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    Island Vibes

    4.2 (135 reviews)
    ModerateCaribbean, Bars, Seafood
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Island Vibes Takeout or Delivery

    Island Vibes Photos

    ISLAND VIBES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Island Vibes

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    A portion of my jerk chicken to-go meal, plated at home. With rice/beans, stewed cabbage and plantains. So delish!
    Julie M.

    I had the most delicious lunch today at Island Vibes, a Jamaican jerk chicken spot not far from the Nashville airport. [[HIGHLIGHT]]As I parked in the lot behind the restaurant, I passed the smoker with chicken on the grill and it looked and smelled legit![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The exterior is colorful and welcoming, with plenty of outdoor seating, and inside everything felt bright, happy, and clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The owner Emil was very friendly as I ordered the jerk chicken plate to go, which comes with rice and beans, stewed cabbage, and plantains. I went with the large chicken portion and it's definitely enough to feast on all day. At home, I plated everything and the meal looked beautiful. The jerk chicken sauce was dark, rich, and very spicy, on par with Nashville hot chicken. I loved the earthy kick! The cabbage and carrots were warm with a light pickled flavor unlike anything I've had before; I could honestly eat a whole bowl of it. The rice and beans were the perfect starchy balance to the spicy jerk sauce, and the plantains added just the right touch of chewy sweetness. It feels like a fabulous homecooked meal, made with love! I thoroughly enjoyed every bite and can't wait to bring my husband here. This place is a true hidden gem in Nashville, and I'll definitely be back often!

    Lauren T.

    If you love Jamaican food, you'll LOVE this place! It's next to the Sam's Club on Harding Place. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The building is small with Jamaican colors painted all around it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Parking: I went during 6pm and there was no one there so parking was easy! They have a gravel lot behind the building. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance: since it's a lesser known place, it felt local and more authentic.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You order in the front and they bring out the food no more than 5min (also count that it was only my friend and I) Food: 100/10! I tried their oxtail for the first time and it was good! A very different kind of taste if you've never had meat in broth before. Now the jerk chicken?!! I could marry it lol. It's amazingly seasoned. Pair it with the rice, plantain, and veggies, chef's kiss. It does have some spiciness to it. This is one of my fav place to get Jamaican food. It feels authentic and deserves the hype. You should try it out!

    Shay Y.

    very yummy! i got the curry chicken and i was very impressed. it had lots of flavor but wasn't to overpowering. The lady who toke our order seemed pretty uninterested and annoyed but over all the food made up for it!

    Rice & peas, cabbage and plantain...the oxtail were in a separate container and I forgot to take a pic.
    Natalie D.

    Super disappointed, as I thought that I was going to get some good oxtail. Both the oxtail and the rice and peas were over cooked, leaving the oxtail "fall off the bone stringy & tough" (and if you know how to cook, you will know that as meat cooks, its muscle fibers contract and become tougher. If cooked for too long, these fibers will squeeze out the moisture, resulting in dryness and a stringy texture.), and the peas and rice were way too soft, near a mushy consistency. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The service was nice, and the restaurant's ambiance was exactly like the little restaurants I've eaten in the Caribbean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] For me, it's one and done, I won't go back there. It might be different for someone else reading the reviews, this was my first time experience.

    Coco bread

    I got the curry chicken, brown stew chicken, coco bread, and beef patty, and it was all delicious. They also have Ting! As a Jamaican, this is authentic, highly recommend.

    Dark jerk dinner
    Rozalynn B.

    My friend brought us here, but I had them bookmarked somehow. We ordered 2 dinners. A jerk chicken dinner and an oxtail dinner. Everything was feeshly prepared and seasoned well. My large oxtail wasn't that large, tho. Everything was ok, just nothing to write home about. I could try some other things. I might double back when I'm in town. Their prices weren't bad. It also appears to be a lounge or bar after dark.

    Microwaved day old Mac n cheese
    Justice R.

    Came all the way from Memphis an was told about this place from a good friend I got the curry chicken. Definitely seasoned well Rice was ok not as seasoned an the cabbage was good as well. I also ordered a side of Mac n cheese. I was not a fan I could tell it as day old an that they just popped the Mac n cheese in the microwave an nuked it Besides tht I enjoyed the curry chicken an would definitely go back for the jerk wings

    Ox tails in small container.  Tilapia with beans and rice in styrofoam.
    Steven s.

    We tried Island Vibes today for an early dinner. Very small place. Food decent at best. Ox tails not to my taste and over priced. Small order with a lot of rice and beans was almost $19.00/ Wife had fish and rice and beans. Two soft drinks and two meals with tax was $61.00. I'm going to stick with a chain restaurant for my ethnic adventures.

    Entrance
    Veronica M.

    I love this place... I love they have roti and the flavor of the food is amazing. Last time I came here was about 10 months ago and they only had carry out so it's honestly a food you should seat down and enjoy but the option works for now. My favorite is the Ox tails plate. Hands downs. They have other plates like Curry Chicken Roti and Curry goat roti, but that's what my heart desires every time I have come. My dad brought me some after I gave birth to my daughter and they wrote a nice congratulations message on my box. How sweet?They do fill the box to over it's capacity so that's always nice :). Even the small plate is filled to a max. The restaurant does have an island vibe specially during the summer. They feature flags from different countries as decor and bright colors. The staff has always been nice and friendly. Always a good experience and great food. Come check them out!

    Jerk Pork and beef patty
    Schyler D.

    Very delicious and flavorful food. The jerk pork was extremely tender and juicy. The rice had a surprising but pleasant heat to it. Quite good-sized portions as well. Only thing is it was a super long wait, but it is worth it!

    oxTOES at this point bc it definitely ain't no oxTAILS

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    5 months ago

    I am very picky with Jamaican food, but this spot was amazing delicious and worth every bite.

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    2 years ago

    The service here was great. The food was delicious. Loved the vibe on the patio. First time having curried goat, it was good and tender.

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    Jack's Tavern

    Jack's Tavern

    4.0
    (2 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $

    It is what it is, and you'll hear that line at least 5 times by the people around you, probably…read morehear someone complain that that is not a statement, and another correct them that it is Zen done redneck. This place exists atop its perch overlooking Elysian Fields (the resting place of the souls of virtuous Krogers and Jiffy Lubes) This bar, situated on a little hill next to a couple of gas stations, is a little unassuming - I've been there on various occasions the past few years, most recently with a group called Beer Church Nashville. Every time something new and wonderful happened. The beer selection isn't that great, the music is too loud when there's a band, the place works or it doesn't for you... you'll know it after a beer, but not before. It's one of those places where I only went to see a friend, and would have backed right on out had I not met a row of rather misjudged people. The pool tables were ok but not fabulous the last time i was there, the bartenders were very nice, I was told repeatedly that they had new management and to give them a try - however i did not know what the old management had done differently or wrong - that's some lore I'll have to dig up some day. The place has pretty decent parking, it also has pretty eagle-eyed cops who patrol the corner so really, play it safe and steal a police car before going and don't go with broken headlights or taillights (my old roommate did, she got searched for 45 minutes as evidently admitting you are going to that bar and have not been drinking is suspicious) It's not a place to bring a date, well, not my place to bring a date. The crowd's been drunk, half naked, rowdy, and all-about-to-fight but nothing ever seems to happen that's bad. At least when I've been. Your reaction will vary, I tend to dig dive bars that are dive bars not not hipster hideaways, and although the Parliament smokers would be welcome here, PBR is generally drunk by the patrons due to generations of selective taste breeding.

    Now under new management and renamed Jack's Tavern, this dive bar off of Nolensville has an…read moreinteresting mix of people and entertainment. Karaoke is offered and some nights there's a band. There are two pool tables that only cost .75 a game. Also they've redone the back patio and you can rent that out for parties. The owner (Jack) is a great guy and Dave (the acting manager) is quite helpful. First night we went in he bought us our first round and gave us drink tickets for when we come back.

    Photos
    Popcorn.
    Popcorn.
    Centerpieces.
    Centerpieces.
    Jack's Tavern

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    Island Vibes - caribbean - Updated August 2026

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