After booking my trip to Barbados, I was feeling the Caribbean vibe. Turtle Bay was recommended, so I was looking forward to some authentic Caribbean cooking in a vibrant setting. Was it any good? Time to find out...
Ideal for:
Tasting authentic Caribbean cooking in London
A cheap and cheery date night
Dinner with a lively vibe
Ambience & Décor
Stepping into Turtle Bay, you are immediately hit with the loud reggae and soul music coupled with the vibrant diners, The giant Bob Marley mural on the back wall and the splash of the Jamaican colours everywhere really gave Turtle Bay an authentic feel. There were other beautifully drawn murals all over the restaurant walls that left you in no doubt this was a homage to Jamaica. The décor and the lively atmosphere is exactly what I expected and loved it. However, if you sit near a speaker, forget intimate conversation.
Service
The service was really poor. The waitress was nonchalant, forgetful and very clumsy. The first few instances were noted but did not really damage the night. However, after a while there the lack of palatable service began to infuriate. Diners be warned! They really take the relaxed Jamaican vibe to another level.
Food
Due to the lack of fried chicken (which restaurant runs out of fried chicken!) I decided to order 3 starters. I noted the large starter portions and was glad that I did so. First up was the Sweetcorn Fritters (see right). These were delicious. Some may complain of the grease but to me that is authentic and I loved it. The fritters were perfectly crisp and flavoursome. The accompanying chilli sauce was fiery and added a whole new dimension. Very good start.
Next up was the Jerk Pit Wings (below). The jerk seasoning was rich in flavour and packed plenty of heat and a tinge of sweetness synonymous with jerk seasoning. It was so authentic and the meat was cooked to perfection. Full marks.
The final was sampling Cheesy Jerk Fries. This again was such a crowd pleaser. High on the calories but also high on flavour. Therefore, all in all, the portions were plenty, flavours were flowing and the tastes were tantalising.
Overall, I loved the décor and the food at Turtle Bay. As authenticity goes, this was amazing and for that reason I would come back. However, running out of fried chicken is criminal and the service was shambolic and this killed the night for me. Overall, for this reason I gave Turtle Bay a C- rating.
Photos of Turtle Bay Brixton and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: C-
Final comment: Cracking food when available, but the shambolic service really killed it.
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