Rootsman Kitchen — Restaurant in Bridgeport

I am a Hartford Native and I don’t really see restaurants like these often. So when I saw this restaurant in Bridgeport, I thought I had to try authentic Caribbean Jamaican food for the first time and see what the hype was all about! I had the jerk chicken dinner along with a beef patty.

The beef patty was a 10 out of 10 – perfectly seasoned, flaky, and fresh. I would definitely recommend it, especially at its price point. The jerk chicken, served with cabbage and rice with beans, was quite flavorful, but be prepared for the spiciness! I asked for sauce, and it was a lot spicier than I expected. While I enjoyed it, it was a bit too spicy for me to handle comfortably.

The price point is really good – I paid $20 for everything, including a drink. The whole environment is very good as well. The restaurant is very well decorated with paintings and murals on the walls, which adds to the overall experience.

Overall, I wouldn't say I loved it, but I did really like it and think it's worth trying if you've never had Caribbean Jamaican...

My second time patronizing but first time getting a fish for myself. The stew fish was great. The patty was moist, flaky and flavorful. The portion sizes were ample. There was a line inside, seems like they have a dedicated following. The old man up front was watching baseball game and I realized he may be the owner or somehow affiliated because when I asked what time they closed, a customer yelled out to him the inquiry and he answered. I get the feeling this is a family run business. I just moved to south end recently. Im finding the spots around here that thrive in the neighborhood, this seems to be one of them. The place was clean, decorated in proper theme. Parking is hit or miss. There's a lot of stores in this small shopping strip and very little parking. I was lucky to find a spot. This is probably a place I'll be walking to. The young register guy was personable, greeted me with a smile. Took my order and had my food ready in no time. The rice was good, the cabbage (salad) was seasoned well. ...

Authentic Jamaican cuisine prepared like no other Jamaican restaurant. Many Jamaican restaurants open and then close in a blink of an eye. Here today gone tomorrow. So why is ROOTSMAN KITCHEN still standing when others have fallen? In order to compete for customers in a very competitive market you must be intelligent, creative and tenacious. Leroy has that X- Factor which has kept him in the lead for decades. Everyone I know that craves that Jamaican vibe along with the flavors that go with it always highly recommend ROOTSMAN. Long time residents of Bpt, who have relocated to towns up north, still take the drive to feast on Leroy's Pepper Steak, Oxtail, Jerk chicken, Curry Goat, Curry Chicken etc. I personally feel that ROOTSMAN is the epitome of how meats should be prepared. Melt-in-your-mouth like hot butter on pancakes. Succulent, juicy, tender and so flavorful you'll wish your portion never ends! I hope my visits to ROOTSMAN...