The Jerk Pit

I work so hard and I needed to treat myself for my amazingness. I decided to order some jerk chicken, mac and cheese, and plantains from this spot. I ordered through DoorDash, so it was delivered right to my door. Delivery was smooth. My food was nicely packed. I loved that they put my Kola Champagne drink in a bag so it wouldn't crack or break. This food was so so good. You can tell from my pics and videos they BLESSEDDD me with a lot of chicken. I was able to split this into two servings: dinner today and lunch tomorrow. The chicken was so flavorful, and the mac and cheese was creamy in all the best ways and delicious. I wished they'd given me more mac and cheese and plantains, though. I literally only had exactly five plantains :/ Now, yeah, I was hungry, and if you see my name on the order form, you might as well fill my platter to the brim with chicken, plantains, and mac and cheese. It was so so good, and I will be back :)

It was after 6pm on a Friday, and had a hankering for Caribbean cuisine; after looking up a few spots, decided to drive out to The Jerk Pit in College Park. Without traffic, it’s a quick 25-minute drive from the District. Additionally, it was great to pull up and see that they have plenty of parking. Surprisingly, there was no wait to order. There are a couple of options to order-you can order the traditional way with the cashier or opt for self-order from the tablet at the counter. Also they accept many forms of tender-cash, card, Apple Pay, and even Zelle. We ordered the Combo Entree: Smoked jerk chicken (they offer the option of white, dark, or mixed) and oxtail, brown stew chicken, rice and peas, steamed cabbage, macaroni and cheese, and plantains. Quick note: each entree comes with your choice of two sides, and there are several sides to choose from (see the picture of the menu). Also, everything is reasonably priced (the combo entree of jerk chicken and oxtail was $23.00-a steal of a deal). We decided to stay and dine at the restaurant; they offer multiple indoor and outdoor seating options, including dining on the front porch, outside patio with umbrellas, and indoors with an extra dining room in the rear. No frills; however, the location is spacious and offers clean, well-lit restrooms. Lastly, they recently added a second location in the Adam’s Morgan neighborhood for those who prefer a location in the District. Definitely will return- bye for now ;) Food review: Jerk chicken 5/5 smokey, moist, with a kick of heat (bonus: they put a side of jerk sauce in the bag :)) Oxtail 4/5 tender, flavorful; could have been hotter temperature-wise Brown stew chicken 4/5 tender, well seasoned with carrots and potatoes; could have been hotter temperature-wise asked for extra brown stew sauce and received two large sauces :) Rice and peas 3/5 on the dry side; however, the addition of the brown stew gravy made it softer and fluffier Macaroni and cheese 6/10 cheesy but not the star of the sides Steamed cabbage 4/5 tender with a savory flavor Plantains 5/5 hot (temperature-wise), crispy on the outside and soft and sweet in the middle Takeaways: Order in advance; given that this was our first visit, we decided to order at the restaurant for the in-person experience. However, strongly recommend calling ahead to order (there is a wait); we enjoyed Jamaican beers and the aromatic scent of smoked, jerk chicken on the patio for a cool 30 minutes.

I found HAIR in my food. The oxtail I ordered was mostly dumplings and beans as filler. They were salty and the few pieces of meat present were tiny and mostly bones. The jerk chicken was SEVERELY underseasoned and the seasoning was just sitting on the outside of the meat. The inside tasted like completely unseasoned chicken because the seasoning clearly didn't have time to penetrate. The plantains were hard and not fully cooked The chicken patty barely contained any actual chicken and was flat. The outside was so dry that the patty was cracking instead of flaky. They also gave me rice with no cutlery whatsoever but that's not really a big deal. How can you charge 46 dollars for bones, underseasoned and undercooked food and not even give me a fork or spoon for my rice? I am attaching a pic so you guys can see how small my oxtail is and how much of it is bone. Also a pic of the hair

I place an order online and was told that the system was down and they didn't had any electricity and I'll have to wait. I provided the lady at the cashier with my phone so she was able to take a look at my order. Meanwhile I guy came through the door apparently he worked there he went to the kitchen and she started to tell him my order, he started to make the plates. My order was handed to me by the time I got home I reheated the food and began to eat the rice and peas was dried like it has been sitting for hours, the jerk chicken was stiff/hard the plantain were hard as well. Jerk wings were hard too like they have been just sitting out the food definitely tasted like it was out for a day or so. The Mac and cheese tasted disgusting to say the least 😐 overall extremely disappointing, this restaurant definitely fell off it was not worth the drive nor my money $42 dollar's gone to waist.

A Rollercoaster of Flavors and Frustrations at The Jerk Pit My recent visit to The Jerk Pit in College Park, Maryland, was a true mixed bag – a tantalizing glimpse of what could be, marred by significant service and order accuracy issues. From the moment I pulled up, the sight of a bustling parking lot and a lively queue of patrons ignited a spark of excitement. This, I thought, was the unmistakable sign of a culinary gem, a public institution for authentic Jamaican fare, drawing a diverse crowd. I placed my order, number 193, at 9:18 PM, settling in with eager anticipation. As the minutes ticked by and I watched numerous other customers receive their meals, my initial excitement began to wane. By 9:43 PM, my patience had worn thin, and I politely inquired about my order. The hostess, commendably professional and courteous throughout, immediately went to investigate. She returned with an update – a brief discussion with what appeared to be a lead chef revealed they were out of pigeon peas, an easily resolvable issue. I agreed to substitute with white rice, and was assured my meal would be ready in just 10 more minutes. Finally, at approximately 9:50 PM, my food was handed over, and I rushed home, eager to savor what I hoped would be a delicious Jamaican feast. However, my excitement quickly turned to profound disappointment. Upon opening the container, I was met with a perplexing sight: wings and macaroni, items I absolutely did not order. The most egregious omission, however, was the large order of oxtails, a premium item I had specifically paid an extra $5 for, nowhere to be found. Essentially, I paid for an order I didn't receive and was left with food I never requested. Considering the significant cost of oxtails, this was not just disappointing, but frankly infuriating. It felt like a substantial investment yielded nothing but a mix-up. It's clear The Jerk Pit boasts a significant following, and my singular experience might be an anomaly. However, as a first-time customer, being shortchanged and having my time wasted in such a manner leaves a sour taste. So, the quintessential question: would I return? Surprisingly, despite the frustrating ordeal, I find myself willing to give The Jerk Pit another chance. The accidental macaroni I received, despite not being what I ordered, was undeniably delicious. And the wings, while intensely spicy, were packed with excellent flavor. These unexpected culinary bright spots hint at the potential for truly great food, making me wonder if my experience was simply a fluke in an otherwise well-regarded establishment. My hope is that on a future visit, the kitchen's execution can match the deliciousness of their accidental offerings, and I can finally enjoy the oxtails I initially sought.

I enjoyed the food so much I got sad. Memories flooded my brain and reminded me of my honeymoon 28 years ago. Feels like the food was made with love and affection so I really appreciate the effort.

I made an online order at this location for my children. Once they arrived to get their food, a little light skin "guy" gave them an issue with getting their food that I paid for. Nevertheless, I had to get out my bed along with my wife, to go and make PROOF that the food was paid for. I have eaten at this place twice a month for a year... yet they treat US as if our money doesn't matter. Upon my visit there this evening, a couple was having issues with the same little lightskin guy at the register, and I want to make it clear that the little guy was making a show for the little ladies there. Customers were also asking for a refund upon arrival. Staff here think that they are entitled to the business of the black community, beings tho we are the only ones that support this location. That can no longer be the case. Im calling for food inspectors to view the sanitation practices of this location, and I am calling for management to hold their disrespectful staff accountable. I am calling for this place to be under investigation not fornth3 actions of the staff, but for sanitation issues as well.

Very disappointed after assuming this food would be tasty as Jamaican food topically is one of my favorite Caribbean dishes. My blood pressure was extremely high after consuming my entree when I checked it at home due to a headache soon afterwards. There was sooo much sodium inside that I tried to reduce it by adding more plain rice that I’ve made at home to the curry tofu which still didn’t work the next day thinking that I could have the remaining for lunch at work. I was able to help out the collard greens by adding some frozen greens to it which helped made it more tolerant when I returned home. I thought the dessert would make up for the bad main dish and that also was very disappointing. We’ve ordered slices of rum cake and not only did it not smell like any rum was used it also definitely didn’t taste like any rum was added! My other friends at the table also wasn’t impressed and this was their first time eating Jamaican food. The environment wasn’t inviting as there weren’t any background music or anything welcoming for those who dine in on the main level during the week. The meat and spinach patties were enjoyable as the appetizers too bad the entrees and dessert didn’t follow up. So one of the many key takeaways that I would like to conclude with is to keep your blood pressure within normal range, this is definitely not the place for you as blood pressure issues could definitely creep up if it’s not controlled and monitored often. Unfortunately, a dissatisfied customer!

This spot has that true old-school Jamaican charm. You can feel it the moment you pull up to what used to be a house, complete with a drum-style BBQ smoker out front blazing jerk. The flavor is on point. Smoky, spicy, and everything you want from real-deal Jamaican jerk. Parking is easy, but getting in can be tricky depending on which way you're coming from on Route 1. The real letdown here is the service. The staff was short with me, not rude, but definitely not welcoming. It feeds into that cliché of Caribbean spots where the food is fire, but the vibe inside is cold. All things considered, if I'm craving jerk chicken with a side of good service, I'm heading to Jerk At Nite or St. James instead. Still, if you're all about the flavor and don't mind a little attitude with your meal, this might be your spot.

Inside the painted bamboo walls of The Jerk Pit, one encounters not merely food but a dialogue with memory and fire. The jerk pork arrives charred and fragrant, kissed by smoke from a drum pan--an elemental method that feels less like cooking than communion with the earth's slow violence. The meat yields with both tenderness and resistance, as though reminding us that joy is always paid for with labor. Mac and cheese, often an afterthought in lesser kitchens, is seasoned here in the manner of Jamaica itself: assertive, spiced, carrying the ghost of scotch bonnet heat. Even the beef patties, their golden shells flaking apart, seem to whisper of hands that know the craft, not machines that mimic it. Service, attentive and unhurried, subverts the tired stereotype of indifference that clings to diaspora eateries, reminding the diner that hospitality, too, can be an art form when carried out with care. Then there is the pepper shrimp, lurking cold in its humble container at the register like contraband, glowing red with menace, its spice attack so immediate and merciless that it erases small talk and burns away illusions.

I order thru Uber Eats , took about an hour and a half to receive three pieces of under cooked tuff oxtail, dried out white meat jerk the wing was petrified a ton of rice and peas and cabbage....$55!!!!! Called several times , no one ever answers the phone and when I did get through it was ...oh well, maybe next time t will be better...wtf!!!! I'm posting this because I was just about to order again and just remembered that...clear cart !Not going there again... I was a loyal patron of the Jerk Pit however they poor customer service, lack of cleanness, long wait times, staff attitudes, order inaccurateness, and hit or miss food quality.....I do not recommend this place and have moved on to better options... To the Owner, You really have you work cut out for you, start with you cashier!!!! And clean , clean, clean

I love this place. Honestly one of the best if not the best Jamaican spot in the area. This goes for the flavor and taste. They have good jerk chicken, ox tail, meat patties, rum cake, cabbage and rice and beans. The service is okay. You order from the front desk and wait for your food. There is seating inside in the back but I tend to do to go. The food can take a bit so I recommend ordering online before going there because a lot of people order to go which can cause your food to take longer. I have drove past this place several times and wonder what the house was for. I

Honestly when it's good it's GOOD!!! I refer this place to people often. When I see them at festivals I will always patronize. They are slow as molasses service wise. It always takes long, so order in advance. The jerk snapper or oxtail is what I typically order. My only issue is they will legit sell you tough hard non tender oxtail and not bat their eyes twice when you mention it. As if the meal is cheap and won't replace it. So I order when I'm 100% in the mood and pray I'm not disappointed. But you bet your bottom dollar I will mention my dissatisfaction.

Ordered on UberEats and the food was still fresh and hot! Very flavorful I can tell that our love into the food and portions. I'll be paying a visit in person I know it smells good inside the restaurant.

Yesterday I went to the jerk pit because I love their Mac and cheese. I got two orders. When I got home I opened the containers and it was big clump of cheese not cooked. Once I got past that I took one bite and it did not taste what I was used to . Now it's been about 2 years since I've been back but I never thought it would change dramatically. I didn't bother calling to inform the business because I know they wouldn't refund the money so I just tossed it and decided I will not be back. Response to the owner: when a restaurant is popular and known for quality made dishes it doesn't matter how long it's been. The reason why I came back after 2 years was because I do remember how good the Mac and cheese was. There was in face a large clump of cheddar cheese on top that was not cooked. Perhaps you should check it out for yourself. I have no desire to return to your restaurant for Mac and cheese ever again. Lasting impression last a lifetime . Thank you for offering,

First time trying this restaurant and it was worth the money spent. I had gotten the combs oxtail with jerk chicken and it was delicious. I also got a side of jerk sauce for the rice and when I said it was fire it was. The chicken was juicy and not dried like I thought it would be. The oxtail was juicy and had flavor. They gave me a decent size amount of small oxtail and big oxtail so I can't complain there. Sadly I didn't get a chance to dine in but next time I'm in Maryland I'm definitely dining in.

Some folks I knew, visited this spot and put in an order for me. I wanted to try a beef patty (mild), coco bread and festival and was informed they had no mild beef patty nor any festival. So, I had to settle for a spicy beef patty instead. Soon after, I was informed it wouldn't not be spicy. Well, that was good to know. I trusted what was said. However, for those expecting a spicy beef patty, they might be disappointed as this didn't have a kick to it, as It was mild. I did notice the patty was rather flat like they skimped on the meat inside, but it still tasted good, so I am glad I got two. I placed one of the beef patties in between the coco bread, which was still warm, but the bread was not easy to peel apart. In conclusion, since this was a carry-out order, I was still satisfied with what I got but may try some place a bit different next time. 3.5 stars.

Came here for happy hour and karaoke on Thursday afternoon. This place is so easy to miss if you are not paying attention. I got nervous and turned too early but was able to hop back on to the main road and then make another quick turn. Once inside, it gave me a feeling of being back in Jamaica. A little small on the main floor for a lot of people but with our group size it worked. I ordered food off of the happy hour menu. I tried their jerk wings and a patty and both were delicious. I even took some of the jerk sauce and added it on to my patty and *chef kiss*. For my drink of choice, i ordered the rum punch off of the happy hour menu and kept them coming all night. lol they were delicious and quite dangerous. It was good enough to make me get up and sing (which i cant) LOL. I did try a little bit of stewed chicken my husband ordered and the flavors were perfect. I had a good time here and cant wait to come back. Shout out to our bartender. She was sanging too!

Food is delicious but you WILL wait a minimum of 45-60 minutes. Both times I picked up food to carry out - I waited about 90 minutes. Ordering ahead doesn't help, in fact, I don't recommend it b/c it's the same wait you'd have if you're whist walking in. Good food but sheesh.

Really good ackee and saltfish with boiled dumpling!! You have to call ahead though to make sure they can make it. It's usually crowded but the food has always been good and worth the wait.

Good food and service. The patties were really delicious. My faves included the beef and jerk chicken patty. I ordered a variety of dishes and they were all really good. The jerk chicken, oxtail and chicken soup were all great choices and good portions. Very busy on the night I went in and a ton of take out orders. There is ample seating inside, though I can see it getting congested on a busy night. The inly thing I didn't love is the hidden entrance to enter and exit- be very careful. Easy to miss the entrance and when exiting make sure traffic is completely clear.

Have a craving for some Jamaican food? Try the Jerk Pit; it was so good. I was so hungry; I didn't even take pics. I had the brown stew chicken with vegetables and a side of cocoa bread. So good The service is okay, and the building is large with amble parking and colorful Jamaican vibes & decor. The place could be a bit cleaner. That would be my one con. Nonetheless, I know there are nights that the grill outside is on loud reggae music playing, and crowds of people there dancing and enjoying themselves in a lounge/club atmosphere.

I called in my order, and there was still a long wait once I arrived. When I asked how much longer it would be, the lady had an attitude. Oh, and my shoes were sticking to the floor. Won't be returning.

100% recommend the jerk pit! Food is amazing , but be prepared for a long wait. I ordered the oxtail and jerk chicken combo and was given a buzzer and told 25 min wait. I decided to walk around outside and saw the chicken on the grill - my 1st sign that the food was going to be amazing! There's lots of seating inside and out, so I waited outside to enjoy the weather. Once my buzzer went off, I went back in to get my food. Customer service was pretty good. I enjoyed the food, the ambiance, and can at least appreciate that they were honest about the wait from the beginning.

It's a nice place but I've had better food from other establishments. I ordered the 3 meat platter with sides. The curry chicken is good. The jerk chicken was a little dry. The brown stew chicken was a "Take it or Leave it" situation. The rice and peas were drier than a sun beaten cactus. It was hard to consume it. I had to mix gravy from the brown stew chicken to moisten it. The cabbage was fairly good. Again, I've had better at other establishments. I was not fond of the Pineapple Ginger Drink as it was super duper strong to the point that after a sip is swallowed, there is a strong burst of ginger that burns afterwards. It's so strong that it burns your nose and throat. I love both pineapples and ginger but this combination (for me) was not working. The homemade ginger beer was good. If ginger has to hit hard, then the g-beer is where it should be prominent. The service was good although we had to wait a good while for our order to be ready. There is lot of things to look at upon entering. Lots of positive messages, Patios, and art. All in all, it's an "Eh, as long as I'm here, I guess I'll order something," restaurant.

I adore this spot! Not to far and good quality food. My only slight issue is the wait time. When I first came here, I didn't order ahead and the wait was long considering the time I showed up. I learned my lesson and ordered ahead for a pickup around 12:30pm on a Tuesday. Purposefully got there at 1pm and there were probably five others. It took another 45 mins. I say this is a slight improvement since I've never had an issue with service or food quality. Keep up the good work!

Almost missed the entrance for this place. It's hidden--a hidden gem! We ordered at the counter and was told the wait would be about 30 minutes. There were 7 of us so it was a reasonable wait time. There isn't a lot of seating available, but we were lucky to find some tables. There's also outdoor seating, but it was too hot that day. 4/5 Jerk Wings - this was originally my order, but traded with my bf. Wings were well-seasoned and came with a delicious dipping sauce. 4/5 Beef Patties - flaky shell, yummy filling. I dipped these in the jerk wing sauce lol. 5/5 Oxtail - originally my bf's order. He said it was too much work with all the oxtail bones. I was happy to trade because omg, the flaaavor was so good! I've been craving more ever since. It's just so far from where we live. I believe they're opening another location in Adams Morgan which is closer to us so I hope it opens soon!

My plantain so good My jerk was smoked and so good Rice & peas absolutely! My boyfriend put me on and I'll definitely be back

I was excited to try this place. I ordered half chicken white meal with two portions of steamed veggies and a side salad. Order was missing the side salad. Chicken was extremely dry and burnt so bad that parts were inedible. Steamed veggies were fine, what I would've expected. Sauce was very good. For$20 I expected better.

So good my favorite place to get Jamaican food I love the jerk chicken from the grill just like Jamaica if you know you know! The snapper is good also! Order in advance to kill your wait though.

The food was excellent! The chicken was spicy, seasoned well, and cooked through. Even got jerk chicken sauce. Cabbage and rice and peas were good. Everyone enjoyed their food, jerk Kingfish, oxtail , and jerk chicken. Service was good, but know the wait is long. Only cons/floor is extremely sticky, the tables are unbalanced, and bags are .$.20 But I went there for the food.

Everything about the Jerk Pit is great and if you are headed there plan ahead the food is that good.

As someone who has had this restaurant on their radar for a while my recent experience has left me really disappointed with this business. There was a going away party at church and we wanted to have some food catered from The Jerk Pit. I went in person a week before the event to place an order for the food that was confirmed by the staff and paid for in advance. It was not a small amount of money either. I confirmed with the cashier that I could come pick the food up in a week's time at 11:30AM. A lot of people that were coming to the reception were really excited because we like Jamaican food and others were excited to try it for the first time. The morning of the event my sister went with the receipt to pick up the order at 11:30AM and was first told that the order wasn't ready. This then turned to "oh we don't have a history of the order". Then it turned into "well we only have one of the items ready" and my sister was told that she would have to wait for the rest of the items to prepared (which going by the other reviews on here could have taken time she didn't have to wait). One of the owners came out and apologized to my sister saying this happened due to some miscommunication and that the charges would be reversed by the manager the next business day, but as the customer this was EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING especially because it doesn't seem like there was a straight story as to why the order wasn't fulfilled. I had to leave where I was to run to Costco to buy already prepared food at a third of the price of this order. We had a tight deadline to have everything set up and the order not being ready in time put that in jeopardy. Because of this experience, I will not be buying food from this business in the future. A couple of people who attended the reception heard what happened and said that this place is notorious for this kind of thing which is disappointing especially since this could have introduced a lot of future customers to your restaurant. ----- Lisa, thank you for your response. Your staff let me know that you would call tomorrow but I appreciate the prompt response to my review. When I originally placed the order with Stacey on June 1st I asked if I could pick up the order when the restaurant opens at 11AM. She said it would be better to come at 11:30AM as it would give you all time to make sure the order was ready. My sister was there until 11:52 which is the time I decided to go to Costco and texted her so she would not have to continue waiting at the restaurant while they tried to find a solution. Bottom line, the food was not prepared or ready on time as evidenced by Shanice, the morning cashier's response. Since the promised services were not rendered, I look forward to receiving my full refund. Thank you.

AN UNFORGETTABLE MASTERPIECE! I ordered the jerk tofu, rice and peas, and callaloo, WOAH! I didn't even make it to my veggie patty because my entrée was so good. I also added my sister's food for reference she was, SPEECHLESS. There's a bit of a wait because of how much care they put into the food. They actually grill outside!!!!! The homemade sorrel was worth every penny too. Hurry up and buy!

Needed a quick lunch. Stopped by The Jerk Pit. Asked for a lunch special. They don't offer them on Fridays. Understood. I ordered a small curry chicken with rice and peas (rice and red beans to Americans) and macaroni and cheese. The portion was good. I needed more flavor in everything. The macaroni and cheese was overcooked and needed some salt and pepper or something to spruce it up. But then again when the noodles are overcooked you can kiss it goodbye for me. I also tried a sorrel with rum drink that was bottled. I think it was homemade. I liked it. I've made a huge batch once myself and it tasted similar. My guy liked mines better but The Pit's was good to me. Inside the establishment was full of culture. Love the art work and vibe. Cashier was really busy but had a great demeanor and was kind. I'll probably try their jerk chicken one day. Pray for me, as I don't like spicy food that's so spicy it's unenjoyable.

I'm not sure where to start. We have passed this place several times over the last few months. We finally decided to stop in on our way home. We are so glad that we did. This is a mostly carry-out out type of place with a couple tables inside and a couple of tables outside. You ordered at the counter and can take your food to the table. It was a Friday night, and they were BUSY! We did not order ahead, so the wait to get our food was just over 30 minutes. It was worth the way. The jerk flavor was amazing. We got half dark jerk chicken with steamed vegetables and upgraded for mac and cheese. It definitely has a kick but not too spicy. The mac and cheese was delicious and cheesy. It is even better with a little of the jerk sauce from the chicken. We also got the jerk shrimp. What is there to say other than YUMMY! Definitely will be visiting again but will order ahead the next time.

Food is authentic and delicious . Never disappointed. Real Jamaican food and I'm a real Jamaican so you can take my review to the bank!!

The food is pretty good in comparison to other Jamaican restaurants but the service is lacking. During my initial visits I was always confused as to picking up my order. There were several people at the side counter and I felt there was no order in how you're called to pick up your food. Also, the customer service is lacking, I always feel a little intimidated and truly welcomed and appreciated. This leads to my last encounter where I placed an over the phone order for 3 half, dark chicken orders. The jerk sauce wasn't included, which is like eating Mac n cheese without the cheese. When I called the young lady who picked up said "there's nothing I can do.". I was shocked at the response and very disappointed.

Do not come soon after they open. They are serving leftovers from who knows when. They open at 1030 am. I ordered at 10:51 and arrived at 10:56 am. I ordered online when I was five minutes away. I got there and noticed that the grill was not fired up (no smoke). My order was ready at 11:08. I ordered $95 dollars worth of food and nothing was fresh. I checked everything in my order at the counter. My chicken at the bottom of the bag was cold. The container was cold. They took back the chicken and put it in the microwave and it came back out steaming hot. The Mac and cheese was old af. WTF?!?? Edit: The restaurant apparently opens at 10 a.m. I'm happy that the owner responded because it shows that she cares and could potentially get my business again. However, I stand by my statements that my chicken was refrigerator cold. I ordered two whole chickens and they came in two boxes. In one box, the chicken was minimally warm. The owner should check the operation of the warmers. In the other box the chicken was cold to the touch. There is no reason it should have been that cold so the owner may want to verify that the employees are working to her standards. The sides were minimally warm. The macaroni and cheese, however, appeared to be preserved from days prior to today. Perhaps the process for warming food that was prepared in the early morning needs to be modified so that it is not presented to the customer in a way that demonstrates it was leftover from another time. Some places stir warmed up food so that the temperature is consistent throughout a dish. For reference, I own a refrigerator at home. I have also prepared chicken and macaroni and cheese. I've refrigerated leftovers and know what they look like and feel like when they come out of the refrigerator. I also have a microwave oven and have reheated many meals like jerk chicken and macaroni and cheese in the microwave. Based upon my experience with refrigerated leftovers at home, I concluded that the food I bought from this restaurant was presented to me like food that was leftover, refrigerated, and warmed up in a microwave.

When I say I LOVE their food!!!!! That's exactly what I mean:) Always has flavor and well seasoned! Love their oxtails, goat, callaloo and sorrel! You won't regret! Be patient as good food takes time to prepare !

Been coming for over 10 years. I see the growth They deserve 5 stars. Lawd de sarl fish nice bad. Very consistent. Gwarn up No picture day because me couldn't wait fe eat. Love from

This was my first time having Jerk Pit in a really long time and I will definitely be ordering soon. Not having had it in a while, t was nice to be able to get a little taste of everything with the Jerk, Curry, and Brown Stew Chicken Sampler. I enjoyed everything and the Brown Stew Chicken was my favorite. It has a little hint of sweetness that I wasn't expecting but liked. I look forward to trying other menu options in the future!

The food is authentic and delicious! It's apparent that the proper time and attention is taken when preparing the food. I haven't tried their brunch but I heard that it's delicious. By the way, my favorite dish is the stewed fish.

i wish i lived in this area because the food here was soooo good! all of it. jerk chicken seasoned to perfection and fell off bone. mac & cabbage so yummy! price points perfect. i would definitely order this again. i wish they had beef patties tho.

A bit surprised at negative reviews for this place, but then again, I've never actually been in person. I always just order though Uber Eats. Although it may cost more, it preserves the love I have. The pork here is the best I've had anywhere. Not even exaggerating. I think the oxtail is hit or miss. Sometimes it's delicious and plentiful, other times it's all bone. But I will keep ordering from here because even their worst is better than most other restaurants' best.

It was late into the night and I was looking for something tasty that WAS NOT a pancake house or breakfast place. I ended up at The Jerk Pit, and I understand the fanfare. The service wasn't very responsive, but the staff was nice enough, when they finally decided to speak up and address me at the counter. I got the goat, which was absolutely tender and moist. It was flavorful too, so much so that I'd recommend it to anyone. They were out of beef patties and the veggie patty was adequate. The wings were GREAT! The cabbage was tasty, but had mixed veggies in it, which was different. It came out to pretty well so I have no complaints. I just thought it mention. All in all, I will be back because they seem to have a lot going for them. This has to be the best late night food in College Park

Food was made to order. Hands down has been the best Jamacian spot I have visted in Maryland

I ordered take out so I cannot reflect on the customer service or ambiance but I can attest to how delicious my food was. I ordered jerk chicken, rice and peas, and mixed vegetables. Everything was cooked well and had good flavor. I also ordered the oxtail and every single piece had too much fat on it which is why I'm giving them a 4 stars. Overall, definitely would go back.

i keep going back because the food is pretty good, and they serve stew peas. brunch is over prices at $25 with no drink. the brown stew chicken had the flavor, but the meat was hard. the goat was terrible. the service is horrible. the staff is not friendly at all. just rude. i ordered food at 8:35 pm took my insulin based on the time of 25 mins. got there at 9:20 and food not ready. rude.."they working on it". no care for your customer. no, do you need a drink nothing. manager was polite, but had excuses. they really need to work on their customer service.

This is my go to Jamaican spot! The oxtail and goat curry are by far my favorite! There is a long wait so I would recommend ordering online ahead of time.

If you're swinging by here for lunch definitely order ahead of time as they make your food when you order. I ended up waiting for half an hour, but there were a ton of people so I understood. The jerk chicken I got was a bit dry so it was a little disappointing. The sauce definitely helped, but I ended up not eating most of it. The oxtail on the other hand was out of this world. It was a little spicy and the sauce had the best flavor. The meat was fall off the bone and the cartilage was soft and melts in your mouth. The rice and peas was definitely okay, but once you put the oxtail sauce on it, it just escalated the rice so much. I loved the plantains and they really helped bring the spice and richness together. The restaurant itself is in a small house and I just love the character it gives it. You can smell the food as you pull up since their grills and smoker are outside. The staff is friendly and the place just feels so home-y.

Sunday brunch DON'T DO IT! Came at 1230 pm for the Sunday brunch being advertised (from 11am -3pm) $25 all you can eat (while supplies last!) AND bottomless mimosas. There was only my table and and old couple eating take out. You have to walk up to be served. The server was behind the food AT FIRST. Where she disappeared, I don't know. Line started to get long of people waiting to order food to go. They have no servers for the table. 2 ppl behind the desk, 1 person serving the brunch food.. no one to wait tables. I had to continuously go up to the front to ask for a mimosa. I asked for a carafe, she declined. If there are ZERO servers, why not give me one so I'm not having to wait in a to-go line everytime?!! Jerk chicken was dry, no sauce. I had to ask for oxtail sauce. They could do without the brunch. There is no service and food was eh.. I definitely DO NOT recommend the Sunday brunch.

As much as I hate to say this but my latest visit to the Jerk Pit Sat. May 24, 2025 to say the least was extremely disappointing. Having not been here in about 2 years, while in the area today, I thought I would make a stop. I ordered the jerk wing dinner, what I got was a jerk drummette dinner where the wings were dry and slathered in BBQ sauce. The rice and peas were so dry and tasteless and the cabbage lacked flavor. Extremely disappointed. This use to be one of the top spots for Jamaican food, what I had was probably the worst Jamaican food Iv'e had in a few years!!! They use to serve yhe best drummettes in the area that tasted like jerk and the BBQ sauce was on the side. Im not sure whose cooking, who changed the menu nut as a long time supporter this tasted like whoever is running this joint no longer cares about being accountable for the quality of the food.

I've driven past this place for years and finally decided to give it a try. This place has amazing food! This place is easy to miss if you're driving to it. Be sure to watch out for a colorful fence and turn into the hidden road when you see it! The environment is very laid back and feels like you're in someone's backyard. The jerk chicken and pork were both soo juicy and flavorful. I can't really decide which one I thought was better. The veggies are perfectly cooked and I loved the sweet plantains. You can even ask for the jerk sauce on the side if you don't want it too spicy. I'll definitely be back many more times! Also be sure to try their pineapple ginger juice/drink. It's sweet with a subtle hint of ginger. It was realllyyy good!

Always ordered the jerk pork before, and now it's gone. Oh well . What's up with Jamaican spots and their inability to keep a standard inventory? Poor planning.

This is one of the more better Jamaican restaurants in the area. Reasonably priced. The food was tasty. Inside the restaurant can get chaotic around 8pm even on a Monday night. So much that they will no answer the phone to take phone orders. It was that busy. Which is good that people want to eat here but may be bad if people had questions before they ordered. The restaurant is a bit dated and may present some hazards for the elderly especially in the woman's bathroom. The floor isn't even. Now to the food. The rum cake was tasty. The oxtail and jerk chicken with mac and cheese and plantains was tasty. The oxtail was a little fatty but still had good flavor as it sat in the sauce. Ask for extra jerk sauce (it's a bbq flavored sauce) for the chicken if you like sauce. The Mac and cheese wasn't too cheesy and didn't take away from the flavors of the meat. The veggie platter was tasty as well $10. Can't beat that. It wasn't anything unique about the veggie options it's just the sides. Also ask for jerk sauce on the side so that you can have jerk flavor to your meal. Overall this was a good spot to grab jamican food.

The jerk pit always delivers jerk. Pork was my choice with steamed vegetables, rice and peas kicked ass.