Richie's Jerk&BBQ — Restaurant in Sanford

Wow! What a find!!!! Anyone who has toured around rural eastern New Hampshire and South Eastern Maine can tell you that there is little to choose from except for (insert town here) House of Pizza's and big franchise junk food. What a delight it was to run across Richie's in Sanford ME. We sat and had the best food we've had in years all while chatting with the owner and his family (and his regulars who seemed to come in on regular intervals). This is the real deal, home cooked Caribbean food with flavors that will not disappoint. Every dish is hand-crafted by Richie and his family in a kitchen no larger than your average laundry closet. With all techniques in full view, you know what you're getting and you know it's gonna be good...and it was. No, not good; AMAZING! We sat and ate our lunch of the Mixed Plate in which we chose Jerk Pork and Oxtail as well as Chicken and Waffles. Both were served with Caribbean Rice and Beans and the salad of the day which happened to be the best pasta salad I've ever eaten. We also ordered Plantains which were the perfect amount of sweet and savory. The Jerk was not too spicy, but just the right amount of heat. The Oxtail was savory and fall-off-the-bone tender. The sauce on the spicy fried chicken and waffles was a delicious blend of maple and ranch dressing which perfectly complimented the crunchy spiced fried chicken. We enjoyed our meal so much, we waited an extra 30 minutes for the Curry Goat to finish cooking just to take a box of it home to enjoy later. We also shopped the unique sodas, spices and sauces displayed at the front of their tiny little bodega. We vowed to come back again and we will; often. The next day when we re-heated the goat, we renewed that vow. If you love home cooked food that is not boring, make the trip to Sanford to visit Richie. He is closed on Monday, but the rest of the week, he'll be there to feed you like family. Don't miss this little spot, it's worth...

Friday night... We drove to a couple places to try and get a bite to eat... Both were closed. Why? No staff to work. We checked another place, and it was too busy. There were probably 20 people, at least, waiting to get seated. We were about to go home when we saw this small little place on the side of the road, called Richie's Jerk & BBQ. A small sign on the building said "Jamaican Food". We had just been to Jamaica in April, and had a blast, so we decided to just stop in and try it. It's a small, crowded place, with only enough for 6 people to sit at a counter, about two feet from where our wonderful chef, and I assume her son helping, were cooking at the grill. The menu is quite extensive with all kinds of Jamaican jerk style chicken, fish, oxtail, fries, etc. While we were there multiple people kept coming in to pick up food. The two of them were right on it, cooking up a storm for all of those that came to eat in, and those that came to take something to go, and for those that called in while we were there. They worked together like a well oiled machine, and the food was absolutely delicious. Full of flavor, heat, and deliciousness!! Don't let the small building fool you; this place is FULL of flavor and love. I highly...

Richie's Jerk & BBQ in Sanford, Maine, offers a tantalizing blend of Caribbean and American flavors. While the jerk chicken was a standout, with its smoky, spicy kick, the mac and cheese was a bit underwhelming, lacking the rich, creamy texture I expected. The beef patty, though store-bought, was a decent addition to the meal.

The grapefruit ting drink was refreshing and a perfect complement to the spicy food. However, the overall cost of $27 seemed a bit steep, especially considering the store-bought patty.

While Richie's Jerk & BBQ offers some delicious dishes, it's important to be aware of the pricing. If you're willing to splurge for a flavorful Caribbean meal, it's definitely...