We arrived around 5pm on a weekday and was maybe the only other party in the restaurant. There's an underground garage below the restaurant. There's a sign that says parking for Island Soul. We mistakenly went to the adjacent underground parking garage. You tell the waiter your license plate to validate parking. The chickpea curry was a bit bland. The tostones were good garlicky and crispy. The coconut cake could have been moister and less sweet. read more

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Island Soul is AWESOME! Island Soul bought/replaced Arleana's in downtown Kirkland. I have always wanted to dine at the Island Soul in Columbia City, but it was always crowded requiring some planning. We made a reservation the day before easily. The interior is superb. This place would be great for date-night or get a drink or have a family meal. Our server was attentive and helpful, making a change for us last minute with a 'I gotcha ya' attitude - LOVE! Thank you! The food is so, so good! The Seattle area doesn't have enough 'soul', southern, creole, 'island' type of foods. This place fills the perfect niche. I have the urge to say 'hmmm, hmmm' dining here! Yum! Parking is free under the building, and nearby street parking tends to be available, too. The Food: Blackened Salmon, $33 - 5 Stars Menu: Salmon, corn soubise, fried plantains, fried okra We both wanted this as our main dish, so this is a 2X. The salmon is perfectly seasoned and grilled. You can SEE the seasoning on the fish. So glad they included pieces of okra. The frying/searing gives it the perfect chew. Fried Green Tomatoes, $15 - 5 Stars Menu: Green tomatoes, panko, egg, onion, Buddha's belly seasoning This dish is known as their must order. I have no clue what Buddha's belly seasoning is, but I can tell you it is tasty. Fried green tomatoes is a perfect southern dish (and I will always think about the movie). Wings, Jerk seasoning, $18 - 5 Stars Like many, we're suckers for wings. Even better if the seasoning is different. Jerk wings is rightfully popular, here. The sauce is generously applied, and every bit is delicious. The flavorful foods will have me returning for sure! read more

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Yo if you ain't getting the jerk wings or the oxtail you're mad missing out and your mother hates you. The drinks imo are a little light but the server will give you just the right amount of sas to keep you buzzed. Catfish is a good solid as well. Bulk approved and they got their own parking for my broke ass read more

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First of all, this place is in downtown Kirkland in an unassuming residential/business building. Don't let the lack of street parking deter you, there is a parking garage in the building. The staff is energetic and friendly. We were celebrating a friend's birthday and they really made it special. We had champagne bottle service and the service staff went out of their way to split it into 11 glasses. I was impressed. The food, don't snooze on the Sunday brunch. I had the most delicious meal, as did my companions. This island Caribbean soul food was so flavorful! I bought some hot sauce to go. This was our first time here, and we will definitely be back!! read more

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Beautiful space we particularly loved the mural, wall paper and how the live plants were hung. Food came out quickly as we were the first ones seated for the day our reservation was at 10am. Generous portions. Loved my Callaloo and they let me switch out the sour dough toast for a biscuit. One of the others in our group had the chef's breakfast sandwich and ate hers so fast. Another had the French toast with strawberry jam that she said was fresh almost more of a compote. My sister had the Benedict hollandaise sauce on the side think the only thing about it was that the sauce it wasn't hot. it was a little too cold and made for a thicker texture. but the flavor was good and the eggs were cooked well. Staff was friendly and helpful. Parking was free for two hours which was nice. read more

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Food: excellent portions Shrimp & Grits (4 shrimps) and plenty of grits! Ful of flavor...didn't have to add salt or hot sauce!! Chicken & waffles: light crispy crunch! Service: Friendly and attentive Ambiance: Great way to start off a Sunday with 90s /early 2000 R&B music! Upbeat and inviting. We'll be back to check out their dinner! read more

Island Soul - Shrimp and Grits - Caribbean Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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Much needed a restaurant on the East Side. It's a combination of Soul Food, Caribbean, and American. It's one of the few Black-owned businesses in the entire area, and its right in downtown Kirkland. On the weekends for lunch time they only have their brunch menu, so I was not able to try the dinner menu dishes. The French Toast was incredible and the Shrimp and Grits were very flavorful and packed some spice. Lovely establishment and they were so friendly and welcoming. Great for groups as well. I hope they continue to keep seeing more business. The food is delicious! read more

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Lovely and inviting space. Great food. Wonderful service. Comfort New Orleans food elevated to superb levels. Flavor galore and so many choices. A wonderful addition to Kirkland. read more

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The cocktails are fantastic. Each has their own twist. The Sazarac paired Michter's rye with dark rum, while the Pop Smoke added an aged Calvados to Laphroig Select cask. Both had absinthe. I don't see fried green tomatoes on menus around here much, but these were the best I've had. The mussel curry was slurped up passionately. The halibut had an incredibly thick crust that wasn't burned, and to get it, they didn't overcook the fish. The gumbo was so satisfying, featuring loads of large shrimp. It was spicy, but that cut the richness of the sauce. Definitely come for cocktails as the bar is lovely, even if that's all you have time for, but stay for dinner if at all possible. read more

Island Soul - Short, but excellent wine list. - Caribbean Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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Easily stole my Yelp heart, this might be a big statement, but I'd name this spot best find of 2023! (Probably will stay my best spot for 2024) Immediately impressed with ambiance upon walking in, immediately impressed with the live music they had, pleased that they prioritized our reservation, and over the moon about the mussels we ordered. Everything was flavorful, unique, and enticing- however if you like mussels - that for us stole the show highly recommend. The owner was out and about walking around, conversing with tables, and was beyond charming. In addition to this, we later saw a chef from the back come out to check on everyone being pleased. Amazing care and pride in the food, and it shows. The social aspect really made this a ten star experience, we are eager to return to try more, and drop in for brunch too. They check off every box that you would ever want in a restaurant, they are a good vibe, casual- yet elevated flavorful Caribbean food in a way you probably have not had before. Portions were fair, price was fair. Easily have won my husband and I over. read more

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A French-Carribean spot that breathes life into New Kirkland. We learned about this restaurant from a their Operations Lead, Kat! This was the probably the best dinner decision we made this year. Please follow me as I walk through the food, the ambiance, and the service Service There must have been an event happening tonight, because we were greeted with Marci Gras beads and masks at the door from the hostess. The whole restaurant staff was friendly and communicative, which is rare in the PNW(all my Seattleites know about the "Seattle Freeze). Throughout the night, the owner Theo, our waitress Erica (sp), and the Operations lead, as well as a few others checked in to make sure we were taken care of! Hands down the best service I've had in this city Food What can I say. My compliments to the chef all around! You cannot go wrong with anything in the menu. My fiancée and I ordered four items, which I will rate below Oxtails (10/10): These oxtails literally fell off the bone. There were the exact opposite of tough, and the sauce they used the carefully lay over the white rice made this meal perfect. You only get two oxtails, HOWEVER, one of the oxtails was fairly large. The price was fair for what you get. Friend Okra (9/10): Self explanatory. I could do without the dipping sauce, but the friend okay itself was cooked to perfection Collard Greens (10/10): Self explanatory Jambalaya(10/10): I only had a few bites of this since my fiancée ordered this, but that first bite was hitting! The assortment of meats meshed well with the rice to perform a delicate dance on my taste buds! Drinks I had a cognac cocktail that snuck up on me! I don't remember the name of it but if you ask they'll know. I hi highly recommend it. Ambiance The music was jumping and was a great addition to eating here. The whole table was jamming while we are. With that said, there was a small portion of the night where we couldn't hear each other during dinner conversations. All in all, this restaurant was the perfect dinner spot for those who want to dress up a little and have a great time while they eat. 10/10 recommend, and we will surely be back soon! read more

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A new French-Caribbean in Kirkland, we had to try it out. It's a cool place with friendly service. We got Crab cakes, Curry Mussels, and Blackened Salmon. I got the Water Lily Kirkland and loved it. I loved the Crab cakes, it was all crabmeat, lightly breaded. Curry Mussels were delicious, lots of flavor, loved the bread that came with it. Blackened salmon was good, I loved the corn soubise that came with it. Finally, we got beignets, and loved it. It was a great end to our meal. read more

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This place ROCKS! Some of the best food I've had on the East Side! I tried the delicious shakshuka with a southern / Caribbean twist. It was so amazing. My buddy had a chicken biscuit sammy with onion jam and home fries that all was to die for. Do not sleep on this place! Chef was out & about and chatting with customers. I always love it when that happens! Check it out if you are on the East Side. Plus, it's black-owned! read more

Island Soul - Shakshuka made with spinach and green chiles. To die for! - Caribbean Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

A friend of a friend recommended Arleana's and we intended to come here for brunch but we would not have made it before the afternoon closure so I'm glad we came back dinner. Service was fast, and we got our drinks pretty quickly. It seems like there are regulars that return often as they were pretty friendly and knew customers by name. Noticed another guy at the bar wearing VR goggles just having a ball, what a vibe! We ended up sharing our plates all around the table, We had Rasta Pasta and Oxtail Pepperpot, (not pictured) crab beignet, fried fish, and coconut corn muffins. The filled crab beignet tasted fresh and from the sound the fried crab was crunchy. Fried fish was balanced in flavor. The oxtail was very saucy, meat was tender. Personally I think the Rasta Pasta was the best thing on the menu. I opted to add shrimp but I felt the Cajun shrimp was slightly overcooked. The melted crispy cheese gave the pasta a nice variation in texture. Penne is not my favorite pasta as it tends to be cooked al dente but I really enjoyed this dish! Also not pictured are the coconut corn muffins which came highly recommended by our waiter, only because they were devoured so quickly. Honestly the coconut really elevates the humble cornbread and the plaintain butter gives it a bit of moisture. The Rasta pasta and coco corn bread will be my go-tos next time! read more

Island Soul - Oxtail Pepperpot - Caribbean Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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My best friend brought me here for the first time while I was visiting WA state. I was excited because I heard so much about their sister restaurant, Island Soul, and let me tell you, they lived up to the hype. We were greeted with a friendly person, Erica, who ended up being our host. She took care of us--gave us recommendations from the menu, made sure our water glasses were filled, and answered all of our questions. Admittedly, it took a little longer for our food to come out but everything we ordered wa a tasty. I ordered the black cod and yucca root mash--highly recommend and everyone I was with enjoyed what they ordered. The space was welcoming and we found out they had private rooms and a rooftop. We had a chance to meet the owner, head chef, and bartender--all who were so welcoming and kind. I'll be returning and hope you check it out! read more

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I was surprised to find a new Caribbean spot open up in downtown Kirkland, so I decided to stop by on a Saturday for brunch. I didn't have to wait at all before getting seated at the bar, as there weren't many parties dining in when I arrived. I ordered a Chef's Sandwich, a side of coconut corn muffins, and an orange juice. You'd think that the orange juice would be served up immediately, but they actually only remembered to give me an orange juice once they delivered my coconut corn muffins. Within 10 minutes, the sandwich came out as well. I'll start with the sandwich. The coco bread was sturdy enough to hold its integrity while holding together the entire sandwich. The andouille sausage was extremely flavorful - salty and slightly sweet. The fried egg did have a slight crisp from the fry, and the yolk was somewhat runny, though I would've like it a bit more runny as some of my yolk was cooked through. The melted American cheese that covered the egg added a creaminess that I enjoyed as well. Lastly, the arugula added a bitterness that helped cut through all of the savory ingredients that helped to balance the whole thing. My gripes with the sandwich were that it was small and it's very easy for it to slip apart as you're eating it due to the melted cheese. The house potatoes that came as a side to the sandwich were standard breakfast potatoes. I would've liked to see them provide some sauce to accompany them, whether a garlic aioli or sriracha mayo of some kind. With so sauce provided, your only real option is to use any runny egg yolk that drips onto your plate as you eat the sandwich. The coconut corn muffins were unique in that the coconut really came through. I'm a fan of a good corn bread, so a corn muffin with coconut to add a unique sweet element was nice to see. They are dense, as you'd expect. Looking at the brunch menu before the food, the prices looked okay. However, once I got the food, I realized that the prices are relatively high given the portion sizes, despite being in downtown Kirkland. My sandwich was $20, and I think a price point ~$13-15 would be more appropriate. The fact that a side of bacon, potatoes, or biscuits is $7 is wild. With tip included, my total bill for one person exceeded $40. Perhaps the dinner portions are better, but looking at the dinner prices, those also look fairly high. Parking is available underneath the restaurant in a retail garage that is shared with the Parque Kirkland complex. There are signs saying to pay for parking, but there are also signs saying that it's free for 2 hours, which is confusing. When I went, I didn't pay for any parking, and the garage was fairly empty so not sure how much it's being monitored. The service was decent - I'm not sure if because this spot is new and they're still trying to work out the kinks, but I noticed instances where the waiters were casually talking to each other while neglecting parties that looked ready to check out, including me. Overall, not a bad spot. We need more Caribbean food around. I'm all for it. But this place slightly confuses me with it's price points that teeter towards three dollar signs ($$$) but the atmosphere is very casual, at least for brunch. Either the portions can get slightly larger, or the price points should come down a bit. read more

Island Soul - Chef's Sandwich, coconut corn muffins - Caribbean Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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Our first visit with our group of four adults and a baby today for Saturday brunch. The space is new, open and inviting. The decor is chic with accents of southern charm. We were most impressed by the hospitality and service we received. One of us was recovering from a hangover and our server was very helpful and accommodating to suggest best food/drink options. Our meals were also delicious and clearly made with love. The chef even came out to offer special kid friendly dishes, which was unexpected and certainly much appreciated! They conveniently provide two hours of free parking in their attached garage. And, for the season, they setup lovely outdoor seating with umbrellas in the front of their restaurant. We will be definitely back with our fur babies in the future. Thank you, Arleana's, for the wonderful start to the weekend! read more

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Excellent brunch spot. Everything was top notch, quality of food, service, ambience. It was very kid friendly too. This is going to be a regular spot for us for weekend brunch. read more

Great atmosphere at this little gem on the edge of the Kirkland downtown area. Beautiful decor with lots of hanging plants and beautiful bar area. Our waitress was fast and efficient and we all enjoyed our brunch choices. I got the cheesy grits with soft shell crab (you get a choice of catfish, shrimp or the soft shell crab as topping). It was divine and I ate the whole thing. The roasted vegetables and poached eggs were perfectly cooked, as well as the crab. Luckily they left a bottle of their in-house habanero sauce which I gratefully sprinkled over my meal. Spicy and delicious. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back and finding an excuse to visit Kirkland again. There were several things on the menu that looked amazing. read more

Island Soul - Cheesy grits with soft shell crab - Caribbean Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Unique cocktails all beautifully presented. Brussel sprouts were good but missing the truffle flavor. Gumbo was nice and spicy and had 3 large prawns. Catfish was perfectly fried on a bed of collard greens. The only waitress was friendly and attentive despite a busy night. Enjoyed dimly lit atmosphere with hanging plants. read more

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Everything here was so great. They had live music that fit the ambiance. Our server, Allie, was super nice and attentive. Overall everyone working seemed in good spirits. The food was delicious! Loved that the potatoes were shaped in a way that you could actually scoop up the crab gratin and it would hold it. Fried catfish was so good the fish wasn't dry and the outside breading wasn't too heavy. I would love to come back for their brunch items. read more

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I was excited to hear island soul come to the east side. The owner was lovely and the service was exquisite! Nia was amazing! Made recommendations on food and drinks! Everything was excellent! Great fun great vibes place to go! read more

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What a lovely restaurant. Ally our server was so friendly and provided great service, as well as the new girl that brought everything to our table. The cocktails were very nice. Do yourself a favor and order the Black Bijou- there was a complexity of flavors, citrus and maple, it was delicious. The Kingston Negroni and Sazerac were both very good as well. I would steer clear of the Mai Valentine (Mai Tai)- the flavors didn't not blend well. I love a good Mai Tai, but this was not it. They graciously brought me a replacement. For appetizers we had the lamb skewers and fries green tomatoes. The fried green tomatoes were the best I have ever had. They were crispy/crunchy and not soggy and the spread on them was delicious. The lamb was alright. My husband ordered the steak, but it was over cooked and not very flavorful. He ordered it medium rare and it came out medium well. My husband refuses to send things back so he ate it anyway. He enjoyed the craw fish and yuca mash and the onion shoestrings that accompanied the steak. I had the ox tail and it was delicious. I chose the coconut herb rice instead of the yuca mash. The rice was very tasty. The ox tail was falling off the bone. It is a little fatty, but delicious. I wish there was a little more sauce. The yuca mash would have been good with it too. I typically do not like the flavor of yuca, but I tasted my husband's and it was good and didn't have the taste of yuca. Overall we had a great time. We will be back. read more

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We stopped in for brunch today and were seated right away by a very pleasant, albeit new on the job hostess/waitress in training. Carla (owner?) greeted us at the table and ask if it was our first visit. She made us feel right at home while asking if we had any questions about the menu and letting us know about the special. We decided to start with a salad (can't remember the name) which included apples and beets(?). Very tasty. My husband had a Bloody Mary which was also very good. For the entree, we both had the shrimp and grits plate. Normally we would have each tried a different dish but we both had a strong desire for the shrimp and grits. We enjoyed that dish as well. The only suggestion I have would be to cut the tails off the shrimp. I know some people like to pick them up but I find it a bit off-putting to deal with when they are in a bowl with grits and an egg with soft yolk. However, the flavors in the shrimp and grits dish were outstanding! Just the right amount of heat. All in all we had a great experience. The service and the atmosphere were well worth the trip. We look forward to going again and sampling our way through the menu. read more

My wife and I made our first visit to Arleana's last night for happy hour. They have a small outdoor patio and a stylish interior with a prominent bar and view into the kitchen. We were greeted immediately by a welcoming host and sat inside by the window (too hot outside!). The happy hour menu was great with fun cocktails and shareable food. For drinks, I had the Smokey Peach which packed a lot of flavor which I loved and my wife had the Summer Love Letter which was light and refreshing. The six-star part of our experience was the chef. We had some tricky allergies to deal with for my wife, so after looking at the menu we thought at first we'd just enjoy our drinks and skip the food. But the chef came out and said he would love to help work around the allergies, proposing several of the dishes he's could modify. The food was awesome and we really appreciated his over-and-above service. Thanks Chef! read more

BACK AGAIN. Brought my family in for Mother's Day brunch & just WOW. Pretty busy for a late brunch, yet to be expected on a holiday. Food took a bit longer but once again, totally expected due to the holiday & a full house. Chef Jacob made a visit to our table along with the owner Theo & once again just made us remember WHY we keep coming back to support!! Great food! Amazing flavors! Genuine hospitality. Best espresso martinis in Kirkland!! (Get the Chef's sandwich) Our girl Allie was great as always! & we will definitely be back when the menu changes again in a couple of weeks! Do yourself a favor & come to this hidden gem read more

Food is delicious. Staff is professional. Ambiance is romantic and fun. They had a musician playing sax. We had the ox tails and the salmon. Both were excellent. Went again with my sister. She ordered the wings and I had the gumbo. Once again both were excellent. I forgot to get a pic again because I was so hungry. Regardless you will not be disappointed if you are looking for Caribbean food. read more

I went in to have lunch but they were not serving the full menu. I had the Catfish Tacos and they were great. The place was very nice, they staff was nice . I plan to have dinner there soon read more

Island Soul - Caribbean Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

We came here in February and it was INCREDIBLE. Omg the best brunch spot on the east side by far. The chicken biscuit sandwich is to die for. It was juicy, crispy, and huge. My bf and I agree it's the best chicken sandwich we've ever had!! The soft shell eggs bene was really good too. I've never had it before and it had some good spices to it. A little salty towards the end but pair it with their special hot sauce and you're golden. 100% recommend! read more

Island Soul - Chicken biscuit sandwich and soft shell crab bene (IG: @mylifeaskat_) - Caribbean Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Love everything bout this restaurant . This was my 2nd visit. Had originally went for brunch and was happy with everything knew i had to come back for dinner. The space is beautiful and the staff are always friendly. The drinks on point! The catfish dish was really good. A little overf fried but with the sauce it was ok. Same as the okra, i do wish they weren't crispy like fries. But the flavors were all there and it was a delightful dish overall. Can't wait to go back to try the softshell crab beignet! read more

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I cannot underscore my amazing and important visit to Arleana's yesterday. I have been itching to go because it's Black-owned, and I live on the east side. As a Black person, it is so important for me to support Black businesses in Washington. The space was beautiful. Erika was the perfect host and server. Meeting Theo, the owner, was truly an honor. The bartender and head chef treated us so well, and even when I walked into the kitchen accidentally, the manager was so gracious. It felt like home, and the food being delicious was a plus. My family has the crab cakes (seasoned well), oysters (so fresh), the Blackened Salmon, Curry Goat, Steak and Cod. We also tore the corn muffins up! They also have a spicy sauce that I have no idea what it's called but it's delicious. We wanted desert but we were wayyyy too full from the drinks! I had a coral pink drink and my husband raved about the Manhattan. Should you go? Yes! read more

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Very friendly service and delicious drinks. Maple wings were novel and fun. Parking is easy in the underground garage. Loved the crab beignets. read more

Island Soul - Crab Bengeits - Caribbean Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Food good and nice ambiance Authentic food with a twist of refinement Theo owner was personable read more

There is no evidence of the food ever existing as we ate every last bite of it. I got the jackfruit empanadas and my husband got the pork chops with plantains. We also got a few sides, one of them being the sweet cornbread. We moved here from Chicago a couple of years ago and really missed some of the flavorful food we used to eat. This is probably the first time that we have been blown away by flavor and seasoning and texture in Kirkland. To top it off the service and ambience were also great . read more

Tiny food for hobbitses that do plan for second or third breakfast, but the single piece of chicken and some generic supermarket waffles are just not enough quality or volume for most folks. The batter on the chicken was very generic and store bought fried chicken taste better than this. Not having any offering of butter for the dense dry waffle is a big mistake too. At the price of $25 and over with tips and tax, I rather eat supermarket bought versions. Coffee is drearily bad. If you need coffee, get it next door at 5 stones before walking in. Similar prices so it's a total mistake to get the lethargic coffee in this place. Service was very transactional and yet having the gall to ask for almost 30% tips. read more

Island Soul - The single fried chicken is so tiny and unmemorable. - Caribbean Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

I've been to Arleana's twice now during the past few months and have to say it's my favorite spot to get cocktails in Kirkland! The interior is tastefully colorful, plus I love the music! The first time I stopped by later in the evening they were playing hip-hop/R&B music (the best kind) and the second time around (early evening) there was a live saxophonist. Sweet! There is a variety of tasty cocktails to choose from and the two I've tried were both amazing, needless to say I would order them again. Although I am tempted to try more of their offerings the next time I swing by, which will hopefully be soon. Purple Nightfall ($18) includes Empress Gin, Clear Creek Cassis, Marionberry Eau Da Vie, and Lemon. Served up in a coupe, my fave. Super flavorful and well-balanced, yum! Bohemian Grove ($17) involves Citadelle Gin Jardin D'Ete, Elderflower, Cucumber, Mint, Lime, Cremant. Refreshing bubbles served in a flute. During my first visit I snacked on the seasonal Brussels Sprouts ($12), House Fries ($8), and Coconut Herb Rice ($8). They seem to have a plant-based main at the moment so I'd be interested in trying that in the future as well! My server for the first experience was nice and helpful. The owner? manager? swung by to check on us the second time, and he was friendly as well. The bartender wasn't quite as cheerful but everyone has their days. Street parking isn't too hard to find within a couple blocks. I believe there is also free parking in a garage (enter Central Way). I hope Arleana's sticks around and isn't too cool for the Kirkland crowd. Bellevue folks would approve. Can't wait to come back and introduce more friends! read more

Our experience here was good. The ambiance is wonderful, and the staff was very kind and fun to interact with. The menu certainly looks creative and delicious! My favorites were the starters - the fries are canoe style that is so perfect for dipping in the sauces. The Crab Gratin is a must! The Fish Bites were crunchy (in a good way), but the inside was a little bit dry for me so I would have liked a little more sauce in this case. We also got the Carribean Curry but just started eating it right away so I missed a picture! The sauce was a great flavor, although not as thick as expected for a curry. We also ordered an oyster each - also not pictured - I don't usually order oysters, but these were very fresh tasting. For our mains, we shared the Pork Chop and the Halibut. Unfortunately, both were dry, the fish more so than the pork. The flavor was good, and the toppings made up for the dryness on the Pork Chop. The desserts.... honestly would not stay for dessert again. This is likely the worst dessert I've had in a long time. Our taste tend to lean towards beignets and crumbles, and fortunately both types of desserts are on the menu. We had average expectations at this point in our dinner. The presentation of both desserts reminded me of different stages of my period and both were lukewarm, like they had been sitting out for like a half hour before being served. For the beignets, they were actually fried croissants - taste and texture was actually very good but not a beignet as expected. The rhubarb and apple crumble was bland with a very low crumble to filling ratio and didn't come with crème anglaise like the menu said. Considering the prices (our bill was about $200 with no drinks) and the quality of the food, I was expecting a better cook on our mains and good dessert. I think we'd come back for apps and give other mains a try before deciding if we'd not come again, but definitely skipping dessert. I really hope next time we come that the mains are better. read more

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Went for happy hour. They had good service, good food and validated parking. They serve Caribbean food.

Place feels like home. 2nd time visiting and the host greeted me like family. Also ordered the Eastside Mojito (the regular one, not pictured). The Catfish was perfectly fried with the perfect crunch and nice, flaky fish inside. The yucca mash was super creamy, perfect comfort food! Being from Maryland, my only critique was that the fish could have had more distinctive flavor (I love my Old Bay seasoning!). That said the corn and Peri Peri sauce were nice garnishes. Can't wait to come back for Sunday brunch and try the Biscuits and Gravy! read more

Island Soul - Fried Catfish. Accompanied by corn maque choux, yucca root mash and Peri Peri sauce. - Caribbean Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Not a great evening. Party of three. We ordered the Crab Gratin and Fish Bites to start. For the main PNW TarTar, Cariabian Curry and Lamb Lolipops. We had two cocktails and a few beers. Whilst the starter was not fantastic. It was OK. Maybe a bit bland but not terrible for $15. For the main, one member of our party had the lamb lollipops and enjoyed them. The rest was a horror show. For the Caribbean currently 3 or 4 of the muscles were open, every other one was closed. Kind of ironic for an ex fisheries food tester to get this, but oh what the heck. Second time around after sending the dish back maybe 2/3'rds of the muscles were open. When the owner came around and was asking why there were so many closed and why we hadnt sent it back, we told him this was the second attempt. He seemed genuinely surprised and embaresed. The Salmon tartar was inedible. You could see the server picked up on this when she took the almost untouched dish back when she was clearing the table (remember this was after the Caribean curryhad already been sent back once). Out of the dishes we ordered, nothing could be considered great. Quite simply, expensive for poor quality. Not something we will be recommending or going back to. Two out of our party three are currently throwing up. This is not just bad, this place needs to be reported to the health department. Not impressed. There are some seriouse issues here. read more

Island Soul - The best part of the meal was the McDonalds on the way home. Yes it was that bad - Caribbean Near Me - Kirkland, Washington