Ali’s roti shop — Restaurant in New York

Not as I expected. I've heard that they are the best so I decided to check out their doubles and chicken roti because those are the most popular items and I had hoped of shortening my trip for doubles. The roti was sized nicely and the amount of filling was sufficient however it's more on the bland side. It's a filling that everyone can have and then add their spices but there will be no complaints from the Hypertension community. The spice level of the sauce was a 4 out of 10. The doubles used the same filling and the channa was very grainy. I like mines a little on the mushier side. Again I added the shadow benni and tamarind sauce. It was meeh. The bara (the bread used for doubles) was more on the firm side. I prefer mines soft and melt in your mouth. The place itself was clean, nicely decorated and staffed by some very, efficient and courteous people. I like the updated ATM machine... There's two chairs outside to rest when the line is out the door. Alas I will have to continue to take the bus to DeHotPot Three stars . 1 for the decor, 1 for the customer service and 1 for the size...

*"Hear nah, I step in by dis so-call Trini roti shop thinkin’ I goh get a lil’ taste ah home. But lawd, what a disaster! De doubles skin stretch long-long, like if yuh bookin’ a flight from JFK to Piarco an’ back again. An’ thin like paper, oui! By de time I reach de lil speck ah channa, I done get vex and hungry one time.

An’ doh talk ’bout de filling — barely anything inside. No cucumber, no chutney proper. De lil drop dey put, is like I had to beg by de counter, “Aye miss, please, ah beggin’, leh meh taste some chutney nah.” No shadow beni either, so wha flavor yuh really servin’? Answer: none. Pure blank vibes in a roti skin.

As a Caribbean person, lemme tell yuh plain: dat is an abomination. How yuh could do dis to yuh own people? Is like allyuh forget de whole point ah doubles. I was highly disappointed, oui.

De only ting save meh palate was de Solo I wash it down with. At least de Trini soda hold mih hand through de heartbreak.

If I did have de power, I would shut down dat kitchen one time, because wah allyuh servin’ is not doubles, is doubles in witness...

Thier service depends on how they feel at the time. Sometimes nice sometimes nasty. Which is unfortunately expected from a business owned by people of color. I'm used to bad customer service. Still supported over the years, but this may be my last straw. Made a big order for an baby shower with Josiah 2 months in advanced. Asked for an invoice the week before, 2 days before and the day of. Never got it and he stopped replying the day of the event. If you want to grab a small bite to eat, if they actually do have what u want, then maybe yeah. Otherwise, between them running out of food itens constantly, and having to use their overpriced ATM because they are "cash only" on a whim, I wouldn't recommend. This coming from someone who dealt with them for years only because I prefer the taste of the food. Hate having to critique my own people but we need it If we want to do better. Hopefully they learn some accountability. Now I am left without the food...