I finally made it to IQ Bar And Grill to take advantage of their happy hour. They have one bar with less than 15 seats. When I walked in, the only seat available was on the corner and it was oddly placed and there isn't any counterspace for whomever sits there. The hostess offered me a two-seater table next to the DJ booth, so I sat down. I looked over their happy hour menu and decided upon a margarita because that is what I decided to go with prior to arriving since their spirit menu was lacking in variety of real tequilas. I walked over to the bar to look at what they offered and didn't see much either. The hostess is extremely extra and started calling me baby from our initial interaction . . . . ummmmm . . . . is this not a place of business, I wondered. It triggered me and reminded me of being asked, "You want hot sauce and ketchup on your french fries baby?" from the corner store lady when I was little. It's no now and was no then. I'm guessing some people find this as being extra friendly when talking to black people but I find it unprofessional and belittling. It took a minute before she came back to take my actual order and meanwhile, I noticed a lady that was behind the bar earlier, now walking around. I tried to speak to her multiple times but she ignored me. I wanted to ask how the blueberry syrup for the margarita was made since sir was behind the bar earlier. When my server/hostess finally returned, I asked her if she knew and she quickly responded by telling me how the margarita itself was made instead of how they made the actual blueberry syrup. I wanted to make sure there wasn't any artificial blue dye. I went ahead and ordered the margarita and it was ok. The lady who I saw walking around brought me a glass of water after I ordered my drink I said hello to her as she placed it down and told her thank you and she didn't even acknowledge me or say anything back. Very awkward. The young lady who was serving me seemed to be the only server for the entire restaurant. Because of this it took so long before she even came back to check on me. I wanted to order food but kept trying to get her attention that she was busy with other guests. As I sat there there were more people who came in and walked out when there was nowhere to sit at the bar and some chose to be seated at tables. I tried to order food at the restaurant next door by calling but was informed they were not the same and I would have to order from IQ. I needed to leave so when I got up to take a phone call and walk out, I came back in and my server was there waiting for me. I asked how long it would take for me if I ordered food and was she informed me 20 minutes I said no thank you and Jess to close me out and bring me the check. She run me up on the tablet and only showed me the price. I gave her my payment and ask for the receipt when I noticed that it asked me to give additional gratuity for single digit percentages. Knowing that only occurs when an automatic gratuity is added on to your bill, I asked to see the receipt. She wasn't able to show me the receipt because she already charged my payment. I asked if gratuity was already included and she said it was a service fee. And then asked how much was it and informed her I wanted to see what I was charged so she pulled it up on another device to show me how much the service fee was. Why did I have to ask and why was this not told to me ahead of time? I'm so over restaurants charging automatic gratuity or service fee, giving you crappy service, and then hiding the fact is already included. Don't show me how much I owe, show me everything that I purchased so I can make sure I was charged correctly. Now this was easy because I only ordered one drink. Also, it was not written on the menu that gratuity was automatically added either. Part of me is so over it. read more

See all

Ambiance classy island vibe. The bartender was incredibly attentive. My friend and I started with the patties, they were served cut in 1/2 on a platter. Warm, flaky tender, deliciously seasoned - OMG GOOD GOOD NUFF NUFF - All yuh deese, GET SOME and GET SOME FUH CARRY HOME NUH. Sadly Conch Fritters were sold out - all the more reason to come back and try again. We had the $39 IQ Jamaican Platter which included ackee and saltfish, callaloo and saltfish, fried breadfruit, fried dumplings, and plantains. My friend had the bottomless Mimosas, she enjoyed them. Let me step back for a minute. Good People DO NOT SHOW UP HUNGRY BELLY ACTING A FOOL. Your food is made fresh when you order it. Now let me tell you THE Jamaican Platter is plenty of food, enough for two people. The food was delicious, served hot and seasoned just like backhome. Me greedy backside ordered the ox tail and grits and yes I did share some with my friend. Just so you aren't surprised you will be served GIANT Oxtail seasoned to perfection, it will have meat and marrow. The grits were more akin to polenta, creamy and delicious. There was a DJ and an MC the vibe was cool, relaxed and welcoming. The food delicious. I definitely look forward to returning and I hope they have Conch Fritters. Stop by and get some terrific, fresh, made to order food. You won't regret it. One Love! read more

We chose this restaurant for my mother's birthday. She said she wanted Caribbean food so, the birthday girl gets what she wants! They accommodated our change in reservation so quickly and nicely, and seated quickly us even when we got there early. We got there before the crowd which gave a very intimate feel but it's within an hour or so, more people started to come in and the house felt pretty full, but not overwhelming . Our waitress was really nice and set the tone for how we would be treated throughout the evening. There was a live DJ who was a great touch. He really made my mom feel very special and gave her a shout outs throughout the night, he engaged the crowd with all types of genre of songs. The room was definitely singing! Our drinks were really good and did the job :) ! And the food was delicious! I would go there again and my mom said she would also! read more

See all

From the moment I walked into IQ Bar, I was greeted with warm smiles and a welcoming atmosphere. The happy hour oxtail tacos, spring rolls, and shrimp pasta was absolutely outstanding -- perfectly cooked, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. The service was attentive, friendly, prompt, making the entire experience feel effortless and enjoyable. I especially appreciated Wendy and Mikayla's staff recommendations, quick refills, accommodating dietary needs. The ambiance was cozy, elegant, vibrant. Prices felt reasonable for the quality and portion sizes. We also were there when a DJ was there, I'm not sure if this is an everyday thing but he was fantastic; I had to get up and dance by myself LOL Overall, IQ Bar is a place I'd happily return to and recommend to anyone looking for Caribbean food. read more

I went for happy hour and it was 10/10! The bartender Charles was awesome! The margaritas are $6 for happy hour and STRONG! I had two and was thankful my boyfriend was the DD bc I was definitely tipsy. We ordered the shrimp flatbread, jerk wings, jerk chicken mac and cheese, and oxtail tacos. The shrimp flatbread stole the show but everything else was delicious. The only thing I did not enjoy was the jerk chicken mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was a bit bland I would probably try the Rasta pasta instead. I will definitely be back for weekend brunch! read more

I decided to try this black owned restaurant out for date night. I have passed by it many many times and decided to give it a shot. The parking lot can be tight as cars are continually moving in and out. The restaurant is also pretty small as well. They had a DJ playing Jamaica music which is a nice touch. We ordered the crab dip, plantains, Caribbean citrus salad and the oxtails. We had to move to a larger table to accommodate our food. Our waitress was nice and highly recommended the oxtails. I was really skeptical about ordered the oxtails due to the expensive price. I am glad I took the chance because those oxtails were a 10/10. Finger licking good. My only disappointment was there is NO Curry chicken on the menu. #Crazy. I never been to a Jamaica restaurant that did not have curry chicken on the menu. I will definitely support this restaurant as I want to check out their brunch and a few other dishes. read more

See all

I dined in during Sunday happy hour. The inside looks new and decor is nice. Very clean... The food was delicious and very flavorful. I ordered the shrimp flatbread and the mini shrimp pasta. The sauces on both dishes were so good. The portion size is enough for one person. I don't Iike that they offer water to you without telling you that it costs $5. This may be a waiter error though. Young waiter seemed to be a bit off. She stood at the front like the hostess, but ended up being my water. She greeted me with a big yawn and several times I had to look in the corner near the curtains to wake her up to get something. When called to my table, she continued to bring items without taking the empty items so dishes were piling up smh. Other staff like the bartender and other lady were very awake and even assisted me a couple of times. Overall I enjoyed the food, but the hostess/waiter is the sole reason for a dropped star. Happy I tried this black owned business. Parking lot on site... small bar area inside. Carryout side is on the left and catering side is on the right. read more

IQ Bar And Grill - Mini shrimp pasta - Caribbean Near Me - Milford Mill, Maryland

See all

Happened upon this place. Nice ambience more upscale than their take outs. A real sit down pace with nice bar and music. The service was great. The wings were delicious. Mussels ok. The brown stew chicken was good. The brown stew fish (red snapper) was EXCELLENT! I eat a lot of red snapper this is at the top of the list! read more

IQ Bar And Grill - Browne stew fish - Caribbean Near Me - Milford Mill, Maryland

See all

I had a taste for red snapper and this was the place to get it. The snapper tasted so darn fresh!! I had it grilled. But you can get it fried or baked as well. I couldn't be more happy with this fish. At 40$ for two large whole fish portions, this deal cannot be beat. Also I got a large order of oxtails. The oxtails were good sizes and mostly fall off the bone.. yum! It was very busy in there. So my wait was about 1 hour. It was said that my order got mixed up. And I was not worried about that because I know my food was being made fresh. I also know how crazy the food industry can be. So a had some patience's. And I was so pleased with the taste and freshness of my food. I was given a free drink for my extra wait. The decor in the IQ side of was festive bright shades of neon green, yellow, and red. So I gave 4 stars because of the long wait. I have been here many times and this was the first time I had to wait a long time. I will certainly return. read more

See all

I came with a friend and my sister and we loved it! The staff are very friendly and helpful. They all worked together as a team to bring out our food, clean dirty dishes, box up our food, etc. We came for brunch around 1pm and got the $35 brunch deal that came with flavored bottomless mimosas, an entree, side and a teaser appetizer. The food came out in a timely matter and everything was really good! The pricing and portions were good as well. They also have a dj that plays a great mix of music! Very good ambience, vibe, staff, food, and service! Definitely recommend to others! Thank you to the staff! read more

IQ Bar And Grill - Restaurant/bar area - Caribbean Near Me - Milford Mill, Maryland

See all

Brought my best friend here for Sunday Brunch for birthday. OMG! 10 out of 10. This place for brunch should be considered a true gem. The ambiance and decor was a vibe. Immediately greeted and seated soon as we walked in. The staff was super friendly and professional. They had a DJ that was definitely playing some good carribean and r&b music. Our server Shavaughn was incredible. And he was on point. He kept our drinks coming and made sure to update us on our food and just was overall attentive. The food was absolutely good and well seasoned. And the bottomless mimosas were perfect, they will do you just right and they had different flavors. We can't read more

See all

Delicious Caribbean food in a fun atmosphere with great service is what you'll get here. They offer brunch, happy hour and dinner and are open 7 days a week. Their bottomless brunch deal is $35 and includes an entrée and bottomless mimosas. We tried their tropical, coco and pineapple flavors. They have appetizers like their Ackee and saltfish tostones and the conch fritters served with spicy plantain dip. Both were tasty, but I preferred the tostones. We also ordered their jerk wings marinated in their jerk sauce which are available on their happy hour menu. The oxtail and grits are a great brunch entree choice; creamy grits topped with their slowly braised oxtail. From their dinner menu, order the Heroes Circle Crab dip with lump crab meat and toasted garlic bread. The chef's favorite curry shrimp and lobster simmered in a coconut curry sauce was a tasty and flavorful dish. The curry goat is fall of the bone tender and comes with rice and peas and extra gravy. The reggae pasta is the ultimate comfort dish. We ordered the one with shrimp which was really good. Their rum punch is strong. Get that too. Definitely check it out if you're in the area. read more

I love this place! I give it 5 stars across the board. This is an authentic Jamaican restaurant located in a small shopping plaza. No issues with parking (plenty spaces). It's dimly lit, which makes it perfect for couples. It's also fancy, with cute decor. Reggae music is played in the background while you dine, setting a nice vibe. The staff is really friendly. Our waitress's name was Dupe', she gave amazing customer service. The drinks are tasty and strong which is a plus. The food was AMAZING. We went on a Tues during happy hour which allowed us to mix and match our tacos for "Taco Tuesdays". The oxtail and the fish tacos are my favorite! The oxtail in the taco was savory, tender, and melts in your mouth. My boyfriend who does not like Jamaican food is now a lover of Jamaican food due to the restaurant changing his mind. Two of the major things I love about this restaurant is that they also bring you wet wipes before eating & if you selected sparkling water with your meal, they give you the whole bottle to take hope. I'll definitely be returning to this restaurant. read more

See all

My aunt had her 87th birthday dinner here last night. When she and I entered they were very welcoming. It was a small room to the right that was set up just for her. The sign read Happy IQ Birthday. Immediately, we were introduced to the waiter who would take care of us. The dining area was nicely set up with purple napkins inside the glasses. We were able to place drink orders as we waited for the rest of the people to arrive. Everyone was able to order drinks and pay for them separately. There was a small table set up to serve yourself appetizers. The appetizers were spring rolls and wings. Both were delicious. Everyone's meal was pre ordered. Each meal came out nice and hot. The service was top notch. Not one person had a complaint about anything. My aunt bought her own cake and cake plates but, they supplied the cutter and utensils. Right before cake champagne was served. The DJ even paused and played happy birthday as we sang it. They mentioned it several times throughout the night that it was my aunt's birthday. My aunt was happy. They really made her night. This is one business I would surely return to and give more business to.. For my meal I had jerk chicken with rice and beans which was delicious. The jerk seasoning on the side was pretty spicy but, I loved it. I also ordered the known Bob Marley drink. It was a little pricey but, it came in a nice tall glass. The drink was pretty strong and tasty. Thumbs up to the entire IQ Bar and Grill team from the greeters to the waiters to the DJ and the cook. Everyone's attitude was friendly and polite. read more

See all

Visited this restaurant for lunch, the decor is very nice and sleek, there was low reggae music playing over the speakers. We were immediately greeted by Wendy who directed us to the table and really made us feel welcome. We ordered a bottle of sparkling water, beef patties to start. The Pattie's came out quickly and hot and tasted amazing. We then got our drinks, an old fashioned and mule, both tasted good except the mule was a little too sweet. We then ordered the braised oxtail $30 and jerk chicken $17. Omg the braised oxtail!!! So tender, it was falling off the bone and the sauce was perfection. The oxtail came with rice and a dipping sauce. The jerk chicken was also very delicious and was cooked perfectly. The chicken also came with rice, broccoli and carrots. My only suggestion is the oxtail should come with veggies as well. During our meal Wendy was very attentive and even told us about the Sunday brunch and 3pm happy hour. The manager also came over, introduced herself and offered to bring out the chef so we could tell him how great the food was. The restaurant is not that big, so make a reservation or visit during lunch. Im looking forward to my next visit. read more

See all

The wings were fantastic! We got both flavors and couldn't agree which was better. I also enjoyed the curry goat - flavorful and tender. The beer prices were relatively high and 18% 'service charge' was automatically added to the check and poorly communicated. We were from out of town and were treated nicely by staff and patrons. I wouldn't rule this place out because of the area or demographics. read more

IQ Bar is the upgraded version of Island Quizine which is right next door. My friend arrived first and she was not immediately seated. In fact when she inquired she was sent next door to Island Quizine. When she returned she was finally seated. Our waitress appeared to have language barrier. Although she was very sweet she wasn't well versed on the menu and every question she was asked she had to go an ask. Now before they upgraded to IQ the dining area was just an extension of Island Quizine and you were able to get the same drinks in the restaurant. We did not see a nonalcoholic menu so we asked for sorrel and the waitress told us we couldn't get it. We thought it strange for a Jamaican restaurant to not serve sorrel. Once again she went and asked and came back and told us we couldn't get it. I asked if we go next door to purchase it. She finally bought out the team leader who said they do sell it (of course for much more then next door). At this point I was frustrated with the whole sorrel gate and didn't want it anymore. Shanique the team leader offered us complimentary champagne due to all the confusion, but that's not what any of us wanted. She was finally kind enough to bring us complimentary glasses of sorrel in champagne flutes. Now for the food. My friend and I had the curry shrimp and I have absolutely no complaints about this dish. The shrimp was plump and the flavors were great combined with the rice & beans, cabbage, and plantains. I definitely enjoyed my meal. However, I think I will stick to patronizing Island Quizine. The language barrier with our waitress was a little much. Also, it appeared that she would benefit from more training in service and learning the menu. Also, they should have a drink menu with non alcoholic beverage options. You have no idea what you're options are because it's not printed anywhere. Shout out Shanique for trying to be a problem solver because there was apparently no manager onsite. read more

See all

Came here for a dinner party that started at 7:30. The room they put is in was right next to the kitchen. So whenever someone from another party ordered, the wait staff had to cut through out pay area. Our food came out at 9:45pm. Everyone was hungry and frustrated. When I spoke to the manager and told her I wanted to cancel my order at 9:30, she said we couldn't because we already placed it order. We place our order on Thursday... in advance. The party was on Saturday. So why wasn't the food ready ??? The manager blamed the guest of honor for arriving at 8:15. The last person received their plate at 10:15pm. The food was good but small portions. The waitresses were polite. Someone from our party ordered a bottle of Moscato. They were charge $50 for the bottle. The wine was Double Dog Moscato $5.99 in the store. (Google it) They don't have to worry about me coming back here read more

IQ Bar And Grill - Brown stew chicken. It took so long, I asked for it to be boxed up. - Caribbean Near Me - Milford Mill, Maryland

My wife asked me "where I wanted to eat" a common question amongst married couples,of course no common answer. So I looked up "food near me",IQ pops up so I send her the addy. "You're in for a treat" was the response I got. And in the words of my Jamaican people "ya mon"!! I was indeed treated. The food was amazing!!!! My wife ordered ox tail,mashed potatoes(which are whipped,amazingly whipped),Mac and cheese and I had the shrimp Reggae pasta. The Mac and cheese is their own adaptation and they nail it,the cheese is creamy with a melted cheddar cheese top,golden brown to perfection. The ox tail wouldn't make it to my fork it was sooooo tender it kept falling off of it,so I had to "manhandle" my sample from my wife's plate. The shrimp Reggae pasta was "sweet",due to the sweet bell peppers and the creamy Alfredo sauce,would definitely recommend. I'm saving the last part of my review for the staff. The bartender Shevaugh(sorry if I misspelled it,my hearts in the right place) was attentive,informative and most importantly welcoming. The restaurant was slow(it was just my wife and I,we came rather late,9-9:30ish) but ready and tidy for a crowd or even another two top. The drinks Shevaugh made us were tasty and carefully crafted. We met Colleen as well I believe she's one of the managers on staff,she came to check on us and even let my wife know if she wanted something on the happy hour menu to call ahead and she will personally field the order. Above and beyond with customer service. Love to see that these days!! My wife had the Bob Marley and I had just a mule. Would recommend IQ!!! Definitely about to be my wife and mine "little spot"!!! read more

IQ Bar And Grill - Bob Marley (pictured left), Jamaican Mule - Caribbean Near Me - Milford Mill, Maryland

See all

I went to the restaurant with my mom, my niece and my sister as a pre mother's day night out. We had a great time and the service was excellent. There was a dj playing so we got to vibe while we were at the table. We ordered a variety of drinks, apps and meals and everything was good. My only complaint is that the crab dip is good and I loved the presentation but the portion size was really small. I would definitely go back but next time it'll be for happy hour. read more

See all

I am so glad I came across the FB video that let me here We drove an 1.5 to visit and it was well worth it . We had a 2 pm reservation for brunch , pleasantly greeted , DJ and staff are on point . The owner welcomed and thanked us then the chef introduced himself and shared some of the events and weekly specials and asked us how we liked our food. Everything was amazing and the mimosas ... omg just go and see for yourself . You won't be disappointed well worth the trip . The vibe was so good and the kindness was genuine . read more

See all

I had the red snapper with rice and peas and it meal was delicious. I wasn't expecting being served the entire fish with head and tail but it was perfect read more

Food was great! Portion sizes are small for price. Drink prices are pretty high as well. Reminded me of DC prices . I would go again just not for drinks . read more

See all

The food and service is great. I do recommend one thing. I know it's a Jamaican spot , but everyone that comes in here is not Jamaican. I recommend that you change the music sometimes read more

Great food, superior customer service. Beautiful restaurant inside, must visit! You will not be disappointed!!!!! read more

IQ Bar And Grill - CURRY SHRIMP AND Lobster.... A M A Z I N G - Caribbean Near Me - Milford Mill, Maryland

The food was nice. The DJ played great music. Atmosphere is nice for ladies chilling and enjoying company.. The drinks was nice.. The bartender was a bit unattractive... We were finished our drinks and no one asked us if we wanted our drinks refilled nor any eye contact. So we paid and we left.... ( A bit of attentiveness from the bartenders would have kept us there cause Everything was going well). Will we come back.. Maybe .... read more

IQ Bar And Grill - Drinks were awesome... - Caribbean Near Me - Milford Mill, Maryland

The food was good and the ambiance was great. The service was EXTREMELY slow and subpar. We had a birthday party here and it was the longest dinner ever. I had to ask for water at least 10 times before they actually brought it. I finally just asked them to leave the water carafe at the table so we can refill on our own and not have to wait a half hour for a refill. Checkout was even messier and more time-consuming. I don't know if they were short staffed or what, but I will probably only indulge in takeout going forward. I don't want to sit down and eat here again. read more

They aim to please My wife and I pulled up early one Monday afternoon close to 1PM. The place was completely empty, we were the only customers. We were greeted by our waitress Morgan with a warm smile and seated in a booth immediately. She offered us a bottle of sparkling water which we accepted. They presented it in a chilled grey marble carrier and poured our glasses for us. The atmosphere and ambience were amazing. They make their own fruit organically as well as their own pineapple and ginger juice. You can have them mix the two which we did and it was outstanding! The food was incredible and they served us complimentary cake and champagne after our meal. The chef came to our table at the end of our meal in his chef uniform to see if we were satisfied with our meal! The service and vibe was a 10 out of 10! read more

Well the venue & music is great! Ordered the crab dip appetizer- it was delicious came with 3 small slices of French bread- when I asked for few more slices I was told .50 per slice! Really disappointing! Also ordered dinner so bill is about $100.00 with tip! This is what annoys me with businesses--charging exorbitant amount for small items is ridiculous!! STOP IT! Service was great!! read more

Thank IQ Bar and Grill for a wonderful small dinner for family and friends for our daughter's graduation celebration Colleen, Wendy, and staff were accommodating, our guest felt welcomed and our daughter was so happy. We stayed longer and had delicious drinks at the bar. The seafood pasta and Stew chicken was excellent. We love coming to IQ Bar & Grill. Thano you Donovan and Donna! read more

The service was horrible, the food was not hot, they mixed our orders up. The parking lot was small.They did not disclose that water was $5 a bottle. We had to wait over an hour for our food which they brought out bit by bit rather than all at once. Once our food arrived it was cold. Zero out of ten would not recommend. TikTok reviews were not accurate! read more

Pulled up today, Saturday round 230 pm right after work. Parking Is minimal but I lucked up. Sat at the bar. My server Brianna was nice. The lunch menu only had the honey bbq wings on it so I said " I'll take the wings" 10 mins later I received jerk wings. I ate 2 wings. They weren't my cup of tea. I thought jerk have spice on it but no spice level. I didn't like the flavor of the wings at all. I dunked it in so much blue cheese. I should've sent them back cause that's not what I supposed to had got from the get go. The brown stew was good but it hardly had any sauce on them so I had to ask for extra especially to drizzle over the rice. Broccolini, two thinly sliced carrots, and two thin plantains came along side of the meal which i liked. I order 3 drinks. The Skankin Sweet was bomb. The IQ rum punch was good and the Bob Marley (which wasn't even on the menu) was bomb. The only reason I knew about the Marley drink was cause of Instagram. I think they need to fix there menu to showcase all their drinks! The Bob Marley was fire. The biggest thing I didn't like was that they tried to be slick add gratuity but have it under a "service fee" and then still have the nerve to have a tip option like nah that's not right. It's small inside. I didn't like the fact that some of the staff was right behind my head talking. They definitely could've had their conversation in the back lol. It was cool though. The true star of the show was the drinks! I give them a 9/10 and the food a 7/10. Ambiance was pretty nice However the bar area is small so is the rest of the restaurant. I may come back and try the pasta and ofcourse some more fire drinks read more

Made reservations for dinner. Bar and Grill is decorated nice. Servicer didn't have much knowledge of menu. Seem to be a language barrier. Ordered Salmon very good. My friend said oxtails were good. The ambiance was terrible. Had a family of 6 sitting next to us. Tables too close. The kids at that table watched Netflix cartoons/ two separate iPads. Playing two different cartoons and the volume was too loud. I felt like I was sitting in someone's living room or at a daycare. Server never came back to see if I wanted anything else until I was finished eating. Probably won't return again. read more