Irie Nation Restaurant & Bar

I have been popping in and out of Irie for three years now.
The food is priced on the higher end.
The serving size is great.
I have tried the brown stew chicken.
However, most of the time, I eat here, I get the curry chicken, red beans and rice, bake macaroni, and cheese with aside of cabbage.
Everything tastes great, with the exception of the food not being seasoned well.
It is a little on the bland side, but it's always fresh and hot and never dry..
Also, understand that everyone can't eat well seasoned food. My beans and rice were fully cooked.
My cabbage was fresh, so it was still a little crunchy but juicy / healthier.
The baked macaroni and cheese is a cheesy however not very seasoned.
Also, this time, I tried something different because I saw a special for the seafood soup.
It was amazing.
It was really good.
It was a little on the spicy side (which I loved but for the sake of the review just a heads up to people who don't like or cannot tolerate spicy), and it tastes a lot like Louisia gumbo.
The atmosphere is dark and not too pleasant.
However, there is a place to sit and wait for your food.
At times, it can get crowded because of the small space.
The environment is in a rough area of North charlotte.
However, it does not feel unsafe.
The customer service could be a lot better.
However, I do not ever have to wait long to receive my food.I'm normally in and out within 15 time frame due to my food already being laid out in front of me and I watch them make my platter.
Also, the beef and chicken Patty's are great.
I do not come here often, but when I do, I am satisfied.
Thanks. For your time, I hope this helps.

First time here.
Paid 25 dollars for this meal.
Okay here we go folks.
I did like the greens.
The rice had hard kernels in it.
I am a fan of oxtails.
But barbecue sauce flavored oxtails I am not.
And they were tough, not fall off the bone tender.
A lil fatty as well.
Too much oil in brown sauce as well.
This is definitely not authentic.
The best thing I had here was the greens a ginger beer.
I gave it a shot here.
Not worth price or experience.
Small oxtails.
I ate it just to not fully waste 25 dollars.
Yaw know my reviews.
I don’t play when it comes to food.
I’m a foodaholic.
Goodbye irie faking!!!!!

Let me start off by saying this is MY taste experience and MY opinion.
I did call the restaurant prior to leaving this review but was forwarded to their voice-mail.
Someone brought this food to me, and if I had been there, there was no way I'm eating at Irie today.
And btw, this was my first time having Irie.
This "particular" plate of food was of poor quality, and here's why: the plantains were not ripe, very hard.
In addition to that, upon my one AND only bite into the oxtails, they were not tender and had a weird, almost tomato-based like taste to them.
And honestly, I can't fault them for their seasoning, as every restaurant has a recipe for certain foods.
It just didn't work for me.
But whomever let this food go out the kitchen knew good & well, the plantains were not ripe and the oxtails cld have cooked a bit longer.
Along with the rice and peas being 🗑.
But my real irritation comes from that most if not all people work hard for their money and when spending $20+ for food, a certain level of quality & good taste "is expected".
I understand businesses have to make money, okay.
Absolutely! But when it's obvious that the food was not prepared/cooked properly with quality and served with no consciousness of that required quality, shame on the restaurant.
And especially, a West Indian establishment as most folks are drawn to the expectation of the authenticity of the food.
However, I literally tossed my plate in the trash.
I wouldn't give this plate of food to no one.
Yes, I'm a bit bothered that money was wasted, but I also understand I am taking a chance when eating outside of the home.
So, I am going to take this loss but leave this review.
Btw, I have a very deep and close connection to the West Indian community, so I know what authentic West Indian food tastes like (both Jamaican & Trinidadian).
Maybe it was an off day for Irie as we all experience those but, regardless I stand on top of what I said.
I expected better.