Caribbean Grill takeaway — Local services in Bradford

After spending a day catching up with the family, we decided to pop into Caribbean Grill in Bradford for supper as we were in the mood for something homemade, however we're too tired to cook that evening.

Upon arrival, the business seemed quiet due to, who appeared to be the manager, being sat at the front desk watching videos on his mobile phone. The woman serving eventually looked up, I gave her a smile and once she had finished dishing up a plate of food, came to ask us what we would like to order. We ordered curry goat and rice and peas.

Whilst waiting for our food, we noticed a large bowl of uncovered rice and peas sat on the counter in plain view of customers and general public. The rice seemed to be becoming dry on top due to slight discolouration. Wondering why rice might be left out in the open, we enquired as to why it might be left this way. The response we got from the manager was shocking to say the least...

The crux of what was said was that the manager had been a 'chef' for seventeen years, had been taught to cook by his father in Jamaica who would beat him down, he said if we knew about true Jamaican cooking we would know this is the old school way things were done.

What was said was not the shocking part, but the fact that his body language immediately changed from apathy towards providing good customer service and acknowledgement to defensive and confrontational; he got out of his chair and puffed his chest out in a state of agonistic offence.

When I assured the staff that we were not challenging them, rather enquiring about the way they store and cool their foods, we were told that they were not being belligerent, rather this is just the way Caribbeans are. Condescending and patronising.

Now we may have been born in England, but to assume we know nothing about Caribbean cooking, Caribbean culture and food hygiene is insulting. Furthermore to adapt this juvenile and confrontational stance when asked a simple question is absolutely pitiful.

The food was average at best... I can only assume that they stay in business due to being one of the only Caribbean cafes in Bradford. Just across in Leeds we can be served authentic Jamaican dishes by people who treat their customers with respect as well as providing hospitality that is comforting and relaxing.

If belittling your customers is something you enjoy, something that feeds your ego, continue to do business like this however, judging from other reviews from disgruntled customers on just-eat and hungryhouse, it seems replying publically in a confrontational manner is something this establishment prides itself upon. Pity really, with such strong competition for fast food in Bradford, one would think small businesses would value customer service in order to extend its clientele. This does not seem to be the case with...

BUYER BEWARE!!! Awful place, very rude man and woman, the lady was rushing us to make a decision on whether we wanted to buy our daughter the mac'n cheese because she wants to put everything in the microwave at the same time. Shocking to even have the nerve to serve last week's microwaved mac n cheese, let alone yell at paying customers, I will suggest you take a pick through the window before you enter this place, you will be made to feel like a nobody in front of your kids whilst inside this horror kitchen. The cook shouting at you for not closing the door behind you, that was the first sign to say, RUN, but often with kids very hungry after long travel you want to feed them ASAP. Having to do bank transfer whilst there's a working card machine was one of the other weird things about this place, perhaps tax evasion. In the end all went in the bin and as none of it was safe to consume, rock solid mac'n cheese as you'd imagine, strong pungent smell from goat curry, completely ruined our holiday.

I am not sure if anyone eat in this place regularly, but I'd you do you're slowly turning yourself into a future scientific research for unexplained deaths. This happened 10 months ago(December 2022), but I still relive this traumatic experience like it was yesterday. AVOID...

There's a standing joke amongst my Godchildren that every time we've tried to go here it's been closed for a different reason. On this occasion it was open and they were able to enjoy some good Jamaican food for only the second time. I myself have been a fair few times and have always found the food delicious and served in a good portion.

This time round I had the fried chicken with rice and peas. To be honest, the fried chicken was not much better than any other fried chicken and the whole was a bit dry for my liking so I'll avoid that in future. One Godson had the stewed brown chicken and that not only looked and smelled very tempting but according to him tasted great. His brother had the jerk chicken which I've previously had myself. This is probably my favourite dish there. One thing to be warned about though is that they hack the chicken in traditional Jamaican style, which can leave lots of annoying splinters of bone. I wish they would take better care here. Otherwise the overall experience was definitely...