It’s not unreasonable to hope for a simple greeting or at least a sign of warmth from staff when you go out to eat. While the food itself is the main thing you’re paying for, good service can elevate the experience and often encourages better tips. However, one New York woman says that after several visits to Jamaican restaurants across the state, she has been left frustrated by what she describes as “extremely poor” customer service.
In the clip, she said that while she loves Jamaican food and often eats at popular chains like Golden Krust and other neighborhood spots, the service is consistently disappointing. “You walk in there, you’re not even greeted or nothing,” she explained. She added that when she politely asks for extras, such as more sauce on her oxtail rice, workers often respond with looks of annoyance. “Like damn sister, I’m paying for that. It’s not that serious,” she said.
The New Yorker noted that these eateries are part of the communities they serve and should meet customers with kindness. “At the end of the day, this is an establishment that y’all chose to put in the hood,” she said, urging owners and staff to “embrace [customers] in a kind manner” since people are spending their money there.
Online Reactions to the New York Woman’s Complaint
TikTok users had mixed reactions. Many agreed that service at some Jamaican restaurants can be terrible and inconsistent. “They are either really nice or really rude…. 😂😂😂🙄,” one person commented. Another said, “Yea I agree and it’s not cute cause I can take my money somewhere else! I don’t care if the food is fire or not… Doesn’t take much to smile and take an order 💯.” A third viewer wrote, “You’re absolutely right. I don’t care much about a greeting but everything u said is SPOT-ON at the majority of Jamaican restaurants throughout the 5 boroughs. The MAJORITY. And that’s a FACT.”
A few netizens were less sympathetic with the woman, with one user joking, “😂😂Sorry to tell you that how it is. If they nice the food is trash… it been like that for years you know the vibes lol.” Another argued that her claim was too broad, writing, “It’s Caribbean food, it’s not always Jamaicans making the food… Unless you have been to every single Caribbean restaurant in the world, it’s a few or some. That isn’t fair.”