6 Best Caribbean Restaurants near Palm Bay

“Carmen's Restaurant and Catering 2280 Harris Ave NE Palm Bay, FL 32905 4 Stars After what appeared to be a mistake in my last Jamaican joint review (whoa, that has a few connotations), I thought I was being punished by immediately being sent to another one by my random name generator. After smacking it on the side a few times and shaking it, I found it to be working correctly, so I proceeded to Carmen's Restaurant and Catering in Palm Bay, FL. What a world of difference! Carmen is the proprietor and a one-woman show and boyo, let me tell ya, she sure shines. I found Carmen's menu to be a joy to behold, as eclectic as my vinyl collection. As such, I decided to go in a different direction today and steered away from the traditional Jamaican fare such as Jerk Chicken and Curried Goat and went with an order of Carmen's Fried Chicken with sides of rice, beans and potato salad along with an order of her Bang Bang Fried Shrimp Tacos (the same name as the drek at the horrid Bonefish Grill) with fries. As Carmen got to work on my eats, I took in the interior. I found it to be open, welcoming, bright, and cheery, not unlike the owner! Carmen was out in no time with my foodstuffs. Taking a few before pictures, I got to work. I turned my attention and palate to the Fried Chicken. The first thing I noticed was the crunch of the coating. If you look at the picture I've attached, you can see what I mean. That coating was slathered on without care for conservation. It wasn't too much, it was just enough. The chicken, blanketed in a tender, juicy, succulent coating, tasted superb. The rice and beans were well-cooked and seasoned with love. The potato salad, like everything else, I assume was made by Carmen and if your Grandmother makes a better potato salad, I will eat these words! I can't speak for you, but when I hear or read the words, Bang Bang, I immediately think of three things. First, playing cops and robbers as a child and “shooting” the bad guy with my finger gun while shouting, “Bang! Bang!” The second is the Bollywood bad remake of a worse film, “Bang Bang!” The third thing I think of is Chinese Street Chicken. None of this has anything to do with Carmen's Bang Bang Fried Shrimp Tacos, other than the Bang Bang sauce is loosely based on the Chinese Street Chicken tossing sauce. Carmen's Bang Bang sauce was a mixture of mayo, spicy stuff and it was mahvalous, dahling! The shrimp were coated with the same love and care as the chicken and were just as tender and juicy. Got Dayum! Carmen knows her way around a kitchen. I can only assume these are her recipes as well. She should open a restaurant and share this with...oh, wait. Never mind. With this meal and the success of the Fried Chicken at Cajun Soul, my hopes have been raised considerably. The Big Boy says, “If you want good eats served with love and a friendly smile, visit Carmen. Tell her the Big Boy sent ya (it's safe this time)!”“

“The food was delicious. They are very friendly. Had the oxtails, rice and beans and cabbage. Everything was well seasoned. They give you more than enough food. Don’t miss this gem of a restaurant. I will definitely be going back.“

“Flavor and food quality is outstanding!“

“The food is good. The only complain I have is the serving. Today I had a take a number to buy an empanada and wait for 15 minutes to pay for it. They should put the fritters and the bake separated. In addition they need more than one cashier at lunch time.“

“Warm customer service and great food!“

“Craving authentic Haitian cuisine, I decided to visit Divine Grace Caribbean Restaurant and I’m so glad I did. I ordered the legume with black bean sauce and white rice, and it was absolutely delicious. The lady taking my order was friendly and attentive, making the experience even better. While I waited, I witnessed a touching moment: the same lady behind the counter kindly told a person begging for food that she would give him some and asked him not to trouble the other customers. It’s easy to see why this place has been a favorite among locals for over 16 years. I wish I could freeze some of this food and bring it back to Atlanta with me, it’s that good!“