Culpeppers

I was craving some Bajan food and stopped by to satisfy my hunger. The lady serving me was less then friendly, almost a attitude. I asked for baked chicken.“we don’t have that”.in a impatient manner. I then asked for macaroni Pie and veggies. Soooo that came to 7 $ and some change .I asked why and was informed 4 $ for the pie and 3 for the 3 scoops of cabbage. Call me cheap but I can get a full meal for 3 $ and felt overcharged. She dropped/​threw my change in my hand and I left. I haven’t been back since. that left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe I shouldn’t question the prices.IDK.

I have only tried one thing on the menu, and it’s the vegetable roti. I love love love the vegetable roti here! It’s affordable ($ 5), the veggies are steamed instead of fried, and they are usually generous with the amount of vegetables they give you.
The roti is also good (although very buttery and I’m sure full of calories). I opt to get the vegetables separate from the roti and the skin lasts me over 3 separate meals.
The reasons why this isn’t a full five star review is because of the slow service, not particularly welcoming /​inviting service (I asked a server a question about a dish that he was serving someone else because it looked interesting and I was thinking about getting it, and it was like pulling teeth to get him to tell me what the dish was).
I have also deducted stars for the fact that you can’t, or really wouldn’t want to, eat in the store because it’s just not very inviting.

Got the chicken roti. Wasn’t worth the $ 6 :(. The roti was really powdery And didn’t taste fresh. The staff looked at me weird (probably because I wasn’t just like them). Potatoes in it were good but the chicken had a few shards of the bone in it. I respect the size of what I got but in the end it disappointed me I couldn’t finish the other half

I came in here to get chicken soup because I was feeling sick and walking by. This soup was divine. Rich, tasty, and perfect perfect dumplings. The baked goods smell wondrous. Mmm.

Good food, been going here for years. I love the oxtail bit all their food is good! Encourage ppl to try it you won’t be sorry

We went there for the Flying Fish Cutters. As a Bajan, I knew what I was looking for. Unfortunately, they regularly run out of flying fish and we had to settle for Tilapia Cutters… not good. The service is ridiculously slow. I do like that they have penny breads and lead pipes for sale. Good coconut bread reminds me of Purity bakery.

Sorry

Been there twice. Both times the people were rude. Never even ordered.
First time I was unable to confirm their business hours online or by calling so I just decided to go take a chance. A group of people were standing outside. Going in and out. When I tried to go in they say «no no! We’re closed.» But they were so rude about it. Almost laughing at me like petty teenagers.
Second time– people were inside. Door was open. I walked in and asked if they were still open. The woman at the counter said «does it look like we’re open?» You know what… Who needs that attitude?
After years of using Unilocal and sometimes being tempted to write reviews but talking myself out of it, this experience is what pushed me over the edge and made me sign up. They’ll never get my money.
Ps. I’m black. Their rudeness apparently does not discriminate.

I really tried to give this spot a chance. But after several visits, I’m not going back. It is the slowest service in life! How do you have 3 people behind the counter, but it takes 10 minutes just to take the orders of 2 people?
I ordered a fish sandwich. They charged me $ 6.50 for a piece of fish on a roll… Dry. No sauces or anything. Just a wilted leaf of lettuce. I had to ask for hot sauce. And that took another few minutes for her to go find in the back. She spooned a little bit of it into a plastic cup and then just handed it to me. It was the worst!

Before jumping in here, I want to address the comments made here about the place being racist. I went here and had no problems being white. Actually the lady behind the counter was quite nice to me, even though I came in right at closing time. They also weren’t slow even though the chicken was cooked to order. This isn’t some polished little yogurt place in Manhattan guys. This is a Caribbean joint in Lefferts Gardens/​Crown Heights. Get with it and set your expectations appropriately. Don’t expect a fucking welcome mat regardless of your race.
I got this as a quick dinner on a Sunday night. After heading around the corner home, I dug right in. My main question was where was the spice? I understand this is a Bajan place which can skew less spicy, but come on. Add some more sauce to the bird at least! The chicken itself was moist and tasty along with the little sauce I did get. Rice and peas, veggies and plantains were all good. This hit the spot at the time but definitely wasn’t as great as it could’ve been. I’ll probably come here again given how close it is to my apartment, but overall you can much do better for jerk chicken in the neighborhood. I’ll probably try some of the roti that looks great on here next time.

The service was adequate. The staff were not very friendly.
Food was okay. King fish was similar to a swordfish. It was a tad over fried. The red snapper was absolutely delicious. Goat curry was very well cooked and tender.
There isn’t a comfortable place to sit to eat. More of a take out type joint.

I want to be buried in a vat of their Jerk Chicken when I die. I used to live around here, and it was a go-​to for quick, delicious, cheap dinner. Everyone is nice, but the food speaks for itself.

Culpeppers saved my life the day after I gave birth to my third child. I was starving from months of not eating comfortably and wanted a typical Sunday caribbean dinner. My husband went searching all over Brooklyn and the more popular restaurants were either closed or not serving anything I wanted. Culpeppers to the rescue — rice and peas, stew chicken, macaroni pie, pone, sorrel and yes salad on the side. I ate every morsel.
A couple months later I had a craving for cou cou and stew fish but too tired to make it myself. I’ve NEVER eaten this dish from anyone by my Mom but Culpeppers to the rescue once again. It was finger licking good.
I DO NOT eat caribbean food outside of my home very often because I am can cook all the dishes myself — and do. But on the occasion that I don’t feel like cooking, etc. Culpeppers is where I will go!!!

The food is good, but the service is painfully slow. I’m a Bajan and Culpeppers is the only restaurant I go to for that culinary experience. After spending the afternoon house hunting, the bf and I went to grab a bite to eat.
We had the cocktail fishcakes to start. He ordered oxtail with cou cou with sorrel and I had the pudding and souse with Mauby. We both received enormous servings, which more than filled us. The food was pretty good — not fantastic, but did taste a little bit like home.
The service though… really? It was slow. And my bf asked for water and never received it. I also hoped to buy some fishcakes to go, and the server never came back into the dining room. Well, at least I was full with a smile on my face.
The dining room had a small tv, which was fine. I was annoyed though by the men eating there who thought we were actually in a rum shop in Barbados — they were so loud that my bf and I actually could not have a conversation. We couldn’t hear each other, and they just kept on cackling.

Went into pick up lunch for my hubby. The place smelled so good I had to get some for myself. The staff was super friendly and patient; I had forgotten what he wanted for lunch and she was very pleasant. The food was outstanding I enjoyed the Oxtail and Stew Chicken. In reference to the other comments on here about the staff being racist: I’m white too! Great food! Great service! Get that chip off your shoulders folks!

Haven’t eaten at Culpeppers in a very long time, but I remember the food being better. I had the stew chicken lunch portion. The chicken was a little too sweet and the macaroni pie could’ve used some more cheese. If you talk to my parents, they could tell you I love me some sorrel. This sorrel was quite off, for lack of brewing the sorrel leaves long enough. And me don’t like no weak sorrel.
I’ll give it another go ’round, but for now I’m on the fence.

Okay, this is my second attempt at trying to get something to eat from this place… so my one star rating is for customer service. Since this is my first time being here, I have no clue where to start… the only sign for direction says PAY HERE. Okay, so I assume that I’m supposed to order from the other end??? Well, there was a line, and the lady before me after about 5 minutes of chit chat with the lady behind the counter finally places her order. After that, I still don’t get acknowledged, because that same lady is now fulfilling her order… so I left…
The second attempt, which was today, I get there, and it was slow. Again, I’m still waiting for someone to take my order…
Finally, the lady asks me what I want, I give her my order (after two attempts because she interrupted me to assist another customer yet again), but she doesn’t write anything down, ask me what sides I want, or give any direction on what to do next. After a few minutes, she reappears again and she is now taking a phone order (and this time she is writing it down).
I gave up and left… again.
I’m really at a loss for words because the food is already prepared and sitting in a buffet style at the counter, so I don’t know why she didn’t just scoop up the food right then and there!!! What am I missing? My advice to the management is that they need to reevaluate their service operations and have some order in place where one is responsible for each task, taking the order, taking phone orders, fulfilling the order, and the cashier. Things would run alot more smoothly and you will probably get more business and growth.

A previous reviewer, Mike, wrote about Culpeppers saying it was racist toward white people. He is completely correct.
When I moved into Crown Heights last year, I was happy to see that right at the corner there was a nice soul food place. However, I soon found that they were not happy to see me.
The staff at Culpeppers do not share the same pleasantries with their white customers. They will disregard your presence unless you force yourself into their direct point of view. Even then, they still wince. There are other restaurants close by that are just as good, and much more friendly.

The obese lady and one of the guys behind the counter were talking about me, and making no effort to hide it. I asked for napkins, she literally grunted then chastised me. Wtf? I was next in line (after waiting 15 minutes to order) she makes a conscious effort to LOOK PAST ME by leaning over the counter to ask everyone else behind me to take their order.
In addition I saw the lady cook in the back eat, scratch her head then go back to cooking without washing her hands.
Done. Worst service ever. Avoid at all costs.

This place was worth the 1+ hour trip from Manhattan. The servers were terrific, taking the time to explain each dish. We had the goat and oxtail roti. Except for a SLIGHT dryness (cudda used more sauce with the meat) the food was great. The roti was almost as big as my head. And the meat was prepared perfectly.
Unfortunately, they don’t have a booze license, so you have to bring your own from the deli across the street. The place was filled with Barbados natives, so you know it’s authentic. I’ll be back.