Ipswich: New Caribbean restaurant Carib Bar and Grill opens

Carib Bar and Grill has opened in Norwich Road as "one of the first Caribbean restaurants in Ipswich".

It replaces what was known as the oldest curry house in Ipswich, the Taj Mahal, which closed in October after nearly 60 years serving Indian cuisine in the town.

Inside the new Carib Bar and Grill on Norwich Road (Image: Rasheedi Jacob)

The restaurant serves "authentic" Caribbean food, with both owners being from the region.

On the menu are jerk dishes, Caribbean-style burgers, curries, chicken wings, seafood, roti, lobster, as well as cocktails.

Chef and owner Rasheedi Jacob is from Jamaica, and has spent about a decade working as a chef, and business partner and friend Osburn Cockburn from the island of St Vincent.

Deputy mayor of Ipswich, councillor Elizabeth Hughes, joined them for their opening.

Mr Jacob said: "I have seen that Ipswich is a very diverse area. We are always looking for diversity and there was only one Caribbean restaurant here, so we thought we would.

"A favourite on the menu is the jerk chicken, it's always a seller. The lobster tail is one of my favourites.

"We have been getting good feedback. The deputy mayor came in, all the other communities have come in on a few occasions to say that it is a good spot. It's such a blessing. It's something new for Ipswich."

Deputy mayor of Ipswich Elizabeth Hughes visited the restaurant (Image: Rasheedi Jacob)

Mr Jacob added that it was his family who have taught him how to make the dishes, and that it is part of a dream to run his own restaurant.

He said: "I learned most of my cooking from my grandad, my mum, my family and what I have taught myself.

"It is part of a dream. I am taking it step by step, and this is the first step of great things."

The restaurant opened on February 11 and also offers a takeaway service.