Finding a good spot that has scenic views and delicious food is not always easy, especially if you are also aiming to get exceptional customer service. Despite the idyllic settings and island charm that attract tourists to Jamaica, visitors are not always pleased with their experiences when they dine out in hopes of enjoying the delicious cuisine. On TripAdvisor, four restaurants were identified that garnered a number of negative reviews for their service, quality, and even sanitation as recent as this year to last seven years.
Wi Yard Anna Banana
Wi Yard Anna Banana is located in Port Antonio, Jamaica, where guests can enjoy the scenic coastline. This restaurant offers Caribbean seafood on its menu as well as authentic Jamaican cuisine. However, Wi Yard Anna Banana has garnered only 3 stars with over 234 reviews on TripAdvisor. The reviews consisted of mixed opinions, with some patrons feeling delighted by the rustic setting and friendly services of the staff. The restaurant was described as “a wonderful place” with “lovely food” and “lovely people.”
On the flip side, several guests complained about poor service and inconsistent food quality. The chicken was also described as not freshly prepared, seemingly made the day before, and also slightly burned. There were also complaints about the lack of running water, the food being too expensive and not properly prepared, and the waiting period being too long.
Seaside Dutchie
Seaside Dutchie in Priory has received some praise for its beautiful view. The restaurant offers Jamaican and vegetarian-friendly dishes. This establishment has a higher rating of 4 stars on TripAdvisor from about 40 reviews, but its reputation is also varied.
Among the reviews, visitors have shown their satisfaction with the secluded and relaxed environment that the establishment has. The restaurant was also praised for its jerk pork, chicken, and sausages. However, there were also a number of negative reviews about undercooked meals and indifferent service. Some guests also highlighted an issue with the volume of the music being too high, and others expressed dissatisfaction with the food being bland, subpar, and not worth the price. Additionally, while one guest mentioned that the manager was rude, another mentioned that several items on the menu were unavailable.
5050 Lounge
5050 Lounge is a 2.5-star-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor. The Montego Bay eatery has only nine reviews on the website, and several are negative. While some patrons enjoyed the music and atmosphere, other guests complained about the poor customer service. Among the issues with the services they received when renting hookahs at the establishment was the issue of waiting too long for the food to be served.
Guests also spoke about the staff having a poor attitude when addressing complaints. One guest shared the horrible experience of witnessing cockroaches at the establishment.
Ribbiz UltraLounge
Ribbiz UltraLounge is located in Kingston and has also seen its fair share of mixed reviews, with a current rating of 3.5 stars from 72 reviewers. The establishment received compliments for its stylish venue, vibrant atmosphere, and tasty jerk chicken burger. However, a guest was also very unhappy with the experience of standing over an hour before being acknowledged by servers and being served insipid and overly spicy food.
In another case, a birthday dinner turned into a nightmare when patrons were left waiting for hours, only to be informed that their food was no longer available. The complaints also included mismanagement of reservations, lengthy delays, and subpar communication from the staff. Additionally, there was a review describing a confrontation with management, which included homophobic accusations.
While there are visitors at these Jamaican restaurants who have sworn to never go back to some of these restaurants, there are guests who are content with their experience and are happy to catch a decent meal there at any time. Although some of these reviews span across the years, which was enough time for management to transform and improve their establishments, these critical reviews linger, creating a lasting digital footprint that prospective diners will not ignore.
