Jamaican entrepreneur Jerry McDonald, founder of The Reggae Goose, has transformed a remote Shell gas station parking lot into a lively open-air eatery pulsing with Jamaican soul, adding a vibrant new addition to Main Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut’s roadside dining scene.
“I stopped to get gas one night on my way home, and the idea just hit me—to bring Jamaican food to gas stations,” McDonald told Caribbean Life on Tuesday, Aug. 5. “I had never seen it done before, so I thought it would be an interesting and lucrative adventure.”
McDonald said that, since opening in the summer of 2024, The Reggae Goose has been serving authentic Jamaican cuisine to hungry travelers and locals alike.
“We operate as a full-service restaurant from a food truck at a gas station. It doesn’t get more unusual than that,” McDonald said. “Our customer service is the best you’ll find at a Jamaican food establishment in America. People call us a destination food spot.”
He said patrons rave about signature dishes like jerk chicken, fried chicken, chicken and waffles, oxtail, rice and peas, Escovitch fish, and our signature fish, the standout Coffee Salmon—a bold, flavorful creation that’s quickly become a customer favorite.
McDonald said each dish on the menu is prepared using closely guarded family recipes, which he plans to share in an upcoming cookbook on Amazon in 2026.
Asked about the real runaway hit, McDonald responded: “Jamaican patties. There is no Jamaican food product that sells more than patties—not rum, not coffee, not even jerk chicken.
“I go through cases of them daily,” he said. “My customers are always in the mood for a patty, no matter what else they order.
“With bold Jamaican colors, inviting picnic tables, and a laid-back atmosphere, The Reggae Goose is as much a cultural experience as it is a culinary one,” McDonald added. “In the summer months, the eatery is transformed into a true hotspot, hosting the occasional pop-up live music event that channels the rhythm and spirit of the islands.
“Business is going great,” he continued. “Despite the winter challenges, we maintained above-average sales. It’s a perfect partnership—we bring customers to the gas station, and they bring them to us.”
As for the name, The Reggae Goose?
“In Jamaica, there’s a saying, ‘your goose is cooked,’ meaning you’re in trouble,” said McDonald, laughing. “I always stay clear of trouble, but I liked the wordplay—’ your goose is cooked’; hence, The Goose and Reggae represent the heartbeat of our vibrant island, Jamaica.
“You’ll always feel the rhythm of ‘Yard’ when you come here,” he added. “So, whether you’re fueling up or just passing through Connecticut, The Reggae Goose offers a true taste of Jamaica—right in the heart of Bridgeport.”
