| Author |
Message |
    
RBrunner
Citizen
Username: Rbrunner
Post Number: 52
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 10:26 am: |     |
How come whenever I'm in Carribbean Cuisine it's mostly empty? I'm really worried this place will close and it's BY FAR the best, most interesting ethnic restaurant in the area. Where is everyone?
I know the menu looks a little intimidating, but they're incredibly nice and willing to explain everything. If you haven't tried it yet, please do. And if you haven't been lately...where have you been? I really hope people can break out of their pizza/Burnet BBQ/Chinese routine and try something new. It's really, really worth it. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1135
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 10:31 am: | |
Could it be that they're in such an out of the way location? |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 2096
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 10:37 am: | |
We went once. I enjoyed it. Spouse thought it was so-so (I actually liked her dinner better than mine!) I did find the menu kind of confusing, though. I suggested recently we go back but TS wasn't interested. Guess I'll have to bring a friend for lunch there instead.
Cathy |
composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 336
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 10:39 am: | |
location isn't so much out of the way, but rather not visible. I think no one knows it's there. |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 949
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 10:48 am: | |
I'm not sure they're struggling that much. I get take-out there quite a bit, and there's usually an (admittedly small) line. I wonder if it's just that the bulk of their business is takeout? It's easy to park over there to run in and grab something, and I don't think there's a lot of foot traffic otherwise.
|
Jennifer Pickett
Citizen
Username: Jpickett
Post Number: 21
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 11:35 am: | |
I'm interested, where is it? I've never seen the place before. |
jamie
Moderator
Username: Jamie
Post Number: 939
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 11:43 am: | |
it is very good: http://www.caribbeancuisine.net |
Two Sense
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 227
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 11:58 am: | |
Caribbean Cuisine is good, and very authentic; and, the owners are charming. Warning: a full Roti requires a follow-up siesta. Also, I agree, the menu can be confusing unless you grew up in the islands; so, ask for a quick tutorial.
It's on First Street, which is one-way heading east, above Valley Street, but closer to Academy Street -- certainly as close to the center of S.O. Village as any other restaurant. |
Two Sense
Citizen
Username: Twosense
Post Number: 228
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 12:01 pm: | |
Caribbean Cuisine is at 74 First Street. |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 2658
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 12:21 pm: | |
We order takeout regularly, maybe every other week or more. Last tiime hubby went in on a Fri nite, he said there was a line.
I agree the menu could be more detailed with explanation. I generally feel that way about most ethnic places. I also with they'd mix up the specials a bit. We almost always get it on Fri night because the kids get pizza, but they only have calamari on Tues. and that's one special I'd love to try.
I love the veggie roti. |
Spare_o
Supporter
Username: Spare_o
Post Number: 261
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 7:37 pm: | |
I love Caribbean Cuisine and, being allergic to wheat, I have found a few good items on the menu to eat. We get take-out about every 2 - 3 weeks. The owners are very helpful and have even provide tastes when I was unsure what to order. I highly recommend them and hope they are doing well enough to stay open. I have precious few dining out options due to my allergies and would hate to lose this gem. Hmm, maybe I'll get take-out tomorrow night... |
phyllis
Citizen
Username: Phyllis
Post Number: 393
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 11:38 pm: | |
The menu might be confusing, but if you do go a night that is empty, the owner will sit with you and explain everything - and make recommendations.
The meat patties are out of this world! |
parkah
Citizen
Username: Parkah
Post Number: 132
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 8:05 am: | |
RBrunner... we actually prefer island spice on springfield ave. it's been there a long time and i'm sure will continue to do so. as for caribbean cuisine, i would hate to see it go out of biz, but there are other options.
|
Copperfield
Citizen
Username: Copperfield
Post Number: 138
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 9:54 am: | |
It would seem that a confusing menu would be an easy thing to fix.
Has anyone approached the owner with an idea about how to make the menu more accessable, and/or how to promote the restaurant.
A restaurant is a business at the end of the day... |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 492
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 12:47 pm: | |
Parkah, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Island Spice is like a BAZILLION TIMES WORSE than Caribbean Cusine. After eating at CC I could never go back to frozen vegetables at IS. The quality of the ingredients and the love in the preparation of the food coupled with the reasonable prices...well, CC can't be beat. |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 2661
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 1:12 pm: | |
I happen to like Island Spice's veggie patties and the shrimp patties a lot.
|
parkah
Citizen
Username: Parkah
Post Number: 134
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 2:39 pm: | |
wow... a bazillion times worse eh? that's pretty bad. never had a plate of frozen vegetables at island spice myself, so i really can't comment.
each to their own. |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 495
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 4:53 pm: | |
I got a vegetable roti at Island Spice and all of the veggies were freezer burned Bird's Eye veggies (you know rubbery texture, uniform thickness and crinkle cut like french fries). I don't think you can judge a place on there patties either. It isn't like they make them there. They are frozen and stuck in the little heating box all day. And bazillion was just a rough estimate -- I'm sure it couldn't have been as much as a Kajillion though so no worries. |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 496
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 9:37 pm: | |
So this thread inspired me to get a veggie roti at CC tonight. While I was there I mentioned to them that people are talking about them again on MOL. I explained to them that some of us were concerned about the place going under from lack of business. They said to me that they did NOT want people feeling bad for them. I get the sense, and this is just MY OPINION, not anything that they said, that they just want people to like their food and enjoy going there because they think the food is good. I didn't think I needed to explain to them that no one is going to go to their restaurant if they don't like the food, so they don't have to worry about "sympathy customers". That's just silly in my opinion. I also get the sense from some stuff that they said, that Fridays and Saturdays are their busiest days and that people are definitely beginning to show up to their restaurant. I guess they are starting to have a loyal following, enough to be a viable business at least -- but this is all just my guess and not anything they said outright to me. I DEFINITELY DO NOT REPRESENT THEM. I'm just a fan of their food. I AM SO GLAD that they seem to be doing good for themselves, because I LOVE their food.
I also mentioned to them some of the comments about the menu being a bit hard for newcomers to Carribean food to grasp, and they said that they had already recieved that comment and were planning on working on a new menu for some time now. They are just waiting to run out of the current menus that they have.
I agree with everyone here that it would be a shame for ANY good restaurant to go out of business (especially with so few good reasonably priced restaurants in our area). And the only way ANY restaurant is going to stay in business is ifpeople go to it. This applies to Jocelyns as well as Carribbean Cuisine. Repeat customers are the bread and butter of any business. I highly recommend Carribbean Cuisine to anyone who wants a homemade, lovingly created, good tasting meal. Go once and hopefully you will agree with me that it is worth going again and again. Bon apetit. |
thincer
Citizen
Username: Thincer
Post Number: 13
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 4:57 pm: | |
Here's my great Caribbean Cuisine story:
I went, for the first time, with my husband and daughter. While we were being seating I mentioned, offhandedly, that I had a headache. A minute later, the woman that seated us returned and put a plate and two pills in front of me. I gave her a puzzled look. She had heard me say that I had a headache and had brought me two Tylenol! I was so impressed. And the food was good too. |
michelezembow
Citizen
Username: Michelezembow
Post Number: 144
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 11:06 pm: | |
So CB, you want to bring a friend to lunch at CC? Have any in mind???
Might I be of some help with that?!?
P.S. That's me volunteering to bring the beer! |
davel
Citizen
Username: Davel
Post Number: 119
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 2:57 pm: | |
For our first meal from CC we purchased a large carryout order for about ten people. Everyone loved it. Highly recommended. |
doctoralissa
Citizen
Username: Doctoralissa
Post Number: 149
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 1:04 pm: | |
Love the veggie roti (unwrapped please!). They know what I'm having as I walk in. I got at least once a month and always get take-out. My husband is Jamaican so he is a bit prejudiced about Trini food, but he likes thier curry chicken a lot.
Patties are bought in boxes frozen from places like Golden Krust so you can't really judge a place by those.
Like most of the consensus, I'm glad they're still there and hope they continue into the future. |
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