Rosie Campbell Jamaican restaurant — Restaurant in Sydney

We don’t get too much chance to try Caribbean food in Australia, but this type of food has a depth of vibrancy in its flavours that will set your taste buds alight. We’re glad to have found Rosie Campbell’s for an authentic Caribbean experience!

If you want a fun evening with live music and a huge menu of rum based cocktails that will surely see you had a mighty good time. Perfect for a catch up with friends or a party, and on the weekends they also have a bottomless brunch with 5 courses and bottomless daiquiris to keep you going.

Located on the corner of Crown and Campbell street in Surry Hills, you’ll spot the yellow and blue exterior and outdoor seating. Though we recommend booking indoors to get a close table to the music! The indoor tropical vibes provides a taste of Jamaica with its on theme decor, pineapples, and palm trees and the live music, (reggae on Thursdays) further elevates the whole experience.

We like that the Carribbean food is so varied in its flavours, use of seafood, meat and veggies, drawing its influences from multiple migrants, creating a really multicultural and well rounded offering in its dishes.

The jerk chicken is a staple for the restaurant; a signature dish on their menu. It really packs a punch with its spicy and sweet glaze over the moist chicken thigh. A dish that had its origins in Jamaica, and the diverse flavours of this dish reflects the array of nations that settled on the nation over centuries. It is vibrant in appearance with the handfuls of spring onions and chilli topping the chicken. This is a must order.

They also have a goat curry, drawing it’s influence from the Indian migrants settling in Jamaica. The slow cooked meat perfectly falls apart in the sauce that has a depth of flavour to it, with small diced cuts of capsicum and potato. It’s served with a charred roti that is perfect to mop up the extra curry sauce.

Prawns are a popular choice here, and their Kingston coconut pepper prawns come served basking in a coconut sauce, with chimichurri, chilli, coriander, garlic and a coconut pita. Heaps of sauce that is so delicious, you’ll keep going back for more.

Another seafood choice is their Ocho Roos ceviche, made with tuna, passionfruit, chilli, coconut, lime and the plantain chips make a perfect match with this dish. We also had some jackfruit Patties, rice and ‘Jamaican festivals, cigar shaped sides made from fried flour and cornmeal dough with a spiced capsicum salsa.

Their cocktail menu is extensive, most of which are rum based. But there’s something for everyone, with sweet, sour concoctions and a few on the rocks. The cocktails are illustrated on the menu with its respective glass. They’ve also got a special old fashioned list and a a full rum list. We tried the Archane, a banana flavoured rum, straight up, and it was some hard stuff but super good.

The Jamaican Jungle came in a large parrot jug mixed with plantation dark rum, campari, pineapple, passionfruit, lime and cherry bitters. This one was a sweet and refreshing drink.

Another choice of ours, a really good banana flavoured drink, their Rummin Banana Milk punch came in a short glass with a cube of ice, made with arcane banana flambée, bacardi oro, sesame and cacao infuse orgeat, coconut water, lemon - milk washed. So smooth and we recommend this highly.

Staff were fun and friendly, very efficient and helpful. Ivana the host especially made it a memorable experience and was extremely hospitable.

It’s always full and on weekends, be sure to book and avoid disappointment. Check out their website to see the live...

Amazing food, some of the best I’ve had in Sydney and a unique dining experience considering we don’t have a lot of this type of cuisine around.

As someone well travelled around the Caribbean the plantain was a highlight.

We did the bottomless daiquiri brunch, will definitely be returning to try the goat curry and other cocktails!

The only feedback I have is maybe just have the host explain how it works to the table when arriving or even prior when you book would be nice! the food will come out all together, and it would actually be nice if it was broken up a little as we were served straight away everything and then your left just drinking for 1-2 hours- feels weird to complain about quick service I know I’m sorry, but I just think it would flow a little nicer personally to bring out the salad and smaller bites, then tacos and then the main jerk chicken, I think they do this as it wouldn’t be much food so do it this way to appear as a fuller table, but I would prefer as we also had a few non drinkers at the table and although it was nice to drink our main reason for going was actually for the food, it was just a bit confusing when it all came out together at like 1.15pm and especially as the host did not explain what each dish was(I think she was also just quiet and as I was at the other end of the table I couldn’t hear anything but everyone else was equally as confused as to how it was working and we just kinda had to figure it out) and then trying to eat everything whilst it was still hot, so it was a bit awkward as we didn’t realise it wasn’t going to be flowing food over the course of 1-2 hours, we made the most of it though and drinks we’re definitely flowing which was awesome! However again the host did not really explain well and just brought out a random flavour to start so we also assumed it wasn’t actually bottomless and we were going to only be receiving one of each flavour, however once we got going they were pretty onto it and I think we had about 5-6 drinks over the course of just under 2 hours so definitely value for money, always could be more food especially the plantain(another plate, ie another one each wouldn’t hurt anyone) great way to try a different variety of food for a set price, and definitely was happy with the standard of food, would rather receive less but quality food which is what we got so very happy.

Just a few tweaks to the service could make a massive difference to the overall experience we thought, and just reading through a few other reviews definitely seems others felt the same, agree with what someone said about being served straight away for a 2 hour bottomless session feels like you are a bother after your done eating and totally agree, would be a better experience to break up the food service, I probably wouldn’t return for the bottomless but will definitely return for the food!

If you know bottomless brunches you know it’s mostly about the drinks but for first timers like my family it was a bit confusing to them.

The coconut rum cake was phenomenal and they brought it out with a sparkler for my birthday which was awesome and really appreciated.

Also a shame there was no live music as I thought I had looked it up and there was meant to be a dj or something but there was no live music, the playlist was awesome though!

Can’t wait...

Title: A Slice of the Caribbean in Surry Hills

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Stepping into this Jamaican restaurant is like taking a brief escape to the Caribbean, even if you've never been there. The restaurant's ambiance successfully captures the spirit of Jamaica, creating a unique and inviting atmosphere that sets the stage for a pleasant dining experience.

Now, let's get to the heart of the matter: the food. The menu offers a variety of authentic Jamaican dishes, each with its own distinct flavor profile. The standout dish for me was the Jerk chicken, which was perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. The jerk sauce had just the right amount of heat, adding a satisfying kick to the dish.

Another noteworthy item was the mango dish we had as a starter and a flavorful, savory gravy. It's a comforting choice that showcases the depth of Jamaican cuisine.

One of the most appealing aspects of this restaurant is its pricing. The quality of the food is impressive, especially given the reasonable prices. Whether you're looking for a special occasion dinner or an affordable weeknight meal, this place offers excellent value for your money.

If I were to highlight a minor drawback, it would be the slightly small tables for two! They do have bigger table but we were just two people. However, this did not significantly detract from the overall dining experience.

In summary, if you're seeking an authentic taste of the Caribbean without leaving Syrry Hills, this Jamaican restaurant is an excellent choice. Its inviting atmosphere and flavorful dishes make it a great option for those looking to explore Jamaican cuisine at prices that won't break the bank. It's an enjoyable culinary journey that's well...