Best Modesto restaurant of 2024 is top notch — and not just for its food, customers say
The Modesto Bee set out to discover which restaurant that opened in 2024 is the readers’ favorite, and the results were clear that one is a cut above the rest.
Cariblue Restaurant won the poll with 30% of votes. The east Modesto eatery topped the list of 11 locally owned spots.
The runners up, Cora at Roseburg Square and The Biscuit Basket, were tied at 15.5% of votes each.
Cariblue is Modesto’s only option for traditional Caribbean food — specifically Jamaican. While the “unique flavors” and “delicious food” are among customers’ favorite aspects of the restaurant, most also mentioned the “outstanding customer service” and “kindhearted owner.”
“We want everyone to feel like they’re at home when they come to Cariblue,” owner Abel Cano told The Bee on Friday. “Good food is important, but making sure people feel welcome and taken care of is just as important.”
In response to the poll, one reader wrote:
“The minute you step inside, the aromas make your mouth water. The Caribbean cuisine is so flavorful and the meat is so tender it just falls off the bones — and the portions are generous. The staff is very kind and attentive. The owner, Abel Cano, shared that his mother taught him how to cook Caribbean food and encouraged him to open his first restaurant. You can tell that he puts a lot of love into serving his mother’s recipes to his customers. The restaurant is very clean and has a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere.”
The oxtails were named the most times as reader’s favorite dish, but the jerk chicken was a close second, followed by the chipotle barbecued ribs and a side called corn festival — a fried cornbread.
Cariblue opened at 3801 Yosemite Blvd. in September. Initially, it was open daily from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Now, the restaurant is closed Sundays while the rest of the business hours remain the same.
Also, Cano has added menu items, including jerk salmon and some seasonal dishes.
“This year, I want to keep growing and improving Cariblue,” he said. “I’m focusing on creating a great experience for our guests and continuing to bring the best Caribbean food.”
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