Pimento Grill

I absolutely love this place. Best Jamaican food in the area. The oxtails are always tender. The sauce is sweet by savory. The cabbage is awesome! It’s not over cooked so it still has a slight crunch. Their Coco bread is the softest and best tasting one yet. Try the grapefruit lemonade. Trust me!
The curry chicken is the bomb! A bit spicy but not over bearing. I used to get the dark meat until one day they were sold out and I was forced to get white meat (which happens to be boneless) and I was mad at myself for not getting it the entire time. It juicy and very tender. You can’t go wrong either way.
You honestly can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Enjoy!

I think this place is cool. The service is decent and the food is good. I will say that they can get very crowded at times so I would utilize calling ahead for pick up (although my first time, I went inside).
Both times I’ve tried this place, I got the same thing! White Jerk chicken platter with yellow rice and cabbage. The yellow rice is plentiful but not the cabbage and I LOVE cabbage. However, I feel like if I ask for more, or «extra», then I will get charged and I do not feel charging for a vegetable that’s being under-​portioned in the first place is okay.
The coco bread is good and soft. It tastes fresh.
The white meat chicken is juicy, moist and oh so good! I get extra gravy because I love to douse my food in the sauce.
The place is small inside and has a seating area that fits maybe 3 – 4.
After the first time, I said I was going to get something different but the same thing was calling me when I went back! I will try other things if it fancies me but I definitely have a tried and true meal from here.
Only street parking is available.

Food is great but gotdamn if you’re unable to fill a order call your customers and let them know. Also, we placed our orders at 1809 and it was not ready until 1915. You folks make enough money stop being cheap assessment and expand. Get rid of the 2 Lil dinning tables and the restroom and expand your business. You all make it hard to love yall. But we love yall.

I enjoyed the curry goat with rice and peas. The food was well seasoned and fresh. I wish plantain could be offered as an included side with the dinners instead of having to purchase separately. The portions are nice sized which is a plus because I love to eat. If it was closer to me I would visit a few times a week.

Still in love with this place will never change not unless the change the cook! So far it’s still the best place to get Caribbean food on this side of town!

Everything about this place is great! Yup, they’re slow & you need to call your order in advance but it’s so worth it! Black stew talapia, veggie stew, curry… everything is great! If this restaurant was West of the River it would have a line around the corner daily. Best I’ve had!

We drove all the way from Columbia, MD and it was worth the drive and 30 minute wait. We loaded our car with patties, jerk chicken, shrimp roti, aki and salt fish and ginger beer. Hands down some of the best food I’ve had away from mi yaad! Polite staff, clean little spot. I will go back one day soon!

This my favorite restaurant in Ward 7. I love this place. Everything is awesome. The Goat Roti is my favorite dish. The soups and juices are great.

Heard about this place from my BFFs (best foodie friends), and being West Indian I had to check it out.
The Food.
For my Trini massive reading this, Pimento Grill is a Jamaican eatery so don’t expect doubles or pholourie. BUT, the oxtails, rice and peas, and steamed cabbage I had was delicious! The oxtails were well seasoned and melt in your mouth tender. I personally am very picky about my gravy to rice ratio.
I like just enough gravy to cover my rice, non of that rice drowning in gravy business. Because their gravy is thick, there was no drowning of the rice and they used the perfect amount, so I was pleased. You have the option of getting yellow rice or rice and peas; nothing against yellow rice, but I’m forever a rice and peas woman. The cabbage was steamed well, and played its supporting role like a star. If you’re not a fan of cabbage, they have other side options you can choose from.
The only thing missing from this dish was PEPPA. I was so excited to get to my car for a taste that I totally forgot to ask for peppa sauce. So if you like spicy, make sure and ask for some before you head out.
The location.
Street parking is pretty easy to find.
The place itself is small! I was the fifth person in line and I was standing in the doorway holding the door open. As I remember, there is a bar along the front glass of the eatery with a few bar height chairs and two, maybe three small tables with chairs where you can sit and eat. But it does get crowded and people may end up standing very close to you as they wait to place their order.
The Service.
I read a few other reviews that notes the wait time as one of the cons, but I thought my wait time was average; 10 – 15 minutes at the most. Maybe because it was a very rainy Friday evening and I was fifth in line opposed to tenth? Not sure, but for this type of food, I expect to wait a little, and I don’t mind.
I plan to go back to try the goat roti, something I haven’t had since I was last in Trinidad. I’m always on the hunt for good, authentic West Indian food in DC. And while Pimento Grill doesn’t have everything I was hoping for, their oxtails were on point!

This is the closest Jamaican food to my spot. So when I don’t feel like making Jamaican food at home I come here.
In terms of quality, there is
— Your grandmother
— Your mother or your auntie
— The island of Jamaica as a whole
— Brooklyn
— The other boroughs
— EVERYWHERE ELSE.
When you’re in a place like DC, it’s really hard to expect top notch Jamaican food, because unlike NY, the Island, and your family — there’s no real competition. In my neighborhood, Flatbush, every block there’d be 2 – 3 Jamaican spots, a Haitian spot, and Trini spot, all vying for your dollars. Every 10 blocks there’d be a bakery or a grocery trying to get your money. Competition usually brings everyone’s game up. Dc doesn’t have that.
On top of that, the number of Yankees that come to these spots force them to dumb down the food. Yankees will be the first one to ask you «who made the potato salad» or ask for some hot sauce, but when it comes to eat some real jerk chicken or nam up some escoveitched fish they’re quick to say, «that’s too spicy» or the worse one, «I don’t eat anything with bones». Fi rah!
SE Dc and Maryland do have a fair amount of places to go, but most of the time I wonder to myself, I have chicken, grace curry, blue mountain curry, tumeric and cumin a mi yard, why was I so lazy?
The menu here
— They offer Rasta Pasta — First off, no Rasta is eating something called Rasta Pasta. And if you add flesh to the noodles — it’s no longer Ital. Even the noodles is suspect. My father is a dread and looks at spaghetti as something exotic. I guess it’s nice to appeal to Yankees in this way, but I’ve never liked it.
— They offer a toned down Jerk Chicken.
But Hold on. or as Granny might say, «But see here»
They had on the Menu
— Codfish
— Callaloo
— Ackee
— Black Cake
And you know what was in the fruit punch dispenser — SORREL. (which was a little sweet and not enough ginger for my tastes, but the fact that they had fresh sorrel, not bottled sorrel was a plus one in my book)
So even though they have carved out some American friendly dishes, there’s still some realness on the menu. Still no Stew Peas, which means i’ll have to go to the market anyway.
Parking — it’s hit and miss
Getting There — This is my neighborhood, and this is a neighborhood kinda place. It’s a trek to get there if you coming from outside.
Seating — there’s 1 table and a 3 stools. In keeping with Jamaican Restaurants in America tradition, this is really a carry out kinda place. On the island, nuff places have tables.
Clientele — A few straight from Yard, a lot like myself who are one step removed, a # of new yorkers and people from Jersey, but a lot of DC people.
In the cooler — D&G, Juices, and other specialty drinks
The Food
— Cabbage and Carrots — was missing some of the carrots
— Plantain — as cheap as plantain is — it’s extra. 2.99. They clearly don’t want me to buy it, cause I can by 3 lbs of plaintain for 3 dollars.
— Rice — Either Rice and Peas (rice cooked in coconut milk with kidney beans), or Yellow Rice (which I guess is Spanish/​Saffron rice — this is the big favorite with Americans)
What they didn’t have was rice with gunga/​pigeon peas, or just plain white rice. If they had regular steamed rice, it’s not obvious. (You eat white rice with curry chicken, but rice and peas with everything else — or at least that’s my family)
Oxtail — It was alright, a bit sweet for my tastes.
Curry Goat — The curry was good, and the goat was largely boneless. Again, could use a bit more heat, but that’s why you have a jar of onions, vinegar, and scotch bonnet in the fridge.
What keeps me coming back.
Portion Size. I price was, I give them a 20 and they give me back clamshell of food, a drink, and some change — but I’ve managed to stretch out a plate for 3 meals. Dem no stingy atall.
Recommend — It’s a good bet if you’re a local, but I wouldn’t make a special trip

Foods are great! I came with two friends and we ordered curry goat platter, brown stew chicken and grilled chicken rasta pasta

As Jamaicans would say… dah food yah eat good!!! Definitely recommend for a crave for the Jamaican cuisine. Tried the curry goat twice and it was on point… the portion was pretty large but couldn’t help myself… ate it all twice! Had the red peas soup and felt like I was in JA all over again. Had the snapper… delicious…all in all good authentic experience… felt like the food was from a Jamaican country kitchen!!! The wait can be a little long. but its all about the food.
As Jamaicans would say sell awwfffff!!!

Being a native New Yorker I found it challenging to find decent Jamaican food in this area unless I was willing to make it myself. Trying to buy it in this area was virtually impossible but thankfully I found this place thru a friend about 3 – 4 years ago (I know, I know pretty ridiculous to just now write a review).
My friend brought me a jerk fish sandwich which was absolutely divine and made me venture out that way all the way from Alexandria which can be a mission and a trek. This place reminds me so much of the spots off of Baychester Avenue in the BX. Small, with little to no places to sit, the people behind the counter straight to the point so they can serve the next person — I love it!
Since my first taste from there, I have had the curry goat, curry chicken, oxtail and brown stew chicken, roti, steam veggies, sweet plantains and a couple other dishes. All delicious and flavorful and their rice and peas always on point; never too mushy or shelly. Hmmmm writing this makes me want to take a trip over there this weekend to fill up. Yup, I think I shall and you should too.
Oh the ONLY thing I wish they sold there was some gizzada but I can always carry my butt back home for that!

Pimento Grill’s Caribbean food is so good I have to rate this place 5 s. My family hosted a Backyard Wine Caribbean Festival and we had Pimento Grill cater the food. We had jerk chicken, brown stew chicken, curry fish, cabbage, rice, plantains, patties and coco bread! Deeeelish! Our guest raved over the food and couldn’t get enough. Everything was so flavorful.
If you haven’t tried this food. .. Do so! The owner is nice and his staff will make sure you are happy.

Great food! i’ve had food at an event that was catered by Pimento Grill (patties, coco bread, jerk chicken and more) I’ve also gone on my own for oxtail and it’s by far the best. Great flavor and nice and tender. My other go to place is hit or miss with the oxtail and goat.
There are very few seats inside to wait for your order. Not really a place for you to dine-​in so you should plan to carry out. No private parking lot, so street parking is mainly what’s available. If you come during a busy time, parking may be hard to find.
TIP: DEFINITELY CALL IN YOUR ORDER!

Listen, if you want authentic Jamaican food — this is the spot. Trust me, I’m Jamaican!
Although this place is about 20+ minutes away from my house, I call my order in and make the trip. It’s worth it. I’ve tried everything here, pastas, dinners, patties, juice, etc. Everything is truly homemade, down to the blackened steel pots (well, I’m not 100% sure about this, but that’s how we do it back home and that’s the best way. My southerners know what I mean lol)
Literally, the ONLY reason I withhold a star, is the time it takes to place an order, via phone or in-​house. I highly suggest, they hire a receptionist to do nothing but take orders on the phone. This will free up the cashier to take care of in-​house orders. It’s a family business, so maybe a younger niece or nephew can intern for the summer ;)

On a whim I decided I’d answer my craving for some Caribbean food. Got lucky and found respectable street parking not far from the establishment. Ordered the curried goat with yellow rice, collards and a side of plantains. All my items were hot when I got home. Had to get it to go because it’s such a small area people who’re ordering would be standing around you as you eat and that’s not how I roll.
The portion was enough for me to eat half and still be full. The mood-​killer was the exaggerated wait. I felt some type of way when a couple came in and ordered after I had already been waiting 20 minutes & they received their order before mine. I had to sympathize with a patron who called in her order, arrived & paid and still waited 40+ minutes for her order. I would say call ahead but if it still amounts to a substantial wait what’s the point?
I peeked into the areas in the back & the serving buffet needed some love, as did some of the general prep areas. I get it that there are peak times but sanitation has to be the constant or you’ll find the Board of Health telling you to shutter the doors.
The taste of the food was great but there are some internal improvements to how orders are taken and executed. I personally watched one of the employees take a call in order & spazz out on the caller. I’ll give them another go but I already know to have some patience with the process.

Overall the food was excellent (4 stars). I will say call in your order and that may help but it may not. The place is very small and the staff seems to be a bit unorganized when a rush comes in. Unfortunately I came during the rush period around 745 one night. It took about 30 – 35 minutes for my food to come out once ordered but when you come to establishments like these you know what you are in for. On the upside all my food was cooked right there and was hot upon delivery. There were people in there before me who were still waiting as I left. I order the jerk wings with cabbage, beans and rice, along with some plantains. All tasted great and was seasoned nicely which is a rarity with many restaurants. There is not much for parking as it is all on a street but there were no issues with finding a spot even at a busy time.
I will give this place 2 stars but there needs to be some improvements and better teamwork when tracking orders and with what I saw. THIS IS A BIGGIE WITH ME. Safety around food is a big issue with me. As I was waiting for my order I noticed a guy sweeping the floor in the kitchen and around the cash register. No big deal. The issue is that he took food from the back to a male customer who was eating in this establishment without washing his hands. I specifically kept an eye on him to make sure he was not prepping or touching my food. This is a bit of a turn off because if you do this in plain sight what is happening out of site.
Yes the food is great but if the sanitation practices do not improve the good food is going to have someone sick possibly.

About a 3.5: As it was lunch time and I was in the area for work, I had the opportunity to check out Pimento Grill: D They serve authentic Jamaican cuisine, serving up items such as beef patties, jerk meats, rasta pasta, ackee & cod, callaloo greens & cod fish, roti platters, seafood entrees, as well as vegetarian options. I tried the Beef Patty (not housemade; typical patties you can find anywhere; easily forgettable), Jerk Chicken Rasta Pasta (kind of like pasta salad with chunks of jerk chicken; I didn’t really taste the jerk seasonings, and I thought the pasta would be creamier and contain more heat), Oxtail Platter (which comes with your choice of yellow rice or rice and peas, and steamed veggies or the house salad — I opted for the rice and peas and the cabbage; the oxtails were tender, but I think there was some lacking of the savory spices compared to other oxtails I’ve had; the rice and peas were definitely thick and hearty, and the legumes were definitely cooked well); and a side of the Curry Chicken (my favorite out of what was ordered; a tad salty, but this was flavorful and had great cumin flavor; definitely saucy, and it would be great with the yellow rice). I also had their homemade fresh juices, the Pink Grapefruit Lemonade, which was SO YUMMY and REFRESHING — a little tart, but definitely tangy and sweet with a lovely pink grapefruit/​lemonade flavor: D Ms. Sheril, who was working up at the front as a cashier, was SO UNBELIEVABLY SWEET. I love how she calls everyone ‘Baby’ (in the most endearing way!), and makes sure that your order is accurate and freshly-​prepared. I definitely want to try their jerk entrees next time, as well as their other homemade juices: D Definitely tons of carry-​outs and call-​ins, it seems as if people take their food to-​go. There are limited seating available, however — 4 at the counter, and one table that has 4 chairs. Parking is a little tight, but some can be found around the residential area.
+Pink Grapefruit Lemonade (homemade juices!!!) :D
+Curry Chicken
+entrees can be also ordered as a ‘side’ item (with the rice & veggies)
+ask for Ms. Sheril — SO SWEET: D
+limited seating inside (8 total)
+limited parking around the area

The good:
–short wait even tho it was busy
–friendly staff
–damn good goat and curry dishes (staples of Jamaican cuisine)
–lot of variety: mix of sandwich, fried fish, curry dishes, roti dishes
–generous portions
Bad:
–small with only one counter and tiny table for eating in
–can get crowded
–have to park illegally for the most part when they’re busy