Tamara's Kitchen
A Caribbean feast of jerk chicken, rice and peas, and fried plantains

Island cooking since 2009

A taste of home, straight from the islands.

Slow-smoked jerk, rich oxtail stew and Grandma's rum cake. Every dish at Tamara's is cooked from family recipes passed down three generations.

Chef Tamara stirring a pot in the restaurant kitchen

"Cook with love, always."

Grandma Ivy, Kingston

Our Story

From Grandma's kitchen in Kingston to your table.

Tamara grew up on the smell of pimento wood smoke and Sunday dinners that lasted until sundown. When she moved to the city, she brought her grandmother's recipe book with her.

Today, we still marinate our jerk for a full day, braise our oxtail low and slow, and grind our own spice blends every morning. No shortcuts, just real island flavour.

Generations of recipes
3
Generations of recipes
Years serving the city
15+
Years serving the city
Jerk marinade
24h
Jerk marinade

House Favourites

The dishes people cross town for.

  • Braised Oxtail

    Braised Oxtail

    $26

    Fall-off-the-bone oxtail with butter beans in a rich, glossy gravy.

  • Curry Goat & Roti

    Curry Goat & Roti

    $22

    Tender goat simmered in house curry with potatoes and fresh-made roti.

  • Tamara's Rum Punch

    Tamara's Rum Punch

    $12

    Our famous blend of dark rum, tropical juices and fresh-grated nutmeg.

The warm, lively dining room at Tamara's

Reviews

What our guests are saying.

  • "The oxtail tastes exactly like my mother used to make. I drive forty minutes just for it."

    Marcus T.

  • "Best jerk chicken in the city, hands down. The rum punch is dangerously good."

    Priya S.

  • "Warm, loud, full of flavour. Tamara came out to greet every table. Feels like family."

    Danielle R.

Visit Us

Pull up a chair. We saved you a seat.

Walk-ins always welcome. For parties of six or more, or to reserve a table on weekends, give us a call.

Location

214 Island Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11216

Hours

Monday
Closed
Tue – Thu
12pm – 10pm
Fri – Sat
12pm – 11pm
Sunday
11am – 9pm