4. Restaurants

The Jerk Pit

9078 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD, 20740
  • (301) 982-5375
  • Store is closed

The Jerk Pit Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

  • Sue S.

    Fun little jerk shack with authentic Caribbean food prepared and served by island natives. Large portions of seafood combo and snapper. Jerk sauce is authentic (read: spicy hot!) but delicious! Rum punch was potent. Cute Jamaican decor and super island friendly staff.

    (5)

  • Charles O.

    Just ordered from here for the second time. It was even better this time. I ordered the Mac and cheese (of course you've got to try that), the jerk chicken combo with rice and peas. The jerk was perfectly spiced and really juicy. I've had dry jerk and it ain't my ting. The cocoa bread was really awesome too! I hate to say it but I also ordered the jerk BBQ wings as well. I know I know, I can just never choose one meal because I like to get a little taste of everything. These BBQ wings are awesome as well. They are juicy jerk wings pieces. You can get the sauce on the side if you don't want them smothered but I like it that way. Fully recommend.

    (5)

  • Marie W.

    My first time trying out this restaurant. This review is based solely on the fact that I had to wait 45 minutes to get two medium sized meals to go. FORTY FIVE MINUTES! As a Jamaican, I can say that a wait at a Jamaican restaurant is to be expected, although it's still asinine. This, though, was by far the longest I've had to wait. It better be the best of the best or else I'm starting a smear campaign (but just in my head, because I don't have time for that mess)! Update! After all of that, there was a hair in my food. The goat was soft, but could def use more pepper. The jerk was okay, but I sure wish they gave jerk sauce instead of bbq sauce to eat with it. Who eats bbq sauce with jerk?!

    (1)

  • Kassie E.

    I Title My Review; Walk Good Ive frequented this place on many occasions. Sometimes the service is good, sometimes the service is bad. But one thing remains GOOD FOOD. Food is nice. Zeen! Food mek mi wan guh dung an wine. Yeaaasuh. Mek me tell unu somting many jamaican restaurant dem claim fi sell h-audentic jamaican cuisine but ah lie dem a tell. Dis spot heresuh sell good jamaican food. Ok enough patois. On my latest reggae escapade I enjoyed the Jerk Chicken, Rice and Peas and Fried Plantain. Its spicyyyyyyyyyyyyy! Like even too spicy for this jamaican gal. Whoah mi nearly dead ah fiyah me jus a sweat and fan because chile its spicy but tasty. So Im fanning and sweating and eating. Guess I like torture. Ive come for the Sunday Brunch. LOVE it. Its worth it. OMG they have Ackee and Salt Fish on the buffet and I am in heaven!!! The calaloo is kinda mushy for my taste, me like mi greens a likkle more tough. I always get the shandy or the DG cream soda. They have veggie and chicken patties. I like the feel of the place too. I can hear my uncles slamming dominoes on the table in the porch. Authentic indeed! I recommend it! My second favorite place after Caribbean Market in Takoma Park.

    (4)

  • Jason L.

    I recently ordered the Seafood combo which included Jerk Tilapia (options in fish included King Fish or Red Snapper) with Jerk Shrimp and all I can say is that was AWESOME!!! The meal also came with rice and peas and steamed cabbage. I have also had their Jerk Chicken which was a little too dry for me for it being dark meat. I have also had there curried Goat which was a little lacking on the meat side and had a few more bones than meat. Overall, the Jerk Pit is pretty good dining experience. I happen to stop in on a Friday night and there was a live DJ and plenty of diners and take-out orders being taken.

    (4)

  • Frank L.

    At the end of the day, it boils down to great food and good service. Food quality is consistently good and service at times leaves you shaking your head. But no problem, as so it go. Don't expect a quick delivery, place your order, grab a beer, check emails, don't worry but a ting, and everything will be all right. I would definitely go back.

    (3)

  • George S.

    Only authentic Jamaican cuisine that I will eat in the DMV area, hands down best jerk dishes around and their cocoa bread is always so fresh I love it lol, I see a lot of people complain about service not realizing they are preparing our food fresh for you its my a fast food spot they actually take the time to prepare your food as close to traditionally as possible I love this place and hope they will one day expand

    (5)

  • MIchael H.

    I'm on the fence bout this place.... Food is pretty damn good if u ask me... But service on all ends is the worst.... I came in it was deplorable just nasty attitudes and slow service if any ...but the food is good... So then I order delivery ... I figured hey good food sucky waitstaff I can still eat good... Yea a hour an a half later ... I'm really trying with this place kuz it's good...but how u treat ppl is how u last...shape up jerk pit or u won't last... But the food is good tho that's where my 3 stars comes from service -3.

    (3)

  • Tiffany S.

    Hey Mon!! Everything is irie!!! The Hubby and I were craving a taste of the islands and decided to check this place out. It's right on Route 1 near UMD - it's a little house that is painted in Jamaica's national colors (if you don't know those you shouldn't come!). It's very easy to miss. On the way in someone told us to expect slow service but we proceeded anyway. It was a line and once we placed our order we waited over 20mins for our food BUT......it was totally worth it!!! The Hubby got the jerk chicken w/rice and beans and I got the curry chicken. Deelish!!! Hearty portions, tasty and served with cabbage. We'll definitely be back. They have an extensive menu - lots left to try!!

    (4)

  • Jessica R.

    You know a place is gonna be good when you can smell their food from the parking lot! My coworkers and I probably eat here once a week. You have to try their jerk pork! It's BOMB! And that jerk sauce, ugh don't get me started! Seriously, get the jerk pork with rice and peas and a side of plantains and thank me later. And a cream soda too! My coworkers have tried the brown stew chicken and curry chicken and have said good things about them too. The portion size is good too. It always turns into two meals for me. Inside it's painted brightly and has Jamaican sayings all over the walls. Definitely a nice spot for lunch with friends. They also have their own parking lot that's free. My only complaint with this place is the customer service. The people working there are friendly and all, it's just that I often call my order ahead of time so that I can quickly grab it and head back to eat it at the office, and it's never ready when I arrive. They usually say it'll be ready in 20-30 minutes, however this is never the case. I honestly think they start the order when I get there. The last time I came in there were people who ordered after I had called my order in 30 minutes previously and they got their food before I did. Tip: Show your UMD student ID for 10% off

    (4)

  • Tim S.

    The food here is great. I've been several times. The challenge here is service when the owners is not on premises. They run out of things in the middle of the day and the cashier has trouble getting the orders correct. It's unfortunate but the owner must be on premises for things to operate effectively. I paid for my food at 3:20. Still waiting at 4:10!!!!!

    (2)

  • Brianna A.

    The one star is only for the food. The customer service was horrible. My family and I walked in for Sunday Brunch and the woman (light skin, red weave) working the bar/register did not greet us or even smile. We then stood around for another 5 minutes waiting for her to acknowledge us. The other staff member (brown skin with afro) was very polite though. The food was pretty decent, it may be because we were hungry and then they serve the punch in small cups limited to one refill. I would suggest larger cups. Overall, I will not be returning and will try to find another Jamaican Buffet.

    (1)

  • Linda O.

    Very good jerk chicken. And I am picky about my jerk. The vegetables and the rice and beans (called "rice and peas") could use some improvement. Friendly staff. Can speak directly to the chefs, which is commendable. A big, clapboard house on Route 1 that's been converted to a restaurant/bar. Jerk pork, jerk shrimp, jerk fish and jerk tofu are all available, but never had any of these. I just stick to the jerk chicken. They have an extensive menu of Jamaican food, most of which I have not tried. Solid selection of beers and soft drinks, many of which hail from the Caribbean. And for those of you who like the dark brews: I'm able to get a can/bottle of Guinness here without that annoying widget thing in it. Moderate prices and open late. I'll drive to College Park from DC to get this jerk, and do. Been a customer going on two years now.

    (3)

  • Angela I.

    Didn't care for their jerk chicken. The oxtails, curry goat, and stew chicken are good. They're out of things a lot like the patties. Decent location. The staff (mainly the young girl that takes the orders) could be friendlier. The are better spots in the area. I'm updating my review bc I had the worst service here yesterday. The now older lady that took our order was extremely rude. I asked what were the lunch specials meaning price, what they included, etc. All she said was anything but the seafood. I asked again bc her answer wasn't at all helpful and she repeatedly very rudely this time with the same useless response as if I were bothering her! Mind you, the lunch specials nor their prices are printed on the menu or any board around the restaurant. So me asking what they include and the price is a legit request. Well the BF and I got two beef patties bc we were starving and hit the door. I'll continue to take my business to Unforgettable Flavors which is right down the street (they were closed yesterday )!! So long JERK pit and their horrible staff!

    (1)

  • Lee O.

    Good food, low key atmosphere and great portions. Don't expect much as far as customer service - I was even taken care of by someone as they chatted on their personal cell phone. They don't instruct you on how it works there, but you order your food at the bar and find your seat. They then take your food to you. If they had better service they would be amazing, but they are very constant with the poor customer service. That said, the food is incredible, large portions and completely delicious. It's a hole in the wall, but the food is worth it - particularly the ox tail, if you're into that.

    (4)

  • Thomas J.

    They have the best food this side of Jamaica mon. They added Sunday brunch and Friday buffet he if they had a room I would move in. But seriously, outstanding food.

    (4)

  • Kyla C.

    Love the jerk chicken - spicy and juicy, yum! Plantains and coco bread are good too. Rum punch is strong so beware! Restaurant is down home feeling and servers are nice. So many more things on the menu to try so I'll definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Jerome B.

    The food is good. Hope this review make them step their game up. Homegirl at the register could get it, though.

    (4)

  • Mo A.

    Ever watch the Batman movies, television series or cartoons? Whenever people want to get his attention and get him to show up, they send out a "bat signal". That's how my friends are with me. In similar fashion, every so often I'll get phone calls and texts about catching up over a meal, along with the capitalized and/or emphatic statement of "I'LL PAY". The nerve of them to use food as bait! Yet and still, I keep falling for it. I'm so weak.... On this occasion, a friend mentioned The Jerk Pit, a Jamaican restaurant not far from the University of Maryland's campus. Odd choice in my mind, primarily because she is of Jamaican heritage and like many folks who have a connection to a region and/or food, tends to avoid such places in favor of homemade creations. The Jerk Pit as a name really does fit for this place. It's hard to visually locate as you're driving down the road, except for the fence that's painted in the colors of the Jamaican flag. Once you pull into the gravelly driveway and head towards the backyard of the house turned restaurant, the concept and theme comes together. It reminds me of local restaurants in Jamaica that are very basic in their décor and rural in setting where the only focus is the food. Once you walk inside, if you're thinking that folks are gonna flash their pearly whites and use their Jamaican accent to charm you.....yea.....not so much. Instead, you'll hear a lot of loud and playful banter in Patois. The service isn't bad, more so a little gruff and matter of fact. Again, this is not the "Cool Runnings" movie. I tried the Jerk Chicken, Braised Oxtails and Curry Goat, along with some specialty drinks. Unlike a lot of places in the States where jerk chicken is smothered in heaping amounts of fiery jerk sauce, this place utilizes the more authentic method used in Jamaica where the meat is simply rubbed with seasoning and smoked. Sauce is available on the side by request. The meat is moist and tender. The flavors are in the mild to moderate range, which pales in comparison to Sweet Mango, whose flavor profile for their chicken is pretty consistently intense. Good dish, especially for people who aren't into excessively spicy food. The Oxtails actually have a good amount of meat on them. Moist and tender, they're also seasoned and each bite offered mild to moderate flavor. Some sauce would have added even more flavor. Definitely some of the better oxtails I've had outside of Jamaica. The star of the meal was the Curry Goat. So moist and tender, drenched in a curry sauce of complex flavors bursting onto the scene like gangbusters! Excellent dish and it was nice to see that there was no skimping on the meat! I also enjoyed the heat from the curry, which was a moderate spice level. The side items of steamed veggies and fresh salad were decent. The specialty drinks had a lot of Caribbean classics, including Tropical Fruit Punch and Cola Champagne. The bottled fruit punch they keep in stock is ok flavorwise, but actually has the texture of a smoothie. The Cola Champagne tasted similar to apple soda, which registered better for me than other versions of this malta drink. A free meal will always have me open like 7-Eleven, but it's even better when the meal is quality. Thankfully, Jerk Pit is that and then some. I still hold Sweet Mango as the benchmark for Caribbean food in the DC area, especially jerk chicken and patties. That said, it's nice to have a second option, particularly if I'm in the mood for something different like some bangin' curry goat! YUM!

    (4)

  • Elena T.

    I was really confused when I walked into this house. But here's how it works: Stand in line at the counter/bar Order and pay Get a number and find a seat They bring you your food I wish someone had told me that before i continued to aimlessly stand around for the first few minutes. Anyway, we ordered the whole jerk chicken. It was really tasty and vibrant. Chicken was a bit dry but the sauce on the side remedied that. The Mac n cheese was pretty good too. And the roti was really really dry and covered in this weird dust thing. But also had a lot of good spices going on. I guess I'm just used to the roti I get at Malaysian/Thai places. People complain about the service but I guess we caught them on a good day. A very nice worker came to check up on us a couple of times to make sure we were comfortable which I really appreciated. Overall great experience! Would def come back to try the jerk pork. the atmosphere is very fun and authentic too

    (5)

  • Ralph K.

    I've had the Jerk Chicken entree and the Jerk Wings entree. The Chicken entree is average and in my opinion is a little dry but they give a side a barbecue sauce on the side and it taste really good. The Rice is okay but once you put the barbecue sauce on it I can't stop eating it. For me the jerk wings are delicious. I eat them without the sauce (which is great because then there is more for the rice.) and they are meaty and the right amount of jerk. For those of you from the islands or used to spicy foods, take my opinion with a grain of salt. Apparently in the islands the food is more spicier I hear from friends. I'm fine with the way Jerk Pit does it though. I normally come here during lunch and have had no issues with the customer service. At max I've had to wait 15 mins for my food but I do not mind. Thank you for the fresh and hot cooked food Jerk Pit.

    (4)

  • S B.

    I'd give 3.5, because of the service, but the food is definitely at least a 4. Ate their curry goat today after not visiting for about 5 years. Food is still very good...and reasonably priced!! Looks like they have some type of lunch buffet and also offer catering and delivery. I tasted a bit of their brown stew chicken and it was also very good!!

    (4)

  • Jean E.

    I tried the jerk chicken wings and it was absolutely delicious! Authentic Jamaican cooking at this joint... will be going back to try their other platters and I can't wait!.. FYI, the food is routinely cooked fresh from start, so be prepared to wait for your order. Worth the wait people & I strongly recommend The Jerk Pit

    (4)

  • H K.

    I like Jerk pit..but I think they have to work on the service..I came today and ordered 4 roti skins to go and it took over half an hour to get the skins

    (2)

  • Sonja M.

    I wish i could leave zero stars. My husband and I decided to try this place for dinner. Pulling into the parking was the first red flag. Scraped the bottom of my car due go the large dip and uneven pavement enter the parking lot from route 1. Second red flag was the customers standing in a parking space and refused to move while pointing at other open parking spaces. The two old grey haired men acting like boys we're very rude and did not move out of the parking space . To prevent an argument or altercation for my husband & I. I backed up turned my car around and got out of there. If those two BOYS who refuse to let us park represent the clientele for this food establishment. STAY AWAY! ! It's sad that we had a bad experience without even trying the food. We will not be patronizing this place, we support establishments that provide a safe environment for their customers. Lisa, You are responding as if we made up our experience. Yes we have been to Jamaica many times, my husband is from Jamaica. How does that have any reference to my review? The parking lot is not state property, hire someone with a bull dozer to level the entrance and the parking lot. This is the owners responsibility. Spend less time replying to the reviews on Yelp and fix your customer service instead of telling people they did not experience bad customer service. Remember CUSTOMERS keep your doors open not your irrelevant replys.

    (1)

  • Chris T.

    I always give this place the benefit of the doubt, but l always end up being dissapointed. Jamaican restaurants typically have bad service ( except if your of the Caucasian race), but this place have the absolute worst service ever. Interestingly enough, the food is just subpar. In addition, for a place that touts their jerk, the jerk chicken if fair at best. In any case, I will never visit there again.

    (2)

  • Steve E.

    SERVICE: Went on a Saturday, seemed like there was a private party going and they were busy. The cashier did not seem pleasent or welcoming, the owner arrived like 20 mins after I placed my order. She asked me if I had been attended I said yes and she asked for my receipt. It seemed like she went to the kitchen to get my order ready.In total it was a 30 minute wait FOOD: I ordered the Jerk Chicken (white meat) and the Wing Special and Coco bread with a side of rice beans and cabbage. I was not impressed by The coco bread tasted like regular bread.The chicken was good, I ate it all. Not sure why a side of BBQ sauce was on the side.

    (3)

  • Kendra L.

    I have been going here to eat for years and the food has always been consistently amazing. Great customer service. The restaurant makes me feel like I'm stepping into a little jamaica. The owner is very personable and sweet. I recommend this to anyone who wants to try some authentic caribbean food.

    (5)

  • Kem M.

    I think the food here is excellent, jerk and curry are on point. I first learned of them at the Jamaican festival in Baltimore a few years ago and have been a fan every since. On Friday nights there is a DJ and nice atmosphere for hanging out eating and drinking. I also carry out here a lot. MY BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE SERVICE, THE PLACE IS BUSY I GET THAT BUT THEY MESS UP ORDERS A LOT. I would rather it take longer to get my order than to rush my order along and I have to send it back or for carry out I get all the way home and realize they messed up the entire order and left out something. MY OTHER GRIPE would be running out of patty's and other dishes often. If they could fix these two things this place would be a happening spot I'd give it more stars.

    (3)

  • Kareem W.

    The absolute WORSE service in Maryland!!! Food is OK. Nothing authentic about kings ford charcoal.

    (1)

  • Denise L.

    I am a fan! The Jerk Pit is a favorite amongst a few of my friends and I am glad I finally tried it. I got the jerk chicken white meat quarter with cabbage and beans and rice it was perfect. Surprisingly, the star of the show was the cabbage. Great balance of sweet, savory and veggie flavors. I will definitely get double cabbage for my sides in the future. We also tried the mac n cheese and jerk wings and each of the dishes were tasty. I am looking forward to trying a few others on the menu in the near future. The service was great as well. I will be returning sooner than later.

    (4)

  • Erin M.

    The jerk chicken sandwich we ordered was so full of half-inch- to inch-long bones that it was completely inedible. After spitting out bones bite after bite, we gave up and threw out the sandwich. We want to support local restaurants, but this experience was absolutely nauseating.

    (1)

  • J Ryan R.

    I won't be going back here. I often stop by this place mainly because I try to support black owned businesses, but the service is POOR. Well today was the last straw. It seems as if every time I go in this place the staff is unfriendly, and at times, rude. When you come in and walk to the front counter, you rarely get a greeting right away, and if you do, it's not welcoming. The food isn't even that great. If I had a gun to my head, I'd prefer Caribbean Flava in Upper Marlboro. The thing is they aren't that welcoming either but at least they greet you when you walk in the door. Tonight was the night that I made up my mind, if they weren't going to be customer friendly when I walked in the door, I "was not" going to pay for my meal. And that is what happened. - From a black business owner to another

    (2)

  • James C.

    This was my first time at the Jerk Pit. When you are driving there make sure you are alert because you could easily miss the driveway. I ordered the jerk chicken dark meat meal with rice and peas and veggies. Everything was excellently seasoned. This is the first place I have found in the Beltsville area that was as good as Sweet Mango's in DC.

    (4)

  • Candice D.

    This is a great spot. It was my first time and I actually came on their 10th anniversary. The music is fabulous and the food was good. I had the two meat sampler. I have to say the curry goat was really spicy and tasty. I was a little disappointed with the ox tail (which I came for), the base was too ketchup-y tasting for me. The sampler comes with a side of cabbage and peas and rice. You can swap those out for something else. I also ordered coco bread, which was delish. The portions are a good size too. The service was friendly but slow, but it's a Jamaican spot! I would definitely come back again and try the other dishes. Oh, I had a signature rum punch...wow! It was very strong.

    (4)

  • Kevin C.

    Great brunch spot on Sunday mornings if you know how a proper Jamaican breakfast should taste like. Even if you don't and want to try it, this is a good place to start. They carry Ackee + Saltfish (Jamaica's national dish for those who don't know) with yams, Johnny Cake (fried dumplings) , green banana, callaloo, etc. They can fix you up really good (nice portions) for under $20 when in reality Ackee is really expensive these days. That alone plus their beef patties + coco bread are the real deal compared to others makes this place 5/5 stars in my opinion. The location is a bit awkward which may deter some business but truly worth it if you're on route 1 and want to try something different than IHOP or CP diner on Sunday mornings I highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • Kate J.

    I'm new in the area, and went to the Jerk Pit because of its rating on Yelp. I was very disappointed. I ordered jerked chicken with steamed vegetable and hard dough bread. Compare to what I had in Jamaica, jerked chicken was good. However, steamed vegetable is not fresh at all, and I'm pretty sure the hard dough bread has gone bad, but they served it anyways. Service and environment was just OK. My friend and I pretty much only saw cold faces. Maybe we were there at a wrong time and their employees had a bad day? I don't know, but we definitely won't go there again....

    (1)

  • Lisa P.

    Despite so many mixed reviews, I thought I'd give this place a try..at 8:30pm. When I entered, the cashier (a young lady) was pleasant. She greeted me and offered me a menu. The Oxtails were outstanding (they were tender and large..no end/scrappy pieces :) The curry goat was equally as good, tender and well seasoned. Rice and peas were fresh. I also purchased 2 orders of Macaroni pie (ie..Mac & Cheese). The 1st order was super good (enough cheese and flavor). However, with the 2nd order of the Mac&Cheese I could tell that it was scraped from the sides of the pan (not so good...it was dry and crumbly..not in the usual square shape) (-1 star) I've also had the chicken combo..you gotta try it. It's a nice way to sample their popular chicken dishes...comes with brown stew, curry and jerk chicken) Everybody there seemed quite pleasant and welcoming. The portions are great..it took me and my sig other 3 days to eat all of it. I'll return for sure...maybe next week :)

    (5)

  • Gustavo F.

    I wanted to give this place a chance but it really gave off an unfriendly vibe. After getting some weird looks and being ignored by the server/bartender for 10 minutes, we left. Also there are weird little shanty houses behind the restaurant. Not quite sure what's going on here but it made me super uncomfortable. Honestly this place is a joke.

    (1)

  • Gigi M.

    So recently on a Sunday afternoon, after one of my happy jaunts to IKEA [yeayy!] I swung by here having done a little online research. Since we live out in Mont Village, with nothing really good [Jamaican anyway] close by, my sisters, who cook their a**es off btw, sometimes want a break, so they had me pick up some ackee & escovitch snapper Let me get the peevish things out of the way: 1) Is this a Rastafarian restaurant? So many people, seemingly having no clue about Jamaica, who have reviewed this restaurant are commenting about the charming & festive 'Jamaican flag colors' on the exterior... HELLO, there's no red in our flag -- why is it all over the fence? Our beautiful flag is BLACK, GREEN & GOLD and will stay that way. I wasn't psyched upon first blush... granted, I suppose the red is eye-catching from Rt 1, as the converted house is sorta tucked away, but whatev... [it's the first frigging thing you see/ is that some kind of message?] Why not plant some hibiscus & crepe myrtles?? now there's your red! would compliment some of the art too, come spring & summer time... 2) First visit - there was a DJ setting up & he played some pretty good stuff at a decent volume-- reggae fi beggae indeed :) Second time another dude was playing all kinds of lame american 80s pop & r&b... feh... and SUPER loud -- the poor customers were yelling out their orders to which the really sweet counter woman would say 'pardon?' every other second - in the middle of the day too... yikes... and how about some classic ska & rocksteady as well guys? Maybe some Ernie Smith?? now that'd be cool for a Sunday afternoon... 3) The sides situation is limited & a little confusing... would love to easily switch up or substitute to my liking, but perhaps that might confuse the chef & assistants? dunno... could bammy be a thing? or breadfruit? maybe with availability? codfish fritters? some lovely sliced avocado perhaps? haha OK, now I'm getting into "I might as well stay home" territory... 4) so far I've just done the carry-out, but, having glanced over at it, the actual dining space seems a tad 'chucked-up' & tacky/ it IS a small space, but I think at least get some uniformity going -- the cute sayings 'graffiti' on the interior are clever enough - a little busy, but I suspect that's on purpose. Maybe some neutral easy-to-clean tablecloths? [yeahyeah, I know, curry stains a-plenty...] maybe Scotchguarded? Other than that, GREAT food! the Snapper presentation alone is absolutely gorgeous & the flavors are great! When things slowed down, a little polite bowing Igor-type dude emerged from the back with our food and I smiled at him & thanked him, poor guy almost ran back to the kitchen -- if this is the chef, WELL DONE MY SHY YUTE! :D The ackee was brilliant too! [all this, btw, is per my sisters/ I haven't had a chance to partake yet- been eating raw vegan for a bit & juicing] as mentioned, since they can cook like the dickens, they had very vocal personal critiques, but what Jamaican woman wouldn't?? haha but they were definitely impressed. Next time I'll have mom try this stuff... if *that* goes well, WELL... just hold that thought...

    (4)

  • DJ P.

    Where do I begin? I did not get greeted when I walked through the door. The business owner looked me in the face and still didn't tell me where I order at. I got the jerk chicken. The chicken is dry and the sauce on the side is not jerk. I was offended to learn it was BBQ sauce with a pitch of jerk seasoning. I had to request the chicken stew sauce. I know Caribbean food and this isnt it. No authentic flavors

    (2)

  • Cat Q.

    Bad service... The place is dirty.. Not enough parking space.. Sooo Ratchet... I dnt recommend this place..

    (1)

  • Rushell D.

    I honestly wish there was a NO star. This is the lAst straw. My husband keeps asking me why I keep going back to this restaurant because I keep getting upset when I leave. I am absolutely sure this is the LAST time. Basically these people are unprofessional and crooks. I went on their website to place an online order and the page directed me to yelpEAt24. I placed my order and paid. 40 minutes later and I called the restaurant (jerk pit) to confirmed if they got it and young lady said no. I know it's the light skin young lady that everyone on here complains about answered the phone. She really needs customer service lessons because she is so rude. She told me that she didn't see no order and I should called Yelp about my issue ( really????). I just hang up and called yelp and they apologized and said they will refund me because he is positive they got the order because they confirmed it. The yelp guy gave me a coupon and said he will called them because he doesn't want anymore experiences like this to happen again. If you need good customer service and good Jamaican food,go to "Negril" restaurant in Bowie.

    (1)

  • Tony B.

    My review regards the customer service I received here on two separate occasions. The first time I visited The Jerk Pit, it was located on the opposite side of Baltimore Avenue, in the Marketplace (if I'm not mistaken) close to UMD. The man who was the cashier (and possibly one of the cooks) took forever to take my order because he was too busy flirting with some young girls who were there. When he finally got around to doing it, he was very disinterested in what I was ordering and more interested in the girls smiling at him - mind you he was an older man. The second time I visited was a couple of years later when it moved to the house on the hill. There was food in one of those glass boxes with a heat lamp. It looked as if it was not fresh so I asked her how long had it been there. She caught an attitude with me and got smart. She walked back to the kitchen mouthing something and eventually brought me my order. That was the last time I went there and will never return again.

    (1)

  • Kareesa C.

    WISH THERE WAS A NO STAR OPTION!!!!! I am a Trini, who in my greatest time of need always looks to callaloo to bring me back to normal. So I searched the Internet in a fury trying to find somewhere that would have good callaloo for this lovely Saturday afternoon!! Search results brought up "The Jerk Pit" and I headed straight there. Placed my order with a very rude young lady! Waited for over and hour, decided that I couldn't wait any longer so I would go ask them to switch to "to go", only to be hit with the sentences "so you haven't gotten your food yet?" and "we are out of callaloo". SERIOUSLY!!!!! with what we Caribbean folk call "a screw up face" she said to me "what you want instead". NOT "WOULD YOU LIKE A REFUND" or "I'M SO SORRY". Now I'm livid and on my way home without callaloo and $28.00 poorer!!! NEVER AGAIN!!! Not worth it even if it tastes good (at the time of this post I hadn't tasted the food but even if it is good I wouldn't go back) Worst food experience ever.

    (1)

  • Robert H.

    The place looks a little sketchy and the gravel parking lot gave me a creep vibe. The bar is connected to the cash register and the attendants had thick Caribbean accents. I ordered callaloo, ackee and salt fish, cabbage, and a pineapple soda. I hesitantly took a bite and immediately felt like I was back in Montego Bay. The food here is cooked perfectly, I've never had such a pleasant dish. The Jerk Pit s a must visit for anyone seeking AUTHENTIC Jamaican food.

    (4)

  • Henry G.

    First time eating jerk and I was thoroughly impressed, the chicken was some of the tenderest I've had and the sauce was beast. The atmosphere seems a little hectic and as though you may be waiting a while but don't be put off by this, they get the food out pretty quick all things considered.

    (4)

  • DeAira M.

    I purchased a can ginger ale to go with my meal but I did not drink it until two days later. It had a weird taste from the first sip so by the second sip, I checked for the expiration date and it displayed a date of 1/21/15. How a restaurant can have old soda still in their store let alone supplying it to customers is beyond me. I doubt that I will be returning.

    (3)

  • R C.

    I am a returning customer. This company is frequently featured on groupon. Limited dirt parking spaces so the nights they have a dj or inclement weather, parking sucks. I also wouldn't recommend getting mixed drinks. Friday night service is slow but daytime service is average. The food is good.

    (4)

  • Derrick B.

    My coworker and I started going here about a month ago and I have to say we both are hooked, the Jerk Tofu is off the chain, I don't eat meat or seafood but I am totally hooked on this place. 100 Thumbs Up on the Jerk Tofu

    (5)

  • Mikia C.

    The food has been great every time I have placed an order here which says a lot because I get food here often- usually brown stew snapper or jerk snapper with the usual rice and peas and veg side. However, the wait time is ridiculous! When my friend and I came for the first time a gentleman working advised to call and place the order next time for faster service. I can say every other order since then was called in and given 30 minutes as told that would be how long it would take, but once you go to pick up your "called in" order you are still going to be waiting 30 minutes. The food is really good so I suggest you just go in to order, have a drink and/or a patty and chill out since you will be waiting either way.

    (4)

  • Dave W.

    Food is decent but it took over 40 mins to get the food for takeout. The need to do better.

    (2)

  • Ashley D.

    I really wanted to like this restaurant. It looks so fun, with its fence painted in the colors of the Jamaican flag and colorful murals on the walls inside. And l like supporting the local mom - and - pop places. The problem was, well, almost everything. I do have to say first and foremost that the food was good. I had the chicken sampler and the jerk chicken, curry, and stew were tasty. The jerk chicken was a bit under spiced for my taste, but the sauce on the side gave it the extra punch I needed (and without the sauce it was perfect for my young son, who devoured it). If I was rating the food alone I would give this joint a solid 4, but unfortunately the rest of my experience wasn't up to par. Problems: -The restaurant was out of many things. My husband and I got our first choice of entrees but had to compromise on everything else. The first choice of beverage for both of us? Out. All three appetizers we wanted to try? Out. The dessert we asked for? Out. And when we asked for an order of coco bread we were given the exact same type of bread that had already come with my meal and been described on the menu as hard dough bread. I don't know enough about Jamaican cuisine to know which one I actually ate, but clearly one of the types had run out, too. I would understand this--sort of--if it was a weird time, say, 3 PM on a Wednesday. But to be out of 1/4 of your menu items on a Friday night at dinner time is a poor way to run a kitchen. -The table we ate at was so wobbly I probably should have just held my food on my lap. It would have been less precarious that way. And yes, we tried to switch tables but the other available table was equally shaky. The tables and chairs in the room we were in all just looked battered and scuffed in general, and not in a charming way. More in a we-found-this-stuff-on-the-side-of-the-road way. (I will note that the main dining room looked neater, but there was no space to sit there when we arrived.) -The atmosphere in the room we dined in was very strange. There were several people sitting in the room silently, not eating or drinking, just sitting there staring at the walls (and sometimes at my family as we tried to eat and keep our children quiet to match the bizarrely quiet vibe of the room). Then at the end of the meal it was suddenly the total opposite as a new table arrived and everyone in the room but us began to play a very loud and raucous dominos game. (We weren't invited to join in.) The slamming dominos were making me jump, so the end of the meal was really unpleasant as well, just in a different way. Obviously this is just something that happens regularly on Friday nights (or so it seems) and the silent people had just been sitting around waiting for the game to start. I really wish an employee had noticed us choosing a table and suggested we wait for a table to open up in the other room to avoid the awkwardness. -The restaurant didn't seem very clean. There is a stairwell off the hallway on the way to the bathroom that was cluttered with used rags and buckets. Why do they not have a proper closet to store that stuff in? The trash cans were practically overflowing. And, most disturbingly, there were little flies buzzing around our table. That would be understandable in the summertime. I get that bugs fly in. But it was a cold January night following over a week of hard freeze. That means the bugs had to be breeding somewhere in the restaurant. Not cool. Like I said, the food tasted good but everything else ranged from disappointing to disturbing. I don't think I will return at all. If I ever do it will definitely be for takeout and not dine in.

    (2)

  • Cran C.

    When this spot first opened a few years ago from its original location, I gave it some slack but I've been gone for 2 years and this place is a disaster! If their restaurant looks like this, what does their home look like? Boxes of soda stored in the ladies room, dusty cabinet full of what appeared to be t-shirts, dirty tables, etc. I had the Friday lunch buffet. The food was cold, the burners were out and no one seemed to care. VIOLATION The Jerk Chicken is amazing! It's moist, tender, nicely seasoned with a good amount of heat. It would've been even more amazing if it was at least warm. SMH Cold; fish, fried chicken, fritters, Mac and Cheese, cabbage, rice and peas, etc! COLD COLD COLD. The funny thing is the only thing that was warm was the bottled water which they apparently didn't have time to refrigerate. How about offering a cup of ice?! Although the rude owner wasn't there, they still aren't friendly nor gracious. No one seems to care. It's a shame. I brought friends here all the time but I no longer can recommend it.

    (1)

  • Kes L.

    We came for dinner. The food was very good - just like home cooking. The atmosphere was cozy and home-like; I felt like I was visiting relatives. Stephanie, our waitress, was so nice, helpful, and patient! She ran back and forth making sure that we were satisfied, and that we were enjoying ourselves. She's the best. The Sorrel drink was good; I just wish it was not so loaded with sugar. I will definitely be back to The Jerk Pit, and have already told friends about it. My experience here was one of the best I've had at any restaurant.

    (5)

  • Brownskin-Lady G.

    Inviting atmosphere, delicious, and cooked from the soul with lots of love! I unexpectedly found this stop driving down Rt.1. Upon driving up i knew i found something special. Walking in the vibes were good! And the aroma of the food hits you as soon as you get out your car! I love, love the oxtails, and jerk chicken. I also had their cucumber ginger juice..Amazing food abd experience. Staff was pleasant and welcoming. I eat here now at least twice a week

    (5)

  • Clairissa C.

    The food tasted very authentic and the restaurant itself adds to the authenticity. With the reggae playing in the background, the colorful decor, staff and patrons speaking patwa...for a few minutes I forgot I was in Maryland.

    (4)

  • Chris H.

    Hands down the best jerk pork I've ever had. $12 gets you a massive pile of juicy, tender, well seasoned jerk pork, dirty rice, steamed veggies, and fantastically spicy barbecue sauce. Pair that with a Red Stripe and you might as well be in Jamaica. I also had one of their flaky shrimp pies and it was darn tasty too. The environment is laid back and casual and on sunny days you can sit out in the yard and eat. This is exactly the sort of little restaurant you'd see in the islands and it's a real treat to have something like this in College Park, Maryland. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Jesus V.

    Good Jerk chicken and the vibe all around took me back to Jamaica. Their home made drinks were great also. The chicken wasn't exactly like it was on the island but that may have just been part of the experience there :) I say try it if your looking for some good Jerk.

    (4)

  • Chard X.

    First, make sure to ask for it spicy, or else its flavourless. Great jerk and brown stew. Wasn't crazy about the saltfish.

    (4)

  • Ariee A.

    We went on a wednesday night, and the atmosphere was a little intimidating at first because it seemed like everyone knew each other and the one lady behind the counter didn't acknowledge us, but then we ordered and the young lady that took our order was exceptional! Then Lisa brought us our food and it was really good! The roti was fresh and delicious; I had the chicken sampler with curry, jerk and brown stew and each style was sooo good. My fiance got goat and oxtail, which he enjoyed. The music was on point, and overall it was a great experience. We will definitely return.

    (4)

  • Niki D.

    The food is good. The service is horrible. All you hear when sitting in there is the constant slapping of dominoes. Their cash register's credit system doesn't work and they have to call a number to charge you. They don't have waitstaff but you don't know that because nobody greets you. There's no music, the TV is on but you can barely hear it. This place is terrible.

    (2)

  • Mike S.

    Meh all around. The Jerk Chicken was super flavorful but a little dry. The beef patty was tasty but really nothing special. The rice and beans were pretty delicious but I'd probably opt for something other than the steamed vegetables next time. Don't expect too much from the service. They are super friendly and helpful but if you're gonna get all upset if they ring up your order while they're on the phone, this isn't the place for you.

    (3)

  • D'Arcy F.

    Amazing, I liked it a lot it was delicious. Me ad my friend went here for lunch today and it was slightly busy. I ordered the oxtails and they were on point. My friend got the buffet and she loved everything on it. I tried some new things and found out that I loved them. I had a Jamaican red stripe beer to go with it and that set it off more. Then everything was so good to me I got a carryout order and a cucumber ginger drink. Only thing and it's not that big of a deal is that the place was kind of small other than that great atmosphere and decor.

    (5)

  • Janet H.

    FINALLY dropped in.. grabbed some curry goat and some oxtail to-go. i liked them both!! both cooked tenderly and full of flavor. although both were a bit too salty for my taste, i just split the meals up and added more veggies and white rice.. voila! 3 meals for the price of one ;) the servings were generous. the service was quick, the patrons were friendly, and the owner was the one at the register chatting with me while i waited. very casual, chill atmosphere. i'm intrigued to try their callaloo next time, and their sweet bread and cheese!

    (4)

  • Leo K.

    I learned to appreciate Jamaican food at this restaurant, so I have to say thank you to the people who work there. The place has a great and unique atmosphere that is welcoming to all. The food is well seasoned, diverse, and authentic. It was a pleasure going there during my brief stay in college park. I recommend it to all my friend who plan to pass through DC area.

    (5)

  • Bryan W.

    I love this place! Its not like it is fine dining... It's like you were really invited to someones home on an island or out in the country somewhere! I have seen karaoke here on occasion and they have a buffet here twice a week.. I tend to steer away from buffets because of the quality /condition of food that you are being served. My review is on the regular menu. I have tried pretty much everything on the menu except for the fish items. For me the white meat curry chicken will be the test of any Caribbean restaurant. Wait... Breast meat cooked and held in any restaurant takes a skilled hand. This item will be prepared and held for extended periods of time and tends to be on the chewy and dry side.. The Brown Stew and Curry and Jerk Chicken is offered in a sampler and I would strongly suggest sharing this ! Brown Stew..... Brown???? Soy Sauce.... Kitchen Bouquet.. Kinda weird. My neighbors exposed me to Caribbean food when I was a kid... This dish is basically a cut up chicken flavored with a hot and sweet pepper and ginger Sofrito (Google it). The "Sofrito" is removed and the chicken is seared. The "Sofrito" is added to a hot pot with butter and cooked down. Deglaze with water and add "Brown Stuff" Add a slurry and reduce! Add the chicken and simmer!!! Awesome! The other dish I suggest is yet another sampler (Definitively to be shared!) Oxtails, Goat and ......wait for it... JERK ROASTED FREAKING PORK!!!! I If you do order this ask them to kinda chop it up! Once we ordered it and received a hunk of pork.. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT!! It appears to be encrusted in jerk paste and roasted . Juicy throughout ! The oxtails and goat are braised to perfection! I always forget to order bread. The Roti here is good and they have a butter injected and flavorful Bus Up Shut! For some reason I can't order Beef Patties... Anywhere... I guess it is from all of those late nights at 7-11 as a kid! They do offer a Mackerel Run Down on the weekends! Kinda like a mildly salty fish simmered in coconut milk, tomatoes, onions and scotch bonnets! The only inconsistent items that I have found were the sides... not all of the time but hey.. Stuff happens. Rice and peas and "Festival/Macaroni and Cheese were the biggest offenders. Flavorful but texture wise, never the same.. The Calaloo is not listed with the side dishes but if you smile hard enough, I think you can get whatever you want! This side item Rocks My Socks! Did I say that you can get Red Stripe for $4.00! Bottled Guinness for $4.50 (Bottles.. Yikes)

    (3)

  • Sarah P.

    Coming from a Caribbean background and city this was like being home! The service was like going to your aunties house and getting a good plate of yummy food. You wouldn't think feel like your at a chain restaurant where your just another customer. The prices were exact and fair. The portions are just like would get at home and then some. If you are in the area definitely stop by and get a plate.

    (5)

  • Tina B.

    I arrived here for the first time last Saturday night after driving past on my way to another destination. I came back and ordered the Jerk Snapper. It was a party in my mouth--DELISH!! I will definitely be adding this location into my rotation.

    (5)

  • Lena W.

    I've been a fan of the Jerk Pit since it's days in the Campus Village shopping center about a mile south of its current location. The food is what I care about most, and it usually doesn't disappoint. I'm a huge fan of the beef patty, but the chicken patty is good, too. I usually go for the curry chicken which is tender, nicely portioned, and delicious. The curry shrimp is good as well, but the smaller portion makes me feel like I didn't get a good value for what I paid. The rum cake is a nice addition, if you're in the mood for dessert, but I wouldn't call it essential. One complaint I do have is that they make a set amount of food for the day, so when it's gone, it's gone! This usually happens to me when I try to order a beef patty. I don't typically go to the restaurant and prefer delivery. The location itself is awkward now because it's actually in the former "College Perk" coffeehouse location. It's most accessible when driving south on Rte. 1, but if you don't mind holding up traffic you can turn in heading north. There's a gravel parking lot, but at my last visit it wasn't marked. My biggest frustration has always been delivery because it usually takes a while. It also starts later, so lunch is usually out for me. I know some people have complained that it's not a welcoming environment. I think it's fine because I'm not there to make friends, but to get some food. The owner/manager is wonderful, though. She's always very friendly when I go in or when she delivers food. If you haven't been yet, a good introduction would be with a restaurant.com coupon or something similar like Groupon, Living Social, if they have them. They've honored these within the last year and it's a good way to get more for your money.

    (3)

  • Deidre-Ann F.

    Cute spot. Frat house feel. Not impressed with the food but that cucumber ginger juice (yes )! Price was decent but medium and large looks the same. Will go back, have a few more things to try. They serve alcohol and have a buffet during the day.

    (3)

  • Michelle T.

    Laawwwd have mercy. I am sitting here eating the chicken sampler and my mouth is on FIRE! It is so good! I will be back. Let me break it down for you... The good The food is REALLY good. It's not greasy or cold or empty of taste. It was HOT as in not cold and FULL of flavor! The Jerk Chicken was fall of the bone good. The bad When you walk in, the appearance isn't the greatest. A little bit of confusion trying to figure out where to go. They could use a little make over. If your one of the appearance yelpers..then have someone run in for you because it might turn you off. It also takes a little while to get the food ready. But it is worth it. The meh The patties are nothing worth writing home to mom about... To be honest, go to 7-11. The ones here were a little price any not at meaty in my opinion. So was the coco bread. Mine was nuked in the microwave. Overall, I gave it 4 stars. Why? Because the food was good. My family is Jamaican so I have a good idea of what to expect. My bottom has yet to explode from poison and I enjoyed eating the food..unlike many similar places in the DMV. This was a mid night groupon purchase I didn't even know I had until it told me to use it or else it would expire. Check it out!

    (4)

  • Melecia G.

    had pass by this small restaurant a few times but never noticed it. The Pit is a house nested on a small hill with Jamaican colors strewed about it. How could I miss that? Maybe it blended in with the bushes surrounding it? Well me and my friend saw a deal on groupon and decided to check out the place and food. I am Jamaican born and grew up on Jamaican food so I am familiar with the various Jamaican dishes. When we arrived to the location we were confused about where to park and the entrance location. It was a small house restaurant. We parked in the small parking space in the back and saw a few people exiting with food in their hands. when we walked in, it was pretty small, cozy like, with Jamaican music playing. there was a few seating maybe like 3 and a bar where you can sit. It felt real homey, as if you were coming home to some good home cooked Jamaican meal! not sure if that was the idea, it could use some renovations though. We ordered their ox tail and curry goat. It was ok nothing special. They could put more spice/seasoning to it though ( I love spicy food). the ox tail was kind of dry. The price isn't bad either. Place isn't for dining in unless there is enough available seating. so guess most take their food to go. which is what we did The lady that took our order was sweet and friendly also very attractive. Yes I would recommend this little spot to others. everyone's taste bud is different so you may love the food. I give them 3 stars based on the food and interior. service was good though!

    (3)

  • Indy F.

    My first time there. This food is authentic. Everything was great. We had the brown stew chicken, ox tail and jerk pork with rice and peas and plantain. Tasted like true island cooking. Stephanie thank you for being so friendly and accomodating. Great food, great service and great price!

    (5)

  • Carolyn M.

    Food was great - spicy as it should be. The reason for only 2 stars? We couldn't figure out how the place worked. We couldn't tell if we sat and got table service or if we had to order and then pick up or have it brought to our table. I don't like feeling awkward in a place of business. Our drinks (iced tea) were served in small styrofoam cups, and again, we couldn't tell how to get a refill or if they charged for a refill. Also, the music was way too loud. We could barely hear each other.

    (2)

  • David C.

    One mild summer evening I found myself seated on the porch of a big white colonial house just off a busy thoroughfare. Ordered at the counter and was duly presented with a very generous plate of jerk pork, slightly unconventional I think, but I prefer it to chicken. The waitress's smile showed that she was proud of the food, and I could tell after the first bite I'd soon see the bottom of the plate, heaping though it was. I play in a reggae band, so I've eaten a lot of Jamaican cuisine. This was certainly among the best I've had. By the time I was picking my teeth, I was no longer overlooking Baltimore Ave, but the blue Mediterranean. Simply an awesome plate of food, spiced medium and a sweet tea to go with. I ate every last pea and grain of rice and left my plate so clean it could be used by another customer.

    (5)

  • Rebecca P.

    This would have been a 1 star rating, but your 5 star food saved you. So, I have been to this location before, back when it was the College Perk and I will say that I understand why the owner chose the bold colors of orange and black to repaint the walls...I get it. it was cheap and easiest colors to use to paint over all the "graffiti" and the eccentric designs. For those that dont know, the "front porch" had zebra painted designs on the outside. and i get that you are trying to express the "Caribbean feel" but really, you have a chance to make the new venue nice and you just did a shoddy job. its not rustic...its cheap. you have the potential to be so much better in the decor and set up of the place. But thats my 2 cents on restaurant decoration lol. even i know the best tasting foods come from the dingiest hole in the wall joints...but if you wanted to stay looking like a hole in the wall...you could have stayed next to Prince Cafe. Service. I REALLY DID NOT EXPECT MUCH. I REALLY DIDNT. the girl at the register just had this look on her face as if she did not want to be there AT ALL. So I tell her that I had a Groupon (16 for 32 bucks) and shes like sure. "I would like a beef patty..." "We ran out." "oh okay, then what do you have?" "Shrimp and Vegetable" "oh okay, ill take the shrimp" (She enters in the computer vegetable) "i will also take the conch soup..." "we are out of that as well..." "oh okay..." So then I just proceed to order the Jerk Snapper, and the Chicken Sampler with jamaican kola and the pineapple ginger drink. $36.15. I go get my card and i am about to hand it to her and she just flat out tells me... "you need a 10 dollar minimum" im like CRAPPPP okay...and start digging for bills and change. at this point, im thinking oh shes goingd to hand me the drinks and the patty because the patty is just inside the heat box..no.... so i decide to sit down with my friend and waited 10 minutes to see if it would dawn on her...it didn't and two other girls had came in, ordered, paid, and were waiting on their food. i go up and ask for the drinks and the patty and she hands me the drink...but she puts the patty in a brown paper bag. i told her from the start we were dining in and we were pretty much sitting in front of her, looking like we werent going any where any time soon. so i ask for a plate and she hands me one...the customer waiting at the bar then goes "HOW COME SHE GETS HER FOOD AND I DONT? IM A PAYING CUSTOMER?!" i start to apologize trying to explain i didnt cut in front of her or anything and she was nice enough to be like "oh its not your fault...its hers"....AWKWARDMOMENT!!! so i go back and sit down and my friend and i start picking at the patty. 15 min later the food comes out and im not even going to complain about the wait time. i was warned and knew that ordering fish, i would want it fresh and not made ahead of time. FOOD WAS ON POINT. Jerk Snapper- spring for the snapper. you get a whole fish, and yes there are bones but they are big enough to avoid. the fish is fried crispy with jerk seasoning that builds heat as you eat and so your nose tends to runn. it was topped with peppers and onions and carrots. veryy goooddd. beans and rice were awesome tooo. just a tip...if the cook is good at his fish fileting skills, you would have every right to charge teh dish a dollar or two extra for just serving fresh jerk snapper FILLET instead of the whole fish bones and all. use the bones for stock or something. i really would pay the extra money for that. ITS THAT GOOD. i did not care for the steamed cabbage that the dish came with. Chicken Sampler- DELICIOUS. i tried my friends and was able to sample their jerk, curry, and brown stewed chicken. this would definitely be a favorite dish as well because i like option when i eat haha. and they are all cooked perfectly. This is probably one of the meals that would take 5 minutes or so to come out and i understand that...to develop flavors like this takes a while and sometimes over night. the brown stewed chicken is a little bit on the sweet side and the curry chicken seems to the where the two flavors meet...mild but full of spices and cooked till the meat falls off. jerk chicken...is just awesome. again it had beans and rice, and the cabbage stuff. so as we are eating towards the end, a lady comes in to order food to go and is ecstatic about the music that was playing. she was sooo happy that she wanted to buy the mix cds or whatever the music was playing from from the owner. he too was excited and they were just talking and talking and at thsi point...i see the girl from the cashregister light up. she was telling her that they were busy at night, staying open till 2 am with live music and what not...im kinda like...where was that nice warmness when i came up to her??? So leaving the place...i noticed that my clothes and hair reeked of the smell from the jerkpit. DELICIOUS DELICIOUS FOODDD...but i will never eat inside again.

    (2)

  • Timothy C.

    We bought a Groupon and went on a Sunday afternoon, and not knowing the place or the cuisine, kind of settled for the buffet, which came with a few sodas. Jerk Pit is in an old house and the layout is just unconventional, but they work with what they have. We ate outside at homemade tables in a side yard where apparently there are concerts every once in a while. (Forgive my general descriptions - the buffet contents were listed on a poster in another room, so I'm not totally sure of some of the dishes I had) Top Dog - Jerk chicken - First of all, this is a lame Top Dog, but of the unimpressive spread in the buffet, the chicken was easily the best, seasoned well and not dry, which is all I want from my chicken. But nothing to go back for. Not that I wouldn't go back here, but if I did, I would exclusively order something I hadn't tried yet, EXCEPT FOR... Surprising - Fresh pineapple ginger juice - OK WOW! This fresh squeezed juice was soooo good. It was also like $5 for a bottle of it. But so worth it, especially this ginger blend. Easily the best find here and worth buying again. Contender - Mac n cheese - I was just jonesin' for some cheese, and the mac n cheese provided with my cheesy fix. I personally prefer the Velveeta box from the grocery store, but this was pretty good, baked in an oven with creamy cheesiness on the inside and crusty cheese goodness on the top. DROOL ALERT! After that tho, not so much :( Disappointing - 1) Fish - I liked the first bite, and then I never found a bite that good again. I admit, I'm not the biggest fan of fish, and I'm not very patient with it especially concerning bones, and so I gave up pretty quick on this one. 2) Beef/Goat Curry - When you can't tell if it is overcooked beef or goat because the sauce is too overwhelming, you lose 3) Bananas and potatoey things - And when you can't tell if it is potato or another type of starchy plant, you lose twice. They were so overcooked that the flavor was gone and it wasn't even worth a second bite. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY GOOD WAYS THERE ARE TO COOK BANANAS, PLANTAIN, AND POTATOES!!!! I don't want to be to harsh, but without the Groupon (which saved us 50%), I would have been upset. I was hoping to find something I really liked, but except that juice, nothing. That juice tho. Wow. Soooo good!

    (2)

  • Brad S.

    Stopped in for lunch. I had the Chicken sampler which was awesome. Curry Chix, brown stew Chix and jerk. The bean...peas..?? and rice were excellent as was the veggie slaw. My partner had 1/2 jerk Chix and loved it. The jerk dipping sauce is delicious. Ginger beer hit the spot! Would go back again and would love to try the king fish.

    (4)

  • K C.

    My 1st time trying the Jerk Pit!!! I must say Jerk chicken salad is the bomb!!! I will definitely be going back to try other items on the menu.

    (5)

  • Ja H.

    A reliable source for good ackee and saltfish and fresh sorrel. Their curries, jerk and festival are enjoyed, too. As with many international establishments, you get authentic (but not always the most hospitable) personalities with the most authentic food. I highly recommend the Jerk Pit for great Jamaican food!

    (4)

  • Kirk P.

    The best Mac & Cheese I've had besides mine..lol. Great food, Music and customer service

    (5)

  • Aila S.

    I love the food here! I've been going to The Jerk Pit since I was an undergrad (when they were still at their old location), and I still stop by on occasion when I visit friends in the area. I don't think I've tried anything here that I haven't liked. The ambiance is extremely casual, and you can pretty much seat yourself wherever you want. There are tables available outside as well, which is nice in warm weather. Depending on when you go, the place can be almost dead, or it can be packed and loud. I took off one star only because the service tends to be somewhat slow and flaky. They've forgotten to include beef patties in my order probably 3/4 of the time I order them, and delivery service can literally take hours. The in-house wait for food isn't quite so slow, but the servers sometimes forget to bring drinks or side dishes to the table. However, they are friendly enough. Basically, if you want delicious food with a down-to-earth atmosphere or a relaxed place to hang out with friends, The Jerk Pit is great. It's not the kind of place where they try to rush you out the door the second your food is gone. Just don't be shy to ask for things several times, and make sure you check your order before leaving if you get carry-out.

    (4)

  • Kapri J.

    I have been to this place for the past 3 Fridays now and it is officially my home away from home. The original location seemed so overcrowded so I am very glad to see that they changed locations. It your not paying attention, it is easy to past especially if visiting for the first time. However as a regular you can't miss the color fence inviting one in. I decided to go here because it is the ONLY place I have found so far in Maryland that makes my favorite Jamaican dishes to include Callaloo and Salfish, Stew Peas and Festival. Honestly I think festival is my favorite of the three. I have yet to be disappointed. The cooking is so much like my mother's I feel like I am cheating especially since I always top my meal off with either black rum cake or sweet potato cake. The staff is very friendly and welcoming to people who are not as familiar with Jamaican cuisine and that is a plus. Too many times I have visited a restaurant looking at the menu with no knowledge of the cuisine and the staff don't know what to tell me or make very little effort to help. This is not the case at the Jerk Pit. In the later hours on Fridays there is a DJ and that place is nothing but good food and Jamaican "Riddem". As I swayed to the music while waiting for my food to be prepared I am brought back to my family home in Jamaica sitting on the veranda with a ginger beer in hand. Nothing like this feeling. This place is highly recommended!

    (4)

  • Nichcole A.

    Jerk Pit is definitely a one of a kind place. Lets start with the chicken it is so succulent and tasty to it falls off the bone. The Red Snapper fish when estovich is to die for... Lisa owns the place and she is such a doll now sometimes she has this young lady who works there and at times she can be a very stand offish and pretty rude but everyone else is great. You looking for the best Caribbean food in DC..Jerk Pit is where you will find it.

    (4)

  • Steve F.

    Unimpressive. I opted for the $12 Friday lunch buffet. Food was OK, but during my 30 min stay, the empty fried chicken and mac & cheese pans were not refilled.

    (2)

  • Kate S.

    I've had my eye on the Jerk Pit for a while now since I was just in the Caribbean last spring and will be moving there for a few months this winter. This place would be easy to miss--it's on Baltimore Ave, but sort of inconspicuously tucked away. But what a find! Upon entering, I was immediately struck by the very Caribbean vibe. There was loud music playing and everyone seemed very relaxed. I ordered the jerk snapper (with vegetables and salad) and my friend ordered the half jerk chicken with rice/beans and vegetables. We sat outside and waited for our food to arrive. The breeze brought some funky smells every once and a while, but it was bearable. We had to wait awhile because apparently the snapper had just arrived and they still had to prepare it, but eventually the woman came out and asked if I'd prefer the escovitch (which I'd never heard of) since it would be faster. I said that would be fine! My fish was topped with some EXTREMELY spicy onions and red peppers--I'm usually good with spicy food, but this was really hard for me! It tasted delicious and I kept eating it even though I felt like my insides were burning. The fish was tasty, but honestly there wasn't enough meat for it to really be worth it. My friend's jerk chicken looked and smelled amazing, so I stole a bite and it was really tasty, if a bit dry. Overall, we were really pleased! I will definitely go back, because I'm dying to try the ackee/saltfish and the callaloo/saltfish.

    (4)

  • Cory D.

    damnitt!!! this place has done it again!!! thank you jerk pit for making my ladies birthday dinner special! the jerk pork is the best thing i've ever tasted!! awesome!!! all blessings and success to you!

    (5)

  • Phia P.

    As a recent transplant from Brooklyn where the food is as authentic as it is "back home", it was refreshing to FINALLY find a spot in the DMV with authentic Yahhd food!! You guys are the real thing... not to mention hospitable and professional. There is ample room and all 11 of us sat together comfortably in the dining area. I don't know WHAT these geniuses are complaining about but The Jerk Pit is "de real ting!"........ You can't go ANYwhere and get ackee and saltfish INCLUDED IN THE BUFFET,,,,,, That dish is EXPENSIVE and so offering it in a Sunday brunch buffet is definitely UNHEARD OF...... Anyway, thanks for a great experience today! You shall see me again! =)

    (5)

  • Jeffrey C.

    Like most people I find the interior lacking and the service is not the best (not quick and usually distracted). Even when calling in an order for pickup you have to wait a while after you arrive. The poor service would usually doom a restaurant but the food is really good. I get either the jerk chicken or pork and a double side of Mac and cheese. If you have some time and some patience the place is worth a try.

    (3)

  • Bent B.

    They have the best tofu curry y'all.

    (4)

  • Suzanne R.

    Food: Good! Service: Eh! They don't make you feel welcome. Location: An old house. Horrible set-up - not sure what to do upon entering. Very old looking building.

    (3)

  • Sharon X C.

    I think I would have given this place a 4 if we had dined at the restaurant with its chill atmosphere, good music and lots of windows instead of at my gross, dust covered desk in the basement office (Bonus points for the adorable black cat walking around on the front porch of the restaurant who was probably giving me bad luck oh well still cute). The food is a pretty solid 3, tasted good but nothing that I will daydream about for the rest of the day. I ordered the oxtail (side note: girls, my asian mother swears that oxtail soup gives you bigger boobs so order it whenever you can!!!) with the rice and peas (aka beans), and plantains. The oxtail was good, but nothing out of this world. The rice and beans were surprisingly better than a lot of the rice and bean dishes I've had before. The plantains were okay, very greasy and too squishy in my opinion. The beef patty was--oh wait I can't rate the beef patty because the lady forgot to include it in our carry out order. I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty sad about it. However, when we called and told them we had ordered 5 (not all for me....) she was nice about it and said we could come pick it up whenever. But the convo was also kind of confusing, she said that they didn't have a driver working at the time since we asked if someone could come drop them off (what?? I thought they did delivery) and that she would be working tomorrow (was this her suggesting that we come get them tomorrow?).

    (3)

  • Susanna A.

    My husband and I placed a phone order for 3 fish dinners and 2 sides of macaroni and cheese. When he arrived, he was warmly greeted by Tasha. She was very friendly and joked with my children. The food was prepared by Lenore and It was some of the BEST taking fish I have every consumed. The island vibe was great and I enjoyed the reggae tunes. I no longer need to search the DMV are for an authentic west indian Jamaican restaurant. This place is LEGIT! Don't look to the right, don't look to the left. All roads lead straight to JERK PIT! You will not be disappointed with the FOOD or CUSTOMER SERVICE!

    (5)

  • Paul D.

    I had the Chicken Sampler. The curry was my favorite. The Jerk Chicken was moist and dry at the same time, it was good, but not great. The Brown stew was bland and a real disappointment. Maybe it's me, but I've yet to find a really good Jamaican restaurant in the area. Most of the places that I've tried, are just okay. With the meats being either too dry or too ridiculously salty. And I like salty foods. The Jerk Pit has a bigger menu than some other places. With items like Jerk Shrimp, and Mac&Cheese. myjerkpit.com/menu.html Upon just a single visit, I give it 3 stars. I'll have to come back and try the lunch buffet sometime. But I'm starting to think that I don't care much for Jamaican food. :-(

    (3)

  • Stephanie C.

    This is going to be short and simple: The food? Great. Granted, I only ordered the jerk chicken salad, but it was flavorful. Service? HORRIBLE!!!! The young girl behind the counter was so rude and obnoxious. ONLY because of how I was treated by her is why I would never return to such a place.

    (1)

  • Miyoshi H.

    I love this place. The jerk fish was cooked to perfection and the oxtails were great too. My husband and I visit this place every time we travel through Maryland.

    (4)

  • Cat S.

    Cleanliness: 4/5 Service: 4.5/5 Food: 4.5/5 Decor: 3/5 Parking: 4/5 I always come here with my college friends, and we've never had a bad time here. On Saturday nights it's usually bumping with some kind of music or event. We've also visited here on weekend mornings, it's pretty quite. The staff are courteous and are very personable; if you know what you're talking about. The breakfast choices are interesting, from a personal perspective because I'm not used to Jamaican foods, but I could not die without having a few of their 'fried dough biscuits' (?). YOU MUST TRY THEIR BREAKFAST BUFFET for the full experience. Their 'salted fish w/ greens' were delicious! Their rum cake is moist and definitely soaked in good old rum! Their jerk chicken is very spicy (bc I can't stand sriacha sauce anyway) but not dry! Their ox tail dish is also very moist, and again, I must emphasize: If you are hip to Jamaican culture and you're down to earth with the staff, they will hook you up :) Their decor isn't amazing if you're the type that looking for visual gratification, but their signs in the women's lavatory is all I need ;) The seating arrangement is a bit cramped, as if I'm setting a seating arrangement at my place for a surprise visit from my entire family, but again, if you're not looking for perfection, Jerk Pit is as close to a home cooked meal and a home-y experience as I could imagine.

    (4)

  • Jen J.

    The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is because the food was decent. We went on a Friday night around 9 or 10pm...strictly for take out...and before I go any further, I just want to note that we tried to place our order over the phone, but were told that we had to come in to place it. Upon entering, the vibe was great...Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" was playing...so we felt good and even decided to have a couple of beers while we waited for our food. I don't know if they were having a party in there or what, but they had a DJ...a cake...and people were singing happy birthday. However, it was so loud in there that the guy behind the counter didn't hear us properly when we placed our order. So, after waiting 30 minutes for the food...we found that he only put in one of the 2 entrees that we ordered. What sucked the most, was that he tried to convince us that we never told him about the other entree when we knew that we had. So...that was another 30 minute wait. When my entree finally came out...it was wrong. So, we had to wait another 15 minutes for them to correct it. In addition to the guy that took our order, the female behind the counter was also rude to us...and so were some of the patrons!! I was so confused and shocked at everyone's behavior that I couldn't wait to exit. I think I actually ran out...LOL. Like I said before, the food was decent. I had curry chicken, rice & peas, and veggies...with a side of mac n cheese. However, I definitely won't be returning. I'll spend my money at Caribbean Delight (Rt 1/Beltsville) or Island Flavors (Laurel off of 197) going forward.

    (2)

  • Piyumi R.

    Food was okay so not much to write about.

    (3)

  • LaToya E.

    ugh! Now i understand people saying the chicken was a moist dry... I gave this place a second try hoping to up the rating but that is not the case.. Even the carrot cake was bad.. it was spongy which i didnt know Carrot cake could be.

    (2)

  • Chris D.

    The jerk pork sandwich is amazing. I would drive back here from Rockville just for another bite. Jerk wings are good and spicy. Staff was friendly.

    (4)

  • S C.

    I went there for the first time and was sorely disappointed. My friend and I got there around 12:30pm on a Wednesday and had to wait about 15 minutes to order our food. When the young lady finally took our order, the only items available were jerk chicken and pork. The seafood was made to order and would take 30 minutes. Apparently they had a catering event for NIH that same day. But who runs a restaurant business and not prepare sufficient food for your walk-in customers and your catering event customers. One should not take away from the other. We ended up ordering the jerk chicken. 45 minutes later our food came out as we walked up to the counter to let them know we were leaving. The plantains came out 5 minutes after our main dish came out. The rice and peas was dry. Oh dear. This is a disgrace. And I'm a Jamaican! SMH.

    (1)

  • Eric E.

    Not bad. Sometimes the jerk chicken can be dry, sometimes there is a DJ for happy hour. Location is awkward where the entrance is less than 50 yrds from the turn off for University Blvd so slow down ahead of time so people don;t rear end you thinking your signal is for the turn and not going into the drive way when driving on the southbound lane of RT1. Good service, clean bar and tables. some outdoor seating. One of the few places in the area where I can find jerk pork.

    (3)

  • Candace T.

    First time ever going here today, and the food was good. However the staff didn't seem very pleasant and I had a hard time getting a cup of ice for my water I brought from my car. Kind of a turnoff, but again I'd go and try another dish.

    (3)

  • Jennifer B.

    I've been wanting to try The Jerk Pit for a while and finally got a chance recently. I love how it's in an old house with a gravel driveway and the atmosphere is very casual and authentic. I ordered the curry chicken w/ rice and peas and steamed veggies. My partner in crime ordered the jerk sandwich. They told me that they only had about half an order of curry chicken left, but they could replace it with a piece of jerk chicken if I liked. I said of course and was excited to try both. The curry chicken was pretty good, but I expected it to have a little more kick. There was a lot of bones and fat and not too much meat. The jerk chicken has a nice flavor as well, but was a little dry. The rice and peas (beans) and steamed veggies were average. My bf did not enjoy the jerk sandwich as the "jerk sauce" was actually just bbq sauce. I tired it and it did not taste like any jerk I've ever had---it tasted just like store bought bbq sauce. It also didn't have that much meat on it. All in all, its a good spot if you have a serious craving for Jamaican that needs to be satisfied immediately. If you have more time however, I'd recommend Sweet Mangoes on Georgia Ave in DC...or any of the Negril locations.

    (3)

  • Autumn M.

    Great food! Need to do better on the service and w/ updating their menu. They say they have delivery service but they really don't. Service could be a bit more friendly too. BUT GREAT FOOD!

    (3)

  • Mosart R.

    The front of the house is the back of the establishment The people were unwelcoming They didn't have anything on the menu and it was like 5pm We just left You want better service? Go to Caribbean delight 2 it's right across from Costco in that small plaza ( try their roti) it's delicious The staff is very welcoming And the portions are generous

    (1)

  • W T.

    So this place seems to have a bad rap on Yelp and I'd like to do this place some justice. Obviously, I am not a food critic, but I'd like to think I can distinguish the delicious food from the disgusting. That being said I thought it was pretty good. Now I'm not going to pretend like I'm an expert in jerk chicken. But I did think the flavors were pretty good. The heat was lacking in the jerk, but overall everything was pretty tasty. My first experience with jerk chicken was a fresh homemade batch, so I do have some basis against which to compare the Jerk Pit. My biggest knock on this place was the ambiance. The night I went they had a guest DJ (I'm not sure if that's a typical thing), so the moment I stepped in I was greeted with blaring music from a sound system right next to the front door. (URGH My ears!!!) The tracklist wasn't even that great. It was pretty unbearable, so we ended up eating outside.

    (4)

  • Nixon B.

    If you like ok food with really poor customer service...this is your place!

    (2)

  • Melissa W.

    I was hesitant because I have tried Jamaican food in the DMV that wasn't good. But like the stars say... I am a fan. Don't laugh because I am greedy but we ordered kids jerk chicken and the boy was happy. Shrimp patty with coco bread he loved that too (first time ever having the shrimp patty). Then the brown stew chicken dinner and the saltfish & calaloo with yellow yam green banana and dumplin washed it down with some sorrel and finished it with some sweet potato cake and grapenut ice cream. ALL the food we order was good. They may have been short a cashier so ordering seemed a little slow and the dining area needed a little cleaning (they may not have wiped the tables after the folks before us left. The location is nice and homely porch and back yard dining is avaiable. I think the parties would be real nice. Oh yeah off street parking is good too. But of all the Jamaican resturants I have tasted in the DMV The Jerk Pit is the best! It is an 45 min ride that I am willing to take. Thanks for the good food!!!!

    (4)

  • Afiya R.

    Went to this place and it reminds me of the being in Jamaica from pulling up in their parking lot. definitely "yard style" simple. Lol Its a little hard to locate because of where its located. It was my first time. The staff was friendly and pleasant. I bought oxtail and I'm sorry to say it was a bit salty. Tender and flavorful but a tad bit salty. I will go back to try something else from their menu.

    (2)

  • Jeff B.

    So to clarify my review (after someone commented on my review), I believe that the mediocre chicken that I received from The Jerk Pit is not worth $6.00. I think this is pretty straightforward to understand. The poor quality of the food does not warrant paying that high of a price.

    (2)

  • Felipe W.

    Good food, good service, just good.

    (3)

  • Jojo S.

    We visited this place last night (July 2, 2011) hoping to get authentic Jamaican food. The place is a hole in the wall but they put some effort in making it look presentable (bright orange paint for a bit of island flair). Initially the lady behind the counter (the owner) was very nice and we ordered drinks and 2 entrees (Jerk Snapper and combo jerk shrimp/curry chicken). She said the food would be ready in 20 minutes. Two people who ordered after us were served their food and finished their food. My husband inquired about the food 45 minutes later and it still was not ready. It seems they forgot about us. We were dining in but they gave us the food in carryout. containers Then they told us the bill was $31. I could not believe it. We had a restaurant.com certificate and were charged $6 gratuity. We ordered at the counter, got our drinks at the counter, received carryout containers at the counter an hour later. What service was I paying for? I was pissed. Never again. The five shrimp and fish were good curry chicken was salty. I was charged $5 for a side of curry chicken. I wish I had told them to take it back.

    (1)

  • JT L.

    The music was just below club level and the ambiance was bar-ish and very lively. Dominoes inside and out. The food was very, very good, fresh and hot. The portions were surprisingly large. Will definitely be going back.

    (4)

  • LaTonya J.

    I just came from that place and boy am I disappointed. To start the owner.manager/cashier was extremely rude with his tired self he should've went back home took a nap and woke with a fresher attitude than what he had. Get it together!!! I ordered Jerk Chicken for a co-worker asked for white meat and of course received dark meat but that wasn't Jerk Chicken it was grilled chicken with BBQ sauce, I make better Jerk Chicken than that and I don't even know what I'm doin. I also ordered Jerk Shrimp with a salad and the salad was either sitting out longer than it should've or they just don't know what to do with the bag salad they buy. My other co-worker ordered Curry Chicken and requested Roti skin, they got the roti wrong twice then decided they didn't have what she wanted. I was trying to order a beef patty and he had just put them in the oven, seriously!!! Then to top it all off both my co-workers order rum cake and they received pound cake with a so called rum icing, what's that. Step your game up please. Oh well, guess I'll go back to the Muffin Man to find better food than this.

    (1)

  • j n.

    Well, we're Jamaican, so we were looking for a place to take my dad. Overall, this was good-- with just a few pointers for the owners (if they read this). First the food itself. The rice and peas was as legit and delicious as it could be-- a little coconut in there and good flavor. My daughter was happy with her jerk chicken, and the curry goat I had was surprisingly delicious-- a little fatty, but good. My husband, being vegetarian, was happy that he had several items to pick from, and he loved his curried tofu. Note, if you want the tofu, call it in in advance so you don't have to wait, as it is cooked to order. I was a little disappointed that they were out my first choice, but then it was a holiday, and I've found that typical for Caribbean establishments. The mango ice cream was amazing. The place itself is not fancy at all. There's not a lot of seating, and if I were the owners, I'd re-paint, and have the bus-boy sweep the place more often. The owner (or manager, whoever that was) was friendly and engaging. As they are on my daily route, I will definitely be back again.

    (4)

  • S L.

    Me thinks not, is more less based off their CUSTOMER SERVICE our should I say their LACK OF!!!! The jerk chicken dark meat was actually good despite the 20 minute wait after having called it in to avoid a wait! The festival was good but the hard dough/dumplings was HARD AS BRICKS!!! I see on the menu they advertise a Friday buffet however my definition and their's was COMPLETELY different. There's a sign that says " This is not an all you can buffet, but you are welcome to a second plate" I mean REALLY!!!!

    (1)

  • Megs T.

    The jerk here is MUCH more authentic than 95% of Caribbean spots in the DMV--so that's good. But my jerk pork was a bit dry...flavor was good, however. Could improve on the customer service end. Waited a good while for my meal and saw another customer not even be greeted for at least 5 minutes when the owner clearly saw him. He left. I would try it again if in the neighborhood but would not drive out of my way.

    (3)

  • Red Bear D.

    your right. good point. thanks for the response. the chicken was delicious, with the right amount of spice. plus the option for white meat ! I gave a better rating. I will definitely come back , I can do without the sauce . hopefully one day you will make a jerk sauce that taste more like home (JA). without the bbq for bbq haters.. or at least less of it.

    (3)

  • Arinze N.

    So I haven't been to their new location further up route 1 but I'm pretty sure not much has changed aside from increased seating. The food here is very authentic, I took one of my native born Jamaican buddies here and he loved it, said it reminded him of one of those roadside places back home (I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing). Anyway, If you are really hungry, try the 3 chicken combo/sampler, veryyy good. The curry goat, oxtail, and brown stew chicken are all A+

    (4)

  • andrew s.

    In the apparent culinary wasteland that is College Park, a few places save the trip over to the University Ave strip in Takoma/Langley Park, and this is one of them. A funky and casual Jamaican spot (redundant?) with tender and heavily spiced (but not too hot) jerk chicken. The service is in line with the atmosphere, a bit improvisational but friendly. Get the rice and beans, but be sure to pour your jerk sauce over it. Your chicken doesn't really need it, but the rice and beans are a bit dry and the sauce, cough, kicks it up a notch.

    (3)

  • John L.

    First it's not in good location. And then the name the Jerk Pit. That led me to believe this food would be cooked over an open flame. I guess by me going to Jamaica and tasting how they really cook probably didn't help any. And lastly it took forever for them to bring me my order. Though the lady at the counter was very gracious and nice it took way to long for a pork dinner and wings.

    (1)

  • Ginger R.

    I read all of the reviews about this place before buying a Groupon coupon recently for The Jerk Pit. My family thought the food was delicious, and cooked to perfection. My favorite was the curry goat, while my son enjoyed the jerk pork and husband the chicken sampler. I was intrigued to try the oxtail, but it was out of stock (3pm on a Sunday) so I do understand other poster's disappointment in certain dishes being unavailable. They were offering a buffet that I will assume is always offered on a Sunday, but we did not investigate the dishes that were under covered chafing containers. The restaurant itself is quaint, and used to be a pet shop that specialized in exotic birds two decades ago (a little blast from the past for me) and was very authentic in atmosphere and cuisine if you've ever been to the Caribbean. I would definitely return. I did not experience any of the unwelcoming staff or dry food that other reviewers commented on. But, owning a restaurant of my own I do know that stuff happens on occasion!

    (4)

  • Marshall M.

    I like the food here and would come here more often but get tired of the long wait time. And the place could be empty with only you and the girl behind the desk and its still a long wait. I'm not a fan of their new location because its not easy to get out of there.

    (3)

  • AJ D.

    i'm not sure why they opened a bigger location... one word. DRY.

    (1)

  • Paul T.

    Fantastic food! The jerk chicken is spicy and flavorful, and the Ginger pineapple juice is excellent. The service is quick and friendly. Highly recommended!

    (4)

  • G M.

    I love this restaurant. The food is fantastic and the staff is friendly. The Jerk Pit's jerk chicken is awesome, and the fried plantains are the best around (and I've tried a lot of friend plantains in my time). They also have a really great selection of international soft drinks (and some beer). As the food is authentic, and it appears to be run by a fairly small staff (possibly one family), it does take a while sometimes to get your food, so allocate a bit of extra time. But it's worth it. I'd eat here everyday if I could.

    (5)

  • Cherie I.

    Never again. I was eating there and thought to myself, I love myself too much to be doing this. Service was terrible. Food was terrible. I got sick, diarrhea, hideous items and aromas left my body. Where do I begin? When we got in, we were ignored. The lines were disorganized, people were just at the counter and in the front talking and ordering etc. I was confused. My friend and I just waited and waited. I placed my order. They told us it would be a 30 min. wait for my friend's food. Her food came out right away. I kept waiting for mine. Then the guy asked me what I ordered. They brought my food, it was missing parts of my order. I went back and asked for what I ordered a few times, didn't get all of it, gave up. The restaurant was hot and stuffy. Food tasted stale, like it had be sitting in the heat for a while. No wonder I got sick. They were very unprofessional and rude. Truly love yourself and go someplace where you will get treated with dignity, feel like a human being, and get quality food your belly deserves. Trust me. Don't do it.

    (1)

  • Su K.

    Yah mon! Jamaican me hungry! A can't believe none of you muddas reviewed this place before, so Jamaican me haffi write nudda review! Food - As if you couldn't tell, I'm no Jamaican. I had a Jamaican friend once, I heart Bob Marley, Cool Runnings was one of my favorite movies, I had Jerk Chicken in Aruba, I bought a Rasta hat (complete w/ fake dreads) when I was in Belize, and I ate Jamaican Beef Patties from 7-11 far too regularly. Suffice it to say, I don't know much about Jamaica, but I do know the food at the Jerk Pit is surprisingly good, especially for a restaurant located in the Campus Village Shoppes. I had the 1/4 jerk chicken ($6.95, yelp.com/biz_photos/O73P… ) but I'm not sure if the dude understood what a quarter chicken is, b/c I had 2 drumsticks and 2 thighs...not that I'm complaining. The rice and peas, which were basically rice and beans, were good and it was served with steamed veggies, which were rather oily. Still, the chicken was very tender and the jerk sauce it was served with great - there must be a Jamaican colonel cuz this stuff was finger lickin good and had a nice kick to it. Service - I came in a little after 11 and there was only 1 employee and the place was empty. I'm not sure how much business they get when school is in session though. Sadly, since another employee called out, he couldn't make me a Jamaican beef pattie (I guess they have specific cooking duties?). He was chill though and there's something about the Jamaican accent that makes me feel like we're chillin on a beach sippin Coronas. Location - Located in the same shopping center as Prince Cafe, DP Dough, Food Factory and Wingzone. I would give it the 4th star b/c I love it when I get more food than I paid for, but the fact that he couldn't make me a Jamaican beef pattie, even though I was willing to wait 30 minutes for it, keeps this place as a solid 3 star. As my old Jamaican friend would say, "Bash!" (I think that means awesome). P.S. To any potential Jamaican restaurateurs, would someone please name their place the Jerk Store so I can tell my friends, "Hey, the jerk store called and they're all out of you!"

    (3)

  • Chris J.

    Not great but good. Love the fried plantains. I like the owner. Very nice guy. I got the 1/2 chicken with rice&peas + fried plantains + water. Taste was high Service was good Price was good

    (3)

  • Marc H.

    ah... UMD.... this was the second time ive been back since I graduated in 2005. After playing some squash at the ERC (since when did they rename that place from the CRC to the ERC?) we decided to hit Jungle Grill for a healthy lunch. Wrong. They don't open until noon on Saturdays. So, instead we went next door to the Jerk Pit for some jerk chicken and veggies (in keeping with the health theme). The chicken was good. Not great, but good. The jerk sauce they poured on top of it could have used some more heat but I like my jerk chicken really spicy. The beans and rice were fantastic, I highly recommend you get an order of that. The salad that came along with the platter was an embarrassment, just some iceberg lettuce with shredded carrots.... and no dressing provided. All in all, go for the chicken and beans; itll hit the spot when youre craving some jamaican food mon

    (3)

  • Mariah D.

    One of the best jerk spots! The customer service is great and in addition to that, they sell one of my Jamaican favorites that is extremely hard to find elsewhere. I'm sold!

    (4)

  • Marissa L.

    I visited here about a week ago. Because its in a house, the set up is pretty terrible, i couldn't tell where I was going to order and the 2 women behind the bar didn't offer any help. They did greet us but didn't really help us with ordering. We arrived about lunch time so there was a lunch buffet. it was a mess. They put the buffet food in the most crammed area of the room and there were no labels. The food was good. but the customer service was a HUGE turn off. I wouldn't visit again.

    (2)

  • Haviland P.

    Jerk Chicken is far more authentic than other west indian joints in the area...e.g. negrils, etc. The sauce was good. Rice and Peas were a huge disappointment and want to give establishment a pass on this incident. However, rice and peas is the backbone to any good w.indian dish. We came late and the side dish was DRIED out, but one could tell it had potential. The homemade ginger/pineapple juice was great! Woman at the register is a gem---magnetic personality!

    (4)

  • Sabrina W.

    I have never in my life received such horrible a rude business owner in my life. I think her name is Lisa. The food is great, but I will never give that place another one of my hard earned dollars ever again. Too many other good Jamaican eateries in town with owners and staff who know how to run a business.

    (1)

  • Emma A.

    This place is great. I found it on Tyler Cowen's blog and was in the area. The oxtail stew was meat falling off the bone tender; the jerk chicken and jerk pork with sauce were tender and tasty and the sauce had some great flavor I couldn't pin down. The chicken stew and chicken curry were delicious too. I didn't even eat the rice and veggies but my dining companions said they were good. And the festival! Also amazing was the home made ginger beers - cucumber ginger and pineapple ginger and sorrel ginger, not quite sure what that was but delicious, delicious, and delicious. They also have York Castle crazy Caribbean ice cream; I'm getting rum raisin next time. Lisa the cook (and owner?) was so friendly and told us about how she got laid off from several different jobs in the telecom industry before deciding to start her own place. The dining room was small and there was a miley cyrus show on pretty loud the whole time - don't go for the ambience - but if you're looking for delicious food you eat off of styrofoam plates in a warm and friendly place this is it.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :10:00 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : Yes
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Music : DJ
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : No
    Best Nights : Fri
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : Yes

The Jerk Pit

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