Pitkin Caribbean

- 1728 Pitkin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11212

Introduction / Overview

In the vibrant, resilient heart of Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood stands Pitkin Caribbean Bakery & Restaurant, an institution whose legacy began in 1981. More than just a local business, this establishment embodies community spirit, having initially risen from the ashes of a burnt-out building to become a beacon of cultural cuisine. While first established purely as a bakery, a change in ownership in 1999 saw its mission expand significantly, evolving into the hybrid bakery and full-service Caribbean restaurant beloved by locals today.

Pitkin Caribbean Bakery & Restaurant is renowned for consistently delivering a comforting "taste of 'home'" through the rich culinary traditions of Jamaica. This is a family dedicated to serving and nurturing its community for over three decades, a commitment evident in the food’s consistent quality and the palpable pride of the owners and staff. The menu seamlessly blends the bakery's foundation—offering irresistible pastries, coco bread, and handmade patties—with an expansive array of authentic Caribbean dinners, rotis, and brunch specialties.

The operational philosophy centers on a "Quick visit" format, ensuring that busy New Yorkers can savor tantalizing, complex dishes, like mouthwatering jerk chicken and flavorful curries, without sacrificing precious time. It identifies proudly as a Black-owned business and champions an inclusive environment, fostering strong ties to the New York community through culture, cuisine, and music.

Location and Accessibility

Pitkin Caribbean Bakery & Restaurant occupies a prominent and historically significant address at 1728 Pitkin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11212, placing it right in the center of the Brownsville neighborhood, a district concentrated with NYCHA housing. Its location on Pitkin Avenue ensures high visibility and acts as a central gathering point for the surrounding community.

Accessibility is a key priority for this community staple. The venue features a Wheelchair accessible entrance, ensuring that all patrons can access the establishment comfortably. While the immediate area is typical of a dense Brooklyn commercial strip, requiring reliance on local street parking, the business notes the availability of Paid street parking, which is a common urban trade-off.

For patrons relying on public transportation, the Pitkin Avenue corridor is well-served by local buses, providing direct access. The 11212 zip code is known to be situated near major transit lines that connect residents across East Brooklyn and beyond, making the bakery a convenient stop for a quick bite, takeout, or delivery order before or after commuting.

Services Offered

The services at Pitkin Caribbean Bakery & Restaurant reflect its dual identity as both a dedicated bakery and a full-scale Caribbean kitchen, offering a wide array of choices for nearly any time of day.

• Full Caribbean Menu: Beyond the standard bakery items, the kitchen offers extensive Dinner options (including Oxtail Dinner, Curry Goat Dinner, and Whole Snapper Dinner), Roti wraps (such as Jerk Pork Roti and Curry Shrimp Roti), and hot, hearty Soups (like Cow Foot Soup and Vegan Red Peas Soup).
• Bakery Staples: The original foundation of the business remains strong, offering a variety of fresh-baked goods including Mild and Spicy Beef/Chicken Patties, Coco Bread, Small Hard Dough Bread, Sweet Potato Pone, and Jamaican Fruit Cake Slice (Black Cake).
• Brunch Service: The restaurant provides a dedicated Breakfast and Brunch service, featuring traditional Jamaican morning fare such as Ackee And Saltfish, Saltfish, and various Porridges (Oatmeal and Cornmeal).
• Specialty Beverages: The menu includes a selection of popular Homemade Drinks in 32oz sizes, such as Sea Moss Drink, Sorrel Ginger, Cucumber Ginger, and Peanut Punch, often sought for their authentic flavors and nutritional benefits.
• Convenient Order Fulfillment: The business caters to the fast-paced New York lifestyle by offering both Takeout and Delivery service options, facilitating easy access to its cuisine for those in the 11212 area and surrounding communities.
• Payment Flexibility: The business accepts modern methods of payment, including Credit cards and Debit cards, providing a streamlined transaction process for all patrons, though some platforms may note Cash only for certain direct transactions.

Features / Highlights

Pitkin Caribbean Bakery & Restaurant boasts several key features and highlights that make it a cherished and trusted establishment within the Brooklyn community.

• Generational Legacy and Longevity: Established in 1981, the bakery holds a 40+ year legacy in Brownsville. Customers frequently attest to its decades-long presence, with some loyal patrons visiting for "30+ years," emphasizing the food’s consistent, high quality.
• Community Hub and Black Ownership: The restaurant proudly Identifies as Black-owned and fosters an inclusive environment that is specifically noted as LGBTQ+ friendly and a Transgender safe space, positioning it as a welcoming and diverse community center.
• Food Consistency and Freshness: Customer reviews repeatedly highlight that the food is "cooked fresh daily" and is "made consistently with TLC," which speaks to the dedication of the owners—"Error and his wife"—who are praised for their pride and love of what they do.
• Signature Menu Items: Specific items frequently praised include the delicious krust and flavor on the Beef Patties, the amazing Fried Dumplings, and the restorative quality of their Soups, which one patron singled out as "the BEST!!!".
• Authentic and Comprehensive Menu: The breadth of the menu, encompassing everything from savory Oxtail Dinners and Stew Peas to sweet Coconut Rolls and Carrot Cake, truly reflects the rich and complex culinary traditions of Jamaica.
• Customer Service Focus: The service is consistently described as "awesome" and the staff as "accommodating, personable and friendly," creating a positive and welcoming atmosphere that encourages repeat visits.

Contact Information

To experience the authentic taste of Jamaica and the welcoming service of this Brooklyn institution, patrons can utilize the following contact information:

• Address: 1728 Pitkin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11212, USA.
• Phone: (718) 346-0497.

The restaurant operates six days a week, with regular hours from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Monday through Saturday. The business is typically closed on Sunday.

What is worth choosing

Choosing Pitkin Caribbean Bakery & Restaurant is an endorsement of local history, community values, and, most importantly, authentic, consistently excellent Caribbean cuisine. For any New Yorker seeking the real taste of Jamaica in a welcoming, established environment, this location is an essential destination.

It is worth choosing for the unwavering quality and flavor. Patrons are virtually guaranteed a fresh meal, often citing that the food is prepared daily and has maintained its delicious taste for decades. The food quality here stands out in a crowded market, as evidenced by a customer who stated that this place "did not disappoint" compared to other local options they deemed "trash." Whether one is craving a traditional, savory plate like Curry Goat or a classic baked item like a Mild Beef Patty, the food is reliably flavorful and seasoned beautifully.

Furthermore, the business's community presence and inclusive atmosphere are powerful factors. Its long-standing dedication to Brownsville, its status as a Black-owned establishment, and its commitment to being a welcoming space for all crowds, including the LGBTQ+ community, underscore its role as a socially responsible and deeply rooted local gem.

Finally, the hybrid menu is a major draw. Where else can one pick up a hearty Cow Foot Soup, an authentic Ackee And Saltfish brunch, and a freshly made Coco Bread and Peanut Punch, all in a single, convenient "Quick visit"? While a customer review did mention that the "small size was very small" for a dinner order, this is a minor note against the overwhelming positive feedback on freshness and flavor, and it serves as a simple reminder to patrons to select the dinner sizes that match their appetite. For a meal that truly tastes like home, crafted with love and care, Pitkin Caribbean Bakery & Restaurant on Pitkin Avenue is unequivocally worth the trip.

Pitkin Caribbean

1728 Pitkin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11212, USA