Roy’s Caribbean-Restaurant & Grocery

I’m not sure if I just simply don’t like Caribbean food, or I don’t like Roy’s, since this was my first time trying it.
Like some other reviewers, I agree that the service was not good at all. Maybe when Roy himself is there it’s ok, but the girl behind the counter acted like she was doing me a real favor getting my food, and was slower than molasses as well. Ok whatever, we don’t need to be pals.
I got the jerk chicken with beans and rice. To me, the chicken tasted way over-​spiced, but judging from other reviews, and having read some recipes for jerk chicken, I think that’s pretty much how it’s supposed to taste. It wasn’t bad in my opinion, but too much for me.
The thing is, if I had felt a little less like I was bothering everyone just by walking in, I would’ve given it another try. The food had that look like it was sitting out for too long, and that very well could’ve been the case. My visit was around 3 pm, maybe its better when freshly cooked. Or maybe it WAS freshly cooked and that’s how it’s supposed to look and taste. I just don’t know, and I’m wary of trying Roy’s again. If I do, I’ll update this review, which will end up in the «not recommended» pile anyway. Maybe I should just find a Caribbean cookbook and make it myself.

I had a business luncheon in need of catering in less than an hour and the food was delicious, wortg every penny!!! Dont be fooled by the location this place is worth the stop.

Went here for lunch and had the jerk chicken with rice and beans and cooked vegetables. Spicy! The chicken was juicy and tasty. The food was solid and price was somewhat reasonable; a little under $ 7. Where was Roy? The lady behind the counter was less than amicable and quite slow. You Jamaican me late, mam! I would go back, but hopefully to faster and friendlier service.

I used to frequent Roy’s food cart outside of the Capitol, so though trying the establishment made sense. However, both times I attempted to eat at Roy’s, I walked out without service. The people behind the counter are consistently terrible at customer service. The first time I waited 20 minutes without even an acknowledgment, and the second I waited 15 minutes. It’s a shame because the food at their cart is delicious.

Was with the misses on one of the many trips back to see her parents when we passed Roy’s. In my quest for ox tails I had to stop.
Nice place. The owner was there. Very friendly. It was Captialismas Eve day by the way and they were open.
My ox tails were very good but the misses jerk chicken was AMAZING.
Will definitely be going back to Roys every time I visit Albany.

it is the first time for me to try Caribbean food and i have to say i really love their food. we order ox tails and jerky chicken. Personally i prefer ox tails it is spicy but a little bit stuck in teeth; jerky chicken is also good, sooo spicy! and the cabbage is also yummy!
remind to bring student ID, they have special student discount!

Had a very pleasant dinner there last night. Yes, this is mostly a take-​out place, but we decided to eat there. The décor won’t win many awards, but the food was very good. We started with a meat pie and an order of fried shrimp. The meat pie was a standout– moist, meaty with just the right amount of zip. The fried shrimp were a dissapointment– they came after the entrees were on the table and was basically a mass of small overcooked fried nubbins. But the entrees were great– we had a curry chicken and a jerk chicken– generous amounts of chicken with a large side of rice and beans with cabbage in sauce. The jerk chicken clearly outperformed the curry chicken, but both were good.. We ate like kings for $ 27. I have to say a word about the gorgeous and sweet as could be hostess, She was a delight.

Two of the things I value most in a place are consistency and reliability. Roy scores high on both. The restaurant is open 7 days for lunch and dinner and the food is consistently delicious.
They do mostly a take-​out business but don’t let that deter you from eating in. The booths are pleasant. There is no waitstaff service however. You have to line up with the take-​out customers, place an order and take your tray to a table. If you need another drink, you have to go to the counter to get it.
These are small inconveniences to enjoy the best Carribean food in the cap. district. I usually get the curried goat or the oxtails. This is a family run business. Those are the best kind.

excellent caribbean food love the jerk chicken

I have never had Caribbean food before, but I wanted to give this place a try after a friend of mine suggested it and recommended I try the Ox tail.
Inside, there was a cashier standing behind the counter taking processing the orders. There were about six booths and about three tables. It was a small restaurant and a bit hot. There were about two people in front of me making orders. Since the lady at the cash register didn’t actually process the order in the register until the food came out, it was actually a long wait.
So it went something like this: I order a large ox tail ($ 10.50) plus fish fry ($ 3.00). But was told they didn’t have anymore fish fry, so I opted for fried shrimp ($ 4.25). She went to the freezer to get a bag of shrimp, took it to the kitchen and came back. Put the the food of the customer before me in a carry out bag. Asked them if they wanted a drink. Typed their order into the register. They paid. By then, my food was ready. put my food on a tray. Asked if I wanted a drink. Typed it into the register, looked up to see how much the prices were. I paid. As all this happened, the line piled behind me.
The ox tail came in a 8in foil tray (I think the small was in a 6in tray). Half was rice and beans topped with cabbage, and the other half was ox tail. There were about 6 – 7 pieces. The smell was really nice and the meat was really soft. Again, this was my first time eating Caribbean food, so I don’t know what to compare it too.
All I can say for sure was I wasn’t a fan of the shrimps. They were frozen and tasted like shrimps you would get from Long John Silver; only, I would finish a box of shrimp from LJS. The ox tail, although it was good, it didn’t make me say, «OMG, I love Caribbean food now!»
I will try Caribbean elsewhere and then I will re-​evaluate Roy’s Caribbean again. It definately deserves another shot.

Mr Roy’s is a great Jamaican place. So delicious. I’d recommend takeout over dine in, because the dine in can be slow and the restaurant itself can be a little depressing inside to look at, but Mr Roy and Little Man are nice and the food is fantastic! The sweet plantains are always perfect (hard feat to accomplish) and the curried chicken and rice are both superb.

I drive past here almost every day en route to and from work. It wasn’t until a few months ago that I stopped in for lunch on a Saturday. It was fairly quiet and Roy himself immediately greeted my boyfriend and I, told us to take a seat and made us feel completely welcome.
It’s primarily a takeout joint but we ate at the counter and enjoyed listening to Roy schmooze with his customers (his accent is great.) We got the curried goat and jerk chicken meals and both were delicious (and spicy!) They each came with rice and peas and this delicious cabbage salad that I still drool over. We each got a Jamaican ginger beer to go with it. The portions were really big for the price — we ended up with enough leftover for a small dinner that night. Full meals were about 10 bucks each, if I remember correctly. The weekday lunch specials sound like a great deal too.
Roy also maintains a small grocery section for all your Caribbean cooking needs.