If you're familiar with Jamaican cuisine and think Cafe Trinidad will be more of the same, think again. There is no jerk chicken here. While Jamaican food is heavy on the spices and the gravies, Trinidadian food is a bit more subtle; a dish may be spicy, but it sneaks up on you…you only realize how hot it is once you're halfway through. That said, some of the dishes, like the curried goat or red snapper, will seem as if they've been pulled from a Maxine's or a Blue Mountain, but the flavors are unique and beyond compare.

Vegetarian? Cafe Trinidad has got you covered. All of the side dishes, which include red beans and rice, collard greens (the menu includes a bit of soul), callaloo (a creamy mix of spinach and okra) and potato and chana (potatoes and chickpeas in a mild curry sauce), are prepared sans meat. Low on funds? Don't despair. Side dishes range from $1.50 to $3.50 and the most expensive entree, the cwhole red snapper, is $13.25 and large enough to share.

Nestled in a cozy corner spot, this is the place for Sunday brunch, a quiet dinner with friends or, dare I say it, a romantic date. The decor here is "island chic": Trinidadian flags hang plentifully, and prints of palm trees and crystal clear waters punctuate the room. Service is fast and friendly for both carry-out and dine-in customers. Street parking is tedious, but not impossible.

Centerstage Reviewer: Venita Griffin