Chef Trini's Restaurant

It’s been a while since we’d gone to Wagshals and I was excited to see the new format. But I was very disappointed with the execution. Food took about 30 mins to be served, despite there being only one other table seated at the time. Only one follow up from the server during this time and no explanation or apology. When the food came out, my sandwich was cold and the meat was of poor quality. My wife’s dish was equally bland, though hot.

Also, my wife ordered a mimosa, which was priced at $7 on the menu. When we got the check, it was priced at $12. I mentioned this to the server and, initially, she said the prices had changed since the menu was printed. I didn’t really care about the five bucks, but that was ridiculous. Fortunately, she did agree to charge the posted the amount and, overall, was nice.

There are lots of places to eat in DC. We won’t be going back here.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 1

I am 100% Trini. Other than the fish, which they fried up ok, for the REST of the food…all I can say is Oh dear! This was an experience never to be repeated. I’ll leave it at that.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

My oyster was room temp…. and tasted fishey

And look at this “seafood shooter”. Mind you you choose an option of crab, shrimp, etc. I asked for crab.

Came for happy hour so my bill was cheap for DC, but I didn’t eat the food. I had one glass of white wine, which was good for the price.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 3

Food was delicious. The salted cod fritters were outstanding as were the fried plantains. We had curried goat and curried chicken for dinner which was super flavorful. Will come again.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Salted Cod Fritters, Sweet Fried Plantains, Plantain Chips

wish I read reviews first, definitely not traditional trini doubles, the man working didn’t know the difference and called it a “double” for one order and charged me for two. definitely not the right pepper sauce either.

Was interested in going here but after reading the reviews as a born Trinidadian and knowing how they are representing trini food. I refuse to go. After I saw the doubles in the pictures that they’re selling as singles to hustle people and the pictures don’t even look like the doubles taste good. I feel disrespected. Trinidadian food brings people joy and it’s a peaceful place once you’re eating but this disrespect is a violation. If you’re going to serve gourmet trini food at least do it right don’t disrespect the thing like this.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

THIS IS A GIMMICK RESTURANT AS A BORN TRINIDADIAN I CAN TELL YOU THERES ABSOLUTELY NO TRINIDADIAN DISHES HERE THE MENU MENTIONS BARA CIMMONLY CALLED DOUBLES AT A WOOPING $7,50 FOR 2 PEICES I WAITED 10 M8NUTES TO BE SEATED IN A PARTIALY EMPTY RESTURANT AND TO TOP IS OFF THE SELF ACCLAMIED CHEF TRINI PROCEEDED TO IGNORE THE CUSTOMERS WHO WERE WAITING MENUS IN HAD UNTIL I GOT TIRED OF WAITING AND LEFT GE WAS SO UN ATTENTIVE I AM CERTAIN HE HAD NO CLUE WHEN I LEFT.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 1

Super nice waitstaff and delicious food. Great experience and definitely worth a trip.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I've eaten here a couple of times now, and I highly recommend it. I actually didn't go there with particularly high expectations, but I was so pleasantly surprised. They have several vegan dishes and everything I tried was delicious. While the ambiance is a bit underwhelming, it is honestly so nice to eat someplace where no one has to shout to be heard. I can't wait to go back again.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Really disappointed. Asked for a hamburger medium rare, served straight up raw meat.

This place used to be so so good. This is the second time in recent memory it’s missed the mark.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 2

Chef Trini, please go home and try again! For all the real Trinis - this place is a waste of time. The doubles were terrible no curry no seasoning :(

SUMMARY: Enjoyed Chef Trini’s very much — but is Wagshal’s managing this establishment well enough? Very, very good, hearty and well-priced Caribbean food, but a number of rough spots cry out for management attention.

DETAIL: Dinner for 2 at Chef Trini’s on a very quiet Sunday night (only 2 tables occupied.)
*Excellent: Mai tai cocktail — beautiful blend of fruits and rum. Salt cod fritter app with spicy mango chutney on the side: light and crisp-coated, savory interior beautifully set off by the fruity chutney which delivered a nice hit of heat. A delicate crème brûlée.
*Very, Very Good: Wines by the glass. Oxtail stew, lamb curry, coconut rice with pigeon peas. The oxtail stew and the lamb curry had excellent ingredients, were generously portioned and were well-priced and well-executed. (We happily took home leftovers.) The dishes were so mildly seasoned, however, that the Caribbean lilt was all but missing. We asked for and eventually received hot sauce, which upped the flavor profile considerably. Would be lovely if Chef Trini’s served hot sauce and/or other condiments with the entrees, so that patrons could add punch if they wished. Alternatively, allow patrons to order their dishes spiced mild, medium or hot. The coconut rice side dish was beautifully seasoned, but the promised pigeon peas were sparse and warranted augmentation.
*Misses: A number of items suggest haphazard management, at least during off-peak hours. The dining area was a bit chilly on a cold Sunday night. The “greens” side dish was actually a medley of mixed green vegetables. Disappointing that the dish was not the promised greens. Is the menu inaccurate or described insufficiently, or did the kitchen run out of actual greens? Iced tea was strong and bracing, but no refill was available. The kitchen, the server said, had run out. Our crème brûlée, while delicious, did not match the menu description, either (no sorrel was discernible, no ginger cookie was served.) Service was well-meaning, but slow. It was the server’s first night on the job, and they appeared to be in need of additional guidance from management.
Conclusions: Chef Trini’s has the potential to be an extremely good restaurant, and is a welcome addition to the Spring Valley dining scene. We enjoyed our meal and the rough spots that we encountered could be easily rectified. We hope that management cares enough to make the necessary adjustments.

Interesting experience. Island food was very good. Place was empty. Big change from what was Wagshals.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Jerk Chicken, Plantain Chips

If you are West Indian do not eat here. There is nothing authentic or trini about this place. Paid 100 dollars for curry flavored water with a side of chicken. The rice they used looks like parboiled rice which no West Indian is using. Everything about this food is wrong and more of a mockery to the cuisine than anything. If u want sweet plantain I guess be more specific bc I somehow ended up with thin deep fried plantain chips that we West Indians would even eat with our food. They also had no roti so Just NO. Go to The Caribbean Flavor in Germantown or literally anywhere else.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 3

This does not represent Trinidad food. I ordered doubles, and it was horrible it tasted like a Taco with boil chickpeas. ?