The reason I will not ever return to this establishment even if the food is free. I prefer not to say why because this restaurant will lose a lot of business. So I rather just say what will make a person leave a restaurant while eating very quickly. The service , food, and drinks were okay. But way over priced. A lemonade was $10 and oxtails barely had any meat on them. read more

Just spent 134.00 on some disgusting food it was absolutely gross. Two oxtail plate with rice and peas and potato salad and some kind of nasty egg rolls that were too salty. DO NOT GO TO THIS RESTAURANT IT IS AWFUL AND RIP OFF!!!! read more

Same day review: The food missed the mark. Ordered jerk chicken entree with rice and peas and cabbage. The chicken had no jerk seasoning nor sauce. The rice was clumpy like it was days old and the cabbage was okay. The plantains were great. The service was even great but the quality of food is severely lacking. I would not try again nor could I recommend. read more

Spices Caribbean Restaurant & Bar - Jerk chicken, rice/peas, cabbage - Caribbean Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

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First time here, and I heard they were pretty good. Tried an oxtail plate and was not pleased. Cabbage was not island style, no peas in the rice, and peas, and for $70, there was nothing but bone. Being that they open at 5 pm on Saturdays and close at 2am, I went around 8 pm thinking the place would be packed. There was a very lovely host who did show hospitality and kindness. However, the food was not that great. read more

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Different ambiance, great service, did not try much but happy with my fried plantain and the conversation read more

Spices Caribbean Restaurant & Bar - chicken wings and a drink - Caribbean Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

Never here! They never answer the phone and to top it tasted like shit and oh yea they are never open!

Spices From the Caribbean (also sometimes listed as Spiced Caribbean Bar and Restaurant) is budget food for a healthy price. Spices is located across from Columbus State University and the lack of college kids stopping by this bar and restaurant says a lot about the food, drinks, atmosphere. Upon entering one will immediately notice the sand floor which is a nice touch and adds to the Caribbean feel. The decor, art and even the tables all add to the tropical vibe and feel of the place. Unfortunately most of it ends right there. FOOD: Prices are steep considering the quality, portions and other nearby options. All of the food, except fried offerings, is made early in the day or even days before. It goes from the steam table to the microwave so their is no consistent quality and some days the food may be okay and others it may be downright awful. Everything starts in a frozen state (except salads and cabbage) and finds its way to your plate via fryer, boil or microwave. The beef and chicken patties are some of the best offerings on the menu, even though they are just heated up pre-frozen boxed patties. The jerk chicken can be an absolute delight if you get it "fresh" (made less than 24 hours ago). The rice and beans (you will notice the servers strangely call it "rice and peas", however there are no peas in it but red beans) can also be fairly enjoyable but it all depends on when it was made and who made it. Overall the only consistency in quality is with the frozen and heated and/or fried items. Things like chicken curry, oxtail, rice dishes or curried goat are too inconsistent to risk. Most of the dinner entrees and sides have been made 12 to 72 hours before and you will never know what you are gonna get. DRINKS: Spices has some authentic Caribbean drinks on the menu that are actually worth trying. However that would mean you would have to go here and do nothing but try peanut punch, which would really not be worth it. The bar is limited and severely lacking anything that would draw the local college clientele or anyone who has a taste for anything other than cheap rums, Nuvo and Hypnotiq. This is not the place to hang out with friends for a drink, the offerings are too few and the atmosphere does not lend itself to socializing. SERVICE: Service here can depend on who is working, who is managing and simple random chance. Spices seemingly prides itself on it's all female staff of less the "outgoing" servers. There is a real sense of "I don't know you and want nothing to do with you" from the moment you walk in the door. Asking for anything seems like a big deal and you might actually get better service at a Waffle House at 3AM, which says a lot since some of the surliest people in the industry work at Waffle House, the home of bad service. ATMOSPHERE: The regular clientele is largely locals since this place has no real draw. Their seems to be a "clique-ish" vibe with each group keeping to themselves and seemingly sitting back judging the other group. You can immediately sense the strange vibe in the place and no amount of Caribbean decor can make it any less comfortable. Combine the customer vibe with the server/employee vibe and you get a strange amalgamation of discomfort and creepiness. From the shady crowds in the back alley to the visible "dealings" going on inside and out, this place is uncomfortable and it wouldn't take you by surprise to see a task force come smashing through the front door. Overall this place offers overpriced lackluster microwaved or fried foods in an uncomfortable setting. The staff is less than friendly and the business itself is the epitome of the term "shady". Taking "taxes" from employee checks, while the IRS has no record of them. Disappearing timecards, no check stubs and worst of all (and also criminal) no Workmen's Compensation Insurance and now an upcoming lawsuit. We can't be sure how long this place will exist but we can be sure to avoid it until it meets it's demise by gross mismanagement or legal action. Visit at your own risk. read more

Spices Caribbean Restaurant & Bar - FISH! - Caribbean Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

I went to give them money because I support their vaccination proof required policy. The jerk chicken and the grilled shrimp were great. I'll definitely be back soon. read more

I had a craving for Jamaican and Spices from the Caribbean really hit the spot. I was in Columbus visiting so I yelped and the reviews were half good half bad but we tried it out and was pleasantly surprised. Both my fiancé and I order jerk chicken and cabbage. I had beans and brown rice and he had white rice. Mine was much better ; ) The cabbage was a little.cold but delicious and sweet. The jerk chicken was not saucy like I expected but it was spicy and delicious. The beans and rice was cooked perfectly. The meals were affordable and filling, I believe he only spent $20. The only thing I didn't like is that it's not "family friendly." It's a bar and hookah lounge. The lights were dim and the space seemed small, the windows had red tent on them. I ordered and then sat in the car so that's why it's a 4 not a 5 but key point is: Food was great. We will be back (minus the kids). read more

Spices Caribbean Restaurant & Bar - Jerk Chicken, Cabbage, brown rice and beans. Delicious! - Caribbean Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

We ate at this place on March 30th while visiting Columbus. They should refer to this place as a bar and lounge. It is definitely not a restaurant as the tables and seating were lounge appropriate but they did not have real tables and chairs for customers to sit and eat. We decided to overlook that because we were hungry. We ordered, curry chicken, fried snapper, rice and bean, cabbage, plantains and fries. The ONLY things that we enjoyed were the fries. The cabbage was barely steamed/cooked and looked like coleslaw, we sent that back and asked for rice and beans. The rice and beans were dried out. A lot of my rice was hard. The fish was fried so hard that we couldn't open up the fish to get to the meat to eat it. (It was a whole fried fish) My curry chicken had no curry. It was just chicken in a sauce. NONE OF THE FOOD WAS SEASONED. Not one pinch of salt or pepper on anything. The plantains tasted like they had been baked or microwaved, IDK how they managed to mess up plantains, but they did. We were only able to eat most of the chicken (after I added salt and pepper) and a little of the fish. It came to over $60 because we still tipped but we were angry for days afterwards because as we found other places that had better food for a lot less. If I was only visiting Columbus for one day and that place was the only place that I ate, I would have judged the whole city as having horrible food but we did get out and eat at other places. Columbus is a nice town but this place needs to close down or get a new chef. It would have also been nice if they had some more light in there too. It was dark with only red lights. The food AND atmosphere needs to be improved. read more

Covid safe and cool vibe. The good was delicious and the staff was helpful. Thank you for being open and making sure your customers are safe. read more

Had the ox tail, stew chicken and curry chicken, it was all great. Love the reggae music playing also. read more

Spices Caribbean Restaurant & Bar - Caribbean Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

I give the service 5 stars. Very friendly and upbeat people here. The name is appropriately named because the food had SPICES but it lacked FLAVOR! I had the Jerk chicken rice and beans and cabbage. The rice tasted like kerosine. The chicken was just spicy. I'm not a fan. I'll come back and try something else just because the service was good though. Food 1 star read more

The curry chicken is excellent! Very tender, great flavor, a good amount of spice. I had it with rice and beans, which fit perfectly with the chicken flavors. I also had a side of potato salad because our server recommended it, and it was good, but it didn't really go with the rest of my meal. My friend ordered the jerk chicken, which he described as "pepper with a side of chicken"--very, VERY peppery and spicy, not a lot of other flavors. He got the cabbage with it, which he said he enjoyed, but it was also pretty peppery so he didn't really get much of a break from the pepper. The atmosphere feels slightly like a lounge--dim lighting, early-2000s hip hop playing on the TVs. The service was great, very friendly and personable. Our server offered us samples of the homemade lemonade, and neither my friend nor I ordered it because it was very sweet, though not bad. read more

This is my FAVORITE Caribbean Restaurant in the WORLD! I'm a proud Patron of the business! They place the priority of A Friendly Family environment first and foremost! ...so much so they have created a Vaccinated Only environment. What else do you do for the ones you love...you give them an added sense of security and piece of mind. I will proudly present my Proof of Vaccination to gain entry. The funny thing is I frequent there enough to know those Naysayers haven't even visited the establishment...they just want to cause trouble for a Local Business. How dare they?! Feel free to go where you dine! Noone bothers your 'Freedom' to do so, so don't bother this business that has their Customers who want this choice available! Thank you for the stance you've made on this one Spices! Not everyone would have this kind of courage! read more

Cool place for karaoke on tuesday. The only few things I dislike are they are always out of shrimp and white rice most tuesdays. I ordered oxtails for the first time tonight and they were super over priced at 20 dollars. I am not blaming the establishment entirely. It was partially my fault for not asking the price, because it's not listed in the menu at all. I just wish they would tell you the price when you inquiry about a item. Other then that I will come back, no hard feeling at all! read more

I spent 35.00 on the worst food ever!!!! I was so disappointed!!!! Noone should ever have to experience this!!! The oxtails, were horrible. The chicken was terrible as well as the rice and beans, potato salad and cabbage. Just sad!!!!! read more

Not worth the drive. Jerk chicken tasted like sweet and sour bbq'd sauce. Rice and beans cold over cooked too soft. Oxtails seemed to have been in crock pot all day with no spice or taste left. And forget ordering a long island ice tea. Bland and weak. If you like real Caribbean stay away. read more

Food was really good one day and nasty the next. Took forever to get service the next.

Service is moderate, but the food is excellent. Try the jerk chicken!

I went to Spice today. I was driving home and finally decided to stop in for a bite. Let me first say that I really wanted to give this place a good review. If only because its a Caribbean place that I have found in Columbus, GA. I was going to give them a pass because I already knew that I was not going to find the level of Caribbean food that I am use to. Being from the Caribbean and eating real Caribbean food MY WHOLE LIFE (thanks to my Haitian mother), I have very high expectations. I already prepared myself not to expect much from a Caribbean place in Columbus, GA. So I went to spices with low expectations. A am so sad to say that they met those low expectations. And even worse...made me lower my expectations. I view the menu and saw that they had short selection of typical Caribbean food: Rice and Beans, stewed chicken, curry chicken, jerk chicken, goat, and seafood. I decided to play it safe and order the curry chicken. Now please know that most places make a passable curry chicken. Even if its not the best you can enjoy it and be okay. So I ordered the chicken, rice and beans, and macaroni. (SN: Caribbean macaroni and cheese is not the same as American styled baked mac and cheese. ) The food came out pretty quickly: Good The waitress was nice: Good The food was: Bad. Like really bad. Bad like it was flavorless. The only reason I would know that I got curry chicken was because I ordered it and because it was in a yellow sauce. But it tasted like nothing. And the rice was artificially dark. (Please know that i know my rice. Haitian are know for their rice. ) And it was too soft (overcooked) But the absolute worst thing was the macaroni and cheese. Even with the rice and chicken I would have been willing to give this place a "Just OK" rating. But the mac and cheese just could not be forgiven. They served me IMITATION KRAFT MACARONI AND CHEESE". I'm talking about the kind you make for little kids on the stove top. AND THAT JUST COULD NOT BE FORGIVEN. With all of that said...I would be willing to go back and try something else on the menu. But I will probably be a while. read more

I have a good time here, however, the drinks are way overpriced and they aren't proportionate at all! They are stingy with everything here including ketchup. You have to ask for a lime if you get a corona. I suggest you stick with the beer because liquir is a rip off!!! read more

Spices Caribbean Restaurant & Bar - This is the standard shot from spices. They are ridiculously stingy here...look at this. Maybe 1.2oz of liquor... - Caribbean Near Me - Columbus, Georgia

Josh L. I feel you bro. Restaurant is extremely stingy with the shots. They dont even use a measurer. Givin out raindrop shots and shit. Bartenders are rude as hell. Waitresses are beautiful and very nice. Food is ok but condoments are hard to come by gotta beg for ranch smh. All the drinks come in this skinny ass chemistry tubes!!! read more

Great atmosphere! The food is good and the employees(ladies) greet you with warm smiles.

I rarely make a post about my bad experiences at local restaurants. Thursday, I decided to patronize Spices, since I seen their daily specials on their page. Being that I'm pro black, I try to shop with African American establishments before spending My money in another establishment. Tracee, Quetta, and I all ordered wings. Tracee and Quetta both ordered, one order of the $3 wing & fries. I ordered 4 sets of $3 wings. Tracee and Quetta received their wings and the server brought out one order of my wings. I asked her where were my other older of wings, she looked puzzled and said maybe the cooked messed my order up, I told here since I been waiting on my wings for over 30 mins, to cancel my remaining order and bring me my ticket. I asked to speak to the manager, just to tell then my experience. She pointed out a female behind the bar, who was dressed in workout clothes, eating, drink, socializing and playing on her phone. I asked her could she, ask her to come to our table, to discuss our horrible experience. She rudely look over at us and continue on with her activities. 5 mins later the bartender comes over, asking was there a problem. Quetta explains the problem and the bartender apologizes for the worst service we ever experience in Columbus. I left my business card with the bartender, explaining we wasn't there to cause a problem, just frustrated with out food not arrive on time, and we were taking our services to Cj wings. S/N I wake up to a private message from Zeall Augustus. Asking me why I'm making noise at his business and do I have a problem. Yes, I have a problem with spending my money and receiving trash ass service. I have a problem with you in my inbox, like you're trying to get some straightening. I gave you my business card to talk business, as owners. If you want these problems you have all my contact information. read more

Spices has a very friendly atmosphere, it has each time I have been in. They have a full bar and are able to make just about anything you request, If they havent heard of it they will still give it a try. The food is good I love the stew fish and cabbage! I wasnt a fan of oxtails but they have turned me into one! read more

My fiance and I consider ourselves foodies. We have been many places in the country and have tried various dishes from Mediterranean to America and everything in between. This was by far the WORST food I have ever had in all of my life!!! I ordered the Jerk Chicken, red beans and rice, with a side of potato salad, also the beef patties. Where do I start, the beef patties resembled a dry, mushy, dirt sandwich, the rice and beans were severely under cooked and bland, and the Jerk Chicken was watery and did not resemble or taste like any Jerk Chicken I have ever tasted before. Simply put this was HORRIBLE and GROSS, I would not recommend it to anyone with the exception of my worst enemy. Stay away from this place by any means! read more

Nice spot. Very cozy. Don't come if you have a huge party and didn't call in advance. Hookah, didn't seem like the staff had much experience with them to accommodate customers requests and also ensuring proper maintenance of the pipe while smoking. Our charcoals weren't checked or maintained. I had to use a spare mouthpiece and the hose to dust the excess charcoal off the top to make it less invasive (burns customers throat when it needs to be changed)... The music was great and the drinks were flowing...SUSTAIN! DEF the best part! read more

Don't waste your time and money here, both of our food doesn't have any flavor, YUCK! We made a terrible mistake to go there!!!!!!!!!!! Serves only bottle water for $2.00 a bottle, no unsweetened tea???????????? What is this? Do take my advise! read more

I just purchased what I thought was beans and rice, what I got was rice-a-roni. I have eaten caribbean food many of times, I am highly disappointed and pissed for the price I paid. This will be my last time eating at this place. Rose's on the south side here I come (sweet). read more

If I only had one word to describe this sorry excuse for a restaurant it would be...Atrocious. When you first arrive at "Spices" you will see on the outside of the door a sign that says "Casual dress only". So if you wear a suit and tie you're screwed. Once you walk in the door, pay no attention to the uneven ground, it's merely sand that you are walking on. Someone didn't think it through when they decided to have sand covering the entire floor of the restaurant. Hypothetically saying it rains outside...and people actually decide to eat there (unlikely) wouldn't there be a whole bunch of mud just getting tracked around the entire restaurant? I guess they didn't plan on people going there to begin with. I digress...It's understandable that a restaurant has low lighting maybe to set the mood, however, no lighting is not good. I could barely read the menu. Ahh yes, the menu...at least half of the items on the menu don't have prices. This is in order to make sure that they don't over charge or under charge you on certain meat items. Instead of just setting one price for items on the menu they said screw customer convenience and we'll charge you whatever we want to charge you. Terrible service, I was treated like a chore. Food, awful for what you pay for. Very cheaply made food. I'm pretty sure everything was taken fresh out of the freezer before cooked. And finally when the bill comes, I'm looking at it and notice that the water I ordered was on there. They charged me $1.00 for tap water at a sit down restaurant. And on top of it all they have the nerve to charge $7.45 gratuity for the "excellent service" I received. It was only three people, myself, my wife, and our nephew. If you suck a waiting (which she did) you're sure as hell not getting $7.45 for a tip. Gratuity in normal restaurants are put into place for 8 or more people because waiting on 8 or more people can be difficult and want to make sure nobody short changes them. But at "Spices" the waitress can continue to not care about customers and still get paid. Oh yeah, and let's not forget that this restaurant is labeled as a Caribbean restaurant...this is not a Caribbean restaurant. This is a place you can go to pick up cheaply made seafood for an unbelievably high price. One word: Atrocious! read more