Camp Carribean: Authentic Caribbean food in the quaintest al fresco garden vibes

Have you ever wondered what Caribbean food tastes like? 

It’s not a very well-explored cuisine in Singapore and most of us have probably not heard of jerk chicken or plantains.

Well, here’s your chance to try something new and exciting with the newest opening in town: Camp Caribbean.

Camp Caribbean is located in the multi-concept Gourmet Park Kampong Bugis,  which is a five-minutes walk away from Lavender MRT. And it is a whole vibe.

The idyllic space occupies the first-floor of an old building and takes on a Bohemian-chic garden look, decked out with fairy lights and rustic furniture, and surrounded by lush foliage.

However, Camp Caribbean is not just about the ambience — the menu is created by chef Ricardo Allen, a Jamaican native who had previously headed up Lime House Caribbean at Keong Saik. 

So if you’re looking to try authentic Jamaican and Caribbean flavours, this is the place!

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Where to get authentic Jamaican food in Singapore

The best way to enjoy these authentic flavours at Camp Caribbean is to get the Jam Rock platter (S$69 for two diners, S$129 for four) which gives you a hearty sampler of many Jamaican classics.,

It comes with jerk chicken (S$18 a la carte), jerk stingray (S$27 a la carte), jerk BBQ pork ribs (S$34 for a half rack, a la carte), coleslaw, corn ribs, fried plantains, rice and peas.

“Jerk” mainly refers to a common style of Jamaican cooking that involves grilling.

It uses a jerk spice rub mixture, which traditionally consists of allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers (native to the region), amongst other spices.

Camp Caribbean’s jerk chicken is nice and flavourful, but the soft and succulent stingray was the standout, especially when paired with the feisty chilli that came with the platter.

But diners can also find more familiar flavours on Camp Caribbean’s menu including the curried goat (S$20) that’s spice-rich and absolutely hearty — the profile is not that different from local Indian curry, but slightly lighter on the spice.

The chunks of goat in this are extremely tender and, together with the gravy, pair wonderfully with the fragrant rice, which contains coconut milk and red kidney beans.

Another classic dish here is the oxtail with spinners (S$22), which contains wedges of luscious oxtail and homemade gnocchi, all swimming in a sweet and tangy-as-heck sauce.

For something safer, the Rock Steady mac & cheese (S$14) is a must-order.

These are deep-fried balls of mac & cheese that’s oozing with cheese inside and out — a decadent crowd-pleaser for sure.

We wager that this is a great chance to expose yourself to some more interesting flavours from a cuisine you’d probably never tried before.

And the wonderful al fresco ambience at Camp Caribbean is a great reason to head over too. 

Oh, did we mention it’s pet-friendly, too?

This was an invited tasting.

For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on Tampines greatest makan options for Easties and HDL’s cool new budget concept!

You can make a reservation for Gourmet Park Kampong Bugis via Chope.

You can also book a ride to Camp Caribbean for a taste of authentic Caribbean food.