Mommie Joe’s

Best Haitian restaurant in the area. I loved the food. I’ve been there twice and haven’t been disappointed yet. Would recommend.

Adrianne, the woman who runs Mommie Joe’s told me that the tiny shop at the corner of South Broad and Division Streets in Trenton, NJ, had been slinging Haitian dishes for more than thirty years at that location. How is it that I never saw it before last week after living and/​or working in the TNJ for almost that long? I guess I just wasn’t ready for it.
After the cover of each heated chaffing dish was lifted for me to see what was cooking, I had no problem selecting a plate of Black Rice, Oxtail Stew and a couple of golden fried Platanos. The Black Rice was a first for me, but I have learned it is possible to buy it in the right markets. It acted like the paler version I was accustomed to, with the taste of salt, pepper, garlic, and maybe a touch of something like turmeric or coriander, that only required the spooning of the Oxtail bone and amazing tawny rich sauce to make it explode with a flavor combination that was savory, smoky, meaty and mysterious. With only plastic utensils to handle the chunkiness of the beef, I really had no choice but to get manual. It would have been great if lunch had been served on a plate rather than in styro take out containers, but I understand that sometimes low budget is the only way to survive.
It became an unruly mess to pick up and gnaw at the tender ox still clinging to this matrix, but after a few seconds I forgot about the office I had to return to, and the white shirt and tie I was wearing, and just let such stolid convention go. The only way to eat this was DIRTY.
The Plantain was thin and nicely breaded before frying. It was still starchy, but the flavor was compelling.
Mommie Joe’s certainly needs a clean up, and a better spacing of the tables that were all pushed together in front of the store, but there is no question of authenticity. Adrianne even let me come behind the counter to have a better look at her dishes. She was very confident that I would like what was on the menu.
She was right.

The food is great. I love this place. The staff are friendly. The only downside is that it is in a schetchy neighborhood. You really want to get in and get out. The food is the most tasteful and worth the trip. They only take cash but it’s very affordable. Griot pork is my favorite. Parking is scarce so please try and squeeze right by the front of the store. That last statement was for your safety.

Fast service, good food. Parking and neighborhood slightly dodgy, and they only accept cash. This is my go to spot if I want Haitian food but don’t want to make the 4 hr roundtrip drive to Elizabeth, NJ for my main spot. You can eat inside but don’t expect table service or any décor or ambience-​there is none. Just a large fan and a tv on the wall set to a Haitian channel. But who cares? The food is the main attraction.