This is a deceiving place from the outside. Take a moment read the reviews and venture inside you will not be disappointed. From the stellar fast service to the ambience of great Caribbean music it is a joy for the census from the beginning. We ordered our Caribbean sodas and placed our order for our food. Who knew that we would get authentic Jamaican soda from the island in Zanesville Ohio, what a treat. We ordered two separate meals, the first was a curry chicken meal, and the second was a jerk chicken meal. The food was brought out in a short amount of time and everything looked smelled and was so pleasing I couldn't wait to dig in. In regard to the flavor of my dish, the curry chicken. Everything was exquisite on the time. The side, dishes of cabbage with mixed vegetables and beans and rice were unlike any I've ever tasted. The savory of the curry chicken with the mixed potatoes and carrots was also a delight as well. My wife enjoyed her jerk chicken, and vegetables as well. Needless to say, we shared a bit of our dishes with each other, and we're equally impressed on both sides of our table. In addition, we did order a side of fried plantains, which was fabulous. When we finished our meal, unknown at the time, the chef came out of the kitchen to speak with us and I realized he was the owner. Dwayne was a fabulous person to talk to, I also realized his son Saini was our waiter. As a father myself, I wanted to make sure that Dwayne realized how professional his son was taking our order and taking care of us. We have some friends who own property at Dylan Lake and we have already shared this little gem information with them and believe you me we're going to be sharing it with lots of other folks as well. I can't say enough about what you can find at this beautiful establishment in terms of a dining experience, but be assured we will be back as often as we are in the area!! read more

Tapas Caribbean Kitchen - A picture just inside the doorway - Caribbean Near Me - Zanesville, Ohio

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Wow! I can't believe we haven't stopped by sooner. The waitress was so nice and did a great job at recommending favorites. The food was excellent, and came out so hot. The decor inside may be lacking a bit, and it was warm in there, seems they just have a window AC. It wasn't so hot that it was uncomfortable though. They do not have any high chairs -1 for that. We just brought our stroller in. Highly recommend the passion fruit juice, jerk chicken(the sauce is incredible) and sweet potato pudding my husband had the banana fritters and they were great too! read more

Tapas Caribbean Kitchen - Jerk chicken, Baked Mac & Cheese, Potato Salad - Caribbean Near Me - Zanesville, Ohio

Delicious jerk chicken! I stopped in while in town for work - I will be back. My favorite option in Zanesville by far. Service is extremely quick as well. I ordered at the counter for take out and was out the door within ten minutes. Haven't had jerk chicken this delicious since I was in Jamaica. read more

Tapas Caribbean Kitchen - Jerk chicken, cabbage, rice and beans - Caribbean Near Me - Zanesville, Ohio

If you love the Caribbean vibe & their food, Tapas Caribbean Kitchen is a must try in Zanesville & surrounding areas! Highly recommend bc service & all the food are like you're at a 5 star all inclusive resort imho! read more

Enjoyed Goat Curry, banana fritters and house ginger drink. The owner gave us a free order of plaintains! Recommend read more

A family member and I chose this place as a middle point to meet. We each drove an hour and a half from opposite directions and we chose this establishment to eat. We agreed, after our experience with the owner and the food, we will return and this will be the designated meeting spot from now on! The food was very well prepared and fresh! The curry goat was mild but flavorful and incredibly creamy and tender. The oxtail was absolutely out of this world. My only gripe is I should have bought more to take home but I didn't have a cooler. The jerked chicken was tender, flavorful and addictive. The rice and beans, although simple, was full of flavor and fresh. The cabbage was the spotlight for us. That was the first thing we each finished. I'm not sure what all spices were in it, all I know is I wanted to eat more but I was just too full!!! Fried plantains and the sweet potato pudding were so perfect to end a very perfect meal. The owner was so incredibly kind. I asked if it was ok if my party sat and chatted and how we both drove from far away and he said we could continue to sit and talk so my family and I could catch up with one another. This place is a diamond in the rough. I have a Caribbean place near where I live and it is not nearly as delicious nor authentic as Tapas Caribbean Kitchen. Bravo!!!!! I cannot wait to come back!!!!! read more

Tapas Caribbean Kitchen - Curry Goat - Caribbean Near Me - Zanesville, Ohio

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Stopped in to this place when driving through Zanesville. I like Caribbean food so was glad to find it. The curry goat I ordered was tender & delicious. The rice & beans were good. I liked the cabbage but didn't care for the mixed vegetables incorporated into the cabbage. I would eat here again when in the area. read more

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Don't let the appearance of this place fool you -- it's a palace of delights! Downtown Zanesville is a benighted place, and this restaurant is just an unassuming storefront. Crack open the door and you see 1960s-style paneling everywhere. Again, don't let it deter you! March up to the counter and talk to the wonderful proprietor. We looked over the menu together, and he recommended a few things. I've always been an oxtail fan, so I claimed the final order of oxtail available on a Sunday night with the standard sides of rice & beans plus cabbage. I'd never heard of it, but I picked a soursop to drink, which is apparently a guanabana juice. The one thing about oxtail is it's hard to eat. There are a ton of bones! It's kind of nothing but bones. I'd forgotten, and I was on a first date. You know what I didn't do? WORRY ABOUT IT. This food was doggone tasty that I tried as delicately as I could to prize every last bit of meat from the bones. Tender meat and delightful sauce. The sides could have been a meal in their own right, especially the rice and beans. Loaded with flavor! Soursop to wash it all down was the perfect call, too. I can't believe a restaurant this tasty is in a small town like Zanesville. What a gem. I'd drive to Zanesville just to eat here. read more

We'd heard great things about this restaurant, so we decided to stop there on our way from DC to Indy. So glad we stopped there. The food was SO tasty. Just incredible flavors. We had jerk chicken and fried fish. The chicken must have fallen off the bone, it was so tender and the sauce was so yummy I wanted to lick my plate. The snapper was flavorful and the accompanying sunset-hued melange of carrots, peppers and onions were deliciously fresh and fresh and uplifting. I have never tasted such flavorful and aromatic rice. The rice and beans (mostly rice studded with some black beans) are subtly, delicately and perfectly seasoned. We enjoyed cabbage, fried plantains and fried dumplings on the side. When I think of dumplings, I automatically think of an Asian potsticker kind of thing--but this was the other kind of dumpling, more like fried biscuit dough. Crispy on the outside, moist within, and just a teeny bit sweet, the dumplings were extra tasty when used to swipe up the last bits of sauce. Try a Caribbean drink -- the juice we had was sweet and mellow and the pink Ting was fun and bright. The chef/owner, Dwayne, is lovely to talk with...he's genuine and interesting and kind. Prices were reasonable and again, the *flavors* were amazing. We'll try the oxtail and curried goat next time. read more

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The food was fantastic and the service was friendly. I highly recommend it. Our family got a variety of food and they were all great.

Wow!! This place has awesome food! Very nice very clean place. The Jerk chicken had a really good flavor and just enough heat. We don't like cabbage but the cabbage side was so good!!! They also brought us some fried plantains which were delish. Definitely get the Soursop to drink. Very unique in taste. The people were so friendly and helpful with the menu. Definitely recommend! read more

Tapas Caribbean Kitchen - Jerk chicken with rice and beans and macaroni and cheese - Caribbean Near Me - Zanesville, Ohio

Amazing the best restaurant in zanesville. T he ox talks a b d jerk chicken are the best

Super yummy food with friendly Service! We came to Zanesville on a Business trip and wanted something quick for lunch. The owner was very nice and friendly. We ordered Jerk Chicken and Whole snapper, both with rice&beans and veggies. The food was really tasty. We'll definitely will be back whenever we come to Zanesville. read more

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My wife, daughter and her boyfriend stopped here as it was a halfway point for us to meet. And we were hungry. Per other reviews the place is unassuming. Don't expect a Caribbean vibe. Should you decide to come here you will be coming for the food! All of us enjoyed our meals tremendously! This restaurant deserves your patronage. The owner and cook was very pleasant and cooked our four different meals in about 15 minutes. I would most certainly eat here again! read more

The jerk chicken was amazing as was the house made soup pop. Hubby had the oxtail and loved it as well. Super friendly and delicious food. The fried dumpling side was an unexpected delight as well. read more

The food is always so delicious. The owner is always extremely polite and friendly. Such a hidden gem when you find it. I wish more people knew this place existed! read more

Tapas Caribbean Kitchen - Drinks - Caribbean Near Me - Zanesville, Ohio

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You'll swear you can hear steel drums and waves. So good! We had the curry chicken and the jerk chicken, with fried plantains on the side. You must try their hand crafted soda drinks. Not far off of I-70. EZ parking. What a gem. read more

Tapas Caribbean Kitchen - Caribbean Near Me - Zanesville, Ohio

Coming thru town and wanted something local and different. Found both things at Tapas Caribbean Kitchen. We both had the jerk chicken and thought it was delicious!! It came with rice and beans and cabbage and I can't say enough about the cabbage. It was also wonderful. I also added a side of baked Mac and cheese and loved it. The jerk chicken is spicy, but the kind that builds slowly and doesn't overwhelm the flavors. If you don't like spicy, he also offers curry chicken a chicken stew. Give this place a try!! read more

Small whole in the wall restaurant with AMAZING food! Very tangy and authentic. Very clean, place chef was very friendly.

What a gem! The jerk chicken was full of flavor! Irish moss was very unique. We will definitely be back! read more

Tapas Caribbean Kitchen - Jerk Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Zanesville, Ohio

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Best oxtail I've ever had, + amazing sides. Friendly service. If you want good food, come here

After dropping off our student at Muskingum U, my wife & I were heading home to Columbus and wanted to find someplace to stop for dinner. She looked around on her phone and found this little hole-in-the-wall place in downtown Zanesville called Caribbean Kitchen. Sounded intriguing so we said let's go. Turned out to be a fabulous choice! Everything was delicious. I had the chicken curry stew with red beans & rice, cabbage, and banana fritters, with a Jamaican pineapple soda. The chicken was flavorful but not at all hot or spicy. The cabbage was cooked with peas, carrots and red peppers, and thoroughly savory. My wife is vegan, so the owner/chef made up a vegetable plate with the beans & rice, cabbage, sliced tomato and avocado, fried plantains, and banana fritters. She loved everything too, then decided to top it off with the sweet potato pudding which was also proclaimed delicious. The place is small and fairly quiet, reggae music in the background. The owner was very friendly, told us he's from Antigua and has been in the US for 20 years. We plan to stop there every time we go back to Muskingum over the next 4 years! read more

Tapas Caribbean Kitchen - Caribbean Near Me - Zanesville, Ohio

My wife and I found this place on GPS while passing through town on a motorcycle ride. We enjoy taking lunch rides and wanted something different. The food was great! I love jerk chicken and this was the best I have ever had! This is a 2 hour ride from our house that I will be trying to make at least once a month. I can't wait to get back and have some more. Do yourself a favor and eat here, you will be glad you did. read more

Delicious food and fast service. Very large portions. The interior isn't much to look at, so it's better for takeout.

Good eats from Tapas Caribbean kitchen! The pepper steak and curry goat were my favorite but it was all delicious. Oh, and the beef handpies were yummy. The potato salad was yummy too. And the rice was perfect. Ok, I'm hungry again! read more

Tapas Caribbean Kitchen - Curry Goat, Oxtail, Pepper Steak, and Jerk Chicken. - Caribbean Near Me - Zanesville, Ohio

Stopped by after visiting the wilds and we ordered the browned chicken and jerk chicken. We also got the plantains. The food was authentic and excellent, the seasonings were perfect and the service was great. Definitely recommend and will definitely visit again if we are back in the area. read more

We enjoyed the jerk chicken and curry goat at this wonderful little place. It has a bright interior and a welcoming feel. The chicken had a good spice to it. People in there told us the oxtails were really great too. read more

Jamaican jerk chicken prepared by Jamaicans. Nothing fancy. Good people. Located on a side street in Zanesville. Safe neighborhood. Recommend. read more

My husband found this place via a Google search of Zanesville, we kinda freaked out because we had no idea. He got us dinner that night and Wow, the lamb! And then you add in those spicy meat hand pies... with Guava juice! Yum. They have been closed for a bit, hope they open again soon. read more

What a terrific find! Small place right off interstate 70 East of Columbus. We had jerk Chicken with beans/rice and cabbage. We also had their home brewed Ginger Beer and Sweet Potatoe Pie. Everything was delicious! They were friendly and accommodating; the woman at another table couldn't tolerate spice so they put her sauce on the side. They warned us it was Spicy but we went for it on top and loved it. Highly recommend trying this gem. read more

What a delightful discovery! Best oxtail dish I've ever had! My tastebuds were dancing to the beat of the Caribbean music! Tried a new drink: Irish moss! Very refreshing, tasty and healthy! Anticipating another visit very soon. read more

Excellent! Visiting from South Florida I was happy to see this restaurant in Zanesville and had to try. The oxtail and stew chicken were awesome as well as a great bread pudding for dessert. A must try!! I'll be back the next time I'm in town read more

It smelled fantastic right when I walked in - Great food and great portions. 10/10 recommend, will be back for the ox tail.

First time,found on yelp and I must say some of the best Jamaican food i have ever had. The Curry goat was tender and flavorful. Prices could be better around $ 21 with beef Pattie and drink. Would come back! read more

So the food was amazing to say the least I have eaten there twice now. Soon to be a third time because there is one thing I still really want to try. The fried fish is probably the best fried fish I have ever had in my entire life. And I love fish. The owner is very nice and helpful although the first night they were out of some things which is what led me to the fish so I'm kind of happy about that. All in all this place is a solid 5 stars. Probably won't find many small hole in the wall places that are quite like this guys place. Absolutely amazing the flavors in the food are some of the best I have had ever. read more

Jamaica in Zanesville? Really? Yes, I've stayed in resorts and local hotels on the island over the last 2 decades. The food is authentic and the drinks; even the hard to find drinks like Ting are here. The Jerk chicken is great and the sides might be even better. read more

Wow!! Great food! The fish was recommended and it didn't disappoint! Beans and rice and cabbage had wonderful flavor. The marinated veggies on top of the fish was wonderful! Fried fish is pan fried with wonderful crust! The jerk chicken was spicy and tender. This is a simple restaurant as far as ambiance, but I'll be back when traveling through Zanesville! read more

This is an unpretentious authentic hole-in-the-wall ethnic Caribbean restaurant. I had the goal curry- quite good. We did carry out but they do have limited seating- Formica countertops. Overall I liked it and I will go back. read more

Got the jerk chicken, this stuff is on point! Looking forward to trying the rest of the menu. Great sized portions, bring your appetite! read more

Tapas Caribbean Kitchen - Caribbean Near Me - Zanesville, Ohio

Amazing authentic Caribbean food. Jerk chicken is legit. Goat curry highly recommended!!