Natty's Jerk — Restaurant in Portsmouth

We have been coming for for almost 3.5 years now- it was the first meal we both ate after our daughter was born, so it is really very special to us. Each time we come, the restaurant seems to have made even more improvements which shows they really do care about the custimer experience. The food is nothing short of exceptional. There are so many different flavours that complement each other wonderfully; the perfect fusion of sweet, spicy and smokey. The portion sizes seem to be getting bigger each time as well! I don't have the largest appetite, and usually end up having a whole meals worth to take home for breakfast the next day (massive win for me 👌🏼), and my partner who can usually eat enough to satisfy three, always leaves feeling absolutely stuffed (we usually have to pick up a snack for him after we go out for dinner). And don't even get me started on the atmosphere! Amazing music and decor which makes me feel like I'm dining in a beach shack (rather than opposite Portsmouth train station). The outdoor part of the restaurant is filled in with playing sand to really enhance the experience, and is full of beach toys for the kids to play in a clean and safe enclosed area. The food is actually grilled in this area behind windows so you can absorb each and every smell, and ssd for yourself how much care goes into every fresh meal 🤤 The staff are beyond exceptional. They really go out of their way to make every dining experiencing an evening to remember, and particularly make effort with my little girl who begs us to go into Natty's everytime we walk past! They even brought out some cake when she chose go eat here for her birthday 😍🥰 As a vegetarian, I really struggle to find good food when we eat out, but there are so many delicious options here for me, and the staff are always happy to make any alterations when necessary. This will forever be our...

Appalling professionalism. First visit I was given another tables bill. Went back the next day to query it. Was given half my money back. Second visit staff was very strange because I asked for ice with my drink. After about 10 min drinks came served in bottle. Waitress says to me "Our drinks are cold let me know if that's ok for you". I reply "no I still need ice". 10 min pass by again. She now comes with a glass with little ice. My son then asks if he could have a glass with ice aswell. By this time Ive poured my drink and the little ice thats in there has melted. I ask the lady for more ice but she doesn't come back. So I ask another member of staff. Who then argues, " Your glass cannot take anymore ice". By this time I was getting irritated cause as far as I'm concerned I'm the customer and if I want more ice I should get it. This should of been a red flag for me. Anyway the food takes about 30min later to arrive. I ordered chicken and chips. It was a pile of chips with half a thigh of jerk chicken hidden or piled high with salad. After finishing our meal I asked for the bill and please add another portion of mac & cheese with some patties for my kids to take back. Myself and kids waited nearly 30min. We had been there since 1930. It was now 2100. I decided to approach one of the staff who was a middle aged Caucasian male with glasses. I ask, " why is it taking so long for me to pay a bill and get the extras I asked for?" He replied "We're very busy." I look around and the place is not even 50% full. Then this member of staff proceeds to tell me how rude I am and not to come back. In which I strongly agreed. Anyway I explained the last time I was here i was charged for someone else's table. The staff here are not professional at all. If you eat from here just get a takeaway cause the...

OK the positives...... The venue is authentic, with a great Jamaican vibe......and thats where It ended!!!

After that it was an epic fail on every level!!!!!

We arrived at 19:30 and the place was empty.

Firstly its not table service, you have to go up to he counter and order each time which gives it a 'fast food' feel!

The menu is quite limited however despite being early in the night they had sold out/didnt have any:

Pattys Cauliflower wings Dumplings

Place order and shortly after the wings turned up which were nice!

Then the wait....... We sat and watched takeaway and delivery go out repeatedly!

Not being 'table' service no one came and checked on us and it got rediculous!

Realising we were never going to get our food (or second round of drinks we ordered) i had to join what turned out to be a queue of angry despondent customers who'd actually waited shorter than us and could hear the staff use such terms as:

"This is a disaster" "we have no rice " "we need to stop taking orders" "it's gonna take hours to clear this"

The checkout girl was lovely, however was nearly in tears, however one of the customers was shouted at by another member of staff ahead of us when they asked where their meal was.

Now 90mins in we were refunded and left.

Special bonus points awarded as well for having their bins under the serving station which was directly in front of us and having to watch bin bags get filled.... Classy!

This place needs to decided what It wants to be:

Fast food joint Takeaway Restaurant

As it clearly can't do all 3!!!

Massive shame as was really looking forward to this and traveled 10 miles in a taxi for the privilege

The only thing 'jerk' we got to experience was how we...