Pimenta

Food: 3/5 Service: 2/5 We walked in before the evening rush when there was barely anyone and had water served within a couple minutes. After that, we were left waiting to order our food and to ask for recommendations. Overall, our dine-in duration for a sandwich and two appetizers took over an hour. The food portions weren’t fantastic and the flavors were iffy. The manager was more eager to seat people and serve them water than to help the staff out in serving the cool-temperatured food and taking table’s orders.

First, I'm NOT a Jamaican food aficionado, but our experience here on Black Friday was AMAZING. A lot of the staff were out including the bartender so we were only able to order the rum punch, but it was delicious. One of the chefs waited on us and we asked him to pick our sides, and this was a good choice. The jerk shrimp was grilled PERFECTLY and had a fantastic mix of sweet and spicy. Coupled with rice and beans and the best plantains I've ever had, we completely cleaned the plate. The goat stew melted in your mouth with just the right amount of kick. The sides on this dish surprised me. Didn't expect to get some of the best mac and cheese ever and stewed garbanzo along with. The staff was VERY conscious of wearing masks, handling our flatware, social distancing, and generally keeping us safe. The bathrooms were large and very clean. I can't wait to go back and sample some of their other dishes as well as seeing what the bartender has to offer. So happy to have discovered this place and looking forward to more visits in the future.

My husband and I were looking forward to lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. After finding out we'd have to wait thirty minutes before being seated, we decided to head elsewhere. We parked in front of a quaint looking little restaurant that enticed us with the posted menu in the window. No waiting. Score! We were promptly greeted by Ato, who both seated and waited on us. While other customers enjoyed their food, Ato ensured all our questions were answered regarding the menu. Drinks were served immediately and our food was quick to follow. Ato checked on us several times to refill our water glasses and make sure we had all we needed for a satisfying meal. Our meals arrived, and they looked & smelled amazing! The jerk salmon was out of this world, according to my husband. And my curried chicken tasted absolutely sublime! The food is legit Jamaican food mixed a tiny bit with American. We instantly fell in love with this comfortable little eatery on the fringe of Fredericksburg's downtown hub –so much so, that we went back the following day for lunch! AND we made reservations for the following Tuesday evening. Pimenta has quickly risen to the top of our favorite places to eat. The cozy environment is relaxing with a truly laid back feel. Five stars for service (thank you, Ato!), atmosphere, and most of all, the food.

Excellent place for some genuine Jamaican food. My wife had been here a few time and their food has been excellent every time. Staff is very friendly and they have a good assortment of tropical drinks. Update: This was our 3rd time here. Food still tasted delicious and very authentic. I would say only negative was being served wine from a can. Their bartender was out so not sure if that was the reason.