The Official DC/Maryland/Virginia Area Thread

WIA20XX

WIA20XX

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frush11 said:
I'm sorry the whole DC area doesn't have any good Caribbean food is overdone to the max now.

There's good places that have good food and places that don't. Same as in NYC, tasted some mid out there too, a lot.
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You either have names of restaurants, or you don't.
 
mastermind

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2Quik4UHoes said:
Some of the hole in the wall spots uptown ain’t bad.
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yeah, there is a Roti spot on Georgia Ave that's solid. (edit: Teddy's Roti Shop)

Jerk at Nite>Negril, IMO.

Cane is fukking trash. Do not eat there.


also for Seafood, Jerry's out in Bowie is basically nationally known. Crab Boss is good too.
 
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WIA20XX said:
You either have names of restaurants, or you don't.
Click to expand...

Now I'm gonna say this. The one thing I'll never buy at Caribbean restaurant is Curry Chicken. I'll agree with you on that dish being watered down.

If I want Brown Stew chicken/Fish I go to Spice on Sheperd(NW).

Sandovan was my Curry Goat spot

Peaches on 3rd behind Coolige has very good for to me. Sides are on point

I like Jam Doung

Unfortunately so many places I love are gone, didn't survive covid

Joanne's on 14th
This great Guyanese in Wheaton that had Amazing Doubles, Bake and Salt fish

There's a spot on Eastern Ave on the MD side off the Border about a block away from Georgia that has good food


Now the food down here, maybe being not be as spicy.



Also a shout to Lulamae Gardin on 1st and Kennedy. More fusion food. But their Caribbean inspired items are really great to me. Their Jerk Chicken is really flavorful

And I highly recommend their Jerk Chicken, Curry Chicken and Oxtail Egg Rolls
 
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WIA20XX said:
TL/DR - If you're not Jamaican, it's fine.

It's the type of place with Salmon and "Rasta Pasta". Definitely caters to Yankees. You're not gonna see stew peas, brown stew chicken, curry goat, ackee and saltfish etc. And if you're really looking for the hardcore, like Cow Foot Soup, Run Down, etc - you have to go to NYC for that.

In terms of Jerk, most of the places just roast the chicken in the oven. I think there's been an embargo on importing actual pimento wood into the states, not sure if it's been lifted. It's not like they're cooking over a real wood fire in the first place. I'm betting it's jarred sauce, but I can mix browning, scallion, pimento, etc and have a jerk sauce too.

You'll prolly enjoy yourself. You will be paying DC prices though.

But If you're Jamaican, there's no good Jamaican food in the area. None. Zero. Nada. Zilch. Nil

Not in DC. Not in VA. Not in nearby Maryland (Plenty of Caribs live up by Langley/Takoma Park. And I've yet to taste anything that's worth the journey.)

Maybe there might be something noteworthy in or on the way to Baltimore, but you're coming to DC.

And that's because if you're Jamaican, no one can ever cook as good as Granny. But even then, I've seen places that use ketchup in the Oxtail, ranch dressing on tables, Faux Jamaicans... They're not even attempting to make food for Yardies. Everything is sweet, but not in a good way.

If you must, tolerable imo
  • Jam Doung
  • Negril
Truly, get some Ethiopian instead. Or Wings and Mumbo Sauce. DC is really good at European Style Italian, South East Asian, Expense Account/Fine Dining...but Jamaican? Not at all. I won't say anything on Soul Food or Cajun/Creole.

However, if you really want to trip out - there's a sald chain called Chop'T. They playing nothing but Reggae. It's a white as hell salad spot, but for whatever reason, Corporate keeps the spotify on the classic reggae station. And I don't mean 10 hours of No Woman No Cry. I've heard Barrington, Sugar Minott, even Yellowman once.

Especially avoid
  • The Jerk Chicken spot on C. St SW (Not a Jamaican owner) (it's near the Museum of the Bible, and surprisingly popular)
  • Bammy's (which is not technically Jamaican restaurant, it's a pan-Caribbean spot, but mostly ran by 2 white boys - their take on conch fritters was good) - SW
  • Cane (Not a Jamaican owner) - though it does have Trini food. Not qualifed to judge, but If I ever go back, that's what I get. - H St. NE
  • St. James (Not a Jamaican owner) - Just bad. - U Str NW
Cane and Bronze (Afro-Futurism) do cater to a certain saddity sophisticated clientele though. Both are in H-St NE.

That said, you can head over to Union Market and get all the ingredients at the African Food Wholesaler (across from the Van Leeuwen). I want to say that most of the Giant Supermarkets carry plantain, D&G, and Grace products. But goat is hard to come by unless you hunt it down. Oxtail is still expensive.

Breadfruit? You're going to Maryland for that.
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there's two places on Georgia Ave a few doors away from one another that were pretty good to me :ehh:


the type with the heat tables with all the food that's been sitting marinating in spices all day:ohlawd:
 
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frush11 said:
Now I'm gonna say this. The one thing I'll never buy at Caribbean restaurant is Curry Chicken. I'll agree with you on that dish being watered down.

If I want Brown Stew chicken/Fish I go to Spice on Sheperd(NW).

Sandovan was my Curry Goat spot

Peaches on 3rd behind Coolige has very good for to me. Sides are on point

I like Jam Doung

Unfortunately so many places I love are gone, didn't survive covid

Joanne's on 14th
This great Guyanese in Wheaton that had Amazing Doubles, Bake and Salt fish

There's a spot on Eastern Ave on the MD side off the Border about a block away from Georgia that has good food


Now the food down here, maybe being not be as spicy.



Also a shout to Lulamae Gardin on 1st and Kennedy. More fusion food. But their Caribbean inspired items are really great to me. Their Jerk Chicken is really flavorful

And I highly recommend their Jerk Chicken, Curry Chicken and Oxtail Egg Rolls
Click to expand...
Yeah that was my spot. Right across the street. Sucks that its gone now.
 
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BigMan said:
Yeah the best Caribbean food is on Georgia ave

Sandovan was the best but it closed

cane and st James are Trini not jamaican

Bammys doesnt exist anymore

Jerk at nite is fine
DC doesn’t have great Caribbean food overall but there’s spots here and there

Jamaicans mostly like Uptown DC and Maryland all the way up to Baltimore
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Damn!! why Sandovan close man? :mjcry:

I was just about to ask breh if he tried there. that was always my go-to. they still had the lunch special from 12-4 for $7 in 2022!

only other spot I hit on regular if I'm craving some jamaican is Jerk pit in college park. don't matter if it's rain or snow them boys out there grillin

cane and st James are Trini not jamaican
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I love how Jamaican brehs assume any caraibes restaurant serving rice and peas is trying to be a Jamaican restaurant by default as if no other islands exist :mjlol:
 
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