Spice of Life Jamaica Restaurant — Restaurant in Birmingham

I went there literally for the first time Friday night on 2/8/25 to pick up an order to-go. My wife & I placed the order online via a third party website. Essentially the owner got an attitude with me and had a hostile disposition simply because we didn’t order the food in person in the restaurant & went on to tell me I shouldn’t have ordered from there because the restaurant “makes no money from ordering online” whatever that means.. that first impression alone was disturbing enough for me to not want to try the restaurant again, but we still wanted to at least try the food to see if the food was on par. As far as our orders we ordered a large oxtail platter & a medium curry chicken platter with 2 side orders of coco bread & a beef patty. The food was very average, the oxtails were tender but I only received 4 oxtails after ordering the large platter nor did it have the hearty “gravy” you want when you eat Jamaican/carribean oxtails. The curry chicken platter was just subpar it had enough seasoning to be edible but it still lacked the basics of what you should see in Caribbean curry chicken such as potatoes, carrots, etc. the coco bread was hard to the touch in some areas and extremely dry when eating & the beef patties lacked flavor and was not flaky whatsoever. I literally never write reviews on restaurants even if I didn’t like the food but just based off my first impressions of this restaurant and the quality of food I received I definitely won’t be eating here again. “Southern Caribbean & Tropical grill have far better Jamaican food and most importantly “customer service” that I have experienced in comparison to this place. Please eat here at...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Spice of Life Jamaica in Birmingham, Alabama, and overall, it was a delightful experience. From the moment we walked in, the staff was exceptionally kind and welcoming, making us feel right at home. They were also very knowledgeable about the menu, offering insightful recommendations and thoroughly explaining the various dishes.

One aspect that stood out was the diverse range of food options available. The authenticity of the flavors was evident, and the dishes were well-prepared. However, I personally prefer my Jamaican food to be on the spicier side, and I found the heat level to be a bit mild for my taste. On the other hand, my wife, who prefers milder flavors, thoroughly enjoyed the food. This suggests that Spice of Life Jamaica caters well to a variety of spice preferences, which can be a great advantage for diners with different tastes.

The presentation of the food was impressive, with each dish looking vibrant and appetizing. The portion sizes were also generous, ensuring that we left the restaurant feeling satisfied. The overall ambiance of the restaurant was pleasant and added to the enjoyable dining experience.

In summary, Spice of Life Jamaica offers a warm and inviting atmosphere with a knowledgeable staff and a menu that can cater to different spice preferences. While I would have liked a bit more heat in the dishes, the quality and authenticity of the food were undeniable. It's a great spot for anyone looking to enjoy Jamaican cuisine...

Food was great! Ill start with that. I came in at 11:30 on a Monday. We were the only customers.

We received menus. For 4 of us, they only had 2 menus, but we made it work.

I wanted the ox-tail, and ive eaten at Jamaican places before, and the ox tail was only around $15. Here, it is $21 for small and $26 for large. Overpriced, but i ordered it anyway. The friendly waitress came back 5 minutes later and informed me they did not have ox-tail.

They seemed to be very new at running a restaurant. No ox-tail, a Jamaican staple, no mayonaise for their burger (apparently pretty good, so props),

However, on a positive note, i ordered the jerk chicken after i found out they had no ox-tail, and it was absolutely delicious. We also tried the curry chicken and it was amazing.

For $9 a plate, i got 3-4 pieces of jerk chicken and 2 sides (i got steamed cabbage and yellow rice, both very good.) The plate also came with a plantain slice, which was great as well.

The lunch specials were about $9 per plate, so the total cost was about $36 after drinks. Affordable for sure.

I love Jamaican food a lot personally, but im not sure how big the market is for this type of food in Georgia. However, if you like great good and can spend a few extra bucks on this place, i would reccomend it.

They better have ox-tail in...