Flavor Eatery and Lounge - Tempe, Arizona

M G.

I read a featured article online about a new lounge/restaurant that featured Caribbean cuisine in Tempe. From the pictures and the article the food looked amazing. It looked the way jerk chicken was made back home as I’m not from AZ. I decided to make the 45 minute drive and enjoy some authentic jerk chicken. I walked in around 1:30pm and there was one other person sitting at the bar. I sat down at the bar also and the waitress greeted me and brought me a menu.

I ordered a cocktail, nothing crazy just a whiskey/sour which she didn’t seem to know how to pour. She pulled out 2 plastic cups and asked me which one I preferred, a small one or tall cup. I thought that was odd, but I told myself she probably isn’t a bartender. I looked at the menu and one side had more traditional American bar food like burgers/fries and the other had Caribbean food. I asked if they had fried chicken cause I never seen that on a menu with jerk chicken and she said they weren’t serving that today. She did however say that the jerk chicken was really good and was served fresh. She was nice and polite.

So I ordered a plate of jerk chicken with red beans/rice with steamed cabbage. After 5 minutes or so, the waitress came back to me and told me they were out of red beans/rice would I like to substitute a side. I chose thin potato wedges and they were out of those too. At this point I’m optimistic again, because places that serve Caribbean food I have been to, running out of items is a good sign. So I just asked for a double order of cabbage and French fries. I’m sitting about 10 feet from the kitchen and I don’t hear any noise. No meat cleaver hitting a cutting board. IYKYK. I’m worried again.

After about 15 minutes out comes my food. On my plate was 2 pieces of DRY/Sliced chicken breast with a jerk sauce on it and my cabbage was so crunchy I feel like it came out of a bag. It didn’t seem steamed at all. I’m not sure any heat element was ever introduced to the cabbage. The sauce was spicy but it was good. I would give the sauce a 3 out of 5.

Even though it looked nothing like what was advertised, I still tried the food. Needless to say I was disappointed. 1 out of 5. So I showed the waitress the article that got me to drive 45 minutes in and asked when do they serve jerk chicken that is bone in. She looked at it and said they normally serve it the way pictured and offered me a discount ($4.50). The problem I have is if she told me they were out of rice/beans, thin wedges, and they normally serve jerk chicken bone in, she should of told me they were out of jerk chicken too or at the very least it would be prepared differently. I would have then ordered something else. Instead she told me the jerk chicken was good and it was fresh leading me to believe it was going to be how it was pictured in the article.

I approached the owner and spoke with him about my experience. I wasn’t upset just extremely disappointed. He immediately told me he was on his way to go get more chicken. I’m fine if an establishment runs out of items but it was a Friday at 1:30pm. As a restaurant/lounge I would think you would be ready to go on one of your busiest days with your best selling item right? Maybe I’m wrong. He assured me they cook the chicken normally the way the article showed and offered me a free meal next time I come in. I’m pretty sure I’ll never get that free meal cause I won’t be going back. Overall my bill came to $24.70. I tipped $2.00 and left my food on the plate. This review isn’t meant to deter anyone, only to inform others from another city/place what my experience was like at Flavor Eatery and Lounge in Tempe, AZ.

Dr. T. F. S.

This is the worst food! I had several bones in my jerk chicken sandwich! Had me wondering did I order jerk chicken or joke chicken?! Glad I didn’t choke off a bone! I don’t recommend this place.

Erica K.

I came in with some friends on New Year’s Eve and we had the best time! The service was amazing and they even offered bottle service and VIP tables. They have normal American food and Caribbean food which were both amazing and all of the staff was great and attentive and the DJ was amazing! I’ve also been told that they have the NFL package on Sundays and they’re starting to roll out different kinds of nights such as EDM night, Afro beats night and a bunch of other themes. This place just opened a couple weeks ago. They haven’t had their grand opening yet and they’re doing some incredible remodels and I’m looking forward to coming back once it’s all up and going! Don’t miss out on getting to this spot.

Luke D. L. C.

Legit cool place soft opening and food is decent and has a pretty large menu. Staff was cool and the vibes were something that’s been I e been looking for

Kyle C.

Ordered here twice and the order was wrong both times. First time was pretty understandable, but the second time was really bad. Granted, I ordered online and not in person, but still unfortunate to get something you didn't pay for. Also their number is out of service, making communication kinda hard. Overall, the food is good in my opinion (I only ate the Mill burger and the PB&J burger by accident), just need to get better at getting the orders right.

Crystal R.

I ordered the jerk chicken. I literally got a plate of bones. Like legit no meat, only bones. I said something to the server and all she said was gosh I'm sorry and walked away.wth..I went before a concert, so the fact I didn't get any gfood prior made my night much longer and had to spend even more money after to get food. Loved the music playing and was good atmosphere but never going back and I'll make sure and spread the word. I didn't even get money off or her try to get me something else. Like seriously just said sorry and walked off and took all my money. So sad.

Jamie R.

First impression is incredibly mid. Got the jerk chicken and while it wasn't bad, it definitely wasn't restaurant quality. The chicken was dry in spots, like they didn't brine or marinate, the spices were ok, the jerk sauce tasted like spiced up ketchup. It was supposed to have 2 sides but I only got one, the beans and rice, and they barely had any taste too it. Over all it tasted like a lazy weekday meal I'd make at home, nowhere near worth $18.

Greg

Could have been a 5 for food if the jerk chicken was available. 530 pm on a Saturday night and not available A bit disappointed. But we did love the shrimp curry and the jerk wings. Seem more like a lounge than a restaurant.