Simone's Caribbean Restaurant — Restaurant in Toronto

I have been coming to Simone's since she first opened her restaurant. And I will say that at that time the food was amazing... of course oxtail is my favorite West Indian dish. Her version of it had flavor spice depth oxtail was tender you could taste the spices it wasn't to burn your mouth hot the rice was perfect it also was not burn your mouth hot. The gravy to me was considered Liquid Gold... and the coleslaw was creamy as ultimately it should be when you have oxtail.

Since then I was there just last week for the third time in the last 2 months and I was very disappointed. I am sorry Simone but someone is missing the mark on your oxtail.

The oxtail is supposed to have flavor and be spicy but not so much that you burn your tongue off with spice. Also I know that oxtail is expensive to purchase and then prepare however I have found that there has been way too much by the last three times that I have come to your restaurant and had your oxtail.

The rice it's supposed to be flavorful with spice the rice is not supposed to be hotter than the oxtail it was so hot each of the three times that it was hotter in my mouth than the actual oxtail.

That's not how it's supposed to be and the coleslaw was not so creamy anymore the liquid shot in the bottom it fell apart it didn't stick together like it used too.

I loved your food... and it's hard to find a nice serving oxtail with rice and peas and now your packaging has changed so you get less and pay more there is only one size now when it's take out the food just is not being taken care of with the TLC that it was once before. It's my favorite thing and because you are so close it was diamonds that I was able to get my favorite dish from you now I have to get on the subway and go elsewhere to get a decent serving and as well a flavorful Bowl so to speak a good oxtail with rice and peas.

Whoever the chef is now needs to put a little more TLC into your old oxtail because this month doesn't cut it anymore oxtail is supposed to be flavorful and spicy the rice and peas is supposed to be flavor Force not burn your mouth off hot don't be so stingy with the oxtail and cream of that coleslaw.

I hope that you take heave in what I'm saying because I was your biggest fan. I will not be coming back for some time and when I come back to give it one more shot I hope that your oxtail dish is as it was once when you first open to...

Ordered the Large oxtail dinner from Simone's this evening, Easter Friday: $25 and change after tax.

East of the Don Valley, the best place to buy oxtail dinner was Jaclyn's, near coxwell and queen, before their price increase a couple years back;

which, unfortunately, also came with a change in the quality and quantity of their oxtail meal for some reason: or it could have been just one off day because of new, insufficient staff:

but up until 2023, their portions were huge and flavourful, able to feed two people easily, for under $25.

But I have ordered from Simone's in the past, as their portions were not bad and they were closer to home; and so I thought it was safe to do this evening again, as in times past.

But this evening, what they served for $25 and change was an offense/insult, unlike anything I have ordered from them before.

Not sure if they did it because they saw my wife buying it and thought they could get away with serving her such a tiny potion;

but even with oxtail prices being what they are now adays, there is no excuse for the amount of oxtail they gave in the dinner this evening.

Even Ocha's near Queen and Carlaw gives more oxtail in their Large oxtail dinner, for around the same price, than what Simone's gave for our funds this evening, (though not as flavourful as Simone's.)

Very disappointed with how Simone's staff treated local neighbours this evening, on Good Friday even: they gave four pieces of oxtail with the dinner, as a large portion; 4 pieces.

And, having ordered ahead of time, they still took a long time to do so.

Unless staff or management seeks to remedy this situation, we won't be going back.

Try Jaclyn's or Ocha's if you are looking for good Carribean food east of the Don Valley.

Hope this review helps you avoid being ripped off as we were.

I have never seen such a small "Large" portion before at any Carribean food spot; not even at the Real Jerk at Carlaw...

The food is spectacular. Authentic, flavourful, fresh. 6 stars out of 5. The atmosphere is nice - bright, cozy, clean. I keep coming back. But the service is nothing more than order taking (no suggestions, smiles are hard to come by, and I've never had a server return for a quality check after food was delivered) and it's slow. For example, today two of us came in around 2pm when there was one other table (finishing up). We received water and menus in the first few minutes (great!). Within a few more minutes we were asked if we were ready to order and chose 2 small appetizers (fried plantain and cod fritters - both amazing). We told our server we'd be ready to order mains in a minute or two but we didn't see her for a while so after about 25 minutes we caught the eye of one of the other staff and indicated we were ready to order mains too - she replied something about our appetizers coming out soon and left it at that. Another 5 mins passed and a small plate of fried plantain came out and we were given the opportunity to order mains (two roti meals). Second app came out 5 minutes after first. We shared off the serving plates since we didn't get side plates, but overall no big deal, food was great. About 20 minutes passed between finishing our apps and our mains arriving. Then it took 15 minutes to get takeout containers brought over at the end of our meal (but at this point the restaurant had begun to fill, so this wait seemed more justified). The experience always ends with another wait - you have to stand up and wait in line at the counter to pay behind other guests and people putting in takeout orders. Simone's is one of my favourite Caribbean food restaurants in the city and if the service was a little better it would be five...