Clive's Cafe

If you are even in the slightest mood for Jamaican, all roads lead to Clive’s. This classic Little Haiti spot makes our favorite versions of so many Jamaican dishes. Their jerk chicken is the best in town, but there are more phenomenal staples—like curry goat, oxtail, ackee and saltfish, and conch served steamed, fried, or in a curry. Needless to say, ordering can be a difficult decision. But whatever you get will probably fall right off the bone and come with a side of rice and peas big enough to use as a pillow.

Clive’s works great for both takeout or dine-in. They have a separate takeout area where people can place and pick-up orders, which makes the dining room feel a tad more peaceful, since the takeout are can get jammed up with people craning their necks to see if that next styrofoam box has their name on it. The ceilings are low, and a purplish lighting situation gives the space a relaxing lava lamp energy perfect for having long conversations over beers, and taking your time to pick every last scrap of meat from the tender curry goat. But a trip to Clive’s is really about one thing and one thing only: the food. And even if there was a diamond mural of DJ Khaled wrestling an alligator on the wall, you’d be too focused on trying to get the perfect amount of rice, plantain, and meat onto your fork to even notice.

Food Rundown

Jerk Chicken

Clive’s serves our favorite version of jerk chicken in Miami. The bird always has a dark char and a little kick thanks to the generous spice rub. But the best thing about it is the meat itself. It’s juicy and you can taste the smoke in every bite. Your side options are plentiful, but, after much experimentation, our favorite combination is the mac and cheese with plantains.

Oxtail

Eating Clive’s oxtail is like solving a puzzle with your mouth. It’ll take a little effort to get all that tender meat off the bone, but the tongue aerobics are worth it. And while we love the oxtail itself, the best part about this plate might be the gravy that collects on the bottom of the plate. Do yourself a massive favor and mix it into the rice and peas.

Ackee And Saltfish

The Ackee & Saltfish is usually served in the morning at Clive’s, so come early if you’re trying to order one of the best breakfast plates in Miami. The ackee is fluffy and tender, and there are enough chunks of saltfish mixed in so you get a little in each bite. It's also served with a couple bananas and yam.