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    The Grotto

    3.9 (80 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    Order The Grotto Takeout or Delivery

    The Grotto Photos

    THE GROTTO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Intimate
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Grotto

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    Oxtail Mac
    Lorian T.

    A nice hangout spot with flavorful food! The restaurant is pretty small, so expect a wait if you go during busy hours! The wings are a must get and the calamari actually was pretty tasty! Pleasantly surprised. The oxtail mac and cheese really hit the spot. Would definitely come back here again just hang after a long day of work!

    Kim D.

    10000/10 wouldn't change a thing.. I had the best time at Grotto this past weekend. The food was absolutely delicious, it was the best brunch I had in a long time. Our server Deshaun was great as well , he checked on my table periodically to make sure we were good. I highly recommend Grotto!

    Devin T.

    *THE WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE* This is one place that I will never recommend, and wouldn't go back if I was paid to go! The entrance is very distasteful with a bar that had nothing on the shelves. There were only two tables for seating, but if you are aware, there is a seating area in the back which is like a patio. I waited a while to be seated because this night in particular it was crowded. Once seated in the patio area it was freezing cold. They had two portable heaters to heat up the place. One heater was so close to someone's chair that the jacket could've potentially caught fire because actual flames were ignited. The waiter came and took our orders for drinks and food. The drinks took forever and he came back with one wrong drink which was mine. Didn't want the drink that he had so I just said to cancel the drink all together. He never came with water for the table though we asked. He went over to another table who came AFTER us and told them he was coming back with a shot on the house for them because of the long wait. Didn't offer us the same treatment though we waited EXTREMELY long and he came to me with the wrong drink. Food was taking forever and a day. While sitting in the cold of the patio waiting a worker came with a big bag of garbage to dispose on the side door of the patio (near the patrons dining). ON ONE OF THE COLDEST DAYS OF WINTER THE STENCH OF DEATH & ROTTING MEAT Was upon us! It smelled so bad omg their garbage disposal was right near where we dined. Imagine if it was the summer with that smell that lingered! Eventually the waiter came and offered us a shot of our choice. My friends and I told him Casamigo shots. He came with the shots and we drank it and they were in fact NOT Casamigo AT ALL! It was a different cheap tequila. Once the food arrived all of our entrees were COLD! Like everything on the plate cold! He had to then take all of the plates to be microwaved! Atrocious. I will say my food was okay once heated but the service, HORRIBLE. Would never return, never ever-ever!

    Desiree F.

    I love Jamaican food and couldn't wait to try this spot! When I arrived I parked on the street nearby! I walked into a dimly lit place and was greeted. Allison was my server/bartender, and she was nice! She sat me in the back area. I started with the Grotto Punch, which was like a sangria, and it was good but a little sweet, so I added some more Merlot. For my appetizer, I got the mussels, and it was delicious! I then had the stewed red snapper with rice and peas, and that was also very good! I lastly had the rasta pasta with shrimp. This dish took quite a while to come out. When it did, the pasta was good, but the shrimp was a bit salty. All in all, I had a pretty good experience!

    Jerk Lamb Burger
    Kenya W.

    I really enjoyed my experience at The Grotto! I went a few months back with my friend on a rainy Friday evening. We were treated with such kindness. Our waitress Ally was patient in explaining the menu to us and the happy hour drink special. Ally suggested the rum punch which punched us indeed! The Wray & Nephew was hittin'! Lol. My friend followed up with a sorrel mimosa, which she also liked. As for the food, it was super tasty and well seasoned! I had the jerk lamb burger and my friend had the salmon grotto pasta. The lamb burger was superb! I've just started getting into meat again after some years and this was a nice treat! It was so rich in flavor. I wish I'd ordered one to take home. It was juicy, tangy, and cooked to perfection (not raw nor overdone). My friend liked her salmon pasta. Nothing was left behind! The restaurant has limited seating but it's always the cozy spots that I find has the best food. Ally made our chill, rainy Friday night special with her warm hospitality. Loved this new Caribbean option in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood. Hope to be back soon!

    Ackee Toastones
    Kyle H.

    Dinner with the family and The Grotto BK did not disappoint! We started with drinks and then the ackee tostones along with the Octail spring rolls were delicious. And then we moved to the main event of dinner which brought on Oxtails with rice and peas with fried plantain, crab stuff shrimp, steam veg and fried plantain and a rather tasty baked Mac and cheese with oxtails..... Yes we love oxtails very much. All in all we loved the entire experience and the service was amazing.

    Amber P.

    It's nothing i love more then going to Brooklyn and stopping by a Restaurant give you The feeling like your right at home. I was a party of 3 and we sat at the bar the bartender was so Kind and sweet. Her Customer service was A 1 the food and drinks was great , and this night they had hookah. The Hookah lady name was Kim and it's a small business as well, she was Very delightful the Hookah was perfect and she kept checking to make Sure we was more then satisfied that's what i mean by service was worth every dollar. The restaurant is picture perfect and The Music was perfect Please check them Out 10 out of 10

    mackerel
    Amanda W.

    I would like to go back to this place for their dinner menu after 5pm. Their pasta sounds good. Hookah thank you!! Flavors were good and pulling nice. The service was immaculate everyone was very attentive and nice. Shrimp and grits were good but a lot of grits ratio to shrimp. chicken and waffle was crispy but a bit dry. Drinks were strong yet tasty. Very cute place.

    Guys, this curried shrimp, rice and peas, plantains and steamed cabbage was finger liking good.

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    The Islands - Oxtail

    The Islands

    4.2(834 reviews)
    1.0 miProspect Heights, Crown Heights
    $$

    Something about Caribbean food when the winter weather's frigid sounds dandy to me. Guess if you…read morecan't be somewhere tropical, eating tropical cuisine sure helps. Enter The Islands. It was sort of an odd time so the spacious restaurant wasn't very busy. We studied the menu for too long and after much deliberation, here's what we ordered, in order of spice level: - Oxtail ($35): Not spicy, super flavorful, "Trimmed and sliced chunks of oxtail seasoned freely with fresh spices and simmered to tender perfection." - Curry goat ($29): Mildly spicy, "Goat meat marinated and cooked in curry spices and herbs makes this an exotic dish." - Jerk chicken ($20): Apparently incredibly spicy so I steered clear of it, "A Jamaican delight. Spicy, delicious chicken baked with this unique combination of spices from the island." The dishes I could handle were excellent, with no drop of sauce left unmopped. On the sides front, the rice and beans, roti, steamed vegetables, and plantains were all tasty. The entree sizes were hearty. Our server seemed like a cool dude: easygoing with a sense of humor. It was kind of chilly in the restaurant, not sure if we were in a warmth dead zone or what. The bathroom was frog-themed which was a cute touch!

    "Deep in Brooklyn, hides the Caribbean"…read more Came here on sleepy Tuesday. Not many people in the restaurant but lots of take out going on. The friendly one woman staff helped seat us, recommend the dishes, made the drinks, prepped and served the food. It was all tasty. What's to cheer - Nice not to too sweet homemade rum punch - Solid, flavorful oxtail. Very island spiced and cooked well - Goat was also really strong - Reasonable prices - service with personality What's to jeer - they were out of the jerk chicken unfortunately which I really wanted to try - place is pretty low key and not swimming with ambience

    Photos
    The Islands - Jerk chicken

    Jerk chicken

    The Islands - Upstairs dining area at The Islands

    Upstairs dining area at The Islands

    The Islands - Stew chicken.  so good, craving it now

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    Stew chicken. so good, craving it now

    Kokomo

    Kokomo

    3.9(1.1k reviews)
    2.4 miWilliamsburg - North Side
    $$$

    I will start by saying I love the ambiance of Kokomo. Staff here is always friendly and music is…read morealways great during service and after hours. Food took entirely too long to come out. 40 minutes for an appetizer is crazy... Once they arrived, they were all tasty. I wish I took photos of the food. We ordered the curry crab gyoza which was so flavorful and the ackee and saltfish shumai. The oxtail flatbread is very large and lots of meat. They don't skimp out. Biang biang Rasta noodles is served with oyster mushrooms (so good) and peppers. I added shrimp to mine. Very tasty and filling. But keep in mind that the noodles are not penne and they are I think fettuccine They must do better on their serving time. The restaurant was crowded. But it would be nice to have the expectation set that there will be a long wait.

    Went here for brunch with friends because the vibes looked great and reviews were solid. We had a…read morereservation right when they opened, but they were running about 20 minutes late -- not the best start. Once seated though, the space is beautiful. We were in a sunlit room and it really set the mood. Our server was great, and we ordered family-style. Just a heads up, they have a separate "Sunday drunch" menu so options are a bit limited. For apps, we got the curry crab gyoza which was a very small portion (6/10) and the roasted mushroom truffle flatbread which was the highlight of the meal (8.5/10). For mains, we tried the biang biang Rasta noodles with salmon (6/10) and the sofrino roasted chicken (5/10). Both were a bit underwhelming. I've heard their drinks are great but we didn't try any. Food-wise, I was a little disappointed, but still had a great time catching up with friends.

    Photos
    Kokomo - Koko Happy Hour

    Koko Happy Hour

    Kokomo
    Kokomo - Good Guice Every Thursday

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    Good Guice Every Thursday

    Stella's - Rice and Peas

    Stella's

    4.6(182 reviews)
    2.2 miPark Slope
    $$

    I can't express how much I enjoyed my dining experience at Stella's. The staff were wonderful and…read moreinviting from the moment we walked in. The drinks were perfectly made nice, strong, and flavorful. The food was fresh and absolutely delicious. The codfish fritters had to be my favorite, perfectly fried without being oily, just pure deliciousness. I ordered the Stella's Tasting, and it was more than enough food for two. My friends enjoyed their meals as well. Since it was my birthday, the staff came out and surprised me with a very delicious carrot cake. Moist, not overly sweet, and the perfect way to end the meal. To top it all off, we were vibing to a really great playlist the entire time we ate. I will definitely be back!

    We were craving Caribbean food and I've been curious about trying this spot out for a while so when…read moremy husband suggested it was an easy Yes! I had their passion fruit lemonade which was refreshing and not overly sweet. For my entree I ordered their oxtails and rice and peas on the side. Their oxtails were cooked perfectly, the meat was falling off the bones. I would like it to be a bit more spicy and some more Lima bean but maybe thats just my own preference. When I asked for some spice the server brought us some pepper sauce which was exactly what I needed! My sister tried their jerk wings and mac and cheese. Their Mac and cheese is WOW. Definitely recommend! I didn't try their wings but I tried the sauce that comes with the wings and it had a lovely kick to it. For dessert we shared the Plantain Paradise and the ice cream paired so great with the plantains. It was vanilla ice cream but didn't taste like regular vanilla ice cream.. it had a nice rich texture . Service was great, the music was nice and although it was a bit cold in there they had a blanket per table which I thought was a cool concept.

    Photos
    Stella's - The inside

    The inside

    Stella's - Rice and Peas

    Rice and Peas

    Stella's - Jerk Salmon

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    Jerk Salmon

    The Simpson Restaurant & Bar - BK - Mac & cheese

    The Simpson Restaurant & Bar - BK

    3.8(555 reviews)
    1.2 miFort Greene, Prospect Heights
    $$$

    9.5/10 for the vibe, ambiance, and service -- and a full 10/10 for the food…read more I'm not a picky eater, but I've had some really disappointing oxtail lately, so I was hoping for the best here. I'm Dominican so I know oxtail pretty well and have made it myself. Thankfully, this place absolutely delivered. The oxtail was perfectly slow-braised, tender, and falling right off the bone -- exactly how it should be. Absolutely amazing. Of course I had the rice and peas, plus some veggies. A few of the veggies were slightly overcooked, but still flavorful and enjoyable. The drinks looked incredible, but I went with the rum punch and loved it. It was a little sweet, but super flavorful, strong, and definitely worth ordering again. For dessert, I had the Hennessy cheesecake, which was rich, decadent, and unbelievably delicious. There were three of us dining, and we all left completely satisfied -- with take-home containers because the portions are VERY generous. The only thing that bothered me a bit was that our server seemed to focus most of her attention on my friend. She is Jamaican, and because I look like a white American woman, I felt a little overlooked at times, even when I had several requests myself. We also had to look for her a couple of times while she was sitting with a group nearby. That said, everyone overall was very nice and welcoming. The bussers especially stood out -- they checked on us often, kept everything clean, and even greeted me in Spanish, which I appreciated. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience and will definitely be back with more people next time.

    The moment we walked in, I knew we were in for an amazing culinary experience. It was my birthday…read moreweekend, and we were in New York for an extended stay. For my hubby, Brooklyn is home - and we always love exploring the new places the city has to offer when we visit. We had reservations, and were seated within 10 minutes, which was reasonable. The place was packed - everyone was in high spirits, and I was ready to taste some of the best Caribbean cuisine in the region. My hubby's best friend - a Brooklyn resident, joined us. He had been to the restaurant a few times - and had good things to say. We were not disappointed. I had the Brown Stew Red Snapper - *chef's kiss*. Hubby had the iconic Jerk Oxtail over Macaroni & Cheese Pie! The English language cannot convey the beauty of that combination! Tender, tender oxtail, falling off the bone with the creamy, cheesy mac & cheese! He wanted to savor that dish another day, so he got a to-go bag and took it back to the hotel! (I couldn't help but clean my plate - I was obsessed with the fish!) Our friend enjoyed the Hennessy Fried Shrimp (not pictured) - one of his favorite dishes at the restaurant. It looked delicious as well. For drinks, I had the Bob Marley cocktail. A colorful drink - flavorful - and effective! There were people celebrating their birthdays throughout the night - and the wait staff goes IN! I was enjoying watching at least 10 people receive the Stevie Wonder "Happy Birthday" song while we were there. Imagine my surprise when it was my turn! My birthday was the day before, and we had already celebrated in Manhattan. Having two special recognition events made the evening that much more special! Shout out to the Simpson crew who came with the song, the rhythm, the sparkling cake, and the good vibes! My 70th birthday was exceptional - without a doubt. The Simpson added the touch I needed. We'll definitely go back next time we're in Brooklyn!

    Photos
    The Simpson Restaurant & Bar - BK - Bar

    Bar

    The Simpson Restaurant & Bar - BK - Jerk Oxtail Over Macaroni & Cheese Pie

    Jerk Oxtail Over Macaroni & Cheese Pie

    The Simpson Restaurant & Bar - BK - Slow Braised Oxtail and Butter Beans

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    Slow Braised Oxtail and Butter Beans

    Peppas Jerk Chicken

    Peppas Jerk Chicken

    3.5(26 reviews)
    2.1 miPark Slope

    Nice spot serving traditional Jamaican dishes. I know the other restaurants in Brooklyn, but this…read morewas my first time visiting this particular one. Upon arrival the restaurant is very clean, and the service was fast. There is a dine in area as well. The woman who took my order was very patient , and personable. I ordered a brown stew fish, cabbage and 3 small soups. Everything came out to about $49. The chicken soup was very good . The cabbage was also very good. The fish on the other hand was very salty and not worth the $20 charge (fish with no sides). I get it the area etc etc but for the price the food should be top notch. The other establishments are much better. Would I return.....I don't think so .

    Lunch pick up around 1 a.m. ish. Was welcomely greeted when…read moreI walked in to this small yet cozy eatery. I ordered a large Just (Jerk) Chicken with extra sauce. Escovitch fish meal which came with plantains, rice and peas, and spinach. Everything was still warm and tasty when I arrived home. The order was packaged nicely. Definitely, nice portions for the prices. Place is clean. Staff is friendly, informative, and service was amazing. It takes about 10 minutes for the fish since they make it to order. I will soon be back and may have them do some catering orders for me( usually order from the location on flatbush). Pop in if you ever get in the area and want some hot warming food.

    Photos
    Peppas Jerk Chicken - The restaurant.

    The restaurant.

    Peppas Jerk Chicken - Stew Oxtail with steam cabbage, spinach and fried plantain

    Stew Oxtail with steam cabbage, spinach and fried plantain

    Peppas Jerk Chicken

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    The Grotto - caribbean - Updated May 2026

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