Naomi's Garden Restaurant & Lounge
Haitian restaurant · Little Haiti ·
Caribbean dishes like oxtail, jerk chicken, and vegan options
Caribbean dishes like oxtail, jerk chicken, and vegan options
"On a nice day, if you are even remotely in the mood for Caribbean food, go to Naomi’s. But even if you don’t have time to eat your food in the lovely little courtyard—where there’s a garden, a few roosters, and scattered furniture—this place is still worth the trip, especially if you’re looking for jerk chicken. Naomi’s version is very good, nicely charred, and quite juicy since they only use dark meat. It comes with two sides, and we usually go with a big pile of rice and beans and plantains." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo
"From the street, Naomi’s just looks like a little takeout spot. But after you order from their menu of Haitian and Caribbean dishes, walk around to the side of the building and find the garden seating. It’s a casual space with plenty of tables, a couple of loud roosters, and a few hammocks you’re welcome to use in case you overdid it with their great jerk chicken. Naomi’s is one of the best restaurants in Little Haiti, but it’s such a relaxing space that we’d come on a pretty day just to read a book and have a passion fruit juice." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino
"The food at Naomi’s is great. The jerk chicken, oxtail, and fried snapper are all just about as good as you’ll find in Little Haiti, but the food isn’t even our favorite thing about this place. We love Naomi’s little garden seating area, which you could easily miss from the street. It’s a lush, comfortable courtyard where you can befriend a rooster, lay in a hammock, and really feel like you’re eating on an island in the Caribbean. Definitely order a side of their macaroni gratin, too—the Haitian answer to baked mac and cheese consists of ziti in a spicy, cheesy sauce that’s one of the best versions in the city." - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo, mariana trabanino, carlos c olaechea
"The food at Naomi’s is great. The jerk chicken, oxtail, and fried snapper are all just about as good as you’ll find in Little Haiti, but the food isn’t even our favorite thing about this place. We love Naomi’s little garden seating area, which you could easily miss from the street. It’s a lush, comfortable courtyard where you can befriend a rooster, lay in a hammock, and really feel like you’re eating on an island in the Caribbean." - ryan pfeffer
"Just when you think more pieces of jerk chicken couldn’t possibly fit inside Naomi’s takeout containers, they prove you wrong by adding two more chunks to the pile. Holding the box with one hand—while using the other to grip their refreshing soursop juice—makes our tiny biceps flex with maximum effort. Luckily it’s a short commute to the beautiful patio, where you can take your sweet time and replenish those muscles with protein. Because you’ll be hauling that box back home, where it’ll live in your refrigerator for a while." - mariana trabanino, ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo
