About the Restaurant

We are a family run business that prides itself on providing quality food with authentic mouthwatering flavors of the Caribbean. Our welcoming family friendly atmosphere creates the perfect dining experience for our customers.

Reggae Flava, LLC was established by husband and wife veterans Romeo and Tamara Tomlinson in 2017. After returning home from his final tour in Kuwait to be with his wife who was battling breast cancer, Romeo decided to try his hand in the restaurant business. As an immigrant from Jamaica, having moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1999 with his family, it was only natural that the nature of the business reflect his background and culture. As such Reggae Flava was born. The business initially started out as a small food truck in Woodbridge Virginia, with most of the cooking being done in the couple's kitchen.

On a family trip back to Tuscaloosa in 2019, Romeo decided to bring the food truck to the area, where they were met with overwhelming support. It was then that he and Tamara decided that it would be a good business decision to relocate to Tuscaloosa. After months of operating as a food truck, the tremendous support made it possible to bring the dream of a brick and mortar location into a reality.

The restaurant celebrated its grand opening in May 2020. Our house specialties include Jerk Chicken, Oxtails and Curried Goat all of which can be paired with one of our signature cocktails such as the Reggae Flava or Island Prime.

Tamara passed away in August 2019 and never got the chance to witness the grand opening of the restaurant. Photos and memorabilia of her are hung in the restaurant to symbolize her presence.

Romeo's mother Patricia is one of the three cooks at the restaurant. Also, a Jamaican native, Patricia learned to cook at an early age by watching her parents both of whom were Indian and Chinese immigrants. Her baking skills are in a class of its own, just one taste of her delectable bread pudding with warm rum sauce and you will be hooked.

Sandy, also known as the oxtail connoisseur, is Romeo's aunt from Kingston, Jamaica. Not only is she responsible for the perfectly seasoned fall off the bone oxtails but also for creating the signature "Sandy's Pineapple BBQ Jerk Sauce."

Sydney, the man behind every Jerk item on the menu also hails from Jamaica. He has been cooking Jamaican dishes for over 30 years. His homemade Jerk Sauce might have you sweating but what is Jerk Chicken without a little heat.