This place was amazing!!! The service was friendly , food was phenomenal! I ordered the oxtail....they gave me too much! That never happens lol - they gave very generous portions with great flavor!!! Highly recommend! read more

The Islands - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I've always wanted t try this place and I am glad it was lunch with mom. They must have just opened for the day because the one beer was taking phone orders and told us to have a seat anywhere. The decor and is simple and sort of an island touch. No one else but us and then a few others came in after and business picked up. We wanted the Sorrel but she was out of it and the Salmon was thawing out. So we ordered the homemade lemonade, (OMG GOOD!), jerk wings (you can see and taste the seasoning, yum), okra & salt fish (mom hasn't had in a while) and the calypso shrimp (that coconut sauce though!) I can say it was well worth the wait because we were both very tastefully satisfied! Can't wait to come back again. read more

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Very good. Waitress was pleasant and attentive. Food came out really fast and was a generous portion size. Happy with the dishes we got (curry goat and jerk lamb). They do no currently have a liquor license so are BYOB, which I consider a plus. Would definitely recommend. read more

Very delicious food. Plantains were exactly right. So right that I would like to get lessons on how I can get my home plantains that shape and crisp without being greasy. Curried goat was fall-off-the-bone! Delicious. Rice and peas were lovely and so was the fish. I enjoyed the baked chicken... etc... really nicely done. The kitchen staff is typical Caribbean so don't get your pants in a wad if folks seem short. It is the flavor of the Caribbean restaurants. Folks are busy and are focused on flavors. Hahaha We were using them to cater an event and food was done on time and ready to go! They even helped us take it to the car so that was above and beyond. I would suggest this be your first stop in a dine-in experience as well. Very nice and clean indoors. No sticky floor. Actual tables and a hostess. Appreciated professionalism! read more

The Islands - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Was really excited to try this place out. Highly recommend an order of curry goat, rice and peas and steamed vegetables. Food was amazing and portions were perfect. Definitely felt like a home cooked meal. Cheers to the chef, owner and employees. read more

Food: The food is pretty good and they have generous portions. We had the jerk chicken and the mac and cheese. Both were quite tasty and reminded me of eating in Negril, Jamaica. Drinks: I enjoyed the lemonade, but it's a tad bit too sweet. They also have Jamaican soda, which had a nice kick to it. Service: very slow, as noted in reviews below. We waited about 20 minutes to have our order taken and about 15 minutes for the check. The waitress also overcharged us and then brought back the correct check, but didn't say anything. Price: very reasonable. It's a big portion/small bill type of place. Overall: solid food at a no frills type of place. Affordable and tasty. Just expect to spend more time than you want. Note: there is a $2 service fee to eat in. Cash only for now. read more

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REVIEWER # 558 OMG! This place is FINGER-LICKIN good!! My first time in New York and man, I was not disappointed! My friends and I came to NY to celebrate my birthday and was determined not to leave without trying some of their Caribbean food! Let me admit, that being a Trinidadian I am in LOVE with Caribbean food, after all, it is the type of food I grew up eating. After reviewing good places to eat on Yelp I came across, The Island! The reviews and the pictures of this place blew me away. My friends and I decided to make a trip to Brooklyn to see what the hype was all about. Walking in to The Island you will notice that it's not your "normal" restaurant feel. It's more of a cozy type of place. I walked in and instantly felt like family. The owner Marilyn is a super sweet lady! Marilyn and her partner own the restaurant and have been doing so for 15 years! Wowzers! Congrats on that! It made me feel as if I just walked into my family's home and was greeted right in the kitchen. It's a small food joint but don't let that steer you away, this place does not disappoint. My friends I were the only ones in the restaurant and we decided to go upstairs as that is where most of the tables and chairs are. The upstairs is not big (trust me) but its homey and cozy type of feeling. You will notice that there are no more than 5 tables and 4 seats per table. Once upstairs, we were quickly greeted by a young man named Lance! Lance seems to be a young chef in the making. He is well professional and treated us like family! He provided us a menu and explained to us all about the delicious meals that they offer. My friends and I ordered many different dishes and I am happy to say that all of it was DELICIOUS!! We ordered the chicken wings, oxtails, red bean and rice, Roti, mac and cheese bread pudding. OMG, makes my mouth water just listing all of these. The prices were reasonable. May seem expensive for some, however, the amount of food that is presented when it comes out can easily be shared between 2 people. I have to admit that my friends and I didn't even scrap the plate because the food was so filling. The damage of the bill was no more than $60 and was easily shared between 3 people. The owner, Marilyn stated on our way out that they will soon be moving to a bigger location. I am sure once they do that they will have the whole community lined up outside wanting some of that finger lickin food. I am truly happy to say that I am in LOVE with The Island and will ALWAYS make my way to this location when I make a special visit to NYC! Big thank you to the staff, Marilyn and Lance for making my first time experience the BEST experience! Until next time! read more

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I've been eating from here for years now and the food is always on point . I usually get the jerk chicken with rice and peas and plantains , curry goat , or the oxtail with rice and peas . The meat is very flavorful and falls right off the bone and the rice and peas is always great . Service is usually good and I order take-out more than dining in . read more

We arrived in Brooklyn from CA, and knew the first thing we wanted was Caribbean food. Always on our list when we come back here. The Islands fulfilled our craving perfectly! Curry chicken, stew chicken and curry veggies were all delicious. So was the cabbage (I could eat a whole bowl of that alone!), and my husband enjoyed his homemade lemonade immensely. Will definitely be eating from here again next time we're in town. read more

One of the best places to get authentic Jamaican food. I love it so much. I've been here many times and have tried almost everything on the menu. Highly recommend giving this place a visit if you haven't. read more

I don't know. I generally trust Yelp (4/5 stars) and DoorDash (4.9/5) when ordering from a new spot. But this MUST have been an off night. My experience was not great. The jerk chicken had been sitting around for a while, and after too bites, I was done. The skin was rubbery, the chicken tasted off. The rice was hard, mad that I had to order separately. Can't do it. I did order late. Learning. Never order late. read more

Call to order and bring cash if you can because a 4% discount is offered for cash payments! The oxtail was absolutely amazing so I highly recommend. The jerk chicken and curry chicken were also super flavorful and delicious. The one thing I wouldn't recommend is the roti. It was flaky and crumbly in a way I didn't expect for roti. I ordered 2 oxtail, 1 jerk chicken, 1 curry chicken, 1 Mac and cheese and 1 roti- I was told on the phone the total was $87 and when I handed over my credit card the total was $98. I didn't question it because it's a pandemic and I want to support local businesses but dayummm read more

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As a young girl, the islands was my go to place for cooking that tasted like home. I would save my likkle $14 for that jerk shrimp that was so delicious and burnt my lips off. The rice and peas was the best rice and peas I ever had. No matter how many Caribbean restaurants I go to, no matter how I cook or my family or friends the sisters held the title. The place was small and hot. I would order my food and eat it on the museum steps. Today, although they are in a different venue there is as much love in my rice and peas as it was over 10 years ago. "Is it too hot?" Absolutely not just right. The prices have gone up but the space has increased. The food is worth the price. Be warned there is no liquor license but the food is that good you don't even need libations! Hello!! read more

Been going for years and have brought many guests here for amazing Caribbean home-cooking! Calypso Shrimp is my personal favorite but their jerk chicken/shrimp and oxtail are all amazing! Portions are big and come with rice and cabbage, so arrive hungry! They're BYOB which complements the place incredibly well. The staff is welcoming and we've had plenty of chats over the years, always a pleasure. The price has gone up but reasonably so as they moved into a much larger space. read more

Spicy food? Yes this is the place for you. My tolerance for spice is terrible, but still tried some of the food here and it was great! This place is byob, and the staff were really nice. We ordered mac n cheese with ox tail gravy, jerk chicken, ox tail, shrimp garlic and curry goat. Each protein we got came with rice and veggies. We did like a family style so we each got a bit of everything. Everything was really flavorful and spicy so I had most of the ox tail because that wasn't spicy. Wish I could handle spice because all the food was flavorful, juicy and soft! read more

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Nice people, good food. Young waiter must be relative or new. Had to ask for everything. Lol other woman working there was just shaking her head but the food was excellent. Loved the jerk chicken wings most. read more

The Islands - Kitchen - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Yes, this is an Artiium's 5-Star restaurant! Let's breakdown this rating so you (the reader) will see why I enjoyed this delicious meal. Location- This establishment wasn't hard to find, as soon as I got out of my car, I was hit with a sweet aroma of goodness (no lie). My friend was asking is it open? From our parking angle we couldn't see but I immediately knew they were because of the smell (5 Stars) Staff (5 Stars) - I value a nice friendly staff, it enhances the experience of that establishment, here they are a mom and pops style so they welcomed you with a smile and made you feel at home! Down to earth and know how to take care of you. Food (5 Stars) yes the Oxtails I ordered were amazing!! The rice and peas were full of flavor and the mixed veggies were good, best of all was the Mac-N-Cheese which just came out of the oven, so good! Next time I'm in NYC I'm coming back!!!! read more

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I haven't written a review in quite some time but I had to give these guys a shout out after the amazing oxtail I had. Hands down the best I've ever had. I also ordered the curry goat last time which was really delicious as well. Highly recommended! read more

The best damn curried goat I've ever had, and the portions are just the right size. I like especially that, when you order from Islands, the curried goat is mostly goat MEAT and not goat BONE. I often feel a little let down by a lot of places that give you a couple choice morsels and then a whole pile of soup bones and cartilage to gnaw on. That unfortunate circumstance NEVER happens at the islands, I cannot stress enough that I have never left there feeling any less than very satisfied. The rice and peas have a wonderful subtle spice to them that makes for a great snack as leftovers. And the service is quick too! read more

The food at this place was fantastic. We tried everything. The red snapper, Curry Goat, Oxtails. The rice and peas was the best I have had in awhile. Moist with a small hint of coconut. The dishes were plentiful. They even gave me a surprise complimentary dessert because it was my birthday. The chef and waitress were busy, but professional. We had a nice conversation at closing. read more

Food not what it use to be and now way too expensive. Unfortunately this restaurant is not what it use to be and they "Americanized" their recipes which has compromised the flavor that their food use to have. To add to the way this place is going downhill they also increased the price dramatically. Going downhill... not coming back. read more

Amazing food! Huge portion that's easy to feed two persons. The oxtail is very tender and the special spice sauce give it a unique flavor. We also ordered the Mac and cheese. Unfortunately, there was no soup of the day at the time. There are about 4 2-person tables and 2 group tables upstairs. The Caribbean decoration is super cute. read more

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On a rainy evening, while in search of this little place, I passed by a shuttered restaurant and saw the dimly lit words "Islands" and "Jamaican" and went NOOOOOOOO!!!!! All that traveling halfway through Brooklyn for this much raved about Jerk Chicken and it ran out of business? Then I squinted through the rain, looked closer and saw that the place that closed shop was actually called "Islands Tast" (That is not my typo) and that I was actually a block from my real destination. Calming down slightly from my momentary panic attack, I arrived at The Islands and went indoors. Whoa that interior was small. You enter and just like that the ordering counter is right in front of you with maybe a few short feet of moving space between you and the wall. The matronly lady by the counter casually asked me am I new to the place? With a nod, I answered yes and went about my business of ordering. The rice orders comes as either small or large, the large being about $2 more per order. Thinking that I wanted try more then one selection here, I chose two small orders, assuming it'll be tiny enough to manage. My thought when my orders came was, "Damn if that is the small size, I can't imagine the big one." The portion size was generous. My orders: Jerk Chicken. This dish must be filled with crack. It's so moist, juicy, flavorful, and surprisingly had a decent spicy kick to it. The meat was of the fall of the bone variety and the skin was peppery, well spiced, and slightly soft but not soggy. The rice with beans that I chose with this order was just as good.The beans infuses the incredibly soft rice with it's flavor and gives it a slightly sweet taste. Not that I know what crack is like mind you. No.. really. I just assumed that it's like eating this dish. Once I start, I can't stop. Help me... I think it's my new addiction..... One of the best Jerk Chicken I've had in NYC. Curry Goat with a side of salad. It's pretty tasty if you could get past the gamy taste of this particular type of meat. The chunks of goat meat were tender if a bit chewy, and pieces of it came with the bones still attached. The rice this time was infused with the non spicy green curry sauce that smothered the whole dish. The side salad came in it's own small Styrofoam container. I was expecting a typical bland salad but this pleasantly surprised me. The salad was drenched in a light semi sweet dressing and consists of (from my memory) leafy greens, raisins, red peppers, yellow peppers, cucumbers, onions and probably one or two ingredients I don't recall. I would happily order the larger version of this from the menu if I had to. I took everything to go. There is an upstairs dining area (Which I heard was also super tiny) but in order to eat in, it costs an extra $2 per person. I would happily tip more for great service but no way in hell was I paying extra just to sit down. Luckily, this place is located across the street from The Brooklyn Museum, a few blocks from The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, and more importantly, a block from Prospect Park. In warmer weather, I suggest taking it to go and eating it nearby. I think I could understand why that other Jamaican Restaurant had to close down. It's hard to imagine staying in business with a rival that makes food as fantastic as this place only a mere block away. Especially with that Crack Chic... I mean Jerk Chicken. **************************************************** Jerk Chicken with rice and beans: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/KBW0EP-prQBhkqqGJCxmXg?select=c9OaP1TmZ09xpFmtpp8nGA Curry Goat with a side salad:http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/KBW0EP-prQBhkqqGJCxmXg?select=4zvhv8MCYa6pLb5cP7zMHg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/KBW0EP-prQBhkqqGJCxmXg?select=1pamCQWHWKiS6RmGr3FHwA read more

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The Islands really isn't the type of place you should go on a first date. That's not to say that it isn't good, but the fact that the dining area is an attic-sized room with poor ventilation, less-than-ideal lighting, and variable service doesn't make it the best setting for a seamless meal. For those of us who don't live near Prospect Heights and can't take advantage of their take-out service, however, dining in is the only option for a chance to try the Jamaican fare. I was able to wander in thanks to the recommendation of a friend, after stepping inside the first floor, which holds the kitchen and a small counter area, we were able to head upstairs into the dining room to snag the one remaining table. The space is tight, and we could clearly overhear our neighbors' conversations; again, it's a venue to visit solely for the food, and not for the ambiance nor service. There were extended periods of time that the lone server was gone for as she probably doubled up on tasks in the kitchen or on the phone. Thankfully, we were able to get our orders in after deciding on a side and an entree to share. The Mac & Cheese is worth an order, a cube of pasta that's generously doused in creamy, well-seasoned melted cheese. Most importantly, there's a layer of crisp crust left on the top, the remnants of being properly baked in the oven to produce the much-needed textural contrast. One is enough to share, or make an appetizer of as we did, since the entrees are more than substantial. The main dishes are served in two sizes, a small and a large, and a large is certainly large enough to consistute two meals. We ended up splitting a large order of the Jerk Chicken, which was a wise decision; the plate consists of three pieces of chicken, rice with peas, and a lightly dressed side salad. The star of the plate is clearly the chicken; braised to an unbelievably tenderness so that it pulls off the bone at the prodding of the pork and marinated in a mixture of various spices, honey, barbecue sauce, and the creeping heat of scotch bonnets, it's an addicting and delicious bite. You'll be tempted not to share, but given the sheer portion of the plate, it's an inevitable outcome. Also of note is that The Islands accepts Cash Only, and has an additional $2 charge for dining in. Regardless, it's certainly worth a visit for those looking for authentic Jamaican cuisine; just be sure to bring your appetite. read more

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So I really wanted to love this place, I really did. Part of my desire to love this was because one of my coworkers told me that the oxtail was amazing and I wanted to have another go to place for West Indian food. It appears that my dream was not to be. I will start by saying that I was a little weary about entering the establishment when I saw that the door was being kept open using a stick....It is winter after all why was the inside so hot? In any event my friend and I decided to venture in. The gentleman behind the counter was very friendly and told us where to find the menus. We settled on the fish with okra and it sounded like it would be an explosion of flavors. We were disappointed to find out that there was none available.....okay...So I opted to ask what was available and it was curry goat, jerk chicken, stew chicken and oxtail. Mind you the menu had over twenty items but this was all that was available after noon. Mind you I did not get the impression that the other items would become available later. As we were contemplating which items to order another woman walked in and tried to order the fish with okra and she was told the same thing that my friend and I had been told. Next she asked for a shrimp dish and was told there was none. She asked for another shrimp dish....guess what? there was none. She asked for some of the veggie meals...there were none. I gently suggested that she asked what was available and pick from the four items. The food was a little over priced for the portion but I did a appreciate that when I asked for a little bit of rice the owner was willing to fulfill that request and gave me quite a bit of cabbage. Unfortunately the food did not taste great. I liked the cabbage but the rice was overcooked, the chicken was dry and not flavorful. If I was rating just based on taste I would have give a star but I thought that the owner was very nice inspite of the shortcomings that I saw. Buyer beware. read more

The Islands - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The food at the Islands is a tad greasy and can be spicy. It may not be delicately prepared or "pretty", but it has it where it counts: the flavor is tremendous. In fact, I'm going to dub a new food label specifically for this place. It's not "comfort food" -- I'm going to dub it "uncomfort food", because whenever I go here, I can't help gorging myself to the point where I'm going to explode from eating too much. All joking aside, this Caribbean home-style comfort food truly deserves the moniker "As good as it gets". My faves are the ox-tail and salmon (ordered spicy), but everything is phenomenal. Preambles, Accompaniments ===================== Jerk Chicken Wings: B+ Very hot (my wife couldn't eat more than one). The general flavor is "neutral hot": not much flavor other than "hot" and "chicken". They would've been better charbroiled instead of baked. Still, very good. Mac and Cheese: A The bite in this deliciously spicy mac-n-cheese doesn't come from spice -- it comes from a million grated onions. I've never had a mac-n-cheese quite like this; it really is unique. Cheesy crust at the bottom of the dish and more cheesy crust at the top of the dish would've turned this A dish into an A+. Rice & Peas: A Don't order this unless you eat a LOT of rice; your meal will come with sufficient rice and peas. Very delicate -- light, fluffy, and heavenly taste. A hint of coconut. Roti Skin: N/A Literally, the outside flour tortilla like skin of roti. Don't order this. Fowl ==== BBQ Chicken: C+ Not as fantastic as the other menu items. We've had it twice; both times it was dry and overcooked. The sauce is slightly sweet which isn't to my liking (if you like Saucy Susan, you'll like this.) Curry Chicken: A- This would be called "Thai yellow curry" or a "typical Indian curry". Chicken was juicy and well spiced. The dish could've used more curry sauce, which would've turned an A- dish into an A. Jerk Chicken: A+ Ever been disappointed by jerk chicken that was too dry, or didn't taste ethnic? This jerk chicken will demonstrate that you've never had real jerk chicken before. You'll realize the jerk chicken you've had at other restaurants or parades are just very sad and laughable. This chicken is supremely tender, soft, and juicy, even the breast meat. You get a ton of jerk sauce at the bottom of your dish, underneath the rice. This is a very spicy jerk chicken! Stew Chicken: A- Not spicy at all; I'd call this savory. Extremely tasty stewed chicken. Sauce was a solid comfort stew, chicken was ultra soft and tasty. Only complaint is that it could've used more stew sauce. Meat ==== Ox Tail: A+ Ox tail for the uninitiated is just plain heavenly, but it's especially fantastic here. The sauce is slightly spicy with strong overtones of garlic and the fatty goodness that the lovers of ox tail love. You can suck on the bones for hours. The meat is fall-off-the-bone soft. http://tinyurl.com/caot8j9 Jerk Leg of Lamb: A+ Like the Ox Tail: fatty, spicy, savory. It's very lamby. You will not mistake this for any other kind of meat. Every bit as delicious as the ox tail. Unfortunately, they rarely have it. If you come to the restaurant and they happen to have it, ORDER IT!!! Fish === Steamed Salmon: A+ / B+ When ordered extra spicy, it's an A+. When ordered not spicy, it's a B+. Either way, the sauce is truly spectacular. This meal lives for its sauce / juice. You will pour the sauce on your rice and scoop up the juicy rice with the salmon skin / salmon fat / thinner juicy parts and it will be a spicy salmon pudding which will carry you over wave upon wave of intense orgasmic salmony goodness. Note to wife: No, honey. It's not better than sex, but it's a close 2nd! Calypso Shrimp: A- This is a "sauce dish": you'll be sopping up a lot of sauce with rice. The copious sauce is the main dinner guest; the shrimps have been invited almost as an afterthought. The sauce is coconut flavored, slightly sweet, and very thick. Delicious except it has a very slight taste of sauce thickener (arrow root? corn starch?) Despite what the menu says, these are not jumbo shrimp; they're normal sized. Dessert ======= Cheesecake: D The crust was bitter and I didn't like the flavor of the citrus sauce on the cheesecake. Bread Pudding: A+ A perfect dessert: Wonderfully doughy, slightly sweet, and has a hint of rum, which lends itself perfectly to strong black coffee. Beverages ========= Homemade Sorrel: A Very strong, sweet, and delicious. Homemade Lemonade: A Not tart at all! Sweet and delicious. read more

This place is so authentic. It's a very nice Caribbean women serving home cooked food in a hole in the wall spot, out of a tiny open kitchen. The experience is one of a kind, and will try my best to do it justice. The menu is simple and straight forward. Low prices, huge portions, cash only. Food felt home cooked, comforting, and honest. And tasty haha. Tried the oxtail platter, four big pieces. Rice and beans delicious. The Mac and cheese side, baked - different from the stove top I've been used to. It's a nice large portion, and had onions. Walk up the stairs very carefully. You will find a small space with about 4 tables, chairs almost touching each other. I felt transported to like a movie set - where they are attempting to make a cool unique tony restaurant lol, except this was real!!! I felt like this is another layer of NYC I've never experienced. Bottom line, She's serving good food, and running a business. read more

The Islands - Authentic and honest Caribbean food! - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

After reading the latest reviews on this establishment, I had to give "The Islands" a try and I'm happy to say, I was very pleased. I had the oxtail with rice and peas and it had an excellent flavor profile and the portions were terrific. If you're in the mood for some quality Jamaican cuisine, I'd recommend giving this restaurant a try and come hungry...you won't regret it. read more

After prowling all over Prospect Park for the ever elusive Vulpix, my boyf and I were famished, naturally, because as we all know, Pokémon hunting can be tiring as heck (hatched 2 5km eggs there so y'all know I mean serious business when I play). Since we're rarely in Brooklyn, we decided we might as well take advantage of this rarity and find dinner nomz in the area. Having not had jerk chicken in FOREVZ, we realized that getting some was really the only logical choice to make. We got there around 6 PM and The Islands was empty but fast-forward an hour or so and the place was PACKED. It's ridic tiny (two tables outside and probably 4-5 tables upstairs) so get there before the dinner rush if you also hate waiting for food when you're hangry like me. We sat outside because the upstairs area was closed (such a bad choice because my legs literally got eaten alive by mosquitos/some flying insect that clearly hates me and wants me to suffer, so DEF wait to sit upstairs if you prefer not being mosquito dinner) and immediately ordered some of the homemade lemonade because it was hot as balls. Downed that thing not only bcuz I was thirsty, but because it was pretty much the BEST lemonade I've ever had. Idk what they put in it, but dang, I want like a gallon of it in my fridge at all times. I obvi went for the jerk chicken, LARGE, with a side of rice and peas, and vegetables. To save you all the confusion I had my first time I ordered rice and peas in Jamaica, rice and peas are not actually rice and those little green ball things. They're actually rice and kidney beans which Jamaicans consider "peas" -- confusing, sure, but way too delicious for you to give it a second thought once its in yo mouth. Trust. The chicken was spicy, flavorful and seasoned to absolute perfection. A few pieces were dry, but for the most part, it was moist and tender. And the rice and peas? Oh, god. Let's just say if all I had for dinner was a plate of it, I I would not be mad one bit. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I was unable to finish my dish (another rarity for sure), but I couldn't be too disappointed about it because that just meant that I could have more of that dank Jamaican jerk chicken for lunch the next day. WINNING. read more

The Islands - Large Jerk Chicken with Rice + Peas - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Located right next to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, The Islands is a great place to catch a heavy lunch or dinner. The dishes here are heavy, and you get huge portions. I tried the following: Curry Goat - Goat meat marinated and cooked in curry spices and herbs $11 Jerk Leg of Lamb - boneless leg of lamb stuffed with Jamaican jerk spices and roasted with mint chutney $12 Jerk Chicken - Spicy chicken baked with spices from the island $10 Between the three my favorite dish was the curry goat, it may have been because the jerk leg of lamb was too spicy for me. Spicy and a bit oily. Although Ben G seemed to have liked all the oils in the Leg of Lamb dish, he wanted me to pour the whole thing in my rice and eat it. The curry goat and leg of lamb were both super tender. If I lived near here, it would be a place I'd come to at least monthly. I've never had Caribbean food before, but it was (to me) similar to Indian food with all the spices and curries. The Islands is a super super small restaurant. It's actually not even a full service restaurant, most people just come here and order to go. There is only one or two people working here and the same person does the order taking, cooking, and serving. They have a more limited menu on the weekdays, so come on the weekends so you can try EVERYTHING! My most favorite thing on the menu, are the stewed veggies that came with each dish. :) read more

I LOVE THE ISLANDS AND I LOVE THE ISLANDS MAN. oh my goodness. i think i've raved enough about how amazing the food is, so this review will focus on the exceptional service i get here. :) i was tired and cold and hungry and frustrated, so when i went to the islands with my friend, we were nearly salivating. we had planned an islands date with another person, but because that person wasn't there, we would have to wait at least half an hour before we could eat. we were both pretty sad. while we're sitting at the counter, waiting for our delicious food, the islands man offers us each a piece of chicken straight from two pans that he had on the stove. they were DELICIOUS. he gave us forks and napkins and said we could share. so, so good. we watched as he made our calypso shrimp entirely from scratch. it's pretty cool to see your meal develop in front of you. we saw him sauté the veggies, add the liquids, add flour into it, and we smelled the delicious aroma wafting from the pan. we saw him peel and devein the shrimp and watched as they blossomed in the pan. as we were leaving, he was like "wait!" i was kind of confused because unfortunately, i don't understand his accent super well :( it turns out that he was giving us some goat curry for free for us to try. :D awesomee! i would never have ordered the goat curry (not adventurous enough, when the oxtail and the shrimp are SO incredibly delicious), but it was really, really good. totally to be expected. :) read more

Good food but best for take out. The islands has really good authentic Jamaican/Caribbean food, the food gets 5 Stars, the only downside to dinning in at the Islands is that they charge an additional $2.00 service fee for dinning in... never have I experience or heard of such a service fee... Hmmm? Anyway, the food was really good, I had ordered Oxtails with rice and peas, it came with a side of sautaeed cabbage and mixed green salad which were both delicious and fresh tasting, my friends ordered Jerk Chicken and Curry Goat which I was lucky enough to sneak a taste. We also order 2 sides of sweet plantain which were cut and fried fresh right in front of us (since the joint itself is tiny), if you decide to dine in you are literally be eating in the kitchen lol. They do have a small second floor with dinning tables and a little mores space but still too small to comfortably eat in. If you do decide to eat in i recommend the first floor due to the fresh air and breeze that comes in from the open windows, but be aware that there are only like 3 chairs/stools available for seating. I would definetly return again, the staff if really nice and the place and food feels and tastes homey, freshly made everyday. Try to stop in early you can watch them prepare the food right in font of you. The food is the best Jamaican/Caribbean food around, I give the food 5 stars but they get 4 stars overall for not having a few menu options available when initially placing our order, in addition the $2.00 service fee added to each plate is unnecessary, regardless best carribbean food around. I recommend take out only. Yeah Mon! read more

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Oh my gosh, I just died and went to heaven. The food here had amazing flavor. I'm pretty sure several times during our meal we used our food as an analogy for what heaven will feel like. We ducked into here while it was 12 degrees outside. Stepping into the warm smells of soup and rice was a phenomenal experience--and we hadn't even eaten yet. We had the oxtail, which was amazing. The meat was fall-off-the-bone tender and full of savory flavor. The coconut shrimp really did whisk us away to the islands. To top it off the rice and beans on the side were so tasty and complemented the meat perfectly. A bit pricey, but obviously worth it for the quality of food you get. Bring cash! read more

Oh my gosh, I'm so full right now! I had to try this restaurant so I transferred to the 3 train at Nevins street. I live by the Franklin avenue train station and decided to walk back home. So, it's drizzling and very misty outside this late at night. A long day at school and I decided to try The Islands! I walked there and was confused by where to go in. Okay, I read reviews saying they're small, but boy was this place small. They're right next to Keyfood, so try not to get lost. I walked in and I almost tripped because I did not see what was on the ground lol. The tall man with a gold tooth greeted me. I believe he was cooking some jerk chicken. It smelled heavenly inside. The woman asked me what I would like to order. I told her the curry goat with rice and peas. I asked for plantain but they didn't have any more. Sh*t, I love me some plantains, and not having that as a side order messed up my dish. But I digress and I'll come back another day to try the calypso shrimp and/or jerk chicken. So the small curry goat came up to $12. I asked the woman to give me more gravy and she did. It smelled so good! I could not WAIT to get home and eat this tasty food. I asked for roti skins and none were available. Oh come on, you need to have all of the items on your menu!!! My mom's a chef, she has everything on her menu too. So, I got home and ripped open the white paper bag where my food waa placed. I lifted the cover and my goodness, there was so much goat I couldn't believe it. I told myself "Lara, get ready. When it's warmer, you need to take your *ss to Prospect Park and jog it off!" I've been eating huge portions recently and I felt so guilty eating all of this, but I was so, so hungry I didn't care anymore. I devoured it all! The small was actually a small plate, but it was a lot for me to be honest. The food was tasty, but I've had better. The rice and beans were soft and tasted fine. The cabbage was good and the goat was tasty. I am so full at the moment, but I'll burn this off in about two weeks (should be warmer then). The spices and herbs were nicely incorporated into the goat. I like it, I won't lie. There were people upstairs eating. Wow, the place is so small to be honest. I can't even believe it. It's really a "hole in a wall". The calypso shrimp cooking looked really good. I need to try that out. All in all, everything was very tasty. read more

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The Islands will have you feeling like ur'll in the islands .. Wonderful staff been knowing them for years.. My favorite Dishes I like to eat and recommend is.. The Calypso Shrimp , Oxtail's , Mac & Cheese, the Homemade Lemonade and Sorrel Drinks Delish .. read more

Jerk chicken was so tender that I used a knife more out of habit than necessity. From reading the other reviews I was concerned about the spiciness of the jerk. While it was spicy, hey my nose was running, it wasn't painfully so. Stewed vegetables were not done to death. The sweet cabbage was a nice counterpoint to the spiciness of the jerk. Curried got was very well spiced tender and juicy. The portions were good; the ratio of size of he portion to price was well proportioned. Service was attentive and the food arrived within fifteen minutes. A keeper! read more

I thought I had good Caribbean food before. I was wrong. This place is the truth. If you want okay Caribbean food with a full bar and a hip scene, go to Williamsburg and hit up Pearl's. If you want non-toned down, authentic flavor, this is THE spot. When you enter, you wonder if the place is open or closed. The chairs are usually not set up, there's one dude cooking in a small home style kitchen. And then you smell the food. And then you order, and realize that you haven't lived until having their Jerk Chicken or Oxtail. Go for a small order, which really is large. For $12, you can enter heaven for a bit. read more

The Islands - The best jerk chicken. - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I love the food here. The #jerk sauce is so good. So here's a photo of the #Jerk Leg of Lamb. Not what I expected. I was hoping for a bone in lamb shank. I love me some bones. It was more like sliced turkey. The sauce was really good though. But wished I saw what it looked like before I ordered it. I wish every place had Denny's menus. Menus with pics on them. Actually, just yesterday I was looking at The Islands on Google Map and saw a photo that looked cool. So I clicked to go to the webpage and it turned out to be my photo I took years ago that another site reposted "courtesy of" me. Then I went to another picture that took me to an old food review of my first time at The Islands. And it said I tried to order the #Jerk Leg of Lamb because a friend recommended it, but they were out of it. That's so weird. I totally forgot about this and yet I ended up ordering the #Jerk Leg of Lamb. I will probably forget next time and order it again. read more

The Islands - Jerk Leg of Lamb - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

One of my FAVORITE hole-in-the-wall places. I LOVE their jerk chicken! Their stew chicken is also yummy for those rare days that I want to eat something more mild. Fall off the bone meat, perfectly spiced and seasoned, plus all kinds of great sides to accompany: cabbage, choice of rice (jasmine or rice and peas), salad with their tasty homemade dressing, and plantains (Salad and plantains are only served if you eat there.)...what's not to fall in love with! (Hold on...I need to grab a napkin to wipe up my drool.) I always bring my visitors to this place and they too fall in love with whatever dish they decide to order. One of my friends is a huge oxtail fan, so that's what she ordered and loved it. I never tried it until that day. Also delicious, but a bit too fatty for my preference. I'm also not a fan of the calypso shrimp, but don't let that stop you from trying it. Their bread pudding is also good, you can definitely taste the rum. I really need to get around to trying other dishes, especially their specials, but everytime I have a craving for The Islands, I cannot help, but order my usual. FYI -It's BYOB and cash only. -There are about five tables upstairs and a few outside when the weather is nice. There is a $2 service charge for dining in though. read more

The Islands - Stew chicken, also yummy. (That's a large, see the plates are different.) - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Let's start with the setting. This place is super small, with 6 tables for dining right above the kitchen. My eyes were watering within the first 5 minutes due to the concoction of cooking smoke and jerk seasoning in the air. This was a bit overwhelming since there was no place to escape to. I however can overlook the ambience since the food was on and popping. I had the Calypso Shrimp and honey had the Jerk Lamb. Both truly tasty with a variety of flavors which is a rarity in the Jamaican restaurants I've been to. Most JA restaurants only flavor is just forehead sweating, mouth on fire, pray before the next bathroom trip, HOT. We'll be back. read more

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