Hazel's Caribbean Restaurants — Restaurant in Melbourne

Man I’ve been hunting down different Jamaican spots in Palm Bay and everywhere I went was trashhhh. I was recommended this place by my lovely Uber driver. I said I’ll take a chance… I got the curry goat with rice and beans and cabbage. Now I’m an island gyal and my folks always say you can always tell if someone knows how to cook based on if they just covered a pot with hot sauces and peppers and called it flavor. Well let me tell you! I asked this place what was spicy and what wasn’t because uniquely I’m allergic to everything spicy. The young lady was able to tell me right away and she was right on! The curry goat was not spicy at all ! The cabbage was nicely flavored itself and rice and beans filled me up for several days.

Pros: knowledgeable staff, flavored not masked with spice, (not overly flavored but just enough where anyone can enjoy, you know?) very decent portions for a small plate!! The curry goat was soooo soft, falling off my fork

Even better If: wish they had prices on their board next to the food items so I can compare as I am someone who may sometimes feel socially anxious and hate asking for a run down of menu prices (small curry goat was about $16), wish the gravy was a bit more liquidity but I may experience that when I go back for their oxtail tbh and wish it drenched my rice and beans, this meal would be perfect if they had sweet yam and boiled dumpling (I had asked if she had any, she said not TODAY, so unsure if it was just that day or time (I went in the evening after work) but would love that combo with these meal.

Conclusion: I tried Jamrock (pretty alright, decent at best sorry 🤷🏽‍♀️) tried Browns absolutely trash don’t waste your money peep their unanswered reviews first before you attempt… but Hazel’s man wish I saw them first would’ve saved a lot of money! I will be back to try the oxtail (which she said wasn’t spicy too) hoping they have sweet yam and dumpling when I go if not cabbage was pretty good, rice and beans was simple rice and beans (wasn’t burnt, noticed other comments I went after work too around...

It’s a common theme I’ve noticed, that if a Jamaican restaurant is empty, walk away!!! This restaurant was recommended to me as having some of the best Jamaican Food. The food tasted a day old, the chicken was so tough and hard, I could not chew it, so asked for a serving of Ox-Tail. This dish usually is very tender in most restaurants but Not Today. The Ox-Tail was mostly made up of fat and bone with very little meat. It, too, was unsatisfactory. I usually don’t bother writing reviews about restaurants, but the food I had today, was some of the Worst Jamaican Food, I’ve ever tasted! Having to pay for two plates of food just to get a decent meal was too much! And if the Customer Service was remotely Decent, I wouldn’t have written this review, but it also was lacking……No Friendliness, at all. I will not be returning to...

I've been a customer for over 3 years and it's always a hit or miss on the food, more hits than miss. The Food is great but sometimes it is a little over cooked (I always get the jerk BBQ chicken 😅). I have noticed a lady in the back which I'm guessing is the chef and have to take a moment to brag. The last two weeks we ordered randomly and the food has been amazing!!! The rice was soft and the chicken was soft and juicy! The cabbage like always great.

Those that say the customer service is bad probably was expecting extra friendliness but they are always nice to the point and never rude. I've been to Jamaica a few times and I never got that bubbly above the top greeting so it deff doesn't bother me. 🙃 As long as my order is correct and my food is fresh I'll be...