Banana Boat Restaurant: Your Authentic Caribbean Comfort Food Hub in Brooklyn

Banana Boat Restaurant Introduce

For local users in New York seeking a genuine taste of the islands,

Banana Boat Restaurant

stands out as a beloved culinary anchor in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. Categorized primarily as a

Caribbean restaurant

, this establishment is renowned for serving authentic Jamaican cuisine that is both hearty and flavorful. It operates with a unique, self-serve buffet style, allowing customers the flexibility to build their own plate from an extensive selection of dishes, a model that makes it incredibly efficient for a

Quick bite

or a full, satisfying meal.

Banana Boat is a quintessential spot for comfort food, offering a rich tapestry of island favorites that are often praised in customer reviews. Dishes like the tender

Oxtail Combo

, savory

Curry Goat Combo

, and flavorful

Jerk Chicken Combo

are highly recommended, representing the essence of its reputation for serving

local specialty

food. The self-serve format, though occasionally the subject of customer feedback regarding pricing clarity, provides a significant advantage for diners who appreciate quick service and generous portions of diverse menu items, from

Rice and Peas

Macaroni Pie

and

Steam Cabbage

The restaurant is strategically positioned to serve the community throughout the day, being equally

Popular for

a filling

Breakfast

of classics like

Ackee and Saltfish

, a robust

Lunch

, or a comforting

Dinner

. It also addresses the metropolitan need for

Late-night food

, making it a reliable destination for both local residents and

Groups

Tourists

looking for an authentic and satisfying dining experience in a

Casual

atmosphere.

Location and Accessibility

Banana Boat Restaurant is ideally situated in a high-traffic, accessible area of Brooklyn, making it convenient for the dense New York population. Its address is

1138 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226, USA

, placing it centrally in the Flatbush neighborhood, a melting pot known for its strong Caribbean cultural presence.

For New Yorkers who value convenience, the restaurant offers a notable perk:

Free street parking

. While finding parking in Brooklyn can often be a challenge, the availability of free options near the location is a significant benefit for customers driving to the restaurant. Although detailed accessibility features like wheelchair access were not specified in the provided data, the general convenience and location on a major avenue enhance its accessibility to a broad customer base. The restaurant also provides a

Restroom

amenity for dine-in guests.

Services Offered

The service model at Banana Boat Restaurant is designed to maximize flexibility and convenience for a bustling urban clientele, focusing on fast service and diverse ordering channels:

Self-Serve Dining: The primary model operates as a self-serve system, allowing customers to quickly select their preferred portion sizes from the daily offerings for
Dine-in
or takeout.
Takeout Service: Quick and efficient
Takeout
is a core service, catering to locals on their lunch break or those grabbing dinner on the way home.
Delivery Options: Provides both standard
Delivery
and
No-contact delivery
, ensuring that the authentic Caribbean flavors can be enjoyed across the local service area.
All-Day Dining: Serves meals throughout the day, including
Breakfast
,
Lunch
, and
Dinner
, accommodating various schedules from early risers to late diners.
Payment Flexibility: Offers multiple convenient payment methods, including
Credit cards
,
Debit cards
, and
NFC mobile payments
.

Features / Highlights

Banana Boat Restaurant distinguishes itself in the competitive New York dining scene through its specific focus and operational style:

Authentic Caribbean Focus: The establishment is a dedicated
Caribbean restaurant
known for its commitment to serving
local specialty
dishes, particularly high-quality Jamaican cuisine like
Oxtail
,
Curry Goat
, and
Jerk Chicken
.
Buffet Style Selection: The self-serve model provides unmatched customization and speed, allowing customers to curate plates featuring small portions of various
Small plates
or build a full meal centered around their favorite protein.
All-Day Meal Coverage: The menu caters to all major meals, including traditional Caribbean
Breakfast
items like
Ackee and Saltfish
, making it a one-stop-shop for authentic cuisine at any hour.
Caters to Modern Needs: Offerings include both satisfying
Comfort food
and modern
Healthy options
, ensuring that the restaurant can meet diverse dietary goals.
Accessibility for Diverse Crowds: It is noted as
Good for kids
and is popular among
Solo dining
customers, reflecting its welcoming and casual
Atmosphere
.
Late-Night Availability: The provision of
Late-night food
makes it a valuable spot for New Yorkers with non-traditional schedules.

Contact Information

For local users in the New York region looking to contact the restaurant, here is the official information:

Address: 1138 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226, USA

Phone: (718) 484-1131

Mobile Phone: +1 718-484-1131

What is worth choosing

Banana Boat Restaurant is an essential choice for any New Yorker in search of authentic, flavorful, and filling Caribbean food, particularly those who appreciate Jamaican culinary traditions. What makes it truly worth choosing is the combination of its acclaimed menu and its operational efficiency. The fact that the restaurant

Serves local specialty

food with high ratings for its

Oxtail Combo

and

Curry Goat

speaks to its quality and commitment to authentic island flavors. The self-serve, buffet-style operation, while requiring customers to be mindful of pricing (particularly for premium items like salmon), ensures that service is fast—a key consideration in New York—and allows for perfect portion control and variety.

For local diners, the ability to stop in for a

Quick bite

, find

Free street parking

, and choose from a menu that spans

Breakfast

staples to

Late-night food

gives Banana Boat an undeniable edge in convenience. Whether you are a local who craves a taste of home, a worker looking for a quick and substantial

Lunch

, or a visitor exploring the culinary heart of Flatbush, Banana Boat delivers a reliable, casual, and flavorful dining experience that celebrates the very best of Caribbean comfort food.

Banana Boat Restaurant Details

Service options
No-contact delivery
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in

Highlights
Serves local specialty

Popular for
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Offerings
Comfort food
Healthy options
Late-night food
Quick bite
Small plates

Dining options
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Table service

Amenities
Restroom

Atmosphere
Casual

Crowd
Groups
Tourists

Planning
Accepts reservations

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
Good for kids

Parking
Free street parking

Banana Boat Restaurant Photos

Banana Boat Restaurant Location

Banana Boat Restaurant

New York Kings County Flatbush Flatbush Avenue

1138 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226, USA

Banana Boat Restaurant Reviews

An average rating of ★4.1 from 385 user reviews.

buffetcashierplatejamaican foodsalmonoxtailpastastewfresh foodself serve

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

They have some pretty good food here. There is a decent selection of food. They don’t tell you until you grabbed some salmon that’s it’s $15 a piece. Which is steep but ok, it wasn’t posted clearly before you grabbed any. I’ll eat that. But then it changed the price of my food to 19.99 /lb and I couldn’t separate the salmon so I could keep the regular food at buffet rate. A pound and a quarter plus the 1 price of salmon was over $40. Again the food is decent but the surprise pricing and the customer service will keep me away from this place. So just a heads up, if you have any question I would ask the staff beforehand.
July 03 · Ian Ellison
You come here after a long day of work and the lady in front doing cashier running her mouth in your head talking bout make sure you sanitize and wash, every single time I come here when I did sanitize. Also telling me put the food on the ledge to put the food on the plate cause it could tip over in my hand.. too many rules for a buffet. Why don’t you serve the people and get rid of the buffet?
September 03 · Nai 99
The food is decent but the cost per pound is crazy 90 dollars for rice, chicken oh and crab legs beef stew for two people so many other options in the neighborhood at a better price. All of the food is shown below. It was still delicious.
February 01 · nico h.
The customer service was not the best. My total was $22 and change and I asked why it came out to that price since the buffet rate is $6 and change per pound and the cashier was being smart with me and answered my question with another question. "What did you get?" So because I had half of a salmon (which you're not supposed to cut the salmon in half but there was one already cut in half and that's the one that I picked) she charged me the full salmon rate which is $13 and change per pound. My plate was 1.6 lb, I got the lo mein which was tasty but greasy, rasta pasta, cabbage, one chunk of yam, two pieces of fried chicken was perfection and half a salmon which was salty. I think $22 is wild for a plate of pasta and veggies with three little pieces of protein, weighing your food for it's price and the rate is dependent on which protein you get feels like a scam.
April 09 · Chasity Nunez
I’m a vegetarian and I can’t even eat out of here no more. This is my last day with you. Banana boat just went to get some food and the greens are sour stank no good in the heat you must look after your food 21 buck for salmon, vegetable rice, and some old ass greens good bye
June 12 · Maxine