48th Street Grille

Overall experience was just ok.
The décor was nice and the staff were friendly and our waitress was attentive.
The wait time between ordering and eating was about 15 mins. Had the island wings to start which weren’t my favorite as it was really sweet. I had the jerk chicken entrée with Mac and cheese and rice and beans. My favorite thing on the plate was the rice which says a lot. To me authentic jerk chicken is marinated so flavor is throughout then grilled and not just baked chicken covered in jerk sauce so major loss of points there. The Mac and cheese was too wet if that makes sense (the cheese sauce didn’t stick to my macaroni. It was more like a Mac and cheese soup). My boyfriend ordered the curry goat which was actually good. The goat was tender and flavorful.
Would I go back? Probably not, but if I did it would be for the curry goat.

In town for the holiday, I know I would have a Philly cheesesteak, but I didn’t know I would find Caribbean food so close to the hotel, the atmosphere was pleasant and staff was great. The Owner/​Executive Chef Carl Lewis was in the kitchen. Carl came by our table not once but twice really appreciate it. The food spoke for itself.

My family came here for Mother’s Day and we left extremely dissatisfied. I like to rate restaurants on three things: Food, Service, and Atmosphere. All three were lacking at this restaurant.
My brother ordered Jerk Chicken and a side of fried plantains, my Mother ordered the baked salmon, and I ordered the «Rasta Pasta» with jerk chicken. My brother said his food was alright, not terrible, but passable. My mother enjoyed her salmon, but found the vegetables to be very tough and undercooked. My pasta was practically floating in the thinnest «sauce» I have ever had. It was pretty much soup. The jerk chicken addition consisted of one or two pieces of chicken with the rest of the dish being made of a way too many bell pepper strips thrown on top of the pasta soup.
The service was totally inattentive. Our waiter forgot our requests multiple times and needed to be reminded we ordered a drink or to bring us a dish. My brothers side of plantains was stuck in kitchen limbo for an incredible length of time. We waited so long on some of our dishes that we had to get them to go.
This is a small restaurant and there’s nothing wrong with the that, but they cram people inside. On top of that a few of the tables sit incredibly low. I’m 6’5, so it was a total inconvenience for me, but I’m use to that. My 5’9 brother on the other hand is a normal height and had leg difficulties too. There were also gnats flying around our table.
For a restaurant that has been around for a year, I’d hope that they would fix the many issues plaguing the place. I understand that it was Mother’s Day and they were busy, but I’m not going to give this place another chance to ruin a dining experience for me. They should pay extra attention to the details on special occasions. I don’t know how eating here on a regular night would be like.

My friend and i decided to go here for lunch. This was our first visit and me being the food enthusiast i am was very excited to try it for the 1^st time. The menu is 2 pages with your traditional Carribean fair like oxtail and curry chicken but also includes some unique items like garlic shrimp with a pinapple ranch sauce?? We opted for the jerk chicken entre, shrimp linguine, with conch fritters for the appetizer. I will say that the freshly made sorrel was pretty good but our ½ of the conch fritters we not cooked all the way. We were so hungry we just ate around the uncooked dough. My friend was not impressed with her pasta. i was looking for authentic jerk chicken cooked on a pit but when i asked the waitress how it was cooked, she refused to answer only saying that the owners /​cooks made it in their own uniwue way. What was thst about? I ordered it anyway. I should have listened to my gut and ordered something else. The chicken was spicy but had some weird sweet sauce on it. I guess to balance out the heat. I could’ve gone without it. They really should give people a choice of what kind of sauce they want.
The place was ok overall. It felt like maybe the flavors had been mellowed American palettes. My search for authentic carribean food continues…

The menu had so many great looking choices, it was hard to decide. We took a waitress’ advice and had the blackened salmon. It was out of this world. We also ordered the cornbread– do not skip it. The best I’ve ever had. Our dinner companion had a pork chop and mashed potato and loved it. When the waitress heard him thank me for his birthday treat, she insisted on bringing out warm bread pudding with ice cream and a birthday candle. The bread pudding was divine. We also had a side of fried plantains with our dinner, and vegetable potstickers as an appetizer. Excellent menu with authentic Carribean dishes. Beautiful simple atmosphere and friendly staff. So glad we found it.

Great food, great staff! Such authentic flavor in a warm welcoming environment. Kind considerate and inviting staff with an impeccable menu selection. Stopped by for lunch, will be back for dinner.
I also love that it’s BYOB so me and my friends will definitely be taking advantage of that in the future.

I tried #48thStreetGrille again. It is a Caribbean themed restaurant in the #UniversityCity area of #Philadelphia. I had garlic chicken with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. It was really well seasoned and flavorful. The mash was perfect and so was the veg. My only criticism is that the chicken didn’t taste strong ofgarlic which I love but I was told that was just me. The first time that I ate there I had a Angus burger that was unimpressive and I’m sure was premade or boxed; during lunch. I wouldn’t suggest going during lunch as the portions don’t in any way match the cost and the taste doesn’t make up for it. I would definitely suggest going during dinner.
#Food #Foodie #foodporn #EatWell # Philly #EatOut #Yelp

Awesome food and great service!!!
I ate the island wings which had a good spice but my favorite was their spicy shrimp and mac&cheese. Although my food was good, I was upset I didn’t try their fried wings and waffles. My friend had that dish and he loved it and it looked great! It’s a family business and the manager stop by and ensured everyone was enjoying their food! That’s is a testament to great service. I don’t live in the area but I would definitely come back.

Although the menu can be a bit pricey, I’m just pleased to know that there is finally an outstanding and consistent kitchen and restaurant not only in West Philadelphia, but past 45^th Street. The staff are welcoming and the food comforting – a real treasure in the local neighborhood.

I really enjoyed my outing here. I went for lunch with my girlfriends and we were overall impressed with the service and the food. I liked that it was very quaint and clean. It sure beat heading to Center City and having to fight for parking.
My sister and I both had chicken dishes that came with rice and cabbage. Love me some cabbage, so I quite enjoyed the way they seasoned and added veggies to it. I believe it was referred to as ‘braised’ cabbage. And the beans and the stewed chicken… YUM! My chicken straight fell off the bone. Everyone knows that is the litmus test for some tender chicken. When that happens, you know the chicken is about to be good!
I added a side of plantains, and honestly this place made me appreciate plantains done right. I’ve had some dry, tasteless ones in the past. Can’t say that about these. I had dessert too. Tasty rum cake.
My friends raved about everything they had, and I was cheered for recommending this place, so I will definitely go back. Maybe for a date night next time.

I ordered a Jerk chicken sandwich with fries. The food looked great but the chicken was very tough and hard to eat. I’m sad to say the fries was best thing on the plate

Found this place after they catered an event I attended. Loved the island wings, their vegetable slaw (thinly sliced zucchini, carrots, & squash), and rice & peas, which is dry (as it should be)!
Their salt fish fritters were tasty and so was the Mac ‘n cheese. I’m looking forward to trying their curry and oxtail. I’ll update my review once I try those items.
The venue is nice and large with good lighting.

Great food!
I enjoyed eating here. The owners came out and greeted everyone. The food was delicious. There was a nice selection of many different Caribbean treats.
The only thing that really bothered me about this place was the tables that they used. The table I sat at was very uncomfortable. It had a very large base that angled up towards the center. It didn’t leave me anywhere to put my feet and I had to put my body in a weird position so that I could reach my food. Very uncomfortable. If they could use different tables then j would say this place would be pretty much perfect.
I still highly recommend eating here. The friendly owners plus the delicious food make me give this a 4 star rating. Fix the table situation and I will definitely change my review to 5 stars.
I will back for more :)

We discovered this place through University City Dining Days. Their Carribbean fare was off the beaten path of pizza, Ethopian and Asian fusion you find prevalent in West Philadelphia.
We didn’t making it for Dining Days, but came back in early September, when it was both warm and cool enough to have the doors and windows open to the night air. The interior is all colors and soft lighting.
The menu is two pages — a modest selection of appetizers, sandwiches, pastas, entrees and beverages — with a decent dessert selection that changes EVERY NIGHT. We’ve had an Oreo mousse cake, a sweet potato cheesecake and their signature bread pudding on different visits. All have been top notch.
And it’s not just dessert that’s fabulous here — every entrée, app and sandwich has been unique in flavor and high quality. We especially love the curried chicken dumplings, the corn bread ($ 1.50 for a slice is a steal — it’s huge!), the jerk chicken club sandwich, the marinated pork chop and the curry shrimp or chicken entrees. Honestly, I would just probably feel safe ordering what speaks to you, since we loved it all. The spice is a warm heat that spreads from your tongue, into your belly. No fierce kicks of fire here.
The waitstaff are pleasant and helpful. It’s BYO, so you can have quite the night of dining without a big bill at the end. (There is a build your own 6 pack place around the corner on Pine between 47^th and 48^th, too!)
Best of all — the chef, Carl, comes out some nights to greet patrons and see how they are enjoying their visit. He is one of the highlights for me — not just because he cooks such amazing food — but because he gives 48^th Street Grille a persona, a face, a kind smile.
I would recommend this restaurant to anyone in West Philadelphia who hasn’t tried it and can stroll over — and those who don’t live nearby as a destination for dinner. It will be well worth it.

Went here with a girlfriend for lunch on a Friday a few weeks ago. It was not crowded so we were seated right away. Our server was also very accommodating. The food was okay but nothing special really. I ordered the jerk chicken with rice and mixed veggies. The rice was very bland and they did not have any of the desserts I wanted so that was disappointing.
The fresh flowers on the table were a nice touch and I did like the décor but if I was management I would consider investing in non paper menus.
Overall I’d probably give them another shot but I’m not rushing back.

Boyfriend decided we should dine here on a beautiful Sunday afternoon; my baby made an excellent choice!
We walked in & the restaurant is pretty small. Our waitress was so cute! She was friendly and attentive. We ordered lemonade & a coke to start with. We were bought this YUMMY bread; it was so tasty!
The owner came out to check on us. I thought that was a beautiful touch for our afternoon luncheon. It really made a lasting impression on us. I felt as though he truly cares about his customer & their happiness. Loved it!
We then ordered the island wings; they were DELICIOUS! They were wonderfully seasoned. We only ordered 5 (I should have listened to my babe + ordered 10) I could have ordered a few of those for lunch. My boyfriend and I both got the same dish: a large oxtail platter with rice and peas & macaroni cheese. The oxtail was PURE PERFECTION. Personally, I could have added more spice but that’s a PERSONAL preference. They were generous pieces of meat that fell off the bone. I was so full that I ended up giving my baby three or four of my pieces seeing as I couldn’t finish them! The mac & cheese was so good! It was extra cheesy and came out pipping hot! The rice and peas were excellent as well.
I would most DEFINITELY RETURN! I can’t wait to come back to this amazing restaurant again. Five stars aren’t enough for this place!

This is a wonderful family-​owned establishment. After seeing all the rave reviews, I was excited to try out this restaurant and its Caribbean offerings. The service was friendly, and the chef-​owner even came out to greet us during our meal, which was a very nice touch. This experience started off at 5 solid stars.
We started off with the Island wings appetizer, which was delicious and consisted of fried chicken wings glazed with a flavorful sweet and tangy sauce, accompanied by a side of shredded vegetable salad. (Also 5 stars.)
For our entrees, we had the Braised Oxtail dish and Curried Bone-​in Goat. The proteins were nicely cooked and were immersed in very flavorful sauces (albeit a bit on the salty side), but the rice and vegetables that accompanied this dish were overcooked to a mush and flavorless. It seemed like we were served leftovers.
Meanwhile, my lemonade, which was clearly fresh-​squeezed, would have been much tastier with a lot less sugar. If I had not been saturated with so much sugar, I would have had more room for dessert, which looked very delicious. (Minus 1 star.)
The restaurant’s décor is very nice, and the space itself is very large. I could see this as a great place to hold a birthday gathering. When we arrived, there was only one other diner, and the hostess kindly gave us a choice of seating.
However, I was very disappointed that despite the large, almost empty restaurant, a party of 4 was sat elbow-​to-​elbow next to us even before our appetizer arrived. I do not blame this party for speaking loudly and having a great time, as they are entitled to — I think it’s a wonderful thing. However, as a couple trying to enjoy a nice Sunday lunch, I really wanted to be able to hear my significant other speak to me from across the table. Since the seats along the wall are all connected, and my very large neighbors kept shuffling in their seats, my seat kept bouncing up and down while I was trying to enjoy my food. There were two empty tables on the other side of my neighbors for a decent portion of the meal, where they could have been seated and everyone could have had a better experience. (Minus 1 star.)
Also, they did not offer us the rolls and butter that they offered the table next to us. Not sure what happened here. As someone who was excited to try this place out and perhaps consider it as a regular destination, I was very disappointed by this experience and don’t foresee coming back. (Minus half a star.)

I discovered this restaurant today on a whim and it’s flipping amazing. I had the oxtail and substituted yams and fried plantains in place of the menu’s listed veggies. It was very very good. The restaurant itself is well lit, spacious, and generally bright and cheery.
I suggest trying the homemade lemonade and at least one of the appetizers, all are to die for.
The staff, from the hostess to the waitress to the chef were all incredibly friendly and hospitable. Honestly one of the best dining out experiences I’ve had in quite awhile. Highly, highly recommended.

Firstly, can I say that this is economic development at its best? What a wonderful, vibrant addition to the 48^th and Spruce neighbourhood. Marcus, our server, told us that he had known the owner since he was little and that this was his dream, finally realized. Nothing like a successful new small business to give me hope and optimism for the world. Kudos to these guys.
[ food ]
A friend and I split the chili glazed salmon platter, with collard greens and sweet mashed potatoes. The chef accidentally gave us normal mashed potatoes (which were delicious anyway, highly recommended) so we got a side of sweet mashed potatoes for free when Marcus realized the error, and those were great as well.
The salmon filet was perfectly cooked — just the right combination of tender and crispy, and the chili glaze was perfectly balanced. No complaints about the food at all, and we will certainly be ordering delivery if we can’t make the hike out to 48^th from Penn campus.
Prices are reasonable and serving sizes are huge — great value for money too!
[ décor ]
Clean, home-​like, diner-​style. A couple of bars and a TV, and also nice family-​sized tables. Comfy, friendly, non-​imposing vibe — almost reminded me of a kindergarten classroom, but in a good way. :) Oh and the fans look like palm leaves! Cute touch.
[ service ]
Marcus is so invested in his job — he worked straight through his break to make sure everyone was happy and when we asked him why, he said it was because he had known the owner since he was a child and he was so happy to see his dreams realized. I love stories like this. This is how strong businesses are born.
The chef personally came around to ask every single table how the meals were, and our plates were licked clean.
[ overall ]
Fantastic addition to West Philadelphia. Will certainly be returning. The epitome of a successful small business story! :D

Unilocalers this is a must try.
Since they just opened up a couple of weeks ago 48^th Street grille might be under the radar, but you won’t be disappointed.
I was pleasantly greeted to a beautifully decorated restaurant with high ceilings. It was impeccably clean and smelled great inside.
Also, I was warmly greeted by every staff member. Their social interactions were genuine. People skills were top notch.
Since so many people mentioned the jerk chicken sandwich I had to try. Served on a Le Bus role, with pickled onions, tomato, lettuce, mayo, a pickle, and pineapple relish. The portion of the chicken wasn’t huge but the sandwich was delicious… can I say almost orgasmic! Sandwiches are served with one side of your choice. I went with plantains, which were cooked well and tasty. I saw cheese grits, and want to try in the future.
They had a nice cake display and also offered some other pastries that I didn’t try, but might when I go back again.
This place is a little pricey for the neighborhood, but I am confidant that their chef can whip up meals that are worth pitching in a couple of extra dollars.