Salfish and Bakes at Belle and Lily'sPhoto byMalika Bowling

Growing up eating Caribbean food prepared with love my Grandma and aunties, I didn’t realize how lucky I was to have such excellent food served up to me. Now that I’m on my own, I miss it immensely. Luckily I have found some terrific Caribbean restaurants in Atlanta.

Belle and Lily’s (Chamblee)

Conveniently located right off the interstate on Chamblee-Tucker Road is Belle and Lily’s Brunch House. Parking is plentiful in the strip mall location. Though we were able to walk in on a Saturday and easily get seated for brunch at noon, the restaurant is small, so I’d make a reservation.

If you like sweet drinks, get the Zoe’s Elixir, made with Champagne, passionfruit and Elderflower. For something more balanced try the Hibiscus mimosa, made with their house Sorrel fruit drink. It was perfectly balanced. Note: they offer bottomless mimosas on weekend.

Belle and Lily's BrunchPhoto byMalika Bowling

To start, you can’t go wrong with the jerk beef patties. What gives it that extra special detail is the house dipping sauce, garlicky goodness here. I’d also get the tostones topped with shrimp and crab.

Shrimp and Crab Tostones (L), Beef patties (R)Photo byMalika Bowling

For entrees, guests are in for a treat with items like the St. Lucian breakfast which comes with Saltfish (spiced Cod) with Bakes. Bakes are like a lightly sweetened bread and perfectly compliment the fish. Another terrific option is the Jerk Chicken and Pancakes. The spicy jerk chicken is matched with the pancakes (sweetened by their ginger hibiscus syrup and passionfruit syrup).

Belle and Lily's website

Jerk Chicken and Pancakes at Belle and Lily'sPhoto byMalika Bowling

Wylie & Rum in Reynoldstown

Wylie & Rum, a Caribbean focused restaurant serving island cuisine like Cuban sandwiches, jerk chicken and tiki drinks like a rum punch is where you can find the best ribs in the city. The secret is the guava sauce that the ribs are covered in. Though these ribs are incredibly tender and meaty too.

Rum punch and Guava margarita, pineapple bread puddingPhoto byMalika Bowling

Guava Ribs and Wylie & RumPhoto byMalika Bowling

Get the Guava Margarita (when available) or the Rum punch. Dining at Brunch? Order the Cap-Haitian Special, a huge chicken breast, brined in Red Strip beer, scotch bonnet peppers and spices. It's then fried and serviced with a rum butter topped waffle. Website

Ms. Icey’s Kitchen (Decatur)

Ms. Icey's (named for the owners' Jamaican grandmother, Icelyn),starts each day of business with a sage cleanse.

Sorrel cocktail at Ms. Icey'sPhoto byMalika Bowling

I loved the MiRass cocktail with sorrel and rum, the crimson drink is strong though - so watch out! Sorrel is a slightly sour Hibiscus like drink. Naturally it is a fruit drink with no alcohol but when mixed with Champagne, as mentioned above or with Rum, it can be quite tasty!

Saltfish and plantainsPhoto byMalika Bowling

Though the menu has items like Avocado toast and chicken and waffles (brunch) which are tasty, the Caribbean dishes are the heart of the restaurant. The Oxtails and the Salt fish dishes are wonderful. See more here.

If you've never had Caribbean food, you are in for a treat. I hope this has whet your appetite for some delicious and perfectly spiced dishes!