Cocoa's Authentic Jamaican Jerk — Restaurant in Charlotte

I actually stopped eating to make this review...that's how over this place I am. I have ordered from Cocoa's multiple times and each time I have been disappointed. I find it funny my first time in there around the time it opened, I was told it was going to be the best Jamaican food I have ever had and that they were the best in Charlotte- both lies! I only get the oxtails. I will say what is okay before I go into what is not. The rice and peas are fine as long as you have enough gravy on them and the cabbage is okay if it is not overcooked aside from needing a little salt. Now, the oxtails, have been terrible each time. Something is missing in the flavor and though they sometimes overcook the cabbage, the oxtails are never cooked enough...this might be while the flavor is lacking also. I'm not sure how they are cooking them, but it's definitely not a slow cook. They are pretty tough and you will be chewing them for a while before you can actually swallow the meat...that is if you get meat and not a bunch of bones, fat, and gristle. When you get your tray, there is the illusion that you have a lot of meat, but it's really just a lot of the other stuff....bone, fat, and gristle. I keep coming hoping one day I will get some good oxtails, but I give up after today. It sucks because they are close to my home.

UPDATE: To the owner, you are only interested in your good reviews which won't help you improve. Anyone that leaves an honest, bad review about your food, you question with your patronizing response. I did not return because I live on the other end of W.T. Harris and it's not worth it to go through all the u-turns to get there and back home, not to mention, once I get home and sit down to eat, no one wants to then have to go back out to return food. Had I eaten there, I would have very well returned it. Don't question why an unsatisfied customer didn't return the food, question what you can do to improve it! And it's clearly not that rare as there are several other customers saying the same thing. You oxtails aren't good! You need to humble yourself. Your responses to unsatisfied customers make you seen really arrogant and from my experience as well as many others, you have no place to be. Not being receptive of feedback won't make your dishes...

0/100 don't recommend!!!!! Okay so boom I came here because I really wanted to find a good Jamaican spot as l just moved to the area. AS A BORN AND RAISED JAMAICAN this place was very disappointing, I should have saved my money. I called and ordered Jerk Pork, Festival and a beef patty and she told me to come on in. I get here and tell them I don't want the rice and cabbage that comes with the meal and ask for baked beans instead (I said this multiple times) I was okay with paying the extra. I get my food and go to my car (I should have checked my plate in the store that is on me) the jerk pork looks fine but there is no baked beans and no beef patty. THEN I take a look at the festival and I almost screamed!! I close the plate and go back inside and speak with the cashier telling her what I was missing and that I didn't like the festival at all. Now I already see the sign that says no refunds so I don't even bother asking for one. I instead ask for a different side. The cashier says she supposedly didn't ring me up for the baked beans or beef patty and then says I need to talk to the owner about the festival. Keep in mind I am trying to be nice as there are others waiting to order as well. I speak with the owner about the festival and she says I must have been wanting fried dumplings when I ordered the festival (I know that festival is supposed to look like) but anyways I then ask for another side and she says okay she can give me mac and cheese. I said fine and asked about the baked beans and she says they did not charge me for it. I don't argue I just wait for the mac and cheese and leave. Also let me add that the cashier kept saying she didn't hear me say a beef patty but I said this multiple times on the phone and in person, but I digress as I wasn't charge for it. Overall I do not recommend this place to anyone at alll!!! And I have a feeling the owner will respond to this and whatever the response may be l have said my piece and I know I am telling the truth. Alsooo I tipped!! $40 dollars...

We were drawn into the establishment by the music thinking we could have a great Caribbean experience, quickly we realized we would not get it here. The "owner" was quite aggressive/passive stating she has the BEST jerk chicken in all of North Carolina because she has it cooked on the outside drum. Well let me tell you the drum does NOT give you authencity and the charcoal didn't burn off correctly because the chicken tasted like pure gasoline. There was no flavor of robust seasonings nor just plain old salt to call it grilled chicken. This is NOT AUTHENTIC JERK, I am Jamaican and I would like to know who is your cook, and what herbs and spices are you using in your cuisine? If she wasnt so aggressive in selling her food I may have passed on the review. She offered a soupy sample of curry and I could tell by the color and consistency that the curry wasn't cooked correctly so I politely passed on the sample since the Jerk sample tasted like fuel. The cuisine here is not tasty nor is it appealing to the eye. I wouldn't feed this food to my beloved DOG!! NO THANKS!!! I do not recommend, I will send one of the bloggers here to review blindly and give their honest opinion. Good Luck!!

In response to this delusional ladies response. I never met your husband and I think you have the wrong situation. I never spent a penny. If I spent $70 believe me i would reversed those charges. The food sample was provided and I'm NEVER a hater. Your food just was not tasty or presentable. Your OVERWHELMING reviews are unfavorable, instead of snapping at your customers opinions maybe take constructive criticism and hire a better chef. Even if your food was great your ATTITUDE is disgusting. You need a dose of HUMBLE PIE, it's delicious. Your caribbean cuisine is not EVEN CLOSE to...