Cool Runnings Jamaican Grill — Restaurant in Houston

12-27-2023 My friend and I stopped in for lunch on a Thursday. There was plenty of parking in the lot and a short line inside to place an order. There were screens indicating a partial menu but did not get to access the full menu until we were at the register as the lobby area was full of people waiting to pick up their food and place their orders. They were out of coconut shrimp but the lady was really pushing the "beef patty" hard so we got one to try $2.77. I ordered the large 2 meat combo with ox tails and brown stew chicken which comes with rice and beans, cabbage and two small slices of plantains for $23.99. Heads up, they call kidney beans, "peas". My friend ordered the small jerk pork with chicken gravy, rice, "peas" cabbage and plantain. There are two large drink refrigerators near the cashier filled with a variety of bottled drinks, which have no prices. I got the Cool Runnings fresh made pineapple ginger juice $4.69 and my guest got a bottled orange Fanta soda $2.77. You wouldn't know it when you first walk in but there is a dining room through a corridor. We placed our order for dine in after about a 15 min wait and were told they would come find is when the order was ready. Order total was $49.95. The dining area is actually very large and equipped with a full bar, stage and plenty of seating. However, there are no staff or servers available in this area, at least not at the time of our visit. With only one other table occupied we had a lot of seating options and found a nice booth near the stage. After about ten minutes my friend went back through to the front and they were calling our order out so she brought it back to our table, bagged in to-go boxes. The pineapple ginger juice was fantastic! I loved it, very refreshing and I think it was worth the sticker shock. I absolutely loved my meal! The beef tail and chicken were both falling off the bone and seasoned well! I had plenty to take home for a second serving. My friend also loved the jerk pork. Everything was well seasoned and cooked properly. We were high on spices and happy as hogs when we left. I would not recommend the beef patty, it did not taste fresh and was kept in a warming box with a heat lamp. Other than that I highly recommend all the other items we got! I would return for one of the events they host with live music. We will be back and both agreed we could eat there every day! *Bonus, I saw an aquarium with fish but people were surrounding it so I didn't get the chance to check it out close up.

1-23-2025 I found myself on this side of town by chance so I tried to call in an order while driving. No one answered the phone. I was only 3rd in line so the wait was not that long. I was able to get my order to go but before I did I discovered you can request the gravy from the entrees as a condiment! Woo-hoo, I added the jerk chicken gravy to my order. Once home I was able to unpack and serve everyone. All dishes were on point, seasoned well, cooked to tender perfection and I am again, a very happy customer. The price of pineapple ginger juice has gone up to $5.54 from $4.69...

I’ve been coming here for 6 years and I never complained once. Every time I come there, I spend $45–$70. I’ve watched them decrease the portion for the oxtail little by little and never said a word.

Yesterday, I came there on July 10th. I got a small plate of oxtail — came with 2 pieces of oxtail and 2 of those small bones with that tough meat, probably the end part that has no meat at all. I asked nicely to replace the two pieces and let them know there’s no meat on that and that’s not an acceptable piece of meat.

The lady informed me I had to get a large. I told her, “You want me to pay $21 plus tax for 2 pieces of oxtail meat?” She said yes.

Then she proceeded to tell that old grumpy, no-class old man, and he yelled out loud, “I gotta get a large.” I informed him that I’ve been coming there for 6 years and this is not acceptable. He told me he’s been working there for 20 years and said, “I’m not changing nothing.” His exact words.

Then he said, “You know how much oxtail costs nowadays?” Like what? Who talks to customers like that?

You see, when people get comfortable talking to loyal customers like this, it’s just a matter of time before you get humbled, and someone else comes around, makes better food, treats people better — and you lose it all.

Not to even mention the taste of the food has been on a decline, and the patties taste cheap. But I still supported. Now guess what?

He could’ve just replaced those 2 bones with one small oxtail and I would’ve been happy. Instead, he said those things to me. So I asked for a full refund. By the way, I tipped them — and this is the attitude I got.

So, he lost $45 over a small piece of oxtail. He lost me and my family as customers. I also informed my friends and relatives — over 30 people I introduced to your business — and they will no longer be buying your food.

I will also be creating a TikTok video with all my followers to express my disgusting experience and the way your staff treated me.

Good luck with that. And by the way, I found another oxtail spot that tastes better — and I got 5 huge pieces of oxtail for $21. I attached the picture to show you what a customer deserve when they ask for oxtail, with extra gravy.

Whoever owns this business: don’t take loyal customers for granted. Nothing lasts forever with that kind of attitude.

Please if you are reading this, dont let cool running keep scamming you for your hard earn money.

The picture attached is from a oxtail place that value their customers. THE PICTURE IS NOT FROM...

Usually I’m door dashing today. I’m picking up my own food because I don’t feel well. I ordered with my own name on it even though she sees it on the app she’s asking me whether or not I’m the person that ordered the food and not giving me my food, like holding it, and refusing to hand it to me . Even though I’m holding my phone up and she sees that the name on the app matches the bag. She proceeds to ask if I personally ordered the food more than two times less as if she may play in it the next time I order! y’all need to be careful out here!The manners here have never been well they are not very welcoming. They do not greet you. They don’t allow you to pick up your own to go orders so you have to fight to get their attention because they will ignore you and if you’re on a job DoorDash and you will be late every time. They don’t ask you whether or not you’re here for a pick up or if you’re ordering. So when you walk in there’ people silent unless they’re in the kitchen talking to each other. They don’t want to be here and they don’t treat you like they wanna be here. Hopefully next time I get better service because I come here a lot I’m a traveling model and a retired veteran the side eye and lack of better customer service. We could start with greeting customers with the smile maybe even being polite when they do it. Also not ignoring customers, standing in lobby area wondering if they’re gonna get any assistance. It’s sad You have to actually call for someone to get any worker to acknowledge you because they don’t allow you to pick up your own order. They ACTUALLY have the bags turned inward so you can’t even see your name I’ve actually sat here before for 20 an extra minutes WHILE DOORDASHING to have my order order sitting right there. This is my first review and usually I do review on every place immediately but the food usually makes me say it’s worth it they need to do better. And I haven’t ate yet, so I have time I always believe that things can be changed if you guys want customer service training I’ll be happy to provide it however, next time I come, I expect better service and I most likely will order from a different name figure it out. This will be on Google as well I can’t wait to change my review after I get a different type of...