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

Roy's Caribbean-Restaurant & Grocery - The meal to the left was my oxtail order and the meal to the right was my curry goat order. My son and I enjoyed every last bite! - Caribbean Near Me - Albany, New York

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

On point Jamaican Food. This food is really strong Jamaican food. Spices are all the way strong. I went to Dainty's on Quail a month ago. Clearly there is a 360 change in spices levels and quality of food. I can smell and taste the curry powder in my rice. Amazing and very knowledgeable staff that helped me pick out my lunch special sides. Mac n cheese side, large Lunch special $17.95 and plantain side and Pepsi can. Everything altogether came to $34.00 (included $17.95). Bit towards the pricey side, but not this food is all the way 10 points on Jamaican speciality. Sometimes you need that kind of spice treatment. Everything after or during the pandemic is like this price wise. The fact that I got a whole meal and a snack besides this lunch meal is the deal. So in $34.00 I got 3 more meals. You can't beat that. Definitely a huge recommendation. read more

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Asked for oxtails beans,rice and cabbage They gave me plaintains in cabbage The rice wasn't cooked all the way and the oxtails had no flavor. It was all just a pile of mess read more

Roy's Caribbean-Restaurant & Grocery - Oxtails rice, beans and plantains - Caribbean Near Me - Albany, New York

Yesterday I order jerk wings from two different food shifts. And in both instances the wings were hard and overcooked. I threw both orders out each time. So please if you order from here please ask how old are the wings/food is. read more

There food is very good but when I asked for shrimp rasta pasta he said he didn't feel like making it then I asked for a beef patty he said he didn't feel like making that either but said I can have chicken good for but kinda rude read more

They never answer their bumboclaat phone no matter how much time you call dem. No service read more

Roy's Caribbean-Restaurant & Grocery - Caribbean Near Me - Albany, New York

I just returned two of the most greasiest $56 tins of food I ever bought here at Roy's I dropped the food off to my mom as I swung by to rush to the grocery store. When I came back, my mother said that she couldn't eat it with the amount of GREASE ! This was done on purpose because I was upset at having to paying $1.00 per tin for just a little more gravy! I called before I came back to complain about it. The woman I bought it from told me that I could get my money back. When I got there she had to call her manager. I'm Already upset because I haven't taken off my work clothes yet! my mom. The manager tells the store clerk to count each oxtail and replace oxtail for oxtail in the plate my mom had because the clerk told her manager that it was eaten out of!!! I told her that it was so greasy that my mom spilled it. She told me to go in ghe garbage and look at paper bag, and now it's a couple of hours later, I'm $56 poorer, I have grease on my hands, there grease on the counter , grease everywhere and you want to BE PETTY AGAIN !!! I didn't want my money back! I wanted two decently fixed greaseless meals !!' I think I saw red!!! I shoved the greasy food, greasey bags, greasy everything back to the woman roaring how you want to count meat!!!!! Take that shit ! I was angry! I had a rough day. I just wanted a good meal, not a stand-off where people are walking in looking at me like the Tasmanian devil !!! My mother nor I have eaten!!! still hasn't eaten and I left the tins of food swimming there. I know that she will be aggravated! So am I. You cannot claim to be the best Carribean restaurant snd provide the worse customer experience!!! read more

The jerk wings at this place are by far the best!! The looks of them might tell you otherwise. But I promise you they are amazing and spicy. read more

Roy's Caribbean-Restaurant & Grocery - Jerk Wings - Caribbean Near Me - Albany, New York

The young Lady greeted each customer as they entered and clearly had a rapport with many regulars. She's extremely pleasant and very nice. This was my first visit - wanted to surprise the family with a little taste of the islands, as many ingredients are hard to locate since moving to the Northern US. Upon spending almost $100 for dinner on a Friday afternoon, I expected the best - however, I was extremely disappointed! The rice and peas were old, the chicken in the stew chicken was old and dry, nothing tasted fresh but was likely reheated or old. Cabbage was okay, plantains were dry and chewy, mac and cheese was okay, the escovitch snapper was so old and hard, I was not happy with any of it. Only a person that doesn't know how to cook or poor palate would enjoy this. Certainly not anyone from the Caribbean would find this appetizing. my family didn't even finish any of their meals! The cold DG bottle sodas were the only high point. First and last trip! read more

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Went today to Roy's to get some authentic Jamaican food First the wait time is too long waited 10 mins to order I ordered brown stew ...brown stew has a awful taste I had to throw out the food.. I ordered fried chicken. Fried chicken is fried well but pieces need to be chopped up Neva again will spend my money in Roy's Disgusting food read more

The food is ok, Customerservice sucks. These people are extremely rude, they act like they don't appreciate customers. They treat people like animals, they don't greet or say thank you. Especially that old lady, she needs to retire or find something else to do. Bottom line they are just plain disrespectful. They should take their business back to Jamaica..Bloodclot. read more

Very impressed with Roys. Grabbed a late lunch today. Service was amazing, the woman behind the counter was very friendly and made several suggestions for things to try. Ordered patties, ackee with salt fish and codfish fritters. They even threw in a few jerk wings because they ran out of plantains. The patties and the codfish fritters were very good, the ackee and jerk wings were amazing. Will definitely be back to try more of the menu! read more

I drive past here almost every day en route to and from work. It wasn't until a few months ago that I stopped in for lunch on a Saturday. It was fairly quiet and Roy himself immediately greeted my boyfriend and I, told us to take a seat and made us feel completely welcome. It's primarily a takeout joint but we ate at the counter and enjoyed listening to Roy schmooze with his customers ( his accent is great.) We got the curried goat and jerk chicken meals and both were delicious (and spicy!) They each came with rice and peas and this delicious cabbage salad that I still drool over. We each got a Jamaican ginger beer to go with it. The portions were really big for the price - we ended up with enough leftover for a small dinner that night. Full meals were about 10 bucks each, if I remember correctly. The weekday lunch specials sound like a great deal too. Roy also maintains a small grocery section for all your Caribbean cooking needs. read more

Had a very pleasant dinner there last night. Yes, this is mostly a take-out place, but we decided to eat there. The decor won't win many awards, but the food was very good. We started with a meat pie and an order of fried shrimp. The meat pie was a standout- moist, meaty with just the right amount of zip. The fried shrimp were a dissapointment- they came after the entrees were on the table and was basically a mass of small overcooked fried nubbins. But the entrees were great- we had a curry chicken and a jerk chicken-- generous amounts of chicken with a large side of rice and beans with cabbage in sauce. The jerk chicken clearly outperformed the curry chicken, but both were good. . We ate like kings for $27. I have to say a word about the gorgeous and sweet as could be hostess, She was a delight. read more

I have never had Caribbean food before, but I wanted to give this place a try after a friend of mine suggested it and recommended I try the Ox tail. Inside, there was a cashier standing behind the counter taking processing the orders. There were about six booths and about three tables. It was a small restaurant and a bit hot. There were about two people in front of me making orders. Since the lady at the cash register didn't actually process the order in the register until the food came out, it was actually a long wait. So it went something like this: I order a large ox tail ($10.50) plus fish fry ($3.00). But was told they didn't have anymore fish fry, so I opted for fried shrimp ($4.25). She went to the freezer to get a bag of shrimp, took it to the kitchen and came back. Put the the food of the customer before me in a carry out bag. Asked them if they wanted a drink. Typed their order into the register. They paid. By then, my food was ready. put my food on a tray. Asked if I wanted a drink. Typed it into the register, looked up to see how much the prices were. I paid. As all this happened, the line piled behind me. The ox tail came in a 8in foil tray (I think the small was in a 6in tray). Half was rice and beans topped with cabbage, and the other half was ox tail. There were about 6-7 pieces. The smell was really nice and the meat was really soft. Again, this was my first time eating Caribbean food, so I don't know what to compare it too. All I can say for sure was I wasn't a fan of the shrimps. They were frozen and tasted like shrimps you would get from Long John Silver; only, I would finish a box of shrimp from LJS. The ox tail, although it was good, it didn't make me say, "OMG, I love Caribbean food now!" I will try Caribbean elsewhere and then I will re-evaluate Roy's Caribbean again. It definately deserves another shot. read more

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My family and I suffered food poisioning from Roy's. I am angry beyond belief that my father wasted his hard earned money on these scammers, because he wanted to treat us to a dinner. Before I get to the food poisioning part, I will say that I was warned. I used to work in a dept store. I had Carribean coworkers. One day, Roy's resteraunt popped up in conversation and they all made a "Stank face". Saying that Roy's reseraunt is disgusting and that they reuse the cooking oil and sell food that isnt fresh. So many people already know of Roy's. I figured since it's the closest Jamaican resteraunt to me, I would order food from there. BIG MISTAKE. We placed a huge order. The foodd was unbearably salty. I love spicy and I come from a culture that cooks with a lot of spices. However, the food from Roy's is not spicy...its salted. The rice tasted like boxed cheap rice. It was not flavorful at all. I ordered a side of Mac N Cheese as well. The Mac N Cheese tasted like the acid that comes up when youre ready to throw up. It was disgusting. The food tasted OLD. Like reheated after a month of sitting out. The cabbage smelled very aged and it was very mushy. That mushy consistency is what happens when you reheat. Overall, the food was bad. Waste of money. But that wasn't it. Every single member of my family that ate the food, got food poisioning. I had to take some time off work. I was scared to go to work the next day because I had horrible diahhrea. My sibling works in the medical field and she had to speak to one of her doctor coworkers. It was horrible. Not only did we waste money, but you are playing around with people's health and well being. I hope this place gets shut down and the FDA needs to pay them a visit. I am thoroughly disgusted. A waste of money, and food poisioning. How do these people sleep at night?? What's interesting is that we were going to plce the order by phone, the man that picked up said that they dont do phone orders anymore because people call in and dont pickup.It's like I was getting a sign from God to keep away!! I insisted. I regret it. I will tell everyone of this disgusting place. I will never ever ever ever set foot in that disgusting "resteraunt". They will get no dime from my family ever again. You need to fear God's wrath, playing with people's health and money!!! selling aged expired sub par food to innocent customers. read more

Two of the things I value most in a place are consistency and reliability. Roy scores high on both. The restaurant is open 7 days for lunch and dinner and the food is consistently delicious. They do mostly a take-out business but don't let that deter you from eating in. The booths are pleasant. There is no waitstaff service however. You have to line up with the take-out customers, place an order and take your tray to a table. If you need another drink, you have to go to the counter to get it. These are small inconveniences to enjoy the best Carribean food in the cap. district. I usually get the curried goat or the oxtails. This is a family run business. Those are the best kind. read more

We brought the New Years in with friends and they ordered Roy's. I got the brown stew snapper and my wife got the king fish. We both got rice and peas w| cabbage and a side order of plantains. Everything was delicious. My wife agreed mine had more flavor. We'd definitely eat here again. We've been looking for good Caribbean food since moving here a year ago and we finally found a place. read more

Just once I'd like to come to this establishment and receive even minimal customer service. I was charged for wings added to my order that I did not ask for. When I pointed out the error I was given an insane amount of attitude and she tried to convince me that I asked for them. Once I explained that I clearly didn't, I was then told that it is too difficult to get the refund processed. I then get in my vehicle and check the order to discover that the extra order of wings I was charged wasn't even added to my bag. Once again requiring me to go back in the store and deal with the same nasty attitude. Please do better. read more

Let down very disappointed the one good thing was they practice social Distance and required mask. I ordered jerked wings they were ok. They are pre cooked very spicy they will past. I ordered stewed chicken worst tasted like teriyaki with a bust rice mushy cabbage throw together. Big pieces of chicken mostly legs with lots of skin and fat. Probably don't even clean the chicken b4 cooking I threw it in trash worst dish even from a Jamiaca spot. They should be a shame to do that to Jamaica name!! Was in town google thought I try them out. Hopefully this recent update help other to not wast there money and time!! Food was very over price for the quality and location the owner should rehire someone that can cook!! read more

This place is Great!!! A wonderfull place to get some of the best Caribbean food... Clean,Friendly, and Delicious!!!!! I highly recommend this Resteraunt for those who want a true Caribbean Dinning experience!!!!!!! A+A+A+!!!!! I travel over 55 miles one way..110 miles round trip to get this food..Its that good!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Roy's used to be my favorite Caribbean spot in Albany growing up. My mother got my hooked to their curry goat and I've loved it ever since. I had jerk wings and fries on my most recent visit. I went in hopes of getting a fish fry and found out they no longer sell it. The wings were tasty though and full of flavor. Roy's isn't my go to spot any more but it's a close second to the Hot Spot in Central ave. read more

I usually order from the food truck as I'm a NYS employee at the Plaza. They messed up my order twice. The first time I delt with it and ate what I was served (not what I ordered). This second time I went back to the truck to fix my order, but the truck was gone. So, I went to the restaurant on Henry Johnson on my way home to fix my order. The woman (Roy's wife) was rude and gave attitude rolling her eyes with her hands on her hip stating I have to go to the truck tomorrow if I want it fixed. How inconvenient is that?! Especially since my job is working remotely on Fridays due to covid so I would have to leave my house to go down there to fix my order when she could've fixed it there. No empathy when I explained just attitude. If I couldn't get it fixed I was intentionally going to just order again, but the customer service was disgusting. Will NOT support again. read more

I stopped in for takeout yesterday and was thrilled by what I found. I ordered jerk chicken, curry goat, plantains, cod fritters and rice, beans and cabbage, and ended up with more food than three people could eat for under $30. The food was very well spiced, all cooked beautifully, flavorful and savory without being greasy, as Jamaican food can sometimes be. My wife enjoyed the meal enough that we're returning today... which is saying something as we live more than an hour's drive today. The indoor seating looks pretty comfortable - the interior is a classic old lunchcounter with a few tables and a tv. It's a bit dark, but certainly pleasant enough. Given my wife's love for the food, I think it's going to be a regular takeout spot for me as I drive through Albany. read more

Let me start by saying I've eaten here about a dozen times. Man, I love Caribbean food. And I can really appreciate a greasy spoon with great quality and value. However, this restaurant, no matter how hard I try and how many times I revisit, I can not recommend. My last try was this week and definitely my last. Let's start with what's important: the food! Beef patties are most definitely a cheap frozen boxed kind. Not even heated well before served, sitting there for who knows how long in an old incubator. These made both my stomach hurt and gave my dog diarrhea (he ate half of one while I was getting gas oops). Have gotten dinners that are inconsistently spiced and prepared. Once with curry goat so seasoned I could barely stand to eat it and the next mild and bland. The cabbage is like eating a pile of grease soaked mush. Even my prepackaged beverages here have tasted old and on the cusp of expiration. Then there is the haunting atmosphere, that at first you will hope is just an indicator that they are strictly business and concerned with the authenticity and flavor of their food-except as you've just read-it is not. It's spooky. It's outdated. It's dirty and dim. But at least the help is friendly right?!? Nope. It's either a dead in the eyes young person or a shrewish old one. Step it up or shut it down. read more

I'm not sure if I just simply don't like Caribbean food, or I don't like Roy's, since this was my first time trying it. Like some other reviewers, I agree that the service was not good at all. Maybe when Roy himself is there it's ok, but the girl behind the counter acted like she was doing me a real favor getting my food, and was slower than molasses as well. Ok whatever, we don't need to be pals. I got the jerk chicken with beans and rice. To me, the chicken tasted way over-spiced, but judging from other reviews, and having read some recipes for jerk chicken, I think that's pretty much how it's supposed to taste. It wasn't bad in my opinion, but too much for me. The thing is, if I had felt a little less like I was bothering everyone just by walking in, I would've given it another try. The food had that look like it was sitting out for too long, and that very well could've been the case. My visit was around 3 pm, maybe its better when freshly cooked. Or maybe it WAS freshly cooked and that's how it's supposed to look and taste. I just don't know, and I'm wary of trying Roy's again. If I do, I'll update this review, which will end up in the "not recommended" pile anyway. Maybe I should just find a Caribbean cookbook and make it myself. read more

Excellent food. Have had many different dishes. Their quality is consistent and delish! Cabbage is the best I've had around. They accommodated my vegetarian needs and it made such a difference and is huge for me! Friendly, welcoming and clean, nice environment. Highly recommended! Our fav place read more

Yea mon! This is the flagship HQ for Jamaican and Caribbean eats and supplies at their grocery store. This place would make the Jamsican bobsleeding team in the movie "Cool Running" quite pleased. Warm and friendly staff whom beam with smiles. Big portions. You can taste the love they put into making their meals for you. Its a place you feel at home and welcomed. read more

Was with the misses on one of the many trips back to see her parents when we passed Roy's. In my quest for ox tails I had to stop. Nice place. The owner was there. Very friendly. It was Captialismas Eve day by the way and they were open. My ox tails were very good but the misses jerk chicken was AMAZING. Will definitely be going back to Roys every time I visit Albany. read more

i am so dissappointed at the Quail St . location. When I first saw that they opened closer to my college I was EXCITED. I thought finally I can get authentic west Indian food , similar to that of back home. I visited EVERYDAY for almost 2 weeks, ordering actual MEALS, not a little beef patty or a side, an actual MEAL. I spent at least 12.00 per visit there and the food wasnt that bad. Then things took a bad turn. When I ordered my dinner, I asked for a side of plantain and made it very clear that that is what I wanted. I know the server heard me, but still opted to give me cabbage. This happened way too many times. I figured he wanted to cut his costs, and serve me cabbage, the cheaper of the two, or was just too lazy to fry some plantain. Secondly, whenever I asked for a particular food, they never had any in stock. They advertise soup, fritters, and when I asked for those items half the time I went there I was told"oh we dont have any"....Why are you continuously advertising food you dont have?? Lastly, What drew me to Roys was that they offered a 10% student discount, that was advertised on their menu as well as on their website. I thought it was awesome because there are two major colleges in the area. You would think for all the business that they recieve from college students alone, they would uphold their advertisement. I was wrong. Whenever I ordered food, and it was time to pay, the person ringing me up would rush and charge me, as so to not honor my student discount. His excuse was that I shouldve showed him my I.D sooner. Ok. I let it go. The next day I came, I ordered again, showed my student ID, and he still didnt add the discount. This happened a few more times I, but I let it go, it was just 10%. But as a customer coming in everyday, you should know by now that I am a student who wants to take advantage of this deal. The last time I went there, I LET HIM KNOW I had my ID. Instead of speaking to me directly, the owner tells his worker that in order for the student discount to be applied , I must buy a drink. but he says it loud enough so that I would hear. . I was like WHAT??? I come into your store EVERYDAY supporting your brand new business and you make up some rule on the spot as to not give me my discount? I was sooo upset. I spent a lot of money over there and here he was trying to get more money out of me. I recently made a visit and they put a sign up that the student discount expires 3/31/2014. SMH. They also manually crossed out the student discount on all their menus. I try to support local businesses, but then end up having to deal with dishonest people who are more concerned with taking your money and not keeping their customers. Visit and your own discretion. read more

Ordered from grub hub I was nervous because the reviews aren't great so I was pleasantly surprised! The oxtails were great the plantains were a little soft but not dry at all but delicious. I can deal with soft but dry plantains are inedible. Overall idk about the jerk or curry but the oxtails A+ over here read more

Roy's Caribbean-Restaurant & Grocery - Oxtails dinner plantains rice and beans - Caribbean Near Me - Albany, New York

Went here for lunch and had the jerk chicken with rice and beans and cooked vegetables. Spicy!! The chicken was juicy and tasty. The food was solid and price was somewhat reasonable; a little under $7. Where was Roy?? The lady behind the counter was less than amicable and quite slow. You Jamaican me late, mam! I would go back, but hopefully to faster and friendlier service. read more

Had the oxtail plate here a few times. Always delicious, and a relatively generous portion. The meat is stewed long enough (like it should be), and falls right off the bone. read more

DONT GO HERE! Worst Jamaican restaurant in Albany . Called to adjust a grubby order I was put on hold for over 40 mins just some the woman can flirt with a customer. read more

The customer service is less than par. As a fellow caribbean person I'm usually looking for a good caribbean restaurant, but each time I walked in the owner and his wife does not acknowledge your presence as a paying customer spending your hard earned money. With every visit, I would always have to wait 30 to 45 mins even though they're are not busy. They are very slow paced and can never get the order right. They will serve you however they feel and never what you ordered. Their rice and peas is so shuttered in gravy, it looks like slop! and if you ever call to make a complain the owner himself curses at you and tell you, it's your fault for not checking your food before you leave . I've even witnessed the cook going to the bathroom and did not wash his hands after and sneezing over the pot. That was my last draw. read more

I got 6 jerk wings, mac and cheese and fried plantains. Fried plantains were dry and tasted old. The mac and cheese was average but also tasted like it was out too long. Wings were too spicy for my liking (I can usually eat jerk chicken no problem) bu I won't blame the restaurant for that. The beverage I ordered was in the fridge behind the counter came out luke warm. The lady working the counter was nice and trying her hardest even though they were busy.They do a large take out and local business but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back. read more

I had a business luncheon in need of catering in less than an hour and the food was delicious, wortg every penny!!! Dont be fooled by the location this place is worth the stop. read more

Well lets start off by saying how miserable and rude the service comes off. I'm sorry for making it an inconvenience to come into your restaurant to order your food and give you money for your food. Let me also apologize for having a few people come in after me and serving them with a slight attitude as well. In case the management thinks this goes unnoticed, Please think again. Take a minute to smile at your customers. A friendly greeting goes a long way. Why have a call and order option, if by the time you get there your asked for what you ordered and have to replace your order? Seems inefficient. Now, if you dont mind any of my previous comments. The food is pretty tasty.Enjoy. As for me, i'll take myself to the Dutch Pot. read more

Mr Roy's is a great Jamaican place. So delicious. I'd recommend takeout over dine in, because the dine in can be slow and the restaurant itself can be a little depressing inside to look at, but Mr Roy and Little Man are nice and the food is fantastic! The sweet plantains are always perfect (hard feat to accomplish) and the curried chicken and rice are both superb. read more