Caribbean Soul Food delight — Restaurant in City of Mount Vernon

So I just moved to NyC from Florida and wanted some Jamaican food. When I googled this place popped up and the internet gave them a 4.9. This is super high so I said this food must be slamming. I ordered the fried chicken, Mac and cheese, sweet potato and collard greens online. Red flag one: I received a text that the food was ready while on the road, so was excited that the food would be ready by the time I got there. I’m still unsure about NY parking so I was just hoping to hop in and out of my truck. Of course when I pulled up there was no parking, so I put on my hazard lights and ran into the restaurant. The food wasn’t ready and the lady was in the kitchen preparing food and said over music that it will be ready soon. SMH. I could barely hear her but ok.

Red flag two: I ran back out to check on my car and when I walked back in I noticed a handwritten sign that said no restrooms, no charging phones. Ok, good thing I didn’t plan to eat here because this sign didn’t make me feel welcomed. I know not to bring anyone here when they visit. That would be super embarrassing for them to see this and I highly recommend the place. My thing is why not have a ghost kitchen or a food truck if you have this type of energy with customers?

Red flag three: I finally received my food and it looked delicious so I said to myself usually ppl with poor customer service and uncomfortable atmosphere have good food. This has been my experience. When I got home and tasted the food, it was mid at best. The chicken was like chicken pieces. I know it said dark meat only, which I’m cool with, but these were like little pieces of fried bone with zero meat. I know people were praising the collard greens because it didn’t have any meat. Ummmm these most definitely needed meat! It tasted like a mouthful of soggy garlic. SMH. Please but a turkey neck in there and give those collards some texture. The sweet potatoes were sooooooooooo sweet. It was like sweet potatoes pudding or something. Someone had a heavy hand with the butter and sweetness. The Mac and cheese was ok, just ok. I expected macaroni pie but I guess they do it different up here. Overall my experience was mid. I expected more because of the reviews and once again the google reviews disappoint. The food was absolutely not worth the price. I was charge approx $38 for a 15$ tasting meal. Or maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Or maybe it was a bad night. I’m willing to give them one more time, but last night was not it.

Dang! Based on your reply I definitely will not be back! Was not being negative, just keeping it real. So since you have a nasty attitude I definitely do not want that energy in my food. There are too many food options in New York for this foolishness. Take good care. ✌🏽 Thank you for your revised reply. Whoever replied first should not be serving food. Their customer service is poor. Yes maybe if I decide to come back I’ll come earlier and will call in my order ahead of time. Thanks for...

Finally, another soul food/Caribbean restaurant in Mount Vernon, NY! It's a husband and wife team that's about their business! The wife is always smiling and interacting with the customers. The husband is in the back grinding cooking preparing the food etc but when he comes out he shows you love too. The restaurant is clean and well designed. A number of quaint tables. So you can sit and eat or take out. There's a large flat screen with sports playing and music playing in the background. Good location, across the street from Metro-North Train station. Just a heads up parking is tricky in the area. The menu is traditional to Caribbean and soul food cuisine. Prices are good! Now down to business, I had fried chicken chunks and fried shrimp which was well seasoned, well fried and a nice flaky and crispy golden brown batter. Both was well cooked, the chicken was still moist and juicy and the shrimp still had moisture not overcooked. Might I add the shrimp with jumbo too! I indulged in the Mac and cheese and candied yams. Both was tasty. But baby! the cornbread!!!!! I can't lie it was better than my mama's (God bless her soul). The cornbread was super moist but still holding its shape. Sweet but not overly sweet. For me, it can pass for a cake. The texture is almost like a pudding or custard on your pallet. IT'S GREAT! To drink, I washed it down with a rum punch! When you found a good well-balanced flavored punch and the overproof rum is there but not boisterous... All hands up! Respect! Respect! Go! Try it for yourself! I'll be back try other...

When I tell you that the food I ate here made my entire week, what I'm trying to say is that the catfish and cornbread are the most pure soul food I've had. We ate in the brewery behind the restaurant (there's a cool service window to the back kitchen behind the bar!), and I could not possibly have expected the meal we enjoyed. As I mentioned, the catfish sandwich was lovely, soft fish encased in a light frying batter that was just deliciously spiced. The cornbread is absolutely not to be missed, it is thick and moist. The servings are generous and you will feel fulfilled at the end of your meal. My wife had the honey BBQ wings, and when you get the option, have these baked, not fried. I'm sure the fried wings are lovely, but the baked is cooked so tenderly that the meat was just falling off the bone into the sweet sauce below (which you should dip your cornbread in). Don't forget to ask for some house secret sauce for your food. I'm fairly certain you could put it on anything and it will become even more irresistible than it seems when you first smell the aromas wafting up from your dish. I have two regrets. I didn't take any pictures of my food, and I don't have a second stomach.

Get yourself here as soon as you can, bring an empty stomach and an open heart. The staff is so kind and the owner is a joy of a woman that serves up her smile and kindness as much as she serves up a filling meal. I will be making sure to get back here soon so I can explore...