Caribbean Scene

Caribbean Scene (Royale) in the Docklands is a fantastic restaurant. I’d been to the restaurant in Stratford and believed that I was heading to a franchise; however this restaurant has a distinct identity and with the exception of having the same name, is nothing like its counterpart. I ate there in the evening of Wednesday the 17th of March 2010 (you don’t forget great dinning experiences).

The restaurant is very well decorated and the clientele is diverse. This is not a typical run of the mill Caribbean eating experience with arguably the best customer service that I have experience in a Caribbean restaurant, or any restaurant. One of the best things about the restaurant is the pleasant, very attentive and attractive staff, in particularly the Manager Phil who does not confine himself in a back office and makes a point of greeting diners and engaging in conversation with them. This man is a veteran of the hospitality industry and has some remarkable ideas and really does operate a customer centred operation. This man is very much the face of this restaurant and this is a very good thing that will no doubt aid this business.
The price structure is reasonable in terms of what you get, however with my large appetite I would have appreciated larger portions (but then again I do eat more than an average person!). I had the very delicious garlic prawns and the lobster and sweet potato. This food was very well presented and very delicious, I had that dilemma of not knowing if I should eat the food or frame it! I say that a standard meal may cost in the twenties per person.
The food cater to everybody and is not too spicy, however if like me you like a spicy accompaniment to you dinning experience, they are only too happy to comply. The prices are about average for restaurant prices in London, but good value considering what you get. My date (both non drinkers) and I had the tropical punch on recommendation of Phil and believe me it was fantastic a fresh combination of a whole bunch of fruits, very refreshing and for all those who drink you can add rum or whatever else you fancy to this.

To be candid, I really don’t feel that there’s anything that I could type her that would do this establishment justice. I would recommend this restaurant to any one and it’s not surprising that they’re normally fully booked up on the weekends. The restaurant is also a favourite venue for wedding receptions and functions. This restaurant is based by the waterfront in Royal Victoria Dock and whilst this isn’t anywhere close to me, I would be very happy to make the journey again.

I can’t stress how impressed that I am with this restaurant and have already planned future visits. I haven’t ever written a restaurant review for dissemination or otherwise before, so it is a testament to just how first-rate this restaurant is. We never felt neglected and the restaurant was not quiet either, they had quite a decent number of people considering it was a Wednesday night and in spite of this we were not forgotten about. Considering my date and I were very engrossed in good conversation, the staffs were very patient with us. If you’re used to your local Caribbean restaurant when customer services is merely a theory this will surprise you, as it is a superior dinning experience and does elevate this type of dinning experience for the whole family. I hope that you’ll give them a chance and see what you think. You shouldn’t be disappointed.

The caribbean experience starts the minute you walk through the door, the decor is bright and breezy and you feel like you are actually in the caribbean. The waterside location is relaxing particularly in summer when you can dine al fresco.

The staff are polite and friendly, you are always greeted with a smile.

The menu offers a good selection – examples would be appetizers such as jerk chicken niblets and char grilled peppered prawns, for mains my favourites are escovitch fish or curry goat parcel. There are a large selection of side orders you can order to accompany your meal.

They have a good selection of drinks and lots of different rums which I always like to see.

The quality of the food is consistently good. I have tried other caribbean restaurants over the years and with the exception of The Mango Room in Camden, this is one of the best.

The service can sometimes be slow (which again in itself is very authentic caribbean laid back style) but this can be frustrating if you are in a rush.

I would recommend this restaurant to everyone whether you are looking for somewhere different to entertain business clients (although do make sure you tell the staff when you book and when you arrive that you are limited for time), a romantic meal for two or a special occasion.

It is more expensive than other caribbean restaurants and I wish they did a set menu which was a little cheaper. If they did then I would go more often.

I wish I had known about this restaurant before I got married as it would have made the perfect reception venue.

One small negative note to add about the Caribbean Scene brand is that they have another restaurant in Stratford which I have tried a few times now and have been left extremely disappointed on each occasion – it doesn't come close to the level of service or quality of food that the Docklands restaurant provides.