Caribbean Cafe

Caribbean Cafe is top-tier, no debate. From the moment I walked in, they showed me nothing but love and treated me like family. The energy was warm, welcoming, and genuine — not forced, not fake. I ordered a lot of food, and somehow they got everything out crazy fast without rushing or messing anything up. That alone tells you they know what they’re doing. The service was locked in, efficient, and respectful the whole time. This is the kind of place where you feel appreciated as a customer, not just another order number. Great people, great vibes, and great service. I’ll definitely be back — places like this deserve loyalty.

First of all the food is great! And for the specific person that said that the proportions are small and that they have nothing to compare it to cause they have never tried Haitian or Caribbean food. You sound dumb. The sauce that they give you is supposed to go on the rice you’re not supposed to eat the rice plain. And the fact that you admitted that you’ve never tried it and you have nothing to compare to just proves my point doing put a review on someone’s business when you have no idea what your talking about . They run a great business and their food and service is great. Coming from an actual Hatian .

We are Haitians who enjoy traveling, and every time we go somewhere, we look for a Haitian restaurant to try out and support. So far, in the last 3 months of our traveling, this has been an amazing experience. Their food tast very healthy and they have a nice selection 👌. My only thing i say they need to have Haitian pate. I was disappointed that ya'll didn't, but everything else was good. My husband loves the cabrit fri. If you're in Louisville, you must must go try it out for yourself. Also they have good servings and lots of meat. I didn't like how all the employees were always on their phone, and when serving us the food at the table, they were talking and laughing on the phone with someone while serving us. That was so rude. My biggest advice is to please have better customer service.

Not very friendly when enter. Very short spoken. Asked for jerk wings(7.50) and order and cabbage. The lady asked if I wanted rice with the jerk wings I told her if it comes with it then yes. She said it did. (It didn't) I noticed after I paid and left. The rice/beans tasted so bad and bland. I didnt eat any of it, couldn't make myself. The cabbage was really good though(5.00) and the pineapple soda i purchase was really good. I love carribean food and there are others that regularly go to and love so I will continue with those others around the city. Maybe other items are better idk..and won't be finding out.

Great food with unique items. Something for everyone. Tried the jerk wings and the shrimp tacos. Had sides of rice/beans, cabbage, and plantains. Everything was very good and large portions. The service was good and very helpful as it was our first time. You order at the counter and they bring it to you. Also there were tons of to go orders while we were there. Seems like a ver popular place. I recommend if you're looking for a new place to try.

Don’t walk, run here!!!!! The food is absolutely fabulous. The rice is full of flavor, the fried pork is fresh, juicy, and has a nice variation of meat and fat, and omg, the Macaroni!! It’s not shown in this picture because I ordered it to go, but, it’s to die for! It’s cheesy and full of flavor. The food tastes very authentic!! I’ll choose this over my mom’s any day! (Sorry mom) Ps. This was my first time coming here, so I wasn’t sure on what to get. The owner was very patient with me, and even gave me information on what’s popular. Love her for that.

We were searching for Jamaican and Google directed us here. Disclaimer, it's not , it's Haitian so similar. We had the curried goat and Oxtail with rice and beans. If you know what curried goat is suppose to taste like then you will not like this at all. Was very watery and more seasoned and to be cooked longer. The oxtail was okay , the best thing was the rice and beans and the fried plantains.

Me and my girl Went today after a while and the food was the best like always. The food was super fresh and everything was so goooddd, i would give 10 star if I could .

Generous amount of great tasting food at an unbeatable price. Oxtail was unbelievable, and the plantains were massive in size and taste. So many options too, I look forward to coming back and trying out the seafood

I lived in Haiti for years. I came hoping to get some good Haitian food. The food was sooo bad. the rice tasted like it was from yesterday. the rest did NOT taste Haitian. the place was dirty and had a horrible smell of pee inside. the floor was sticky and it felt greasy on the table.

Came in on my Wife's Birthday to try something new. The staff was super helpful in suggesting menu items. I got the Jerk Chicken Wings and my wife got the Beef and Vegatables plate and neither of us were disappointed! The portions are really good and we both had some leftovers to eat later that night.

Been going here for a few years now. Excellent food. Very authentic. I recommend the oxtail plate and fried beef !

This place is good but with disappointing factors. I was expecting an impactful flavor and spice but the food was bland and the flavor is reminiscent of Filipino calderata. Now, that isn't too bad but at the time, I was looking for something I haven't tasted before. The cashier was a also a bit stand offish when I asked which was was better the oxtail or the goat meat. I'm down for hole in the wall restaurants but this location was packed with weird homeless people when I visited. It could just be this one time bc I don't mind the area whenever I visit Annie's Cafe. On the good side, they gave me a large portion with 4 to 5 pieces of ox tail. The plantain was crunchy and soft on the inside which I truly enjoyed.

BOOM! I guarantee that no one would think this type of food would be in Kentucky! Place was clean, inviting, and the food was delicious. The service was great as well!! Claudia provided me with some recommendations and allowed me to taste some of the unique beverages. She directed me towards the ox tail combo and the price range was perfect. This is a must stop. I will definitely be back here!

The meat is terrible. Not sure how this is considered authentic but the macaroni is to die for. That's the only reason they get my business. Jerk wings soggy, fried chicken dry, oxtail mostly bone and unseasoned!

I love this place so much. Whether you've had Haitian food or not, this is a great place to eat it! Caribbean Cafe is conveniently located on Woodlawn Avenue (not far from I-264/ where there is ample street parking. The walls inside are bright, and there's plenty of space to sit. The environment here is laid back yet friendly. The menu isn't huge, but there are quite a few options. My personal favorites are fried beef (not deep fried but pan fried) and legume (which is a like a stew with beef--I am so happy I learned about this Haitian dish). The plantains are fantastic, and most dishes are served with rice. I've made at least two meals out of every meal I've ordered here! I am so thankful to have this spot in the neighborhood, and I highly recommend checking it out. I'm honestly craving it after writing this.

2/23/21 I came here thanks to a friends' recommendation. I ordered the fried red snapper meal and wow! Was I blown away with how delicious it was. I called before I came to make sure I was able to eat inside, and they were allowing indoor seating. Upon, arrival, they had my dish ready to go. It was popping hot and sooooo good! I mean so good! I've had plenty of Caribbean food and this place is authentic 100%. The fish was fried to perfection, and the rice and beans paired so well with it. They gave a large portion so naturally, that's my in between meal for later. They give several sauce options and the red tomato sauce was my favorite. Just so flavorful. This hidden gem is so worth checking out. You won't be disappointed.

Jerk wings were soggy cabbage was tasteless rice was undercooked lack of seasoning (asked for no beans they still put beans in it, didn't tell me it's made that way) 40 minutes before closing they had no sides available AFTER WE PAYED FOR IT! And the oxtails were not grilled they were boiled and served like a soup not grilled at all!

The food was amazing!! Great service!! We ordered a fried beef, fried pork, and fried chicken plate. They were all delicious and came with rice and beans, fried plantain, salad, a side of pikliz and sauce. Great portion size and very delicious food. We called 30 minutes in advance and they had it ready for us as soon as we arrived. They also have a delicious bakery connected to the restaurant that sells Haitian patties and other Haitian pastries and fresh juices!!! Such a gem!!!

Best Carribean food in Louisville! And the staff is very nice and sweet all the time.

The food was not that great! I went to this place because a friend of mine told me to try it out but found out later it was the wrong address so I actually wasn't supposed to go here and I see why. It really was not good. Food was not seasoned great. Customer service was alright but I wouldn't go back.

They had some bomb ass Haitian food, even my boyfriend (who isn't open to trying new foods) liked it and wanted more! When I come into town I'll always order from here!

Delicious! It takes a little while for them to prepare the food, but it's absolutely worth the wait.

Amazing food and staff is incredibly nice. If you live in the neighborhood and want to eat something delicious other than VK or Annie's, I suggest you put this place at the top of your list. Not great for large groups but can easily seat parties of four.

I visited Caribbean Cafe recently with a co-worker and we were blown away by the portions we received. We both ordered the same meal and it hit the spot. I was born here in the United States but my family is actually from Haiti, so I know good Caribbean food when I see it. If you like a little spice, be sure to get pikliz / picklese.

Caribbean Cafe is a small restaurant on the Southside of Louisville, Kentucky. We chose to take our order to go. I had a whole fried Tilapia with beans, rice and a salad. The fish was cooked to perfection. I would have liked more moisture in my beans and rice but overall everything was good. We also tried the oxtails with beans rice and plantain.

Discovered this Haitian spot while in town. It is a true gem. They serve authentic cultural food. As a native of Africa, the food here brought me back to my roots. Would definitely recommend!

I always love to eat here. I'm Jamaican and I love the Haitian food they have. They do have patty , jerk chicken, curry etc. I always get the oxtail because it's not cooked the Jamaican way. I would say if you aren't going to sit and eat call your order in. Always take about 20mins. I have never had a problem with getting food or waiting.

Just ok. Curry chicken was a huge disappointment. Oxtail was like tomato sauce and didn't say Caribbean at all. I will not eat here again.

We had the fried chicken and fried goat. Came with fried Plantains, small side salad and a large side of beans and rice. All were tasty and fried well. They provided a side dish of hot sauce with cabbage and carrots. It was pretty spicy on the goat. Enjoyed it

Gotta give this place two thumbs up! My friend and I were looking for a place to meet up and have lunch. Neither of us had tried this place or Caribbean food. The food was amazing, his new favorite is Ox Tail. You order at the counter, they'll bring it to your table. Wait wasn't long on food. They had a lot of customers getting food to go, so they must be loved by locals. Masks were worn when walking, tables distanced and sanitized. Very clean and comfortable space to hang out for 1.5 hours enjoying Haitian food. Definitely coming back again.

Wow the fried pork chunks were good. First time visiting this place but ill be back.

Really really really good food! I love the diversity of restaurants in this area, this is Haitian food and I'm not sure if this is the first in Louisville. The inside isn't impressive by any means, green and yellow painting with Bob Marley and 10 or so tables and a fridge. The food though is impressive. The fried pork was absolutely delicious, I've been disappointed lately with dried fried pork so this was a great surprise. The pork was so tender and seasoned very well. I love it when they give me fat pieces of pork as well, so on this dish you get a good balance of lean meats along with some fatty ones. I also tried the ox tail, this was good as well. Very very tender and finger licking good. Some pieces fall off the bone while you have to also use two hands to suck everything off the ox tail! The congri like rice was good, nothing fancy about it. The plantain I thought was bland, not much flavor to them at all, maybe that's the way they should be so I'm not completely sure on that, will do some research and come back! Come support a local hole in the wall restaurant so we can keep Louisville growing with culinary diversity!

Oxtails are my fav from here. The only other thing I've tried is the fried beef which is also good. But the gravy from the oxtails over some beans and rice are so good. I always hit this place up when I'm in Louisville.

The first Haitian restaurant in Louisville! So yummy. We had the fried pork (griot) and the goat in creole sauce and everything was delicious. The rice is amazing! The pikliz (spicy slaw) is a great condiment to everything. Parking is easy. Service is a bit slow but the food is top notch. Order take-out ahead of time if you don't want to wait. Can't wait to come again and try more stuff from the menu. Delicious.

Simply outstanding food and service! My girlfriend and I happened to stop at this restaurant on our way to a distillery. Get the jerk chicken and rice. The steamed cabbage is a must! The food does take a while come out but it's totally worth it. Just get it!

Walked in after inviting a girlfriend of mine to eat with me. She refused because she had plans and then when I walked in there were some church people chilling. They said you're welcome to join us if you want, and that was really nice. Then Copa del Rey was on, and we watched...talked...they had the jerk chicken and they both finished their plates. I ate my three pork tacos, and it was a dream. Creamy sauces, cheese. The pork was slightly spicy which I really enjoyed. The chick that invited to eat with me suddenly walks in, and she says, "you made it!" Lol I thought we didn't have plans! Haha she said she's getting takeout for her family. I guess this joint is popular with the church crowd. I will return.

Lè nou reste nan L'ville, nou jwenn manje a nan kafe chak fwa. Se bon, e yo bay ou anpil mange. Kabrit la ce bon bagay.

It was 10:15 at night ( the shop was closed and I didn't know ) but I saw the "open" lights on so I walked in. They still happily made me some food. I've never had Haitian, but I liked it! The rice with beans had a nice seafoody taste to it-- as if I wore eating rice with shrimp but there was no shrimp . The fried chicken was alright, kind of bland but with the dressing they provide it makes it taste 10x better. I'll definitely be coming here again to try out new dishes.

Out of town for work and never been to a Haitian restaurant... I originally ordered through the Yelp app (Grub hub) an once I arrived the owner said she didn't make this particular item anymore. I was fine with that so we will just improvise.. I called and canceled my order and was refunded. I proceeded to order steam cabbage, rice and peas, and plantains! Fresh hot and made fast! I usually buy the prepackaged plantains and never had them fresh. I'm so glad that I don't live near Louisville anymore because I would be on my 600 lbs life... If you're in Louisville, don't past this place up...

I DONT CARE WHAT I ORDER FROM HERE ITS ALWAYS AMAZING!!!!! I've only been to 3 restaurants in my life were everything is amazing and this is one of my three!!!! Perfection!!!

This place is soooooo good!!! Chicken is so juicy and tender. Staff is friendly and welcoming. The portion sizes are large and prices are very reasonable

Just ordered food from GrubHub. I didn't even get everything I ordered... But the food is so damn good. I guess I'll try again later

This place is so good, make sure to to get the fried pork. A regular size is huge! The pork is flavorful and the rice is just right with the tomato sauce. On Sundays you can get the black rice, which is my favorite of all the types of rice they have. That said I've tried many Haitian places, this is one of best affordable restaurants. Perfect for carry out!

Local mom-and-pop places have a soft place in my heart, and even more-so when it's in the Woodlawn corridor, since I live in the Beechmont neighborhood. I fell in love with Caribbean flavor when I didn't live in Kentucky and lived in a larger city that had these flavors available everywhere. Since moving to Louisville, I've been pining for a decent jerk and even a beef patty without having to buy a direct flight to an island. This Haitian restaurant hits the spot!! After reading reviews, I was resolute in trying either the oxtails, the jerk chicken, or the fried goat for lunch. The fried goat was sold out, so my husband opted for the fried red snapper. The owner was very patient with us and helped us by letting us know her favorites (which she said was the fried pork and fried goat). I reasoned that I could always try the jerk chicken at any time, so I went with the oxtail. We were told that since the snapper is fried fresh, it would be about a 15m wait, which we were fine with. There were two other men dining there that were sitting at separate tables waiting for their food, and a few people that came in and out to grab their take-out orders. For a Sunday, it was a steady flow. When the two diners got their food (around the same time), I noted they both got the oxtail, so I was interested to observe what they thought about their meal in anticipation to getting mine. After a few bites, one of the men said aloud, "well you don't have to fight with it!" which let me know that the oxtails would be tender and easy to eat. And from then, all I heard was agreeable "mmms" and the sips and slurps associated with properly eating oxtails. I was ready to eat! Shortly after, we got our food! I got the oxtails and opted for the rice and beans as a side, and it came with one plantain and a side salad with ranch dressing. My husband got his whole snapper, fried to perfection, with a side of plantains and he opted for an additional side of rice and beans also. The fish came with marinated peppers and a very spicy coleslaw, called pikliz, to complement the fish. One bite of my oxtail (you have to dive in using your fingers), and I already decided I was coming back. The oxtail was tender, and the tomato-based stew was rich and paired well with the rice and beans. I made a great decision! My husband was also all-hand-on-deck with his whole fish, and we sat and ate happily along with the two old men that were at the other tables. I will have to say that I didn't eat my side salad. There was so much food, and I wanted to focus on the items I truly came here for, so "veggies first" lost this time. I'm really happy to support this small business in my neighborhood, and I really can't wait to come back and bring friends. If I don't get the oxtails again, which I really want to, I will have to try the jerk chicken and the beef patty next time.

This one star review leans heavily on the atrocious delivery process and considering that, the food should have been spectacular. Well by looking at pictures, I did expect them to skimp on the meat (oxtails) since the containers show it on the veggie side of the plate, but oh well, I wanted to try it anyway. Also, I should have been cautious when I tried to order the first day around 3:30 and the app said it would be delivered at 6:45. After calling GrubHub, they informed me that the restaurant doesn't open until 6 pm so I cancelled (that ended up being incorrect). So today I called them to confirm their hours and was informed that they were indeed open but didn't have anyone to deliver for about the 20 mins. I said ok, I would be ready to order in about an hour anyway. So, I go into the app at around 4 pm to order and scheduled the delivery for 5:45. At 5:55, the app said delivery scheduled for 6:10. Not sure why GrubHub/Eat24 manages the delivery when the restaurant does it. Anyway, several calls between the promised delivery time & two hours later, I was told many different things, such as the driver was outside but couldn't get out of the car, he's in the lobby, he couldn't bring to room, he's unpacking the car, etc. Mind you, I went down there after being told he was waiting in the lobby for me. Then, since he was 'unloading', I went to the entrance and no one was there. It wasn't until I called and cancelled my order when they called me back and said he arrived and will deliver to my room. I travel often for work and order delivery frequently. It's not always perfect, but this is by far, the absolute worst I've experienced. I can even accept being late, but be honest about it.

Tried to order and it was closed. I left a review on the wrong location! So sorry!

When I first heard of Caribbean Cafe, I was a little intimidated - I had never tried Haitian food before and I was seeing pictures of entire fish on the menu and I wasn't sure if that was something I was ready for. But then, my guardian food angel, Amanda J., swooped in and told me that eating at this restaurant is a MUST. Boy was she right! You'll find it housed in a little nook on Woodlawn Ave - just a couple doors down from the talented Beechmont Bombshells, and just across the street from the delicious Sunergos. Soon enough there will also be a fantastic creperie on this block (shout out to La Chandeleur!) Caribbean Cafe is great to either get a table and stay to eat, or to call in for carryout. The people who work here have always been so kind and I often see them explaining different menu options to the various Haitian food amateurs who come through. No need to be shy! Caribbean Cafe's menu has something for everyone - for those who do want an entire fish - they got you with both tilapia and red snapper! For those who are looking to try goat - they got you too! They also have dishes with beef, chicken, shrimp, pork, and even conch meat! However, what I go again and again for is the Fried Beef (also called Tasso Boeuf). This is beef pieces marinated in delicious creole seasonings and then fried and tossed with onions and peppers. It comes served with a small salad with ranch dressing, white rice (you know how some rice is just better than others? this is is the good stuff), your choice of either a cup of beans or bean sauce (it's really a choice of whether you'd like more or less in the ratio of beans vs the bean liquid - you will have some beans and some liquid either way -- personally I choose bean sauce because I like saturating all of the rice in the sauce), a little cup of pikliz (a very spicy little coleslaw to add to your dish if you want it spicy - the fried beef itself isn't spicy without it), and the most FANTASTIC little cup of Haitian sauce (google that for an explanation of what seasonings go into it - but know it is a reddish orangeish little delicious sauce that is amazing poured all over everything). Lastly, you will get two smashed fried plantains - honestly, the only thing I don't truly love about this - they just don't have the consistency I like for plantains, but truly, that's an afterthought. I love having this restaurant in my neighborhood, and I hope more and more people get to discover how delicious Haitian food is!

Stopped in to try something new and I am glad I did! The food was delicious and I will definitely try this little gem again.

So I walk in around 11:30 ready to try something new but I don't see any employees. Add to that an off-putting odor, which is the last thing you want to smell walking into a restaurant I had to turn around and leave. The odor wasn't the smell of food, it was like a musty or mildew smell just so you understand.

I've traveled extensively and I have to admit this place has to be one of my favorite spots. The food is very flavorful, priced well (even for College students), and comes with large portions of rice with a tasty sauce. My wife is Haitian so she introduced me to Caribbean Cafe and now we go regularly. I highly recommend this gem! The people, culture, and food is special. There is something about the Haitian culture that resembles royalty and simplicity in conjunction.

I've been here twice with my family, both times eating in. My food was delicious each time. I've had the Tasso (fried goat chunks) with beans and rice with fried plaintain. I also had fried Tilapia (whole fish,with the head and eyes and bones), also with rice and beans and fried plaintain. Simply delicious food. I could only eat half of my fish, so I reheated it the next day and it was very good and crispy. They have a small staff but they manage the kitchen very well. They seem to be out of some items sometimes but any alternative your choose will make you forget about your original choice. They also have a good variety of soda and tropical fruit beverages.

Really tasty and good price, staff could have been a little more helpful but whatever. Cashier gave me a hard time when I asked questions about the menu.

Food was great need to fix air conditioner and cooler for beverages wasn't working well but we will go back...when it's cooler out

The food was great and would have given it a 5 star rating but the salad that come with my meal was nothing more than iceberg lettuce with a slice of tomato on top. The restaurant was very clean and the staff was friendly was the service was awesome.

I got a tip from a colleague to try this restaurant. He is an adventurous eater and likes to try authentic ethnic places. I figured my wife and kids would make good guinea pigs so I convinced them to come along and try this restaurant on a rainy and cold Friday night. The restaurant is indeed like a cafe, there are no fancy decoration, and it's a bit of a hole in the wall. You order at the counter first, seat yourself at any free table and they will come out and bring out the food to you. Caribbean food could potentially mean a lot of different things, but we quickly discovered this restaurant actually serves Haitian food. I have never been to Haiti myself but if I had to guess, it seemed the majority of other customers were of Haitian origin, which I took as a good sign. This being our first time ordering Haitian food, we took our time studying the menu. The woman at the counter was quite friendly and patiently answered our questions about the food. We ended ordering an appetizer of jerked chicken wings, one fried tilapia, one fried goat meat, one fried beef and one fried pork. Looking back now, it may seem our family is overly fond of fried food but all of the main courses were served with rice (white or mixed with black beans), a salad, (fried) plantain slices and some coleslaw. The jerked chicken wings were very good, I definitely would order those again. I played it safe and ordered the fried pork as a main course but actually liked my spouse's fried goat better. The pork was tasty but a tad on the dry side. Fried beef and tilapia were well received by my kids. They serve the meal with a little container on the side, containing a thin reddish-brown gravy which one has to pour over the rice. I would definitely recommend doing so as it was very flavorful. Despite the red appearance of the gravy, it was not spicy at all. The coleslaw however was quite spicy, I think there was habanero pepper in it, but quite tasty too. I washed my meal down with a pretty good pineapple flavored soda. Portions sizes were good and prices quite reasonable. In summary, we all enjoyed our meals, and it was a nice new culinary experience that was definitely worth repeating. I am eager to try the other Haitian specialities on my next visit.

Tried the oxtails w/rice and peas also with a side of steamed cabbage. The oxtails were cooked thoroughly and very delicious. They give you a nice amount of rice, plantains and small side salad. It was very good.