Massachusetts Caribbean Restaurant On Yelp’s Best Of 2024 List

If you're in a tropical place like Jamaica, you know part of the thrilling experience is getting a taste of some real, authentic cuisine. Yelp recently ranked the best Caribbean restaurants in America and a Massachusetts Caribbean Restaurant was named among the them.

There are certainly some mainstays that are the first things you think of with Caribbean food. For example, jerk chicken or pinapple infused "anything." Add a glass of fresh coconut juice and you have many of the island essentials.

However, in this tropical part of the country, cooking can be an artform. Furthermore, sitting around with friends and family, sharing some home-cooked delicious food is an important part of Caribbean culture.

In America, Caribbean restaurants seem to have become understandably more popular. In fact, it's not unusual to even find Jamaica-inspired food trucks in the metro area. In Boston, Jamaica Mi Hungry has been in business since 2012.

However, if you drive just about eight miles from there, you will arrive at the only New England spot on Yelp's list.

Located at 60 Howard St, Nzuko Restaurant actually labels itself as a "Mediterranean and Caribbean" restaurant.

"Drawing influence from Laurette’s understanding of how food can make people feel, and her travels in search of new flavors and techniques, Nzuko offers the tastes of the Caribbean with the benefits of the Mediterranean diet," Nzuko states.

Yelp details that Nzuka is known for "Jerk Chicken, Spiced Lamb Shank, Conch Fritters, Loukoumades, Kofta Kebab, Lamb Kebab, Chicken Kebab, Fattoush, and Chicken Wings."

The menu at Nzuka is relatively concise. On page one, you will find the main courses, which include the aforementioned items. They also have salads, falafel, and rum cakes.

The second page of the menu is devoted to beverages. A mixed variety of cocktails, wine by the glass or bottle, and draft beers are available.

If you are looking for the perfect Caribbean food order at Nzuka in Watertown, here is my recommendation: Start with a plate of plantains. They are typically light, served with olive oil, and help introduce you to the strong flavors.

Then for your main dish, it's hard to steer away from the Roasted Jerk Chicken. It's served with rice pilaf, flavored pickles, and crispy garlic. For dessert, the Passion Fruit Basque is actually a cheesecake slice.

For drinks, sure, it's fair to look, but really, there's no need to go past the first item listed. The "$10,000 Bet" contains all things that are classic Caribbean. It's rum with passion fruit liquor and twisted lime.

Throughout New England, I've recently noticed the tag of  "Nashville" has been applied to many chicken sandwiches. No matter if I am in a local pub or tavern, barbeque establishment, or really a restaurant of any kind, this menu item is everywhere. Here, I've highlighted four great places to get a tasty Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich in Massachusetts today.

First, what exactly does this term refer to? "Nashville chicken's signature heat comes from a spice blend that usually includes cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and other secret ingredients," Main Bird Hot Chicken explains.

So, in short, we are talking about a piece of buttermilk fried chicken sandwiched between a bun (typically, brioche). However, it needs to have the aforementioned spice rub. Then, add in some slaw or pickles to take the sandwich to the next level.

Although it appears to be more on-trend and ubiquitous now in Massachusetts, Mashed explained this style has a history going back over 75 years. In their 2021 story that specifically profiled the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, they say, "This fiery brand of fowl, which originated at a Tennessee institution with a royal name, marries a southern classic with a hit of tongue-tingling heat."

Mashed explains that a historical Nashville establishment named Prince's Hot Chicken can be pointed to for serving up one of the first memorable of these spicy fried chicken sandwiches.

The Massachusetts establishments that have mastered the craft of this sandwich have a few things in common. First, they don't overdo it with the toppings. That can take away from the mixed spice flavor. Next, they pair the sandwich with a side, but not one that takes the attention of the main act. Lastly, they include an option to make it unique. That can be a spicy mayo, ketchup aioli, or fried pickles.

Here are four great places in Massachusetts you need to know about, to get a great Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich.

I'll start with the most recent one I've had. The Buckley Kitchen keeps it perfectly basic. There's a significant crunch, but the chicken is not overly fried. The only challenge is whether you pick the seasoned fries or homemade tater tots to pair with it. The Buckley also has an extensive beer and wine list. The Maine Lunch IPA sounded the part, as a pint that would pair perfectly with their Nashville Hot, and it did not disappoint.

This restaurant now has two locations for you to pick from to grab their mouth-watering Nashville Hot. You have to search for it on the menu. The Buttermilk Fried Chicken "House Special" comes with the option to add Nashville Hot. Then, if you have room, throw in a baked mac and cheese to share, and thank me later for a meal you will be burning to return for. Buttermilk & Bourbon has two restaurant locations in Massachusetts. There's the Boston spot, at 160 Comm. Ave. Then, in Watertown, you can find this establishment in the Arsenal Mall (100 Arsenal Yard Blvd.) Both are open seven days per week.

This establishment is only about two years old, but they have already made quite a name for themselves. Flanders Field not only serves an authentic Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, they also have 100 beers on tap. Each of them is served in the glass or mug that it is meant to pair with. Furthermore, Flanders Field often holds beer pairing events where they take you through some of their items on tap and what they pair well with in the given the season.  They describe their style as, "Farm fresh, locally sourced, in-house prepared food with a Northern European and American influence."

There's a Nashville Hot all over the menu at Lily P's. The "Lower Broadway" is the most traditional Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich item. However, there's also the "Hot N' Honey" which simply adds black pepper honey to the party. Then, you can order your tenders, fried chicken pieces or an entire bucket in a Nashville style. Equally as interesting here, is that Lily P's is also well known for their Oysters. They offer traditional Wellfleet Oysters, or a Roasted and Fried style. Lastly, while you are waiting for your main course, grab their cheddar popcorn app to hold you over.  The only catch here is that in late September they will not be open on the weekends.