Bradenton restaurant with ‘visual Jamaican vibes’ is downsizing to a food truck
A few years after opening its restaurant, Rodney’s Jamaican Grill announced it is downsizing to its food truck.
The restaurant, located at 420 67th St. W., Bradenton, announced the downsizing decision on social media.
“This week is your last chance to dine inside our restaurant and experience those visual Jamaican vibes,” the restaurant said on Facebook.
According to the post, the food truck will begin operating Rodney’s Jamaican Grill from the restaurant’s location starting Tuesday. On Saturday, the restaurant is hosting a farewell party with music from DJs.
Customers can order food from the food truck via DoorDash, Grubhub or Uber Eats, the post said.
Bradenton restaurant shifts to food truck service
Owner Rodney Williams, a native of Montego Bay, Jamaica, opened the restaurant in Palmetto in 2016, before launching his food truck business in 2022 and then the Bradenton restaurant a year later, according to a previous Herald report.
Williams learned how to cook from his grandmother when he was a child, the Herald previously reported.
He started his culinary career in Montego Bay, before working in Colorado led him to land a job in Longboat Key. From there, Williams ran a couple of Jamaican restaurants before opening Rodney’s Jamaican Grill, the Herald previously reported.
Slow-simmered oxtails, seasoned with Jamaican spices; the Mama G’s Sampler featuring curry goat, oxtail, jerked chicken, rice, beans and plantains; Montego Bay snapper; curry chicken; jerk chicken and brown stew chicken are some offerings at the west Bradenton restaurant, the Herald previously reported.
“We appreciate all of the customers who helped make Rodney’s such a special community over the last years in Palmetto and west Bradenton and look forward to what this next chapter holds,” the Facebook post said.
In November, Williams and his restaurant filled more than 15 barrels and an entire truck of donations for relief and recovery efforts in his native Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic damage in late October, according to a social media post.
Fans react to Jamaican restaurant downsizing
The announcement to downsize to a food truck generated responses from several fans. By Friday afternoon, the announcement post had more than 1,000 reactions, nearly 140 comments and more than 150 shares on Facebook.
“We drive from Plant City to see you guys, have for 10 years now,” one person wrote. “We’ve followed you from location to location.”
Another said, “Four generations in my family have enjoyed going to Rodney’s. So many celebrations and Irie times! Sad to see you are closing. Sending you love and good vibes!”
And another said: “I drive from Ruskin just for the food and I’ll continue to. I’ll eat in my car.”
