me was the WEIRD gravy on top. It had stringy crab crab pieces I'm guessing and no taste. Left my stomach feeling weird. It was $24 dollars which would be a fair price if it tasted good. Loose that weird gravy and maybe add some more cheese and butter to the grits. Only reason it got a two because the shrimp are fried perfect .

Someone shared this gem on social media and we couldn't wait to try it. The chef gave us a sample…read moreof the buttery and perfectly seasoned crabmeat which made my mouth water with anticipation of my buttery blue crabmeat sandwich. It was filled with so much meat it was falling off the bun. If he hadn't provided a fork I'd of ate the droppings with my hands. Looking forward to visiting the restaurant when it opens. Wishing him success. #TastesByTate #TateApproved

I am extremely disappointed by the treatment I have received from Carena's…read more I understand the importance of customer service and treating customers with respect. I work hard for my money, and because this restaurant is conveniently located, I have been a loyal customer who has supported this establishment regularly. Several months ago, I experienced unprofessional behavior from staff at the drive-thru window. As a customer, I felt it was appropriate to leave an honest review regarding my experience. Since then, when I recently called to place an order, I was informed that I would not be allowed to do so and was refused service altogether. When I respectfully asked the manager for an explanation, my questions went unanswered, and the phone was repeatedly hung up on. I then attempted to speak with the owner, only to be told that no one knew when the owner would be available or how I could reach them. The level of disrespect and lack of professionalism I have experienced is unacceptable. At no point have I been disrespectful; I simply spoke up about my experience and exercised my right to leave an honest review. It appears that this may be the reason I am being denied service. What makes this situation even more disappointing is that businesses should value and respect the customers who consistently support them. I genuinely enjoy the food and have patronized this establishment frequently, which makes being denied service without a valid explanation even more concerning. I believe customers deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. Based on my experience, I can no longer recommend supporting this business. I intend to pursue the matter further and explore the appropriate channels to address these concerns. Customers should spend their hard-earned money where they are appreciated, respected, and valued. I would love to speak to the owner I heard she's in and out so who knows

This place is a vibe!! The decor just make you feel like you are on an island.... I ordered oxtails…read moreand they were perfectly tender and flavorful. The rice, peas and cabbage also very good.

Charles Kitchen was delicious! Everything tasted fresh and made with care. We went for lunch and…read moreordered the herb chicken, spinach rice, oxtails, and salmon, and every entrée was flavorful and well prepared. The meat was tender, seasoned perfectly, and cooked just right. Loved the home-like feel with the family pictures and warm atmosphere throughout. The service from Charles and Nikita was also excellent and made the experience even better. Can't wait to go back!

I literally stumbled upon Charles' Kitchen as I was looking for a different restaurant but the…read moreminute I saw CARIBBEAN CUISINE I said forget the other place and let's try this! Getting right to the point, THIS PLACE IS SLAMMING!!! The Food The Service The Ambiance The Energy EVERYTHING IS 5 STARS (& absolutely authentic)! I can't wait to come back to dine in, partake in their Mimosa Fridays and to try some of the other delicious entrees. LOVE THIS PLACE!

This is my 3'rd or 4'th trip to the Carib Shack. Can't believe this is the first review…read more Tried Mama's Stew Chicken Bowl. WOWZERS!!! The Carib Shack never disappoints. The chicken was flavorful and tender. The gravy was so good, and the rice bowl comes with beans as well. So delicious.... Would also like to add that the young lady behind the counter is always so sweet and answers all of your questions. Will definitely be back.

Carib Shack really impressed me. I ordered a couple of the daal puree/roti to go, and my order was…read moreready right within the promised time frame. When I got home, I heated it up in the microwave for under a minute and it was perfectly soft and fresh. The daal (split peas) filling was plentiful, flavorful, and so satisfying. I honestly wasn't expecting it to be that good, but it exceeded my expectations. It tasted homemade, and i enjoyed it with some curry and mango chutney.

This was my first visit in many years. I had the stewed chicken, rice and peas with cabbage. I also…read morethrew a spicy beef patty in there. The service was good and quick considering the long line, but the food wasn't as great as I remember. This was my go-to spot at one point when I resided in the local area pre-2018. I'm happy to see the business is still going strong but would have loved to experience those flavors my taste buds were looking for from previous years.

Chicken curry , curry was missing , blah , rice was okay , coco bread hard , corn bread soggy…read more,,,it's 7 pm maybe some food been sitting a while ,, my son is disagreeing with me , he got ox tail and likes it ,,,,,

Food- so good!! Fresh, flavorful, and filling! I got the lunch special (priced really well and…read morecomes with a drink and 2sides) Lunch portion was more than enough for me Worth every penny! Service- great also! Jamaicans are stereotyped as mean or lacking in customer service however I've never had a problem with directness. The young lady was kind and knowledgeable of the menu. Ambiance- good tunes, space to order and sit if you are dining in. Comfy booths and scotch bonnet hot sauce ready for you at the table ( didn't need it cause everything was seasoned so well) 10/10 for me and I shall return to try the curry chicken which seemed to be a popular item as I sat and enjoyed my meal. I got the escovitch fish lunch special and a boiled dumpling on the side.

5 Stars - One of Our Family Favorites!…read more Mystic Jamaica in Newport News is truly a family favorite! We absolutely love Jamaican and Island food, and this spot always hits the mark. My mom swears by the oxtails here, but I've switched over to the stewed beef--you get more meat, and I'm not a fan of those little circle pieces with too much fat on the oxtails. The stewed beef gives you a better bang for your buck, and it's packed with flavor. The beef patties (mild for me!) are another go-to--just the right amount of spice without being overwhelming. I also used to love the oxtail soup, but lately they've only been adding a few small fatty pieces. For the price, two or three bites of oxtail just isn't enough, even though the dumplings, potatoes, and red beans in the soup are delicious. If they fix that, I'll definitely go back to ordering it. The menu is HUGE and full of delicious options: Curried goat, chicken, beef, shrimp Stewed chicken and beef Callaloo & saltfish Grilled, jerk, or fried shrimp, red snapper, king fish, salmon, tilapia, whiting, flounder, and catfish Jerk, fried, or BBQ chicken & ribs Cow foot, jerk pork Roti with chicken, beef, or goat Stewed or curried vegetables and veggie chunks Veggie roti, veggie plates, veggie burgers Wings in several flavors, salads, and tons of amazing sides: rice & peas, mac & cheese, cabbage, dumplings, plantains, yams, festival, fries, cornbread, and more Don't skip dessert either--the cheesecake slices are big and beautiful! There was a time we stopped coming because of a cook who wasn't consistent, but they're back on track now and we're LOVING it again. The food is fresh, flavorful, and filling. A quick note: the staff may not always look cheerful, but they're great people and they work hard--so please remember to tip them well. The place is always clean, including the bathrooms, and I've never had an issue when I've visited. Location-wise, it's convenient too--right near Fort Eustis, Newport News Park, and the Denbigh area. It's across from Dodge's Chicken and near other restaurants like a Mexican spot and the Skrimp Shack. I drive in from Hampton because it's worth the trip, and honestly, I prefer it over MP's or any Jamaican restaurants in Hampton for me personally. Highly recommend checking this place out!

Very small shop, I didn't see a sit down area. The food was delicious the ox tail was so tender and…read morethe chicken is grilled so it compliments the sweetness from the jerk sauce. The sides were good my favorite will always be the rice and peas and cabbage. We were well greeted and welcomed.

Aug 14 2026 Food-…read moreordered two stew chicken dinners, side of plantains and cabbage. The food was flavorful and just ok. The cabbage was high in sodium. Service- polite, yet the waiting to be served was painfully slowwwwwww and hot. Ambiance- the kitchen was filthy the floor looks a mess, no one washed their hands, a man was cooking outside on the grill, came inside and went straight to the stove and started cooking. He was sweaty and didn't wash his hands. No one's hair is covered. And there was NO AC in the entire place they had fans blowing hot air. This business has GREAT potential if they reimagine the management of the business. As a business consultant, may I suggest hiring a cashier to take the orders, hire a dishwasher or two (cross train one of the dishwashers or cooks), and add atleast 3 more cooks not including the 2 owners. You need someone or everyone to clean that kitchen before you get reported. And add AC. I want to see your business succeed, you need change and quickly. With these changes you will increase your profits and clientele tremendously. Happy to help you

This was my first time trying this place. I've had Caribbean food before, but this place is fire!…read moreThe people are very friendly. I told them that it was my first time trying their place, and the guy gave me a sampler. Will definitely be going back for the ox tails! Try everything!

The Ox Tail and Curry Chicken are a MUST! The owners are so nice, the restaurant is super clean,…read moreand hands down delicious food. Do NOT skip this place it's 10/10 amazing!!!