Vegan-friendly
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Jamaican
Non-veg
Serves meat, vegan options available. Restaurant is about Jamaican life, culture and flavor, and uses imported ingredients from Jamaica. Menu offers many vegan dishes such as tofu stew, veggie stew peas, and curried hearts of palm, plus fruit smoothies which can be made vegan, and a vegan coconut cake. Reported closed January 2024.
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619 W University Ave, Gainesville, Florida, USA, 32601
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Last update on 15 Jan 2024 by punkmogul
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47 Reviews
First Review by rainfall2008
AbigailAnnaFoster
Points +475
A GREAT VEGAN MENU - Edit
I love reggae shack. The fries are delicious and worth going just for them! They are sugary and salty at the same time and just seasoned so well. I have gotten curries as well as sandwiches and haven’t been disappointed. I would stay away from anything that has the word “jerk” as it is EXTREMELY spicy, unless you love being in pain. Lol. They also have vegan carrot cake as well as coconut but are usually out of carrot.
Read moreGuest
SaraLauren
Points +32
Worth the wait - Edit
Their food is delicious and the staff are friendly, but only visit when you've got a couple of hours for dinner. If you need your food quicker, carry out is surprisingly quick.
Read morePros: De-[censored]-licious, Reasonably priced
Cons: Dining in takes a loooong time.
Guest
Coki79
Points +213
great food - Edit
I absolutely love the vegan options and the well spiced Jamaican food. :)
Read moreI gave it 4 stars because of the service and the loud music. I would recommend to take it to go.
Guest
Jamie9705
Points +830
Not impressed - Edit
The employees were very nice but service was slow. It took a long time to get our food. They have quite a few vegan options. I didn't really like what I got but that's just my opinion. I wouldn't go back but am happy that they have vegan options and a good selection.
Read morePros: Vegan options, Cool atmosphere
Cons: Slow service, Didn't like the food
Guest
marimari101
Points +27
fun and friendly! - Edit
I was surprised with the large variety of vegan options offered the first time I went, and even more surprised and how great they all tasted! They offer vegan appetizers, main dishes, desserts, and smoothies. The vegan smoothies are a must have! Not only does the food taste delicious and very homey but all of the employees make sure to make you feel welcome, happy, and at home at all times! Great vibes!
Read moreGuest
Mannie_bogi
Points +116
great food - Edit
Visited this place on Sunday ! Friendly staff and great food! I would have given it 5 stars if they were not out of every single vegan dessert we wanted to try
Read moreGuest
Bohemianwife
Points +73
so good! - Edit
We ordered off the vegetarian menu and it was some of the best food we've got out. I had the curry seitan and my husband had Escoviech tofu, they both were marvelous! The plates are huge and filling and well priced. If we lived in Gainesville this would be our jam. Sadly we'll probably only come once a year.
Read morePros: choices, price, tasty
Guest
jennafusal
Points +219
My favorite in Gainesville. - Edit
The curry tempeh is it for me. I can't say that I have tried too many other items on the vegan menu because it is that good. The service has always been fast and friendly! The prices are very reasonable. I had a mango smoothie one time and it was wonderful. Just be sure to ask for the vegan version. I travel from Ocala on a regular basis just to get my fix.
Read moreGuest
newsomz
Points +96
Awesome Jamaican with great vegan selections - Edit
I always hit Reggae Shack when in Gainesville. They have tons of vegan selections on the menu including sandwiches, entrees and smoothies. My favorite menu item is the tofu escovitch!! The tofu is fried and served with a spicy and tangy sauce over rice with peas and steamed cabbage. The steamed cabbage is soo good (I really need to figure out how to make it). The smoothies are great for tempering the spicy dishes but are huge so we always share one between two people. Portions are huge and you can easily share one dish and a smoothie and be satisfied.
Read morePros: Jamaican vegan selections, Huge portions
Guest
sarahh913
Points +44
NEW FAVORITE - Edit
This was one of the best restaurants I've ever been too. Amazing cultural food with tons of vegan options! Any meat menu item had a non-vegan counterpart. I got the Mackee bruschetta and the brown stewed tofu with the festival and it was SPECTACULAR to say the least. Huge portions so you definitely don't leave hungry no matter how big your appetite is. The vegan coconut cake for dessert was honestly the best cake I've ever had. Moist, delicious, and beautiful! Pretty inexpensive considering the amount of food you get, a great atmosphere, and our waitress was extremely nice, helpful, and all around awesome. YOU NEED TO GO!
Read moreGuest
ahimsa32fa
Points +40
Reggae Shack - Edit
Fly problem most likely from improper storage of produce or uncovered garbage cans in kitchen.
Read morePros: Friendly help., Huge servings.
Cons: Fly problems., Microwave instead of fresh-made?
Guest
beehivekristine
Points +86
YUM! - Edit
This place is great- we also love Southern Charm (same owners). The portions are enormous and amazing I always have lunch for the following day! There are so many vegan options to choose from. It would be impossible for me to pick a favorite here, but the heaping pile of cabbage and rice that accompanies most dishes never disappoints! Oh yeah, the festivals are definitely a requirement.
Read morePros: Always delicious, Great service, Very friendly
Cons: very popular- can be tough to get in
Guest
Ghanamacian
Points +15
Bigggg up! - Edit
Great food atmosphere, culture love all day. Good tunes, food fresh and superior flavor authentic! Blessings and Jah love to the owners and staff!
Read moreGuest
cwormbley
Points +25
Mixed Review - Edit
Stopped by this place (we were traveling via I-75) based on the rave reviews on Happy Cow, Yelp, and Urbanspoon. The experience was so-so. While it was true that the Callaloo Bruschetta appetizer was delicious, I was disappointed with the Curry Seitan. It was not a curry dish, in my humble opinion, and it was much too sweet. Also, the Seitan was very dense. My spouse ordered the Vegan Steak and there was little difference in the sauce accompanying it and the curry sauce coating my dish. The Vegan Seitan was just as dense. We ordered some Festivals. They tasted like deep fried Jiffy Cornbread hush puppies - too sweet. Granted, if you like Jiffy products, you'll appreciate the Festivals. Overall, our meals were palatable; they just didn't measure up to the reviews. :(
Read morePros: Easy to find, Good portion sizes, Callaloo Bruschetta is delicious
Cons: Seitan too dense, Dishes too sweet
Guest
Lisa
Points +387
There's a party in my mouth and everyone's invited - Edit
I was beyond happy with this place. Friendly wait staff, fun decor, and some of the best food I've ever had in my life! I got the curried tofu, which came with cabbage, sweet plantains, and rice and peas. I couldn't even finish the plate, so I didn't get to try the 2 vegan cakes they had on the menu. If I lived in Gainesville I'd probably eat here every day. Please go to this restaurant.
Read morePros: Colorful decor, Incredible food, The food, seriously, amazing.
Cons: Styrofoam to-go containers
Guest
VeganicMom
Points +34
Jamaican me crazy! - Edit
I saw a billboard with the sign for this place. I did not find it through my happy cow app because for some reason when I'm in G-ville the locator only pulls up the same (only) one restaurant (a to go place). Anywho, it is in a good location and easy to find. I was surprised and pleased that I was greeted, seated, and given a first timer's menu presentation by a nice young man who assured me of my vegan concerns. Great service- I felt like I had 3 servers. They were busy but my food came out in a reasonable time. My appetizer was the Callaloo Bruschetta- freakin amazing. Don't hesitate if you like bruschetta, seriously. I ordered sweet green tea which was free refills thankfully because it was soo good I drank 3. (Yes, I know but I was starving & thirsty from a long day at school). For dinner I had the Escoviech Tofu. It was a hard choice since it all looked yummy but the tangy, sweet and spicy crispy tofu description got me. I swear I was so happy from the first bite. Generous portions and the flavors were just so genuine. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the plantains. I got a good African beer also. I have ventured out of my box since becoming vegan almost a year ago and am so excited to try new things. The other great thing is that this place is for everyone...herbi, omni, and carnivores. Great for me because I can bring my hubs next time. I brought him home Coco bread and my kids the festivals. Festivals FTW! I didn't really want to share they were so great. Reminded me of a krispy kreme type of goodness, but different. I was bummed, however that they did not have the 2 vegan desserts I was looking forward to (carrot cake and coconut cake). I bet they would've been awesome too...maybe next time. On a random note, they had Mrs. Meyers soap in the ladies room- bonus points :)
Read morePros: yummmmm, selection, location
Cons: out of vegan dessert
Guest
mbentz
Points +260
soooo gooooood - Edit
The coconut festivals are AMAZING! their curry sauce was sweet and good, their seitan had a good texture. Our waitress was super nice & helpful. They also have vegan cake!!!!(coconut & carrot)
Read morePros: many veggi options, great service, vegan cake!
Guest
kjachimecki
Points +28
first visit and going back - Edit
I live in Gainesville and font know any I didn't go sooner. My bf and I got the seitan sandwich and the callaloo with tempeh. The portions were huge and the sauces were lovely. Never have had Jamaican, being vegan relay limiting me before, but not at the shack, recommend it to vegans who able some sinfully delicious food.
Read morePros: huge portions, tasty, keep the vegan food away from animal foo
Cons: callaloo was a little oily
Guest
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