Caribbean Spice — Restaurant in Gainesville

Truth and awareness I am uncertain WHY this place is called Caribbean Spice because the food is not Caribbean style. They may have taken the names (put on meun) from culture but I assure you its Not Caribbean.This restaurant is robbing and taking advantage of the college students especially and the community of real quality tasting island food.

My family FIRST and last time going to Caribbean Spice. Highly disappointed!!!! After hours of travel we Visit 05/2018. I order 2 vegan patties(we was informed that those are the last two) and a so called platter which consist of peas and rice along with California blend vegatable(CBV).

YES CBV the one from SAM'S(which would have been ok if they cooked it with passion/ a little luv). I should have been like my family when they seen the food with no excitement. They said we will go some where else the food dont look like it has flavor and it didnt. I didn't want to feel like we drove for nothing but still got that disappointed wasted my time and money feeling.

The patties however was good season with flavor and fresh. This restaurant should be a all patties and drinks place. Name change to Caribbean Patties or Tasteful Patties should be the name. Cause their money from customer is coming from the patties for sure.

I was disrespected to be given California blend straight out of the bag just streamed NO herbs, butter, oil NOTHING!! Tasteless And I mean nothing on it. Something that shouldn't be expected from a restaurant. Shame on you Caribbean Spice.

The rice & beans was over cooked taste like water and dry. Extremely tasteless NO flavor no moisture. The food had No excitement to say yes this the place to get Caribbean food when your in GVILLE.

Unpon leaving with my take out (we sampled the food) I spoke with the workers it was three of them in the front. I explained my concerns about the food and how it doesnt reflect the Caribbean culture flavor/herbs and the vegatable was just steamed nothing added. To be told the food shouldnt be with spice And we are sorry we will take it into concentration.

Sorry doesnt fix anything. I informed them I have been raised on Caribbean foods ALL my life. I know very well what it should taste like. I cook extremely well. And that I could have cook myself and gotten a better results and been satisfied.

But when your traveling you would like to try the restaurants in the city your visiting.

I asked if they had more vegan patties cooking in the back those was pretty good. And was told no sorry. Here goes that word sorry again.

The word sorry is what gets to me because thats not helping the customer. Good customer service or just thinking I dont want anyone leaving this place of business not satisfy especially when you just recently opened back up (I did a little research before going).

The response Should have been to ask the customer would you like your money back or can we replace it with something else.

Their concern was not on building a valuable customer but just to gain money for that day.

Restaurant owners need to understand this is vital, Customer have many other options to choose from to spend their hard earn money. Give them a reason to return to your place of business.

One reason I love to cook and eat at home its appreciated. Second reason my family and I are satisfied are money was used wisely when we...

We went for lunch and the line was understandably getting long. There seemed to be only one person cooking in the back, one person at the register and one person starting orders with those food items that are made in advance. The owner was present and behind the counter, however, unfortunately he was motivated to assist his employees in moving the line along and getting patrons their food any faster, he just seemed to be interested in chatting with customers, and while public relations is key, lets not do so as to run counter with patrons getting their orders filled, which is already in competition with the volume of take out orders. Please note, this is a counter service only establishment. I do wish Yelp would add this feature to their app/site, I think that users would find it helpful. If you prefer table service for nearly $50 (price for using a credit card, which was not indicated with cash prices on the menu, just that those advertised are cash prices) for two meals, then I'd suggest you keep scrolling. I really am a proponent of mom and pops, but it gets harder for all involved with this choice of pricing structure. Also, provided an establishment makes the user aware of this in advance, you could either choose elsewhere or go to the ATM. Another feature I think Yelp should consider given so many restaurants are shifting to this pricing structure. As for the ambiance, save for the homage to Bob Marley, I would say there isn't any, and that's ok. Most importantly it was clean and orderly. I got the oxtail, which was divine in flavor and fall off the bone tender, but it was without question the smallest size oxtail I have ever seen or ordered... perhaps they were severely malnourished....over rice, pigeon peas and kidney beans which were fabulous. However the cabbage was seriously lacking in flavor and amount, there was no more than 2 heaping tablespoons in the portion. The spinach patties was unique and although it seemed like it was sitting in the warmer for awhile, the interior was delicious. When asked by the owner for feedback, I regret not being transparent, however, I truly thought he'd look at me and say "what would you know?".. I spent a number of years during and after college in NYC and I ate my way through a lot of incredible ethnic food which Jamaican occupied many of those calories. My husband got the jerk chicken, same sides and the mild beef pattie (out of spicy). He stated chicken was spicy enough, cabbage was tiny and lacking in any discernable flavor and he didn't care for the same rice and bean mix ... to each their own. I thought it hit the spot. Portions of rice were generous, not of the meat, so at least there's that for leftovers. I really want them to succeed, but I can't justify going back at this juncture based on price vs. portion of actual protein... but you be your own,...

Best patties in town, everything else is disappointing. Be weary when ordering an entree, ask to see the meat first.

Went there hoping to get something as good as Reggae Shack used to be. I got a jerk chicken dinner meal (enough to fill a square take out container) for 14.95 along with a (vegan) veggie patty/empanada for $3.

Cashier was nice and explained that the vegan patties are handled separately when I asked. Super delicious, crust was flaky and buttery, inside was a nice combo of vegetables, not dry at all.

Jerk chicken was unfortunately another story. The entree itself was: 2 whole legs, smaller size - jerk rice, almost filled the whole container - and hardly any cabbage, maybe enough for 4 small bites.

The rice was kinda dry, but okay. Cabbage was good. I got more as a side for $2. The chicken was burnt. Like, beyond crispy. It was totally black and scorched on the outside. Tasted burnt of course, so I pulled the skin off. The meat itself was dry.

I told the clerk that it was not good, and said it was burnt. He said "it's black because of the jerk seasoning", and I replied it shouldn't be burnt and totally black. So he said it was because they baked it. What? I said this doesn't matter, it shouldn't be burnt.

He then says that they mostly specialize in bakery items, so I guess i should take this to mean that only the patties are good?

He apologized, but never offered to get me more or refund anything. I didn't push it too hard, but wow. He at least was friendly and wished me a nice day.

So I can highly recommend the patties, even the vegan ones were very delicious to me as an omnivore. But dont get anything else unless you are able to take a look at it first. Cabbage was good, so I imagine they're capable of making meat well. Apparently they're not capable of promising a good meal.

I hope others have a better experience. I really wanted this...