Pimento Grill

Excellent!!! We had the jerk chicken brown chicken platters, rice & peas with steamed veggies. They were hot, moist and well-seasoned. Best I’ve had from a restaurant outside of family. The beef and spinach patties (of course with coco bread) were absolutely on POINT!!

Really amazing Caribbean food. I had the oxtail and the chicken curry with cabbage and collard greens. Everything was seasoned and cooked perfectly. I also had the cucumber ginger drink and it was not to sweet with a kick of ginger. Everyone was really nice and food came quickly for how many people were in line.

I saw this place riding by one day & saw it had good reviews. So I saved it for later. Well later came & I had to walk-in and order because they stopped answering the phones an hour before closing. I got there before closing but apparently too close to closing because things were sold out by the end of the night. I was rushed to place my order & pushed to the side quickly, so I had to get in line twice to place another order. I didn’t complain because I thought it would be worth it. Got to my destination and my oxtail platter was not good at all. The greens were too mushy & soft, the oxtails were not flavorful and the meat wasn’t tender. The curry chicken was mediocre and barely had flavor. I don’t know what people are eating from here but it doesn’t give me true Jamaican food because the flavor is off. I eat Caribbean food regularly. I’m a lover of oxtails and although the taste may vary from restaurant to restaurant, the food from here was not tasty at all. I wish I had saved my money & time!

I ordered goat it was dry. A plate full of rice and bones. No flavor just spicy; meat was mushy. I'm not impressed. If you look, I posted two pictures to show there was rice for two people with no gravy or meat. There is a much better spot on North Capital.

This place is beautiful with a Caribbean vibe. The people are very friendly and the food is amazing. I had the oxtails and my fiancée had the chicken Rasta pasta. Both dishes were great.

I got goat curry roti and homemade grapefruit lemonade! It was delicious and so fresh. Be prepared for the line, it was worth the wait. Sarah has such a warm welcome, so genuine. I’ll be back! @JB_real_estate_chic

I ordered the vegetable rasta pasta & a side of oxtail since they don't offer that combination.The food tasted good. The oxtail was tender and falling off the bone & the pasta had a little kick to it. It was a bit pricey for a side of oxtail($13)...I couldve just ordered a oxtail entree for that price but I was really in the mood for pasta.There's not much parking so order ahead. The wait wasn't too long but there was a line.They aren't on any food delivery services yet which sucks but ill definitely will be coming back. My only issue was that the salad they put on the side of my plate had no dressing on it. Should've just asked for a couple more scoops of pasta.

Is this location open again ? It says it is even though a couple months ago said it was temporary closed. Their Rasta pasta is very good and tasty woth a nice kick to it. Never had disappointed me.

Been going here for yearssssssss..the only spot I go to get my Jamaican food. Was wondering why they not open. I need food nowwwwwww. Can't wait till June 7th

I don't like to leave bad reviews! Years ago I used to go here to get the Rasta pasta. I've seen the Rasta pasta from a co worker and the portion is very little (which I understand due to the inflation of food) but they should give more due to the price of it. But I ordered the Shrimp roti was really excited about it because I wanted it for dinner. Begin eating very good flavors but I came upon this piece of hair in it. I was really mad and disgusted so I immediately throw it away after capturing the photos. So, the next day I called because they were closed. When I called the young lady asked what did I mean about hair in my food and how did it get in there? I had already explained that I came the day before and what I ordered and that I found hair in my food. After me having to get a little smart with her she calmed down and said just bring it in. I explained one last time before hanging up that the food was in the trash and it happened last night. So, I went inside and presented the photo and my receipt to the gentleman at the front counter. He asked me after I explained to him that it was hair in my food was I sure it wasn't thyme or hair. I said sir it's hair and he said I should've saved it and brung it in. Like really???? He also was very hesitant about giving me a refund because I didn't bring the actual food and he couldn't tell from the photo. He asked if I wanted another one and I said nope a refund. He was a little about giving me my refund. But I got it.

Whenever I drive by this establishment I see a line; therefore, on that alone I decided to try their food. I went on a weekday late afternoon and ordered jerk talipia (for myself) and brown stew chicken (for my mother). The food smelled great when received. However, I wasn't impressed and neither was my mom. We both agreed that our meat protein was dry. My fish was so dry, it was obvious over cooked. Moreover, my fish had no jerk flavor. All I tasted was a fishy flavor. I had to go in my kitchen and add some salt and topped it with a sauce I had on hand to give it some flavor and aid with some moisture. The rice and peas - were ok. I've definitely had better, but it was edible. My mom thought it was bland and dry. The steamed veggies were good, but it was about 1/2 cup, which I thought wasn't adequate for a cabbage side (most Caribbean restaurants I've been too give you more). I'm not sure the spice in the cabbage, but one spice was very prominent. (My guess it might be allspice - so if you don't like that flavor profile, the veggies might take some getting use to. Hopefully I went on an off day, but it will be a while before I go back to test my luck. Not a fan

Pimento grill used to be my go-to for Jamaican food, but this was my first visit since Covid. I called my order in, and to my surprise, it was ready when I arrived. I got the jerk chicken and oxtail combo, which was delicious! It was pricey, but worth it, as there was a good amount of chicken and oxtail in the platter. There used to be a dine in area, but they shut that part down during covid. Now it's to-go only.

Really enjoyed my jerk chicken the other day. The place is small and def expect a wait. We ordered and waited about 40 minutes for chicken, rice and veggies. Everything was so fresh and delicious. I do wish there was a tad more chicken but for the price it was good. Very fresh and full of flavor- spice was right. Gf had the Rasta pasta with shrimp and that was yummy as well. Against priced right, full and fresh. Would return to try something else.

Hella good! I can't say enough about how good the food is. It's a hidden gem on that side of town.

I should be ashamed of myself. I really had this place three straight days after I started with the Salmon Rasta Pasta and the salmon piece was so little. It was good. I went back the next day and got the Chicken Rasta Pasta, amazing. And Friday I went back and got chicken again and add shrimp. Lord have mercy, they are amazing and mad that they closed on Monday. Pimento Grill thank you so much for amazing food for a few days straight.

The food here is so good! I wasn't ready for my tastebuds to go so crazy! I plan on eating my way across the menu. I highly doubt anything is bad here

I must admit their food is pretty good! I wish it was a little bit more spicy but I understand it is catering to the general palette and not really the West Indian palette. The portions are pretty decent sizes. I ordered the stew chicken dinner, sweet plantain, chicken patty and Callaloo w/ salt fish (cod fish) The crust of the patty was delicious- I wish it had more filling and more spice... The callaloo and cod was pretty good but felt they could've boiled a little more of the salt from the fish... it was slightly salty. The sweet plantain were delicious with a natural sweetness (a lot of places caramelize plantain w/ sugar ) Even though I would consider them the best, they are definitely delicious and plan to visit again soon

Pimento Grill is located on a busy street, so parking may be an issue depending on the time of day you visit. I recommend calling ahead, take a friend, so they can drop you off, spin the block and come back and get you. There is no inside or outside seating. I ordered 1 curry chicken entree with rice & peas, cabbage and 1 jerk chicken entree, with rice & peas and collard greens, 1 beef patty, 1 pink grapefruit lemonade. The jerk chicken was tender and flavorful but lacked the spicy heat I expected. The cabbage was cooked to perfection but lacked salt, but I would rather add my own than for it to be too salty. The rice and peas were, delicious. Rice was moist, beans cooked perfectly. They use kidney beans not pigeon peas. The curry chicken was also very tender, but a little bland. The collard greens were tender, delicious, cooked with smoked turkey but also needed a little salt. The beef patty was flavorful, full of meat and crust was flaky, better than most I've had. The pink grapefruit lemonade was truly a treat. It was perfectly sweetened with just a touch of tartness to tickle your tastebuds. It's the perfect drink for any day, and in my opinion, a great mixer for vodka or tequila. It's a local favorite, so it goes pretty fast. Overall fast & friendly service, quality delicious food, nice portions and reasonable price point. I will definitely be back again

This should be a short, to the point review. This food was good, we waited about 30 mins for it after ordering, seems we collided with the lunch rush which was a little unexpected but also a relief that this place was worth waiting for. I got the jerk chicken platter - the spice level was a 2.5 on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being super spicy. I'm a medium spicy girl, and this jerk didn't make my nose run so you might want to ask for extra spice if sweating and nose running are your jam. For my sides I got plantains and collard greens, but still got cabbage. I really wanted to taste the greens so I'll have to catch them next time. **Be sure to check your food before you leave!!!** a few people had to circle back after checking their orders, most likely because of how busy they were. Only critique I have is DO ask for extra jerk sauce, we didn't have nearly enough. It was - dare I say - stingy. But the flavor of everything was on point, portions were good, and the quality of the food tasted pretty fresh. Would recommend and will return!

Food is just OK! The rice and peas were hard, the oxtail gravy/sauce was way too sweet, and I didn't like the cabbage at all. The service was good and the place is very small. Won't be going back.

Good food and most reliable if catering a large party. Called around to several jamaican restaurants before my event. They were the only restaurant to consistently return my call. The food was freshly cooked and ready at the confirmed pick up time!

AUTHENTIC! As a fellow Caribbean, I cannot complain. The portions are great and the food is fresh.

Below average West Indian food. I'm from NY & grew up eating Jamaican, Trinidadian food. And This restaurant wouldn't survive one day in NYC.

Food: Food was so authentically Caribbean. Large portion sizes and reasonably priced! I got jerk tilapia and curry chicken meals with rice and peas snd cabbage. Not photographed were the beef patties, ginger beer, and Ting. Spicy and flavorful. Service: Ladies taking the orders and cooking were pleasant and knowledgeable about the menu. And they have the #rona measures down. Everyone is wearing masks, plastic cutlery, and barriers to protect everyone. My belly is happy and I don't have to cook for a few days. Support local and support black businesses!

Only thing is they open when they want ..........,...................................... Awesome food though best Rasta pasta I've had

Im not sure about the other reviews but I've been eating here for years i typically get the curry shrimp and it is always fresh and delicious. Now the customer service isn't always the best but the food makes up for it

Pimento Grill is one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants. It's located on a semi busy street next to a barbershop. Parking can be an sparse during peak times. Over the years I've tried almost every item including the sandwiches and they all season nicely. My favorites are chicken Rasta pasta and jerk wing platter. The pasta is a semi-spicy Alfredo. If you are heat sensitive don't get it. I complete my order with one of the fresh juices.

This place hands down probably has the best jerk food in the city. If I lived close it'd be a real problem, trust! Love the food here especially the jerk wings and the shrimp jerk salad! Every time I come they are consistently good They are adjusting to covid by putting up plastic window covering, no indoor seating anymore, and limiting the people who can come in to order and pick up. The customer service isn't the best so that's why I gave it only 4 stars.

Good tasty food Checking in could be better some what a little confusing. Parking is tough.

How come nobody told me that this place existed!?! I would've been had this spot in heavy rotation!! Located at 4405 Bowen Rd, S.E. Washington D.C. you'll find the infamous @pimentogrill !! I'm late late in knowing about this establishment. I've driven pass this place consistently, and I've never stopped. Well...that has changed, and via their hearty, fresh, tasteful, fulfilling meals...I will be stopping there more often!! This spot serves breakfast (YES BREAKFAST) between the hours of 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.. Their breakfast includes a double egg, turkey bacon or sausage platter ($5), Callaloo, and codfish platter($6), and a turkey bacon and egg on coco bread sandwich ($5). You read that correctly!! Appetizers include beef patty's ($2), a spinach patty ($3 which I did purchase and consume before I took a picture, it was different and delicious), and coco bread ($2.50). They have soups, salads, sandwiches, Roti and seafood platters, even a broad vegetarian option. I decided to see what was up with their shrimp Rasta Pasta, and side salad (pictured $11). Just imagine a spicy, jerk seasoning bite back in your creamy Alfredo...that's what Rasta Pasta is. I truly savored each bite, it was difficult not to eat!! I also copped their jerk salmon entree with rice & peas, and cabbage (pictured $13). This meal didn't make it home. It was just everything you expect this kind of entree to be, and you can taste the love put into it. Of course the order of coco bread I had was bomb. Their drinks were refreshing too. I got a cucumber ginger that was refreshing m, and a raspberry ice tea that has to be the BEST raspberry ice tea I've ever had in life!! REALLY!! This spot is clean on the inside, they are only allowing two people in at a time (look into ordering your meal online via long lines at their location). I felt a nice warm welcoming with their customer service, but parking can be tricky via this spot being off of a main thoroughfare m, and it having other shops next to it. I'm going back...STAMP!! That's it. #jerksalmon #rastapasta #pimentogrill #riceandpeas #cocobread #blackownedbusiness #spinachpatty #cucumbergingerjuice #raspberrytea #bigschlimsreviews #cabbage #salad

This was my first visit after much nudging. Ordered a beef patty and the curry chicken platter. Both of which were amazing. Beef patty was well seasoned-it didn't make it to being photographed. The curry chicken was authentic and tasty. I will be back again. During this pandemic, I was disappointed that 2 cashiers and another person handling our food did not have their masks covering their face while serving us.

Good breakfast and the Rasta pasta is great! Very flavorful and spicy. The staff is friendly.

My Curry shrimp and Curry chicken was dry. They piled on yellow rice which would have been fine but because they didn't include any Curry sauce on top it made the rice very dry, clumpy, and inedible. I don't understand how they could put the Curry chicken and shrimp on top of the rice without any added sauce...it baffled me. I gave them three stars only because the Cocoa bread, beef patty's, and the greens were very good. I ordered my food thru Doordash and it got to me within 1 hour. It was still hot but the Curry dishes were just disappointing. I may try them out again by going to the establishment and walking them thru what I want instead of ordering takeout.

Curry goat, rice and beans with cabbage was delicious! They were not stingy with the goat! Refreshing to experience. Staff were very friendly. Police were managing the line outside of the take out restaurant.

I wrote a review about 6 months ago raving about his place, but as 'PER USUAL" the food takes likes crap now. My sister and I went on 6/4/22 and had the jerk chicken platter. The chicken was not jerked, it just had bar-b-que sauce on it. My sister got deathly ill at 3am and threw up twice. She got a terrible headache after eating. When I called to ask how the chicken was prepared, the person basically said, "too bad". IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR REAL, AUTHENTIC JAMIAICAN FOOD, THIS IS NOT THE PLACE. THE FOOD IS HORRIBLE AND WILL MAKE YOU SICK. I won't ever go back and neither will my family.

Please Note This review was very close to getting 4 stars. Here are the reasons why I rated them 3 stars. Also, when it comes to Caribbean food, Im very picky and always looking for that Authentic Jerk Flavor. Cons: The place is very small/tight. There were a lot of fly's flying around inside there. The jerk chicken not falling off the bone tender like I'm use to and it was quite dry tasting. My friend ordered the beef patty and was highly disappointed as the dough to meat ratio was highly off. She said she had way better beef patties from corner stores, and she's not very picky with food so I am quite surprised she didn't like the beef patty. Pros: You can call your order in (which I highly recommend) The customer service was awesome from the one lady that waited on me. However, the lady that took the phone orders was rude and impatient. If I was placing an order over the phone and experienced you giving me attitude, I will stop my order and go somewhere else. They should be mindful of customer service. Also the flavor of the rice was great and I loved the smoked taste on the chicken.

Great food! A little slow... ‍ Call your order in ahead and give it 30-40 minutes. Just being realistic so you're not frustrated on the wait but the food is

The food is always good! I've found it a bit difficult to get thru via telephone to place an order, but the food never dissapoints. I've tried several different items and I don't have one bad thing to say. It's black owned and excellent!

Can never go wrong here The jerk turkey avocado on coco bread is always a winner... The salmon Rasta Pasta is nice also I never have a hard time with parking or wait time

I have been to Pimento Grill many times. The food is pretty good, the service is consistently not good. Today I walked in, read the menu on the screen, and placed my order. When I received the receipt I noticed that the price for each of the 3 items I ordered was higher than the price listed on the menu. When my order was ready I mentioned to the woman behind the counter that the price I was charged is higher than the price listed on the menu. She replied "yes". No explanation. No attempt to rectify the issue. There is nothing wrong with raising your prices, but update your menu accordingly. It's not ok to charge people a different price than whats listed. There are better Jamaican restaurants, I won't be going to Pimento Grill again.

This Jamaican carryout spot in SE is great! They were good about social distancing during a busy lunch hour and our food came out quickly despite the rush. Loved the jerk chicken, so much flavor! Plus, they have great portions so we had lots of leftovers. Can't go wrong!

My husband discovered this gem. We live their food and have not been disappointed. We love the fresh punches. My favorite is the cucumber. It us refreshing. But be warned. Order before you get there. It can be quite a wait, but it us worth it. Their dedication to fresh food is evident and appreciated. Check them out.

This is probably the best spot in the district heights area to me . food is seasoned well . except for the cabbage it was very fresh (as my grandmother would say) I.e need more salt , but other than that this will be my new spot from now on. Call ahead your order so you don't have to wait.

Sitting in front of the building... I couldn't wait!! Jerk Salmon with rice n peas cabbage and a side of shrimp. Don't forget to mix your juice Everything was good

Have visited a few times and I always get the oxtails. They texture and taste is always on point! I'll definitely recommend this spot to anyone.

Authenticator West Indian food, well seasoned and it taste delicious. I highly recommend it.

Over all good place to eat when you're in the mood for Jamaican food. I've been coming here since i was a kid many years ago

This is the best Jamaican food around hands-down hands-down. Not the best of the best locations however it's not the worst location but the food is good. Great great great! Wherever you are it is worth the trip! Enough meal for 2 and prices a very reasonable.

Been a few times and I don't get the hype about his place. Not sure if this is the only Caribbean restaurant in a 20 mile radius which is why folks love it but the food is "ok." Just "ok." The last time I got the jerk-que meal (dark meat) and there was no meat on the bone. Literally threw carcass on top of rice and one chicken leg. Between the inconsistent portions, wait time, and poor customer service, I'll never be back. Two stars for being black owned. That's it!

I've finally found my Jamaican spot n SE DC!! Great entrees and great patties! GO SUPPORT!

No flavor. I guess for SE it gets a pass would never pass a Brooklyn Vibe Check! I got the oxtails wasted $20... wasn't falling off the bone... my friend got curry chicken... gross

So I've been coming here for years - but I moved from DC and happened to be in town so I picked up 2 platters for me and hubby. I normally get the shrimp Rasta pasta - but he wanted fish. I have never had it before. So I get it home almost 3 hours later - we warm it up and y'all. We were FIGHTING OVER THIS FOOD! We ended up trading plates! It was BEYOND DELICIOUS! Now he's begging me to duplicate the recipe! I wish I had a photo but we INHALED those dishes. If you're looking for really good food at fabulous prices - run, don't walk to Pimento Grill. Oh and we'll be back we're there often on business.

The last time I had Caribbean food like this was when I lived in Brooklyn NY. This place is extremely legit - most people seemed to be regulars and had called in orders ahead of time (a good tip for most Caribbean spots I've frequented over the years). My wait wasn't too long for a super generous portion of oxtail, yellow rice, cabbage and a spicy sweet cucumber ginger drink. The oxtail had a sweeter thicker sauce than what I'm used to - but was cooked to perfection. The yellow rice (I asked for way more cabbage and less rice) was tasty and the cabbage was herbaceous and a great mix to the heavy sauce. I will definitely be back to try a curry or jerk sauce next time I'm in the area.

I LOVE THIS PLACE! Whenever I am in the mood for Jamaican food this is my go to place now. I found this gem on yelp the end of January 2018. Since then I have been here a few good times. I have ordered the oxtail platter with cabbage and peas and rice (oxtail is nice and meaty), I have ordered the curry goat with cabbage and peas and rice (curry goat was not too spicy and absolutely juicy in flavor, I have also ordered the brown stew snapper with cabbage and peas and rice. I would say my least favorite was the brown stew snapper. It tasted way to sweet for my liking almost too much ketchup flavoring however it was still good. I have also tried their fresh juices in raspberry tea and ginger cucumber which was refreshing. In addition the coco bread was absolutely delicious. It was warm and fresh tasting. My dislike is that parking is very little for this place, inside is very very small, the location is in a sketchy neighborhood and the wait time if you walk in can be anywhere from 20-35 minutes. The lines are usually out the door around 11-11:30 am and I suggest calling ahead if you can get someone on the line. I always call ahead but it does take them some time to answer so keep calling. Also the people who take the order isn't always the friendliest but I think they are just overwhelm with the amount of people coming into the place. Overall, the food is very good here and I definitely recommend.

Food is pricey. Over $7 for a beef patty and coco bread.. Customer service is poor. Probably won't be back.

This used to be my go to for Jamaican food in the city. Was trying very hard to figure out why I stop patronizing this business maybe 4 years ago. I now KNOW!! Starting with no one ever answers the phone. I prefer to call ahead vrs waiting in that neighborhood. Their VM says leave a message but no one will ever return the call. Today I placed an order over the phone after dialing...drum roll... 20 times back to back (no kidding). The woman taking the order wasn't friendly and talked really fast. I arrived, walked into the business and the young lady (overweight wearing bifocals) just stared, never acknowledging me. I spoke first and her nonchalant attitude persisted throughout the transition. The older lady (maybe the owner) was very condescending with instructing me on how to wait for the "ok" and pressing a key before inserting my credit card. She handed me the receipt and walked away, never said thank you or anything. Now I see where the young lady get her looks and attitude. I love our people, but love me more. I will NEVER again drive across to that sketchy part of the city to be treated as such. And NEVER means NEVER!! Even others, who clearly don't like us and don't eat the food they sell us (yall). We get their fake smiles with a "thank you" and they ALWAYS answer their phone.

I stop by Pimento from time to time because I live close by... their Jerk Chicken and Jerk Salmon sandwiches are pretty good and their Beef Patty is tasty! In regards to entree meals, their Curry Shrimp with Stir Fry Veggies is good, I like their Red Snapper a lot. That's probably my favorite meal. Oxtail and Curry Goat are ok but not as consistent as I would like. I always get rice and peas, collard greens and steamed cabbage for sides. Love the soups as well, very good. Not my favorite Jamaican spot in the city but they get the job done. ALWAYS call ahead, if they don't pick up, keep calling, they are a small restaurant and get a lot of orders.

Any day Anything on the menu is amazing i def eat here at least 3 times out of the month ! family atmosphere great selection big portion i love it