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Pam's Kitchen
Category: Restaurants Caribbean Caribbean [Edit]
5000 University Way NE(between 50th St & 52nd St)
Seattle, WA 98105
Neighborhood: University District
(206) 696-7010
- Hours:
Tue-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Thu-Sat 12 pm - 3 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
232 reviews for Pam's Kitchen
Review Highlights
"I recommend the lamb roti--incredibly delicious."
(in 20 reviews)
"The jerk chicken was amazing, really."
(in 52 reviews)
"is that common for trinidadian food."
(in 13 reviews)
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232 reviews in English
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Review from Kimmy C.
12/4/2011 2 photos
This was the first time I tried Trinidad food. Usually going to the University Ave is a place I avoid because its cheap mediocre college food. This is not the case for this restaurant. It is on a little bit on the pricier end but worth every penny.
I came across this place because my brother loves to watch Guy Fieri on the food network. He sent me a few youtube links of places that Guy has been to in Seattle in preparation for his Seattle trip. I couldn't wait for him to come to Seattle and eat here and went the week after I found out about the restaurant.
The dishes that we ordered were the fried rice and the curried chicken roti. The bread is made from scratch and had a lot of flavor. Dahlpuri and the Paratha. Both are delicious but I like the filling one (dahlpuri) the most. I went with 8 other hungry people and we completely devoured everything with no leftovers. I have a friend who visits from overseas every once in a while and if there is food leftover, he will be the one to eat the leftover of other people's entrees. =)
I def need to come back here again to try the lamb roti. -
Review from Linda L.
Seattle, WA
12/29/2011
I decided to come here after seeing it featured on Diners Drive-ins and Dives.
However, I made the mistake of going there during lunch hours. The place was deserted, and they only had one thing on the lunch menu. It was a jerk chicken sandwich with coconut bread as the bun. It was delicious, but I was hoping for something a bit more substantial. I suppose I'll have to go for dinner sometime to truly get to see the breadth of the menu and the atmosphere. -
Review from Siruo Z.
Athens, GA
12/23/2011
First time to try Roti, though kind of reminds me of Chinese food in my mother's hometown.
Definitely will go back.
The only flaw is the waiting time, we waited for 30 minutes if not more to get our food... -
Review from Pamela L.
Bellingham, WA
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
We were here for luch, so the menu was limited to sandwiches and a couple roti. Husband I I shared the chicken roti, spicy curry with potatos and chicken, and a jerk chicken sanwiich (huge, like 2 sandwiches) both were delicious, spicy goodness. We cant wait to go back for dinner and try more stuff.
It was around $20 and we were beyond full. -
Review from Lawrence L.
Bellevue, WA
1/29/2012
Pam's Kitchen is one of the more unique shops on the Ave. I think Pam knows it too as when I went they didn't do much to hide the fact that they were raising their prices - putting stickers on top of the old menu. Aside from great Caribbean food and an environment that puts you in the summer mood, they have great unique drinks, like the Peanut shake. If it were I, I'd take a cutback on the portion size rather than the price hike as I felt the food was a little much.
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Review from Rahul K. G.
Seattle, WA
1/20/2012
I have been an eager fixture at Pam's Kitchen since the week it opened, at a time in my life when the greasy spoons of the Ave were contributing to the degradation of my health. Discovering this jewel was one of the best things that has occurred for me in Seattle since I moved here 12 years ago. Pam is not only an amazing cook, a Sorceress of Deliciousness, but also an amazingly warm and kind person whose affections for people can be tasted in the care and craft invested in her cooking.
All dishes are prepared fresh, and use wholesome ingredients that are mixed with freshly grounds spices and peppers. The effect of this is a tingling sensation on the tongue and a feeling of satisfaction in the stomach and soul that is impossible to get from the Fast Food culture of our age. Try, for instance, the chicken roti -- succulent, spiced chicken in a light tumeric glaze with potatoes and chickpeas. I am also a sucker for the calallo and jerk chicken. There isn't a thing on the menu that I woudl not enthusiastically recommend. This place is just amazing in every way -- the decor inspires the senses to relax, and the specialty fusion cocktails offer an intoxicant buzz, Caribbean style.
A fusion of Trinidadian and Indian cuisines (since much of the island was historically populated by Indian migrant workers), Pam's Kitchen gives you a taste of Paradise in every manner imaginable. Each delectable bite is a fusion of flavors, cultures, and geographical cuisine experiences! Above and beyond that, it feels welcoming and relaxing in a way that only Heaven could feel like. I give this place and all my experiences of it in the past few years my HIGHEST recommendation. -
Review from Jen K.
Seattle, WA
1/31/2012
Based on the food alone - not considering service, promptness, and price, it is phenomenal! The cuisine is really good and unique. The service can be very slow at times since they get so busy and like other reviews you will read about Pam's, there is a lot of inconsistencies in menu etc. however this is all due to the fact that it is a small locally owned place where Pam herself cooks and serves the food for the most part. This is truly a neighborhood kitchen and like watering holes in foreign countries, places like this are the norm. Menu and hours vary, service and promptness fluctuates and everything is very dynamic. And I actually like this aspect of the restaurant. Cost-wise I learned that they have to raise prices due to the rising costs of ingredients. This is normal though for any restaurant. Overall the reviews you read are correct but you have to take everything into consideration and if you just want to know about the food - it's superb and I highly recommend it for an exotic palate.
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Review from Grace F.
Palo Alto, CA
1/16/2012
AMAZING.
We had the most amazing night here. My husband and I had already eaten dinner when his brother and his girlfriend asked to meet up. We were in the U District so we Yelp-ed and simultaneously both suggested this place. My husband and I figured we would probably just get a drink and a appetizer. WRONG.
You walk in and it just smells absolutely delicious. Spicy and smoky, rich and delicious. The place is PACKED with people. This super friendly dude seats the four of us and we order some rum punches. The table ordered all three - I thought the sorrel was the best. Yum yum. Then roti (both of them) are so warm, and flavorful, made right when you order it. The jerk chicken was the BEST I have ever had. It was juicy (not dry), full of spices and flavor. The rice was yummy and even the salad on the side complemented the dish perfectly. It gave a refreshing break from the spice. Someone also ordered the lamb. Yum yum. It was rich and delicious.
Service was AMAZING. We didn't even know that this place had been featured on D,D & D's. But we have visited places that have been on TV before and for some reason, the service suffers either because the place becomes inundated with hungry fans that the waitstaff cannot keep up or because the waitstaff becomes really arrogant. Not so here. The waiter (who turns out to be Pam's son) was really awesome. I felt like he was a friend who brought you to his favorite place to eat and was explaining what some of the dishes and drinks were. He also hooks us up with some free dessert. Super awesome. I guess we had stayed pretty late because the place had emptied out when Pam herself comes up to chat. She tells us about this sandwich we have to try next time that incorporates the jerk chicken, the salad and the roti. Amazing.
I could go on forever but I think the point I'm making is that you have to come here and see it for yourself. We loved it. We're coming back. -
Review from J R R.
Seattle, WA
12/31/2011
I really enjoyed my dining experience at Pam's Kitchen. There were so many wonderful flavors captured on my plate. I was so impressed that I've dined at Pam's several times since. I was bowled over by the Jerk Chicken. It was wonderfully spicy, just as I would like it! It comes with both rice and a cooling green salad with chunks of apple and sweet but delicious dressing. They also serve a jambalaya like dish called Pelau and it's also delicious. It is a melange of chicken, carrots, celery, with white rice browned with pidgeon peas and red beans. It's nicely spiced and beyond description. I found the menu at Pam's kitchen to be an amazing adventure. JR
Listed in: Special restaurants
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Review from Tara H.
Seattle, WA
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have family from Jamaica and am very familiar with Island cooking. I was blown away by how authentic and delicious the food was. The goat roti was fabulous and my sorrel cocktail complimented my meal perfectly. My husband ordered the jerk chicken which was more similar to brown stew chicken, but spicy and delicious nonetheless. Pam open up a location in Ballard! Your restaurant would make a formidable competitor to La Isla or La Carte Oxaca. We like ethnic food and Island drinks in Ballard! I hope in the summer you will do some curried crab and coco bread. I just wish more West Indians knew about this place.
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Review from Vas S.
New York, NY
10/30/2011
This place makes some really good stuff.
What made our visit was our waiter, Tereke. He's a world traveller, a cook and a himself.
I'd say this is upscale food in a casual, very friendly and unpretentious atmosphere. My kind of place. -
Review from Victoria C.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 7/29/2011
I hate to give Pam's such a low, updated review, but "meh, I've experienced better." Don't get me wrong, the food is still amazing. But the prices, customer service, and policies are just not great.
1. Prices increased. Their website says it's due to rising food costs. But you know what? I eat a LOT of Indian food and a LOT of lamb curries elsewhere, and their prices haven't gone up. $20 for a single lamb curry dish is absurd.
2. Weird policies! Believe it or not, I went in today to order two sides of their yummy roti. This was around noon when they just opened. First they said that couldn't sell me a separate order of roti and that I had to order a full meal for it! Why is it listed on the menu as a side/appetizer then?! Then they said they were out of the plain and I had to order the one filled with herbs and such. THEN they make me wait 30 minutes! This is after they told me that the reason they make you order a full meal is because they ration portions; that is, they make just enough roti to go with the curry, nothing extra. Well, if that is the case, why did it take so damn long to get my food?
I'm so irritated at them right now, I'm probably never going back there again. No matter how good the roti is. Ridiculous.Listed in: Seattle Date Night, Favorite Places to Get Lamb
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/22/2010
My boyfriend brought me here again because he knows how much I love the place. Everything is still… Read more »
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Review from Howard Z.
Paramus, NJ
1/18/2012
From what I hear, this place is very traditional food. This is not food for everybody; it tends to be a little oily. But if you are into new experiences this is a very good idea. Seems that during lunch/dinner it is very busy so plan accordingly!
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Review from Sean C.
7/11/2011
Pam isn't like the other girls.
Pam's Kitchen, a mid-grade Trinidadian culinary outpost standing alone in a sea of options targetted primarily at slightly better than broke college students and hipsters continuing the trend into adult (at least by raw age numbers) life, doesn't quite melt in with her peers. She stands above, and to court her is a rare legitimate reason for those who have donned the weighty mantle of practical adulthood to visit "The Ave."
With few entree choices and some Islander non-alcoholic drinks, the menu is compact. What it lacks in options it more than makes up for in Indian-ish flavor. The curry "roti" ($9/vegetarian, $13/chicken, $19/lamb) replete with salad and choice of dalpuri or paratha is among the best in the area of any origin, and the habanero hot sauce (sure to come with a waiter warning) can provide any and all desired levels of flame for a spicy encounter. The one relatively weak spot is dessert - if you're still hungry, which is not that likely, skip it (even the hearty Guinness ice cream) and go to Full Tilt for the definitive proximate experience just around the corner instead.
I don't have enough experience to say whether Pam's is authentic, but I can say that I prefer it to the other purported Carribean restaurant in Seattle in Columbia City that shall remain nameless and I've taken people here ranging from native Seattlites to visitors from abroad and never been ashamed of my blushing dining prospect.
Safe yet exotic, a thoroughly tantalizing mix. Only one question lingers unanswered:
Why wouldn't you ask her to dance?Listed in: Top Food
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Review from Lincois J.
Bothell, WA
1/14/2012
Pam's kitchen has the best filling food from the Carribean, this side of the NW. The curry chicken roti was phenomenal as me being from the Carribean islands myself, it surely did taste like home. The sorrel however brought me back to my childhood days at christmas in Jamaica. Bigup to Ms. Pam. Very wonderful setting.
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Review from Juliet M.
Seattle, WA
12/8/2011
This place is f**king amazing. I suggest coming for dinner, when they serve generous sides with their entrees (delicious potatoes and a fresh, sharply dressed salad). They love garbanzo beans as much as I do.
Roti is hands down the best thing to get here. The jerk is good, the lamb is good, but I would start with a solid chicken roti dish if this is your first experience with the place/cuisine. It never fails to impress. So amazingly flavorful and satisfying. While still being healthful and fresh.
The wait can take a while, but this is the case with all good "hole in the wall" places. Service is still reliable, and there is usually some good Island music playing. -
Review from Elizabeth L.
Seattle, WA
8/21/2011
3.5 stars, rounding up for solid cuisine.
Delicious home cooking. Had the chicken curry (yellow), which had wonderful flavor and not too heavy. The pelau is described as close to jambalaya, but much better. Were out of the jerk chicken, sadly, but will be back for it. Portions are generous and reasonably priced, despite the modest price increases noted by recent reviews. Goat curry s noted by prior reviewers is the sole anomaly, a bit overpriced at $20.
Rotis are fresh and delicious, perfect accompaniment. Offer homemade coconut ice cream, and are re-vamping their dessert menu (a bit sparse currently).
Seemed a bit under-staffed, but the service was courteous and pleasant. Very simple, laidback spot for comfort food. Family-friendly. -
Review from A.J. S.
7/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Trinidadian food is an interesting result of history. The nationally well known main dish of Trinidad and Tobago is curry chicken and roti. These are dishes which were brought over by Indian migrant works and merged with the local cuisine. There were two major migrations of people from India. Following the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1833, indentured servants were transported to Trinidad from India on May 30, 1845.
The food itself is usually pretty spicy, but definitely worth having. I liked the food that I had here. The Jerk Chicken (though itself isn't Trinidadian) was excellent. The Dahpuri was very good too. The people who worked here were pretty nice, and the pricing was pretty good. In total, I can't say that I have any real complaints about the restaurant, other than the fact that the bathroom was a little scary.
The choices on the menu were a little thin, I would want to go back to try their other foods. -
Review from James B.
San Leandro, CA
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
A must! Food is excellent!!!
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Review from Ian L.
Seattle, WA
7/31/2011
I've been to Pam's several times over the past 4 years, and I have loved it every time up until now.
Like Victoria C , I really hate to give this place a negative review, but unfortunately it has come to this.
I was in the neighborhood this past Friday, and I wanted to take my gf there to try their food, since she spent 6 years at the university nearby, but had never been. We arrived at 5 pm, but found out that they wouldn't be opening till 5:30, so we went somewhere else to have a small bite before coming back. Despite being quite full after what was intended to be a small bite, we still returned just before 6 pm because it is rare that I am in the U District when they are open for business.
== Food ==
The curries are good, but they were out of lamb very early on in the night, so we went for goat instead. I found 2 hairs in the curry while eating it there, and I found another 2 hairs later on in my leftovers. Finding one or two hairs is normally reasonable in my opinion, but finding 4 hairs, and then some plastic filament, which might have been fishing line, is completely unacceptable. I wouldn't have finished the curry had I brought something else with me for lunch today.
Their jerk chicken is pretty decent, and my gf liked the salad they gave us since it had apples in it.
Lastly, their paratha is quite delicious. I tried the dahlpuri for the first time during the most recent visit, and I have to say that the paratha is much better. Most of the filling in the dahlpuri ends up falling out as you tear it while eating your meal, and I don't feel that it adds much flavor.
== Price ==
I was surprised by the steep price increases when I arrived as the normal menu was accompanied by a list of price adjustments. The goat and lamb curries each went up by $3.5 to $4, which is quite an increase considering they were only $15 previously.
== Service ==
Our waiter gave us pretty standard service. He was of no use when helping us decide between the paratha or the dahlpuri, saying he liked them both equally. It was also tough getting his attention at times.
== Decor ==
Done up in an island theme, so not fancy, but that's the style. There were some newer high tables, but we were seated at an old and somewhat sticky table despite the restaurant being less than half full, and plenty of high tables being available.
In short, I've loved Pam's in the past, but I won't be able to promote it any longer. As you might expect, I don't intend on returning.
Victoria C's review:
http://www.yelp.com/bi... -
Review from Momo M.
Seattle, WA
6/26/2011
I had not heard of this place before, but my boyfriend had, and it looked fairly busy for a Saturday night, so we decided to stop here for dinner. It took a while for them to seat us, even though there was a small empty table available right when we arrived.
I was excited to see that they served a Trinidad version of Paratha, which actually originates from India. My past experiences with Paratha was in Singapore, where the locals there call it "Roti Prata". I've been craving Paratha ever since. Now in Singapore, they sell Paratha for about $0.85 - $6 Singapore dollars (less in US dollars). So I was taken back by the $13-$16 Roti dishes here.
We had two entrees that night - Curry Chicken Roti (Paratha) and Spicy Jerk Chicken. The Curry Chicken Roti was very very mild spice wise, and the curry itself was very oily. The dish was nicely cooked, but I didn't care too much for the dish itself, (a bit bland). I did like the Paratha, but it was different from the Roti Prata I had in Singapore, which is to be expected.
The Spicy Jerk Chicken was spicier than the Curry Chicken Roti, but was still fairly mild, and the overall dish was not very memorable. I feel that the restaurant caters towards people with very low spice tolerances. Now their homemade hot sauce had a lot of flavor, and vaguely reminded me of tabasco sauce. I had to add it to my dishes because I felt the spice level was way too low.
We ended the night with Sour Sop Ice Cream, which I was really excited to try because I've had fresh Sour Sop juice before. The ice cream was unfortunately too milky, thereby masking the sour sop taste. It would have been better if it was a sorbet.
Overall the food was alright. There was a long wait for seating and food, but their staff was fairly friendly. However having experienced cheap and good Paratha, paying $13+ just seems like a waste of money.
Pros: Friendly staff. Homemade hot sauce delicious. Food was cooked well.
Cons: Food not very spicy at all (for those of us who actually eat spicy food). Overpriced. Slow service. -
Review from C M.
Seattle, WA
11/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Really good! I very much enjoyed this place! A good value, good food, something new. Some of the prices are a little high but overall worth it. In a bad area so make sure to be aware of your surroundings. The place is small so be prepared to wait. Besides the bad location the seats are like bar stools and not very comfortable.
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Review from Chris B.
5/17/2011
Pam's was a place my friend has wanted to try for a while now, so off we went. Had some great help from the server about the menu and his suggestions. So we ordered the Spicy Jerk Chicken with a DAHLPURI, and the Spicy string beans. Let me tell you they were spicy, but very good!
The Chicken came with a leg and a thigh, rice and a salad with apples in it. Like I said it was spicy the salad was refreshing and the rice was tasty. The green beans were cooked well and were not as spicy as the chicken. The dahlpuri was a life-saver in the fact that you could rip a piece off and wrap the chicken in it and made it less spicy. The chickpeas in it are ground and are really soft and tasty. Note, the condiment jar on the table is not fruity, but a habanero sauce so if you need more spice they have it.
The only draw back to Pam's is that we wanted the coconut ice cream and the Cassava Pone-Cake and they were out of both. Both of our mouths were still on fire after the meal! -
Review from Nancy K.
Richmond, TX
7/19/2011
I have only went here once when I went to visit my sister. The food was absolutely amazing, but they did not have two of the main dishes that I was looking forward to it. The prices went up from the last time I saw on their website. I think the prices is ridiculous, but the food is still worth it.
Pelau -- Tasty, rich, moist, really does taste like jambalaya but way more flavor
Curried Chicken Roti -- Amazing, rich, and seasoned very well
Jerk Ribs -- This was my absolutely favorite. It was a special. They didn't have jerk wings, so this was like their replacement. It was absolutely amazing.
Aloo pies -- The best appetizer ever! No one ever talks about this, but seriously it is worth talking about. -
Review from Melody P.
I was not supposed to go due to my restricted diet plan. But, after watching the YouTube (food network) clip, I can't help myself. I joined my Yelp eating buddies for UYE on 3/24 for dinner. I don't regret at all! Thanks Keoni for another great UYE and the efforts for searching good food in the great Seattle area.
My favorites of the night are:
1) Curried Goat Roti - it was really flavorful and the meat was right off bones, very tender.
2) Spicy Jerk Chicken - the meat was so moist with great seasoning.
3) Pelau - it's better than any jambalaya I've had. The rice was cooked just right, not tough, not too soft. (this was shown how to cook in Food Network. And, this dish was what got me go)
I also liked the hand-made bread, the house salad and the super hot chill sauce.
The only thing I didn't like was the water! It tasted weird! But, who cares about water if you were there for food and the Caribbean Beer!Listed in: Latin Cuisine, UYE Dinner
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Review from Keoni W.
3/26/2011
We came here with a group of friends to search for the sun.
Caribbean Trinidad food sounded exotic. Being on the food channel also helped. This place is always crowded so to fit a group was a challenge.
Discussing with the owner a lot of the items take 30minutes to an hour to cook. I had to pre order our menu an hour in advance. With all their popular dishes. And because of our large party I talked them in getting the food to serve us family style.
These are the dishes we had for dinner.
Trinidad Salad with dairy free house dressing
Callaloo-vegan (fresh green spinach simmered in coconut milk okra)
Curried Goat Roti (bone-in)...NO Lamb today =(
Chicken DAHLPURI- a thin chickpea filled roti seasoned with cumin, fresh cilantro and garlic. This is a traditional wrapped roti.
Curried Beef Roti
Seasoned curried potatoes and garbanzo beans
Spicy Jerk chicken (Juicy jerk spiced leg and thigh falling off the bone chopped)
shrimp fried rice
Beef Pelau (Imagine Jambalaya, boneless dark and white chicken swimming in an ocean of chopped carrots, celery, and white rice browned by pigeon peas or red beans)
All with..
PARATHA- equally unique, paratha is a thin fluffy roti with a flaky croissant like texture. Locally known as" bussup shut" can be eaten by itself or with a side dish.
So you grab the paratha with your hand and scoop a piece of meat off the bone and then some beans. Then you feed your face. I got to admit I truly enjoyed using the paratha as a utensil. Keep on repeating till you use the paratha to wipe your plate clean. Some of the items like the Jerk Chicken had spice to it. Later I learned habanero and green chiles are what gave the food a kick.
Pam came out to wish us a greeting hoping we all enjoyed her cooking. Everyone was still licking there lips.
Lea thanks for the great service. My group of friends had fun and an enjoyable time. They all will be back. -
Review from Danielle M.
East Northport, NY
7/14/2011
After waiting a few years to try this place, I can say it was well worth the wait. I give Pam's two thumbs up for delivering an experience that reminded me of home cooking I grew up with. The food was full of flavor.
The staff was pleasant, and the vibe was calm and cool. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I'd love to go back and would definitely recommend it to others. -
Review from P H.
11/28/2011
Delicious curries and breads, fresh juices- really good food for a good price. One of the restaurants I'd go to any time, and it tends to be relatively uncrowded compared to other Seattle favorites.
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Review from Lindsey B.
Phoenix, AZ
6/7/2011
At the extremely annoying urging of our friend- we came to Pam's. I was going to skip it because spicy food & anything curry aren't usually my cup of tea and I had heard mixed things from my local friends. Really we came here so that our friend would stop texting us, "PAMS!"
Afraid of getting anything too spicy I ordered the potato roti and my hubs got the chicken roti. The bread is amazing. Super good. Hands down the best part of the experience. I was pleasantly surprised that while it was a little spicy- that I could handle it (and it should be noted that I am a super wuss when it comes to spice). It's like a giant burrito that, if not handled carefully, will fall apart and you'll have to end up eating the rest with a fork. The hubs has a more adventurous pallet than I do (and loves spice and curry- opposites attract) and ordered the mauby. It was sweet at first followed by a strong bitter after-taste. It worked better once we had the food but it was too unique for my liking.
The dude working there was super helpful, and very into working here. He answered all of our questions about what's this, how do we eat it, what's in it with enthusiasm (which only betters the experience).
I won't give my annoying text friend too much credit though- because he did still annoy the hell out of me- but Pam's was actually a pretty good experience.
P.S. I'm not sure I'll stop by again in the future though due to the epic heartburn I got shortly after... see above where I note that I'm a super wuss. -
Review from c s.
Fairfax, VA
8/14/2011
I've never had a bad meal or bad service at Pam's...unfortunately, I have to agree with the other reviewers about the prices...they are a bit too steep for what you get.
Pam's is the most authentic Caribbean experience you'll find this far away from de islands. The Rotis are excellent, as are the side dishes. I also love the fact that they serve sorrel and soursop icecream.
The last time I was there(this review is long overdue), Pam's son(Anton?) said they had a rum cake available as a dessert special...it truly took me back to the tropics.
The best part about Pam's? It's Caribbean-authentic with an emphasis on Trini cuisine. Lot's of places do jerk chicken or cuban sandwiches...I don't know where else in Seattle to get a proper roti... -
Review from Chris M.
Seattle, WA
3/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Literally one of the best restuarants in the city. Its roti's recipes vary daily because Pam likes to keep things interesting. They make outstanding rum punches. If you are lucky enough to get a table on the weekends, look out for Pams secret fried chicken... I feel fatter thinking about its goodness.
At the end of the day, Pams kitchen is a small family run establishment with great food. -
Review from Jerry M.
Kirkland, WA
10/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
WOW the food here is amazing!!!! Taste buds were very satisfied.
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Review from raylan g.
Puyallup, WA
8/4/2011
In the early days I loved this place, telling everyone I knew to go go go. Even after seeing a quality decline, a group of 11 of us went for dinner. As we approach the 1 hr wait and I was urging everyone to be patient, turns out they misplaced our order. A tude has developed @ Pam's and that's unfortunate because we were offered no compensation for this 1:20 wait, except for 4 ice creams, yes....11 spoons in 4 ice creams, I ask if we could each have our own, reply: uhm....no, sorry. And we were such good tippers even when things weren't stellar, sour grapes? YUP, so long Pam.
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Review from Scott P.
Los Angeles, CA
8/9/2011
Plain and simple...the food wasn't worth waiting an hour and 20 minutes for...I was possibly willing to go back until the owners son came and yelled at a member of our party because we felt we deserved a discount for the horrid wait..I have never witnessed anyone in the customer service industry act so unprofessionally..
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Review from Russell L.
Seattle, WA
3/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
We were happy to find out that Pam's is now open for lunch! The lunch menu is a bit parred down but they usually have a coupla kinds of roti as lunch specials. I split the chicken roti and a jerk chicken sandwich with a friend and we were damn content.
My fave was the jerk chicken sandwich which comes as two big sliders on this awesome coconut bun. So.... damn.... good.
I just wish the service was a bit faster, especially when on a lunch break from work. Island time..... *sigh*
I also tried the mauby (boiled tree bark) drink and damn, what an experience! It starts out sweet and then just straight-up dives into this deep dark swirling void of bitterness. Holy crap. -
Review from Jeanny M.
1/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
The hub and I stopped in for an impromptu dinner. The space is long and narrow, with tables along one side, down the middle, and then barstool-height tables/chairs on the other wall.
One of the servers actually remembered my hub from nearly TWO YEARS ago...he went here to ask if they served conch. The guy remembered that! The answer is no, btw.
Anyway, we ordered the jerk chicken and curry goat with chickpea-filled roti. The entrees are huge with salad and shrimp fried rice. The salad had an amazing dressing. I ate every bit.
I really enjoyed my chicken. It was moist, definitely very spicy, and I had no trouble navigating the bones. The curry goat was a nice counter to the spicy bird; it offered thick pieces of tender meat (also bone-in) and its side of roti/chickpeas was mild, though a little hard to share.
It was very difficult to finish everything, but I really wanted to! I think I managed to eat most of my entree and my husband's too.
Service that day was good, we were there for an early Sunday dinner, with 4 other tables occupied. -
Review from Alan N.
3/17/2011 1 photo
Pam is one of the sweetest women alive. She cooks awesome food, takes the time to greet her customers and genuinely seems to love the work she is putting into this place.
+ Location: For a U-District place it is very clean cut and in a great location on the corner of 50th and University. I think that whole intersection is much better with Pam's there offsetting that damned Jack-in-the-box. I have never experienced a wait longer than 10 minutes which is really good considering the amount of human traffic right outside.
++ Food/Drinks: I have never had Trinidadian cuisine before but I would gladly try more after trying the food here. The portions were pretty average but the colors and flavors more than make up for that. I have had the goat and lamb before. The goat is a little chewy but as a Vietnamese person I definitely enjoy the texture. I think the prices are pretty reasonable considering the amount of spices and the lengths they must to goto to get goat and lamb. I just wish they had more drinks available but the beers are all good selections to match up with the kind of exotic flavors you'd encounter with the dishes.
++ Service: Last time they were a little overwhelmed with a few people out with the flu but considering the amount of food coming out, they were fast and very friendly. One of the waitresses looked like she could have been a part time model (flight of the conchords anyone?). I mean that in a very tasteful way so please don't think I'm a creeper...
I am already planning my next trip if that is any indication of how good the food is here. -
Review from Rea F.
Seattle, WA
10/5/2011
oh man is this place gooooood! The food is amazing, don't miss it!
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Review from Jason R.
Tacoma, WA
9/22/2011
Excellent! It's different, but it's great, spicy and satisfying. I had chicken roti with paratha, jerk chicken and the jambalaya like rice. Not to mention the sorrel juice with rum, which is flavored by hibiscus flowers. It tastes like soulful cool-aid with a hint of cinnamon. Point blank, eat here or you need to reevaluate your life.
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Review from Brady D.
Seattle, WA
12/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
I don't know who this Pam lady is and I don't know if I could find Trinidad on a map (I slept through most of school) but I do know that Pam's Kitchen is high on my list of places to grub.
Being from the rural midworst, the most of the ethnic foods we had were microwave burritos or microwave eggrolls so I didn't know what to expect. What I got was a plateful of curried awesome with a side of bready kickass. I upon decimating my entree I sopped up every inch of what was left with my dahlpuri and hungered for more.
If you pass this up, you have lost at life.
