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    De Islands

    3.7 (118 reviews)
    ModerateCaribbean
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    De Islands Photos

    Business Info

    DE ISLANDS ATMOSPHERE

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

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    #1. Jerk Chicken Rice and Peas
    Roro B.

    I was always a big fan of this establishment. The food is always on point. Today, my son got me some jerk chicken and rice and beans, and I am not a fan of anything spicy But this here swayed me, and im gonna enjoy it all.

    The bullshit I got, not even peas and rice
    Adrian G.

    As I writing this review I ask that you becareful of this place. I ordered 2 meals that came with two drinks, I also ordered two sides. When the order came it was missing the 2 sides and the 2 drinks. I called to speak to a Manager, but they were busy so I spoke with someone else, who after hearing my complaint said they would check with the person who packed my order. After 30 seconds they said that they checked the cameras and saw that my order was packed correctly. ATTENTION ALL NEW YORKERS, I KNOW YOU HAVE WORKED RETAIL AT LEAST 1 DAY IN YOUR LIFE, WHAT NON-MANAGER HAS ACCESS TO CAMERAS, THAT CAN CHECK FOOTAGE IN A SPAN OF 10 SECONDS. This happened in the past and this returant usually gives you extra items like "Festivals". A meal comes with 1, I orderes 2 meals, and in this instance I recieved 4. I'm going to report this place on every review website possible to warn people.

    Fish Sandwich
    Shirrell H.

    I'm officially obsessed with the escovitz fish here. It's soooo good. The shrimp wrap was tasty and my picky parents had no complaints surprisingly. They also enjoyed their fish sandwich. I ordered a side of pasta and it wasn't good. I'm normally into creamy things but this lacked flavor. Ended up throwing it away after 2 bites. The steam veggies consist of just cabbage and some carrots and peas. I was disappointed by that. The jerk chicken is moist and when you add the jerk sauce it takes it up a notch. I just wish it was spicier. I might be willing to try the jerk fish but for now I'll continue to order the escovitz. Btw the wait time can be insane.

    Fried fish and spinach rice
    Maya A.

    The food here is always on point! Especially the fried fish and I love their spinach rice. I've also gotten their pasta with fried shrimp. Their shrimp was a bit salt but that's really my only complaint. I usually order on uber eats and they don't take long to prepare the orders. The food is always well cooked.

    Plantain

    I did not know this restaurant has a C as there grade ughhh. We'll the plantain ruined it for me I'm not sure if I'll give this place another chance to disappoint me.

    Jerk Chicken
    Danni H.

    De islands always hit the spot. When you want good steamed rice and jerk chicken with a taste that will make you want to eat and lick your fingers this is the spot to go to. The jerk sauce is to die for its not just for the chicken you have to put it all over. The curry chicken has a flavor that's so tasteful. BROOKLYN this is the spot. I also ordered my catering orders from here and my guest would always give me compliments on how good the food is and I give all the credit to De Islands.

    Jerk fish  and callaloo rice.
    Irene J.

    The food is ok, nothing to write home about. The best from what I got was the culalloo rice, very tasty. The jerk chicken and jerk fish were ok, nothing that really stood out from any other similar spot. The lentil n chicken soup also just ok, bit too sweet for my taste (due to abundance of carrots). And one big piece of cassava floating around was bit too hard and could've been cooked longer. The chicken pieces I didn't try yet, but I'm sure it was just as all the other things. P.S. just as Alex already previously mentioned, this place knows nothing about customer service. Fir that reason alone I probably would not return there.

    Receipt of the cost of items
    Lemya K.

    Rice n peas and jerk chicken was good; the festival was about 2 fingers thick and was actually crispy on the outside and soft and a bit sweet inside. Nice. The curry chicken tasted like it had curry and the color but it was not seasoned up. The curry goat was ok-I'll try it again maybe just a hit n miss.

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    9 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Not worth the price. Food was room temperature. The rice was too soggy. The curry goat had more gravy than goat.

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    2 years ago

    Horrible customer service disrespectful customer service took mad long 2 get food and had attitude too me

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    We order from here at least twice a week. We love the jerk fish and jerk chicken. Great tasting food.

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Food is good but they are cheap with rice and especially the ox tail that cost 25 dollars!

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    The Islands

    The Islands

    4.2
    (834 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    Something about Caribbean food when the winter weather's frigid sounds dandy to me. Guess if you…read morecan't be somewhere tropical, eating tropical cuisine sure helps. Enter The Islands. It was sort of an odd time so the spacious restaurant wasn't very busy. We studied the menu for too long and after much deliberation, here's what we ordered, in order of spice level: - Oxtail ($35): Not spicy, super flavorful, "Trimmed and sliced chunks of oxtail seasoned freely with fresh spices and simmered to tender perfection." - Curry goat ($29): Mildly spicy, "Goat meat marinated and cooked in curry spices and herbs makes this an exotic dish." - Jerk chicken ($20): Apparently incredibly spicy so I steered clear of it, "A Jamaican delight. Spicy, delicious chicken baked with this unique combination of spices from the island." The dishes I could handle were excellent, with no drop of sauce left unmopped. On the sides front, the rice and beans, roti, steamed vegetables, and plantains were all tasty. The entree sizes were hearty. Our server seemed like a cool dude: easygoing with a sense of humor. It was kind of chilly in the restaurant, not sure if we were in a warmth dead zone or what. The bathroom was frog-themed which was a cute touch!

    "Deep in Brooklyn, hides the Caribbean"…read more Came here on sleepy Tuesday. Not many people in the restaurant but lots of take out going on. The friendly one woman staff helped seat us, recommend the dishes, made the drinks, prepped and served the food. It was all tasty. What's to cheer - Nice not to too sweet homemade rum punch - Solid, flavorful oxtail. Very island spiced and cooked well - Goat was also really strong - Reasonable prices - service with personality What's to jeer - they were out of the jerk chicken unfortunately which I really wanted to try - place is pretty low key and not swimming with ambience

    Photos
    Jerk chicken
    Jerk chicken
    Upstairs dining area at The Islands
    Upstairs dining area at The Islands
    Stew chicken.  so good, craving it now

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    Stew chicken. so good, craving it now
    Kokomo

    Kokomo

    3.9
    (1.1k reviews)
    6.4 mi
    $$$

    Visited Kokomo to celebrate my college graduation, and overall I had a nice experience. The…read moreatmosphere was definitely a highlight, the music was great, the vibe was lively, and it feels like a nice lounge spot for hanging out with friends. They also offer hookah, which adds to the social atmosphere. The food was okay. I ordered the oxtails, but they were a bit spicier than I prefer, so I didn't enjoy them as much as I hoped. One thing I really appreciated was the thoughtful service. Since I was still wearing my cap and gown, the staff surprised me with a complimentary ice cream dessert to celebrate my graduation, which was a very kind gesture and made the experience feel special. Overall, I'd return more for the ambiance, music, and lounge experience than for the food. Congratulations to the staff for creating such a fun and welcoming environment!

    I had an absolutely horrible experience here. Before the rest of my party even arrived, I put in an…read moreorder for 2 chicken bao buns. A full hour passed, my party arrived, ordered their food, and received their meals before I ever saw mine. When I asked our waiter what was going on, he was confused and said he would check with the kitchen. Fast forward to the 90-minute mark: everyone at my table had received their food and completely finished eating. Finally, the kitchen brought out my order--except they only brought ONE bao bun instead of the two I ordered, and it was completely cold. At that point, I told the waiter I didn't even want it anymore. He apologized and insisted they would make 2 fresh, hot bao buns for me quickly. I gave them one last chance, but another 20 minutes went by and nothing ever came. After 2 full hours of waiting and watching everyone else eat, I had to cancel my order entirely. I ended up having to leave my own party hungry and find a local pizza shop just to get a meal. The lack of communication and complete failure in service was unacceptable. I will not be returning. Oh and mind you my friends pointed out on the receipt it said customer didn't like food to cancel out the order rather than. Food never arrived.

    Photos
    Koko Happy Hour
    Koko Happy Hour
    Kokomo
    Good Guice Every Thursday

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    Good Guice Every Thursday
    Stella's

    Stella's

    4.6
    (182 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    I can't express how much I enjoyed my dining experience at Stella's. The staff were wonderful and…read moreinviting from the moment we walked in. The drinks were perfectly made nice, strong, and flavorful. The food was fresh and absolutely delicious. The codfish fritters had to be my favorite, perfectly fried without being oily, just pure deliciousness. I ordered the Stella's Tasting, and it was more than enough food for two. My friends enjoyed their meals as well. Since it was my birthday, the staff came out and surprised me with a very delicious carrot cake. Moist, not overly sweet, and the perfect way to end the meal. To top it all off, we were vibing to a really great playlist the entire time we ate. I will definitely be back!

    We were craving Caribbean food and I've been curious about trying this spot out for a while so when…read moremy husband suggested it was an easy Yes! I had their passion fruit lemonade which was refreshing and not overly sweet. For my entree I ordered their oxtails and rice and peas on the side. Their oxtails were cooked perfectly, the meat was falling off the bones. I would like it to be a bit more spicy and some more Lima bean but maybe thats just my own preference. When I asked for some spice the server brought us some pepper sauce which was exactly what I needed! My sister tried their jerk wings and mac and cheese. Their Mac and cheese is WOW. Definitely recommend! I didn't try their wings but I tried the sauce that comes with the wings and it had a lovely kick to it. For dessert we shared the Plantain Paradise and the ice cream paired so great with the plantains. It was vanilla ice cream but didn't taste like regular vanilla ice cream.. it had a nice rich texture . Service was great, the music was nice and although it was a bit cold in there they had a blanket per table which I thought was a cool concept.

    Photos
    The inside
    The inside
    Rice and Peas
    Rice and Peas
    Jerk Salmon

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    Jerk Salmon
    The Simpson Restaurant & Bar - BK

    The Simpson Restaurant & Bar - BK

    3.8
    (560 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$$

    9.5/10 for the vibe, ambiance, and service -- and a full 10/10 for the food…read more I'm not a picky eater, but I've had some really disappointing oxtail lately, so I was hoping for the best here. I'm Dominican so I know oxtail pretty well and have made it myself. Thankfully, this place absolutely delivered. The oxtail was perfectly slow-braised, tender, and falling right off the bone -- exactly how it should be. Absolutely amazing. Of course I had the rice and peas, plus some veggies. A few of the veggies were slightly overcooked, but still flavorful and enjoyable. The drinks looked incredible, but I went with the rum punch and loved it. It was a little sweet, but super flavorful, strong, and definitely worth ordering again. For dessert, I had the Hennessy cheesecake, which was rich, decadent, and unbelievably delicious. There were three of us dining, and we all left completely satisfied -- with take-home containers because the portions are VERY generous. The only thing that bothered me a bit was that our server seemed to focus most of her attention on my friend. She is Jamaican, and because I look like a white American woman, I felt a little overlooked at times, even when I had several requests myself. We also had to look for her a couple of times while she was sitting with a group nearby. That said, everyone overall was very nice and welcoming. The bussers especially stood out -- they checked on us often, kept everything clean, and even greeted me in Spanish, which I appreciated. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience and will definitely be back with more people next time.

    The moment we walked in, I knew we were in for an amazing culinary experience. It was my birthday…read moreweekend, and we were in New York for an extended stay. For my hubby, Brooklyn is home - and we always love exploring the new places the city has to offer when we visit. We had reservations, and were seated within 10 minutes, which was reasonable. The place was packed - everyone was in high spirits, and I was ready to taste some of the best Caribbean cuisine in the region. My hubby's best friend - a Brooklyn resident, joined us. He had been to the restaurant a few times - and had good things to say. We were not disappointed. I had the Brown Stew Red Snapper - *chef's kiss*. Hubby had the iconic Jerk Oxtail over Macaroni & Cheese Pie! The English language cannot convey the beauty of that combination! Tender, tender oxtail, falling off the bone with the creamy, cheesy mac & cheese! He wanted to savor that dish another day, so he got a to-go bag and took it back to the hotel! (I couldn't help but clean my plate - I was obsessed with the fish!) Our friend enjoyed the Hennessy Fried Shrimp (not pictured) - one of his favorite dishes at the restaurant. It looked delicious as well. For drinks, I had the Bob Marley cocktail. A colorful drink - flavorful - and effective! There were people celebrating their birthdays throughout the night - and the wait staff goes IN! I was enjoying watching at least 10 people receive the Stevie Wonder "Happy Birthday" song while we were there. Imagine my surprise when it was my turn! My birthday was the day before, and we had already celebrated in Manhattan. Having two special recognition events made the evening that much more special! Shout out to the Simpson crew who came with the song, the rhythm, the sparkling cake, and the good vibes! My 70th birthday was exceptional - without a doubt. The Simpson added the touch I needed. We'll definitely go back next time we're in Brooklyn!

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Jerk Oxtail Over Macaroni & Cheese Pie
    Jerk Oxtail Over Macaroni & Cheese Pie
    Slow Braised Oxtail and Butter Beans

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    Slow Braised Oxtail and Butter Beans
    Flamingobaby Kitchen

    Flamingobaby Kitchen

    4.3
    (280 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    I am still thinking about this food. It was so good, flavorful and fresh. We cleared those plates…read more We were full, but not sluggish at all..just completely satisfied. This is an intimate and cozy space, great to sit and talk without the noise of a loud space. Music was played, but not obnoxious and there is a tv. Service was great, food was tasty, no complaints at all! Quick heads up, this is a cash only spot, but so worth it. Will definitely be back!

    I scoured the internet and my old photos trying to find this restaurant again. It had been about a…read moreyear since our first visit, so it took some digging but we eventually found Flamingobaby Kitchen and off we went! For the table, we ordered the oxtail stew, fried chicken, yams, collard greens, and mac & cheese. I also had a Peach Bellini for a little bubbly. Everything was exactly as I remembered -perfectly cooked and well seasoned, large portions with more than enough to take home. The chef stopped by our table which was a nice touch. Service overall was great. They also make great use of such a small space. It is indeed well worth the visit. Side note, we ordered the same exact items off the menu as we did a year ago...only one thing was missing which was the biscuits with the flavored butter jam. We were told the biscuits were replaced with cornbread. I didn't order the cornbread this time around but would like to see the biscuits return at some point.

    Photos
    Flamingobaby Kitchen
    Catfish strips
    Catfish strips
    Oxtail Stew

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    Oxtail Stew

    De Islands - caribbean - Updated June 2026

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