Initially, I was going to give this place three stars because my food order wasn't correct. However, once I bit into the food, I became an instant fan. I ordered the Jerk Chicken, but the server gave me a curry chicken. Nevertheless, the Jamaican style curry, blended with a little jerk seasoning, made for quite the mouth water experience. My only complaints were that the restaurant decor was dated, and the server seemed uninterested in the customers. This really isn't a problem, though, if you just pop in for lunchtime takeout.
(4)
MJ W.
Have passed by this place many times - finally stopped in and could kinda see the positives. I am not one to judge atmosphere at a place like this, but it was very clean and suitable for what it's there for. As for the food, I did not get the beef party but wish I had. Looked and smelled good when brought to a neighboring customer. The Curried Chicken was tender but lacked a lot of flavor; cabbage about the same, and the rice and peas were pretty tasty (albeit everything could use salt). Not the place I'd go for true caribbean food, but certainly not a bad pick.
(3)
Kojo B.
More like 3.5, but will give it a 4 based on longevity and consistency. When i used to live in Silver Spring about a decade ago, i used to go there quite often, now that i am in Baltimore, i pop by every now and then when i am in that corridor. Personally, they have the best beef patties that i have had period. Everything else is ok... most Jamaican restaurants dont have fricasse chicken, the closest may be brown stew chicken, they have that . Good pick up spot and that lemonade is crack.
(4)
Ty K.
Loved the Jerk Chicken Entree and Curry Chicken Patties. Very flavourful. The only problem I've had is the wait time while order on-site so I like to order by phone. When I do it's always ready to go as soon as I pay. If you like Jamaican you should definitely give them a try.
(4)
Bent B.
Try the carrot cake it's the kind of carrot cake for people who don't like to eat that, like zucchini bread.
(4)
Anita W.
I crave the beef patties and plantains here, both milk-free. Watch out for the coconut bread - they told me it has real milk, not just coconut milk in it.
(4)
Steve L.
Ok food, was piping hot. Limited Jamaican dishes. Lots of fat, unfortunately it was covered in sauce so I was chewing it for a bit before I spit it out
(1)
Amber L.
Amazing Curry Roti! Try it! Over 10 years I've been coming here with friends! Stew chicken, jerk chicken sandwich and spicy beef patty are a must. On most summer days, the line is out the door, that says it all. Authentic Jamaican foods and most Jamaican folks eat here, that says it all too lol!
(5)
Zariah G.
YUM! Go ahead order anything...it's going to very good. Very fresh and the seasonings are perfect. Don't forget to get a Ginger Beer :) they have the best!
(4)
Chris D.
This place is awesome. Great food at reasonable prices. Most Caribbean restaurants offer the same items at 3 times the price. I would recommend the Roti and Soup!
(4)
Patrick G.
Well, I only go here for one thing. The Jerk Chicken Sandwich. The bread is made from coconut flour.... unique. They bake the buns on the premises so they are always fresh. And the chicken is very succulent with crisp edges. It's as good as it gets. The chicken is dressed with a light poppy seed dressing that has a unique tang. And the crowning glory ... for me, anyway, is the house made sweet & sour habenaro hot sauce (only one per customer!!) ... But it's easy enough to take two so you can take one home. The staff have all been there for as long as I have been going there (8 years) and they each have their unique attitudes :-)
(5)
Michael S.
The jerk was really excellent. Two customers recommend the rum cake. Well have to try next time. Also must try the oxtail. This is the first restaurant in Silver Spring I've found that tastes like real Jamaican food.
(4)
L H.
I think I ate here a few years ago, but stopped back in today. Got the chicken roti, which was like a large burrito with more of a pie dough crust and pot pie-ish filling. Was tasty, but a little one note as there was a lot of shredded chicken and the potato and bell pepper (?) veggies were sparse. The side of plantains was cooked ok, but not very flavorful. Hubby got the chicken fricasee (sp?) which we both really liked. It was pieces of chicken with a tasty sauce. The sides--cabbage and rice and peas--were pretty bland. Can't comment on the ambiance as I waited in the car for hubby to order. I think he really liked it; I'd go back, but I don't know that it's my new favorite restaurant. And, I don't often eat Jamaican food, so I have no idea how it stacks up against other places in the area.
(3)
David H.
The amazing beef patty and coco bread here, alone, is enough to warrant me coming back again (and again). They're that good. I tried some other stuff on the menu - it was aight. That beef patty/coco bread though.....
(4)
Maria P.
Repeat after me: BEEF PATTY. Order it. Smell it. Look at it. Then gobble it down like it's your last meal! Repeat. This place offers your standard roti, curries, oxtail, patties, rice&peas, jerk chicken...I'm probably forgetting other important items but you get the picture! I tried the rice&peas...wasn't impressed. There wasn't much flavor and the rice could've cooked a little longer. It also had a little curry sauce on it (yay!), but the sauce had pieces of bone that almost cracked my tooth. This doesn't change how good the sauced tasted, but it was pretty annoying. The plantains are sooooo good. Like I want to inhale two orders kind of good. The seating area has several tables, but it isn't a 5star establishment so don't expect everything to be pristine. It's not dirty or anything, but tables that didn't rock back and forth would've been nice. Final verdict? I'll come here for patties and plantains, but leave the more authentic dishes for someplace else.
(3)
Morgan W.
So much food for so cheap. I always get the tilapia sandwich, which I believe is under $5 and massive. Kind of hidden, hole in the wall. Good for take out lunch, but plenty of space if you want to eat in. Tasty hot sauce (typical tart scotch bonnet type, I think).
(4)
Jeremiah N.
I regularly get the tilapia special. For under $7 you get a good size fillet, rice & beans, cabbage and plantains. Also great is the vegetable pattie. Makes me feel closer to and miss one of my favorite places in the world: Jamaica. Nice to have something different in the area
(4)
Jess Y.
The hype is real. Jerk chicken sandwich. Do it! The jerk chicken sandwich has a perfect amount of meat to bread to veggie ratio, it's extremely juicy and flavorful. The beef patties are super flaky and crunchy on the outside, yet soft and moist on the inside. The beef has a good amount of spice as well.
(4)
Chawn P.
Me and a coworker came here for dinner one night and we both ordered the jerk chicken sandwich. I must say that was one of the better chicken sandwiches I've had in a while. I also ordered a side of plantains which was not bad.
(4)
Rochelle Y.
I come here every single time im in silver spring. I wish my family never move the dc/md area has all the best ethnic foods i love. I'm really into jamaican food and this is where i had my first real (not frozen) beef patty. UGH their patties are wonderful. Get it with the coco bread ( which went up in price at least 40 cents annoying as hell) their goat roti is good and their plantains are usually delicious and really hot. I'm not in love with the prices, i think they are greedy. I haven't really tried anything over $8 but i doubt i won't be satisfied. Their lemonade is incredible. SO good. We tried to get a gallon. And i believe it was over 20 dollars!? That is totally stealing. This place is good but it's probably not the best in the area.
(3)
Sam S.
Overall I give this place a no. This place was right around the corner from where I live and I have always been curious. So I went all out and ordered 4 different items. As the philosophy says, go big or go home :) The positives: For $2 and to get a beef patty that was amazingly seasoned?!?! Yumm!! I also got coco bread. As I ate it I couldn't put a finger on what it tasted like. My Jamaican roommate explained its supposed to be sweet bread. Anyhow, enjoyed eating that The negatives: got the famous jerk chicken sandwich and not so famous jerk chicken entree. Both items use the same flavors, if we can call them flavors. Both were lacking in spices. Jamaican roommate told me I'm supposed to be eating something spicy. I had some brown stuff on my chicken but didn't taste like much. Entree includes rice with beans ands cabbage. Rice was dry. Cabbage was again lacking in seasoning. Parking wasn't a challenge unless if you're parking on the street. There's a Montgomery county parking lot a block from this place and its free after 7. Overall this place is hit or miss. I can't eat 5 beef patties to make myself full so I'll pass on this place.
(2)
Majick L.
YES! Finally GOOD jamaican food. Do you know how long I have waited for this?! I will admit, I knocked a star off for the jerk chicken being a little on the dry side, but the flavor kind of made up for it. My favorite dish here is the curried goat. Cooked perfectly, love the sauce, and seasoning, and portion size makes me feel like i'm getting my moneys worth. I highly recommend this place. My only gripe is the parking...which is nonexistent.
(4)
Patricia R.
The beef patties were burned which was very disappointing to me. BUT THE COCO COCO BREAD! I bought 3 loaves and ate two before I made it back to Baltimore... with 2 out of 5 burned beef patties... Again - don't judge me!! Oh - the sorrel was the BEST!
(2)
KC T.
Now - this is really good yard eatin'. Negril is definitely the spot for authentic Jamaican food. They have all the traditional meals - like beef patties, curry goat, oxtail, jerk chicken, fricasseed chicken, curry chicken, stewed chicken, rotis snapper...etc. They also have excellent carrot and banana cakes, and island juices. However, there is no ackee and salt/cod fish here :-( The prices for their entrees range from $8 - $11; and $2 for the patties and cake slices - which are pretty reasonable comparably. Their portion sizes are also pretty large - so "no problem" there. While most people seem to order out, they also have a side dining area - which is very nice for small parties. This is definitely a good spot to check out.
(4)
Bryan W.
I was totally shattered when Tropicana closed.. It was not the best Caribbean place but it was consistent. I knew that I was going to get slightly over cooked and hand cut cabbage with peppers and onions with peas and rice that I would smack your mother for. FLAVORFUL FOOD!!! I popped in Negril around 8 Pm to a small crowd.. NOBODY HERE IS SMILING!!! Not a good sign. The counter persons were having a heated discussion about previous orders and each others competence. It appears that the guest that were waiting had been waiting for an extended amount of time. I remember this place as a generic version of a Caribbean restaurant. Stale and uniformed... People have posted about how this place reminds them of home... Jamaica... I see it as a large Corporation receiving pre-sliced items and not so homemade sauces. I ordered the simple Jerk Chicken dinner, cabbage, peas and rice. I waited........ and waited..... What I received was perfectly sliced and uniform shreds of cabbage with onions, green peppers and carrots. It was as if the factory churned out vegetables were just dropped into a pot of lightly salted boiling water. Absolutely no flavor at all. I will say this. I am a big fan of cabbage and this was pleasantly crunchy and full of different levels of texture... I would even have enjoyed less texture and more flavor. How do you mess up peas and rice?? It was as if it was prepared and then water was added.... The funny thing is that it had more flavor than the cabbage! The sides I could actually deal with. I have salt and pepper! The biggest let down was the chicken. First of all it tasted like liver. I like liver but not in the form of 1/2 a chicken. The menu states that the Jerk Chicken was marinated and smoked with special seasonings. Salt not being one of them. It tasted like the Brown Stew Chicken with out the tomato based sauce. An additional side of mystery sauce was included and the jury is still out as to what it actually was... I am not writing this place off but I think they need a little work here.
(2)
Tonny T.
Beef patty and coco bread with their delicious real fruit punch, it never disappoints me.
(5)
DON C.
Hot damm!!! A food fantasy seeker's delight! The escovietched red snapper is to die for! Every bite gave me a satisfying calling to all my human senses (vision, smell, taste, and touch). Being of Carribean and gullah descent, it is NOT often that I give a carribean restaurant in the DMV five stars! Actually this is the first!! Also, the Negril by far is not the best Caribbean restaurant, but there is one dish....the escovietched red snapper that would make you a fan of this place. For those who do not know, escovietched fish is simply a crispy, well seasoned pan-fried snapper (or kingfish in some Caribbean restaurants). Once fried, the fish is stewed in a tomato base sauce cooked with onions, green peppers, carrots, and habaneros. The medley of flavors, when executed right, will put you on a natural high--nirvana! LOL!! Talk about heaven....I was there!! If you ever in the Silver Spring or Wash, DC area make sure you check them out and order this dish. You will not be disappointed. Check out my photos of the meal.
(5)
S. S.
TERRIBLE. I ordered ahead. First, warning sign was that they don't have a parking lot...in Silver Spring. I drive around for like 10 minutes and illegally park at the bank and run in. I get inside and I'm informed that instead of the Jerk Chicken that I ordered, someone put in the a jerk salad...Like how many people really go in there for that especially considering it's not even on their menu online? So I say "ok can you put in the correct order?" And of course...she can but...it will take 10+ minutes. Which would be fine...EXCEPT THEY DON'T HAVE A PARKING LOT. (and also, it's your mistake but the only solution is further inconveniencing me...then there is clearly a customer service problem). So I said "no that's fine" Then I get home.... Now, I grew up outside of NYC where there is a TON of great Jamaican food and I accepted that it probably wouldn't be as good as I was used to. I bit into the beef patty and it was SO WAXY that I actually stopped to look and see if I pit into the paper it was wrapped in. Nope. Clearly had been sitting out all day and throne into the microwave. Then the salad...I'm not opposed to salads, i like them! However, the 'jerk chicken' on this salad was SO SALTY. Like I'm actually concerned by how salty. It was so salty that I, who have never suffered from high blood pressure before, was ready to just make an emergency trip to the doctor to make sure I don't end up having a stroke. Also, the salad was inexplicably covered in those chinese noodle things and the tomatos on the salad were overripe...and had clearly seen better days. All that to say. DON"T. JUST DON"T. IF you're really hankering for Jamaican food there are places in Northern Virginia that are better than this. YUCKY.
(1)
Nils W.
The jerk chicken is sweeter than most places, but you can barely tell the difference with the scotch bonnet hot sauce they've got.. also, they're very fast and great customer service
(4)
Loveit O.
Sigh..Negril used to be good. Went and got a curry chicken patty, coco bread, and curry chicken dinner. The patty was decent but could have had more filling. The coco bread was on point - highlight of my meal. Now on to the curry chicken. Ughhh no flavor AT ALL. There was zero sauce, the cabbage sucked, and the dish was mostly rice. And why don't they give any plantains?? Like really? Not even two? I also wonder why oh why do businesses switch their kitchen staff???? Not racist at all but when I go to an ethnic establishment I would really appreciate having people of that ethnicity cook the food!!!! It makes a difference people. Stop being cheap and sourcing cheap labor. Suffice it to say I will only go back for the coco bread (which earned them the 2nd star). Judys island grill in Baltimore is WAY better and I need to try Sweet Mangos (totally forgot about it today or I would have made the trip there).
(2)
Mitali T.
Just did take-out the other day -- love the tilapia platter, the plantains, and the cabbage. Rice & peas were standard and a bit dry, but the curry sauce is great. The tilapia tasted fresh and breaded well. The plantains were delicious. Perfectly cooked. The prices are reason enough to go back; it's a big menu and I'd love to try more.
(4)
Niana K.
I was surprised that no one took a picture of the famous Jerk Chicken Sandwich! so here you go! =) I couldn't decide if I wanted an entree or THE sandwich. It seems like the entrees got mixed reviews, but the jerk chicken sandwich won everybody's heart. I can definitely see why. I love jerk chicken and I LOVE a nice kick of heat. Unfortunately, the jerk chicken barely had any spice, so they should work on that because it's a necessity! Other than that, the butter roll was SUPER soft and drool worthy, and the chicken thigh was moist and well seasoned (other than the spice!). The poppy seed dressing was a little sweet for me, but I didn't care because the overall sandwich tasted wonderful! Honestly, can you really beat $3.95 for a jerk chicken sandwich? It's DEFINITELY worth a try, but next time, I'll ask for some hot sauce...
(4)
Megan F.
OUTSANDING! Everything is truly authentic. Even the wonderful family that owns this establishment (and the several other restaurants around MD). I love Jamaica and this restaurant always brings me back to the island. Patties and Escovich fish are my favorites. The jerk is fantastic. I love the authenticity of even having the Jamaican beverages on hand. Excellent prices. Highly recommended.
(5)
Regan H.
I consider myself a Caribbean food connoisseur and I've been to Negril twice and thoroughly disappointed twice. The worse jerk chicken that I've ever had. I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 because the other dishes have to be better. I hate that Tropicana moved and Spicy Delight wasn't open.
(2)
Dee J.
Best beef patties I've had! You taste the flavor of the scotch bonnet pepper without the heat. Friendly service, clean space. I've never had a bad meal there!
(4)
Leyali R.
The chicken soup is absolutely magical. The veggie and chicken rotis are delicious, the patties are solid. Husband swears by the stewed oxtail, curry goat, and brown stew red snapper. Did I mention the chicken soup is magical? Yeah. That soup. We usually end up ordering dinner out from this excellent local eatery, and are always pleased with the prices, portion size, and most of all, TASTE. Never disappointed. Still on the list to try? Beef patty, and brown stew chicken (I haven't been able to find one that beats my BFF's mom's recipe to date). Would love it if they added some greens like callaloo. The food reminds me of my trip to Jamaica, and I continue to come back. Service is polite and quick, the place is usually busy, and it's worth it!
(4)
Billy B.
Excellent Island food. I take all of my friends from the Islands there when they come state side. I highly recommend Beef Patties and Coco bread with a Ginger Beer to wash it down!
(5)
Phi N.
The Chicken Fricasse is what I ordered to eat. The chicken was good. However, the rice and side could use more flavor-- it was a little bland, a little boring for my taste.
(3)
H W.
Love love love the vegetable stew and roti! The rum cake is devine! Always have to grab some sorrel when I'm there too, thirsty or not! It's especially good to get if one is feeling under the weather. My son likes the veggie patties and coco bread, and of course the cookies. ;) Parking is not easy to come by though
(5)
Fatima S.
I have been coming here for years!! The jerk chicken sandwich is amazing! The portion is great and it's always always HOT and FRESH. Now the reason for the four stars instead of five is due to a slight difference in taste. Years ago, prior to silver spring going through the major reconstruction phase, the jerk chicken sandwich tasted absolutely flawless. However in my recent visits, the taste has been altered. It's obvious that many things change in the span of 10 years. Different cooks and new management could explain a lot. I still highly recommend Negril!
(4)
Joe G.
Jamaican me crazy with this food! The cocoa bread make me insane crazy. (5 stars) The fish sandwich make me very crazy. (4 stars) The chicken sandwich, oxtail, and roti make me crazy. (3 stars) The chicken curry make me a little crazy. (2 stars) The craziness gets rounded to a solid 3 stars!
(3)
Amanda B.
I have very high taste standards for Jamaican food. It's hard to judge because I'm comparing it to the food I grew up eating lol. It's not bad like Tropicana though. The oxtail is good, could be more suculant. The curry chicken is good. Overall the food is good but it's like something is missing, don't know what. I go once in a while because it seems like it's no good JA restaurants left in D.C.. Like when Georgia Ave was flooded with them back in the 90's
(3)
Cheryl J.
This was not worth the trip from Crofton. This makes me miss my Jamaican food from the Bronx in NY tremendously. My husband and I are from NY. He is fro Bklyn and me the Bronx. We love Jamaican cuisine. I ordered the oxtails and curry chicken. I thought the oxtails were not cooked long enough because you had to work hard to get the meat off the bone. There wasnt enough seasoning and hardly no gravy. Just too bland for me. My husband felt the chicken was just okay. The rice had no flavor whatsoever. I don't usually eat with salt, but I had to sprinkle some on my food. I will not be back. And also I didn't get enough meat for $11. My portion was like a medium size. I NY I would have gotten double the amount. I guess I have to wait until I go back home to get some good Jamaican food. Don't waste your time and money. Oops I forgot, the beef patty was okay. The spiciness was good.
(2)
Brian H.
I'm keeping it at 2 stars for the Silver Spring location but I recently decided to give the Howard U location a try out of desperation and was pleasantly surprised. I don't know why there's been such a difference for me in the two locations... maybe the three times I went to Silver Spring were coincidentally off nights? Whatever the case, the jerk chicken sandwich at the Howard Negril was awesome spicy, juicy, moist meat and amazing amount for what I paid.
(2)
Chris G.
Oh, Negril. Why did it take so long for me to discover you? I lived in Silver Spring for about two years, yet never entered your doors. It took a truly bizarre chain of events for my wife and I to come in for a snack yesterday, yet somehow, someway we were guided in by a mysterious benevolent force. Thank you, benevolent force! I had a jerk chicken sandwich. What a delicious treat. My first taste of Coco bread - wow, tasty, tasty. And the chicken. Wow. Incredibly delicious. My wife had a beef pattie - it tasted okay, but no match for the jerk. The chicken wasn't particularly hot, but it had a great blend of spices. So tasty. Don't be like me. Get thee to Negril. By the way, they have some tables where you can sit and eat, but no table service. But for these treats, you'll be happy to carry your own food to the table.
(4)
Haviland P.
Been supporting this joint back in the day when they weren't a chain. Don't know why something is lost when an est. expands. It's not the same but still a good meal. If you want a more authentic jerk chicken check out jerk pit in college park md..its worth the drive over. Back to Negrils, the rotis are my favorite!
(3)
paul s.
The goat curry was just what I was looking for this night -- Tender chunks of goat in a curry that was just right -- flavorful but not crazy hot and spicy. Served with crisp slaw and rice and beans, it tasted like somebody cared. Good, flavorful, inexpensive ethnic food. The stew did include a fair amount of bones but the meat fell right off them. The beef pattie appetizer was fine but nothing to scream about.
(3)
Sam H.
ok my only experience with this place was as "take out" where it was delivered as I was working on the computer and... I was pleasantly suprised. I ordered to Goat Goti, friend plantains, and think I developed a taste for the JAMACIAN food. : ) The only thing was... I kinda have to watch out for the bones... but... the meat was tender (not dry as some other places I tried).... It's good. Deliver it again next time I'm working.
(4)
LOLITA J.
This place is good, but definitely not the best. I've been to Jamaica so I've had the authentic beef patties, these were close but not close enough. Make sure when you go that you get fresh patties and not those that have been sitting for awhile because they can almost choke you. : ) The cocobread is very yummy!!! I could sit there and eat that all day. These are the only two items I order from this place. However, I've never been to a jamaican restaurant where the whole staff was hispanic . . . I don't have an issue with it but have never seen that before. : )
(3)
Molly S.
A decent, comforting fill for cheap money, and some items are better than others. I prefer lots of their smaller treats to the actual entrees that tend toward the flavorless and dull. Their jerk sandwich is satisfying, and the patties aren't hugely impressive but there's something comforting in their flaky-crusted warmness. I prefer the vegetarian one to the beef. Coconut fans should try the coconut custard baked goods on the counter's display case - just the right amount of sweet, and great to take home and enjoy with a cup of coffee. The coco bread is similarly enjoyable. The dining area is nothing fancy, but it's clean, and service is fast enough. I like Negril on a fast food level - not a favorite, but a good enough use of six bucks on the go.
(3)
Jung-Ah P.
For months I've been hearing about a Jamaican restaurant in Silver Spring called Negril, usually really good things about their jerk chicken sandwich and the homemade fruit punch. So one evening, as I was heading home, starving and knowing there nothing edible in the fridge, I headed to Negril. It's hard to miss with its large yellow sign with red letters. It's definitely a carry out sort of place, even though there are a couple of tables in the room where you order the food at a counter, and a room on the side with many more tables - I don't think they have wait staff service though. So I headed up to the person at the counter and asked for a recommendation as I had never been there. He said that the beef patties or the coco bread would be good as appetizers and if I wanted something more filling, the jerk chicken sandwich, curried chicken, or goat roti are popular. So, being famished, I ordered the beef patty, coco bread, and curried chicken to go (obviously, my eyes were bigger than my stomach). Service was pretty quick, I received my food in about 5 minutes, during which I looked around the place and noticed that the beef patties were being sold in frozen packs, to be microwaved at home. Hmmmm...I don't know how I feel about that. Once I received the food, I rushed home and took at bite of the beef patty. It wasn't magnificent, but it wasn't awful - the crust was flaky and the beef filling was pasty but had enough seasoning to be not gross or boring. The coco bread was DELISH, it's soft and moist and fluffy and sweet and buttery...mmmmmmmm. I would have it for breakfast with butter and coffee...maybe a dab of good strawberry preserves. Drool. Uh, where was I? Right, moving on to the curried chicken, um...it was disappointing. I grew up with really good chicken curry from India, so I expected lots of spices and heat. Well, spices and heat, I definitely didn't get. Instead I got mediocre chicken with mediocre sauce with a side of very dry rice and beans and a heaping mound of really blah steamed cabbage. Note to self: when getting an entree, always choose the salad over cabbage. Despite the disappointment, I was willing to give it a second try because I wanted to like it. I really wanted to like it. This time I went for the jerk chicken sandwich - it can't get any more Jamaican than that, right? Then as a last minute impulse, I ordered the fish cakes appetizer also. Oh man, I was even more disappointed than before. The fish cakes - there are 3 huge puffs of them - were so gross, it didn't taste like fish and certainly didn't look like fish, it was like a sticky sponge. I took a bite and then was forced by my brain to throw them out. Even doused in the strange sweet sauce and I tried hot sauce also, it was inedible. EW. As I prepared to bite into the jerk sandwich I said a silent prayer that it would be good. It was ok, but I didn't know what was Jamaican or jerk about it. It tasted like a pulled chicken sandwich with a honey mustard and lettuce. My understanding was that jerk seasoning is hot and spicy and generally the chicken is grilled or smoked...I don't think it met any of those requirements. The best thing about it was the coco bread. Would I go back to Negril? Probably not. For the mediocre entrees, it's way overpriced - I think I paid $11 for the lame curried chicken. The sandwich though, is a really good deal if you're not really looking for a jerk chicken sandwich at about $4. Oh no, I'm lying. I would go back to get the coco bread but probably not anything else. If you like delicious bread, I suggest you try it for sure! Tasty tasty!
(2)
Steve Y.
My wife and I had lunch here with a few friends one Saturday while wandering around DTSS. We've passed by Negril many times on our way to/from the SS Safeway (which although improved, is still not a good grocery shopping experience), and so were curious to see what their food was like. The place is essentially part take-out counter and part sit down cafe - there isn't a whole lot in the way of ambience, unless you count the faded jamaican themed posters on the wall. The service at the counter is brisk, and the food is produced equally quickly (certainly not on "island time" here!). I ordered the jerk chicken sandwich and the meat pattie - both were tasty and relative bargains at around $3.75 and $1.50 respectively. I can certainly see why Negril was awarded a Washingtonian Cheap Eats award recently. My lunch companions were equally pleased with their meals which included the goat curry, the fish sandwich, and the chicken rotti. If there were complaints it was generally that the meats could have done with just a hint more spice - my jerk chicken while very nice, was not as spicy as I was expecting, and others mentioned that the curried goat was a tad bland. I was also a little disapointed with the options for sides - basically nothing really appealed, hence I added the pattie as my side. Overall, a good place to go if you want a decent cheap lunch, but if you like your meals a little on the spicy side then you might want to make this known when you order.
(4)
Alexa B.
OMG, This is totally the place to come to if you want some traditional home style Jamaican cooking. The prices are great and just writing about this place is making so damn hungry. Their beef patties and coco bread with spicy sauce in between is just delicious. I love this place. I also recommend their ox tale, yyyuuuuummmmm.
(5)
Kurosh H.
Negril is the shizznit!! Rub jerk chicken all over face please. This is what the good old days were all about! Stuff that meat pie in my armpit please. Yum ginger soda up my nostrils. aaahah Jamaicanmecrazy man!
(5)
Jimena M.
Negril is a Silver Spring treasure and tradition. Not only does it have delicious Jamaican food, it also has an absolutely delicious carrot cake. It's slightly sweet and always moist. The cream cheese frosting is perfect. A perfect meal on the go is their famous jamaican meat patties. It's the jamaican take on empanadas. The crust is always flaky and the meat is nicely seasoned. I've also had the rice and peas and their Jerk Chicken...yum! Another great treat is the ox tail soup. Their sandwiches are all soo gooood. The only thing you'll hate about this place is having to make up your mind.
(5)
Ian N.
I'll be amazed if anything can beat Negril for my "Price-Performance in the $6-8 entree" prize. Here, you'll see locals, cabbies, real people who come in to eat real food. If you like curry, the chicken curry roti comes recommended, though it's not very spicy. The sugary house lemonade makes me wonder what life tasted life before corn industry welfare. As noted in a review at the other location, great carrot cake. And the ridiculously cheap meat patty appetizer is good enough that I make myself avoid thinking what must be in it to be that good, and that good of a deal. In a sea of Georgia Ave yuppie mega-chains on the MD side and places so shady I won't even give them a try on the DC side, this Jamaican hole in the wall gets my highest recommendation.
(5)
Teresa H.
Negril is ok.... I guess because I grew up in the Caribbean so I don't find it super favorable and I also prefer my food very spicy (my personal preference). But l have to agree with everyone else its a good deal for the buck. If you want a grab something quick. I have to admit that visit N every now and then.
(3)
Mimi X.
I've only been to the takeout location next door to the main restaurant, but I was so impressed I'm writing a review. That was a seriously good jerk chicken sandwich. The bread alone would bring me back. I also tried a meat patty, which turned out not to be a hamburger patty... more like a meat fritter or something, inside flaky dough. It was greasy but good -- if I'm in need of comfort food, I'll get that! But the jerk chicken sandwich is really something. Delicious and cheap.
(5)
Ethan D.
One of my favorite local spots. I usually get the jerk-chicken sandwich, beef-patties, and fried plantains. The ox-tail and curry-chicken entrees are also great selections.
(5)
Brian R.
Mmmm, jerk chicken sandwich.
(4)
Alexander L.
Can't vouch for meat dishes, but the vegetarian fare is nothing to write home about. If you like mushy, flavorless canned vegetables and beans, it's a place for you.
(2)
Nicole M.
everytime i'm nearby, i DEMAND that we go here. it's not an option. heads will ROLL if i don't get my sweet and spicy jerk chicken sandwich. and do not, i mean DO NOT touch my beef patty or coco bread. you've been warned.....
(5)
Tammy L.
Wow. My office just catered lunch from Negril and it was amazing. Nothing was bland, everything was just full of flavor. Of the selection, I tried the chicken curry, jerk chicken, fish (I don't know what it's called, but it tastes a little sweet), cabbage, rice and beans, and plantains; all of which I really liked. I'm definitely going back with my tupperware so I don't have to cook dinner tonight...
(4)
S S.
Now, I'm not sure that I'm the most qualified to judge "good" versus "bad" Jamacian food. This is the first time I've had any, but I can say that the jerk chicken sandwich was absolutely FANTASTIC! It was much better than going to Chik-fil-A. Tastey, filling, and the bread was super super soft and delicious. Def give it a try! Oh, and it's pretty decently priced too.
(5)
Shannon B.
Love love love the curry chicken lunch special.... With cocoa bread.... They got my order right and they throw in curry sauce to go with my rice... Couldn't be more happy....
(4)
Lilly N.
Came here a few times and every time I've gotten the beef pattie - so flavorful and crispy! The chicken pattie was a bit dry and not as crispy, would probably not get it again. I've also tried the goat and chicken curry which were good but not the best I've had - mediocre.
(4)
Jessy B.
The jerk chicken sandwich is quite good and I really enjoyed it even though it wasn't hot. However my beef patty was subpar at best there was more flakes than beef I was sorely disappointed.
(3)
Shellie D.
Nothing really wowed me here. The food wasn't memorable but it wasn't bad either. Maybe I came on an off day. I like Sweet Mango better.
(2)
Julie V.
Best Jamaican around the dmv area! Their oxtail stew is to die for and their coco bread is amazing and always served warm and fresh. Love their rice and peas and cabbage pretty much everything they make is delicious
(5)
Lashawn G.
This food was horribly bland with no spices of flavor...I should have known something was up when I didn't see any Jamaicans at the cash register. So glad I got the small lunch meal because I would have been pissed if I got a larger portion. Will have to find me another Jamaican spot...any suggestions?? Will not be going there again!!
(1)
Rue D.
Okay. This one is much better than the other one I reviewed. The service is better, but it's a carry-out, basically, so you're not gonna get 5-star service. The food is somehow even better. I think it's the Jamaican "Ma'am" guiding things in the kitchen, not to mention I believe it is the flagship. Quick, Jamaican cuisine?? Inexpensive? GO HERE!
(4)
Tosh G.
This place has been here forever. I remember eating here as a kid, however this is not the same authentic jamaican food I'm use too. The Jerk chicken does not have taste, I wish they would call it baked chiken because that's what it is. I even tried to give the oxtail a chance because I thought to myself, you can't mess that up! Well I've brought oxtail on two different occasions and the meat was so tough and again lacked tasted.
(2)
Vanessa P.
Parking sucks. The place is pretty open and clean inside... there are two tables in the room with the order counter and then a side room with many more tables. The Beau and I both ordered jerk chicken sandwiches... for some stupid reason I was expecting a chicken breast seared with jerk seasoning... but instead got many "pulled" pieces of chicken, that, I'm not even sure *were* chicken (I've never seen that much dark meat on a chicken before). It wasn't spicy at all and about 3/4ths of the way through, I felt stuffed and just tired of eating it. Pretty decent amount of food for $4 each though... can't beat that.
(3)
Ordale A.
I love the fact that they have a little express store next to the main place. Beef Patty and Cocoa bread are the only thing I get, so I can't say if the rest of the food is good or not, but whenever I'm in Silver Spring I make a special stop here.
(3)
Bruce G.
I was here only a day ago, so my memory of this place is very clear. Ten years ago I would have given this place 5 stars, but in the interim it's gone seriously downhill. The jerk chicken was nowhere near as spicy as it used to be, and everything costs a lot more (even allowing for general inflation). This used to be one of the best cheap-eating places in Silver Spring, when I lived a few blocks away from it. It's certainly no longer really cheap, and no longer all that good either.
(3)
Jesus J.
From other reviewers, you will see a pattern: fine praise of the Jerk chicken sandwich. They're right - this sandwich is delicious. It's so good that every time I come here, it's difficult for me to try something new as that sandwich has me coming back for more. The menu is pretty vast, though, and offers all sorts of entrees and sides. The sandwich consists of pulled, Jerk chicken, tasty poppy seed sauce, lettuce, all in a soft, buttered sandwich roll. Good stuff. I've been told that Jerk chicken is generally spicy but the Jerk chicken here isn't spicy in the least. So if you're looking for hotness, you will be disappointed. I've also tried their chocolate chip cookies and they were soft, moist, and tasted home made. Their home made fruit punch is good as well. It's not your typical fruit punch that is packed with sugar without any real flavor. The punch is thicker than your average fruit punch, and you can taste the ingredients without so much of the sweetness. I generally find fruit punch to be too sweet, but this drink is an exception. Negril also has a lot of different beverages besides your canned sodas. They have Kola champagne, ginger beer, and other drinks you usually find in the international section of your grocery store. There are plenty of tables and places to sit and the staff have always been nice. The prices are great on the wallet - only $~4 for the sandwich and the entrees are $~8. Minimum purchase of $5 to use a credit card, which isn't too much of an inconvenience as I usually buy a drink along with the sandwich. I've never had any issues with this place and have been frequenting every week for that quick, cheap lunch or dinner.
(4)
Zeenat W.
My thing is, you must be crazy.... They are not even jamaican nor are they carribean, they are spanish! Cookin' Jamaican food! What the hell has the world come too? My friend and I had a craving for some oxtail and curry goat, i read reviews before my decision and decided to head on ova, n also get the coco bread. The register has a woman of black descent, the kitchen has one woman of black descent n like 5 spanish people puttering around. Cleaning, food trays, yellin' orders in spanish, I assume they are just the help, so we ask the register person, 'is the woman back there doin all the cookin'?' She's very reluctant to tell us no, almost as if she's bein' watched, we ask, 'then who?', 'did they leave? or are the spanish people cookin?' she says, 'yes, they cook the food?' We stood back, shocked, appalled, insulted even, feelin like this couldn't be happenin' so becuz it was late n we were there, we ordered. I knew i wud b disappointed, my friend wanted to stay optimistic and we ordered what we came for. We always order these dishes to judge jamaican restaurants, the coco bread wasnt spectacular, quite regular in every way actually. The food was just not right, the meats lacked key ingredients therefore my favorite part of these dishes, the gravy suffered. The cabbage was not even fully cooked shud have just been cole slaw with no seasoning. It made me wanna take both platters and do a drive by window trashing with their own food but eat the coco bread cuz at least that tasted familiar. THEY'RE NOT JAMAICAN! PUT THE STORE UNDER ANOTHER CATEGORY SO PEOPLE LIKE ME DON'T GET THEIR HOPES UP TOO HIGH!
(1)
Ayo A.
This Negril absolutely sucks! I placed an order for a simple veggie pattie and coco bread. I was told there was only one pattie left, sat there for 15 minutes and was told it was "accidentally sold." Mistakes happen and I wasn't even that blown; I was more upset by the rude attitudes received when I asked for a refund. Wish I could give them negative stars.
Obviously, the jerk chicken sandwich is Negril's biggest draw but I'd recommend changing things up. Last time, I had the Oxtail and it was pretty good (and reminiscent of the kind of stew we make in southern Africa).
(4)
Jordan K.
Look. It's a tiny little counter where you wait in line, order, wait in another line while they FORGET your order, ask if they've forgotten your order, have them stare blankly at you, ask them again, have them ask you for your receipt and order number, hand it over, have them not look at you or tell you when it will be ready, where they look at you again, ask you for the receipt again (the one you just handed over), and then, finally, mercifully, give you a bag that may or may not contain what you originally ordered but by that point who cares because you're so hungry. I'm sure we've all been to a places like that from time to time. p.s. Jerk Chicken Sandwich was worth an extra star, but the service described above deserves one less, so you average out to two.
(3)
Semra E.
Love it, just like I love my Jamaican peeeeeooooopppppllllleeeee!!!!!!!! BOP BOP BOP!!!!! ok, so I'm a HUGE fan of this spot not only because every dish feels like it's made from my friends mothers from the islands, but because the price is ALWAYS right. My favorite thing to get there is the Jerk chicken sandwich....they put this amazing sauce on it that is like crack to me and I just can't get enough. My mouth is watering now just thinking about this.......
(5)
Melissa P.
As an individual who has familial linkages to the west indies I tend to have an overly critical eye to any and every cuisine linked to the Caribbean region. I've noticed many comment on the low prices and to me this isn't a huge plus for me because though the DMV area lacks a selection of west indian cuisine you'll find most places selling this type of fare near and far have comparable pricing. I was delighted to see favorites on the menu but delivery was not stellar. I was however disappointed at the limited beverage options- where's my peanut punch and Coconut water?! I really like their beef patties- their chicken patties are hit or miss, sometimes they are delicious and sometimes its kinda tasteless and mush inside. Note: the beef patties taste sooo much better if you take them home and stick them in the oven to crisp em up a bit! All in all if you're going for the patties enjoy but don't expect any magic.
(3)
Catherine H.
I straight up adore Negril, and this Negril in particular. I love everything about it, from the fried plantains to the cranky lady behind the counter. Everything, and I do mean everything, I've had at Negril has been good, but for lunch I find it is really, really hard to beat the Jerk Chicken sandwich. For $3.25-- yes, you did read that right-- you get a soft sweet roll piled with excellent jerk chicken, lettuce and sauce. It is happiness wrapped in a foil package, and it leaves you money left over for a Kola Champagne to wash it down. If you want to upscale it a bit you can never go wrong with their oxtail, goat (roti or curry) or escoveitched red snapper. Their plantains are freshly cooked and plentiful to an order, and their beef patties are warm and spicy. The line is *always* out the door at lunchtime, and with good reason-- the food rocks. The service is counter, but they do have a cute little dining room available. Don't get mad if the cashier is cranky, she's been that way for years, and if sometimes you have to ask the counter folks if your order is ready, well, that's just how it can be. If you're taking to go they've just opened a separate "to go only" store two doors down for basics like sandwiches, beef patties, plantains and cookies, making the experience somewhat more efficient.
(5)
C W.
I order the same order everytime: jerk chicken and rice, beef patty, and a cream soda. Never disappoints! I just wish they weren't closed on Sundays.
(4)
Lester K.
This is the worst Jamaican food I've ever had. The meal started off good as I bit into my Jamaican beef patty, which was very flaky and still good, albeit, obvious that it sat around for a while. Jerk chicken with rice and cabbage was lame. Stewed, not grilled; no complaints about that. Yes, there was seasoning and stuff on it, but it was so mild and flavorless. I got 2 drumsticks and half a breast. Oxtail stew was a little better but still not great, or even what I'd consider good. Passable is how I'd like to describe it. With rice and salad with a mango dressing. Best part of my meal was the homemade fruit punch. At $2.50 or something, it's very pricey for a 20 oz. cup that's half filled with ice. Essentially, you're getting maybe 10 oz. of liquid. I used to love this place. I used to rave about this place to everybody who would listen. That is all in the past as this place has removed itself as a resident of Flavortown. 1.3 stars and rounding down.
(1)
Vikash S.
Good food, great prices. Must try: the Coco bread and rotis. Get the coco bread and eat it while it's hot!
(4)
Vannie N.
Pass me the spices?? Cause I didn't taste any!! Me and the fiance have been looking forward to Negril, for awhile after our friends told us to check out its jerk chicken meal. Also, people on here "highly" rated this place. The place is located about 2 blocks aways from downtown Silver Spring. Although its is cheap eats, it sorta applies to the appetizers and drinks. The meals are around $8 dollars and up. The jerk chicken meal came with a side salad and seasoned rice. I hate to say this, but the salad and the rice tasted way better than the jerk chicken. The jerk chicken was dry, bland, gamy, and unappetizing. I was hoping for something with more aromatic and spices.
(3)
Roy S.
Bland, uninspired and a waste of coin. For excellent carribean food search out Peach's in DC. It is worth the drive...
(1)
Ina C.
It's been MONTHS since I've been here last, but for some reason I was starting to crave that jerk chicken sandwich! I left the car at a metered spot on Thayer Ave and even at 4:30pm on a Thursday, this place was pretty full. I ordered a jerk chicken sandwich to go, and I couldn't believe that this thing was $3.95. It was my dinner! The bun tasted like it was buttered and grilled, though it didn't look it. The chicken was juicy and full of flavor, the lettuce was fresh and the sauce was magical! Seriously - this is an amazing value for $3.95. Apparently this place is pretty chain. They've got a couple other locations in the area and even sell their patties frozen and microwave-ready. Hmm. And I don't even really know how "Jamaican" they really are. The staff certainly didn't look like this was their native cuisine. Eh. I forgot to get the punch today. :(
(4)
Jed S.
Jerk chicken sandwich is the bet meal you can get in DMV for $5. Coco bread sandwich comes on is great and chicken is made so tender and good.
(4)
Charlotte J.
Great vegetarian food! Their roti's are huge, I can only eat half of one if that at one time. Veggie pattys are soooo wonderful. Don't forget to grab some of their home made fruit punch too.
(4)
Paul S.
I'm sorry but this place sucks. Worst Jamaican food I've ever had and worst example of a place being over rated on Yelp. You notice that half the reviews here basically say they added a star to be nice or because of the "amazing" jerk chicken sandwich? How about adding a star to be misleading? No flavor what so ever. What this basically is to my palate is soul food disguised as Caribbean food or Caribbean food that has been watered down to cater to those that are used to eating soul food. And I'm not trying to knock soul food but a "Jamaican" restaurant with such a high rating should serve high quality authentic Jamaican cuisine and instead you get a West Indian Taco Bell. The jerk chicken is NOT jerk chicken! It's like calling KFC or chicken teriyaki jerk chicken. It's chicken. It might even be good chicken. But it is in no shape or form jerk chicken. I'd be tempted to give them 2 stars but enough is enough. There are too many three star reviews that when you actually read them say that the place is mediocre at best and thanks to the overall 3 1/2 stars it currently has I spent more money here by going and giving it second and third chances than anyone ever should. Nope, not to today.
(1)
David O.
Ok. So I read some of the reviews on here and I must say that I'm disappointed with what some people have to say about this place. Negril is one of the best Jamaican restaurants I've been to and trust me I've been to all of them and they all have good things about them. The food here is great and of course the beef pattie with coco bread is the s**t. The service is good and depending on the time you go there it might be packed or not. The oxtail is on point and the curry goat is banging. You definitely gotta try it. Don't let the reviews sway your decision one way or another. Try it, I dare you ( Charlie Murphy )
(5)
Josh O.
I ordered a jerked chicken sandwich with fish cakes. Neither were even vaguely reminiscent of those that I've had in Jamaica, and I'm not even convinced that the jerked chicken was CHICKEN, let alone JERKED. The fish cakes were tasty, but completely unlike any fish cake I've ever had in Jamaica, and honestly reminded more of something you'd get at a Long John Silver's. I'd like to give them a second chance because I love Jamaican food, I really would, but I just don't know if I bring myself to do it.
(1)
Alex O.
First off, this is basically a take-out place. There is a sit down room with a few tables, but basically it's a take-out counter. The food is mediocre at best. Spice, flavor, heat? Nope, not here. This is really pretty bland Jamaican food, but it is dirt cheap. There is really only one thing that's worth getting at Negril - the jerk chicken sandwich. Does it really taste like jerk chicken? No, not really. It's stewed dark meat with a hint of spice. However, it is moist and hearty and comes on a delicious roll. The lettuce is always crisp and the house dressing they put on it is tangy and tasty. And, it's about $4. A great deal for a great chicken sandwich. Is it worth going out of the way to get? No, but if you're in the neighborhood then it's worth checking out because it really is an excellent sandwich. The rest of the menu basically sucks.
(2)
Leon M.
hit or miss...sometimes it is good and other times it is bad....lot of microwave heating occurs.
(3)
Jeannie L.
I can't believe such a hidden gem exists in Silver Spring. Dying to get a change of taste for lunch, I decided to rely on my fellow yelpers to tell me what's good in SS and Negril came up. My coworker and I quickly jumped into my car and headed to this place. I was soo excited. Surely, Negril didn't disappoint. Service is fast and the staff is friendly. You're greeted by their super bright interior as well. I was ecstatic with their choices - fried sweet potatoe fries, fried plantain, jerk chicken sandwich, jerk chicken wrap, etc.. We both grabbed the jerk chicken sandwich which is wrapped with coconut bread and plantain. I was a very happy camper once I finally got out of my meeting to try out my food. The sandwich was so tasty - the meat was well seasoned and succulent, topped with special white sauce. The fried plantain was sweet but not overly so and not mushy. I love this place. Thanks yelpers! I think I'll have to make a weekly trip here to avoid Negril withdraw. hahaha
(4)
Katherine K.
Negril probably wins the prize for best value in town when it comes to filling, delicious lunches. I have not experienced the full menu as the other Yelpers have, but look forward to my next visit. At $3 the chicken jerk sammich is a must-order. Mine was served with a weird poppyseed dressing that I didn't care for, but hell, it was served on the side so i didn't use it. My co-worker got a Jamaican meat patty which was crispy, flaky, and downright sinful. If you're watching your fat intake I don't recommend it, but if you want to make your jump off the diet bandwagon worthwhile, Negril is the best place to do it.
(4)
Kate M.
UPDATE 6/14/08: I've upgraded Negril to 4 stars. As promised, I went back and had something else, and it was delicious. DELICIOUS, folks. The veggie roti was great. Flavors were not too intense, and the more you eat it the more subtleties you notice. The coco bread is out of this world. It tastes like a cross between a donut and a soft pretzel with some coconut thrown in. It's salty and sweet and soft and the best thing you can buy for 85 cents. In fact, I think I'm going to go back right now and have dinner at Negril again, if only so I can have an excuse to get more coco bread. ORIGINAL REVIEW 5/10/08: I'm sure I'm making some enemies here but I'm sorry, folks, I just didn't care for the jerk chicken sandwich. I did like the bread, but I found the chicken kind of tough. There were a few pieces I had to pull out of the sandwich because I couldn't bite through them. The sauce was kind of, I dunno, nondescript. I wasn't wowed by it, and in fact I can't even really remember much about what it tasted like. So, I'm *tentatively* giving Negril 3 stars, but because of these Yelp reviews and the volume of happy people who were in there today, I fully intend on going back and having something else.
(4)
Paul H.
Good value, friendly; jerk chicken sandwich very good! Been around a while, popular.
(4)
Alex A.
The food here is mediocre, but satisfactory. There is no atmosphere at this place, but nobody expects there to be atmosphere at what they charge here. Prices are low here, and despite a shortage of Jamaican restaurants in the DC-area, I wouldn't come back
(2)
Sara K.
Very tasty food for vegetarians! Price is just right and the portion size will last for many meals. Try the curried veggies and the coco bread! Beans and rice that come with meal are yummy!
(5)
Tina K.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Negril! I have to stop myself from getting their Curry Chicken and their beef patties. Oh man they're so good! The Jerk Chicken sandwich isn't quite like in Jamaica and it seems their using some Honey Mustard or Poppyseed dressing but it's still tasty nonetheless! Their desserts are fabulous and the mango sauce goes great on anything! Definitely a silver spring gem!
(5)
Ed Y.
Use to work 2 blocks from this place. God do I miss it. Jerk Chicken sandwich is a great buy, especially for lunch. Ox tail stew is yummy. Generous portions of peas and rice. Goat Roti is a bit messy but well worth it. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.
(5)
Safiya S.
Although I do like the food at Negril there are definitely better Caribbean food places in the area. The jerk chicken was OK but the Oxtail was good. The plantains were OK. If you are desperate for some Caribbean food it will definitely satisfy you but if you are familiar with this type of cuisine I think you will be disappointed.
(3)
C. I. M.
I finally tried this place after living down the street from it most of my life. I don't know anything about Jamaican food but from these reviews, I expected to be blown away. Not so. I ordered the Jerk Chicken sandwich, a beef patty and a piece of coco bread. I was pleasently surprised that all that came up to less than 7 bucks. I got home, started eating. They give you a big piece of the bread, my first bite and it was kind of salty. The patty was okay, nothing spectacular. The jerk chicken was good but it got the lettuce pretty mushy and that kinda grossed me out. It was filling but nothing special in my opinion.
(3)
Mic X.
now i am going to give negril 4 stars here because (again) i can't give 3.5 stars. negril is a very good jamacian restaurant (that caters to american taste) and that's the rub. their jerk chicken sandwiches are fine and tasty.... just not spicy like other jamacian places i have been too. fried plaintains - great, beans and rice - great, patties - great, roti - ok. this is a slightly watered down version of jamacian food stuffs, but it's still good. if you want the sloppy hoottt mess of curry goat or jerk chicken of real home style jamacian food then you'll have to travel on, but if want something close to jamacia (without completely washing out the spices) then negril is the place for you.
(4)
Ashley K.
You must try: Jerk chicken sandwich, oatmeal cookies, fruit punch. Can cause bubble-gut, but totally worth it.
(4)
Amber L.
Amazing Curry Roti! Try it! Over 10 years I've been coming here with friends! Stew chicken, jerk chicken sandwich and spicy beef patty are a must. On most summer days, the line is out the door, that says it all. Authentic Jamaican foods and most Jamaican folks eat here, that says it all too lol!
(5)
Zariah G.
YUM! Go ahead order anything...it's going to very good. Very fresh and the seasonings are perfect. Don't forget to get a Ginger Beer :) they have the best!
(4)
Chris D.
This place is awesome. Great food at reasonable prices. Most Caribbean restaurants offer the same items at 3 times the price. I would recommend the Roti and Soup!
(4)
Patrick G.
Well, I only go here for one thing. The Jerk Chicken Sandwich. The bread is made from coconut flour.... unique. They bake the buns on the premises so they are always fresh. And the chicken is very succulent with crisp edges. It's as good as it gets. The chicken is dressed with a light poppy seed dressing that has a unique tang. And the crowning glory ... for me, anyway, is the house made sweet & sour habenaro hot sauce (only one per customer!!) ... But it's easy enough to take two so you can take one home. The staff have all been there for as long as I have been going there (8 years) and they each have their unique attitudes :-)
(5)
Michael S.
The jerk was really excellent. Two customers recommend the rum cake. Well have to try next time. Also must try the oxtail. This is the first restaurant in Silver Spring I've found that tastes like real Jamaican food.
(4)
Kojo B.
More like 3.5, but will give it a 4 based on longevity and consistency. When i used to live in Silver Spring about a decade ago, i used to go there quite often, now that i am in Baltimore, i pop by every now and then when i am in that corridor. Personally, they have the best beef patties that i have had period. Everything else is ok... most Jamaican restaurants dont have fricasse chicken, the closest may be brown stew chicken, they have that . Good pick up spot and that lemonade is crack.
(4)
Shannon B.
Love love love the curry chicken lunch special.... With cocoa bread.... They got my order right and they throw in curry sauce to go with my rice... Couldn't be more happy....
(4)
Lilly N.
Came here a few times and every time I've gotten the beef pattie - so flavorful and crispy! The chicken pattie was a bit dry and not as crispy, would probably not get it again. I've also tried the goat and chicken curry which were good but not the best I've had - mediocre.
(4)
Robert B.
Initially, I was going to give this place three stars because my food order wasn't correct. However, once I bit into the food, I became an instant fan. I ordered the Jerk Chicken, but the server gave me a curry chicken. Nevertheless, the Jamaican style curry, blended with a little jerk seasoning, made for quite the mouth water experience. My only complaints were that the restaurant decor was dated, and the server seemed uninterested in the customers. This really isn't a problem, though, if you just pop in for lunchtime takeout.
(4)
Jessy B.
The jerk chicken sandwich is quite good and I really enjoyed it even though it wasn't hot. However my beef patty was subpar at best there was more flakes than beef I was sorely disappointed.
(3)
Shellie D.
Nothing really wowed me here. The food wasn't memorable but it wasn't bad either. Maybe I came on an off day. I like Sweet Mango better.
(2)
Julie V.
Best Jamaican around the dmv area! Their oxtail stew is to die for and their coco bread is amazing and always served warm and fresh. Love their rice and peas and cabbage pretty much everything they make is delicious
(5)
Rue D.
Okay. This one is much better than the other one I reviewed. The service is better, but it's a carry-out, basically, so you're not gonna get 5-star service. The food is somehow even better. I think it's the Jamaican "Ma'am" guiding things in the kitchen, not to mention I believe it is the flagship. Quick, Jamaican cuisine?? Inexpensive? GO HERE!
(4)
L H.
I think I ate here a few years ago, but stopped back in today. Got the chicken roti, which was like a large burrito with more of a pie dough crust and pot pie-ish filling. Was tasty, but a little one note as there was a lot of shredded chicken and the potato and bell pepper (?) veggies were sparse. The side of plantains was cooked ok, but not very flavorful. Hubby got the chicken fricasee (sp?) which we both really liked. It was pieces of chicken with a tasty sauce. The sides--cabbage and rice and peas--were pretty bland. Can't comment on the ambiance as I waited in the car for hubby to order. I think he really liked it; I'd go back, but I don't know that it's my new favorite restaurant. And, I don't often eat Jamaican food, so I have no idea how it stacks up against other places in the area.
(3)
David H.
The amazing beef patty and coco bread here, alone, is enough to warrant me coming back again (and again). They're that good. I tried some other stuff on the menu - it was aight. That beef patty/coco bread though.....
(4)
Maria P.
Repeat after me: BEEF PATTY. Order it. Smell it. Look at it. Then gobble it down like it's your last meal! Repeat. This place offers your standard roti, curries, oxtail, patties, rice&peas, jerk chicken...I'm probably forgetting other important items but you get the picture! I tried the rice&peas...wasn't impressed. There wasn't much flavor and the rice could've cooked a little longer. It also had a little curry sauce on it (yay!), but the sauce had pieces of bone that almost cracked my tooth. This doesn't change how good the sauced tasted, but it was pretty annoying. The plantains are sooooo good. Like I want to inhale two orders kind of good. The seating area has several tables, but it isn't a 5star establishment so don't expect everything to be pristine. It's not dirty or anything, but tables that didn't rock back and forth would've been nice. Final verdict? I'll come here for patties and plantains, but leave the more authentic dishes for someplace else.
(3)
Morgan W.
So much food for so cheap. I always get the tilapia sandwich, which I believe is under $5 and massive. Kind of hidden, hole in the wall. Good for take out lunch, but plenty of space if you want to eat in. Tasty hot sauce (typical tart scotch bonnet type, I think).
(4)
Jeremiah N.
I regularly get the tilapia special. For under $7 you get a good size fillet, rice & beans, cabbage and plantains. Also great is the vegetable pattie. Makes me feel closer to and miss one of my favorite places in the world: Jamaica. Nice to have something different in the area
(4)
Jess Y.
The hype is real. Jerk chicken sandwich. Do it! The jerk chicken sandwich has a perfect amount of meat to bread to veggie ratio, it's extremely juicy and flavorful. The beef patties are super flaky and crunchy on the outside, yet soft and moist on the inside. The beef has a good amount of spice as well.
(4)
Chawn P.
Me and a coworker came here for dinner one night and we both ordered the jerk chicken sandwich. I must say that was one of the better chicken sandwiches I've had in a while. I also ordered a side of plantains which was not bad.
(4)
Lashawn G.
This food was horribly bland with no spices of flavor...I should have known something was up when I didn't see any Jamaicans at the cash register. So glad I got the small lunch meal because I would have been pissed if I got a larger portion. Will have to find me another Jamaican spot...any suggestions?? Will not be going there again!!
(1)
MJ W.
Have passed by this place many times - finally stopped in and could kinda see the positives. I am not one to judge atmosphere at a place like this, but it was very clean and suitable for what it's there for. As for the food, I did not get the beef party but wish I had. Looked and smelled good when brought to a neighboring customer. The Curried Chicken was tender but lacked a lot of flavor; cabbage about the same, and the rice and peas were pretty tasty (albeit everything could use salt). Not the place I'd go for true caribbean food, but certainly not a bad pick.
(3)
Ty K.
Loved the Jerk Chicken Entree and Curry Chicken Patties. Very flavourful. The only problem I've had is the wait time while order on-site so I like to order by phone. When I do it's always ready to go as soon as I pay. If you like Jamaican you should definitely give them a try.
(4)
Rochelle Y.
I come here every single time im in silver spring. I wish my family never move the dc/md area has all the best ethnic foods i love. I'm really into jamaican food and this is where i had my first real (not frozen) beef patty. UGH their patties are wonderful. Get it with the coco bread ( which went up in price at least 40 cents annoying as hell) their goat roti is good and their plantains are usually delicious and really hot. I'm not in love with the prices, i think they are greedy. I haven't really tried anything over $8 but i doubt i won't be satisfied. Their lemonade is incredible. SO good. We tried to get a gallon. And i believe it was over 20 dollars!? That is totally stealing. This place is good but it's probably not the best in the area.
(3)
Sam S.
Overall I give this place a no. This place was right around the corner from where I live and I have always been curious. So I went all out and ordered 4 different items. As the philosophy says, go big or go home :) The positives: For $2 and to get a beef patty that was amazingly seasoned?!?! Yumm!! I also got coco bread. As I ate it I couldn't put a finger on what it tasted like. My Jamaican roommate explained its supposed to be sweet bread. Anyhow, enjoyed eating that The negatives: got the famous jerk chicken sandwich and not so famous jerk chicken entree. Both items use the same flavors, if we can call them flavors. Both were lacking in spices. Jamaican roommate told me I'm supposed to be eating something spicy. I had some brown stuff on my chicken but didn't taste like much. Entree includes rice with beans ands cabbage. Rice was dry. Cabbage was again lacking in seasoning. Parking wasn't a challenge unless if you're parking on the street. There's a Montgomery county parking lot a block from this place and its free after 7. Overall this place is hit or miss. I can't eat 5 beef patties to make myself full so I'll pass on this place.
(2)
Bryan W.
I was totally shattered when Tropicana closed.. It was not the best Caribbean place but it was consistent. I knew that I was going to get slightly over cooked and hand cut cabbage with peppers and onions with peas and rice that I would smack your mother for. FLAVORFUL FOOD!!! I popped in Negril around 8 Pm to a small crowd.. NOBODY HERE IS SMILING!!! Not a good sign. The counter persons were having a heated discussion about previous orders and each others competence. It appears that the guest that were waiting had been waiting for an extended amount of time. I remember this place as a generic version of a Caribbean restaurant. Stale and uniformed... People have posted about how this place reminds them of home... Jamaica... I see it as a large Corporation receiving pre-sliced items and not so homemade sauces. I ordered the simple Jerk Chicken dinner, cabbage, peas and rice. I waited........ and waited..... What I received was perfectly sliced and uniform shreds of cabbage with onions, green peppers and carrots. It was as if the factory churned out vegetables were just dropped into a pot of lightly salted boiling water. Absolutely no flavor at all. I will say this. I am a big fan of cabbage and this was pleasantly crunchy and full of different levels of texture... I would even have enjoyed less texture and more flavor. How do you mess up peas and rice?? It was as if it was prepared and then water was added.... The funny thing is that it had more flavor than the cabbage! The sides I could actually deal with. I have salt and pepper! The biggest let down was the chicken. First of all it tasted like liver. I like liver but not in the form of 1/2 a chicken. The menu states that the Jerk Chicken was marinated and smoked with special seasonings. Salt not being one of them. It tasted like the Brown Stew Chicken with out the tomato based sauce. An additional side of mystery sauce was included and the jury is still out as to what it actually was... I am not writing this place off but I think they need a little work here.
(2)
Tonny T.
Beef patty and coco bread with their delicious real fruit punch, it never disappoints me.
(5)
DON C.
Hot damm!!! A food fantasy seeker's delight! The escovietched red snapper is to die for! Every bite gave me a satisfying calling to all my human senses (vision, smell, taste, and touch). Being of Carribean and gullah descent, it is NOT often that I give a carribean restaurant in the DMV five stars! Actually this is the first!! Also, the Negril by far is not the best Caribbean restaurant, but there is one dish....the escovietched red snapper that would make you a fan of this place. For those who do not know, escovietched fish is simply a crispy, well seasoned pan-fried snapper (or kingfish in some Caribbean restaurants). Once fried, the fish is stewed in a tomato base sauce cooked with onions, green peppers, carrots, and habaneros. The medley of flavors, when executed right, will put you on a natural high--nirvana! LOL!! Talk about heaven....I was there!! If you ever in the Silver Spring or Wash, DC area make sure you check them out and order this dish. You will not be disappointed. Check out my photos of the meal.
(5)
S. S.
TERRIBLE. I ordered ahead. First, warning sign was that they don't have a parking lot...in Silver Spring. I drive around for like 10 minutes and illegally park at the bank and run in. I get inside and I'm informed that instead of the Jerk Chicken that I ordered, someone put in the a jerk salad...Like how many people really go in there for that especially considering it's not even on their menu online? So I say "ok can you put in the correct order?" And of course...she can but...it will take 10+ minutes. Which would be fine...EXCEPT THEY DON'T HAVE A PARKING LOT. (and also, it's your mistake but the only solution is further inconveniencing me...then there is clearly a customer service problem). So I said "no that's fine" Then I get home.... Now, I grew up outside of NYC where there is a TON of great Jamaican food and I accepted that it probably wouldn't be as good as I was used to. I bit into the beef patty and it was SO WAXY that I actually stopped to look and see if I pit into the paper it was wrapped in. Nope. Clearly had been sitting out all day and throne into the microwave. Then the salad...I'm not opposed to salads, i like them! However, the 'jerk chicken' on this salad was SO SALTY. Like I'm actually concerned by how salty. It was so salty that I, who have never suffered from high blood pressure before, was ready to just make an emergency trip to the doctor to make sure I don't end up having a stroke. Also, the salad was inexplicably covered in those chinese noodle things and the tomatos on the salad were overripe...and had clearly seen better days. All that to say. DON"T. JUST DON"T. IF you're really hankering for Jamaican food there are places in Northern Virginia that are better than this. YUCKY.
(1)
Nils W.
The jerk chicken is sweeter than most places, but you can barely tell the difference with the scotch bonnet hot sauce they've got.. also, they're very fast and great customer service
(4)
Loveit O.
Sigh..Negril used to be good. Went and got a curry chicken patty, coco bread, and curry chicken dinner. The patty was decent but could have had more filling. The coco bread was on point - highlight of my meal. Now on to the curry chicken. Ughhh no flavor AT ALL. There was zero sauce, the cabbage sucked, and the dish was mostly rice. And why don't they give any plantains?? Like really? Not even two? I also wonder why oh why do businesses switch their kitchen staff???? Not racist at all but when I go to an ethnic establishment I would really appreciate having people of that ethnicity cook the food!!!! It makes a difference people. Stop being cheap and sourcing cheap labor. Suffice it to say I will only go back for the coco bread (which earned them the 2nd star). Judys island grill in Baltimore is WAY better and I need to try Sweet Mangos (totally forgot about it today or I would have made the trip there).
(2)
Mitali T.
Just did take-out the other day -- love the tilapia platter, the plantains, and the cabbage. Rice & peas were standard and a bit dry, but the curry sauce is great. The tilapia tasted fresh and breaded well. The plantains were delicious. Perfectly cooked. The prices are reason enough to go back; it's a big menu and I'd love to try more.
(4)
Majick L.
YES! Finally GOOD jamaican food. Do you know how long I have waited for this?! I will admit, I knocked a star off for the jerk chicken being a little on the dry side, but the flavor kind of made up for it. My favorite dish here is the curried goat. Cooked perfectly, love the sauce, and seasoning, and portion size makes me feel like i'm getting my moneys worth. I highly recommend this place. My only gripe is the parking...which is nonexistent.
(4)
Patricia R.
The beef patties were burned which was very disappointing to me. BUT THE COCO COCO BREAD! I bought 3 loaves and ate two before I made it back to Baltimore... with 2 out of 5 burned beef patties... Again - don't judge me!! Oh - the sorrel was the BEST!
(2)
KC T.
Now - this is really good yard eatin'. Negril is definitely the spot for authentic Jamaican food. They have all the traditional meals - like beef patties, curry goat, oxtail, jerk chicken, fricasseed chicken, curry chicken, stewed chicken, rotis snapper...etc. They also have excellent carrot and banana cakes, and island juices. However, there is no ackee and salt/cod fish here :-( The prices for their entrees range from $8 - $11; and $2 for the patties and cake slices - which are pretty reasonable comparably. Their portion sizes are also pretty large - so "no problem" there. While most people seem to order out, they also have a side dining area - which is very nice for small parties. This is definitely a good spot to check out.
(4)
Bent B.
Try the carrot cake it's the kind of carrot cake for people who don't like to eat that, like zucchini bread.
(4)
Niana K.
I was surprised that no one took a picture of the famous Jerk Chicken Sandwich! so here you go! =) I couldn't decide if I wanted an entree or THE sandwich. It seems like the entrees got mixed reviews, but the jerk chicken sandwich won everybody's heart. I can definitely see why. I love jerk chicken and I LOVE a nice kick of heat. Unfortunately, the jerk chicken barely had any spice, so they should work on that because it's a necessity! Other than that, the butter roll was SUPER soft and drool worthy, and the chicken thigh was moist and well seasoned (other than the spice!). The poppy seed dressing was a little sweet for me, but I didn't care because the overall sandwich tasted wonderful! Honestly, can you really beat $3.95 for a jerk chicken sandwich? It's DEFINITELY worth a try, but next time, I'll ask for some hot sauce...
(4)
Megan F.
OUTSANDING! Everything is truly authentic. Even the wonderful family that owns this establishment (and the several other restaurants around MD). I love Jamaica and this restaurant always brings me back to the island. Patties and Escovich fish are my favorites. The jerk is fantastic. I love the authenticity of even having the Jamaican beverages on hand. Excellent prices. Highly recommended.
(5)
Regan H.
I consider myself a Caribbean food connoisseur and I've been to Negril twice and thoroughly disappointed twice. The worse jerk chicken that I've ever had. I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 because the other dishes have to be better. I hate that Tropicana moved and Spicy Delight wasn't open.
(2)
Dee J.
Best beef patties I've had! You taste the flavor of the scotch bonnet pepper without the heat. Friendly service, clean space. I've never had a bad meal there!
(4)
Leyali R.
The chicken soup is absolutely magical. The veggie and chicken rotis are delicious, the patties are solid. Husband swears by the stewed oxtail, curry goat, and brown stew red snapper. Did I mention the chicken soup is magical? Yeah. That soup. We usually end up ordering dinner out from this excellent local eatery, and are always pleased with the prices, portion size, and most of all, TASTE. Never disappointed. Still on the list to try? Beef patty, and brown stew chicken (I haven't been able to find one that beats my BFF's mom's recipe to date). Would love it if they added some greens like callaloo. The food reminds me of my trip to Jamaica, and I continue to come back. Service is polite and quick, the place is usually busy, and it's worth it!
(4)
Billy B.
Excellent Island food. I take all of my friends from the Islands there when they come state side. I highly recommend Beef Patties and Coco bread with a Ginger Beer to wash it down!
(5)
Phi N.
The Chicken Fricasse is what I ordered to eat. The chicken was good. However, the rice and side could use more flavor-- it was a little bland, a little boring for my taste.
(3)
H W.
Love love love the vegetable stew and roti! The rum cake is devine! Always have to grab some sorrel when I'm there too, thirsty or not! It's especially good to get if one is feeling under the weather. My son likes the veggie patties and coco bread, and of course the cookies. ;) Parking is not easy to come by though
(5)
Anita W.
I crave the beef patties and plantains here, both milk-free. Watch out for the coconut bread - they told me it has real milk, not just coconut milk in it.
(4)
Steve L.
Ok food, was piping hot. Limited Jamaican dishes. Lots of fat, unfortunately it was covered in sauce so I was chewing it for a bit before I spit it out
(1)
Fatima S.
I have been coming here for years!! The jerk chicken sandwich is amazing! The portion is great and it's always always HOT and FRESH. Now the reason for the four stars instead of five is due to a slight difference in taste. Years ago, prior to silver spring going through the major reconstruction phase, the jerk chicken sandwich tasted absolutely flawless. However in my recent visits, the taste has been altered. It's obvious that many things change in the span of 10 years. Different cooks and new management could explain a lot. I still highly recommend Negril!
(4)
Joe G.
Jamaican me crazy with this food! The cocoa bread make me insane crazy. (5 stars) The fish sandwich make me very crazy. (4 stars) The chicken sandwich, oxtail, and roti make me crazy. (3 stars) The chicken curry make me a little crazy. (2 stars) The craziness gets rounded to a solid 3 stars!
(3)
Amanda B.
I have very high taste standards for Jamaican food. It's hard to judge because I'm comparing it to the food I grew up eating lol. It's not bad like Tropicana though. The oxtail is good, could be more suculant. The curry chicken is good. Overall the food is good but it's like something is missing, don't know what. I go once in a while because it seems like it's no good JA restaurants left in D.C.. Like when Georgia Ave was flooded with them back in the 90's
(3)
Cheryl J.
This was not worth the trip from Crofton. This makes me miss my Jamaican food from the Bronx in NY tremendously. My husband and I are from NY. He is fro Bklyn and me the Bronx. We love Jamaican cuisine. I ordered the oxtails and curry chicken. I thought the oxtails were not cooked long enough because you had to work hard to get the meat off the bone. There wasnt enough seasoning and hardly no gravy. Just too bland for me. My husband felt the chicken was just okay. The rice had no flavor whatsoever. I don't usually eat with salt, but I had to sprinkle some on my food. I will not be back. And also I didn't get enough meat for $11. My portion was like a medium size. I NY I would have gotten double the amount. I guess I have to wait until I go back home to get some good Jamaican food. Don't waste your time and money. Oops I forgot, the beef patty was okay. The spiciness was good.
(2)
Brian H.
I'm keeping it at 2 stars for the Silver Spring location but I recently decided to give the Howard U location a try out of desperation and was pleasantly surprised. I don't know why there's been such a difference for me in the two locations... maybe the three times I went to Silver Spring were coincidentally off nights? Whatever the case, the jerk chicken sandwich at the Howard Negril was awesome spicy, juicy, moist meat and amazing amount for what I paid.
(2)
Tosh G.
This place has been here forever. I remember eating here as a kid, however this is not the same authentic jamaican food I'm use too. The Jerk chicken does not have taste, I wish they would call it baked chiken because that's what it is. I even tried to give the oxtail a chance because I thought to myself, you can't mess that up! Well I've brought oxtail on two different occasions and the meat was so tough and again lacked tasted.
(2)
Vanessa P.
Parking sucks. The place is pretty open and clean inside... there are two tables in the room with the order counter and then a side room with many more tables. The Beau and I both ordered jerk chicken sandwiches... for some stupid reason I was expecting a chicken breast seared with jerk seasoning... but instead got many "pulled" pieces of chicken, that, I'm not even sure *were* chicken (I've never seen that much dark meat on a chicken before). It wasn't spicy at all and about 3/4ths of the way through, I felt stuffed and just tired of eating it. Pretty decent amount of food for $4 each though... can't beat that.
(3)
Ordale A.
I love the fact that they have a little express store next to the main place. Beef Patty and Cocoa bread are the only thing I get, so I can't say if the rest of the food is good or not, but whenever I'm in Silver Spring I make a special stop here.
(3)
Bruce G.
I was here only a day ago, so my memory of this place is very clear. Ten years ago I would have given this place 5 stars, but in the interim it's gone seriously downhill. The jerk chicken was nowhere near as spicy as it used to be, and everything costs a lot more (even allowing for general inflation). This used to be one of the best cheap-eating places in Silver Spring, when I lived a few blocks away from it. It's certainly no longer really cheap, and no longer all that good either.
(3)
Jesus J.
From other reviewers, you will see a pattern: fine praise of the Jerk chicken sandwich. They're right - this sandwich is delicious. It's so good that every time I come here, it's difficult for me to try something new as that sandwich has me coming back for more. The menu is pretty vast, though, and offers all sorts of entrees and sides. The sandwich consists of pulled, Jerk chicken, tasty poppy seed sauce, lettuce, all in a soft, buttered sandwich roll. Good stuff. I've been told that Jerk chicken is generally spicy but the Jerk chicken here isn't spicy in the least. So if you're looking for hotness, you will be disappointed. I've also tried their chocolate chip cookies and they were soft, moist, and tasted home made. Their home made fruit punch is good as well. It's not your typical fruit punch that is packed with sugar without any real flavor. The punch is thicker than your average fruit punch, and you can taste the ingredients without so much of the sweetness. I generally find fruit punch to be too sweet, but this drink is an exception. Negril also has a lot of different beverages besides your canned sodas. They have Kola champagne, ginger beer, and other drinks you usually find in the international section of your grocery store. There are plenty of tables and places to sit and the staff have always been nice. The prices are great on the wallet - only $~4 for the sandwich and the entrees are $~8. Minimum purchase of $5 to use a credit card, which isn't too much of an inconvenience as I usually buy a drink along with the sandwich. I've never had any issues with this place and have been frequenting every week for that quick, cheap lunch or dinner.
(4)
Semra E.
Love it, just like I love my Jamaican peeeeeooooopppppllllleeeee!!!!!!!! BOP BOP BOP!!!!! ok, so I'm a HUGE fan of this spot not only because every dish feels like it's made from my friends mothers from the islands, but because the price is ALWAYS right. My favorite thing to get there is the Jerk chicken sandwich....they put this amazing sauce on it that is like crack to me and I just can't get enough. My mouth is watering now just thinking about this.......
(5)
Melissa P.
As an individual who has familial linkages to the west indies I tend to have an overly critical eye to any and every cuisine linked to the Caribbean region. I've noticed many comment on the low prices and to me this isn't a huge plus for me because though the DMV area lacks a selection of west indian cuisine you'll find most places selling this type of fare near and far have comparable pricing. I was delighted to see favorites on the menu but delivery was not stellar. I was however disappointed at the limited beverage options- where's my peanut punch and Coconut water?! I really like their beef patties- their chicken patties are hit or miss, sometimes they are delicious and sometimes its kinda tasteless and mush inside. Note: the beef patties taste sooo much better if you take them home and stick them in the oven to crisp em up a bit! All in all if you're going for the patties enjoy but don't expect any magic.
(3)
Zeenat W.
My thing is, you must be crazy.... They are not even jamaican nor are they carribean, they are spanish! Cookin' Jamaican food! What the hell has the world come too? My friend and I had a craving for some oxtail and curry goat, i read reviews before my decision and decided to head on ova, n also get the coco bread. The register has a woman of black descent, the kitchen has one woman of black descent n like 5 spanish people puttering around. Cleaning, food trays, yellin' orders in spanish, I assume they are just the help, so we ask the register person, 'is the woman back there doin all the cookin'?' She's very reluctant to tell us no, almost as if she's bein' watched, we ask, 'then who?', 'did they leave? or are the spanish people cookin?' she says, 'yes, they cook the food?' We stood back, shocked, appalled, insulted even, feelin like this couldn't be happenin' so becuz it was late n we were there, we ordered. I knew i wud b disappointed, my friend wanted to stay optimistic and we ordered what we came for. We always order these dishes to judge jamaican restaurants, the coco bread wasnt spectacular, quite regular in every way actually. The food was just not right, the meats lacked key ingredients therefore my favorite part of these dishes, the gravy suffered. The cabbage was not even fully cooked shud have just been cole slaw with no seasoning. It made me wanna take both platters and do a drive by window trashing with their own food but eat the coco bread cuz at least that tasted familiar. THEY'RE NOT JAMAICAN! PUT THE STORE UNDER ANOTHER CATEGORY SO PEOPLE LIKE ME DON'T GET THEIR HOPES UP TOO HIGH!
(1)
Ayo A.
This Negril absolutely sucks! I placed an order for a simple veggie pattie and coco bread. I was told there was only one pattie left, sat there for 15 minutes and was told it was "accidentally sold." Mistakes happen and I wasn't even that blown; I was more upset by the rude attitudes received when I asked for a refund. Wish I could give them negative stars.
Obviously, the jerk chicken sandwich is Negril's biggest draw but I'd recommend changing things up. Last time, I had the Oxtail and it was pretty good (and reminiscent of the kind of stew we make in southern Africa).
(4)
Jordan K.
Look. It's a tiny little counter where you wait in line, order, wait in another line while they FORGET your order, ask if they've forgotten your order, have them stare blankly at you, ask them again, have them ask you for your receipt and order number, hand it over, have them not look at you or tell you when it will be ready, where they look at you again, ask you for the receipt again (the one you just handed over), and then, finally, mercifully, give you a bag that may or may not contain what you originally ordered but by that point who cares because you're so hungry. I'm sure we've all been to a places like that from time to time. p.s. Jerk Chicken Sandwich was worth an extra star, but the service described above deserves one less, so you average out to two.
(3)
Catherine H.
I straight up adore Negril, and this Negril in particular. I love everything about it, from the fried plantains to the cranky lady behind the counter. Everything, and I do mean everything, I've had at Negril has been good, but for lunch I find it is really, really hard to beat the Jerk Chicken sandwich. For $3.25-- yes, you did read that right-- you get a soft sweet roll piled with excellent jerk chicken, lettuce and sauce. It is happiness wrapped in a foil package, and it leaves you money left over for a Kola Champagne to wash it down. If you want to upscale it a bit you can never go wrong with their oxtail, goat (roti or curry) or escoveitched red snapper. Their plantains are freshly cooked and plentiful to an order, and their beef patties are warm and spicy. The line is *always* out the door at lunchtime, and with good reason-- the food rocks. The service is counter, but they do have a cute little dining room available. Don't get mad if the cashier is cranky, she's been that way for years, and if sometimes you have to ask the counter folks if your order is ready, well, that's just how it can be. If you're taking to go they've just opened a separate "to go only" store two doors down for basics like sandwiches, beef patties, plantains and cookies, making the experience somewhat more efficient.
(5)
Lester K.
This is the worst Jamaican food I've ever had. The meal started off good as I bit into my Jamaican beef patty, which was very flaky and still good, albeit, obvious that it sat around for a while. Jerk chicken with rice and cabbage was lame. Stewed, not grilled; no complaints about that. Yes, there was seasoning and stuff on it, but it was so mild and flavorless. I got 2 drumsticks and half a breast. Oxtail stew was a little better but still not great, or even what I'd consider good. Passable is how I'd like to describe it. With rice and salad with a mango dressing. Best part of my meal was the homemade fruit punch. At $2.50 or something, it's very pricey for a 20 oz. cup that's half filled with ice. Essentially, you're getting maybe 10 oz. of liquid. I used to love this place. I used to rave about this place to everybody who would listen. That is all in the past as this place has removed itself as a resident of Flavortown. 1.3 stars and rounding down.
(1)
Vikash S.
Good food, great prices. Must try: the Coco bread and rotis. Get the coco bread and eat it while it's hot!
(4)
Vannie N.
Pass me the spices?? Cause I didn't taste any!! Me and the fiance have been looking forward to Negril, for awhile after our friends told us to check out its jerk chicken meal. Also, people on here "highly" rated this place. The place is located about 2 blocks aways from downtown Silver Spring. Although its is cheap eats, it sorta applies to the appetizers and drinks. The meals are around $8 dollars and up. The jerk chicken meal came with a side salad and seasoned rice. I hate to say this, but the salad and the rice tasted way better than the jerk chicken. The jerk chicken was dry, bland, gamy, and unappetizing. I was hoping for something with more aromatic and spices.
(3)
Roy S.
Bland, uninspired and a waste of coin. For excellent carribean food search out Peach's in DC. It is worth the drive...
(1)
Ina C.
It's been MONTHS since I've been here last, but for some reason I was starting to crave that jerk chicken sandwich! I left the car at a metered spot on Thayer Ave and even at 4:30pm on a Thursday, this place was pretty full. I ordered a jerk chicken sandwich to go, and I couldn't believe that this thing was $3.95. It was my dinner! The bun tasted like it was buttered and grilled, though it didn't look it. The chicken was juicy and full of flavor, the lettuce was fresh and the sauce was magical! Seriously - this is an amazing value for $3.95. Apparently this place is pretty chain. They've got a couple other locations in the area and even sell their patties frozen and microwave-ready. Hmm. And I don't even really know how "Jamaican" they really are. The staff certainly didn't look like this was their native cuisine. Eh. I forgot to get the punch today. :(
(4)
Jed S.
Jerk chicken sandwich is the bet meal you can get in DMV for $5. Coco bread sandwich comes on is great and chicken is made so tender and good.
(4)
Charlotte J.
Great vegetarian food! Their roti's are huge, I can only eat half of one if that at one time. Veggie pattys are soooo wonderful. Don't forget to grab some of their home made fruit punch too.
(4)
Paul S.
I'm sorry but this place sucks. Worst Jamaican food I've ever had and worst example of a place being over rated on Yelp. You notice that half the reviews here basically say they added a star to be nice or because of the "amazing" jerk chicken sandwich? How about adding a star to be misleading? No flavor what so ever. What this basically is to my palate is soul food disguised as Caribbean food or Caribbean food that has been watered down to cater to those that are used to eating soul food. And I'm not trying to knock soul food but a "Jamaican" restaurant with such a high rating should serve high quality authentic Jamaican cuisine and instead you get a West Indian Taco Bell. The jerk chicken is NOT jerk chicken! It's like calling KFC or chicken teriyaki jerk chicken. It's chicken. It might even be good chicken. But it is in no shape or form jerk chicken. I'd be tempted to give them 2 stars but enough is enough. There are too many three star reviews that when you actually read them say that the place is mediocre at best and thanks to the overall 3 1/2 stars it currently has I spent more money here by going and giving it second and third chances than anyone ever should. Nope, not to today.
(1)
David O.
Ok. So I read some of the reviews on here and I must say that I'm disappointed with what some people have to say about this place. Negril is one of the best Jamaican restaurants I've been to and trust me I've been to all of them and they all have good things about them. The food here is great and of course the beef pattie with coco bread is the s**t. The service is good and depending on the time you go there it might be packed or not. The oxtail is on point and the curry goat is banging. You definitely gotta try it. Don't let the reviews sway your decision one way or another. Try it, I dare you ( Charlie Murphy )
(5)
Josh O.
I ordered a jerked chicken sandwich with fish cakes. Neither were even vaguely reminiscent of those that I've had in Jamaica, and I'm not even convinced that the jerked chicken was CHICKEN, let alone JERKED. The fish cakes were tasty, but completely unlike any fish cake I've ever had in Jamaica, and honestly reminded more of something you'd get at a Long John Silver's. I'd like to give them a second chance because I love Jamaican food, I really would, but I just don't know if I bring myself to do it.
(1)
Alex O.
First off, this is basically a take-out place. There is a sit down room with a few tables, but basically it's a take-out counter. The food is mediocre at best. Spice, flavor, heat? Nope, not here. This is really pretty bland Jamaican food, but it is dirt cheap. There is really only one thing that's worth getting at Negril - the jerk chicken sandwich. Does it really taste like jerk chicken? No, not really. It's stewed dark meat with a hint of spice. However, it is moist and hearty and comes on a delicious roll. The lettuce is always crisp and the house dressing they put on it is tangy and tasty. And, it's about $4. A great deal for a great chicken sandwich. Is it worth going out of the way to get? No, but if you're in the neighborhood then it's worth checking out because it really is an excellent sandwich. The rest of the menu basically sucks.
(2)
Leon M.
hit or miss...sometimes it is good and other times it is bad....lot of microwave heating occurs.
(3)
C W.
I order the same order everytime: jerk chicken and rice, beef patty, and a cream soda. Never disappoints! I just wish they weren't closed on Sundays.
(4)
Jeannie L.
I can't believe such a hidden gem exists in Silver Spring. Dying to get a change of taste for lunch, I decided to rely on my fellow yelpers to tell me what's good in SS and Negril came up. My coworker and I quickly jumped into my car and headed to this place. I was soo excited. Surely, Negril didn't disappoint. Service is fast and the staff is friendly. You're greeted by their super bright interior as well. I was ecstatic with their choices - fried sweet potatoe fries, fried plantain, jerk chicken sandwich, jerk chicken wrap, etc.. We both grabbed the jerk chicken sandwich which is wrapped with coconut bread and plantain. I was a very happy camper once I finally got out of my meeting to try out my food. The sandwich was so tasty - the meat was well seasoned and succulent, topped with special white sauce. The fried plantain was sweet but not overly so and not mushy. I love this place. Thanks yelpers! I think I'll have to make a weekly trip here to avoid Negril withdraw. hahaha
(4)
Katherine K.
Negril probably wins the prize for best value in town when it comes to filling, delicious lunches. I have not experienced the full menu as the other Yelpers have, but look forward to my next visit. At $3 the chicken jerk sammich is a must-order. Mine was served with a weird poppyseed dressing that I didn't care for, but hell, it was served on the side so i didn't use it. My co-worker got a Jamaican meat patty which was crispy, flaky, and downright sinful. If you're watching your fat intake I don't recommend it, but if you want to make your jump off the diet bandwagon worthwhile, Negril is the best place to do it.
(4)
Kate M.
UPDATE 6/14/08: I've upgraded Negril to 4 stars. As promised, I went back and had something else, and it was delicious. DELICIOUS, folks. The veggie roti was great. Flavors were not too intense, and the more you eat it the more subtleties you notice. The coco bread is out of this world. It tastes like a cross between a donut and a soft pretzel with some coconut thrown in. It's salty and sweet and soft and the best thing you can buy for 85 cents. In fact, I think I'm going to go back right now and have dinner at Negril again, if only so I can have an excuse to get more coco bread. ORIGINAL REVIEW 5/10/08: I'm sure I'm making some enemies here but I'm sorry, folks, I just didn't care for the jerk chicken sandwich. I did like the bread, but I found the chicken kind of tough. There were a few pieces I had to pull out of the sandwich because I couldn't bite through them. The sauce was kind of, I dunno, nondescript. I wasn't wowed by it, and in fact I can't even really remember much about what it tasted like. So, I'm *tentatively* giving Negril 3 stars, but because of these Yelp reviews and the volume of happy people who were in there today, I fully intend on going back and having something else.
(4)
Paul H.
Good value, friendly; jerk chicken sandwich very good! Been around a while, popular.
(4)
Alex A.
The food here is mediocre, but satisfactory. There is no atmosphere at this place, but nobody expects there to be atmosphere at what they charge here. Prices are low here, and despite a shortage of Jamaican restaurants in the DC-area, I wouldn't come back
(2)
Sara K.
Very tasty food for vegetarians! Price is just right and the portion size will last for many meals. Try the curried veggies and the coco bread! Beans and rice that come with meal are yummy!
(5)
Tina K.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Negril! I have to stop myself from getting their Curry Chicken and their beef patties. Oh man they're so good! The Jerk Chicken sandwich isn't quite like in Jamaica and it seems their using some Honey Mustard or Poppyseed dressing but it's still tasty nonetheless! Their desserts are fabulous and the mango sauce goes great on anything! Definitely a silver spring gem!
(5)
Ed Y.
Use to work 2 blocks from this place. God do I miss it. Jerk Chicken sandwich is a great buy, especially for lunch. Ox tail stew is yummy. Generous portions of peas and rice. Goat Roti is a bit messy but well worth it. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.
(5)
Safiya S.
Although I do like the food at Negril there are definitely better Caribbean food places in the area. The jerk chicken was OK but the Oxtail was good. The plantains were OK. If you are desperate for some Caribbean food it will definitely satisfy you but if you are familiar with this type of cuisine I think you will be disappointed.
(3)
C. I. M.
I finally tried this place after living down the street from it most of my life. I don't know anything about Jamaican food but from these reviews, I expected to be blown away. Not so. I ordered the Jerk Chicken sandwich, a beef patty and a piece of coco bread. I was pleasently surprised that all that came up to less than 7 bucks. I got home, started eating. They give you a big piece of the bread, my first bite and it was kind of salty. The patty was okay, nothing spectacular. The jerk chicken was good but it got the lettuce pretty mushy and that kinda grossed me out. It was filling but nothing special in my opinion.
(3)
Mic X.
now i am going to give negril 4 stars here because (again) i can't give 3.5 stars. negril is a very good jamacian restaurant (that caters to american taste) and that's the rub. their jerk chicken sandwiches are fine and tasty.... just not spicy like other jamacian places i have been too. fried plaintains - great, beans and rice - great, patties - great, roti - ok. this is a slightly watered down version of jamacian food stuffs, but it's still good. if you want the sloppy hoottt mess of curry goat or jerk chicken of real home style jamacian food then you'll have to travel on, but if want something close to jamacia (without completely washing out the spices) then negril is the place for you.
(4)
Chris G.
Oh, Negril. Why did it take so long for me to discover you? I lived in Silver Spring for about two years, yet never entered your doors. It took a truly bizarre chain of events for my wife and I to come in for a snack yesterday, yet somehow, someway we were guided in by a mysterious benevolent force. Thank you, benevolent force! I had a jerk chicken sandwich. What a delicious treat. My first taste of Coco bread - wow, tasty, tasty. And the chicken. Wow. Incredibly delicious. My wife had a beef pattie - it tasted okay, but no match for the jerk. The chicken wasn't particularly hot, but it had a great blend of spices. So tasty. Don't be like me. Get thee to Negril. By the way, they have some tables where you can sit and eat, but no table service. But for these treats, you'll be happy to carry your own food to the table.
(4)
Haviland P.
Been supporting this joint back in the day when they weren't a chain. Don't know why something is lost when an est. expands. It's not the same but still a good meal. If you want a more authentic jerk chicken check out jerk pit in college park md..its worth the drive over. Back to Negrils, the rotis are my favorite!
(3)
paul s.
The goat curry was just what I was looking for this night -- Tender chunks of goat in a curry that was just right -- flavorful but not crazy hot and spicy. Served with crisp slaw and rice and beans, it tasted like somebody cared. Good, flavorful, inexpensive ethnic food. The stew did include a fair amount of bones but the meat fell right off them. The beef pattie appetizer was fine but nothing to scream about.
(3)
Sam H.
ok my only experience with this place was as "take out" where it was delivered as I was working on the computer and... I was pleasantly suprised. I ordered to Goat Goti, friend plantains, and think I developed a taste for the JAMACIAN food. : ) The only thing was... I kinda have to watch out for the bones... but... the meat was tender (not dry as some other places I tried).... It's good. Deliver it again next time I'm working.
(4)
Jung-Ah P.
For months I've been hearing about a Jamaican restaurant in Silver Spring called Negril, usually really good things about their jerk chicken sandwich and the homemade fruit punch. So one evening, as I was heading home, starving and knowing there nothing edible in the fridge, I headed to Negril. It's hard to miss with its large yellow sign with red letters. It's definitely a carry out sort of place, even though there are a couple of tables in the room where you order the food at a counter, and a room on the side with many more tables - I don't think they have wait staff service though. So I headed up to the person at the counter and asked for a recommendation as I had never been there. He said that the beef patties or the coco bread would be good as appetizers and if I wanted something more filling, the jerk chicken sandwich, curried chicken, or goat roti are popular. So, being famished, I ordered the beef patty, coco bread, and curried chicken to go (obviously, my eyes were bigger than my stomach). Service was pretty quick, I received my food in about 5 minutes, during which I looked around the place and noticed that the beef patties were being sold in frozen packs, to be microwaved at home. Hmmmm...I don't know how I feel about that. Once I received the food, I rushed home and took at bite of the beef patty. It wasn't magnificent, but it wasn't awful - the crust was flaky and the beef filling was pasty but had enough seasoning to be not gross or boring. The coco bread was DELISH, it's soft and moist and fluffy and sweet and buttery...mmmmmmmm. I would have it for breakfast with butter and coffee...maybe a dab of good strawberry preserves. Drool. Uh, where was I? Right, moving on to the curried chicken, um...it was disappointing. I grew up with really good chicken curry from India, so I expected lots of spices and heat. Well, spices and heat, I definitely didn't get. Instead I got mediocre chicken with mediocre sauce with a side of very dry rice and beans and a heaping mound of really blah steamed cabbage. Note to self: when getting an entree, always choose the salad over cabbage. Despite the disappointment, I was willing to give it a second try because I wanted to like it. I really wanted to like it. This time I went for the jerk chicken sandwich - it can't get any more Jamaican than that, right? Then as a last minute impulse, I ordered the fish cakes appetizer also. Oh man, I was even more disappointed than before. The fish cakes - there are 3 huge puffs of them - were so gross, it didn't taste like fish and certainly didn't look like fish, it was like a sticky sponge. I took a bite and then was forced by my brain to throw them out. Even doused in the strange sweet sauce and I tried hot sauce also, it was inedible. EW. As I prepared to bite into the jerk sandwich I said a silent prayer that it would be good. It was ok, but I didn't know what was Jamaican or jerk about it. It tasted like a pulled chicken sandwich with a honey mustard and lettuce. My understanding was that jerk seasoning is hot and spicy and generally the chicken is grilled or smoked...I don't think it met any of those requirements. The best thing about it was the coco bread. Would I go back to Negril? Probably not. For the mediocre entrees, it's way overpriced - I think I paid $11 for the lame curried chicken. The sandwich though, is a really good deal if you're not really looking for a jerk chicken sandwich at about $4. Oh no, I'm lying. I would go back to get the coco bread but probably not anything else. If you like delicious bread, I suggest you try it for sure! Tasty tasty!
(2)
LOLITA J.
This place is good, but definitely not the best. I've been to Jamaica so I've had the authentic beef patties, these were close but not close enough. Make sure when you go that you get fresh patties and not those that have been sitting for awhile because they can almost choke you. : ) The cocobread is very yummy!!! I could sit there and eat that all day. These are the only two items I order from this place. However, I've never been to a jamaican restaurant where the whole staff was hispanic . . . I don't have an issue with it but have never seen that before. : )
(3)
Molly S.
A decent, comforting fill for cheap money, and some items are better than others. I prefer lots of their smaller treats to the actual entrees that tend toward the flavorless and dull. Their jerk sandwich is satisfying, and the patties aren't hugely impressive but there's something comforting in their flaky-crusted warmness. I prefer the vegetarian one to the beef. Coconut fans should try the coconut custard baked goods on the counter's display case - just the right amount of sweet, and great to take home and enjoy with a cup of coffee. The coco bread is similarly enjoyable. The dining area is nothing fancy, but it's clean, and service is fast enough. I like Negril on a fast food level - not a favorite, but a good enough use of six bucks on the go.
(3)
Ashley K.
You must try: Jerk chicken sandwich, oatmeal cookies, fruit punch. Can cause bubble-gut, but totally worth it.
(4)
Steve Y.
My wife and I had lunch here with a few friends one Saturday while wandering around DTSS. We've passed by Negril many times on our way to/from the SS Safeway (which although improved, is still not a good grocery shopping experience), and so were curious to see what their food was like. The place is essentially part take-out counter and part sit down cafe - there isn't a whole lot in the way of ambience, unless you count the faded jamaican themed posters on the wall. The service at the counter is brisk, and the food is produced equally quickly (certainly not on "island time" here!). I ordered the jerk chicken sandwich and the meat pattie - both were tasty and relative bargains at around $3.75 and $1.50 respectively. I can certainly see why Negril was awarded a Washingtonian Cheap Eats award recently. My lunch companions were equally pleased with their meals which included the goat curry, the fish sandwich, and the chicken rotti. If there were complaints it was generally that the meats could have done with just a hint more spice - my jerk chicken while very nice, was not as spicy as I was expecting, and others mentioned that the curried goat was a tad bland. I was also a little disapointed with the options for sides - basically nothing really appealed, hence I added the pattie as my side. Overall, a good place to go if you want a decent cheap lunch, but if you like your meals a little on the spicy side then you might want to make this known when you order.
(4)
Alexa B.
OMG, This is totally the place to come to if you want some traditional home style Jamaican cooking. The prices are great and just writing about this place is making so damn hungry. Their beef patties and coco bread with spicy sauce in between is just delicious. I love this place. I also recommend their ox tale, yyyuuuuummmmm.
(5)
Kurosh H.
Negril is the shizznit!! Rub jerk chicken all over face please. This is what the good old days were all about! Stuff that meat pie in my armpit please. Yum ginger soda up my nostrils. aaahah Jamaicanmecrazy man!
(5)
Jimena M.
Negril is a Silver Spring treasure and tradition. Not only does it have delicious Jamaican food, it also has an absolutely delicious carrot cake. It's slightly sweet and always moist. The cream cheese frosting is perfect. A perfect meal on the go is their famous jamaican meat patties. It's the jamaican take on empanadas. The crust is always flaky and the meat is nicely seasoned. I've also had the rice and peas and their Jerk Chicken...yum! Another great treat is the ox tail soup. Their sandwiches are all soo gooood. The only thing you'll hate about this place is having to make up your mind.
(5)
Ian N.
I'll be amazed if anything can beat Negril for my "Price-Performance in the $6-8 entree" prize. Here, you'll see locals, cabbies, real people who come in to eat real food. If you like curry, the chicken curry roti comes recommended, though it's not very spicy. The sugary house lemonade makes me wonder what life tasted life before corn industry welfare. As noted in a review at the other location, great carrot cake. And the ridiculously cheap meat patty appetizer is good enough that I make myself avoid thinking what must be in it to be that good, and that good of a deal. In a sea of Georgia Ave yuppie mega-chains on the MD side and places so shady I won't even give them a try on the DC side, this Jamaican hole in the wall gets my highest recommendation.
(5)
Teresa H.
Negril is ok.... I guess because I grew up in the Caribbean so I don't find it super favorable and I also prefer my food very spicy (my personal preference). But l have to agree with everyone else its a good deal for the buck. If you want a grab something quick. I have to admit that visit N every now and then.
(3)
Mimi X.
I've only been to the takeout location next door to the main restaurant, but I was so impressed I'm writing a review. That was a seriously good jerk chicken sandwich. The bread alone would bring me back. I also tried a meat patty, which turned out not to be a hamburger patty... more like a meat fritter or something, inside flaky dough. It was greasy but good -- if I'm in need of comfort food, I'll get that! But the jerk chicken sandwich is really something. Delicious and cheap.
(5)
Ethan D.
One of my favorite local spots. I usually get the jerk-chicken sandwich, beef-patties, and fried plantains. The ox-tail and curry-chicken entrees are also great selections.
(5)
Brian R.
Mmmm, jerk chicken sandwich.
(4)
Alexander L.
Can't vouch for meat dishes, but the vegetarian fare is nothing to write home about. If you like mushy, flavorless canned vegetables and beans, it's a place for you.
(2)
Nicole M.
everytime i'm nearby, i DEMAND that we go here. it's not an option. heads will ROLL if i don't get my sweet and spicy jerk chicken sandwich. and do not, i mean DO NOT touch my beef patty or coco bread. you've been warned.....
(5)
Tammy L.
Wow. My office just catered lunch from Negril and it was amazing. Nothing was bland, everything was just full of flavor. Of the selection, I tried the chicken curry, jerk chicken, fish (I don't know what it's called, but it tastes a little sweet), cabbage, rice and beans, and plantains; all of which I really liked. I'm definitely going back with my tupperware so I don't have to cook dinner tonight...
(4)
S S.
Now, I'm not sure that I'm the most qualified to judge "good" versus "bad" Jamacian food. This is the first time I've had any, but I can say that the jerk chicken sandwich was absolutely FANTASTIC! It was much better than going to Chik-fil-A. Tastey, filling, and the bread was super super soft and delicious. Def give it a try! Oh, and it's pretty decently priced too.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Robert B.
Initially, I was going to give this place three stars because my food order wasn't correct. However, once I bit into the food, I became an instant fan. I ordered the Jerk Chicken, but the server gave me a curry chicken. Nevertheless, the Jamaican style curry, blended with a little jerk seasoning, made for quite the mouth water experience. My only complaints were that the restaurant decor was dated, and the server seemed uninterested in the customers. This really isn't a problem, though, if you just pop in for lunchtime takeout.
(4)MJ W.
Have passed by this place many times - finally stopped in and could kinda see the positives. I am not one to judge atmosphere at a place like this, but it was very clean and suitable for what it's there for. As for the food, I did not get the beef party but wish I had. Looked and smelled good when brought to a neighboring customer. The Curried Chicken was tender but lacked a lot of flavor; cabbage about the same, and the rice and peas were pretty tasty (albeit everything could use salt). Not the place I'd go for true caribbean food, but certainly not a bad pick.
(3)Kojo B.
More like 3.5, but will give it a 4 based on longevity and consistency. When i used to live in Silver Spring about a decade ago, i used to go there quite often, now that i am in Baltimore, i pop by every now and then when i am in that corridor. Personally, they have the best beef patties that i have had period. Everything else is ok... most Jamaican restaurants dont have fricasse chicken, the closest may be brown stew chicken, they have that . Good pick up spot and that lemonade is crack.
(4)Ty K.
Loved the Jerk Chicken Entree and Curry Chicken Patties. Very flavourful. The only problem I've had is the wait time while order on-site so I like to order by phone. When I do it's always ready to go as soon as I pay. If you like Jamaican you should definitely give them a try.
(4)Bent B.
Try the carrot cake it's the kind of carrot cake for people who don't like to eat that, like zucchini bread.
(4)Anita W.
I crave the beef patties and plantains here, both milk-free. Watch out for the coconut bread - they told me it has real milk, not just coconut milk in it.
(4)Steve L.
Ok food, was piping hot. Limited Jamaican dishes. Lots of fat, unfortunately it was covered in sauce so I was chewing it for a bit before I spit it out
(1)Amber L.
Amazing Curry Roti! Try it! Over 10 years I've been coming here with friends! Stew chicken, jerk chicken sandwich and spicy beef patty are a must. On most summer days, the line is out the door, that says it all. Authentic Jamaican foods and most Jamaican folks eat here, that says it all too lol!
(5)Zariah G.
YUM! Go ahead order anything...it's going to very good. Very fresh and the seasonings are perfect. Don't forget to get a Ginger Beer :) they have the best!
(4)Chris D.
This place is awesome. Great food at reasonable prices. Most Caribbean restaurants offer the same items at 3 times the price. I would recommend the Roti and Soup!
(4)Patrick G.
Well, I only go here for one thing. The Jerk Chicken Sandwich. The bread is made from coconut flour.... unique. They bake the buns on the premises so they are always fresh. And the chicken is very succulent with crisp edges. It's as good as it gets. The chicken is dressed with a light poppy seed dressing that has a unique tang. And the crowning glory ... for me, anyway, is the house made sweet & sour habenaro hot sauce (only one per customer!!) ... But it's easy enough to take two so you can take one home. The staff have all been there for as long as I have been going there (8 years) and they each have their unique attitudes :-)
(5)Michael S.
The jerk was really excellent. Two customers recommend the rum cake. Well have to try next time. Also must try the oxtail. This is the first restaurant in Silver Spring I've found that tastes like real Jamaican food.
(4)L H.
I think I ate here a few years ago, but stopped back in today. Got the chicken roti, which was like a large burrito with more of a pie dough crust and pot pie-ish filling. Was tasty, but a little one note as there was a lot of shredded chicken and the potato and bell pepper (?) veggies were sparse. The side of plantains was cooked ok, but not very flavorful. Hubby got the chicken fricasee (sp?) which we both really liked. It was pieces of chicken with a tasty sauce. The sides--cabbage and rice and peas--were pretty bland. Can't comment on the ambiance as I waited in the car for hubby to order. I think he really liked it; I'd go back, but I don't know that it's my new favorite restaurant. And, I don't often eat Jamaican food, so I have no idea how it stacks up against other places in the area.
(3)David H.
The amazing beef patty and coco bread here, alone, is enough to warrant me coming back again (and again). They're that good. I tried some other stuff on the menu - it was aight. That beef patty/coco bread though.....
(4)Maria P.
Repeat after me: BEEF PATTY. Order it. Smell it. Look at it. Then gobble it down like it's your last meal! Repeat. This place offers your standard roti, curries, oxtail, patties, rice&peas, jerk chicken...I'm probably forgetting other important items but you get the picture! I tried the rice&peas...wasn't impressed. There wasn't much flavor and the rice could've cooked a little longer. It also had a little curry sauce on it (yay!), but the sauce had pieces of bone that almost cracked my tooth. This doesn't change how good the sauced tasted, but it was pretty annoying. The plantains are sooooo good. Like I want to inhale two orders kind of good. The seating area has several tables, but it isn't a 5star establishment so don't expect everything to be pristine. It's not dirty or anything, but tables that didn't rock back and forth would've been nice. Final verdict? I'll come here for patties and plantains, but leave the more authentic dishes for someplace else.
(3)Morgan W.
So much food for so cheap. I always get the tilapia sandwich, which I believe is under $5 and massive. Kind of hidden, hole in the wall. Good for take out lunch, but plenty of space if you want to eat in. Tasty hot sauce (typical tart scotch bonnet type, I think).
(4)Jeremiah N.
I regularly get the tilapia special. For under $7 you get a good size fillet, rice & beans, cabbage and plantains. Also great is the vegetable pattie. Makes me feel closer to and miss one of my favorite places in the world: Jamaica. Nice to have something different in the area
(4)Jess Y.
The hype is real. Jerk chicken sandwich. Do it! The jerk chicken sandwich has a perfect amount of meat to bread to veggie ratio, it's extremely juicy and flavorful. The beef patties are super flaky and crunchy on the outside, yet soft and moist on the inside. The beef has a good amount of spice as well.
(4)Chawn P.
Me and a coworker came here for dinner one night and we both ordered the jerk chicken sandwich. I must say that was one of the better chicken sandwiches I've had in a while. I also ordered a side of plantains which was not bad.
(4)Rochelle Y.
I come here every single time im in silver spring. I wish my family never move the dc/md area has all the best ethnic foods i love. I'm really into jamaican food and this is where i had my first real (not frozen) beef patty. UGH their patties are wonderful. Get it with the coco bread ( which went up in price at least 40 cents annoying as hell) their goat roti is good and their plantains are usually delicious and really hot. I'm not in love with the prices, i think they are greedy. I haven't really tried anything over $8 but i doubt i won't be satisfied. Their lemonade is incredible. SO good. We tried to get a gallon. And i believe it was over 20 dollars!? That is totally stealing. This place is good but it's probably not the best in the area.
(3)Sam S.
Overall I give this place a no. This place was right around the corner from where I live and I have always been curious. So I went all out and ordered 4 different items. As the philosophy says, go big or go home :) The positives: For $2 and to get a beef patty that was amazingly seasoned?!?! Yumm!! I also got coco bread. As I ate it I couldn't put a finger on what it tasted like. My Jamaican roommate explained its supposed to be sweet bread. Anyhow, enjoyed eating that The negatives: got the famous jerk chicken sandwich and not so famous jerk chicken entree. Both items use the same flavors, if we can call them flavors. Both were lacking in spices. Jamaican roommate told me I'm supposed to be eating something spicy. I had some brown stuff on my chicken but didn't taste like much. Entree includes rice with beans ands cabbage. Rice was dry. Cabbage was again lacking in seasoning. Parking wasn't a challenge unless if you're parking on the street. There's a Montgomery county parking lot a block from this place and its free after 7. Overall this place is hit or miss. I can't eat 5 beef patties to make myself full so I'll pass on this place.
(2)Majick L.
YES! Finally GOOD jamaican food. Do you know how long I have waited for this?! I will admit, I knocked a star off for the jerk chicken being a little on the dry side, but the flavor kind of made up for it. My favorite dish here is the curried goat. Cooked perfectly, love the sauce, and seasoning, and portion size makes me feel like i'm getting my moneys worth. I highly recommend this place. My only gripe is the parking...which is nonexistent.
(4)Patricia R.
The beef patties were burned which was very disappointing to me. BUT THE COCO COCO BREAD! I bought 3 loaves and ate two before I made it back to Baltimore... with 2 out of 5 burned beef patties... Again - don't judge me!! Oh - the sorrel was the BEST!
(2)KC T.
Now - this is really good yard eatin'. Negril is definitely the spot for authentic Jamaican food. They have all the traditional meals - like beef patties, curry goat, oxtail, jerk chicken, fricasseed chicken, curry chicken, stewed chicken, rotis snapper...etc. They also have excellent carrot and banana cakes, and island juices. However, there is no ackee and salt/cod fish here :-( The prices for their entrees range from $8 - $11; and $2 for the patties and cake slices - which are pretty reasonable comparably. Their portion sizes are also pretty large - so "no problem" there. While most people seem to order out, they also have a side dining area - which is very nice for small parties. This is definitely a good spot to check out.
(4)Bryan W.
I was totally shattered when Tropicana closed.. It was not the best Caribbean place but it was consistent. I knew that I was going to get slightly over cooked and hand cut cabbage with peppers and onions with peas and rice that I would smack your mother for. FLAVORFUL FOOD!!! I popped in Negril around 8 Pm to a small crowd.. NOBODY HERE IS SMILING!!! Not a good sign. The counter persons were having a heated discussion about previous orders and each others competence. It appears that the guest that were waiting had been waiting for an extended amount of time. I remember this place as a generic version of a Caribbean restaurant. Stale and uniformed... People have posted about how this place reminds them of home... Jamaica... I see it as a large Corporation receiving pre-sliced items and not so homemade sauces. I ordered the simple Jerk Chicken dinner, cabbage, peas and rice. I waited........ and waited..... What I received was perfectly sliced and uniform shreds of cabbage with onions, green peppers and carrots. It was as if the factory churned out vegetables were just dropped into a pot of lightly salted boiling water. Absolutely no flavor at all. I will say this. I am a big fan of cabbage and this was pleasantly crunchy and full of different levels of texture... I would even have enjoyed less texture and more flavor. How do you mess up peas and rice?? It was as if it was prepared and then water was added.... The funny thing is that it had more flavor than the cabbage! The sides I could actually deal with. I have salt and pepper! The biggest let down was the chicken. First of all it tasted like liver. I like liver but not in the form of 1/2 a chicken. The menu states that the Jerk Chicken was marinated and smoked with special seasonings. Salt not being one of them. It tasted like the Brown Stew Chicken with out the tomato based sauce. An additional side of mystery sauce was included and the jury is still out as to what it actually was... I am not writing this place off but I think they need a little work here.
(2)Tonny T.
Beef patty and coco bread with their delicious real fruit punch, it never disappoints me.
(5)DON C.
Hot damm!!! A food fantasy seeker's delight! The escovietched red snapper is to die for! Every bite gave me a satisfying calling to all my human senses (vision, smell, taste, and touch). Being of Carribean and gullah descent, it is NOT often that I give a carribean restaurant in the DMV five stars! Actually this is the first!! Also, the Negril by far is not the best Caribbean restaurant, but there is one dish....the escovietched red snapper that would make you a fan of this place. For those who do not know, escovietched fish is simply a crispy, well seasoned pan-fried snapper (or kingfish in some Caribbean restaurants). Once fried, the fish is stewed in a tomato base sauce cooked with onions, green peppers, carrots, and habaneros. The medley of flavors, when executed right, will put you on a natural high--nirvana! LOL!! Talk about heaven....I was there!! If you ever in the Silver Spring or Wash, DC area make sure you check them out and order this dish. You will not be disappointed. Check out my photos of the meal.
(5)S. S.
TERRIBLE. I ordered ahead. First, warning sign was that they don't have a parking lot...in Silver Spring. I drive around for like 10 minutes and illegally park at the bank and run in. I get inside and I'm informed that instead of the Jerk Chicken that I ordered, someone put in the a jerk salad...Like how many people really go in there for that especially considering it's not even on their menu online? So I say "ok can you put in the correct order?" And of course...she can but...it will take 10+ minutes. Which would be fine...EXCEPT THEY DON'T HAVE A PARKING LOT. (and also, it's your mistake but the only solution is further inconveniencing me...then there is clearly a customer service problem). So I said "no that's fine" Then I get home.... Now, I grew up outside of NYC where there is a TON of great Jamaican food and I accepted that it probably wouldn't be as good as I was used to. I bit into the beef patty and it was SO WAXY that I actually stopped to look and see if I pit into the paper it was wrapped in. Nope. Clearly had been sitting out all day and throne into the microwave. Then the salad...I'm not opposed to salads, i like them! However, the 'jerk chicken' on this salad was SO SALTY. Like I'm actually concerned by how salty. It was so salty that I, who have never suffered from high blood pressure before, was ready to just make an emergency trip to the doctor to make sure I don't end up having a stroke. Also, the salad was inexplicably covered in those chinese noodle things and the tomatos on the salad were overripe...and had clearly seen better days. All that to say. DON"T. JUST DON"T. IF you're really hankering for Jamaican food there are places in Northern Virginia that are better than this. YUCKY.
(1)Nils W.
The jerk chicken is sweeter than most places, but you can barely tell the difference with the scotch bonnet hot sauce they've got.. also, they're very fast and great customer service
(4)Loveit O.
Sigh..Negril used to be good. Went and got a curry chicken patty, coco bread, and curry chicken dinner. The patty was decent but could have had more filling. The coco bread was on point - highlight of my meal. Now on to the curry chicken. Ughhh no flavor AT ALL. There was zero sauce, the cabbage sucked, and the dish was mostly rice. And why don't they give any plantains?? Like really? Not even two? I also wonder why oh why do businesses switch their kitchen staff???? Not racist at all but when I go to an ethnic establishment I would really appreciate having people of that ethnicity cook the food!!!! It makes a difference people. Stop being cheap and sourcing cheap labor. Suffice it to say I will only go back for the coco bread (which earned them the 2nd star). Judys island grill in Baltimore is WAY better and I need to try Sweet Mangos (totally forgot about it today or I would have made the trip there).
(2)Mitali T.
Just did take-out the other day -- love the tilapia platter, the plantains, and the cabbage. Rice & peas were standard and a bit dry, but the curry sauce is great. The tilapia tasted fresh and breaded well. The plantains were delicious. Perfectly cooked. The prices are reason enough to go back; it's a big menu and I'd love to try more.
(4)Niana K.
I was surprised that no one took a picture of the famous Jerk Chicken Sandwich! so here you go! =) I couldn't decide if I wanted an entree or THE sandwich. It seems like the entrees got mixed reviews, but the jerk chicken sandwich won everybody's heart. I can definitely see why. I love jerk chicken and I LOVE a nice kick of heat. Unfortunately, the jerk chicken barely had any spice, so they should work on that because it's a necessity! Other than that, the butter roll was SUPER soft and drool worthy, and the chicken thigh was moist and well seasoned (other than the spice!). The poppy seed dressing was a little sweet for me, but I didn't care because the overall sandwich tasted wonderful! Honestly, can you really beat $3.95 for a jerk chicken sandwich? It's DEFINITELY worth a try, but next time, I'll ask for some hot sauce...
(4)Megan F.
OUTSANDING! Everything is truly authentic. Even the wonderful family that owns this establishment (and the several other restaurants around MD). I love Jamaica and this restaurant always brings me back to the island. Patties and Escovich fish are my favorites. The jerk is fantastic. I love the authenticity of even having the Jamaican beverages on hand. Excellent prices. Highly recommended.
(5)Regan H.
I consider myself a Caribbean food connoisseur and I've been to Negril twice and thoroughly disappointed twice. The worse jerk chicken that I've ever had. I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 because the other dishes have to be better. I hate that Tropicana moved and Spicy Delight wasn't open.
(2)Dee J.
Best beef patties I've had! You taste the flavor of the scotch bonnet pepper without the heat. Friendly service, clean space. I've never had a bad meal there!
(4)Leyali R.
The chicken soup is absolutely magical. The veggie and chicken rotis are delicious, the patties are solid. Husband swears by the stewed oxtail, curry goat, and brown stew red snapper. Did I mention the chicken soup is magical? Yeah. That soup. We usually end up ordering dinner out from this excellent local eatery, and are always pleased with the prices, portion size, and most of all, TASTE. Never disappointed. Still on the list to try? Beef patty, and brown stew chicken (I haven't been able to find one that beats my BFF's mom's recipe to date). Would love it if they added some greens like callaloo. The food reminds me of my trip to Jamaica, and I continue to come back. Service is polite and quick, the place is usually busy, and it's worth it!
(4)Billy B.
Excellent Island food. I take all of my friends from the Islands there when they come state side. I highly recommend Beef Patties and Coco bread with a Ginger Beer to wash it down!
(5)Phi N.
The Chicken Fricasse is what I ordered to eat. The chicken was good. However, the rice and side could use more flavor-- it was a little bland, a little boring for my taste.
(3)H W.
Love love love the vegetable stew and roti! The rum cake is devine! Always have to grab some sorrel when I'm there too, thirsty or not! It's especially good to get if one is feeling under the weather. My son likes the veggie patties and coco bread, and of course the cookies. ;) Parking is not easy to come by though
(5)Fatima S.
I have been coming here for years!! The jerk chicken sandwich is amazing! The portion is great and it's always always HOT and FRESH. Now the reason for the four stars instead of five is due to a slight difference in taste. Years ago, prior to silver spring going through the major reconstruction phase, the jerk chicken sandwich tasted absolutely flawless. However in my recent visits, the taste has been altered. It's obvious that many things change in the span of 10 years. Different cooks and new management could explain a lot. I still highly recommend Negril!
(4)Joe G.
Jamaican me crazy with this food! The cocoa bread make me insane crazy. (5 stars) The fish sandwich make me very crazy. (4 stars) The chicken sandwich, oxtail, and roti make me crazy. (3 stars) The chicken curry make me a little crazy. (2 stars) The craziness gets rounded to a solid 3 stars!
(3)Amanda B.
I have very high taste standards for Jamaican food. It's hard to judge because I'm comparing it to the food I grew up eating lol. It's not bad like Tropicana though. The oxtail is good, could be more suculant. The curry chicken is good. Overall the food is good but it's like something is missing, don't know what. I go once in a while because it seems like it's no good JA restaurants left in D.C.. Like when Georgia Ave was flooded with them back in the 90's
(3)Cheryl J.
This was not worth the trip from Crofton. This makes me miss my Jamaican food from the Bronx in NY tremendously. My husband and I are from NY. He is fro Bklyn and me the Bronx. We love Jamaican cuisine. I ordered the oxtails and curry chicken. I thought the oxtails were not cooked long enough because you had to work hard to get the meat off the bone. There wasnt enough seasoning and hardly no gravy. Just too bland for me. My husband felt the chicken was just okay. The rice had no flavor whatsoever. I don't usually eat with salt, but I had to sprinkle some on my food. I will not be back. And also I didn't get enough meat for $11. My portion was like a medium size. I NY I would have gotten double the amount. I guess I have to wait until I go back home to get some good Jamaican food. Don't waste your time and money. Oops I forgot, the beef patty was okay. The spiciness was good.
(2)Brian H.
I'm keeping it at 2 stars for the Silver Spring location but I recently decided to give the Howard U location a try out of desperation and was pleasantly surprised. I don't know why there's been such a difference for me in the two locations... maybe the three times I went to Silver Spring were coincidentally off nights? Whatever the case, the jerk chicken sandwich at the Howard Negril was awesome spicy, juicy, moist meat and amazing amount for what I paid.
(2)Chris G.
Oh, Negril. Why did it take so long for me to discover you? I lived in Silver Spring for about two years, yet never entered your doors. It took a truly bizarre chain of events for my wife and I to come in for a snack yesterday, yet somehow, someway we were guided in by a mysterious benevolent force. Thank you, benevolent force! I had a jerk chicken sandwich. What a delicious treat. My first taste of Coco bread - wow, tasty, tasty. And the chicken. Wow. Incredibly delicious. My wife had a beef pattie - it tasted okay, but no match for the jerk. The chicken wasn't particularly hot, but it had a great blend of spices. So tasty. Don't be like me. Get thee to Negril. By the way, they have some tables where you can sit and eat, but no table service. But for these treats, you'll be happy to carry your own food to the table.
(4)Haviland P.
Been supporting this joint back in the day when they weren't a chain. Don't know why something is lost when an est. expands. It's not the same but still a good meal. If you want a more authentic jerk chicken check out jerk pit in college park md..its worth the drive over. Back to Negrils, the rotis are my favorite!
(3)paul s.
The goat curry was just what I was looking for this night -- Tender chunks of goat in a curry that was just right -- flavorful but not crazy hot and spicy. Served with crisp slaw and rice and beans, it tasted like somebody cared. Good, flavorful, inexpensive ethnic food. The stew did include a fair amount of bones but the meat fell right off them. The beef pattie appetizer was fine but nothing to scream about.
(3)Sam H.
ok my only experience with this place was as "take out" where it was delivered as I was working on the computer and... I was pleasantly suprised. I ordered to Goat Goti, friend plantains, and think I developed a taste for the JAMACIAN food. : ) The only thing was... I kinda have to watch out for the bones... but... the meat was tender (not dry as some other places I tried).... It's good. Deliver it again next time I'm working.
(4)LOLITA J.
This place is good, but definitely not the best. I've been to Jamaica so I've had the authentic beef patties, these were close but not close enough. Make sure when you go that you get fresh patties and not those that have been sitting for awhile because they can almost choke you. : ) The cocobread is very yummy!!! I could sit there and eat that all day. These are the only two items I order from this place. However, I've never been to a jamaican restaurant where the whole staff was hispanic . . . I don't have an issue with it but have never seen that before. : )
(3)Molly S.
A decent, comforting fill for cheap money, and some items are better than others. I prefer lots of their smaller treats to the actual entrees that tend toward the flavorless and dull. Their jerk sandwich is satisfying, and the patties aren't hugely impressive but there's something comforting in their flaky-crusted warmness. I prefer the vegetarian one to the beef. Coconut fans should try the coconut custard baked goods on the counter's display case - just the right amount of sweet, and great to take home and enjoy with a cup of coffee. The coco bread is similarly enjoyable. The dining area is nothing fancy, but it's clean, and service is fast enough. I like Negril on a fast food level - not a favorite, but a good enough use of six bucks on the go.
(3)Jung-Ah P.
For months I've been hearing about a Jamaican restaurant in Silver Spring called Negril, usually really good things about their jerk chicken sandwich and the homemade fruit punch. So one evening, as I was heading home, starving and knowing there nothing edible in the fridge, I headed to Negril. It's hard to miss with its large yellow sign with red letters. It's definitely a carry out sort of place, even though there are a couple of tables in the room where you order the food at a counter, and a room on the side with many more tables - I don't think they have wait staff service though. So I headed up to the person at the counter and asked for a recommendation as I had never been there. He said that the beef patties or the coco bread would be good as appetizers and if I wanted something more filling, the jerk chicken sandwich, curried chicken, or goat roti are popular. So, being famished, I ordered the beef patty, coco bread, and curried chicken to go (obviously, my eyes were bigger than my stomach). Service was pretty quick, I received my food in about 5 minutes, during which I looked around the place and noticed that the beef patties were being sold in frozen packs, to be microwaved at home. Hmmmm...I don't know how I feel about that. Once I received the food, I rushed home and took at bite of the beef patty. It wasn't magnificent, but it wasn't awful - the crust was flaky and the beef filling was pasty but had enough seasoning to be not gross or boring. The coco bread was DELISH, it's soft and moist and fluffy and sweet and buttery...mmmmmmmm. I would have it for breakfast with butter and coffee...maybe a dab of good strawberry preserves. Drool. Uh, where was I? Right, moving on to the curried chicken, um...it was disappointing. I grew up with really good chicken curry from India, so I expected lots of spices and heat. Well, spices and heat, I definitely didn't get. Instead I got mediocre chicken with mediocre sauce with a side of very dry rice and beans and a heaping mound of really blah steamed cabbage. Note to self: when getting an entree, always choose the salad over cabbage. Despite the disappointment, I was willing to give it a second try because I wanted to like it. I really wanted to like it. This time I went for the jerk chicken sandwich - it can't get any more Jamaican than that, right? Then as a last minute impulse, I ordered the fish cakes appetizer also. Oh man, I was even more disappointed than before. The fish cakes - there are 3 huge puffs of them - were so gross, it didn't taste like fish and certainly didn't look like fish, it was like a sticky sponge. I took a bite and then was forced by my brain to throw them out. Even doused in the strange sweet sauce and I tried hot sauce also, it was inedible. EW. As I prepared to bite into the jerk sandwich I said a silent prayer that it would be good. It was ok, but I didn't know what was Jamaican or jerk about it. It tasted like a pulled chicken sandwich with a honey mustard and lettuce. My understanding was that jerk seasoning is hot and spicy and generally the chicken is grilled or smoked...I don't think it met any of those requirements. The best thing about it was the coco bread. Would I go back to Negril? Probably not. For the mediocre entrees, it's way overpriced - I think I paid $11 for the lame curried chicken. The sandwich though, is a really good deal if you're not really looking for a jerk chicken sandwich at about $4. Oh no, I'm lying. I would go back to get the coco bread but probably not anything else. If you like delicious bread, I suggest you try it for sure! Tasty tasty!
(2)Steve Y.
My wife and I had lunch here with a few friends one Saturday while wandering around DTSS. We've passed by Negril many times on our way to/from the SS Safeway (which although improved, is still not a good grocery shopping experience), and so were curious to see what their food was like. The place is essentially part take-out counter and part sit down cafe - there isn't a whole lot in the way of ambience, unless you count the faded jamaican themed posters on the wall. The service at the counter is brisk, and the food is produced equally quickly (certainly not on "island time" here!). I ordered the jerk chicken sandwich and the meat pattie - both were tasty and relative bargains at around $3.75 and $1.50 respectively. I can certainly see why Negril was awarded a Washingtonian Cheap Eats award recently. My lunch companions were equally pleased with their meals which included the goat curry, the fish sandwich, and the chicken rotti. If there were complaints it was generally that the meats could have done with just a hint more spice - my jerk chicken while very nice, was not as spicy as I was expecting, and others mentioned that the curried goat was a tad bland. I was also a little disapointed with the options for sides - basically nothing really appealed, hence I added the pattie as my side. Overall, a good place to go if you want a decent cheap lunch, but if you like your meals a little on the spicy side then you might want to make this known when you order.
(4)Alexa B.
OMG, This is totally the place to come to if you want some traditional home style Jamaican cooking. The prices are great and just writing about this place is making so damn hungry. Their beef patties and coco bread with spicy sauce in between is just delicious. I love this place. I also recommend their ox tale, yyyuuuuummmmm.
(5)Kurosh H.
Negril is the shizznit!! Rub jerk chicken all over face please. This is what the good old days were all about! Stuff that meat pie in my armpit please. Yum ginger soda up my nostrils. aaahah Jamaicanmecrazy man!
(5)Jimena M.
Negril is a Silver Spring treasure and tradition. Not only does it have delicious Jamaican food, it also has an absolutely delicious carrot cake. It's slightly sweet and always moist. The cream cheese frosting is perfect. A perfect meal on the go is their famous jamaican meat patties. It's the jamaican take on empanadas. The crust is always flaky and the meat is nicely seasoned. I've also had the rice and peas and their Jerk Chicken...yum! Another great treat is the ox tail soup. Their sandwiches are all soo gooood. The only thing you'll hate about this place is having to make up your mind.
(5)Ian N.
I'll be amazed if anything can beat Negril for my "Price-Performance in the $6-8 entree" prize. Here, you'll see locals, cabbies, real people who come in to eat real food. If you like curry, the chicken curry roti comes recommended, though it's not very spicy. The sugary house lemonade makes me wonder what life tasted life before corn industry welfare. As noted in a review at the other location, great carrot cake. And the ridiculously cheap meat patty appetizer is good enough that I make myself avoid thinking what must be in it to be that good, and that good of a deal. In a sea of Georgia Ave yuppie mega-chains on the MD side and places so shady I won't even give them a try on the DC side, this Jamaican hole in the wall gets my highest recommendation.
(5)Teresa H.
Negril is ok.... I guess because I grew up in the Caribbean so I don't find it super favorable and I also prefer my food very spicy (my personal preference). But l have to agree with everyone else its a good deal for the buck. If you want a grab something quick. I have to admit that visit N every now and then.
(3)Mimi X.
I've only been to the takeout location next door to the main restaurant, but I was so impressed I'm writing a review. That was a seriously good jerk chicken sandwich. The bread alone would bring me back. I also tried a meat patty, which turned out not to be a hamburger patty... more like a meat fritter or something, inside flaky dough. It was greasy but good -- if I'm in need of comfort food, I'll get that! But the jerk chicken sandwich is really something. Delicious and cheap.
(5)Ethan D.
One of my favorite local spots. I usually get the jerk-chicken sandwich, beef-patties, and fried plantains. The ox-tail and curry-chicken entrees are also great selections.
(5)Brian R.
Mmmm, jerk chicken sandwich.
(4)Alexander L.
Can't vouch for meat dishes, but the vegetarian fare is nothing to write home about. If you like mushy, flavorless canned vegetables and beans, it's a place for you.
(2)Nicole M.
everytime i'm nearby, i DEMAND that we go here. it's not an option. heads will ROLL if i don't get my sweet and spicy jerk chicken sandwich. and do not, i mean DO NOT touch my beef patty or coco bread. you've been warned.....
(5)Tammy L.
Wow. My office just catered lunch from Negril and it was amazing. Nothing was bland, everything was just full of flavor. Of the selection, I tried the chicken curry, jerk chicken, fish (I don't know what it's called, but it tastes a little sweet), cabbage, rice and beans, and plantains; all of which I really liked. I'm definitely going back with my tupperware so I don't have to cook dinner tonight...
(4)S S.
Now, I'm not sure that I'm the most qualified to judge "good" versus "bad" Jamacian food. This is the first time I've had any, but I can say that the jerk chicken sandwich was absolutely FANTASTIC! It was much better than going to Chik-fil-A. Tastey, filling, and the bread was super super soft and delicious. Def give it a try! Oh, and it's pretty decently priced too.
(5)Shannon B.
Love love love the curry chicken lunch special.... With cocoa bread.... They got my order right and they throw in curry sauce to go with my rice... Couldn't be more happy....
(4)Lilly N.
Came here a few times and every time I've gotten the beef pattie - so flavorful and crispy! The chicken pattie was a bit dry and not as crispy, would probably not get it again. I've also tried the goat and chicken curry which were good but not the best I've had - mediocre.
(4)Jessy B.
The jerk chicken sandwich is quite good and I really enjoyed it even though it wasn't hot. However my beef patty was subpar at best there was more flakes than beef I was sorely disappointed.
(3)Shellie D.
Nothing really wowed me here. The food wasn't memorable but it wasn't bad either. Maybe I came on an off day. I like Sweet Mango better.
(2)Julie V.
Best Jamaican around the dmv area! Their oxtail stew is to die for and their coco bread is amazing and always served warm and fresh. Love their rice and peas and cabbage pretty much everything they make is delicious
(5)Lashawn G.
This food was horribly bland with no spices of flavor...I should have known something was up when I didn't see any Jamaicans at the cash register. So glad I got the small lunch meal because I would have been pissed if I got a larger portion. Will have to find me another Jamaican spot...any suggestions?? Will not be going there again!!
(1)Rue D.
Okay. This one is much better than the other one I reviewed. The service is better, but it's a carry-out, basically, so you're not gonna get 5-star service. The food is somehow even better. I think it's the Jamaican "Ma'am" guiding things in the kitchen, not to mention I believe it is the flagship. Quick, Jamaican cuisine?? Inexpensive? GO HERE!
(4)Tosh G.
This place has been here forever. I remember eating here as a kid, however this is not the same authentic jamaican food I'm use too. The Jerk chicken does not have taste, I wish they would call it baked chiken because that's what it is. I even tried to give the oxtail a chance because I thought to myself, you can't mess that up! Well I've brought oxtail on two different occasions and the meat was so tough and again lacked tasted.
(2)Vanessa P.
Parking sucks. The place is pretty open and clean inside... there are two tables in the room with the order counter and then a side room with many more tables. The Beau and I both ordered jerk chicken sandwiches... for some stupid reason I was expecting a chicken breast seared with jerk seasoning... but instead got many "pulled" pieces of chicken, that, I'm not even sure *were* chicken (I've never seen that much dark meat on a chicken before). It wasn't spicy at all and about 3/4ths of the way through, I felt stuffed and just tired of eating it. Pretty decent amount of food for $4 each though... can't beat that.
(3)Ordale A.
I love the fact that they have a little express store next to the main place. Beef Patty and Cocoa bread are the only thing I get, so I can't say if the rest of the food is good or not, but whenever I'm in Silver Spring I make a special stop here.
(3)Bruce G.
I was here only a day ago, so my memory of this place is very clear. Ten years ago I would have given this place 5 stars, but in the interim it's gone seriously downhill. The jerk chicken was nowhere near as spicy as it used to be, and everything costs a lot more (even allowing for general inflation). This used to be one of the best cheap-eating places in Silver Spring, when I lived a few blocks away from it. It's certainly no longer really cheap, and no longer all that good either.
(3)Jesus J.
From other reviewers, you will see a pattern: fine praise of the Jerk chicken sandwich. They're right - this sandwich is delicious. It's so good that every time I come here, it's difficult for me to try something new as that sandwich has me coming back for more. The menu is pretty vast, though, and offers all sorts of entrees and sides. The sandwich consists of pulled, Jerk chicken, tasty poppy seed sauce, lettuce, all in a soft, buttered sandwich roll. Good stuff. I've been told that Jerk chicken is generally spicy but the Jerk chicken here isn't spicy in the least. So if you're looking for hotness, you will be disappointed. I've also tried their chocolate chip cookies and they were soft, moist, and tasted home made. Their home made fruit punch is good as well. It's not your typical fruit punch that is packed with sugar without any real flavor. The punch is thicker than your average fruit punch, and you can taste the ingredients without so much of the sweetness. I generally find fruit punch to be too sweet, but this drink is an exception. Negril also has a lot of different beverages besides your canned sodas. They have Kola champagne, ginger beer, and other drinks you usually find in the international section of your grocery store. There are plenty of tables and places to sit and the staff have always been nice. The prices are great on the wallet - only $~4 for the sandwich and the entrees are $~8. Minimum purchase of $5 to use a credit card, which isn't too much of an inconvenience as I usually buy a drink along with the sandwich. I've never had any issues with this place and have been frequenting every week for that quick, cheap lunch or dinner.
(4)Zeenat W.
My thing is, you must be crazy.... They are not even jamaican nor are they carribean, they are spanish! Cookin' Jamaican food! What the hell has the world come too? My friend and I had a craving for some oxtail and curry goat, i read reviews before my decision and decided to head on ova, n also get the coco bread. The register has a woman of black descent, the kitchen has one woman of black descent n like 5 spanish people puttering around. Cleaning, food trays, yellin' orders in spanish, I assume they are just the help, so we ask the register person, 'is the woman back there doin all the cookin'?' She's very reluctant to tell us no, almost as if she's bein' watched, we ask, 'then who?', 'did they leave? or are the spanish people cookin?' she says, 'yes, they cook the food?' We stood back, shocked, appalled, insulted even, feelin like this couldn't be happenin' so becuz it was late n we were there, we ordered. I knew i wud b disappointed, my friend wanted to stay optimistic and we ordered what we came for. We always order these dishes to judge jamaican restaurants, the coco bread wasnt spectacular, quite regular in every way actually. The food was just not right, the meats lacked key ingredients therefore my favorite part of these dishes, the gravy suffered. The cabbage was not even fully cooked shud have just been cole slaw with no seasoning. It made me wanna take both platters and do a drive by window trashing with their own food but eat the coco bread cuz at least that tasted familiar. THEY'RE NOT JAMAICAN! PUT THE STORE UNDER ANOTHER CATEGORY SO PEOPLE LIKE ME DON'T GET THEIR HOPES UP TOO HIGH!
(1)Ayo A.
This Negril absolutely sucks! I placed an order for a simple veggie pattie and coco bread. I was told there was only one pattie left, sat there for 15 minutes and was told it was "accidentally sold." Mistakes happen and I wasn't even that blown; I was more upset by the rude attitudes received when I asked for a refund. Wish I could give them negative stars.
(1)Jane Y.
THREE WORDS: JERK CHICKEN SANDWICH. JERK CHICKEN SANDWICH. JERK CHICKEN SANDWICH!!!!!!!!!!! ....and scene.
(4)Netsie T.
Obviously, the jerk chicken sandwich is Negril's biggest draw but I'd recommend changing things up. Last time, I had the Oxtail and it was pretty good (and reminiscent of the kind of stew we make in southern Africa).
(4)Jordan K.
Look. It's a tiny little counter where you wait in line, order, wait in another line while they FORGET your order, ask if they've forgotten your order, have them stare blankly at you, ask them again, have them ask you for your receipt and order number, hand it over, have them not look at you or tell you when it will be ready, where they look at you again, ask you for the receipt again (the one you just handed over), and then, finally, mercifully, give you a bag that may or may not contain what you originally ordered but by that point who cares because you're so hungry. I'm sure we've all been to a places like that from time to time. p.s. Jerk Chicken Sandwich was worth an extra star, but the service described above deserves one less, so you average out to two.
(3)Semra E.
Love it, just like I love my Jamaican peeeeeooooopppppllllleeeee!!!!!!!! BOP BOP BOP!!!!! ok, so I'm a HUGE fan of this spot not only because every dish feels like it's made from my friends mothers from the islands, but because the price is ALWAYS right. My favorite thing to get there is the Jerk chicken sandwich....they put this amazing sauce on it that is like crack to me and I just can't get enough. My mouth is watering now just thinking about this.......
(5)Melissa P.
As an individual who has familial linkages to the west indies I tend to have an overly critical eye to any and every cuisine linked to the Caribbean region. I've noticed many comment on the low prices and to me this isn't a huge plus for me because though the DMV area lacks a selection of west indian cuisine you'll find most places selling this type of fare near and far have comparable pricing. I was delighted to see favorites on the menu but delivery was not stellar. I was however disappointed at the limited beverage options- where's my peanut punch and Coconut water?! I really like their beef patties- their chicken patties are hit or miss, sometimes they are delicious and sometimes its kinda tasteless and mush inside. Note: the beef patties taste sooo much better if you take them home and stick them in the oven to crisp em up a bit! All in all if you're going for the patties enjoy but don't expect any magic.
(3)Catherine H.
I straight up adore Negril, and this Negril in particular. I love everything about it, from the fried plantains to the cranky lady behind the counter. Everything, and I do mean everything, I've had at Negril has been good, but for lunch I find it is really, really hard to beat the Jerk Chicken sandwich. For $3.25-- yes, you did read that right-- you get a soft sweet roll piled with excellent jerk chicken, lettuce and sauce. It is happiness wrapped in a foil package, and it leaves you money left over for a Kola Champagne to wash it down. If you want to upscale it a bit you can never go wrong with their oxtail, goat (roti or curry) or escoveitched red snapper. Their plantains are freshly cooked and plentiful to an order, and their beef patties are warm and spicy. The line is *always* out the door at lunchtime, and with good reason-- the food rocks. The service is counter, but they do have a cute little dining room available. Don't get mad if the cashier is cranky, she's been that way for years, and if sometimes you have to ask the counter folks if your order is ready, well, that's just how it can be. If you're taking to go they've just opened a separate "to go only" store two doors down for basics like sandwiches, beef patties, plantains and cookies, making the experience somewhat more efficient.
(5)C W.
I order the same order everytime: jerk chicken and rice, beef patty, and a cream soda. Never disappoints! I just wish they weren't closed on Sundays.
(4)Lester K.
This is the worst Jamaican food I've ever had. The meal started off good as I bit into my Jamaican beef patty, which was very flaky and still good, albeit, obvious that it sat around for a while. Jerk chicken with rice and cabbage was lame. Stewed, not grilled; no complaints about that. Yes, there was seasoning and stuff on it, but it was so mild and flavorless. I got 2 drumsticks and half a breast. Oxtail stew was a little better but still not great, or even what I'd consider good. Passable is how I'd like to describe it. With rice and salad with a mango dressing. Best part of my meal was the homemade fruit punch. At $2.50 or something, it's very pricey for a 20 oz. cup that's half filled with ice. Essentially, you're getting maybe 10 oz. of liquid. I used to love this place. I used to rave about this place to everybody who would listen. That is all in the past as this place has removed itself as a resident of Flavortown. 1.3 stars and rounding down.
(1)Vikash S.
Good food, great prices. Must try: the Coco bread and rotis. Get the coco bread and eat it while it's hot!
(4)Vannie N.
Pass me the spices?? Cause I didn't taste any!! Me and the fiance have been looking forward to Negril, for awhile after our friends told us to check out its jerk chicken meal. Also, people on here "highly" rated this place. The place is located about 2 blocks aways from downtown Silver Spring. Although its is cheap eats, it sorta applies to the appetizers and drinks. The meals are around $8 dollars and up. The jerk chicken meal came with a side salad and seasoned rice. I hate to say this, but the salad and the rice tasted way better than the jerk chicken. The jerk chicken was dry, bland, gamy, and unappetizing. I was hoping for something with more aromatic and spices.
(3)Roy S.
Bland, uninspired and a waste of coin. For excellent carribean food search out Peach's in DC. It is worth the drive...
(1)Ina C.
It's been MONTHS since I've been here last, but for some reason I was starting to crave that jerk chicken sandwich! I left the car at a metered spot on Thayer Ave and even at 4:30pm on a Thursday, this place was pretty full. I ordered a jerk chicken sandwich to go, and I couldn't believe that this thing was $3.95. It was my dinner! The bun tasted like it was buttered and grilled, though it didn't look it. The chicken was juicy and full of flavor, the lettuce was fresh and the sauce was magical! Seriously - this is an amazing value for $3.95. Apparently this place is pretty chain. They've got a couple other locations in the area and even sell their patties frozen and microwave-ready. Hmm. And I don't even really know how "Jamaican" they really are. The staff certainly didn't look like this was their native cuisine. Eh. I forgot to get the punch today. :(
(4)Jed S.
Jerk chicken sandwich is the bet meal you can get in DMV for $5. Coco bread sandwich comes on is great and chicken is made so tender and good.
(4)Charlotte J.
Great vegetarian food! Their roti's are huge, I can only eat half of one if that at one time. Veggie pattys are soooo wonderful. Don't forget to grab some of their home made fruit punch too.
(4)Paul S.
I'm sorry but this place sucks. Worst Jamaican food I've ever had and worst example of a place being over rated on Yelp. You notice that half the reviews here basically say they added a star to be nice or because of the "amazing" jerk chicken sandwich? How about adding a star to be misleading? No flavor what so ever. What this basically is to my palate is soul food disguised as Caribbean food or Caribbean food that has been watered down to cater to those that are used to eating soul food. And I'm not trying to knock soul food but a "Jamaican" restaurant with such a high rating should serve high quality authentic Jamaican cuisine and instead you get a West Indian Taco Bell. The jerk chicken is NOT jerk chicken! It's like calling KFC or chicken teriyaki jerk chicken. It's chicken. It might even be good chicken. But it is in no shape or form jerk chicken. I'd be tempted to give them 2 stars but enough is enough. There are too many three star reviews that when you actually read them say that the place is mediocre at best and thanks to the overall 3 1/2 stars it currently has I spent more money here by going and giving it second and third chances than anyone ever should. Nope, not to today.
(1)David O.
Ok. So I read some of the reviews on here and I must say that I'm disappointed with what some people have to say about this place. Negril is one of the best Jamaican restaurants I've been to and trust me I've been to all of them and they all have good things about them. The food here is great and of course the beef pattie with coco bread is the s**t. The service is good and depending on the time you go there it might be packed or not. The oxtail is on point and the curry goat is banging. You definitely gotta try it. Don't let the reviews sway your decision one way or another. Try it, I dare you ( Charlie Murphy )
(5)Josh O.
I ordered a jerked chicken sandwich with fish cakes. Neither were even vaguely reminiscent of those that I've had in Jamaica, and I'm not even convinced that the jerked chicken was CHICKEN, let alone JERKED. The fish cakes were tasty, but completely unlike any fish cake I've ever had in Jamaica, and honestly reminded more of something you'd get at a Long John Silver's. I'd like to give them a second chance because I love Jamaican food, I really would, but I just don't know if I bring myself to do it.
(1)Alex O.
First off, this is basically a take-out place. There is a sit down room with a few tables, but basically it's a take-out counter. The food is mediocre at best. Spice, flavor, heat? Nope, not here. This is really pretty bland Jamaican food, but it is dirt cheap. There is really only one thing that's worth getting at Negril - the jerk chicken sandwich. Does it really taste like jerk chicken? No, not really. It's stewed dark meat with a hint of spice. However, it is moist and hearty and comes on a delicious roll. The lettuce is always crisp and the house dressing they put on it is tangy and tasty. And, it's about $4. A great deal for a great chicken sandwich. Is it worth going out of the way to get? No, but if you're in the neighborhood then it's worth checking out because it really is an excellent sandwich. The rest of the menu basically sucks.
(2)Leon M.
hit or miss...sometimes it is good and other times it is bad....lot of microwave heating occurs.
(3)Jeannie L.
I can't believe such a hidden gem exists in Silver Spring. Dying to get a change of taste for lunch, I decided to rely on my fellow yelpers to tell me what's good in SS and Negril came up. My coworker and I quickly jumped into my car and headed to this place. I was soo excited. Surely, Negril didn't disappoint. Service is fast and the staff is friendly. You're greeted by their super bright interior as well. I was ecstatic with their choices - fried sweet potatoe fries, fried plantain, jerk chicken sandwich, jerk chicken wrap, etc.. We both grabbed the jerk chicken sandwich which is wrapped with coconut bread and plantain. I was a very happy camper once I finally got out of my meeting to try out my food. The sandwich was so tasty - the meat was well seasoned and succulent, topped with special white sauce. The fried plantain was sweet but not overly so and not mushy. I love this place. Thanks yelpers! I think I'll have to make a weekly trip here to avoid Negril withdraw. hahaha
(4)Katherine K.
Negril probably wins the prize for best value in town when it comes to filling, delicious lunches. I have not experienced the full menu as the other Yelpers have, but look forward to my next visit. At $3 the chicken jerk sammich is a must-order. Mine was served with a weird poppyseed dressing that I didn't care for, but hell, it was served on the side so i didn't use it. My co-worker got a Jamaican meat patty which was crispy, flaky, and downright sinful. If you're watching your fat intake I don't recommend it, but if you want to make your jump off the diet bandwagon worthwhile, Negril is the best place to do it.
(4)Kate M.
UPDATE 6/14/08: I've upgraded Negril to 4 stars. As promised, I went back and had something else, and it was delicious. DELICIOUS, folks. The veggie roti was great. Flavors were not too intense, and the more you eat it the more subtleties you notice. The coco bread is out of this world. It tastes like a cross between a donut and a soft pretzel with some coconut thrown in. It's salty and sweet and soft and the best thing you can buy for 85 cents. In fact, I think I'm going to go back right now and have dinner at Negril again, if only so I can have an excuse to get more coco bread. ORIGINAL REVIEW 5/10/08: I'm sure I'm making some enemies here but I'm sorry, folks, I just didn't care for the jerk chicken sandwich. I did like the bread, but I found the chicken kind of tough. There were a few pieces I had to pull out of the sandwich because I couldn't bite through them. The sauce was kind of, I dunno, nondescript. I wasn't wowed by it, and in fact I can't even really remember much about what it tasted like. So, I'm *tentatively* giving Negril 3 stars, but because of these Yelp reviews and the volume of happy people who were in there today, I fully intend on going back and having something else.
(4)Paul H.
Good value, friendly; jerk chicken sandwich very good! Been around a while, popular.
(4)Alex A.
The food here is mediocre, but satisfactory. There is no atmosphere at this place, but nobody expects there to be atmosphere at what they charge here. Prices are low here, and despite a shortage of Jamaican restaurants in the DC-area, I wouldn't come back
(2)Sara K.
Very tasty food for vegetarians! Price is just right and the portion size will last for many meals. Try the curried veggies and the coco bread! Beans and rice that come with meal are yummy!
(5)Tina K.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Negril! I have to stop myself from getting their Curry Chicken and their beef patties. Oh man they're so good! The Jerk Chicken sandwich isn't quite like in Jamaica and it seems their using some Honey Mustard or Poppyseed dressing but it's still tasty nonetheless! Their desserts are fabulous and the mango sauce goes great on anything! Definitely a silver spring gem!
(5)Ed Y.
Use to work 2 blocks from this place. God do I miss it. Jerk Chicken sandwich is a great buy, especially for lunch. Ox tail stew is yummy. Generous portions of peas and rice. Goat Roti is a bit messy but well worth it. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.
(5)Safiya S.
Although I do like the food at Negril there are definitely better Caribbean food places in the area. The jerk chicken was OK but the Oxtail was good. The plantains were OK. If you are desperate for some Caribbean food it will definitely satisfy you but if you are familiar with this type of cuisine I think you will be disappointed.
(3)C. I. M.
I finally tried this place after living down the street from it most of my life. I don't know anything about Jamaican food but from these reviews, I expected to be blown away. Not so. I ordered the Jerk Chicken sandwich, a beef patty and a piece of coco bread. I was pleasently surprised that all that came up to less than 7 bucks. I got home, started eating. They give you a big piece of the bread, my first bite and it was kind of salty. The patty was okay, nothing spectacular. The jerk chicken was good but it got the lettuce pretty mushy and that kinda grossed me out. It was filling but nothing special in my opinion.
(3)Mic X.
now i am going to give negril 4 stars here because (again) i can't give 3.5 stars. negril is a very good jamacian restaurant (that caters to american taste) and that's the rub. their jerk chicken sandwiches are fine and tasty.... just not spicy like other jamacian places i have been too. fried plaintains - great, beans and rice - great, patties - great, roti - ok. this is a slightly watered down version of jamacian food stuffs, but it's still good. if you want the sloppy hoottt mess of curry goat or jerk chicken of real home style jamacian food then you'll have to travel on, but if want something close to jamacia (without completely washing out the spices) then negril is the place for you.
(4)Ashley K.
You must try: Jerk chicken sandwich, oatmeal cookies, fruit punch. Can cause bubble-gut, but totally worth it.
(4)Amber L.
Amazing Curry Roti! Try it! Over 10 years I've been coming here with friends! Stew chicken, jerk chicken sandwich and spicy beef patty are a must. On most summer days, the line is out the door, that says it all. Authentic Jamaican foods and most Jamaican folks eat here, that says it all too lol!
(5)Zariah G.
YUM! Go ahead order anything...it's going to very good. Very fresh and the seasonings are perfect. Don't forget to get a Ginger Beer :) they have the best!
(4)Chris D.
This place is awesome. Great food at reasonable prices. Most Caribbean restaurants offer the same items at 3 times the price. I would recommend the Roti and Soup!
(4)Patrick G.
Well, I only go here for one thing. The Jerk Chicken Sandwich. The bread is made from coconut flour.... unique. They bake the buns on the premises so they are always fresh. And the chicken is very succulent with crisp edges. It's as good as it gets. The chicken is dressed with a light poppy seed dressing that has a unique tang. And the crowning glory ... for me, anyway, is the house made sweet & sour habenaro hot sauce (only one per customer!!) ... But it's easy enough to take two so you can take one home. The staff have all been there for as long as I have been going there (8 years) and they each have their unique attitudes :-)
(5)Michael S.
The jerk was really excellent. Two customers recommend the rum cake. Well have to try next time. Also must try the oxtail. This is the first restaurant in Silver Spring I've found that tastes like real Jamaican food.
(4)Kojo B.
More like 3.5, but will give it a 4 based on longevity and consistency. When i used to live in Silver Spring about a decade ago, i used to go there quite often, now that i am in Baltimore, i pop by every now and then when i am in that corridor. Personally, they have the best beef patties that i have had period. Everything else is ok... most Jamaican restaurants dont have fricasse chicken, the closest may be brown stew chicken, they have that . Good pick up spot and that lemonade is crack.
(4)Shannon B.
Love love love the curry chicken lunch special.... With cocoa bread.... They got my order right and they throw in curry sauce to go with my rice... Couldn't be more happy....
(4)Lilly N.
Came here a few times and every time I've gotten the beef pattie - so flavorful and crispy! The chicken pattie was a bit dry and not as crispy, would probably not get it again. I've also tried the goat and chicken curry which were good but not the best I've had - mediocre.
(4)Robert B.
Initially, I was going to give this place three stars because my food order wasn't correct. However, once I bit into the food, I became an instant fan. I ordered the Jerk Chicken, but the server gave me a curry chicken. Nevertheless, the Jamaican style curry, blended with a little jerk seasoning, made for quite the mouth water experience. My only complaints were that the restaurant decor was dated, and the server seemed uninterested in the customers. This really isn't a problem, though, if you just pop in for lunchtime takeout.
(4)Jessy B.
The jerk chicken sandwich is quite good and I really enjoyed it even though it wasn't hot. However my beef patty was subpar at best there was more flakes than beef I was sorely disappointed.
(3)Shellie D.
Nothing really wowed me here. The food wasn't memorable but it wasn't bad either. Maybe I came on an off day. I like Sweet Mango better.
(2)Julie V.
Best Jamaican around the dmv area! Their oxtail stew is to die for and their coco bread is amazing and always served warm and fresh. Love their rice and peas and cabbage pretty much everything they make is delicious
(5)Rue D.
Okay. This one is much better than the other one I reviewed. The service is better, but it's a carry-out, basically, so you're not gonna get 5-star service. The food is somehow even better. I think it's the Jamaican "Ma'am" guiding things in the kitchen, not to mention I believe it is the flagship. Quick, Jamaican cuisine?? Inexpensive? GO HERE!
(4)L H.
I think I ate here a few years ago, but stopped back in today. Got the chicken roti, which was like a large burrito with more of a pie dough crust and pot pie-ish filling. Was tasty, but a little one note as there was a lot of shredded chicken and the potato and bell pepper (?) veggies were sparse. The side of plantains was cooked ok, but not very flavorful. Hubby got the chicken fricasee (sp?) which we both really liked. It was pieces of chicken with a tasty sauce. The sides--cabbage and rice and peas--were pretty bland. Can't comment on the ambiance as I waited in the car for hubby to order. I think he really liked it; I'd go back, but I don't know that it's my new favorite restaurant. And, I don't often eat Jamaican food, so I have no idea how it stacks up against other places in the area.
(3)David H.
The amazing beef patty and coco bread here, alone, is enough to warrant me coming back again (and again). They're that good. I tried some other stuff on the menu - it was aight. That beef patty/coco bread though.....
(4)Maria P.
Repeat after me: BEEF PATTY. Order it. Smell it. Look at it. Then gobble it down like it's your last meal! Repeat. This place offers your standard roti, curries, oxtail, patties, rice&peas, jerk chicken...I'm probably forgetting other important items but you get the picture! I tried the rice&peas...wasn't impressed. There wasn't much flavor and the rice could've cooked a little longer. It also had a little curry sauce on it (yay!), but the sauce had pieces of bone that almost cracked my tooth. This doesn't change how good the sauced tasted, but it was pretty annoying. The plantains are sooooo good. Like I want to inhale two orders kind of good. The seating area has several tables, but it isn't a 5star establishment so don't expect everything to be pristine. It's not dirty or anything, but tables that didn't rock back and forth would've been nice. Final verdict? I'll come here for patties and plantains, but leave the more authentic dishes for someplace else.
(3)Morgan W.
So much food for so cheap. I always get the tilapia sandwich, which I believe is under $5 and massive. Kind of hidden, hole in the wall. Good for take out lunch, but plenty of space if you want to eat in. Tasty hot sauce (typical tart scotch bonnet type, I think).
(4)Jeremiah N.
I regularly get the tilapia special. For under $7 you get a good size fillet, rice & beans, cabbage and plantains. Also great is the vegetable pattie. Makes me feel closer to and miss one of my favorite places in the world: Jamaica. Nice to have something different in the area
(4)Jess Y.
The hype is real. Jerk chicken sandwich. Do it! The jerk chicken sandwich has a perfect amount of meat to bread to veggie ratio, it's extremely juicy and flavorful. The beef patties are super flaky and crunchy on the outside, yet soft and moist on the inside. The beef has a good amount of spice as well.
(4)Chawn P.
Me and a coworker came here for dinner one night and we both ordered the jerk chicken sandwich. I must say that was one of the better chicken sandwiches I've had in a while. I also ordered a side of plantains which was not bad.
(4)Lashawn G.
This food was horribly bland with no spices of flavor...I should have known something was up when I didn't see any Jamaicans at the cash register. So glad I got the small lunch meal because I would have been pissed if I got a larger portion. Will have to find me another Jamaican spot...any suggestions?? Will not be going there again!!
(1)MJ W.
Have passed by this place many times - finally stopped in and could kinda see the positives. I am not one to judge atmosphere at a place like this, but it was very clean and suitable for what it's there for. As for the food, I did not get the beef party but wish I had. Looked and smelled good when brought to a neighboring customer. The Curried Chicken was tender but lacked a lot of flavor; cabbage about the same, and the rice and peas were pretty tasty (albeit everything could use salt). Not the place I'd go for true caribbean food, but certainly not a bad pick.
(3)Ty K.
Loved the Jerk Chicken Entree and Curry Chicken Patties. Very flavourful. The only problem I've had is the wait time while order on-site so I like to order by phone. When I do it's always ready to go as soon as I pay. If you like Jamaican you should definitely give them a try.
(4)Rochelle Y.
I come here every single time im in silver spring. I wish my family never move the dc/md area has all the best ethnic foods i love. I'm really into jamaican food and this is where i had my first real (not frozen) beef patty. UGH their patties are wonderful. Get it with the coco bread ( which went up in price at least 40 cents annoying as hell) their goat roti is good and their plantains are usually delicious and really hot. I'm not in love with the prices, i think they are greedy. I haven't really tried anything over $8 but i doubt i won't be satisfied. Their lemonade is incredible. SO good. We tried to get a gallon. And i believe it was over 20 dollars!? That is totally stealing. This place is good but it's probably not the best in the area.
(3)Sam S.
Overall I give this place a no. This place was right around the corner from where I live and I have always been curious. So I went all out and ordered 4 different items. As the philosophy says, go big or go home :) The positives: For $2 and to get a beef patty that was amazingly seasoned?!?! Yumm!! I also got coco bread. As I ate it I couldn't put a finger on what it tasted like. My Jamaican roommate explained its supposed to be sweet bread. Anyhow, enjoyed eating that The negatives: got the famous jerk chicken sandwich and not so famous jerk chicken entree. Both items use the same flavors, if we can call them flavors. Both were lacking in spices. Jamaican roommate told me I'm supposed to be eating something spicy. I had some brown stuff on my chicken but didn't taste like much. Entree includes rice with beans ands cabbage. Rice was dry. Cabbage was again lacking in seasoning. Parking wasn't a challenge unless if you're parking on the street. There's a Montgomery county parking lot a block from this place and its free after 7. Overall this place is hit or miss. I can't eat 5 beef patties to make myself full so I'll pass on this place.
(2)Bryan W.
I was totally shattered when Tropicana closed.. It was not the best Caribbean place but it was consistent. I knew that I was going to get slightly over cooked and hand cut cabbage with peppers and onions with peas and rice that I would smack your mother for. FLAVORFUL FOOD!!! I popped in Negril around 8 Pm to a small crowd.. NOBODY HERE IS SMILING!!! Not a good sign. The counter persons were having a heated discussion about previous orders and each others competence. It appears that the guest that were waiting had been waiting for an extended amount of time. I remember this place as a generic version of a Caribbean restaurant. Stale and uniformed... People have posted about how this place reminds them of home... Jamaica... I see it as a large Corporation receiving pre-sliced items and not so homemade sauces. I ordered the simple Jerk Chicken dinner, cabbage, peas and rice. I waited........ and waited..... What I received was perfectly sliced and uniform shreds of cabbage with onions, green peppers and carrots. It was as if the factory churned out vegetables were just dropped into a pot of lightly salted boiling water. Absolutely no flavor at all. I will say this. I am a big fan of cabbage and this was pleasantly crunchy and full of different levels of texture... I would even have enjoyed less texture and more flavor. How do you mess up peas and rice?? It was as if it was prepared and then water was added.... The funny thing is that it had more flavor than the cabbage! The sides I could actually deal with. I have salt and pepper! The biggest let down was the chicken. First of all it tasted like liver. I like liver but not in the form of 1/2 a chicken. The menu states that the Jerk Chicken was marinated and smoked with special seasonings. Salt not being one of them. It tasted like the Brown Stew Chicken with out the tomato based sauce. An additional side of mystery sauce was included and the jury is still out as to what it actually was... I am not writing this place off but I think they need a little work here.
(2)Tonny T.
Beef patty and coco bread with their delicious real fruit punch, it never disappoints me.
(5)DON C.
Hot damm!!! A food fantasy seeker's delight! The escovietched red snapper is to die for! Every bite gave me a satisfying calling to all my human senses (vision, smell, taste, and touch). Being of Carribean and gullah descent, it is NOT often that I give a carribean restaurant in the DMV five stars! Actually this is the first!! Also, the Negril by far is not the best Caribbean restaurant, but there is one dish....the escovietched red snapper that would make you a fan of this place. For those who do not know, escovietched fish is simply a crispy, well seasoned pan-fried snapper (or kingfish in some Caribbean restaurants). Once fried, the fish is stewed in a tomato base sauce cooked with onions, green peppers, carrots, and habaneros. The medley of flavors, when executed right, will put you on a natural high--nirvana! LOL!! Talk about heaven....I was there!! If you ever in the Silver Spring or Wash, DC area make sure you check them out and order this dish. You will not be disappointed. Check out my photos of the meal.
(5)S. S.
TERRIBLE. I ordered ahead. First, warning sign was that they don't have a parking lot...in Silver Spring. I drive around for like 10 minutes and illegally park at the bank and run in. I get inside and I'm informed that instead of the Jerk Chicken that I ordered, someone put in the a jerk salad...Like how many people really go in there for that especially considering it's not even on their menu online? So I say "ok can you put in the correct order?" And of course...she can but...it will take 10+ minutes. Which would be fine...EXCEPT THEY DON'T HAVE A PARKING LOT. (and also, it's your mistake but the only solution is further inconveniencing me...then there is clearly a customer service problem). So I said "no that's fine" Then I get home.... Now, I grew up outside of NYC where there is a TON of great Jamaican food and I accepted that it probably wouldn't be as good as I was used to. I bit into the beef patty and it was SO WAXY that I actually stopped to look and see if I pit into the paper it was wrapped in. Nope. Clearly had been sitting out all day and throne into the microwave. Then the salad...I'm not opposed to salads, i like them! However, the 'jerk chicken' on this salad was SO SALTY. Like I'm actually concerned by how salty. It was so salty that I, who have never suffered from high blood pressure before, was ready to just make an emergency trip to the doctor to make sure I don't end up having a stroke. Also, the salad was inexplicably covered in those chinese noodle things and the tomatos on the salad were overripe...and had clearly seen better days. All that to say. DON"T. JUST DON"T. IF you're really hankering for Jamaican food there are places in Northern Virginia that are better than this. YUCKY.
(1)Nils W.
The jerk chicken is sweeter than most places, but you can barely tell the difference with the scotch bonnet hot sauce they've got.. also, they're very fast and great customer service
(4)Loveit O.
Sigh..Negril used to be good. Went and got a curry chicken patty, coco bread, and curry chicken dinner. The patty was decent but could have had more filling. The coco bread was on point - highlight of my meal. Now on to the curry chicken. Ughhh no flavor AT ALL. There was zero sauce, the cabbage sucked, and the dish was mostly rice. And why don't they give any plantains?? Like really? Not even two? I also wonder why oh why do businesses switch their kitchen staff???? Not racist at all but when I go to an ethnic establishment I would really appreciate having people of that ethnicity cook the food!!!! It makes a difference people. Stop being cheap and sourcing cheap labor. Suffice it to say I will only go back for the coco bread (which earned them the 2nd star). Judys island grill in Baltimore is WAY better and I need to try Sweet Mangos (totally forgot about it today or I would have made the trip there).
(2)Mitali T.
Just did take-out the other day -- love the tilapia platter, the plantains, and the cabbage. Rice & peas were standard and a bit dry, but the curry sauce is great. The tilapia tasted fresh and breaded well. The plantains were delicious. Perfectly cooked. The prices are reason enough to go back; it's a big menu and I'd love to try more.
(4)Majick L.
YES! Finally GOOD jamaican food. Do you know how long I have waited for this?! I will admit, I knocked a star off for the jerk chicken being a little on the dry side, but the flavor kind of made up for it. My favorite dish here is the curried goat. Cooked perfectly, love the sauce, and seasoning, and portion size makes me feel like i'm getting my moneys worth. I highly recommend this place. My only gripe is the parking...which is nonexistent.
(4)Patricia R.
The beef patties were burned which was very disappointing to me. BUT THE COCO COCO BREAD! I bought 3 loaves and ate two before I made it back to Baltimore... with 2 out of 5 burned beef patties... Again - don't judge me!! Oh - the sorrel was the BEST!
(2)KC T.
Now - this is really good yard eatin'. Negril is definitely the spot for authentic Jamaican food. They have all the traditional meals - like beef patties, curry goat, oxtail, jerk chicken, fricasseed chicken, curry chicken, stewed chicken, rotis snapper...etc. They also have excellent carrot and banana cakes, and island juices. However, there is no ackee and salt/cod fish here :-( The prices for their entrees range from $8 - $11; and $2 for the patties and cake slices - which are pretty reasonable comparably. Their portion sizes are also pretty large - so "no problem" there. While most people seem to order out, they also have a side dining area - which is very nice for small parties. This is definitely a good spot to check out.
(4)Bent B.
Try the carrot cake it's the kind of carrot cake for people who don't like to eat that, like zucchini bread.
(4)Niana K.
I was surprised that no one took a picture of the famous Jerk Chicken Sandwich! so here you go! =) I couldn't decide if I wanted an entree or THE sandwich. It seems like the entrees got mixed reviews, but the jerk chicken sandwich won everybody's heart. I can definitely see why. I love jerk chicken and I LOVE a nice kick of heat. Unfortunately, the jerk chicken barely had any spice, so they should work on that because it's a necessity! Other than that, the butter roll was SUPER soft and drool worthy, and the chicken thigh was moist and well seasoned (other than the spice!). The poppy seed dressing was a little sweet for me, but I didn't care because the overall sandwich tasted wonderful! Honestly, can you really beat $3.95 for a jerk chicken sandwich? It's DEFINITELY worth a try, but next time, I'll ask for some hot sauce...
(4)Megan F.
OUTSANDING! Everything is truly authentic. Even the wonderful family that owns this establishment (and the several other restaurants around MD). I love Jamaica and this restaurant always brings me back to the island. Patties and Escovich fish are my favorites. The jerk is fantastic. I love the authenticity of even having the Jamaican beverages on hand. Excellent prices. Highly recommended.
(5)Regan H.
I consider myself a Caribbean food connoisseur and I've been to Negril twice and thoroughly disappointed twice. The worse jerk chicken that I've ever had. I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 because the other dishes have to be better. I hate that Tropicana moved and Spicy Delight wasn't open.
(2)Dee J.
Best beef patties I've had! You taste the flavor of the scotch bonnet pepper without the heat. Friendly service, clean space. I've never had a bad meal there!
(4)Leyali R.
The chicken soup is absolutely magical. The veggie and chicken rotis are delicious, the patties are solid. Husband swears by the stewed oxtail, curry goat, and brown stew red snapper. Did I mention the chicken soup is magical? Yeah. That soup. We usually end up ordering dinner out from this excellent local eatery, and are always pleased with the prices, portion size, and most of all, TASTE. Never disappointed. Still on the list to try? Beef patty, and brown stew chicken (I haven't been able to find one that beats my BFF's mom's recipe to date). Would love it if they added some greens like callaloo. The food reminds me of my trip to Jamaica, and I continue to come back. Service is polite and quick, the place is usually busy, and it's worth it!
(4)Billy B.
Excellent Island food. I take all of my friends from the Islands there when they come state side. I highly recommend Beef Patties and Coco bread with a Ginger Beer to wash it down!
(5)Phi N.
The Chicken Fricasse is what I ordered to eat. The chicken was good. However, the rice and side could use more flavor-- it was a little bland, a little boring for my taste.
(3)H W.
Love love love the vegetable stew and roti! The rum cake is devine! Always have to grab some sorrel when I'm there too, thirsty or not! It's especially good to get if one is feeling under the weather. My son likes the veggie patties and coco bread, and of course the cookies. ;) Parking is not easy to come by though
(5)Anita W.
I crave the beef patties and plantains here, both milk-free. Watch out for the coconut bread - they told me it has real milk, not just coconut milk in it.
(4)Steve L.
Ok food, was piping hot. Limited Jamaican dishes. Lots of fat, unfortunately it was covered in sauce so I was chewing it for a bit before I spit it out
(1)Fatima S.
I have been coming here for years!! The jerk chicken sandwich is amazing! The portion is great and it's always always HOT and FRESH. Now the reason for the four stars instead of five is due to a slight difference in taste. Years ago, prior to silver spring going through the major reconstruction phase, the jerk chicken sandwich tasted absolutely flawless. However in my recent visits, the taste has been altered. It's obvious that many things change in the span of 10 years. Different cooks and new management could explain a lot. I still highly recommend Negril!
(4)Joe G.
Jamaican me crazy with this food! The cocoa bread make me insane crazy. (5 stars) The fish sandwich make me very crazy. (4 stars) The chicken sandwich, oxtail, and roti make me crazy. (3 stars) The chicken curry make me a little crazy. (2 stars) The craziness gets rounded to a solid 3 stars!
(3)Amanda B.
I have very high taste standards for Jamaican food. It's hard to judge because I'm comparing it to the food I grew up eating lol. It's not bad like Tropicana though. The oxtail is good, could be more suculant. The curry chicken is good. Overall the food is good but it's like something is missing, don't know what. I go once in a while because it seems like it's no good JA restaurants left in D.C.. Like when Georgia Ave was flooded with them back in the 90's
(3)Cheryl J.
This was not worth the trip from Crofton. This makes me miss my Jamaican food from the Bronx in NY tremendously. My husband and I are from NY. He is fro Bklyn and me the Bronx. We love Jamaican cuisine. I ordered the oxtails and curry chicken. I thought the oxtails were not cooked long enough because you had to work hard to get the meat off the bone. There wasnt enough seasoning and hardly no gravy. Just too bland for me. My husband felt the chicken was just okay. The rice had no flavor whatsoever. I don't usually eat with salt, but I had to sprinkle some on my food. I will not be back. And also I didn't get enough meat for $11. My portion was like a medium size. I NY I would have gotten double the amount. I guess I have to wait until I go back home to get some good Jamaican food. Don't waste your time and money. Oops I forgot, the beef patty was okay. The spiciness was good.
(2)Brian H.
I'm keeping it at 2 stars for the Silver Spring location but I recently decided to give the Howard U location a try out of desperation and was pleasantly surprised. I don't know why there's been such a difference for me in the two locations... maybe the three times I went to Silver Spring were coincidentally off nights? Whatever the case, the jerk chicken sandwich at the Howard Negril was awesome spicy, juicy, moist meat and amazing amount for what I paid.
(2)Tosh G.
This place has been here forever. I remember eating here as a kid, however this is not the same authentic jamaican food I'm use too. The Jerk chicken does not have taste, I wish they would call it baked chiken because that's what it is. I even tried to give the oxtail a chance because I thought to myself, you can't mess that up! Well I've brought oxtail on two different occasions and the meat was so tough and again lacked tasted.
(2)Vanessa P.
Parking sucks. The place is pretty open and clean inside... there are two tables in the room with the order counter and then a side room with many more tables. The Beau and I both ordered jerk chicken sandwiches... for some stupid reason I was expecting a chicken breast seared with jerk seasoning... but instead got many "pulled" pieces of chicken, that, I'm not even sure *were* chicken (I've never seen that much dark meat on a chicken before). It wasn't spicy at all and about 3/4ths of the way through, I felt stuffed and just tired of eating it. Pretty decent amount of food for $4 each though... can't beat that.
(3)Ordale A.
I love the fact that they have a little express store next to the main place. Beef Patty and Cocoa bread are the only thing I get, so I can't say if the rest of the food is good or not, but whenever I'm in Silver Spring I make a special stop here.
(3)Bruce G.
I was here only a day ago, so my memory of this place is very clear. Ten years ago I would have given this place 5 stars, but in the interim it's gone seriously downhill. The jerk chicken was nowhere near as spicy as it used to be, and everything costs a lot more (even allowing for general inflation). This used to be one of the best cheap-eating places in Silver Spring, when I lived a few blocks away from it. It's certainly no longer really cheap, and no longer all that good either.
(3)Jesus J.
From other reviewers, you will see a pattern: fine praise of the Jerk chicken sandwich. They're right - this sandwich is delicious. It's so good that every time I come here, it's difficult for me to try something new as that sandwich has me coming back for more. The menu is pretty vast, though, and offers all sorts of entrees and sides. The sandwich consists of pulled, Jerk chicken, tasty poppy seed sauce, lettuce, all in a soft, buttered sandwich roll. Good stuff. I've been told that Jerk chicken is generally spicy but the Jerk chicken here isn't spicy in the least. So if you're looking for hotness, you will be disappointed. I've also tried their chocolate chip cookies and they were soft, moist, and tasted home made. Their home made fruit punch is good as well. It's not your typical fruit punch that is packed with sugar without any real flavor. The punch is thicker than your average fruit punch, and you can taste the ingredients without so much of the sweetness. I generally find fruit punch to be too sweet, but this drink is an exception. Negril also has a lot of different beverages besides your canned sodas. They have Kola champagne, ginger beer, and other drinks you usually find in the international section of your grocery store. There are plenty of tables and places to sit and the staff have always been nice. The prices are great on the wallet - only $~4 for the sandwich and the entrees are $~8. Minimum purchase of $5 to use a credit card, which isn't too much of an inconvenience as I usually buy a drink along with the sandwich. I've never had any issues with this place and have been frequenting every week for that quick, cheap lunch or dinner.
(4)Semra E.
Love it, just like I love my Jamaican peeeeeooooopppppllllleeeee!!!!!!!! BOP BOP BOP!!!!! ok, so I'm a HUGE fan of this spot not only because every dish feels like it's made from my friends mothers from the islands, but because the price is ALWAYS right. My favorite thing to get there is the Jerk chicken sandwich....they put this amazing sauce on it that is like crack to me and I just can't get enough. My mouth is watering now just thinking about this.......
(5)Melissa P.
As an individual who has familial linkages to the west indies I tend to have an overly critical eye to any and every cuisine linked to the Caribbean region. I've noticed many comment on the low prices and to me this isn't a huge plus for me because though the DMV area lacks a selection of west indian cuisine you'll find most places selling this type of fare near and far have comparable pricing. I was delighted to see favorites on the menu but delivery was not stellar. I was however disappointed at the limited beverage options- where's my peanut punch and Coconut water?! I really like their beef patties- their chicken patties are hit or miss, sometimes they are delicious and sometimes its kinda tasteless and mush inside. Note: the beef patties taste sooo much better if you take them home and stick them in the oven to crisp em up a bit! All in all if you're going for the patties enjoy but don't expect any magic.
(3)Zeenat W.
My thing is, you must be crazy.... They are not even jamaican nor are they carribean, they are spanish! Cookin' Jamaican food! What the hell has the world come too? My friend and I had a craving for some oxtail and curry goat, i read reviews before my decision and decided to head on ova, n also get the coco bread. The register has a woman of black descent, the kitchen has one woman of black descent n like 5 spanish people puttering around. Cleaning, food trays, yellin' orders in spanish, I assume they are just the help, so we ask the register person, 'is the woman back there doin all the cookin'?' She's very reluctant to tell us no, almost as if she's bein' watched, we ask, 'then who?', 'did they leave? or are the spanish people cookin?' she says, 'yes, they cook the food?' We stood back, shocked, appalled, insulted even, feelin like this couldn't be happenin' so becuz it was late n we were there, we ordered. I knew i wud b disappointed, my friend wanted to stay optimistic and we ordered what we came for. We always order these dishes to judge jamaican restaurants, the coco bread wasnt spectacular, quite regular in every way actually. The food was just not right, the meats lacked key ingredients therefore my favorite part of these dishes, the gravy suffered. The cabbage was not even fully cooked shud have just been cole slaw with no seasoning. It made me wanna take both platters and do a drive by window trashing with their own food but eat the coco bread cuz at least that tasted familiar. THEY'RE NOT JAMAICAN! PUT THE STORE UNDER ANOTHER CATEGORY SO PEOPLE LIKE ME DON'T GET THEIR HOPES UP TOO HIGH!
(1)Ayo A.
This Negril absolutely sucks! I placed an order for a simple veggie pattie and coco bread. I was told there was only one pattie left, sat there for 15 minutes and was told it was "accidentally sold." Mistakes happen and I wasn't even that blown; I was more upset by the rude attitudes received when I asked for a refund. Wish I could give them negative stars.
(1)Jane Y.
THREE WORDS: JERK CHICKEN SANDWICH. JERK CHICKEN SANDWICH. JERK CHICKEN SANDWICH!!!!!!!!!!! ....and scene.
(4)Netsie T.
Obviously, the jerk chicken sandwich is Negril's biggest draw but I'd recommend changing things up. Last time, I had the Oxtail and it was pretty good (and reminiscent of the kind of stew we make in southern Africa).
(4)Jordan K.
Look. It's a tiny little counter where you wait in line, order, wait in another line while they FORGET your order, ask if they've forgotten your order, have them stare blankly at you, ask them again, have them ask you for your receipt and order number, hand it over, have them not look at you or tell you when it will be ready, where they look at you again, ask you for the receipt again (the one you just handed over), and then, finally, mercifully, give you a bag that may or may not contain what you originally ordered but by that point who cares because you're so hungry. I'm sure we've all been to a places like that from time to time. p.s. Jerk Chicken Sandwich was worth an extra star, but the service described above deserves one less, so you average out to two.
(3)Catherine H.
I straight up adore Negril, and this Negril in particular. I love everything about it, from the fried plantains to the cranky lady behind the counter. Everything, and I do mean everything, I've had at Negril has been good, but for lunch I find it is really, really hard to beat the Jerk Chicken sandwich. For $3.25-- yes, you did read that right-- you get a soft sweet roll piled with excellent jerk chicken, lettuce and sauce. It is happiness wrapped in a foil package, and it leaves you money left over for a Kola Champagne to wash it down. If you want to upscale it a bit you can never go wrong with their oxtail, goat (roti or curry) or escoveitched red snapper. Their plantains are freshly cooked and plentiful to an order, and their beef patties are warm and spicy. The line is *always* out the door at lunchtime, and with good reason-- the food rocks. The service is counter, but they do have a cute little dining room available. Don't get mad if the cashier is cranky, she's been that way for years, and if sometimes you have to ask the counter folks if your order is ready, well, that's just how it can be. If you're taking to go they've just opened a separate "to go only" store two doors down for basics like sandwiches, beef patties, plantains and cookies, making the experience somewhat more efficient.
(5)Lester K.
This is the worst Jamaican food I've ever had. The meal started off good as I bit into my Jamaican beef patty, which was very flaky and still good, albeit, obvious that it sat around for a while. Jerk chicken with rice and cabbage was lame. Stewed, not grilled; no complaints about that. Yes, there was seasoning and stuff on it, but it was so mild and flavorless. I got 2 drumsticks and half a breast. Oxtail stew was a little better but still not great, or even what I'd consider good. Passable is how I'd like to describe it. With rice and salad with a mango dressing. Best part of my meal was the homemade fruit punch. At $2.50 or something, it's very pricey for a 20 oz. cup that's half filled with ice. Essentially, you're getting maybe 10 oz. of liquid. I used to love this place. I used to rave about this place to everybody who would listen. That is all in the past as this place has removed itself as a resident of Flavortown. 1.3 stars and rounding down.
(1)Vikash S.
Good food, great prices. Must try: the Coco bread and rotis. Get the coco bread and eat it while it's hot!
(4)Vannie N.
Pass me the spices?? Cause I didn't taste any!! Me and the fiance have been looking forward to Negril, for awhile after our friends told us to check out its jerk chicken meal. Also, people on here "highly" rated this place. The place is located about 2 blocks aways from downtown Silver Spring. Although its is cheap eats, it sorta applies to the appetizers and drinks. The meals are around $8 dollars and up. The jerk chicken meal came with a side salad and seasoned rice. I hate to say this, but the salad and the rice tasted way better than the jerk chicken. The jerk chicken was dry, bland, gamy, and unappetizing. I was hoping for something with more aromatic and spices.
(3)Roy S.
Bland, uninspired and a waste of coin. For excellent carribean food search out Peach's in DC. It is worth the drive...
(1)Ina C.
It's been MONTHS since I've been here last, but for some reason I was starting to crave that jerk chicken sandwich! I left the car at a metered spot on Thayer Ave and even at 4:30pm on a Thursday, this place was pretty full. I ordered a jerk chicken sandwich to go, and I couldn't believe that this thing was $3.95. It was my dinner! The bun tasted like it was buttered and grilled, though it didn't look it. The chicken was juicy and full of flavor, the lettuce was fresh and the sauce was magical! Seriously - this is an amazing value for $3.95. Apparently this place is pretty chain. They've got a couple other locations in the area and even sell their patties frozen and microwave-ready. Hmm. And I don't even really know how "Jamaican" they really are. The staff certainly didn't look like this was their native cuisine. Eh. I forgot to get the punch today. :(
(4)Jed S.
Jerk chicken sandwich is the bet meal you can get in DMV for $5. Coco bread sandwich comes on is great and chicken is made so tender and good.
(4)Charlotte J.
Great vegetarian food! Their roti's are huge, I can only eat half of one if that at one time. Veggie pattys are soooo wonderful. Don't forget to grab some of their home made fruit punch too.
(4)Paul S.
I'm sorry but this place sucks. Worst Jamaican food I've ever had and worst example of a place being over rated on Yelp. You notice that half the reviews here basically say they added a star to be nice or because of the "amazing" jerk chicken sandwich? How about adding a star to be misleading? No flavor what so ever. What this basically is to my palate is soul food disguised as Caribbean food or Caribbean food that has been watered down to cater to those that are used to eating soul food. And I'm not trying to knock soul food but a "Jamaican" restaurant with such a high rating should serve high quality authentic Jamaican cuisine and instead you get a West Indian Taco Bell. The jerk chicken is NOT jerk chicken! It's like calling KFC or chicken teriyaki jerk chicken. It's chicken. It might even be good chicken. But it is in no shape or form jerk chicken. I'd be tempted to give them 2 stars but enough is enough. There are too many three star reviews that when you actually read them say that the place is mediocre at best and thanks to the overall 3 1/2 stars it currently has I spent more money here by going and giving it second and third chances than anyone ever should. Nope, not to today.
(1)David O.
Ok. So I read some of the reviews on here and I must say that I'm disappointed with what some people have to say about this place. Negril is one of the best Jamaican restaurants I've been to and trust me I've been to all of them and they all have good things about them. The food here is great and of course the beef pattie with coco bread is the s**t. The service is good and depending on the time you go there it might be packed or not. The oxtail is on point and the curry goat is banging. You definitely gotta try it. Don't let the reviews sway your decision one way or another. Try it, I dare you ( Charlie Murphy )
(5)Josh O.
I ordered a jerked chicken sandwich with fish cakes. Neither were even vaguely reminiscent of those that I've had in Jamaica, and I'm not even convinced that the jerked chicken was CHICKEN, let alone JERKED. The fish cakes were tasty, but completely unlike any fish cake I've ever had in Jamaica, and honestly reminded more of something you'd get at a Long John Silver's. I'd like to give them a second chance because I love Jamaican food, I really would, but I just don't know if I bring myself to do it.
(1)Alex O.
First off, this is basically a take-out place. There is a sit down room with a few tables, but basically it's a take-out counter. The food is mediocre at best. Spice, flavor, heat? Nope, not here. This is really pretty bland Jamaican food, but it is dirt cheap. There is really only one thing that's worth getting at Negril - the jerk chicken sandwich. Does it really taste like jerk chicken? No, not really. It's stewed dark meat with a hint of spice. However, it is moist and hearty and comes on a delicious roll. The lettuce is always crisp and the house dressing they put on it is tangy and tasty. And, it's about $4. A great deal for a great chicken sandwich. Is it worth going out of the way to get? No, but if you're in the neighborhood then it's worth checking out because it really is an excellent sandwich. The rest of the menu basically sucks.
(2)Leon M.
hit or miss...sometimes it is good and other times it is bad....lot of microwave heating occurs.
(3)C W.
I order the same order everytime: jerk chicken and rice, beef patty, and a cream soda. Never disappoints! I just wish they weren't closed on Sundays.
(4)Jeannie L.
I can't believe such a hidden gem exists in Silver Spring. Dying to get a change of taste for lunch, I decided to rely on my fellow yelpers to tell me what's good in SS and Negril came up. My coworker and I quickly jumped into my car and headed to this place. I was soo excited. Surely, Negril didn't disappoint. Service is fast and the staff is friendly. You're greeted by their super bright interior as well. I was ecstatic with their choices - fried sweet potatoe fries, fried plantain, jerk chicken sandwich, jerk chicken wrap, etc.. We both grabbed the jerk chicken sandwich which is wrapped with coconut bread and plantain. I was a very happy camper once I finally got out of my meeting to try out my food. The sandwich was so tasty - the meat was well seasoned and succulent, topped with special white sauce. The fried plantain was sweet but not overly so and not mushy. I love this place. Thanks yelpers! I think I'll have to make a weekly trip here to avoid Negril withdraw. hahaha
(4)Katherine K.
Negril probably wins the prize for best value in town when it comes to filling, delicious lunches. I have not experienced the full menu as the other Yelpers have, but look forward to my next visit. At $3 the chicken jerk sammich is a must-order. Mine was served with a weird poppyseed dressing that I didn't care for, but hell, it was served on the side so i didn't use it. My co-worker got a Jamaican meat patty which was crispy, flaky, and downright sinful. If you're watching your fat intake I don't recommend it, but if you want to make your jump off the diet bandwagon worthwhile, Negril is the best place to do it.
(4)Kate M.
UPDATE 6/14/08: I've upgraded Negril to 4 stars. As promised, I went back and had something else, and it was delicious. DELICIOUS, folks. The veggie roti was great. Flavors were not too intense, and the more you eat it the more subtleties you notice. The coco bread is out of this world. It tastes like a cross between a donut and a soft pretzel with some coconut thrown in. It's salty and sweet and soft and the best thing you can buy for 85 cents. In fact, I think I'm going to go back right now and have dinner at Negril again, if only so I can have an excuse to get more coco bread. ORIGINAL REVIEW 5/10/08: I'm sure I'm making some enemies here but I'm sorry, folks, I just didn't care for the jerk chicken sandwich. I did like the bread, but I found the chicken kind of tough. There were a few pieces I had to pull out of the sandwich because I couldn't bite through them. The sauce was kind of, I dunno, nondescript. I wasn't wowed by it, and in fact I can't even really remember much about what it tasted like. So, I'm *tentatively* giving Negril 3 stars, but because of these Yelp reviews and the volume of happy people who were in there today, I fully intend on going back and having something else.
(4)Paul H.
Good value, friendly; jerk chicken sandwich very good! Been around a while, popular.
(4)Alex A.
The food here is mediocre, but satisfactory. There is no atmosphere at this place, but nobody expects there to be atmosphere at what they charge here. Prices are low here, and despite a shortage of Jamaican restaurants in the DC-area, I wouldn't come back
(2)Sara K.
Very tasty food for vegetarians! Price is just right and the portion size will last for many meals. Try the curried veggies and the coco bread! Beans and rice that come with meal are yummy!
(5)Tina K.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Negril! I have to stop myself from getting their Curry Chicken and their beef patties. Oh man they're so good! The Jerk Chicken sandwich isn't quite like in Jamaica and it seems their using some Honey Mustard or Poppyseed dressing but it's still tasty nonetheless! Their desserts are fabulous and the mango sauce goes great on anything! Definitely a silver spring gem!
(5)Ed Y.
Use to work 2 blocks from this place. God do I miss it. Jerk Chicken sandwich is a great buy, especially for lunch. Ox tail stew is yummy. Generous portions of peas and rice. Goat Roti is a bit messy but well worth it. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.
(5)Safiya S.
Although I do like the food at Negril there are definitely better Caribbean food places in the area. The jerk chicken was OK but the Oxtail was good. The plantains were OK. If you are desperate for some Caribbean food it will definitely satisfy you but if you are familiar with this type of cuisine I think you will be disappointed.
(3)C. I. M.
I finally tried this place after living down the street from it most of my life. I don't know anything about Jamaican food but from these reviews, I expected to be blown away. Not so. I ordered the Jerk Chicken sandwich, a beef patty and a piece of coco bread. I was pleasently surprised that all that came up to less than 7 bucks. I got home, started eating. They give you a big piece of the bread, my first bite and it was kind of salty. The patty was okay, nothing spectacular. The jerk chicken was good but it got the lettuce pretty mushy and that kinda grossed me out. It was filling but nothing special in my opinion.
(3)Mic X.
now i am going to give negril 4 stars here because (again) i can't give 3.5 stars. negril is a very good jamacian restaurant (that caters to american taste) and that's the rub. their jerk chicken sandwiches are fine and tasty.... just not spicy like other jamacian places i have been too. fried plaintains - great, beans and rice - great, patties - great, roti - ok. this is a slightly watered down version of jamacian food stuffs, but it's still good. if you want the sloppy hoottt mess of curry goat or jerk chicken of real home style jamacian food then you'll have to travel on, but if want something close to jamacia (without completely washing out the spices) then negril is the place for you.
(4)Chris G.
Oh, Negril. Why did it take so long for me to discover you? I lived in Silver Spring for about two years, yet never entered your doors. It took a truly bizarre chain of events for my wife and I to come in for a snack yesterday, yet somehow, someway we were guided in by a mysterious benevolent force. Thank you, benevolent force! I had a jerk chicken sandwich. What a delicious treat. My first taste of Coco bread - wow, tasty, tasty. And the chicken. Wow. Incredibly delicious. My wife had a beef pattie - it tasted okay, but no match for the jerk. The chicken wasn't particularly hot, but it had a great blend of spices. So tasty. Don't be like me. Get thee to Negril. By the way, they have some tables where you can sit and eat, but no table service. But for these treats, you'll be happy to carry your own food to the table.
(4)Haviland P.
Been supporting this joint back in the day when they weren't a chain. Don't know why something is lost when an est. expands. It's not the same but still a good meal. If you want a more authentic jerk chicken check out jerk pit in college park md..its worth the drive over. Back to Negrils, the rotis are my favorite!
(3)paul s.
The goat curry was just what I was looking for this night -- Tender chunks of goat in a curry that was just right -- flavorful but not crazy hot and spicy. Served with crisp slaw and rice and beans, it tasted like somebody cared. Good, flavorful, inexpensive ethnic food. The stew did include a fair amount of bones but the meat fell right off them. The beef pattie appetizer was fine but nothing to scream about.
(3)Sam H.
ok my only experience with this place was as "take out" where it was delivered as I was working on the computer and... I was pleasantly suprised. I ordered to Goat Goti, friend plantains, and think I developed a taste for the JAMACIAN food. : ) The only thing was... I kinda have to watch out for the bones... but... the meat was tender (not dry as some other places I tried).... It's good. Deliver it again next time I'm working.
(4)Jung-Ah P.
For months I've been hearing about a Jamaican restaurant in Silver Spring called Negril, usually really good things about their jerk chicken sandwich and the homemade fruit punch. So one evening, as I was heading home, starving and knowing there nothing edible in the fridge, I headed to Negril. It's hard to miss with its large yellow sign with red letters. It's definitely a carry out sort of place, even though there are a couple of tables in the room where you order the food at a counter, and a room on the side with many more tables - I don't think they have wait staff service though. So I headed up to the person at the counter and asked for a recommendation as I had never been there. He said that the beef patties or the coco bread would be good as appetizers and if I wanted something more filling, the jerk chicken sandwich, curried chicken, or goat roti are popular. So, being famished, I ordered the beef patty, coco bread, and curried chicken to go (obviously, my eyes were bigger than my stomach). Service was pretty quick, I received my food in about 5 minutes, during which I looked around the place and noticed that the beef patties were being sold in frozen packs, to be microwaved at home. Hmmmm...I don't know how I feel about that. Once I received the food, I rushed home and took at bite of the beef patty. It wasn't magnificent, but it wasn't awful - the crust was flaky and the beef filling was pasty but had enough seasoning to be not gross or boring. The coco bread was DELISH, it's soft and moist and fluffy and sweet and buttery...mmmmmmmm. I would have it for breakfast with butter and coffee...maybe a dab of good strawberry preserves. Drool. Uh, where was I? Right, moving on to the curried chicken, um...it was disappointing. I grew up with really good chicken curry from India, so I expected lots of spices and heat. Well, spices and heat, I definitely didn't get. Instead I got mediocre chicken with mediocre sauce with a side of very dry rice and beans and a heaping mound of really blah steamed cabbage. Note to self: when getting an entree, always choose the salad over cabbage. Despite the disappointment, I was willing to give it a second try because I wanted to like it. I really wanted to like it. This time I went for the jerk chicken sandwich - it can't get any more Jamaican than that, right? Then as a last minute impulse, I ordered the fish cakes appetizer also. Oh man, I was even more disappointed than before. The fish cakes - there are 3 huge puffs of them - were so gross, it didn't taste like fish and certainly didn't look like fish, it was like a sticky sponge. I took a bite and then was forced by my brain to throw them out. Even doused in the strange sweet sauce and I tried hot sauce also, it was inedible. EW. As I prepared to bite into the jerk sandwich I said a silent prayer that it would be good. It was ok, but I didn't know what was Jamaican or jerk about it. It tasted like a pulled chicken sandwich with a honey mustard and lettuce. My understanding was that jerk seasoning is hot and spicy and generally the chicken is grilled or smoked...I don't think it met any of those requirements. The best thing about it was the coco bread. Would I go back to Negril? Probably not. For the mediocre entrees, it's way overpriced - I think I paid $11 for the lame curried chicken. The sandwich though, is a really good deal if you're not really looking for a jerk chicken sandwich at about $4. Oh no, I'm lying. I would go back to get the coco bread but probably not anything else. If you like delicious bread, I suggest you try it for sure! Tasty tasty!
(2)LOLITA J.
This place is good, but definitely not the best. I've been to Jamaica so I've had the authentic beef patties, these were close but not close enough. Make sure when you go that you get fresh patties and not those that have been sitting for awhile because they can almost choke you. : ) The cocobread is very yummy!!! I could sit there and eat that all day. These are the only two items I order from this place. However, I've never been to a jamaican restaurant where the whole staff was hispanic . . . I don't have an issue with it but have never seen that before. : )
(3)Molly S.
A decent, comforting fill for cheap money, and some items are better than others. I prefer lots of their smaller treats to the actual entrees that tend toward the flavorless and dull. Their jerk sandwich is satisfying, and the patties aren't hugely impressive but there's something comforting in their flaky-crusted warmness. I prefer the vegetarian one to the beef. Coconut fans should try the coconut custard baked goods on the counter's display case - just the right amount of sweet, and great to take home and enjoy with a cup of coffee. The coco bread is similarly enjoyable. The dining area is nothing fancy, but it's clean, and service is fast enough. I like Negril on a fast food level - not a favorite, but a good enough use of six bucks on the go.
(3)Ashley K.
You must try: Jerk chicken sandwich, oatmeal cookies, fruit punch. Can cause bubble-gut, but totally worth it.
(4)Steve Y.
My wife and I had lunch here with a few friends one Saturday while wandering around DTSS. We've passed by Negril many times on our way to/from the SS Safeway (which although improved, is still not a good grocery shopping experience), and so were curious to see what their food was like. The place is essentially part take-out counter and part sit down cafe - there isn't a whole lot in the way of ambience, unless you count the faded jamaican themed posters on the wall. The service at the counter is brisk, and the food is produced equally quickly (certainly not on "island time" here!). I ordered the jerk chicken sandwich and the meat pattie - both were tasty and relative bargains at around $3.75 and $1.50 respectively. I can certainly see why Negril was awarded a Washingtonian Cheap Eats award recently. My lunch companions were equally pleased with their meals which included the goat curry, the fish sandwich, and the chicken rotti. If there were complaints it was generally that the meats could have done with just a hint more spice - my jerk chicken while very nice, was not as spicy as I was expecting, and others mentioned that the curried goat was a tad bland. I was also a little disapointed with the options for sides - basically nothing really appealed, hence I added the pattie as my side. Overall, a good place to go if you want a decent cheap lunch, but if you like your meals a little on the spicy side then you might want to make this known when you order.
(4)Alexa B.
OMG, This is totally the place to come to if you want some traditional home style Jamaican cooking. The prices are great and just writing about this place is making so damn hungry. Their beef patties and coco bread with spicy sauce in between is just delicious. I love this place. I also recommend their ox tale, yyyuuuuummmmm.
(5)Kurosh H.
Negril is the shizznit!! Rub jerk chicken all over face please. This is what the good old days were all about! Stuff that meat pie in my armpit please. Yum ginger soda up my nostrils. aaahah Jamaicanmecrazy man!
(5)Jimena M.
Negril is a Silver Spring treasure and tradition. Not only does it have delicious Jamaican food, it also has an absolutely delicious carrot cake. It's slightly sweet and always moist. The cream cheese frosting is perfect. A perfect meal on the go is their famous jamaican meat patties. It's the jamaican take on empanadas. The crust is always flaky and the meat is nicely seasoned. I've also had the rice and peas and their Jerk Chicken...yum! Another great treat is the ox tail soup. Their sandwiches are all soo gooood. The only thing you'll hate about this place is having to make up your mind.
(5)Ian N.
I'll be amazed if anything can beat Negril for my "Price-Performance in the $6-8 entree" prize. Here, you'll see locals, cabbies, real people who come in to eat real food. If you like curry, the chicken curry roti comes recommended, though it's not very spicy. The sugary house lemonade makes me wonder what life tasted life before corn industry welfare. As noted in a review at the other location, great carrot cake. And the ridiculously cheap meat patty appetizer is good enough that I make myself avoid thinking what must be in it to be that good, and that good of a deal. In a sea of Georgia Ave yuppie mega-chains on the MD side and places so shady I won't even give them a try on the DC side, this Jamaican hole in the wall gets my highest recommendation.
(5)Teresa H.
Negril is ok.... I guess because I grew up in the Caribbean so I don't find it super favorable and I also prefer my food very spicy (my personal preference). But l have to agree with everyone else its a good deal for the buck. If you want a grab something quick. I have to admit that visit N every now and then.
(3)Mimi X.
I've only been to the takeout location next door to the main restaurant, but I was so impressed I'm writing a review. That was a seriously good jerk chicken sandwich. The bread alone would bring me back. I also tried a meat patty, which turned out not to be a hamburger patty... more like a meat fritter or something, inside flaky dough. It was greasy but good -- if I'm in need of comfort food, I'll get that! But the jerk chicken sandwich is really something. Delicious and cheap.
(5)Ethan D.
One of my favorite local spots. I usually get the jerk-chicken sandwich, beef-patties, and fried plantains. The ox-tail and curry-chicken entrees are also great selections.
(5)Brian R.
Mmmm, jerk chicken sandwich.
(4)Alexander L.
Can't vouch for meat dishes, but the vegetarian fare is nothing to write home about. If you like mushy, flavorless canned vegetables and beans, it's a place for you.
(2)Nicole M.
everytime i'm nearby, i DEMAND that we go here. it's not an option. heads will ROLL if i don't get my sweet and spicy jerk chicken sandwich. and do not, i mean DO NOT touch my beef patty or coco bread. you've been warned.....
(5)Tammy L.
Wow. My office just catered lunch from Negril and it was amazing. Nothing was bland, everything was just full of flavor. Of the selection, I tried the chicken curry, jerk chicken, fish (I don't know what it's called, but it tastes a little sweet), cabbage, rice and beans, and plantains; all of which I really liked. I'm definitely going back with my tupperware so I don't have to cook dinner tonight...
(4)S S.
Now, I'm not sure that I'm the most qualified to judge "good" versus "bad" Jamacian food. This is the first time I've had any, but I can say that the jerk chicken sandwich was absolutely FANTASTIC! It was much better than going to Chik-fil-A. Tastey, filling, and the bread was super super soft and delicious. Def give it a try! Oh, and it's pretty decently priced too.
(5)