The food at islands is great but that is not the reason for this review. Our server Zachary just blew us away. The best service I have ever had. Always attentive, truly cared and we never had an empty drink at our table. If islands can find more like this, it would be the only place I would eat out. Request to be in Zach's section! read more

Thank you for opening the outdoor section and turning on the heaters for us. It's hard to eat inside with 3 kids and a giant wagon stroller. We've always loved Islands and have been customers of this location since 2013. We do miss the PV location though, I had my first date with my now husband there. read more

Islands Restaurant - American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

Came in to cool off and have a refreshing drink bring it was a very hot day. It felt good just to chill with a drink and people watch and our waitress was very good about checking on us while making her rounds of her area. Next time I will have to have some food. We had already eaten when we went in here or we probably would have indulged, as the food smelled so good. It was a pretty good day to be out. The restaurant wasn't super crowded and we got in right away. read more

Really good burger! Forgot the name already, but the one with the avocado filling and onion was a solid burger. Very juicy meat and I enjoyed the combination of ingredients Salads were overwhelming but it got me and my family through to next day lunch. Had the Chop Chop and the Caesar. I liked our Caesar the most We also had truffle and regular fries. Not pictured Our truffle Parmesan fries were again, very solid I was not disappointed in this experience at all. I would come back! read more

See all

Consistently great food and service. We've been going to Islands for a number of years and we've never been disappointed in the food quality and the service. read more

Islands is one of those places that always comes to my mind when I want a good veggie burger. You can substitute a veggie patty in any of their burgers. They have a great variety of burgers - my favorite is the Kilauea because it has a nice kick to it and I love the fried onions on top. I also like that you can get a wheat bun if you want. We've never had a bad meal here - the food is always the same and the service is always good. The ambience is very casual and family oriented....not upscale or the kind of place you'd go for a date. The overall experience is similar to Red Robin, but with an island theme. We'll keep coming back! read more

Islands Restaurant - Kilauea burger on wheat bun with veggie patty - American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

Islands at Desert Ridge: After visiting several times, my family and I decided to stop going to this location a little over two years ago for two main reasons; the food delivery/flavors had gone down hill and there was a noticeable, repeated disregard for basic customer service from the team, from a polite greeting, waiter returning, unfilled drinks, to the more unacceptable - we were literally sat under a slow-dripping A/C vent and told if we wanted another seat it would be a 30 min wait (at 4:30 pm), while open seats were avail. and people walking in were seated no problem (Asking another person politely for another table was thankfully accommodated). We recently gave this another try for lunch in the last couple of months, 3 visits - all 5 stars. Wow, what a turnaround! Friendly staff, incl. those who were just walking by to clean up a broken glass smiled and said a few nice, unexpected words. Customer service all three times was fabulous - and that's hard to maintain in the service industry right now. Our waiter was outstanding, friendly, kept drinks refilled, asked if all was good - very appreciated each time. We believe in treating people with respect/kindness and, at minimum, have the same expectation of establishments that want our business. This location appears to be under new management and it shows with a polished 'team' that understands what brings people back - How refreshing! We are adding this restaurant back into our regular visit with this huge improvement. Thanks for fixing the 'broken' features we experienced. read more

I ordered the grouper sandwich to go. I brought it home and thought, this looks pretty traditional. My first bite hit me hard, this was beyond traditional! This was exceptional. My 3 teenage daughters that turn their noses to fish asked for a bite and before I knew it I was splitting the sand which 4 ways! While I was waiting at the bar, I saw lots of tasty drinks pass by me. Everyone was friendly and helpful. I'm sure if I ate in, rather than ordered out, my review would still be 5 stars. read more

I feel meh about this restaurant. We've had great burgers here before and just average. We came in around 5 today- it wasn't too crowded. Service was very friendly.... When we got it. Once seated we ordered waters that were quickly delivered then waited. For an appetizer we ordered the spinach artichoke dip- the dip was runny but the chips were fresh. For dinner I had the hula burger no bun and my husband got the carne asada bowl. My burger arrived missing the Swiss so they quickly took it back to fix. His bowl was underwhelming. The carne asada looked like ground beef and when we asked were told it was carne asada- he gives 3 stars. The manager came out which was very nice- he was friendly. We'll be back at some point but tonight was disappointing read more

Islands at Desert Ridge Great service and tasty food. Zach was our server. Very conscientious. Attitude and timing were perfect. Made our meal that much better. Pork tacos and cheese fries were so good. Spoke with Paul, the manager to compliment Zach / Server. Paul was appreciative with great sense of humor! Visiting this restaurant was a joy! We will be back! Thanks again Zach and Paul! read more

Was really looking forward to eating here while on vacation to Arizona. Tonight I got my wish. We ordered online and went to pick it up. Ordering was easy, service was good, and honestly the burger was good. HOWEVER I ordered the Bluenami without the bun which is an option, and paid extra for avocado. Very disappointed, please see the picture shown on their website versus what I recieved. Almost $20 with the avacado and including tax. Not sure I would go there again the next time I'm in Arizona. read more

Islands Restaurant - This is what I ordered - American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

Islands Fine Burgers and Drinks Been along time since we have been here, use to go to the other location at PV Mall before it closed. Hula Burger with fries. Hula is a mushroom Burger which includes french fries. Generous amount of mushrooms and good amount of nice crispy fries. Chicken Tacos are good, but go for the burgers, I also have had the Hawaiian Burger that has teriyaki sauce and pineapple which is also a good tasting burger. Place was busy but service was very good. There are so many high price burger restaurants, this is very good and a little bit less cost. read more

See all

Love Islands!!! Always have, and it continues to be a restaurant that never fails w excellent food and service. Dined on 3/13 afternoon and the hostess was very prompt and pleasant. Jordan was our server and OMG she is amazing!!! She is a perfect example of what customer service should be like! Thank you to all the staff for the wonderful experience as always. read more

I'm a big fan of Islands. I've been going with my family for over 30 years. There used to be a lot of locations around the Valley. Sadly now there are only two locations. This weekend, I decided to go to the Desert Ridge location. It's probably been at least a year since I had been to an Islands Restaurant. I've been fed up with the "shrinkflation or greedflation" that most restaurants have passed on to their customers; reduced food portions along with increased prices. I did not have high hopes for this experience because it seems like every restaurant is trying to gouge its customers, but I was pleasantly surprised. Even though prices were a bit inflated, the food product was still good and not "shrunk" to where it was ridiculously small. The North Shore tacos tasted just as I remembered them. Another thing to note is that we had exceptional service from our waiter, Suly. He was very efficient in taking our order, providing constant attentive service, and tending to our needs. I asked him if he had been at Islands for a while and he said he had. We struck up a friendly conversation, reminiscing about the PV location. I really enjoyed our experience at Islands. The food, albeit a little expensive, is still consistent and the service was stellar. I'll definitely be back. read more

Zach is the best server you could ever ask for!!!! He goes above and beyond every single time we see him. Service is impeccable, the food always comes out quickly. The Kilauea Burger is my go to, the best burger I've ever had. You won't regret checking this place out! read more

Bland food and burgers. Ambiance and service were great. The food was not. I have eaten there before. I remember it being better. Gone backwards. read more

Before catching a movie at desert ridge, we popped into Islands for lunch on a Sunday. The place had several other people inside but wasn't too packed. I've often walked by this place but never really knew what to expect. I ended up glad we tried it! With a name like Islands, you might already have an idea about the decor inside, and you're probably right! Lots of wood, giving you that casual beach vibe, surfing on some of the TVs, chill music, and a drink menu that starts off with a Mai Tai. Our waitress was super friendly and handled all of our substitutions, additions and exclusions like a pro. Everyone's meals came exactly as ordered and all of us altered the basic menu item in some way. We told her we were running to a movie right after and she promptly handled our checks. She was great. Speaking of the food, I went with the north shore tacos on corn tortillas, added sour cream and swapped the beans for fries as a side. The tacos were delicious! You get two but they are a good size and they certainly don't skimp on the fillings. With the tasty fries in addition, I left pleasantly full. The rest of the menu contained burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, tortilla soup, and appetizers. They had a good beer menu and a variety of specialty cocktails. I will definitely return the next time I want to grab a bite before or after the movie! read more

Islands Restaurant - North shore tacos with sour cream on the side - American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I would've given a mediocre 3 Stars but gave an extra because my husband liked it. He's eaten here before & really likes their burgers - and that is saying a lot because he's very picky & usually only has negative things to say about food places. This was my first time coming here & I will say the service & staff were great! Above average! Friendly & efficient! Also, the food came out really fast! That's always a pleasant surprise! We got nachos for an appetizer which were pretty tasty! EXTREMELY CHEESY, which is a positive in my book! But other than that, nothing really extra special about them. I ordered the fish tacos but didn't really care them. And I'm NOT a picky eater at all & it's rare I'm underwhelmed...but that's how I felt. Is it weird to say the fish was too big for the tacos? The ratio was off. They were also hard in some places & dry with not enough sauce. I would be fine not coming here again. I can see why some people like it but it's a meh for me. read more

Islands Restaurant - Nachos - American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

No, I would not recommend this place. I had their impossible burger, hard to mess up since they don't prepare it in house, but they clearly over cooked it. I had tacos, they used flour tortillas that were stale but what they put in the taco was so wet I made it soggy and messy. We shared truffle fries that were mostly fries with Parmesan. The other people I was with enjoyed their cocktails, which I think is why we ended up their in the first place. The food though was very disappointing. read more

BEST FRIES EVER! I forgot how good the fries are here. Fresh cut and perfectly crisp. My chicken sandwich was excellent too. The servers name was Jordan and she was excellent. She was super cheery. Right there when you needed her. Made menu suggestions and was just overall super pleasant. She should seriously be your main trainer who trains new staff. I worked in the industry for a long time and she is excellent. Food was excellent too. read more

Islands Restaurant - American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I'll start w the server and hostess were awesome Food was garbage Fries hard salty tasted like they were old and re fried Bun over took the patty I cannot believe how awful the food was The restaurant empty I will say again the service was amazing beyond Food was trash read more

I'm not a fan of chain restaurants these days but I do love islands! I love the teriyaki tacos and chicken sandwich! Haha I don't think I've ever ordered anything other than those two things. Drinks are good. Service is good. Husband said his burger was cooked to perfection. I don't remember what my son ate but I know he liked it!! read more

We've been coming to Islands since we moved here (July 2019), and each time we have always had above-average food and service. The atmosphere has a tropical vibe that actually works quite nicely with the interior. The Surfboards and wood paneling throughout the inside compliments the dining room quite well. Be aware, it's chilly in there, so we normally stick to the patio, which is just as nice although not nearly as spacious. For servers we have always gotten Kelsey and Sam, which have always been pretty good, but this time we got a friendly server named DD. She helped explain the menu items and checked on us regularly. I've never had an issue with service here. For appetizers we always order their Chicken Wings. They have plenty of meat and crispness and the buffalo and ranch sauces compliment them well. The hand wipes that come with the wings are also a nice touch if you have messy fingers. We've also tried the Spinach and Artichoke dip and it didn't disappoint. For Entrees we've had the Big Wave Burger, the Shorebird (chicken), the Moa Kai (tuna). The Big Wave burger is good, but not great, as I've always found their burgers to be standard but not extraordinary. Instead I like to go rather for the Shorebird or the Moa Kai. Both are large portions and boasting in flavor. I have also tried the Beach Bowl which wasn't my cup of tea but others seemed to enjoy it. We've gotten French Fries, a Jungle Caesar and the Chicken Tortilla Soup on the side. The French Fries are always good temperature and crispy. I wouldn't recommend the other two. For dessert we have gotten something like an Ice Cream Cake (couldn't find it on the menu) which is presented beautifully and very flavorful. I would highly recommend! Overall, Islands is always a great place to go for a bite to eat and I will continue dining there for many years to come. Overall read more

See all

MUCH BETTER! After our awful experience 6+ months ago and my review, which wasn't awful, I wasn't sure I would return. But my 4 star review still got the attention of the manager who gave me a $15 gift card to entice me back again, and I'm glad we did come back! This time, arrived at 1:45 and there was no wait. We were seated at a roomy booth for two of us. Our waiter was attentive throughout, and our orders were cooked properly the first time. I love the Kilauea Burger, so got that again with sweet potato fries - all delicious! Thank you so much for paying such close attention to your reviews! (by the way folks, when you get a discounted meal, a free item, etc. remember to tip your server on the pre-discounted amount! They deserve it) read more

Once again, another place with bar only HH... oh well. I guess that's my life with kids. We had a friendly server who was timely. They have a great variety of burgers including Turkey, chicken, and veggie. I ordered the regular burger made with Turkey and protein style. I shared it with baby who demolished almost half of it... a happy, fed baby means a happy mommy. And I don't blame him. The burger was juicy and flavorful. Im surprised I haven't tried this place sooner. read more

See all

Super disappointed and I just want to know why this place sucks so bad! Raw still mooing burger. And two orders of the wrong fries. What a waste of time and money! read more

Islands Restaurant - Raw burger. Yuck! - American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

Fun spot for lunch. Fish tacos were really good and flavorful. Our server was super nice and did a great job with service. Also the lava cake was enough to share with 4 people and absolutely delicious read more

Came here for the first time with my family the food sucked no seasoning, I ordered teriyaki wings and no sauce what so ever. The ranch tasted watered down and was really runny and the quality of the food was just terrible. My brother order a carne asada burrito and the meat wasn't even seasoned correctly it was like they had no spices in the back nor ranch or anything like that. Would not recommend to anyone. And the water tasted like it came from the toilet. read more

Haven't been on here in a while- but I felt compelled to login and write up a review for this place. Islands is absolutely one of the worst places I have EVER eaten. From the "chips and salsa" to the fries, and lastly the burger. The dollar menu burger at McDonald's is hands down better than islands, same with the fries. I honestly don't know how this place is in business, how they can afford rent, or who the heck would eat there. I regret my decision to have lunch here, when there are much MUCH better places at desert ridge. Avoid avoid. read more

I'm glad to find out that the burgers come with fries again. After being a customer since 07, a brief employment stint with them in 08-09, and a guest every few years when I vacation back home in AZ. It was a bummer, last year, to hear that the burgers and fries were separate and A la carte. It's 3/5 stars because I asked for the tiki tenders to come out first, but it came out all together with my meal, forcing me to eat a burger, fries and tenders super fast, or risk everything getting soggy or cold. The tiki tenders aren't as wide and skinny with a particular breading as they used to be. The sauces they came with were in these micro ramekins, I get it from a business POV to cut down on sauces being wasted (save that $$$). The Kileuaea wasn't as spicy or peppery as it used to be. The guacamole was bland and had no flavor, but was fresh and green. The fries seemed average and lacked the pizzazz they used to have. I was told everything took a long time because the fry station was backed up... but I didn't care, I wanted 3 courses (incl dessert), and not 2). The tax was wrong, it was 8.58% and 8.6%. As a bonus PV should be 8.8%, so save that extra .2% while you can before Islands catches this error and increases the tax to the correct value! I enjoy their new rewards program. You spend $150 and get $10. It's a 6.66% return rate (metal, bro). You get a $7 off appetizer when signing up and they do 2x and 3x points. The birthday reward also exists still so extra bonus! Glad to see this chain is still around. The price you pay is on par with five guys, but I don't leave feeling ripped off. It's not fast food, it's quick service. read more

I moved to NC about 6 years ago. I used to eat at this place back in high school. With all the changes that have been going around with desert ridge, the Scottsdale quarter and fashion square, it's nice to know this place was still here! I took my sister here and was so excited! I'm glad I had a great time. This place was WAY better than I remember it being. We were seated quickly. Our drinks came out in a flash. We started with chips and salsa and a side of guacamole. The starter did not disappoint. I ordered the Hawaiian burger and my sister ordered the Malibu burger. BOTH WERE AMAZING! I just started liking pineapple so to try it on a burger was a risk I was willing to take. Our server was the best. I don't remember his name. But he was super friendly! I will definitely be coming back before I leave in June! read more

See all

Love their sweet potato fi Love their sweet potato fries!!! Best anywhere I have ever eaten them! The hamburgers are wonderful too! Definitely will return! read more

I have to start off with staff always being really friendly. That can make or break a restaurant for me. So far I've had the nachos, chop chop salad, and Maui burger here. Everything comes out super quickly. The portions are fairly big and the food is always great. Love coming here. read more

See all

We had dinner here last night, and we really enjoyed our time here. The hostesses at the front were very friendly and greeted us/seated us right away. I had the Malibu burger and my husband had the Pipeline burger, both with wheat buns. Both burgers were hot, juicy and delicious. The unlimited seasoned fries were piping hot and awesome...husband ate two full baskets of fries, they were that good. We also ordered a frozen daiquiri and mango margarita, and let me tell you, the bartender did not skimp on the liquor! lol Our server was Alexis, and she was excellent, with a sweet personality. From the time we were seated to when our delicious meal was served, was maybe 10 minutes tops. Islands at Desert Ridge is a great restaurant...clean, cute ambience. Thank you to Alexis for the awesome service, to the cook for the great meal, & to the bartender for the killer drinks. We will be back! read more

The food quality is good, overall but the service lacked. We ordered three entrées, a burger, w wrap, and tacos. The tacos were a joke. The thinnest piece of avocado and very oily tortillas. Very disappointing, especially given the slow and poor service read more

We love coming to The Islands and sitting at the bar. The service is always good and we like the personalities of the bartenders. Tonight was not different except for one thing....out take out order. They were busy and the atmosphere was very lively. We placed the order as we were finishing up our dinner around 6:00. Kaycee gave us our check and all was good. However we waited for over 30 minutes for our take out order. Kaycee was very apologetic and even offered us another drink while we waited. When we finally got our order, I checked it as I needed to make sure it was correct as our daughter who we ordered the takeout for is gluten free. The burger was correct but they forgot the cheese on the fries. again Kaycee apologized and reordered the fries. We appreciated Kaycee's service and attitude and we will continue to come back and visit. We just hope the kitchen can get a better handle on the take out orders. read more

I had high hopes since this place appeared to specialize in burgers (my fav), but I have to say this is the worst burger I've had in years. I got the Maui burger and it was flavorless. The bun was stale and the whole burger had this weird smell... almost like sawdust or something. Definitely nothing that I've ever encountered before. I ordered the burger without cheese as I always do, and there were a few bits of cheese stuck to it which I had to pick off (immediately off-putting). Fries were just ok. My husband did like his teriyaki burger, so I am not sure what went wrong with mine. Server was good... that was the only positive for me, unfortunately. The Thirsty Lion in Desert Ridge has MUCH better burgers. read more

Islands is a great alternative to most other casual dining restaurants with their tropical flair and unique menu. Toucan birds, colorful flowers and plants, and plenty of bamboo occupy the dining room. All of the servers were great as we had a few different ones help us out. We started out with an order of their Cheddar Fries which is a giant plate of fresh cut french fries, smothered in melted cheese and sprinkled with green onions. Served with sides of ranch (upon request), this was a huge crowd pleaser among the family. We followed that up with a bowl of their Chicken Tortilla Soup which was loaded with tender chicken and generous chunks of Avocado. We also ordered a Makaha Cheeseburger, which is a secret "off-menu" item. It's their classic cheeseburger smothered in chili, grilled onions and that's it. When you have chili, cheese and grilled onions, what else do you really need?! The kids Grilled Cheese and Cheeseburger were both very good quality for kids items and were gobbled up by the littles without delay. Can't wait to return to Islands for another great meal! read more

See all

This may have been one of the best Islands I have ever been to. The service was very fast. We ordered and right away our drinks came out. (It was so quick that we had to ask if they were really our drinks). The place is very clean and the service was good. The staff was very attentive. Our food was good. We had two sandwiches and fries. Both were really good. read more

Good, messy burgers. As they should be. Hubby an I ordered teriyaki burger with pineapple and a mushroom Swiss burger, with sweet potato fries. Both burgers were very good and needed a lot of napkins. Sweet potato fries plentiful and tasty. We sat at the bar and our server knew her stuff, walked us through the menu and checked back to be sure we were good. Had some sort of ice cream chocolate covered pie for dessert that was delicious. Add this spot to our list of places to fill up when we are in the area, for sure. read more