Datz Deli — Restaurant in New York

A Bold Comfort Classic Gets a Modern Guyanese Gourmet Twist

In the ever-evolving landscape of Caribbean culinary innovation, few dishes manage to hit the sweet spot between nostalgia and novelty like this remarkable Guyanese open-face patty stuffed with meat and mac and cheese. A bold reimagining of a beloved street food staple, this dish elevates the traditional meat patty into a gourmet comfort experience that surprises at every bite.

At first glance, the open-face presentation immediately sets it apart. Rather than being sealed into the familiar half-moon shape, the flaky, golden crust cradles its fillings like a savory tart—showcasing a hearty scoop of creamy mac and cheese nestled beside (or atop) richly seasoned meat. Whether you choose chicken curry, spicy beef, jerk chicken or pork, oxtail,salt fish or even a plant-based alternative, the protein anchors the dish in bold Caribbean flavor traditions, while the mac and cheese adds a luxuriously indulgent counterpoint.

The crust retains the signature buttery crispness expected of a well-made Guyanese patty, but its open design gives it a rustic elegance—almost like a West Indian vol-au-vent. The macaroni is smooth and decadent, not overly cheesy or greasy, but balanced enough to complement the spices in the meat without competing with them.

What truly elevates this invention is the harmony of textures and temperatures: the crunch of the pastry against the creamy pasta and tender meat creates a layered mouthfeel that's as satisfying as it is comforting. Each bite evokes warmth and familiarity, yet feels entirely new.

This dish is more than a meal—it’s a celebration of Caribbean ingenuity, where cultural authenticity meets modern-day food creativity. It’s the kind of innovation you’d expect to see at a trendy urban food truck or a forward-thinking fusion restaurant—but still rooted deeply in home-cooked soul.

Verdict: 10/10 A must-try for anyone who appreciates Caribbean cuisine🇬🇾🇬🇾🇬🇾🇬🇾🇬🇾, comfort food, or imaginative street...

Thank you for the food. If possible, it would be more enjoyable if the worker at the cash register provided clear information as to where to form a line outside and got to the point when making speeches outside. She vented a lot about her long day and the heat, though we already knew about the long day and the heat, because we were standing outside for an hour… After going off topic about the weather, she was asked about when we would be able to order, she replied sarcastically that she was about to get to that and does this all day and to give her a second…

Long lines and waiting outside are expected for a small space.

Relating to customers and speaking to them while considering the long line and relaying relevant information are all soft skills.

We got there at 5pm and waited outside until 6pm to be allowed back inside to order. She came outside twice to talk about her long day and the weather along with minor updates about how she still is waiting on oxtail. Even though not everyone in line actually wanted to order oxtail, we all had to wait together. No one complained, everyone just waited patiently.

Maybe next time, all of those who are waiting to order oxtail can wait outside and those who are ordering what is in full stock can stay due to lack of space, and we can provide an update in about 15 minutes? Something like that is very helpful for happy customers who just wanted to patronize a local business and enjoy time with their loved ones along the way.

Feel free to reach out if you’d like any efficiencies analyses with your business as we provide feedback often to owners, though typically in person. All in all, thank you...

The patties were mid and lackadaisical despite it being fresh out of the oven. They were decent in in taste. I believe the restaurant needs to get it together. There’s too much promotion and hype around this restaurant. The restaurant cannot support due to its small confinements and lack of additional ovens. I waited on the line for over two hours outside , then it started pouring so they decided to let everybody inside. The hostess or staff that was given time estimates was giving in correct time estimates and we ended up waiting more time because the patties were sold out by the time we got to the door. While inside the store and placing our orders, we still had to wait due to only one person making patties for the entire restaurant. That was very inefficient And made the process even longer than it had to be. Also, the person making patties was not changing gloves and was cross contaminating chicken, shrimp, beef, etc. luckily I am a person that is not allergic to anything so I didn’t mind personally, but anybody else was a vegetarian, would have been annoyed if they saw that, I blame TikTok and Instagram for the over hype of this restaurant and I hope the restaurant gets it together as far as meeting the demand of the people who are willing to wait over two hours for some patties. Despite that two hours and a half later and 40 some odd dollars spent while wasting gas to get there. I’m not impressed. They got me one time because of the promotion but I assure you this is a...