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Look for Pam's Kitchen On Food Network Channel on Guy Fierri Shows on Monday nights-Randomly showing as from August 17th 2009
Tue-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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OMG...Please don't go here - Because I do not want to share......
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We were on the Ave on Friday night around 7:30 and looking for a place to eat. I had seen the good reviews on Yelp and decided to try out Pam's Kitchen.
Walking in you're struck by two things: a fabulous smell and a busy yet relaxed atmosphere. We were seated immediately at the window but others after us did have to wait for a while.
The lamb dahlpuri was a delight. The meat was tender, moist and rich and the curried potatoes were great. Portions are generous and I was glad not to have ordered an app or side.
The service was a little slow but the staff were super friendly and place was packed. We'll definitely go back.
Trinidadian food? YES PLEASE!
Went here tonight on a friend's recommendation. She is now my best friend!! Oh my goodness, the beef must be cooked for twelve hours before being served; it is moist and delicious. The meat is curried, which adds spice and amazing flavor.
The paratha is, I think, one of the most delicious breads on the planet. Light, flaky, fluffy, buttery all in one. Oh, and piping hot when served!
The roti come with curried potatoes and chickpeas which are cooked to perfection. Just enough spicy, not too mushy not too firm.
I also tried the Sorrel Rum Punch. Wow. I may never drink another alcoholic drink again. Sorrel rum punch was just too delicious, I don't think my tastebuds will ever approve of anything but.
Pam's Kitchen cuts no corners when preparing this food. Everything I ate tonight was just the right texture, just the right spicy level, and full of flavor.
Yum Yum Yum! :)
Extremely happy... Think of a mix of Indian food and African food. I had their vegetarian dish and was incredibly happy. Watch out for the hot sause... It is silly hot actually. Staff was very helpful and nice. Out team of international food club eaters can't wait to make a return trip back!
I love the atmosphere here, it's bright and fun and clean and seems like a great place to have a relaxed family dinner. I ordered the jerk chicken which came with fried rice and salad. It was good, I've never had jerk chicken before but it was caked with spicy spices and the chicken was not too dry. My only problem with Pam's is that it is a bit pricey for what you get...i paid 16.50 for my meal and I didn't think it was worth that. I will go back though because I really want to try some of their drinks!
Wen't to Pams kitchen last night on our usual quest to find a delicious restaurant that we/I haven't tried. Pams kitchen was fantastic! Loved the goat and it was spiced just right. Everything here was great, including the service.
Oh Pam's Kitchen, how I love thee...
We started on our journey at the south end of The Ave and slowly made our way north. We literally passed by every single restaurant said "no, not feelin' it", "yuck" or "meh" to all of them.... that was until we reached Pam's. I vaguely remember seeing it on Yelp, but never bothered to read the reviews. But that didn't stop me, no sir.
We got there around 6pm so there were only a few other people seated, and we didn't have to wait. All of the staff was super friendly and helpful. And the food... oh the food! The curry chicken roti and spicy jerk chicken were fantastic! Who cares if they have a small menu, the dishes they have are cooked to perfection.
Trini food. Can't say I every had it before! And, no I didn't see the Guy Fieri episode that highlights this place (I know..shocking isn't it?) But, I was curious in exploring more food venues in the U-district and this place rated fairly highly.
First off (forgive my ignorance) there is definitely an Indian influence in this food that I was not entirely aware of. I LOVE INDIAN FOOD so no problem there. The place was packed but as I was flying solo tonight, I was seated at the bar.
I got the goat curry roti w/ paratha bread. Oh dear so very very tasty! And they meat came with bone in, in my opinion the only way to go given the option! Very succulent and fall off the bone tender. The side bread it came with paratha was so nice and flakey! The side habenero flavored chilli condiment is really nice too. My tummy was sore and close to bursting...it was time to quit. The staff was crazy busy but very friendly and attentive.
I came less than an hour before closing and it was pretty packed but I didn't have to wait. I can see this small place get jammed pack pretty quickly so I would plan accordingly. There are several other items I need to try on the menu, The prices although not dirt cheap is fairly reasonable for as much food as you got. I couldn't finish my whole plate but also had some type of side of stewed collard greens in coconut milk (hmm..) which filled me up.
I will be coming back here very very soon!
Patience is a virtue. A virtue that I do not have.
A friend suggested that we give Pam's a try after he saw something on TV saying the Caribbean joint was a *must try*. I'm going to go out on a limb and say a lot of people must have seen this TV program, because the place was PACKED.
We managed to nab a table and place our order. I'd say about 15 minutes later our drinks arrived. Ruh roh, not off to a good start. It took about 45 minutes for our meals to arrive, which seemed like an epic amount of time, since we had to endure the delicious aromas wafting our way from the kitchen.
But, by Jove, was it worth the wait! My beef roti with paratha was so good that I was wishing that I was alone in a room with it so that I could eat it piggy style (a la The Christmas Story). The bread was light and fluffy, the meat was flavorful and tender and the entire meal packed the right amount of kick.
It looks like Pam's may make me a virtuous woman.
This restaurant ranks as one my top three on the AVE. Their dishes was simply the best delicious homemade food in town.
When I had gotten there, along with another yelper foodie, I didn't know what to expect. I ordered the chicken roti. Pricey yes, but for a special reason. When the plate had landed on my table, I was astonished.
The aroma of the dish made my mouth water, the softness of the meat was too tempting, and the potatoes, how they were super soft but not as to be like mashed potatoes, the size of the plate and the amount of food, I wondered if I was going to be able to stand after being done with the meal. Trini-Indian is the influence of the foods here. Think of indian curry, with a relaxed flavor of the islands.
If you've never had it, why not give it a try. The price is not for the college-minded budget, but more for young professionals to give it a try now and then. I say again, "ROTI."
Saw the place featured in Triple D this week and thought I'd give it a try. The food was delicious, but the cost was a bit high.
Had the chicken and lamb roti, and tried each type of bread. Service was slow which is a bit puzzling since the food is obviously all prepared well in advance, as they are basically stewed meats/potatoes.
Spice was good, meat was delicious, potatoes a little overdone, but the price, $30 for 2? Wow... Price point for this type of meal should be in the $7.95 range. Definitely not a good value despite the good food. Enjoyed the meal, but poor value considering their prices.
Good food, but for some reason it made us feel really sick. I'm not sure what it was, but we definitely did not feel good after the meal. We did rule out other food we'd eaten earlier since we both ate separately until dinner.
That being said it's pretty darn good. The goat is nice but a little skimpy on portions--about half bones. The curried potatoes and chickpeas are ok, the salad was excellent. I would recommend the green beans over the spinach, which had an odd texture. And of course, the roti was excellent.
I've been wanting to try this place for some time - I remember when it opened, and I thought Oooooh Trinidadian- Caribbean food - must bookmark in my mind. After seeing that Guy Fieri featured Pam's Kitchen on his show...I thought crap, this kept secret is about to be exposed! (Which is a good thing for their business)
And yes, there was already a line forming before it opened at 5:30pm. Although, my bf & I were the first to be seated. Muhahah. The server was extremely friendly all throughout our stay. The place had a good feel to it as well, w/ Caribbean music playing in the background.
We ordered the spicy jerk chicken & the beef roti. The chicken was indeed spicy w/ good flavor - I thought the beef was a little on the bland side, but wrapping it in the naan type bread called dahlpuri made it better.
All in all, it was a decent meal and good experience trying out Trinidadian food. There are only a few items on the menu - Pretty much the roti with different types of meat or veggie or the spicy jerk chicken and their jambalaya.
I have only been to Pam's once but it reminds me of home cooked caribbean food (dhalpuri = **swoon**). If you have a chance to look into the kitchen you'll see Pam working her magic. When we went, there wasn't a seat open in the house but one of the servers was ushering people inside.We got lucky and only had to wait a couple of minutes. It's like eating in a beach dance club, music playing, flashy lights. Great atmosphere the chicken curry was dang good, just as we were getting ready to leave, the same waiter who was ushering the people inside invitied us to come back after 11P since the doors open and it's pretty much like a dance hall.
The only reason I give this place 4 stars is because the service can be kind of slow, but is always friendly. The menu is a bit small and there aren't too many veg*n options, however, everything I've had there SUPER tasty and so I honestly don't mind. I've taken a number of people here since I was introduced to the place, and I've made fans out of all of them.
The only other complaint is that the restaurant is small and can get pretty crowded, which I generally don't mind, but it was a problem when I took my friend who was in a wheelchair. We had to wait outside for awhile because there wasn't space to wait inside
PS The servers are cute if you're into dudes ;)
My friend had been telling me about Pam's for ages before I finally got a chance to try it. I had no idea what to expect, as I wasn't really sure what trinidadian cuisine really encompassed, but I was pleasantly surprised. The minute you step in, you're engulfed in a delicious spicy aroma and your mouth will start watering immediately. Our server was talkative and friendly and informed us that the restaurant spices things up in the later hours of the night, which deserves a star all on its own!
As for the food-- absolutely DELICIOUS curried meats and potatoes and I absolutely cannot say no to roti in any way, shape or form (best bread ever). Their special pepper sauce is the kind of hot that I cannot describe with words; I started tearing up when I took a whiff of it in attempts to detect its hotness level, but it really adds to the food in a masochistically incredibly spicy way.
I'm really surprised that I haven't heard more about this place from people, Pam's deserves way more recognition!
I think it is called peau? not sure, but all I know is that it's like their version of damn good jambalaya!! I don't know about you guys but I don't think their quality has gone down at all, but more like extended their menu a little bit more, and it seems to get better and better!!
All I have to say is please don't get too popular because guy from the food network channel is going to broadcast diners, drive-ins and dives!! and seriosuly I hope pam's doesn't get too crowded where they will make me wait!!
my new favorite restaurant!!!!!
Omg it was perfect ... Jerk chicken with paratha ( buttery flakey…
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Delicious! I had never been to a Trinidadian restaurant, but it seemed very similar to Indian food. I have found that paratha can be somewhat greasy at some Indian restaurants, but those served at Pam's are awesome. I was hesitant to order callaloo--essentially a soup made of spinach--but it was really great. Definitely enjoyed the sorrel, but look out for the mauby! It is intense! Only order that if you are up for an adventure.
In sum:
Pros: Food is great. Several items are clearly marked vegan on the menu, plus options with meat, so people of different diets are likely to find something despite the fact that the menu is not super extensive.
Cons: Can be very crowded. We had to wait outside for a while on a Friday night before we were seated. Also, the service was very slow! They said they were understaffed and the servers are all incredibly friendly, so it is hard to hold it against them.
SOOOO good :) This is a 4 and 1/2 for me. We got all the most popular dishes, the roti, goat, beef curry and jerk chicken. Im really glad we went here. Excellent full of depth flavor. The Paratha bread is like Naan but better I must say. Its buttery and chewy, unbelievably good. Plus the burnt rice that came with the Jerk Chicken was for some odd reason my fav thing... I love burnt rice, weird I know. Definitely try the homemade drinks, The Peanut Punch was amazing, the Sorrel was good, tasted alot like Jamica... and the Mauby was really interesting... the bitter aftertaste was too intense for me... Our waitor Anton was warm and very charming... Thumbs up for kick ass service! Overall close to perfect. :)
I had the roti which was tasty but nothing special, especially for the price. The wait staff was really nice but the music was way to loud. Overall I felt "meh" about the whole experience. Might try it again if they were open for lunch but definitely not sticking around the U-district for another overpriced dinner.
This is perhaps the closest restaurant to where I lived for almost two years, and I waited till my last night in town to try it!
I never tried it since the menu has only one vegetarian (vegan) option.
Though fish isn't normally present on the menu, on this particular evening Pam's had a special on fried Tilapia which comes with plantains and a crunchy salad, plus a doughy fried bread.
I think the plantains were fried too. Everything (not the salad) was fried, though nothing was deep fried, so maybe it was somewhat healthy! Probably not, though.
The fish dish and I could be pals, with its generous portions of soft Tilapia complemented with a tangy, spicy sauce. Me and that fish dish, and my future heart surgeon could all get to know each other really well.
The two or three people working were swamped by the dinner rush so patience may be required. Meanwhile you get a fun view of people's legs strolling down 15th
As the rain lashed the sidewalks, we ducked into the steamy interior of Pam's for some warm, comforting fare. The staff heartily greeted us and we ordered up a couple of their specialty punches -- carrot and pumpkin -- which came to the table immediately, frothy and frosty. The pumpkin was incredible, a cold blast of sweetness with an unmistakably 'Thanksgivingy' undertone.
The roti are enormous, easily enough to split between two. They held a lot of heat (steam and flavor) and the meat was so tender. My new comfort food. With the rocking music and the oh-so-friendly servers, its a great way to take the edge of cold weather and a run of so-so dinners.
This is some of the best grub in the city! I gave it only 4 stars because on only a moderately busy night the service can quite slow.
(This review is overdue).
My husband and I were walking along the Ave on a snowy December day, hoping to get some dinner. We approached the door of Pam's Kitchen, but, although they had customers dining inside, their CLOSED sign was illuminated. We figured they must have closed early due to the weather. We started to walk away, but the owner came out and said we could come eat. We sat at the bar, had beers, ate a unique, delicious meal and visited with the owner, who gave us samples of their punches. The food, the nice folks, the alcohol and the snow all created a surreal experience we won't soon forget.
What a warm fun restaurant! I liked it a lot. Pam's was simple and that is all it needed to be.
The menu at lunch was limited to roti's (chicken, beef, lamb, duck etc), a few veggie side dishes, and jerk chicken. I sprang for the channa and aloo roti and my mothers the spicy pumpkin side. My roti arrive larger than life on a plate, and my mother's pumpkin arrived in a small cereal bowl... interesting. My roti filling was flavorful, but overwhelmed with potatoes. I picked much of the large ones out and gave them to my mother. The roti bread was delicious- like a very very large naan tortilla with spices and seasonings.
Our server was all smiles. The music playing loudly on the speakers was fun. The decor was festive and visually fun. Overall, Pam's is a place that deserves a stop off. I think next time, to truly judge the food, I should order something with meat in it- and that pumpkin punch everyone raves about*
The Best Roti I have EVER HAD! I love this place and will most definitely be back. I have lived in Brooklyn and had many Roti's before but hands down this is the BEST!
I just can't quite understand what all the buzz is about here.
After walking by many a times and hearing their music blazing at night I figured this place has it goin' on! I swung by one night and ordered the lamb roti. After yelping, I knew their hot sauce was a must.
Maybe it was my high expectations, but my meal was nothing to write home about. I would've so much rather have saved $8 and went to Aladdins near by. There was hardly any meat and the flavors didn't really stand out. To make matters worse, they charged me for hot sauce! I didn't know places did that!
Maybe I ordered the wrong thing? I'll probably give it another shot one of these days... well, only if Aladdins goes out of business.
Delicious food. This place is the real deal: owned and operated by Trinidadian-Americans.
If you order roti (a very popular Trini specialty), be sure to consider a side dish such as curried pumpkin or mango, as these go wonderfully with this dish.
Be sure to try a yummy Trini dessert such as Guinness ice cream, or warm pone.
My only complaint is the lack of menu options for vegetarian-minded folks. The channa/potato roti is awesome but it would be soo great to have other vegetarian roti options.
Definitely give this place a try!
Being that I am from Guyana I was very excited to find Caribbean Food in Seattle. I do not like the hours and the prices but the food was good. I know good roti and the roti is ok. The food did take a long time to come out much longer than the waiter said. But his friendliness and talking made the wait seem more bearable. The atmosphere was nice and I am happy that they will be featured in August 2009 on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" with Guy Fieri. I would go back to Pam's again next time I am in Seattle's University District.
I had intended to go to a nearby Indian place, but Trinidadian = roti (at least to me), so once I saw the sign at Pam's, I knew where I was headed.
I had the "open" goat roti with the dhalpuri on the side. The meat was flavorful, the potatoes were tender and the wrap (the dhalpuri) was stretchy but not doughy, just the way I like it. I was sad that there was no side of rice and peas (it's an entree, with chicken), and I wish that the aloo channa had had more chickpeas in it. But I will most certainly be back!
goat curry was great! not too many places to get goat in seattle.
i was a bit confused by all the hindi/indian food names on the menu. is that common for trinidadian food?
I used to love Pam's Kitchen but I think they've gone down in quality and up in price. My husband and I come here every few months and last week we didn't have such a great experience. My usual goat roti was mostly bone and there was a hair in it!!! We ordered aloo pie and they were pretty flat with barely any filling in it (used to be better). We were also surprised to find that our two goat rotis and two orders of aloo pie came to $48. I know this isn't Trinidad (where rotis are 5 bucks) but come on, $15 for a roti? :(
Having been to Trinidad before and missing the ubiquitous roti, I was really excited about Pam's… Read more »
I had a unique first experience here, going for a party. I think that I got to try everything on the menu. The jerk chicken was amazing, really. I almost didn't try it, and then I was kicking myself for feeding it to my kids and not to myself. The goat roti and lamb roti are similar with that gamey meat flavor of those animals, but delicious nonetheless. The aloo pies were flaky and great with the spicy sauce. The spicy string beans were just that: spicy. I also tried the peanut and pumpkin punches: YUM!!! The paratha (flaky roti) was so tasty too.
We talked to Pam (so friendly and laid back) and this is really her kitchen and a family enterprise. She does the shopping and cooking in this place and she deserves mad props for the final results: a superbly delicious Trini meal!
How'zit?
It's awesome, that's how it is!
I had never heard of Pam's until I read about it from Nina N. I love food from the West indies and Pam's is somewhere that will make me forgo many of the other locations in Seattle-it's really that good.
I had lamb roti (potatoes and lamb, spiced, curried, and put into a piece of roti-think tortilla, but more pliable, and quite a bit tastier. Served on the side was a cabbage, not shredded lettuce, salad. To drink, I had some rum punch-mmmm mmmmm...I think it was spiced with ginger! And to top it off, I was asked if I wanted some hot sauce. Feeling saucy, I accepted.
Good lord their hot sauce is hot! It's habenero mixed with something (it's got the consistency of applesauce, it's dully yellow in color) and it's hotter than the coals found in hell, or at least that's where they found this stuff. Be cautious-talk about kicking it up a notch-it kicked my arse up a couple of floors!
The service and atmosphere nicely accompany the decadent cuisine here. As Trinidadian/Toboggan music bumps, you'll be catered to by the attentive staff.
Do I recommend Pam's? Do you like all your toes?
I went here last week with some pals. I can't help but travel around and try out all the "ethnic" fare Seattle has to offer. After getting an email from yelp with flavas of the islands listed I had to try out Pams Kitchen, it was recommended! It was good, I really enjoyed my Roti. The service was excellent and super friendly. The place was out of their specials though and that tends to rub me the wrong way. Their hot sauce is, HOT HOT HOT! But it didn't stop me from buying a $10 bottle on my way out! My companions complained they didn't think there was a big enough selection, which could be true but hey the Roti is what your supposed to eat peeps! I doubt I'll come back just because there's a lot of other places I'd choose first, but definitely give em a try if you haven't already.
Quite delicious! I found it plenty spicy enough once I slathered on the tasty hot sauce. Good place to go with a group because they serve both vegan/vegetarian-friendly and meaty options. Friendly staff, comfy place with neat decor and good music.
I tried the potato curry roti and a drink made with rose petals. The drink was a little sweeter than I was into but it still went well with the spice. Next time I'll have to try one of their peanut drinks.
Pam's is easily one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. It's not much to look at, and if you have a large group beware -- they don't do reservations -- but the food easily makes up for this small place's shortcomings. Their paratha (flaky, buttery bread) is to die for, and the lemon-washed jerk meats are delicious enough to entice even this mostly-veggie gal into being a carnivore XD They also have a wide selection of interesting beverages, bitter bark beers and fruit/veggie punches -- in particular I recommend the carrot punch, and the hard cider Spire. If I had one wish it would be for them to add their tilapia/plantain dish to the full time menu -- it's out of this world!
A taste of the Caribbean...here I Seattle...BRILLANT!
Yummy Yummy Caribbean food... and I should know... I'm Caribbean! Of course I've had better, but on the East Coast, this is the West Coast people... let's accept it. We will definitely be back again and again for the delicious home cooked meals with friendly service. There's also a dance night last Saturday of each month... I'm going!
My friend and I dined at Pam's. I am from the Caribbean and know my roti. Pam's lamb was alright, definitely not worth $11-12. In Brooklyn, I will pay $6-8 for the same roti of the same size. I guess there's a Seattle market up. I know Guy from Diner's Drives and Drive-in's raved about this place, but the food was 7.5/10. As for the decor, it's nothing to write home about. I thought that for such a limited menu and pricey items, the space would look cleaner and more expensive looking.
The waitstaff are really nice and attentive which is always a plus.
Neighborhood: University District
Category: Caribbean
Neighborhood: University District
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: University District
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: Columbia City
Category: Caribbean
Neighborhood: University District
Category: Restaurants
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