Dexter’s Jamaican Restaurant

Had an awful experience the last time i visited. Turns out there’s a new owner and he can’t keep the same staff for more than 2 weeks because the restaurant now has no organization without Dexter there.
Used to love this place, will not be back.

Tasty, Tasty, Tasty. Loved the Jerked Chicken. Wonderful flavors. Can’t wait to go back. Cabbage was a wonderful side. Very close to the Toledo Art Museum.

[Disgraceful, Unclean & Undignified Slop; Not Authentic.]
We arrived & saw that Dexter’s Jamaican Restaurant had changed it’s name to Caribbean Breeze; not a big deal at all. Double checked the address was correct & went inside. Our hostess/​waitress was surprised we’d asked for a table as opposed to ordering take-​out. 10 minutes later after being seated we were given menus and nearly 90 minutes later after getting lost in the 2^nd rate comedy movie they had playing & then startled by a cb radio that started blaring over the movie, we got our food. Instant disappointment followed by regret. But we were invested with our time so we went all the way and stuck it out, still slightly hopeful. I got the Jerked Catfish, stir-​fried Cabbage & home-​baked Mac & Cheese. Everything was literally floating in an unnecessary overabundance of grease & artificial cheese sauce, I couldn’t even finish my meal. The preparation hadn’t been true to the dish, nor had the spices been authentic or even detectable. Later we found out that since the name change, the place is now mainly a nightclub & that the few diners they get are too drunk to care & usually get take-​out. Never again!

I’ve lived in Toledo for over 20 years and have always heard about this place. I finally decided to give it a try. It was great! The staff was friendly. They had the Mud Hens game on TV @ the bar.
I tried the Reggae wings (some type of jerk sauce). The wings were good, however I would prefer if they were coated in the sauce compared to being provided with a ramekin of sauce. I also ordered the Reggae chicken Dinner with the Cabbage and Cornbread. Corn bread was a little hard on the edges but had great flavor. The cabbage was cooked perfectly! not to hard and not to soft. The chicken was falling off the bone! A touch to salty but that was ok because it was so tender and flavorful!
My friend ordered the Curry chicken dinner with jasmine rice and the mac and cheese. The curry sauce was tasty and the chicken was equally tender. The rice was cooked perfectly. The mac and cheese was just OK.
While I was waiting for my carryout I enjoyed a few Red Stripes at the bar (when in rome). I talked to a few regulars at the bar and felt right at home. One gentleman said their Goat dinner was awesome and he orders it quite frequently. I’ll have to try that next time.
Overall I would definitely recommend this hidden gem. Go for the Reggae Chicken!!!

Delish goat curry and jamacian wings were awesome but for some reason came out after our entrees… 45 minutes later. Server was flustered but was very friendly.

This place is easy to miss, and doesn’t look like much but it has really good food. The chicken curry was really flavorful and it came with two sides. I also liked the beef patties and different drinks they have (champagne soda, pineapple soda, etc)
They do deliver and take out orders as well, which is nice because it is close to me.

Awwww yeah! Driving from Cleveland to Chicago, my trusty Unilocal app led me to this amazing little spot in Toledo. Odd parking lot, odd atmosphere — but usually the best places are like that in my experience.
Food: Sean had the curry goat and I had jerk chicken. We also got some plantains for an appetizer. The portions were very generous and came with choice of two sides. There were lots of choices too — it was hard to pick. We both got red beans and rice and some cabbage salad type thing. Don’t really know what it was and haven’t had anything like it before. But it was damn tasty! As was everything else. Some of the best red beans and rice I’ve ever had. We ate every single bite. The menu was very typical traditional Jamaican dishes including Soulfish, Jerk pork/​chicken, etc.
Atmosphere: as one reviewer mentioned, if your car is at all wide or has wide-​set mirrors, you will not get into the back parking lot. It is a narrow fit between a fence and the building itself. But there seemed to be parking on the street or at least a nearby side-​street.
The restaurant is inside what’s termed a ‘Jamaican Cricket Club’. Inside is an area of diner style tables next to a pick up counter. Then further back some booths, more diner tables a large screen TV and a separate bar area. Nobody seemed to be at the bar or in the restaurant, just hanging out up front. We walked in and had a ‘music-​stoppage’ type of moment. All eyes on us as, let’s just say, we looked quite different from everyone else. There were many guys just hanging out and talking, having some beers. Lots of them had Jamaican accents. At that point, I knew FOR SURE this place was going to be good.
We stepped up to the counter and were told for dine-​in we could pick a table. Further back, there were some booths and we chose one and were promptly brought some menus and asked for our drink orders. The older man who served us was very friendly and recommended some menu items. There was also an older lady who was working over in the bar area who was also very nice and made a point to talk with us when bringing us our beers. The place overall was quite clean, no complaints at all.
Great experience, cool unique spot and awesome food. Good to have a decent option for food when driving to Chicago that isn’t some god-​awful tollway fast food.
We will definitely be back.

Since my bf and I were on a road trip we decided to stop and eat in Ohio to try something different. I only decided to try this place because of the positive Unilocal reviews. I wish I didn’t come! My beef patty was served to me by having an individually bagged frozen food patty heated up and while still inside the bag plopped on a plate. I have traveled all over the world (thanks to my parents) and I have had the opportunity to go to many many many restaurants and dives. I definitely expected more at a RESTAURANT… smdh I have NEVER been to a restaurant that serves you heated bags of food on a plate. Have you??? It’s like me going to Costco and buying Cup and Noodles and heating it up in a microwave and serving it to you in its original plastic package. I guess anyone can open up a restaurant and sell frozen food packages on a plate. I mean you can at least FAKE it and take it out of the package and give better presentation. I was so turned off! Then when I asked to get the patty taken of the receipt the lady insisted that NO ONE in the world cooks homemade patties in a restaurant and that EVERYONE in the world buys their patties from a factory. So I guess she has traveled all over the world??? Even at Salvadorian restaurants they make their pupusas by hand.

Interesting décor, checker tile floor, and a makeshift dining room. Services was friendly but a little disorganized (waitress didn’t know the menu). Food was just ok, I really wanted to like it given all the great reviews. The beans were ok, a little bland, the chicken was ok, the way the meat was cut made for an awkward time eating it. I’ve had better Jamaican, I suggested elsewhere.

A couple friends (one of whom is Jamaican) recommended this restaurant, so I took their advice. My husband ordered the Jerk Pork (a little spicy, great flavor) and I got the goat curry (mild in terms of heat, but very flavorful sauce). But both of us liked the rice and beans best. It doesn’t sound like much but they were so well seasoned and with the sauce from the meal, we were both impressed! The veggies were great, too.
Most of the beverages on the menu weren’t available but the Ting was tasty. The dining room is small so I think next time, we’ll do takeout. There isn’t much food variety in Toledo, so I’m glad we have Dexter’s. I have heard the have great fried chicken but I can’t verify that personally yet!

My family was craving good Jamaican so we took a chance and tried Dexter’s.
We were not disappointed. The goat curry was excellent and our Jerk chicken hit the spot. The service was great and we will definitely become regulars. The beans and rice were very good and the Ting grapefruit soda was a fun addition.

I ordered take-​out from here tonight for the first time to help relieve my withdrawals from Jamaican food. I just got back from a Jamaican vacation two days ago, and loved the food. Dexter’s is very comparable to what we ate on the island. I ordered ox tail and jerk chicken plates, as well as a side of plantains. The meats were both very good. However, the plantains were under-​cooked. The plates come with either green beans, or a cabbage stir-​fry. I ordered one of each, but would skip the green beans next time, they tasted canned, and the cabbage was very good.
I enjoyed my conversation with the bartender from Jamaica as we discussed my trip to her homeland.
I look forward to dining-​in soon. They have music on the weekends.

Went here 4÷6÷2012
Great service and delicious food. The jerk chicken was good, and the goat is amazing. Worth going down Brancroft for.
Try the Kenyan beer too!

I wanted to love this place. The food was very good, and portions were awesome. I had the jerk pork and my wife had coconut shrimp. The red beans and rice were phenomenal, and the stir-​fried vegetables was a nice treat.
Maybe we came at the wrong time, but they were out of everything. I asked for coffee, they told us there wasn’t any. My wife ordered Coke — they only had Diet Caffeine Free Coke and Ting Grapefruit Soda. OK, not the end of the world. In fact, the Ting was pretty great.
I ordered beef patties and plantains for an appetizer. The waitress didn’t say anything, but she didn’t bring them out either. I asked again for some beef patties to go — this time she told me they were out of patties. Oh well. The next table over asked for the wifi password. Despite the sign saying, «We have free Wi-​Fi», the waitress told her it was turned off. Another couple asked for a take-​out menu. They didn’t have any.
I’ll be back for some more Caribbean goodness, but next time I’ll make it take-​out.

I’ve been going to dexter’s for years and its consistantly great tasting food.

This restaurant was recommended by a stranger as a good place to eat. He was right.
I decided to try something new so I had the jerk pork and a pink «Ting». Food was excellent, conversation with owner just as good.
Looking forward to eating there again next time I’m in the area.

Hidden Jem… Excellent home cooked food. Both Jerk Chicken and Goat Curry were excellent. Also they have happy hours Monday thru Friday from 6 to 9. So give it a try and you will like it…

I found this place thanks to Unilocal,and I’m glad I did. It’s not much on atmosphere but the great food and service makes up for it. The jerk chicken was fall-​off-​the-​bone tender and full of flavor. My girlfriend got the coconut shrimp which were large, plentiful, and breaded to delicious perfection. As for the sides the red beans and rice were very good. The green beans tasted canned and aren’t recommended, but the stir-​fried cabbage was a new and welcome experience that I would suggest. We topped our meal off with a ginger beer and some Ting (a grapefruit soda very much like Squirt). Dexter came out and chatted with us for a little while and added to the positive impression left by the friendly and attentive wait staff. Don’t bring your Hummer if you want to park in the lot, as the driveway is rather narrow.

So me and my friends just finished running a health screening and we’re looking for a place to celebrate. We’re hungry. But we want something unique. So lets see … I break out my phone, check out the Unilocal app, and see there’s a Jamaican restaurant. So why not try it out?
Okay so the 4 car caravan wasn’t the greatest idea, driving through some interesting Toledo neighborhoods. On the outside I had my doubts. But we’re already here, so might as well check it out. Apparently the building can be used as a nightclub as well, from the large speakers and dance floor.
We were the only group to come in this Saturday morning, and all eight of us were warmly seated at a table. We were given the TV remote, which somehow landed on ABC. Nothing like watching old school power rangers at a Jamaican restaurant. I’m surprised they allowed it.
But the point of this is the food. Good, wholesome, homecooked Jamaican food. Honestly, it felt very authentic. My friends had the caribbean jerk chicken, a classic. Another one had oxtails, which he surprisingly liked. I went a bit on a limb and tried the curry goat. The meat was tender, not bad at all. I really liked washing it down with the ginger beer (non-​alcoholic), it had a nice sweetness to it. Actually it’s my favorite tasting ginger beer I’ve ever had (and I usually like the Reed’s premium).
As the previous reviewer said, Dexter did come out and talk to every one of us. Very sweet man. Service was friendly and great as well. I gotta say for a traditional Jamaican meal in Toledo … this is the place to go.

There aren’t many places like this in Toledo! Dexter’s is a Jamaican restaurant with a menu full of traditional dishes. The service is always friendly and Dexter himself will probably make it over to your table to introduce himself. The food is great with large portions and low prices. While the service is great and friendly, expect to take your time — they’re not the fastest. Highly recommended!