Natasha Lawrence likes visiting relatives who live in the Washington, D.C., area, seeing it as a chance to catch up on family developments and as a respite from her hectic life in Massachusetts.
When in the DMV area, she has made it a habit of visiting one of her favorite spots, the Caribbean Superior restaurant located in Bladensburg, Maryland, where she enjoyed a lunchtime treat on July 15.
“My brother-in-law told me about this place, and I come here every time I am in the area,” Lawrence, 34, told The Informer. “ I find that the food is tasty and well-cooked, and I love Jamaican food.”
Lawrence is not alone in her dedication and love for the Caribbean cuisine, whether at the restaurant’s Bladensburg or District Heights locations.
Caribbean Superior was praised by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) as a 2025 Milestone Award for its 25 years of service on July 1 during the second-annual RAMMYS Honors.
Caribbean Superior was one of six restaurants in the 2025 category for “weathering challenges, serving generations, and becoming cornerstones of their communities,” according to RAMW.
The honors and cocktail reception is served as a precursor to the RAMMYS Awards Gala that will take place on Aug. 3 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest, honoring the work of D.C. area restaurants in several categories.
Caribbean Superior was founded by Chef Patrick Martin in August 2000, fulfilling his desire to bring bold Jamaican food to Prince George’s County in general and Bladensburg specifically, according to the company’s website.
Leo Artwell, manager at Caribbean Superior, is pleased with being honored by the Restaurant Association.
“The recognition that we got was unexpected,” said Artwell, 54. “We have been in business for 25 years. We are grateful that someone else has recognized what we have done.”
Caribbean Superior’s Secret of Success
When asked what the Caribbean Superior’s secret of success is, Artwell said “it is a mixture of things.”
“We serve authentic food, and we offer unique service,” he said. “For example, we serve breakfast at 8 a.m., one of the few restaurants like ours that does that. We have a number of customers who come by to get their food on their way to work and we have some customers, like nurses, who come by after their night shifts are over. We tend to do things other restaurants don’t do.”
Caribbean Superior serves standard Jamaican fare such as jerk chicken, curry chicken, stew pork, stew beef and stew peas. The restaurant also offers oxtails, pastas such as jerk, fish, shrimp and fish, shrimp and jerk chicken as well as breakfast items like saltfish and porridge.
While dining on the porridge on July 16, Royal Bascal told The Informer he’s a regular of the District Heights location, driving from his home in Clinton, Maryland for his meals.
“This is one of the best Caribbean restaurants in the area,” he said. “I come here four to five times a week to get lunch.”
Bascal, 55, said the restaurant serves tasty food “with good seasoning” and “they serve good portions for your money.”
The District Heights location has also received praise and constructive reviews on Yelp for its food and service.
“I decided to try out a new Jamaican spot in my area. The restaurant was nice, clean, open, and the staff was friendly,”said Erik R. from Upper Marlboro, Maryland in a Jan. 5 Yelp post. “I think it is pricey. A small jerk platter and bottled soda came to $19+. Their jerk is more on the sweet side, with a nice touch of spice. The platter is full. But you get more rice and peas than anything. I’d venture to go back and try other dishes.”