Loading...
- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Tropix Caribbean Restaurant - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Caribbean Restaurants Cajun/Creole Caribbean, Cajun/Creole
3814 Piedmont Ave(between Macarthur Blvd & Rio Vista Ave)
Oakland, CA 94611
Neighborhood: North Oakland
(510) 653-2444
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
251 reviews for Tropix Caribbean Restaurant
Review Highlights
251 reviews in English
-
Review from armando r.
San Francisco, CA
8/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Like an idiot I didn't check the time it closed and walked in 20 minutes after. Gentleman sat us anyways without making us uncomfortably aware of the closing time. (FYI He wasnt begging for business either and he didn't ask for too much more from his staff).
Food: it was good to me. I admit, I always measure on the spice level in an oddly paired Indian/Carribean joint and, for the most part, I got it. If I'm sweating, I'm happy. -
Review from Master C.
Oakland, CA
7/25/2011
Saw this place featured on Check Please Bay Area and decided to try it out. This place will be out of business in no time.
It was AWFUL.
Apparently the Carribean brunch has been done away with and now the restaurant is a joint effort Carribean/Indian place. Not sure how that is really working out.
Everything is overpriced, but the $28 pitcher of mango mimosa stood out...it was was absolutely terrible and would barely be passable for $10.
The mangoes in the mango chicken salad were straight up sour.
The fried plantains were a soggy, greasy mess...and they had a large piece of curly metal shaving in it.
The steak was horribly overcooked - think shoe leather.
Will not be back. -
Review from Andrew C.
Tropix is bigger than it looks when you first walk in. The open kitchen is in the front and you walk down a narrow hall next to it before getting to the dining rooms. I say that plural because it looks like a converted house with rooms with wide doorways extending to the left.
I came for lunch and got the Jerk Chicken Sandwich and a side of Beans & Rice.
First out was the jalepeno cornbread (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and some mango chutney. I could see the green bits of jalepeno, but they didn't have any kick. It came out hot and moist, but mid-way through my meal I went back to it and it had hardened up to inedible. Microwaved?
The sandwich came with a side of cole slaw / cabbage salad which had a sweet, fruity dressing (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I wanted more heat from the chicken and found it somewhat bland for what it was supposed to be. It was nicely cooked and moist, though.
The beans & rice (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), though, I loved. The rice was buttery and garlicy. I could have eaten a huge plate of just the rice. The beans also were nicely cooked and seasoned.
Jerk Chicken Sandwich - 3 stars
Beans & Rice - 5 stars
Just saw Tropix on a rerun of Check Please. May come back to try the brunch.Listed in: Reubens! (and other hot…
-
Review from Andy E.
Union City, CA
7/9/2011
The restaurant's name is MISLEADING; It's INDIAN restaurant!!! The previous owner recently sold his business to the current owner. I ordered the Jamaican Jerk Chicken and it came all dried and flavored with curry powder!- yuk! The giveaway clue is that all the cooks and staffs are all INDIAN!!! I should have paid attention to that. If I want Caribbean food, I would have gone to a real Caribbean restaurant, not this PHONY one.
I was so disappointed when I sat down and looked at the menu: 4-pages of INDIAN dishes and ONLY 1/2 page of Caribbean food. I was angry after the meal and finding out that this place is NOT the original Caribbean restauranteur! -
Review from S M.
Oakland, CA
6/18/2011
The service tried but when your drinks don't come out until after all of the appetizers and half the entrees, something is wrong. When your party is one of three full tables you shouldn't need to remind the waiter what you ordered multiple times. One of the servers really seemed to care about his customers so our advice to you young waiter is get out before this place fails.
The food was disappointing. Used to come to Tropix for their cornbread but they don't make it anymore. No more ginger drinks. Very little caribbean food at all. We watched five groups come in and leave after finding out they dont make cornbread anymore. Now they serve mostly mediocre indian food and they don't ask how hot you want it. One dish was almost inedible it was so spicy.
Lastly, if you are serving curry don't make diners eat it from a tiny appetizer plate and make sure you wash glasses and utensils before handing them to people. People shouldnt have to request serving spoons. I mean it is curry. A fork and knife dont cut it as serving utensils. Sauce almost didn't stay on the tiny plate and had to send some stuff back because it was filthy. -
Review from Black S.
San Francisco, CA
12/18/2011
Go somewhere else for corn bread. Nothing else on the menu has maintained the quality the restaurant once had. Worse--you will pay $20 for a meal with $3-quality. There are much better restaurants in the neighborhood. Stay away. You will leave disappointed
-
Review from Jeanette M.
Washington D.C., DC
6/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not sure what part of my meal was Caribbean. I had the jerk salmon that didn't have an ounce of jerk. Not even jerk smell. The greens were room temperature and the the potato tasted like it was out if a can. The juice was clearly out if a bottle or can.
To add to that, there was a customer who had just finished eating and got her bill. The waiter practically stalked her and was looking over her shoulder to see, I assume, what tip he was going to get.
Lastly, there was not one caribbean person on staff.
Sorry Tropix. U can't paint a place in several colors and throw a piece of mango on your menu and call it Caribbean.
By far, the worst "Caribbean" meal I've had! -
Review from Pacita D.
Alameda, CA
6/28/2011
We really, really wanted to like Tropix. We had gone there before a few years ago, and the experience was unpleasant. We wanted to try it again in the hope that it will be better. It was not.
We tried two different meals -- one Caribbean and one Indian. The best part of our meal was probably the fried plantains. It went downhill from there.
I ordered the steak ---- tasty enough, especially with the green topping (was it their version of chimichurri sauce with capers?). But the waiter didn't ask how I wanted my steak. It came out medium-well and nearly dried out. I liked the black beans and mixed it with the rice. At least it was tasty.
My partner ordered chicken sauteed with tomatoes (can't remember what it's called). It didn't come with rice so we had to order it extra. As far as I'm concerned, it should have been included with the meal. That dish was soooo hot. and the heat kept building. If the owners wanted to cater to a more general clientele, they should offer the option to fix it mild, medium and hot just like most Thai places do. Alas, we were not given a choice.
As for the ambiance --- the whole place appeared so sad and worn out. it would have been nice to sit outside, but it reminded me too much of shanty town and it wasn't appealing at all.
When we walked in, the first tables on the right were filled with napkins, newspapers, etc and looked cluttered. It was probably the waiter's station. But it should not be the first thing a diner should see.
We walked by what appeared to be a buffet station -- and there were tools --- drills and such --- on display. Why were they left there?
This place is a candidate for Chef Gordon Ramsey's show "Kitchen Nightmares" Perhaps they should apply to be featured and have the Chef give them a total overhaul. -
Review from ami p.
Brooklyn, NY
5/28/2011
Last night was my second visit to this place and I was sorely disappointed.
I've had real Caribbean food and this was not it. The jerk chicken was a dry, boneless, skinless breast with lots of grill marks and little flavor. The mango pork was also dry and tasted very little of mango. The side of "mashed" potatoes had the consistency of gerber baby food and was so spicy that I couldn't taste the rest of my meal (which was probably for the best). I love spicy food but I prefer to not consume radioactive potato mush. The cornbread wasn't even as good as I remembered it from my first visit. It was too dry.
What makes it worse is that the food isn't cheap! Entrees were about $15 each! If they'd been half that, I wouldn't have taken the time to write this review. But for those prices, I expect a little bit more.
The two things this place has going for it are the awesome back patio and the bul (beer, lime juice and sugar drink that's perfect for a hot day, which we've been lacking as of late).
When the server came over to ask how everything was, we all sort of mumbled, "Mmhmm, yep." Very awkward.
Overall: great ambiance, awful food. -
Review from Citi G.
Beverly Hills, CA
5/31/2011
OOOOOHHHH we need a 0 star option NOW!!!!!!
This will be the first restaurant to star in "The worst thing I ever ate".
This place is screaming to be nominated for Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.
The food here was TERRIBLE.
The curry goat had a bone left in it. That should NEVER happen at a restaurant and would never happen when eating at home and inviting guests unless you were being lazy. That big ole bone could've chipped a tooth!
I took the advice of someone and got the calamari. NASTY! It was overcooked, not seasoned. And the LATIN sauce that came with my supposedly CARRIBEAN dish was bland and only slightly tasty...not enough to overcome the terribility of the calamari, which btw came up on its own volition after the meal was over.
This is NOT carribean food. I'm not from the islands, but I can tell you that cornbread with sweet jalapeno jelly sounds so uncarribean it's laughable.
Whomever said the food was spicy here probably gets a burn from black pepper too. -
Review from Kelly C.
Alameda, CA
4/9/2011
I really wanted to like this place but the food was so spicy that it burned my face off and left me with no taste buds.
I had the jambalaya and all I could taste was the burn. I could not identify any flavors because my mouth was on fire.
The two stars are for the mostly tasty appetizer that was veggie skewers with some spicy peanut sauce. -
Review from Michael R.
Oakland, CA
11/25/2011
This restaurant has gone out of business. As of Thanksgiving week, there is a sign indicating that a new Pakistani-Indian place will be opening soon.
-
Review from Chuck D.
Oakland, CA
6/25/2011
Tropix has changed since we moved into the neighborhood a year ago. It used to be all Caribbean, a sort of Piedmont version of Cha Cha Cha, but it has recently become mostly Indian, which we didn't realize until after we sat down. This was something of a disappointment as we had high hopes for repeating prior positive experiences. Nowadays the menu is three-quarters Indian and one-quarter Caribbean, and my vegetarian girlfriend could eat none of the Caribbean meals. However, we were there at lunch; perhaps the dinner menu is otherwise distributed.
Having said that, the Indian food was quite good. The chicken vindaloo was pretty hot, as vindaloo should be, but not hot enough to hide the excellent seasonings. It was somewhat different, saucier, than vindaloo I'm used to, but it tasted great. And the garlic naan, WOW! The best naan I've ever had, no question about it. Light and airy but soft and tasty. My GF loved the eggplant dish too.
And they still have the sangria, which is delicious. Right now I'm giving them 3 stars but that might go up after another visit. -
Review from Heather C.
Oakland, CA
2/15/2011
Tropix has been around forever, and I've been going there for 10 years. The negative reviews on Yelp are surprising, because every time I go, the service is amazing, Amrita greets me with a smile, and the food is consistently fabulous.
And for those who claim that it isn't authentic Caribbean cuisine, all I can say is I've been to the Keys, Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize, Costa Rica and Miami, and the fare at Tropix holds its own amongst those locales.
The menu at Tropix is diverse, so much so that even after I became a vegetarian, I've continued my patronage, and I can personally vouch for about 90% of their menu. My favorite aspect of their food is the delicate balance between fruits and spices. Sweet heat, baby.
A strong champagne cocktail, plantains and calamari on the patio are a killer way to start your evening on Piedmont Avenue.
Rock on, Tropix. Me love you long time.Comment from Amrita W. of Tropix Caribbean Restaurant 2/20/2011
Hi Heather, Thank you for your patronage, we appreciate… More » -
Review from Michael G.
Emeryville, CA
8/21/2011
Warning, this is no longer the great Caribbean of years past. The delicious jalapeno cornbread is gone, the mango chutney is no more, and is the fantastic brunch menu has been tossed out. I once ordered a snapper at the old Tropix that made me love red snapper again. Now all that wonderful food is replaced with an Indian Buffet and Menu.
I have nothing against Indian cuisine, but there are already some many great options for Indian all over Oakland. Why did Indian dining have to invade and water-down my favorite and only Caribbean restaurant. I was not there to have their curries and naan, but rather a plate of ropa vieja (not on the menu either!).
The services was bad. Myself, my father, and my aunt came in on a Friday afternoon and we opted to eat on the patio. For the first time ever, the patio was swarming with flies. Every now and then we had to choice one away from our food. Disgusting. On top of that, the tables where not cleaned as the one were sitting at had rice and smeared gravy on it. I pointed this out to the waitress and she halfheartedly took a swipe at it leaving 3/4 of the surface untouched. My father refused to sit at that table.
The food was bad. We ordered off the much reduced Caribbean menu so I got the salmon and my dad and aunt got the steaks. The salmon was pale and bland. It really could of used a glaze to punch it up. The steaks where thin, over-marinated, and overcooked. The yellow rice was actually just basmati rice, greasy and bland, and not anywhere sticky enough to be classic yellow rice.
I will never eat hear again, and I am warning any friend in this area to stay away from here. If you want to try their Indian menu I recommend going elsewhere to avoid the bad service and the fly infested atmosphere. BOOOO! I want my old Tropix back! -
Review from Jim m.
Oakland, CA
Updated - 2/19/2011
I used to love everything about this place but my last 2 visits have me crying into my future beer. The cornbread has gotten drier. The sangria is still good. The service is actually better but id rather it still suck if the food was still awesome. What did you do to the CRABCAKES!!???!! I dont even like fresh crab and it stil tastes horrendous,like a deep fried rounded fish o filet from burger king. I can discern that its supposed to be seafood but other than that,im not sure what the ingredients are.....? I feel bad even updating my review about this place but i was browsing my old reviews and thought....i really loved that place...oh wait....it's changed.
color me sad.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/16/2006
i love the sangria,i love the outdoor patio,i love the cuban sandwich.i used to love their… Read more »
Comment from Amrita W. of Tropix Caribbean Restaurant 2/20/2011
Hi Jim, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience, but all… More » -
-
Review from Ashlee J.
1/3/2011
Bright colors makes anyone happy (or nauseated). This restaurant is full of fun colors & has a warm, celebratory vibe. The server was subdued which was juxtaposed to the vibe of the decor. The picture near the restroom that I was staring at the entire time was cracked completely in half & crooked. Come on owners this pic wouldn't even sell for $1 in a garage sale. KNOW when to say goodbye.
We ordered tropical sangrias--it was not tropical. We still drank it & didn't complain because the pitcher was large. The jalapeno cornbread was pretty darn delightful (& I am not a cornbread fan). My friends ordered trip tip sandwich, fish fillet sandwich & jerk chicken sandwich with red fries. They all liked their choices. I ordered the eggplant curry which came with plantain slices on top (yeah!!). It was so delicious & hit the spot on a cold & rainy day. -
Review from Rae'esah N.
Antioch, CA
1/4/2011
Meh. Underwhelming at best.
From the flavorless jerk chicken to the uninterested server the whole experience was lackluster.
Myself and my lunch date found our meals very boring. The chicken was a little on the tough side, the veggies and rice were bland.
If this is Caribbean then I am in the wrong profession, cuz I can cook like this in my own kitchen.
I guess I just expected more zest and spice!?
*yawns and stretches* I could almost fall asleep thinking about it.... -
Review from Eddie C.
11/23/2010 7 photos
Decorated in the bright colors typical of the Caribbean Tropix was a welcome sight in the cool fall weather of Oakland.
We arrived a bit before the dinner hour to be the only customers in the restaurant. The service was subdued and a bit slow (maybe they are on island time). We ordered the Goat Curry, Bistec de Palomilla, Poppa Rigoberto's Mango Pork, Jerk Pork Skewers and a Tropix Salad - the total bill be tip came to $88. All the dishes were very good but nothing that stood out. The Goat Curry, my main dish, was served with plenty of goat meat but unfortunately it was a bit bland and light on the rice. The Bistec, I thought, was the most tasty. The tender Cuban style beef was tender and served with sweet plantains.
Next time? Hit this place up for lunch- Jerk Mon's Chicken Sandwich (wait Jerk Mon doesn't sound too appetizing).Comment from Amrita W. of Tropix Caribbean Restaurant 2/15/2011
Eddie, Thank you for your review, we appreciate your… More » -
Review from Natalie M.
Pleasanton, CA
7/18/2011
This is now an Indian Food restaurant. They haven't bothered to change the signage and they keep a few poorly made Caribbean recipes on the last page of the menu. They are nowhere near as good as Tropix was when it was a real Caribbean restaurant. Don't waste your time with this place. Indian Food is fine, but "bait and switch" tactics are extremely unappetizing.
-
Review from Vin I.
Oakland, CA
8/20/2011
Let's face it, this is no longer a Caribbean restaurant but an Indian restaurant. The chef is an Indian from India and not the from Islands down South!
So, once we registered this new reality, we decided to order Indian food. And, I should say, it was delectable. The cubed lamb tandoor (can't remember name of the dish) was absolutely outstanding. The chicken tikka was wonderfully spicy and the naans were soft. The plain lassi with jeera was nicely refreshing.
They will have better success if they advertise themselves as an Indian restaurant and shed the Caribbean part (which is priced way too high anyway.) -
Review from Lily R.
1/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I am not from the area and am quite sad that we don't have a restaurant like Tropix in San Jose. We are saturated with Mexican patios and Italian gardens in the south bay. A little Caribbean is all we would need!
Let's start off with the charming interior and exterior. I can totally picture myself having a red stripe on the patio in the summer. ahhh!
The food. Wow. Grinding Mon!
I tried a variety of items from the menu. Here are the MUST haves when you visit:
Calamari- the dipping sauce is delicious (chipotle-mayo) and perfect to snack on with a cold beer.
***Fried Plantains with black bean salsa. This was my FAVE. The complimentary black bean salsa had a delicious thin consistency and was jam packed with flavor. Added with sweet makes it all very savory***
Corn Bread...YUM! Warm and spicy! Good to smother in butter!
Jerk Chicken Plate with black beans and rice. Delicious. Ask for extra plantain black bean salsa to go with this one. I will next time!
Fried Fish Sandwich was tasty. I had only one bite but will order this one for sure for myself on my next visit.Comment from Amrita W. of Tropix Caribbean Restaurant 1/4/2011
Hi Lily, Thank you for your review, we at Tropix appreciate… More » -
Review from JoAn R.
Oakland, CA
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
We walked in this restaurant not knowing they were already closed, but the owner asked us to still come in and have a seat. He was happy to take our order. Most places if you're their last customer will rush you and forget about you. This guy made suggestions, talked about the food and told us to take our time. He checked up on us, refilled our water, even came by to say goodnight and let us know he was going home, but his crew will take care of us. Rock star customer service and the food was yummy.
-
Review from Scotty M.
Atlanta, GA
7/27/2011
Very colorful restaurant. Nice setting outdoors. Love the cornbread and chutney. Choose main entrees carefully- some are bland and some are tasty. I forgot what I ordered but i go here for the atmosphere and the bule drink
-
Review from Michael S.
Piedmont, CA
6/16/2011
I work nearby and have been to Tropix many, many times, but haven't been in over two years until a few days ago. To my surprise, the cuisine is now more Indian with only a few Caribbean choices on the very back of the menu. I mentioned to the cashier that I had enjoyed in the past a steak sandwich, but it wasn't on the menu. He told me no problem that he could have that prepared. When my sandwich arrived, it was chicken with absolutely no Caribbean flavor. The french fries were cold and limp, even the Caribbean seasoning sprinkled over them couldn't revive them.
Still, I enjoy the brightly painted walls and the wonderful patio in the back. However, I don't think I'll be back as the combination of Indian and Caribbean doesn't seem like a natural fusion cuisine. -
Review from kim-van t.
San Pablo, CA
7/27/2010
I was in the neighborhood with some friends (Andy V.!) and we were deciding what to eat for lunch/brunch before catching a movie. We were tossing some ideas around and decided to check out Tropix.
The patio area in the back is pretty awesome on a sunny and hot day. It's brightly decorated and has such a laid back atmosphere. Not a single person was sitting inside that afternoon.
The complimentary jalapeno cornbread could be spicier but is still pretty delicious. It comes out warm from the kitchen and they don't skimp on the portions.
The brunch menu is pretty extensive. There are a lot of really good items to choose from which makes for a lot of indecisiveness. We decided to share a pitcher of Bul - which is a really refreshing beer cocktail - perfect for nice weather! I decided to have the jerk chicken omelette which came with beans and home fries. The potatoes were a little underdone but they were really flavorful. The omelette was super yummy - there were huge chunks of flavorful chicken and the omelette was cooked perfectly!
Staff is polite and service was pretty good. Prices are also decent.
I think the bf would like this place so I'll probably take him here at one point. Plus I'd love to try the non-brunch menu and the red fries!Comment from Amrita W. of Tropix Caribbean Restaurant 10/3/2010
Kim, Thank you for your review. We really appreciate your… More » -
Review from Ross T.
Oakland, CA
9/11/2010
This is one of those restaurants you go to once every two years - just about as long as it takes to forget the reason you haven't been there in so long. In this case, it's the service. My wife and I ate here last week (yes, about 24 months since the last time). As we sat down, we both had this deja vu feeling that there was a reason we hadn't been here in a while.
Sure enough, the bad service started as soon as we were seated. The place was pretty quiet, but it still took too long to get even water and their (admittedly delicious) cornbread. We had to flag down the waitperson to place our order (it wasn't even her table). My wife ordered wine, and we had to remind them to bring it. A pet peeve of ours is getting the check and waiting forever for them to come back to take payment. That's just crazy.
We began to have major flashbacks about our last experience at Tropix which included being served the wrong dish, long waits, and no apologies. I believe we actually sent something back the last time because the order was incorrect. And, guess what? They charged us for it anyway, which led to an argument with the manager. Unusual and delicious food do not make up for two poor dining experiences in a row and the angst of having to remind and confront the staff on various points of customer service.
Another thing they seem to do overly well is seating you at the worst possible table, even when the place is empty. We're finally done with Tropix, and part of the reason I'm writing this is so I can read it myself as a reminder so I don't make the mistake of eating here again. -
Review from Becky C.
Oakland, CA
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've experienced better - like when this place used to serve more than six Caribbean dishes. Apparently they've switched from being an island restaurant to an Indian restaurant that serves a handful of Caribbean dishes. The bul is as good as ever but the food was not. I doubt we'll go back (even though the back patio is adorable).
-
Review from Jason M.
Campbell, CA
2/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really enjoyed the fried Calamari appetizer.
Our main dishes were Drunken Chicken and Stuffed Flank Steak
The sweet potatoes with the Drunken chicken were amazing.
My wife loved the flank steak and the chipotle potatoes with the steak were amazing
The vegetables were cooked to perfection, not overcooked like many restaurants. -
Review from Andy V.
Oakland, CA
7/6/2010
I have to disagree with the Yelp consensus here, because I really enjoyed my experience at Tropix. It's an interesting place to be, especially on a nice sunny day out on their patio sitting area. It's covered with plant life, and once you step to the back area, you feel like you're in another country, away from the hustle and bustle of Oakland.
There's a lot of great things about this place:
1) Cornbread with peppers. It's on the house, and it's really good.
2) Bul. Basically beer watered down with sugar, rice, and lime juice. Pretty much perfect for a summer day.
3) The food. It's a great place for brunch type eating. They have a large variety of omelets and breakfast style foods. Pancakes, eggs, etc etc.
I can't really describe how much fun the patio area is. It's a good place to chill. Our waiter was kind of mousy, but he was very friendly. Tropix is top notch for me.Listed in: Andy V's 5 Stars
Comment from Amrita W. of Tropix Caribbean Restaurant 10/3/2010
Andy thank you for your review. We are honored to be on your… More » -
Review from Colleen B.
Oakland, CA
4/20/2010
I have been here a few times and this was a few years back, it was A-OK --especially out on their outdoor patio.
Tropix is a good choice for lunch/outdoor dining but it looses it's charm inside. Last night was cold so we dined inside..........I found it a little drab and depressing.
First off - I like their warm jalapeno bread, it's served with some sweet/savory spicy sauce, so first impression is - this is going to be good!
Real impression --- this sucked.
We requested the chicken noodle soup as a starter. It was DEAD ON ARRIVAL, grey and cold. I have seen a cadaver look better then this soup. We told our waiter it was cold, and he brought a hot bowl for us. This is where gross crosses into revolting. Even heated this soup appeared to be grey, too much overcooked onion, a ton of stale tasting oregano (too much and overpowering) and not a hint of acid (needed lemon or lime).
Lessons learned - grey food doesn't taste good.
Next came our entrees --Gumbo and Jerk Chicken. The chicken dish was served with luke warm rice and beans and mixed vegetable. The chicken was marinated and grilled to to death, or the chef was being the true "Jerk" and re-grilled. Whatever the reason -- there was no respect paid to the bird, so lots of water was needed to wash it down. I left 1/2 on my plate (and I was starving)
The gumbo was served on a bed of rice in a bowl. While the color was rich, it didn't have much meat to it, and the Cinnamon was overpowering. If that is true Caribbean flavors - I say ~meh~, no thanks.
Maybe I'm not a fan of Carribean cuisine, but this place has gone downhill, it boasts it's Zagat and "Check, Please" worthy - but it's been years. It seems to me like the owner has lost his lust/interest in the spot. So sad.
Booo Tropix.. -
Review from Marivic P.
San Francisco, CA
8/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Owners Paul and Shebay were helpful and attentive even assured me that if I didn't like the Chicken Tikka Masala it will be free. We'll, I liked the food just fine and so did the kids and my hubby. We all had a nice dining experience. The outside patio deco reminded the kids of the movie they recently saw at the Chabot Space Center - Monsters, Inc, with all the colorful assortment of doors to choose from.
-
Review from Andrew M.
Moraga, CA
6/1/2010
I was inspired to write this review by finding Tropix's take-out menu while cleaning.
My dad and I ate here a few months ago. We had Poppa Rigoberto's Mango Pork and the special (some kind of squash (acorn squash-shaped, but larger) casserole served in a roasted half of said squash), respectively. Both dishes were delicious, as was the warm cornbread and cool mango chutney (with a nice kick). The one server was busy, but still very attentive. I will definitely eat here again. -
Review from Ed U.
Day-o, Day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
I think I might have missed the banana boat on Tropix. It's been around for over a decade, and I had been meaning to try it for that long since I used to live on the other side of the 'hood. But it's on that stretch of Piedmont Avenue upon which I never stroll, so it remained a glint out of my eye as I was driving back across the bay...at least until last weekend. That's when I found my inner Harry Belafonte and decided to give it a go for breakfast.
The place has a fetching quality with all the orange and blue on the walls and a huge mural along the front hallway. It's separated into three small rooms with an inviting patio in the back that was closed due to the inclement weather. The menu matches the colorful decor with dishes that really make you feel you're on vacation. I was immediately drawn to the $9.95 Picadillo, described as a Cuban-style "hash" that uses grilled tri-tip instead of corned beef. It's mixed with onions, garlic, green olives and raisins (see photo).
With all that good stuff going on, I was rather underwhelmed by the overall flavor. It was quite bland for a self-styled Caribbean dish even though it came with black beans, rice, "island homefries" and a couple of small tortillas. That's a lot on one plate, but there was no edge to it. Spices seemed strangely lacking for such an exotic dish. I did like the spicy cornbread that came out first, and the mango marmalade cut through the chiles inside. When it works, sweet and savory can be flavorful, but I think Tropix takes the easy way out in the execution of their island-style recipes.
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
FOOD - 3 stars...island food with little kick
AMBIANCE - 4 stars...I like the Caribbean decor as it never quite veers toward the tacky
SERVICE - 3 stars...OK but not very conversational
TOTAL - 3 stars...it was OK but me wan' go home -
Review from T A.
Alameda, CA
11/11/2008
Well I've been to the Caribbean, but I didn't eat the food (I know, that's ridiculous). Good thing they have some in O-town, right on Piedmont Ave!
I wasn't really impressed with the jalapeno cornbread or the mango chutney that came with it. The cornbread was kinda dry.
I ordered the appetizer of Plantanos w/black bean sauce. They were pretty good, nothing spectacular. The dish was missing something so, I ordered a side of habanero salsa to go with it and that kicked things up a tad. My friend who swears he can handle all things hot and spicy got a oral beat down from the amount of spice. It was so nice to bring him down a few notches (F'ing Gringo!)
The calamari tasted like nuggets of 'fried'. That's all, just fried. I could not taste the calamari at all, just crunchy fried fried.
In hindsight, something was missing and I believe it was ambiance music. I feel they should play Caribbean inspired music to make you feel like you're actually there...something that makes you wanna 'chick chickie boom' AND 'pass the dro'.Listed in: Piedmont Ave.
-
Review from Leah E.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 8/15/2009
CHECK, PLEASE! BAY AREA: SEASON 2: EPISODE 16 (#216)
After being ignored, yelled at and starved at Ohgane Korean Restaurant (see my ZERO star review), BF and I had to find another place to have dinner.
We decided to take a stroll on Piedmont Avenue to work out our anger. We were still very pissed from being treated horribly at Ohgane. We ended up at Tropix at the far end of Piedmont Ave.
DATE: August 14, 2009 @ 9 PM
THE VENUE: Shotgun style. You'll pass by the open kitchen and walk through narrow long ramp. You'll end up at tiny but bright dining area painted in the colors of the Carribean (yellow, brick-red). Soothing Bahamas inspired artwork. Tables for 2 and a view of the patio outside.
THE AMBIANCE: The place was empty at 9pm. BF and I were the only ones there. A nice quiet treat for us.
THE SERVICE: Very polite, friendly and efficient.
THE FOOD:
-Complimentary CORNBREAD and SWEET FRESH MANGO SALSA
- DEEP-FRIED STUFFED PORK LOIN and salsa as apps
-Me: CALYPSO SHRIMP with rice
-BF: "SPECIAL CHICKEN" with really spicy mashed potatoes (Rolled chicken breast stuffed with proscuitto.)
THE TAB: $51.63 (including a glass of Malbec, diet coke and tax before tip)
OUR THOUGHTS:
-One of the servers during our previous visit said, "You either love this place or hate this place." We did not necessarily hate the place but we did not love it this time.
-If there's one thing I used to really enjoy at Tropix was the spicy cornbread and salsa. I used to make a meal out those two. The cornbread last night was very dry. The salsa was still very yummy-sweet and fresh.
-The deep-fried pork loin was actually very good. Hot, flavorful and juicy. I kept on eating it thinking it was chicken breast. BF said he thought I knew it was pork.
-Our main dishes were "meh." My Calypso shrimp dish came in 2 skewers with pineapple, peppers and 3 shrimps each. They were bland including the rice. One thing that Carribean food is not is BLAND. BF's mashed potatoes were overyly spicy. I ended up pouring the mango salsa on my shrimps and rice to give them some flavor.
-This place is a hit or miss. I will return but not soon unless I want a bright, uplifting and casual place to have a sangria.Listed in: Saturdays with Boyfriend 2009, Gotta Love Oakland!, 2008 Saturdays with Boyfriend, As Seen on TV or the Movies, CHECK, PLEASE! BAY AREA
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/29/2008
CHECK, PLEASE! BAY AREA: SEASON 2: EPISODE 16 (#216)
They say "you either love this place or hate… Read more »
-
-
Review from Nancy R.
San Francisco, CA
12/18/2007
An old staple of mine when I'm visiting the parents in Oakland. Generous, heaping plates of vegetarian (portbella mushroom), carniverous (drunken chicken), and extra carniverous (drunken goat). See, the Jamaicans are smart, they catch an animal by getting it drunk and waiting for it to pass out. I'd be so fired from that job because I'd drink the bait.
Of course, nearly every review I write has a story behind it, and this one's no different. It was the site of a "what comes around goes around" incident that happened about 4 years ago. I decided to have my bridal shower here instead of doing it at someone's house. I vetoed party games and gooey wedding albums and anything too bridey. Had a fun, casual dinner with all the important women in my life (my bridesmaids, mom, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, and cousins). Someone calls my name. I turn around and it's my ex-boyfriend, the one who broke up with me 3 years previously. He's with his wife who he LEAVES at his table, doesn't introduce us, and proceeds to chat me up.
"So what, is it ladies' night, or what?"
"Um, actually, it's a celebration. A bridal shower."
"Oh, who's the lady?"
"Me. I'm getting married."
The look on his face was priceless, along with the presence of my ladies to have my back while they laughed at his sorry ass. -
Review from Kara R.
5/17/2009
I'm convinced that the person who writes the brunch menu at Tropix is a professional cock-tease. Every time I go, I am excited and hungry reading the menu, yet when my food comes I suffer the foodie equivalent of blue balls.
My eggs and hash were overcooked and bland. My beans were flavorless and the cornbread was dry. I have had better meals here, though, and the special chicken omelet of one of my dining companions was tasty. Hence, the A-OK rating.
They get major bonus points for the back patio, which on a sunny day is blissfully relaxing. And when you have good company, the slow service is easy to ignore.Listed in: Brunching
-
Review from Keane L.
8/7/2006
I've tried the Gumbo and the Jambalaya. Both are good, but they would be better if they weren't about $14 each. My girlfriend* had the Drunken Chicken (alright) and the Blackened Salmon. The Blackened Salmon was probably one of the better dishes we've tried. It comes with mashed potatoes and collard greens, both prepared with altitudinous superfluity. I don't know what that means either.
The appetizers were definitely the most interesting. The Island Sampler was amazing (Yucatan Corn and Black Bean Cakes, Mambo Skewers, and Saltcod and Potato Croquettes). The complimentary jalapeno cornbread was good, and I discovered that they will not deny you the pleasure of more if you ask (but they will forget to bring it - to which I should add they are very busy and don't have a huge staff). Fried plantains were also excellent.
The heated patio is lovely. It's a nice experience being there. Order a refreshing pitcher of Bul and you'll be whisked away to someplace more relaxing and cricket-filled... Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.
Magical.
*Ex-girlfriend. God, I wrote this a long time ago... -
Review from Devon F.
7/16/2007
Day Oh Day Oh Day Oh Day Oh
Day me say Day Oh (Day light come and me no want to go home)
Day me say Day Oh (Day light come and me no want to go home)
Dance all night until the morning come (Day light come and me no want to go home)
Mannish water, fish tea, rum punch (Day light come and me no want to go home)
Come Mr. Sound-man string up on the corner (Day light come and me no want to go home)
Play some selection nice up 'bout on yah (Day light come and me no want to go home)
With six foot, seven foot, eight foot box (Day light come and me no want to go home)
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot box (Day light come and me no want to go home)
Day me say Day Oh (Day light come and me no want to go home)
Day me say Day, me say Day, me say Day, me say Day, me say Day Oh (Day light come and me no want to go home)
(Day light come and me no want to go home)
(Day light come and me no want to go home)
--------------------
Ahhhh, Tropix, take me away! I feel like I'm on vacation when I come here.
Few things are finer than sitting on the back patio at sunset with a pitcher of bul (a lime-and-sugar-infused beer that tastes like lemonade).
Dishes are delicious - Jerk Salmon, Drunken Chicken, and the Seafood Jambalaya are all top notch choices. Lots of spicy and tropical fruit influenced food.
Everyone seems happy and carefree here - attentive waitstaff, and the diners talk and joke with one another. It's often hard to find a sense of community in the city, but I feel so comfortable at Tropix.
The decorations consist of palm fronds and space heaters and pastel colored window shutters and doors strewn about the back fence.
Tucked away in a smallish space on Piedmont Avenue, it's a complete departure from the ordinary restaurant. Ideal if you want to head to the Caribbean but lack the funds to do so.
Mr. Belafonte would more than approve.Listed in: Culinary Traveling
