I discovered Dunn's River Island Cafe through Uber Eats, and I am so glad I did. Since finding this hidden gem, I've ordered several times, and the food has been consistently delicious. My go-to meals are the fried chicken or the reggae jerk chicken with rice and beans and steamed vegetables. Everything is well seasoned, flavorful, and cooked just right. The fried chicken is especially tasty, and I love the sauce that comes with it. The steamed vegetables, which include cabbage and carrots, are always fresh and make the perfect side. One thing I really appreciate is the value. The portions are generous, and the prices are reasonable, which can be hard to find these days. You definitely get your money's worth. I also have to mention the mac and cheese. As someone who loves mac and cheese, I'm pretty picky about it. Not every restaurant gets it right, but Dunn's River does. It's creamy, cheesy, flavorful, and comforting. I've only ordered through Uber Eats and have never dined in, so I can't speak on the atmosphere or in-person service. I will say that the food does take a little longer than some places, but the wait is absolutely worth it. Every order I've received has been fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. Overall, Dunn's River Island Cafe has become one of my favorite Caribbean restaurants to order from. If you're looking for delicious food, generous portions, and great value, I highly recommend giving them a try. read more

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The food is authentic and good but slightly pricey. What I like most here is Friday night when the band plays. The staff are attentive and welcoming. The ambience is very good with ample room to get up and move to the amazing music. I just wish more people knew about this Cafe because with no cover charge and a full bar, you really can't beat it if you want to start your weekend party early like happy hour until 10pm. But parking is tight, so come early. Editing: they do automatically add a 18% tip read more

Dunns River Island Cafe Hallandale Beach - This is the full restaurant including the stage with the house band. - Caribbean Near Me - Hallandale Beach, Florida

Ohhhhhh my freaking GOODNESS the curry goat was SOOOO GOOD here!! Cabbage was fresh and I got very full after eating this. I ordered takeout and my friend didn't like their Brown stew chicken dish. I never prefer that either unless I buy it at G's Jamaican Restaurant in Oakland Park. That's the only place it actually tastes good. I still can't understand just HOW this place is always empty everytime I come here. I'd definitely recommend their curry goat dish, it's outta this WORLD so good! read more

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I'm a regular here. Aaliyah is the best & provides top notch service every time. She makes the yummiest passionfruit daiquiri. The sweet chili shrimp, mango salad & red pea soup are my favorite appetizers. Curry lobster, jerk salmon, oxtail, escovitch snapper or king fish, Dunns River fried chicken, and jerk chicken pasta are my favorite entrees. I always get rice & peas with cabbage for anything that comes with sides. The curry lobster is a lobster tail topped with diced veggies & a nice curry gravy infused with coconut milk. The jerk salmon has a nice sear, enhancing the jerk seasoning & giving it a crispy outside. The escovitch sauce has a sweet heat to it with crisp veggies. The fried chicken is flavorful with an amazing crunch. The jerk chicken pasta has chicken breast, red peppers & onions but sometimes I do no onion. They can be heavy handed. They have the best rice and peas and cabbage which seems simple but they get it right. The cabbage is shredded, steamed perfectly with a hint of butter. There's takeout available, bar style seating, tables, and booths. On weekends they have happy hour specials & live music. It's a fun environment for dinner with an island flare. read more

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I went to Dunn River Island Restaurant on June 13, for dinner the food was excellent and the ambience was great. We had a great time.

Great food always get brown stew chicken.. the only problem is that they are temporarily closed

I'll start off by saying the food was excellent. You can get real top quality Jamaican cuisine here. We had no complaints about the dishes we had. We had the salt fish fritters, oxtail egg rolls, Fried chicken, Stewed Chicken with Rice and Peas. I had the Oxtail, Curry Goat with Rice and Peas. Let me tell you all the dishes were delicious and we got a good portion size. The Dunns River Bay breeze was good- it was sweet and creeped up on you. I also tried the Portland Mud Slide. The Négril Russian was also good. They have happy hour on select drinks- the Dunns River Bay Breeze was $5. BUT, the service needs some work. I see all these workers and we had to be calling our waitress over several times. She even forgot that I had ordered another drink. I had to get up at one point to go order by the bar. I didn't get her name, but she did recommend the Dunns River Bay Breeze drink. On top of that the place was hot and we requested the fan above us to be turned on. They turned it on for a quick minute and then it turned off. We asked a third time and were told that someone requested for it to be off. It was hot without a doubt and it want just us, I saw another table using the menu to fan. Because we were so hot we left prematurely as we wanted to stay for the live band. I liked the whole vibe of the place and I wanted to give it 5 stars but the service was not it. Please note that gratuity is included in your final check if you dine in. read more

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Oxtail pasta is as good as it gets! Order ahead or it's a 20 min wait! Well worth it.

Located on Hallandale blvd just east of I95. They feature high quality Jamaican food at good prices. The staff is attentive and very friendly. They have many food options as well.. includes options for vegetarians. We got the lamb meal as well as the oxtail. Everything tasted great and was cooked perfectly! And the saltfish fried plantain was the star of the show .. while Everything tasted great... that was next level and definitely unexpected. I highly recommend! read more

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There are lunch specials, and then there's lunch that's special. Really enjoyed this brown stew chicken with rice & peas at Dunns river for their daily lunch. Great service by the staff there and loved the island music. Couldn't tell me I wasn't in JA. Love this spot! read more

Dunns River Island Cafe Hallandale Beach - Caribbean Near Me - Hallandale Beach, Florida

Everything was 110% The food was amazing, service was excellent, the atmosphere was awesome, and the vibes were definitely vibing!!

Located on the corner. Went there for a reunion. Parking infront is limited but there is parking nearby. If you have a weapon do not bring it as there is a sign not allowed. Service was a bit hectic yet we were plenty for the get together and later it got a bit more busier. Nevertheless they handled it very well. Food was excellent and the taste was great. The appetizers were outstanding and the selection was plentiful. The alcoholic drinks were not water down and trust me you get what you paid for. The food was cooked precise and with typical Jamaican spices. The ambiance was good and the vibes produce cohesiveness. Really enjoy the time with my friends there. read more

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My friends and I had a great time and everyone loved the food. I had the oxtail and curry goat combo. The goat was outstanding. They have a full bar which is great. Giving 4 stars because they were out of some menu items and the service was a little slow. read more

Dunns River Island Cafe Hallandale Beach - Oxtail and Curry Goat - Caribbean Near Me - Hallandale Beach, Florida

I really wanted to like this place with the service overall is what killed it for me. I had to order a simple Juice three times and it was wrong every time. The chicken I ordered had no gravy whatsoever and I had to wait at least 15 minutes just to get a side of gravy when it was just me and one other person in the restaurant. I also ordered a soup that didn't come until 10 minutes of me being done with my chicken and on top of that when I finally got my gravy, it was not brown stew it was the jerk sauce. Also, the music is a little louder than I would've liked I was on a phone call and I had to talk over the music. For reference this was at 1:30 on a Tuesday afternoon so I don't know how hard it was to be attentive to one of the two people sitting at the restaurant. The food itself was good besides everything. read more

This pasta was one of the most elite things I've ever stumbled upon so if you're ever in the South Florida area, hit up Dunns River. It's giving the girls cajun chicken and shrimp from Friday's but with a Jamaican flare. DELICIOUS. It was worth the 500 hour wait. read more

Dunns River Island Cafe Hallandale Beach - Rasta Pasta - Caribbean Near Me - Hallandale Beach, Florida

Service was amazing. The food was good, a little salty but good and the margaritas was amazing... read more

Dunns River Island Cafe Hallandale Beach - Curry Lobster Curry Fish Snapper White Rice Steam Vegetables - Caribbean Near Me - Hallandale Beach, Florida

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Very nice dining establishment. There were plenty of tables and booths, very spacious. Nicky, our server, was phenomenal. Rum punches did their job! Bartender was friendly. Nice bar setup with flat screens. Food was delicious. There are plenty of menu items to choose from, as well as a kids menu. We didn't have to wait too long to get our meals. Reggae was playing in the background which was nice. Definitely would come to eat here again. Parking - Looks limited but I believe there are more spots in the back, but not sure. Luckily I found a spot right in front, and there are a few spots on the side of the building. read more

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Too sweet, the taste is off overall. This maybe just my personal preference. Great service tho.

The best thing about this restaurant is that they have a large number of sauces that you can use with the food

Great place, home style Jamaican food. Happy staff and good music. I was so hungry during lunch time and my plate just looked amazing had to take a picture. read more

Dunns River Island Cafe Hallandale Beach - Dunns River Island Fried Chicken Lunch - Caribbean Near Me - Hallandale Beach, Florida

I always go to this place for takeout but I finally decided to dine in with some friends. It was Friday night so a live band was performing. And let me tell you they were full of vibes, almost felt like a party just nicer. The service tho was blah. I think our waitress was new because we were more familiar with the menu and the ingredients than she was. But none the less she was sweet. And if know Jamaican restaurants they are not the most customer service friendly. The food was absolutely delicious. They charged me $3 extra to make lamb chops jerked instead of with rosemary seasoning they offer. Everything was fresh and tasty. read more

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As much as I wanted to give them a high rating, the hallandale location service crippled my experience to. My waiter was the bartender, the take out taker AND cashier, so yes everything came super slow... the food took over 40 minutes ! ( by the way. There were only 2 tables seated in the entire resturant.) Although the food was good, it wasnt good enough to oversee the service. Ok for take out ( order way ahead) but i'm not dining in again. read more

Banging Jerk chicken and Oxtail, good lunch menu and always a place to sit. They seem to have live music but I'm always here during lunch times. read more

Dunns River Island Cafe Hallandale Beach - a bar with multiple televisions - Caribbean Near Me - Hallandale Beach, Florida

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Came back for the first time in a long time Nothing changed the young lady cashier Was rude and upset with me even though I'm the one that got half cooked chicken She told me that I'm the only one that doesn't think it's cooked it's a Jamaican restaurant in every plaza. To owner of this business those employees you working is going o put you out of business if you don't change the culture I just realized I did a review in 2021 I see nothing has changed read more

Dunns River Island Cafe Hallandale Beach - Chicken not cooked on the inside after they came back for the second time - Caribbean Near Me - Hallandale Beach, Florida

This place use to be the best place to order great authentic Jamaican cuisine but the last two time i went them gimme stale fish where them refry it and the fish was so tough! The prices and food nah match! We expect what we a pay for not stale food! read more

Dunns River Island Cafe Hallandale Beach - a person holding a pan of food - Caribbean Near Me - Hallandale Beach, Florida

The food was amazing but the service took away from the whole experience of having a birthday dinner here. Dionnandra was the waitress who served our table. She never brought water for the table or even asked if we wanted water. She took drink orders which took 25 minutes to come. Then the food came shortly after. The waitress never came by to ask if every thing was fine nor did she ask if we needed anything. The waitress even included gratuity in our checks when her service was horrible and she didn't deserve what was given. It's a shame when you visit family owned businesses and although the food is good and the service you receive is this bad. Worst waitress in the world. read more

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My first time here but definitely One of the nicer Jamaican spots I have been to in south Florida. We sat ourselves in an available booth. The waitress/bartender quickly came over and took our order. They have a nice selection of cocktails and beers. They have a full bar and should be able to make some more traditional drinks but I opted for the listed cocktails they had. I ordered sweet and sour chicken and hubby got oxtail. Presentation was nice, the chicken came in a half cut pineapple and the chicken was in the sauce like true Jamaican sweet and sour chicken. My husbands dish was 'normal' but nicely plated nonetheless. The oxtail was tender and perfect. My chicken was tasty but ran into some overcooked pieces that were chewy. My cocktails were on point and one would feel fuzzy midway a second drink. Minor improvements to the interior could still be made but seems that it's coming along. They have a live music setup for weekends. Wasn't by any means crowded but it was consistently busy with people coming in and picking up orders or having quick lunches with friends. We left at around five and we were the only two left at that time after moving from our booth to the bar. The two staff members we encountered were friendly and pleasant. We would definitely go back! Live & Love! Support local businesses! read more

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The oxtail at DUNNS River Jamaican restaurant is a standout dish, delivering a flavorful and tender experience that truly captures the essence of Jamaican cuisine. The rich and savory taste of the oxtail is a testament to the restaurant's commitment to excellence in their culinary offerings. Berlitz. read more

The food is amazing here and I'm a frequent customer. However, the portion size could be a heck of a lot better on their curry goat and oxtails. I know these meats are expensive but for what they are charging 6 pieces is just a snack. I usually order their fried chicken with rice and peas, it's very flavorful and I love their fried dumplings. read more

My family and i were excited to go here. We went normal dinner time on a Saturday and the food looked delicious based off the menu, but the service was horrible. They explained how they weren't certain if they had more rice. (Lol what) and that they will check for us. They said it will take maybe 20 min. We said ok. No one went back and checked, i had to go up and ask. They weren't even busy. Then they were explaining how they are all out of rice. Meanwhile we were waiting for an hour with and no one offered us even water. Horrible service. What a shame read more

I really hate to give this place, especially a newly open business 3 stars, but it was all because of the customer service...I'll get into that in a moment. Located along West Hallandale Beach Blvd., Dunns River Island Café is a newly open Jamaican restaurant that offers the typical Jamaican cuisine at excessive prices (ranging from $2.99 - $38.99). You can get appetizers, breakfast dishes, main entrees, seafood entrees, combination dishes, vegan dishes, $5.99 lunch specials, kids meals, desserts, kids meals, and cold beverages. The restaurant doesn't look like much on the outside, but it's very spacious on the inside with earth tone décor, as well as plenty of booth and table seating for the customers; and if you're riding solo, they are plenty of stool seating around the restaurant and by the bar. As I walked in a little after 2pm, there were only two people dining at the restaurant. I approached the bar where a light-skinned server was taking an order over the phone. When she was done, she left without even acknowledging me. I saw another server and asked her if they offer take out. She said yes, handed me a menu, and disappeared. After overlooking the menu, I realized that I was too late to order a lunch special and decided to get a beef patty. I was sitting at the bar for over 10 minutes and there was no one to give the order to. As I turned around, I noticed the light-skinned server and the other server that handed me the menu at a table chatting. What really threw me was as soon as a man...let me reiterate...a nice looking man walked through the door, the light-skinned server quickly got up, approached the bar well-smiling, ready to take the guy's order. I literally got up, went straight to the server who handed me the menu 10-15 minutes ago and told her I wanted a beef patty to go. As she placed the order, I had to wait for another 10 minutes. I was ready to go when I receive my patty. These female servers need to work on their customer service, and I hope they don't show preference to men only. Despite the unsatisfactory customer service, the beef patty was really good. It was nice & hot with a peppery filling. Probably I'll come back again in time to get a lunch special, hopefully there are other servers who know how to give proper customer service. read more

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My complaint is related to my card being overcharged. I was invited out by a friend to celebrate their birthday. I arrived about an hour and a half late therefore all food orders were placed and eaten prior to my arrival so I ordered a few (2) drinks that were consumed while there and placed an order for wings to go. I told the waitress that I am paying for the birthday boys order and somehow she charged my card for several people that I didn't even know. When I noticed the $250 charge the next morning I called and spoke with the owner to obtain an understanding of what happened. The manager asked me to assist him with requesting payment from the people that I didn't know by asking my friend that invited me for the names and phone numbers of his coworkers, family members, and others he invited out to help the restaurant recoup for their oversight. Why would I pay the tab of people that I do not know? People that consumed unknown amounts of food and drinks before my arrival? They knew this was an error made by the waitress and admitted as much. However, still failed to refund the over charge. The proclaimed owner refused to refund the overcharge and I have had to contact my bank to dispute the file a dispute. I debated writing a negative review for this black owned business but sometimes you have to share your experience with the public because not everyone deserves such trust and patronage of the black community. read more

I called to make an order and when i arrived it was ready and i was greeted with a smile from both employees. The establishment overall & bathrooms were very clean. I cannot stress how important that was too me. I left my card and Tammy was so gracious to count with me all the dollars in my purse. I made the eighth amount and we laughed. She was very very kind. Off of the service alone i will come back. The food was amazing. I had the sweet chili salmon. read more

Dunns River Island Cafe Hallandale Beach - Caribbean Near Me - Hallandale Beach, Florida

It was ok but my rice seem like it was cooked a day before it didn't tasted fresh. I will see if they have better food by trying what's on the menu. The service was ok even when the server didn't completely hear what I wanted. read more

The food was amazing !! The best island food I've had so far !!! Jerk chicken falling off the bone & they load you up with rice !!! I will definitely be back read more

I love that I found this place. The food here is delicious! I'm Cuban, so Caribbean food is my favorite. They are similar and I'm here for it. Love that they have plantains and of course the rice and peas! Try the Ox tail and Goat! You'll thank me later! read more

Ordered a small oxtail to go from here and got home to 3 pieces of oxtail that were so rubbery, and the spiceness of the food was too hot I could t even eat it. I also bought it to share with my 2 year old and he couldn't eat it due to the spiceness. They need to do better charging $20 for rice and vegetables because 3 pieces of oxtails if surely a rip off. read more

7:30 pm on a Friday no Jerk chicken white meat (on several occasions) so I paid and got the dark meat instead, only to find out could only get a small so I suggest some white meat fried chicken and continue with large...Twitch your manager said no without even a conversation read more

Dunns River Island Cafe Hallandale Beach - Refund - Caribbean Near Me - Hallandale Beach, Florida

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The food was ok. Nothing different from Any Jamaican takeout spot. The service was horrible! Ugh paid and still took forever to bring a to go plate. No straws, items on the menu no longer exist. The waitress came once to ask. The food was bought out different ti Owner, don't follow the stigma of careless Jamaican restaurants staff. Make your place known for great food and amazing customer care. read more

Food is good but if you order oxtails which is $17.99 plus tax don't expect to get your monies worth. You will only get 5-6 pieces as shown in picture read more