Roof Top Grill

So good that I cold eat here every day!
The food takes forever but it’s worth the wait

As a guy who tends to look at both sides of any issue I find myself writing about my experiences at Roof Top Grill with mixed feelings.
I work very nearby and on the first day I tried their establishment it was because I noticed their sign menu included curry goat. As a soldier I’ve eaten goat in several other countries and in many U.S. locations, and curried goat is my favorite of all goat dishes. To be honest I was afraid to get my hopes up as I waited for lunch time in my office, but it happened anyway.
When the time arrived I drove the three blocks and anxiously went in, ordering the goat ($ 9.00, including red beans and rice), plantains and fries with my meal. Before leaving I also ordered one of the beef patties.
The guy working the counter was super-​nice, I mean just great. I had to wait a bit for my food, but hey — that was really no big deal. In light of the local selection of eating establishments and more than 16 years of growing weary of fast food I was perfectly willing to give the dining experience a few more minutes.
Before I address the goat, I’ll just say that my plantains were excellent, the fries were… fries, and the red beans and rice were delicious. Also, the beef patty was different but in a very, very good way. I’ve no idea what was in it, but the taste was wonderful and noteworthy. If you find yourself in the neighbourhood and the patties are available, seriously — try one! Different, initially strange, but VERY good.
And then there was the goat. I simply have to take issue with the goat.
The serving of goat I got atop my red beans and rice really wasn’t very large, but I suppose I can live with that. Goat and mutton have skyrocketed in price over the past decade, and at $ 9.00 I couldn’t really complain about portion. Portion wasn’t the problem.
Where the problem began was with not only the presence of bone in the goat, but the sheer amount. Fully half of my serving of goat was neck bones, an end of a bone I couldn’t identify, and a jagged piece of bone I identified as part of a leg bone, fully three sharp, pointy inches long. Seriously, I am not exaggerating. I could have used it as a primitive weapon. HALF of my serving was pure bone.
Then there was the amount of bone ground into the meat itself. I have eaten overseas in some pretty back-​water loplaces where bone was ground into some of the meat. I get it, it happens. But some of the shards of bone were barely ground, several of them more than half an inch in length and SHARP. While trying to eat the meat I jammed one between my tooth and gum.
That’s not «challenging», it’s dangerous. But the craziest thing of all?
The meat I found in my meal, the meat itself was SO INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS, so perfectly curried, so balanced and flavoured that even with the irritation I felt over losing half my portion to pure bone or my dismay at the amount of ground bone, I still ate every single bite of it I could get. I finished my plate, I really did. The meat, when it could be found and carefully eaten, was just that good. With the exception of goat I got in the desert while traveling near the Iranian border, cooked up by a skilled Nigerian cook, it was hands-​down the very best goat I ever ate in all my life.
But there was almost no meat, and you have no idea how sad it makes me to have to write this review with fewer than five stars, or to admit that after two more attempts to eat there (both failures since I was after the beef patties and they made none on either day) I’ve kind of given up, haven’t bothered going back. Truly, you’ve no idea how sad it makes me.
As a lover of food and as a man who works so close to the place, I’d probably eat there twice a week most weeks, I really would. And I get that they make other things; but when a thing is advertised, when a thing is POTENTIALLY that amazing to eat yet fails because of what I may only presume is a lack of real effort or dedication, I find myself questioning why I should give my patronage to a restaurant where assuring I’m satisfied is a hit-​or-​miss venture where I need to proactively seek something on the menu which is actually prepared on a regular basis OR safe to eat OR not egregiously misleading with regard to what is served. Dealing with bone in goat is one thing, but having half my serving inedible because it was PURE bone, not even ground bone — that doesn’t sit well with me. I wouldn’t repeat my business elsewhere given that sort of experience.
I give this place three stars, and I do so with strong conviction. Obviously others have had positive experiences here, and I encourage trying the place out. Perhaps other dishes will suit people, or maybe they’ll try the goat and not share my experience. Nevertheless three times, two of them completely failed because what I was after wasn’t even available, is enough. I wish the Roof Top Grill the best of luck and hope the goat improves for others, but my money won’t be going there anymore.

I’ve never been to Jamaica but the food here is really good. May have to wait a few minutes but it’s well worth the wait.

Their food is good, they didn’t have beef patties anytime I went there. Wish the Cole slaw was the Jamaican slaw tho.
Food and service and place 5 stars.

I found this place online, I Love Jamaican food, I was surprised to find a Jamaican restaurant in Louisville. I just wish it was in a better location. The food was great, and the owner was really friendly.

Food is great jerk chicken is awesome the Jamaican cabbage is like no other. The young lady up front is great. Restrooms. very nice and clean… Will be back very soon

When i first saw Roof Top Grill being opened up down the street from me I got crazy excited. Having good food in our community that isn’t mcdonald’s or burger king is wonderful. We go here often. I’ve tried the ox tails, curry chicken and goat, smothered pork chops, brown skin chicken and one of my favorites would be the fish. The sides are usually great. But they need one cook. Sometimes the food taste different and not appealing. When you visit they are usually not busy and the guy at the window is great.

A ray of sunshine in this area, it’s great to see a quality, non-​chain, sit-​down restaurant on this stretch. And it’s especially nice to have a good Jamaican option in Louisville. I’ve only been once, but we’ll be back.
We ordered and enjoyed the jerk chicken and curry goat. The chicken’s jerk seasoning was very nicely balanced, served on a bed of rice and beans. The goat was excellent, though the bits of bone pose a bit of a challenge. We couldn’t leave without trying a patty, and I might just fill up on those next time. If you get a side or two, be sure to try the cabbage. For the less adventurous, they serve burgers and fries too.
Order and pay at the counter. No, there is no rooftop view. The name comes from the owner doing the grilling up there. If you’re within half a block, your nose will tell you.