Godfrey's

by Rebecca Fending

If you have never had a craving for Caribbean food before, you soon will after learning about Godfrey’s Caribbean Restaurant in JXN.

Calling the city home since March of 2019, Godfrey Morgan’s restaurant is a local treasure, now located in Colonial Mart off Old Canton Road. Serving up everything from authentic Jamaican jerk chicken to a feast-worthy seafood pot bigger than your head, Godfrey’s pulls out all the stops when it comes to uniqueness and authenticity.

The genuine qualities of this restaurant come from the head chef, owner and namesake, Godfrey Morgan. Jamaican born and raised; Godfrey found himself in Jackson after realizing the area was in desperate need of something different.

“Godfrey has combined his travels and experiences of working on cruise ships, casinos, restaurants and other foodservice venues into a catering company and restaurant,” according to Amanda Caver of Godfrey’s.

“Both venues embody the essence of food and travel while supporting the local south-Jackson economy, in what we refer to as ‘Godfreytopia’ – our’ Island in South Jackson.’ Godfrey’s is a fusion of Caribbean, Asian and soul-American flavors to satisfy every palate.”

When asked what Godfrey’s philosophy was in terms of the restaurant’s mission, Caver shared that, “Our mission is to provide a food experience that transports one to the Caribbean, across America and into parts of Asia with one dining experience and where each dining experience feels like a catered event. We prepare and serve high-quality food at a great value with passion, creativity and excellent service.”

And Godfrey’s certainly holds to this mission. From online reviews urging other Jackson natives and tourists to give this “hidden gem” a try, to a large online following of Godfrey’s Facebook page, the restaurant knows just what Jackson needs: quality Caribbean.

The menu boasts many traditional Caribbean dishes, including the most popular item, oxtails and Caribbean rice and beans. Not only does this dish keep customers coming back for more, but it flies off the line, selling out well before closing every day.

However, the staff members have their favorites on the menu. Caver stated, “The favorite dish among the employees would be the jerk chicken and fried chicken. Godfrey’s favorite dish is the curry chicken, which is marinated in imported curry powder and Caribbean spices and then slow-roasted until tender.”

Not only do they have a deliciously one-of-a-kind dine-in menu, but Godfrey’s also features catering services that will forever change the way you cater your events, big or small.

“We were originally known for our catering services,” Caver explained. “We utilize props, paintings, backdrops and fabrics of multiple textures to transform the room. We don’t just serve neatly displayed food; we provide an experience. We cater events year-round, including holidays, for up to 4,000 people.”

So, what’s ahead for Godfrey’s?

“The future of Godfrey’s is very bright,” Caver said with confidence. “We are working to become an international brand and have restaurants located in other states and countries.”

Godfrey’s Caribbean Restaurant is now located in Colonial Mart off Old Canton Road.

For questions or catering needs, call 601-398-3602.

Rebecca Fending

Rebecca is the editor of eat. drink. MISSISSIPPI, a food magazine dedicated to sharing Mississippi's passion for food with the world. All opinions expressed in this post are the opinions of the writer and not necessarily those of Visit Jackson.