I was looking forward to trying Bammy's after the good reviews and great location. It sadly disappointed. The service was non-existent. There was no host to seat us until a bartender went to get him. We saw a server once - about 15 minutes after our arrival - to take our order. He never came back to see how the food was or to enable us to pay our bill. My husband went into the bar to pay our bill. It wasn't a busy night at the restaurant, and instead of working, the person who waited on us was sitting at a table chatting. The food was tasty but nearly room temperature - I like a steamy hot curry, so really disappointing. We ordered one drink each ($22 total), the vegetable curry ($15) and the smallest (2 lb) market fish. Our bill was inexplicably $120, before tip. Unfortunately my husband paid it without looking more closely or asking anything. I will never return. This was not a $145 experience.
Dara A.
Thanks to Yelp for this perfect find! It was walking distance from my hotel in Navy Yard & im sooo glad because we are soooooo good! Had to walk it off after, LOL! Our server was a cool & funny Nigerian man that was very helpful + attentive. They had great music going from when we walked up and even after we left! It was a beautiful day so we opted to sit outside. Food: 12/10!!! Jerk Wings: We tore it up before we could even get a picture! Sooo good, well sized & full of flavor but not overpowering. Oxtail & Butter Beans: I'm ready to return for this plate! Fall off the bone oxtails Escovitch Red Snapper: This was really good! Cooked very very well, as if it were from the islands. Jerk Pork Belly: this was different but good, and fatty. Collard Greens: 3/10-- not a fan, I think the coconut milk in it threw us off. Drinks: Piña Colada: the most refreshing & perfectly crafted piña colada I've ever had! I know I've said this before about another place but Bammy's is now #1!! Sooooo good my friend said forget her drink and ordered one Pain Killer: Strong but tasty. This is a must when I return to DC!!
Ashleigh T.
I will definitely be back. I finally made it to Bammy's for Sunday brunch and it was absolutely amazing. My friend and I were seated right away at a booth inside (it wasn't very busy during brunch, and we opted for inside because we thought it was going to rain). Our server told us about the specials and offered some advice about dishes on the menu. We opted to sample some dishes to share and I'm so glad we did. The oxtail, cabbage, and jerk chicken were my absolute favorite. The fritters were mostly bread and the trini fried chicken wasn't anything special ... both good but not my favorite. We also had the rum punch mimosas which were truly a party in a glass that I didn't know I needed. I will be back to Bammy's soon for dinner.
Dwayne Thomson
It brings me no joy to write this review, as this was once my favorite restaurant in the District. However, people need to be aware that this place has changed drastically since 2021.Since making Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022, prices have nearly doubled. The menu has been reduced drastically to exclude many of the best and most authentic dishes. There are now only 2 options for curry: veggie, or beef, no goat or chicken.I understand that some ingredients are hard to obtain, but the massive increase in price wipes out any goodwill this argument might generate in my opinion. There's only so many times I'm willing to patronize a restaurant when you can try the entire menu in 2 visits sadly. I miss the old Bammy's.The pigeon peas are fire though, and I highly recommend them.
Atmosphere and service are good. Good is overall good. But Jerk chicken is authentic over a jerk drum. Maybe on a commercial grill or so...dry rub. Good portion of chicken as well for those who like that.(Plate is extra long....you'll be full when you leave.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
K Young
The curry goat is solid. I didn't realize the collard greens would be soaked in coconut but it wasn't bad. The Coloring Book cocktail is nice and worth a try.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Curry Goat
Shanice G.
If you know Caribbean food, proceed with caution - the food here is a bit diluted to suite the taste of the gen pop. I can appreciate the twist of my fav dishes but this is a disclaimer to those that think they're getting the real deal. For starters - the doubles. Edible but cringey if you've had real doubles. Chickpeas have a bite to them and aren't thoroughly curried. Small amount of peppa and chutney. The roti is soggy from the liquid so you're better off using a fork here. I had the breakfast doubles that came with an egg, I respectfully told them to just put that on the side lol Not my favorite rendition of the dish but it was okay for what it is if you're not comparing. The shrimp (or crawfish) was huge! Only 3 but we shared and only ate two. The grits and collards were interesting AF but can turn into a soggy mushy mess if you're not conscious of how you're eating it. So much flavor here and the coconut was profound - I really enjoyed this dish. The oxtail was a bit of a rip off. One piece of oxtail for $18 that tasted like BBQ atop. The festival and Escovich was a bit random to pair with the oxtail but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Then again, I was hungry. I had red strip my date had rum punch. He seemed okay with it but I think I would've wanted some more Wray (If that was even at the bar). Service - now listen, historically you can't expect white glove service at a Jamaican restaurant. Just being honest. Is it nice to have? Yes. But I don't need a chippy waiter at these type of places I'm here for the food. He was pleasant, prompt and attentive but for regular folk it may not give the extra glitter glam sparkles above and beyond if you're expecting that type of business. Would I return? No. But I'd recommend as a "worth the try" restaurant for those in the area.
Mekia L.
The food simply was not tasty. I had shrimp curry and the shrimp still was in the shell, which was so strange. The curry lacked spice. Service was fine, but the vibe was pretty dead although music was decent. Such a shame because the location is ideal, but there are much better Caribbean food options in DC. DO NOT recommend.
Alexis F.
Quickly wanted to send a note to your team as everyone was so nice! I had small birthday dinner with my boyfriend last night and he is a very picky eater but has not stopped talking about your food and drinks! We had the oxtails and curry shrimp, rum punch and pina coloda - the view of the waterfront was perfect. You all truly made our night and we will be back again soon!
Carla L.
Went to Bammy's for the first time for a good friend's birthday. We were seated outside, and the view was really nice and peaceful! We started out with a few appetizers: festival, fritters, jerk wings, and oxtail. For libations we went with the rum punch twice over. Everything was very well seasoned. I'm picky with my oxtail (OXTAIL, NO S) and festival but they hit it out of the park. By the time the appitizers were done I was already pretty sated and passed on the entree. I will definitely be back to give a few other items a try! Service was average, not great but not bad either.
We came to Bammy's for a friend of a friend's birthday during August and sat outside. The seating is close to the water so there was a nice view and generally pleasant ambiance. The table ordered a few appetizers: festival, fritters, jerk wings, and oxtail. I ordered the jerk pork belly as my main dish. Everything tasted delicious- well seasoned, great sauce, and not overly spicy. I can normally put away food without a problem but after all the appetizers and a few Rum Punches, I ended up having to pack a box for most of my meal. The service was averagely good. No qualms. Overall a great time. I would recommend this spot for anyone interested in some good West Indian food.
Jay B.
The food is amazing, good portions, hot and really delicious. The service was Carribean and I loved that. The ambiance is amazing, right on the water, so you know the views were fabulous. I'll definitely be back.
Paula Rodriguez
Salt fish fritters and doubles were good. However, the jerk chicken was completely burned and charred. It is a pity because they have a nice spot, but not worthy.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Abi Oyegun
Didn't know it was possible to mess up oxtail (there was literally no taste, just the texture of the meat) until I ate here. Our waiter was great though (hence the 3 stars).
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Queen
Service: Austin greeted us when we walked in and immediately seated us. Friendly helpful service. Daniel also came over and assisted with our table and took our food orders. Both of them were very helpful.Food: Jerk wings are not jerk wings. They are whole wings and the after taste of (all spice) whatever they season the chicken with is OVERWHELMING and disgusting. We could not finish the wings. I'm telling you don't try them. We have eaten jerk wings all over Caribbean islands and NONE of them used whatever seasoning they use here.The brown stew chicken, rice and beans and plantains on the other hand was DELICIOUS! The plantains were cooked perfectly, the chicken was tender other than biting into a clove in the stew sauce and the rice and beans were ok.Cleanliness: Other than not having paper towels in the bathroom to dry my hands the bathrooms were just okay.Vibe: We went on a Saturday afternoon. The DJ was playing all the top Caribbean songs and latest hip hop but it was so loud we continuously yelled across the table to hear each other.smh. Eventually they cut the music down. Dress code was brunch type attire and a mix of casual chill.
I was looking forward to trying Bammy's after the good reviews and great location. It sadly disappointed. The service was non-existent. There was no host to seat us until a bartender went to get him. We saw a server once - about 15 minutes after our arrival - to take our order. He never came back to see how the food was or to enable us to pay our bill. My husband went into the bar to pay our bill. It wasn't a busy night at the restaurant, and instead of working, the person who waited on us was sitting at a table chatting. The food was tasty but nearly room temperature - I like a steamy hot curry, so really disappointing. We ordered one drink each ($22 total), the vegetable curry ($15) and the smallest (2 lb) market fish. Our bill was inexplicably $120, before tip. Unfortunately my husband paid it without looking more closely or asking anything. I will never return. This was not a $145 experience.
Thanks to Yelp for this perfect find! It was walking distance from my hotel in Navy Yard & im sooo glad because we are soooooo good! Had to walk it off after, LOL! Our server was a cool & funny Nigerian man that was very helpful + attentive. They had great music going from when we walked up and even after we left! It was a beautiful day so we opted to sit outside. Food: 12/10!!! Jerk Wings: We tore it up before we could even get a picture! Sooo good, well sized & full of flavor but not overpowering. Oxtail & Butter Beans: I'm ready to return for this plate! Fall off the bone oxtails Escovitch Red Snapper: This was really good! Cooked very very well, as if it were from the islands. Jerk Pork Belly: this was different but good, and fatty. Collard Greens: 3/10-- not a fan, I think the coconut milk in it threw us off. Drinks: Piña Colada: the most refreshing & perfectly crafted piña colada I've ever had! I know I've said this before about another place but Bammy's is now #1!! Sooooo good my friend said forget her drink and ordered one Pain Killer: Strong but tasty. This is a must when I return to DC!!
I will definitely be back. I finally made it to Bammy's for Sunday brunch and it was absolutely amazing. My friend and I were seated right away at a booth inside (it wasn't very busy during brunch, and we opted for inside because we thought it was going to rain). Our server told us about the specials and offered some advice about dishes on the menu. We opted to sample some dishes to share and I'm so glad we did. The oxtail, cabbage, and jerk chicken were my absolute favorite. The fritters were mostly bread and the trini fried chicken wasn't anything special ... both good but not my favorite. We also had the rum punch mimosas which were truly a party in a glass that I didn't know I needed. I will be back to Bammy's soon for dinner.
It brings me no joy to write this review, as this was once my favorite restaurant in the District. However, people need to be aware that this place has changed drastically since 2021.Since making Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022, prices have nearly doubled. The menu has been reduced drastically to exclude many of the best and most authentic dishes. There are now only 2 options for curry: veggie, or beef, no goat or chicken.I understand that some ingredients are hard to obtain, but the massive increase in price wipes out any goodwill this argument might generate in my opinion. There's only so many times I'm willing to patronize a restaurant when you can try the entire menu in 2 visits sadly. I miss the old Bammy's.The pigeon peas are fire though, and I highly recommend them.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Grilled Oxtail, Conch Fritters, Pimento Fried Chicken
Atmosphere and service are good. Good is overall good. But Jerk chicken is authentic over a jerk drum. Maybe on a commercial grill or so...dry rub. Good portion of chicken as well for those who like that.(Plate is extra long....you'll be full when you leave.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
The curry goat is solid. I didn't realize the collard greens would be soaked in coconut but it wasn't bad. The Coloring Book cocktail is nice and worth a try.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Curry Goat
If you know Caribbean food, proceed with caution - the food here is a bit diluted to suite the taste of the gen pop. I can appreciate the twist of my fav dishes but this is a disclaimer to those that think they're getting the real deal. For starters - the doubles. Edible but cringey if you've had real doubles. Chickpeas have a bite to them and aren't thoroughly curried. Small amount of peppa and chutney. The roti is soggy from the liquid so you're better off using a fork here. I had the breakfast doubles that came with an egg, I respectfully told them to just put that on the side lol Not my favorite rendition of the dish but it was okay for what it is if you're not comparing. The shrimp (or crawfish) was huge! Only 3 but we shared and only ate two. The grits and collards were interesting AF but can turn into a soggy mushy mess if you're not conscious of how you're eating it. So much flavor here and the coconut was profound - I really enjoyed this dish. The oxtail was a bit of a rip off. One piece of oxtail for $18 that tasted like BBQ atop. The festival and Escovich was a bit random to pair with the oxtail but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Then again, I was hungry. I had red strip my date had rum punch. He seemed okay with it but I think I would've wanted some more Wray (If that was even at the bar). Service - now listen, historically you can't expect white glove service at a Jamaican restaurant. Just being honest. Is it nice to have? Yes. But I don't need a chippy waiter at these type of places I'm here for the food. He was pleasant, prompt and attentive but for regular folk it may not give the extra glitter glam sparkles above and beyond if you're expecting that type of business. Would I return? No. But I'd recommend as a "worth the try" restaurant for those in the area.
The food simply was not tasty. I had shrimp curry and the shrimp still was in the shell, which was so strange. The curry lacked spice. Service was fine, but the vibe was pretty dead although music was decent. Such a shame because the location is ideal, but there are much better Caribbean food options in DC. DO NOT recommend.
Quickly wanted to send a note to your team as everyone was so nice! I had small birthday dinner with my boyfriend last night and he is a very picky eater but has not stopped talking about your food and drinks! We had the oxtails and curry shrimp, rum punch and pina coloda - the view of the waterfront was perfect. You all truly made our night and we will be back again soon!
Went to Bammy's for the first time for a good friend's birthday. We were seated outside, and the view was really nice and peaceful! We started out with a few appetizers: festival, fritters, jerk wings, and oxtail. For libations we went with the rum punch twice over. Everything was very well seasoned. I'm picky with my oxtail (OXTAIL, NO S) and festival but they hit it out of the park. By the time the appitizers were done I was already pretty sated and passed on the entree. I will definitely be back to give a few other items a try! Service was average, not great but not bad either.
Restaurantji Recommends
We came to Bammy's for a friend of a friend's birthday during August and sat outside. The seating is close to the water so there was a nice view and generally pleasant ambiance. The table ordered a few appetizers: festival, fritters, jerk wings, and oxtail. I ordered the jerk pork belly as my main dish. Everything tasted delicious- well seasoned, great sauce, and not overly spicy. I can normally put away food without a problem but after all the appetizers and a few Rum Punches, I ended up having to pack a box for most of my meal. The service was averagely good. No qualms. Overall a great time. I would recommend this spot for anyone interested in some good West Indian food.
The food is amazing, good portions, hot and really delicious. The service was Carribean and I loved that. The ambiance is amazing, right on the water, so you know the views were fabulous. I'll definitely be back.
Salt fish fritters and doubles were good. However, the jerk chicken was completely burned and charred. It is a pity because they have a nice spot, but not worthy.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Didn't know it was possible to mess up oxtail (there was literally no taste, just the texture of the meat) until I ate here. Our waiter was great though (hence the 3 stars).
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Service: Austin greeted us when we walked in and immediately seated us. Friendly helpful service. Daniel also came over and assisted with our table and took our food orders. Both of them were very helpful.Food: Jerk wings are not jerk wings. They are whole wings and the after taste of (all spice) whatever they season the chicken with is OVERWHELMING and disgusting. We could not finish the wings. I'm telling you don't try them. We have eaten jerk wings all over Caribbean islands and NONE of them used whatever seasoning they use here.The brown stew chicken, rice and beans and plantains on the other hand was DELICIOUS! The plantains were cooked perfectly, the chicken was tender other than biting into a clove in the stew sauce and the rice and beans were ok.Cleanliness: Other than not having paper towels in the bathroom to dry my hands the bathrooms were just okay.Vibe: We went on a Saturday afternoon. The DJ was playing all the top Caribbean songs and latest hip hop but it was so loud we continuously yelled across the table to hear each other.smh. Eventually they cut the music down. Dress code was brunch type attire and a mix of casual chill.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5