Erma&#x27;s Island

4

45

377

3 months ago

I've been to Erma's a few times now, and I can honestly say it's becoming one of my favorite spots in downtown Syracuse. My first visit was for their Sunday Christian Brunch. The atmosphere was beautiful, the staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, and I had the haddock and grits with a strawberry lemon drop. Everything was delicious, and one thing I noticed right away is that they are definitely generous with the liquor. The strawberry lemon drop was so good! I went back during the week of Juneteenth for their happy hour (I'm not sure if it's every week or just for special occasions), and it did not disappoint. I ordered the Rasta pasta and the mango wings. The Rasta pasta was absolutely top tier! I had also tried their jerk chicken tacos before, and those are easily one of my favorite things on the menu so I had to get them again. Honestly, writing this review has me getting hungry all over again. The mango wings had a beautiful presentation, but they weren't my favorite. I was expecting a stronger mango flavor, and I would've liked the wings to be just a little harder with a more flavor. That said, it definitely wouldn't stop me from coming back because everything else I've had has been amazing. While I was there, they had a spin wheel where you could win discounted shots, and I ended up trying a ginger shot along with another cocktail. Once again, the drinks did not disappoint. The DJ kept the energy up, the vibe was great, and the service has been consistently excellent every time I've visited. I still haven't made it to one of their late-night events yet, but it's definitely on my list. Overall, Erma's is a solid 10/10. Great food, great drinks, beautiful atmosphere, and amazing service. If you're looking for a spot with good vibes and even better food, I'd definitely recommend checking them out. read more

See all

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Marissa L.

6

70

205

4 months ago

I visited this Jamaican restaurant in upstate New York and was genuinely astounded by the food. I never imagined a Jamaican restaurant in this region could be so authentic, packed with flavor, and serve fall-off-the-bone oxtail. I tried the plantains, which were incredibly sweet and probably the best I've ever had. The oxtail was absolutely amazing! I highly recommend getting it; it was so delicious that I even brought a container to take back to Atlanta. The spiked juice they served was quite strong, but it was perfectly balanced with a kick of sweetness. We had the privilege of speaking with the owner, who started the restaurant a couple of years ago. She came to the United States from Jamaica with her family to establish a restaurant and has been working hard to expand its reach and attract more customers. I highly recommend giving this restaurant a try. read more

See all

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Traci M.

45

32

9

6 months ago

The service was terrible. I don't feel the wait staff had been trained. Bad experience all together No water brought to the table, no menus brought to the table. We did have a big party, but we had a reservation for 10 and brought 11 When I asked the waitress questions she had a terrible attitude, seemed very overwhelmed read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Katie P.

7

50

145

1 year ago

After the Chicken Wing Fest was cancelled, we chose to go to Salt City Market instead. We noticed there were Jerk Chicken Wings on the menu and initially wanted to order these, however, they were all sold out. Well, everything happens for a reason... because we instead ordered the Jamaican Jerk Burrito. All three of us were in agreement that it was one of the best burritos we had ever had. The burrito was HUGE, we split it three ways. The sauce was a perfect pairing with the flavorful and spicy jerk chicken & rice on the inside of the burrito. I honestly can't remember what else was in it...I just know I want another one. The staff were friendly and the food was made pretty quickly considering how busy it was in the market that evening. As always, Salt City Market is a fun place to go! Erma's Island is located sort of away from the main action, so it's a nice place to take your time with the menu and really decide what you want to try. Highly recommend Erma's Island and I will be going back soon for another burrito!!! read more

Erma's Island - Jerk chicken burrito - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Helpful 3

Thanks 1

Love this 2

Oh no 0

Adela M.

1576

493

3577

1 year ago

I was craving Jamaican food while in Syracuse and Erma's didn't disappoint! It caught my attention immediately with its bright stand and the staff was so friendly. I was so indecisive and so I asked what I should get. I was told to get the oxtail and I was in love. The presentation is beautiful but the food was out of this world, the portions were great. I would def come back and or recommend this to anyone thinking about trying Ermas. read more

See all

Helpful 7

Thanks 1

Love this 6

Oh no 0

Maddy M.

19

129

261

10 months ago

As an avid burrito lover, believe me when I say the Erma's Island jerk chicken burrito is top 3 of all time. It's HUGE and absolutely delicious. I was sharing with three others and they kindly cut it into four servings! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Trina M.

7

46

507

7 months ago

This was our first visit to this restaurant. I generally don't like to leave unfavorable reviews but to be honest I was hoping for a better experience. I love Jamaican food and was excited to finally visit the new location that occupies the former Modern Malt location on Clinton St. It was around 7pm and not too busy with less than 10 people in the restaurant. The space offers plenty of floor and bar seating. The music is complimentary and the area is well decorated. It was interesting that we were told there weren't enough menus so we would have to share. We decided on the jerk chicken tacos. Our server returned from the kitchen and informed us that tacos were not being made at this time. Also that the jerk chicken was no longer available She offered some other dishes and after explaining out food preferences/aversions we decided on the curry chicken roti dishes. Our dishes arrived after about 15 minutes and after a few bites in we discovered it was not what we ordered. We called another server back to verify and here indicated that the dishes were not what we ordered but curry goat. They offered to correct the issue and replace the meals but after having spent 30 min there already we opted to maybe try again another time. So if you decide to check it out maybe be prepared to spend some extra time. Hopefully if and when we return it will be a better experience. read more

Erma's Island - Curry goat roti. Not what we ordered but nice presentation - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Teresa A.

16

142

201

2 years ago

My first time at Erma's and certainly not my last! The jerk chicken burrito was amazing--very flavorful and I felt like the portion size was excellent to the money spent (~$14 after tax). Service was quick and efficient. I'll be back to try the Rasta pasta sometime! Also, there's a Sunday brunch that I'm also going to try to check out sometime! read more

Helpful 3

Thanks 1

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Mike M.

Elite 26 All-Star

158

496

1008

2 years ago

Came as part of my 5,800 mile 30 city food trip. Stopped into the market of what I was told to be up and coming vendors in rotation. Selected this spot for its fair price point and interesting menu. The jerk chicken burrito was fantastic! Seasoned nicely. Slaw added texture. Wrapped nicely as well. Very friendly counter service and wish them the best! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Laura W.

9

164

149

1 year ago

I just stopped by for a beef patty and a jerk chicken patty for a quick lunch. Loved it - just like how I remembered. The young lady that helped us was also very sweet. I'll definetly be back next time I'm at the market. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Rich S.

18

85

135

1 year ago

Awesome jerk chicken with macaroni and cheese. The sauce was delicious, first time eating Jamaican food, I will eat this again. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 1

Love this 2

Oh no 0

Jessica G.

13

273

1159

2 years ago

Service is always great here. I haven't had a meal I didn't like. They catered an event I went to so I got to try a sampling of the food and everything was delicious. I can't get enough of their curry chicken patties. Great addition to the Salt City Market and they really put love into their food. read more

Erma's Island - rasta pasta - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Erma's Island - catered plate with jerk chicken, curry chicken, rice and rasta pasta - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Erma's Island - curry chicken patty - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Erma's Island - facade - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 1

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Hope K.

Elite 23

57

62

211

2 years ago

Delicious!! Love their Jamaican jerk Rasta pasta, it's fantastic!! It's a flavor blast in every bite and it will definitely fill you up! It's a large portion. The staff is awesome also, very helpful and kind. read more

Erma's Island - Jamaican jerk Rasta pasta - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Erma's Island - Storefront - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Elizabeth G.

1

3

7 months ago

We tried the coconut curry and it was delicious and a good sized portion. The food was prepared quickly and was hot and fresh

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Letia C.

7

137

108

2 years ago

The curry chicken patty and veggie patty were delicious. They had a bunch of items on their menu that also seem pretty delicious like the oxtail. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 2

Oh no 0

Maddy F.

192

520

271

3 years ago

Been waiting to try this place in the market as it seems every time I come here they're on break or closed. Tried the jerk chicken Rasta pasta. Omg amazing. Chicken was so flavorful and tender. Loved the sauce on the pasta it had the perfect kick to it. Definitely want to try their jerk salmon Rasta pasta next. Super filling as well. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Tyler K.

0

3

0

1 year ago

I've been here plenty of times. But I had there jerk chicken pasta.. WOW best dish I had in long time so good

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Brian G.

41

391

949

3 years ago

My wife got her meal from this restaurant while we were eating within this eclectic mixture of restaurants! She really enjoyed her meal. She said the service was great! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Alison C.

117

51

126

2 years ago

Love love love Erma's Island. Never had anything I didn't like from them but my personal favs are the salad with jerk salmon or the jerk chicken and waffles, a great brunch meal. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Raisa S.

Elite 22

20

22

69

5 years ago

This restaurant is located in Salt City Market. Erma's is delectable and the chef/ owner is the nicest person ever!! We tried the Jerk Salmon, which is a must if this is your first time trying out Jamaican food (warning: jerk flavor definitely has a kick to it so be prepared!). Also, tried Braised oxtail in butter beans, which has more of a tangy flavor. Excited to taste the Curry chicken roti next time! read more

Erma's Island - Jerk Salmom, coconut bread - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Erma's Island - Braised Oxtails in Butter Beans - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

See all

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 3

Oh no 0

Casey F.

Elite 25

17

120

137

5 years ago

I got the jerk chicken Rasta Pasta at Ermas island and it was fantastic! I saw this on the menu a while ago and have been wanting to try it. It exceeded my expectations! It was the perfect balance of creamy and spicy. I typically can't handle food that's too spicy and this was the perfect amount of spice for me. The portion size was pretty large for the price too. I'll definitely be ordering this again. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Age O.

Elite 24

47

136

258

4 years ago

Soo I stopped by for lunch ! I got the jerk burrito and a beef patty! Both delish, I forgot to get coco bread but it was Soo good nonetheless! Friendly ladies and clean, unique and pretty front space. I recommend everyone to stop by and pay them a visit! They are closed on Wednesdays! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Paul K.

Elite 21

19

45

43

5 years ago

Had a Jamaican curry chicken patty. It was SO good! Similar to what we've had on the island itself. Definitely should try! At salt city market read more

Erma's Island - the interior of the restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

William T.

95

65

29

5 years ago

Delicious Jamaican food made to order. I had the jerk Salmon it was fantastic with a cabbage salad and rice and peas. So good. authentic. Made with love read more

Erma's Island - Jerk Salmon ( special of the day) - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Robert M.

29

155

113

4 years ago

Best Jamaican food I've had in... can't remember. Rice and Peas were stellar, Jerk Chicken was perfect. And they sell amazing body butter at the counter. I got sandalwood and vanilla, already want to buy more! Can't wait to go back for curry and patties. Pure upness and heights read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Carolyn A.

8

7

1

4 years ago

I placed this order to go. Plantains and rice were fair. The jerk chicken had a couple bites of meat and the rest was bones and skin. First and last time at this place. read more

Erma's Island - BONES! and skin!!! - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Robby B.

1

3

0

4 years ago

The food here is amazing, really recommend the ox tail, so tender, savory and tasty. The jerk chicken rasta pasta was also good, it has a little kick to it with spice so be aware of that. The jamaican pattie's brought me back to when I lived in Antigua. Amazing stuff. Service is good, ambiance is lovely in the salt city market. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Erica M.

Elite 25

14

87

337

5 years ago

Ok, so after trying this place out 2 more times I'm changing my final score to a 3. Basically even though the flavor of the oxtails are delicious the food is very inconsistent. The 2nd time I visited the oxtails were so tough and chewy I couldn't pull any meat off and ended up getting my shirt dirty from the sauce flying everywhere from trying. The rice was better the 2nd time so that was good. The 3rd visit I ordered the same thing but this time I was surprised to notice I had cabbage included (I didn't get cabbage my first 2 visits) I'm not a fan of their cabbage at all. They serve it cold and it has a sweetness to it that just isn't to my liking. The oxtails were good this time but the rice was again crunchy. I can't justify paying $18 for a dinner plate and not being completely satisfied with my meal. I may try some other menu items but I don't think that will be for a while. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Carie T.

0

2

0

3 years ago

The curry goat was very tasty. The staff was very fast and friendly. It is a great place to grab a delicious lunch. I will be returning!

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Me D.

1

12

6

4 years ago

Jerk Chicken Burrito Parting is such sweet sorrow... I hate to see this special go! I pray that the Jerk Gods have mercy on our souls and make this a regular item. The sweet and savory Caribbean spin on a burrito is mouthwatering. Please shop LOCAL! Especially Black businesses. Yeah Mon!!! One Love read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Kayla A.

0

20

2

4 years ago

The jerk here is so good, I get the jerk chicken burrito all the time but the jerk chicken plate is also great, highly recommend !

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Melinda R.

1

38

15

4 years ago

Made a quick stop in New Year's Eve. We had the Jamaican beef patty and Jamaican chicken patty. OMG- so good! We should have gotten more to go. We will be back to try more. Everyone was super friendly and place was very clean. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Zachary P.

0

6

0

4 years ago

Had the jerk chicken, rice & peas and cole slaw. Everything was excellent. Cole slaw tasted super fresh. Place looked clean, all the food high quality. Definitely worth trying out. I'll go back again. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

D D.

0

3

1

6 years ago

I ordered the oxtail meal. It was very good. I am Jamaican and it reminds me of the oxtail dinners I used to eat back home. Really good food. Can't wait to go back! read more

Erma's Island - Oxtails with rice and peas, sweet plantains, cole slaw - Caribbean Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Lindsay L.

0

2

0

4 years ago

I came back from vacation and was craving Jamaican. I was told to try this place. It is delicious and the portion size is great. I always take a box of leftovers home. My husband and I come once per week now! Highly recommend read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Paul W.

5

24

0

4 years ago

Jamaican Jerk chicken was very good. Spicy enough but not crazy with great flavor. I also enjoyed the rice and "peas" citrus coconut flavor and very tasty. Worth the price and recommend giving it a try read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

More info about Erma's Island

325 Clinton St
Syracuse, NY 13202
Directions
(315) 857-8125
Call Now
Visit Website
https://ermasislandsyr.com

Full menu

Hours

What time does Erma's Island open?

Erma's Island opens at 11:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

What time does Erma's Island close?

Erma's Island closes at 9:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Erma's Island is closed on Sunday.

Mon-Sat 11:00 AM - 9:00 PMSun Closed

Payment methods

Does Erma's Island take credit cards?

Yes, Erma's Island takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Erma's Island have catering options?

Yes, Erma's Island does have catering options.

Does Erma's Island have a drive thru?

Yes, Erma's Island has a drive thru.

Does Erma's Island serve alcohol?

Yes, Erma's Island serves alcohol.

Indoor Amenities

Does Erma's Island have TVs?

Yes, Erma's Island has TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Erma's Island have bike parking?

Yes, Erma's Island has bike parking.

Does Erma's Island have outdoor seating?

Yes, Erma's Island has outdoor seating options.

Does Erma's Island have parking?

Yes, Erma's Island has parking options.

Other Amenities

Is Erma's Island wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Erma's Island is wheelchair accessible.

Does Erma's Island have free WiFi?

Yes, Erma's Island has free WiFi.

More Info

Health Score

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Caribbean 168 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Explore benefits

King Seafood

4.4(33 reviews)

3.5 mi

Me and fiancé shared an appetizer of hush puppies, a Mattydale combo with an additional six piece…read moreof scallops with King Seafood special seasoning. There was more than enough food for two people to share with being overstuffed. Food was tasty. Seasoning had a nice balance of flavor without being salty like other boil restaurants in the Syracuse area. A little messy but that's to be expected when eating this type of food. They supply gloves, bibs and bucket for shells. Restaurant was clean with a nice atmosphere. Server was friendly and helpful with it being our first time there. Food was a little pricy but we would return and recommend to others. One potential negative is they don't serve alcohol but if you're not a drinker then was won't be an issue.

I ordered online which isn't my preference but it was my first time trying this establishment so I…read morejust rolled with it. Easy online ordering, I believe the discount was for online order and $1 convenience fee. Order was ready when I arrived only 20 minute wait upon order. Prices comparable to other local boils I've had locally, this combo includes thinly sliced sausage and one hard boiled egg as well so that was a little something extra! I usually order extra corn and potatoes to make shareable which would be an additional $6.50 for three corn and potatoes. I thought I would see the standard for first order. I would add next order. Loved the house special sauce that combines all the flavors, extra hot for me definitely had a kick! I'll try the super hot next time, it packed some heat but I could do spicier. All the seafood was good the crab legs just a bit rubbery, corn, potatoes, sausage all delish swimming in their speciality sauce! I add my own extras on many occasions. Friendly service with no wait and easy parking. Definitely will add to my spots for seafood boils! Looks like more of a pick up destination put plenty of tables for dining in with a casual at the sea side ambiance and picture wall.

Inside seating

Mattydale Combo with Mattydale Special Sauce Extra Hot

See all

The Fish Friar

4.4(311 reviews)

0.2 mi

What a fun spot! Tucked away downtown the Fish Friar is unassuming when you drive by, but we were…read morevery impressed after our first visit. Immediately, the staff were very friendly and helpful. While the hostess worked to get our table ready, we grabbed a bottle of wine at the bar to spilt. On Wednesdays their wine bottles are half off! The bartender, Matthew, is phenomenal and makes cocktails with such attention to detail. After we got to our table, our waitress made some recommendations based on what flavors we like and got us excited for the meal. The smoked salmon dip was yummy and we both really enjoyed our entrees. My partner slurped up every drop of the tomato sauce in his dish! My Po Boy made into a bowl was a lovely gluten free option with a delicious spice and citrus taste. I'm sure the sandwich version is great too. This is a great spot if you're looking for sustainable, wild caught seafood options on a date night! A cozy atmosphere with great staff and food.

What a lovely find. Ambience is great. Service was awesome and the Food was delicious…read more We tried the Calamari and Shrimp apps which were well seasoned and had a kick. For our main course I had the spicy po'boy and the rest of the family had the haddock sammy, shrimp and chips and the haddock and chips and all were excellent.

Interior

Fish sandwich - lunch special $10

See all

Interior art

Cousins Maine Lobster - Syracuse

3.6(11 reviews)

3.0 mi

Family-owned & operated

Casual dining

My friend and I met at Freight Yard Brewery for Cousins Lobster Truck event. Truck was in the…read moreparking lot behind the brewery this visit. Short wait time to order 10-15 minutes and short wait time for pick up. The small lobster roll is up to a whopping $26! It was fresh and packed with buttery lobster. The lobster tots were amazing, with a fair amount of lobster for $22. We shared both. The Brewery had cleared out a bit by the time we received food. Plenty of room at the bar and tables to enjoy our food. Huge improvement on two plus hour wait time last visit. But I think Mother Nature dictates the turn out at these events as well.

There was a line waiting for the truck to open. They were set up at a local business in Auburn in…read moretheir parking lot. The truck opened right on time and it didn't take long to place my order. My order took about 10 minutes, 1 hot Connecticut Lobster Roll and 1 Cold Maine lobster Roll. It was a such a beautiful spring day I decided to open the back of my van and eat in the sun! ( There was no place to eat at this business.) The hot buttery Connecticut roll was tender and delicious, it had a nice amount of lobster meat. The other roll, the cold one had noticably less meat. I was disappointed but it was delicious and next time I'll try something else, people were saying that the lobster tacos and lobster quesadillas were very good too.

See all

Crab N Go

4.5(41 reviews)

3.9 mi

It was a 15 min walk from hotel and I was pleasantly impressed w the food w ordered bag#2 added…read more1/2lb of sausage. I am so happy we came. Great food and fast service.

I have ordered Party sack 3 with extra corn and potatoes at least half a dozen times, this is the…read morefirst time the party bag has come up short. Far less crab, shrimp, potatoes, and corn. Only one small cluster of crab, and a couple of scrawny legs and significantly less shrimp. This is the first time my order was inconsistent. There is normally enough seafood for two people or two meals for one. Same easy order and quick pick up but this is my first time being disappointed with the contents with a price tag of $48 and change.

See all

Dinner!

Inka's

4.5(120 reviews)

0.1 mi

Peruvian-Japanese! 4.7…read more We were far from home. It was our participation in Ross Bentley's Driver Development Course in Lafayette that brought us to the Syracuse area (see my review for Pineview Run Auto & Country Club). With the track only 20 minutes away, Syracuse was the best option for hotels and dining. Inka's Peruvian cuisine, with a splash of "Nikkei," was exactly what we were looking for and precisely what our bodies needed for fuel after some intense driving. The migration of Japanese immigrants to Peru in the late 1800s and early 1900s was the beginning of what eventually evolved into one of Peru's distinctive culinary traditions, now known as Nikkei. This unique cuisine blends Japanese techniques and ingredients with Peruvian flavors and traditions. At Inka's, those Peruvian roots take center stage, with touches of Nikkei cuisine developed by Chef Flavio Solórzano. We started with two cocktails: Maracuyá Sour (pisco, aquafaba, citrus and passion fruit) and Cuzco (Empress cucumber-lemon gin, mint, lemon juice, St-Germain and soda). Both were beautifully balanced and delicious. We finished them off rather quickly, which naturally led us to order a pitcher of red sangria. It was wonderfully refreshing after a long, hot day and paired beautifully with our meal. For our meal, we ordered: * Chicharrones de Calamari ~ Perfectly light and crispy breaded calamari, with both rings and tentacles, fried to a delicate crunch and served with their house tartar sauce. * Pollo a la Brasa ~ Peruvian-marinated chicken, slow-roasted over wood and charcoal until the skin was beautifully golden and crisp. It was served with french fries and their signature ají pollero sauce. The entrée also came with an ensalada verde, a side salad of mixed greens, tomato, onions and avocado tossed in a homemade vinaigrette. * Arroz Chaufa ~ Peruvian-style fried rice, wok-tossed with egg, scallions and lettuce in a sweet orange-pineapple sauce and topped with crispy fried spring onions. We added the seafood option of calamari, fish and shrimp. The rice was perfectly textured and nicely seasoned, with a subtle sweetness from the sauce. This dish can also be made gluten-free upon request. * Apple Tart ~ For dessert, we shared an Apple Tart. It was a lovely way to round out our dinner. Everything was delicious. Normally, for variety, we like to order an assortment of dishes and take the leftovers home so we can enjoy them again later. However, traveling far from home didn't make that particularly practical this time. I would have loved to sample more of the menu, especially some of their Nikkei selections. We also enjoyed Inka's inviting and cheerful atmosphere. The greenery cascading across the ceiling is eye-catching and seems to serve as the room's centerpiece, even if you have to look up to appreciate it. Your eyes are naturally drawn upward. It's a wonderful setting for a date night or a lively dinner with friends or a group. The service was friendly and prompt, adding to an already enjoyable evening. We were far from home, but Inka's made our night in Syracuse feel like a delicious little destination of its own. Hope we can return one day!

I went to Inka's with my family and it was absolutely delicious! They were very accommodating with…read moremy daughter who has multiple allergies. They triple checked if there were any allergens that posed a risk for her and made sure we all enjoyed our time with a peace of mind that she wouldn't get a reaction. They have high chairs available and everyone was friendly! The octopus had a nice grilled and smoky flavor and it was super tender! The chicken was delicious and the braised short rib was super tender albeit a bit salty. There was plenty of street parking when I went and I enjoyed my time! I'll definitely come here again!

Chicharrones de Calamar

See all

Arroz Chaufa with Seafood

Cuse Catch and Grill

4.3(45 reviews)

1.6 mi

Now called "Ocean Bites". They serve food and happiness. My goodness, food is amazing. Super fresh…read moreseafood, great balance of old bay and butter. Staff super friendly. If you want good seafood and want to feel fulfilled, eat here. Highly recommend to anyone. You will crave this place afterwards

First time trying this place out. Made it takeout choosing a variety of seafood options…read more The seafood medley included crab, scallops, shrimp, and clams. All steamed. They were also all seasoned with Old Bay seasoning. If you like Old Bay seasoning, you will like the way these are prepared. If not, you might not. As it happens, I like Old Bay seasoning. I'm sure you can order it without the seasoning. Scallops were fantastic (so I am told because I am not a scallop fan), the shrimp was big and prepared right. The crab legs were spot on, and the clams were OK. They were dry, not a lot of flavor, but three out of four isn't bad. The medley also included fantastic steamed, broccoli, potato wedges, and corn on the cob. Keep in mind, all of these were seasoned with Old Bay. A solid choice for Syracuse seafood.

Custom Cajun Sea Food tray

Custom seafood tray Cajun Flavor

See all

Aloha Krab

3.9(54 reviews)

1.6 mi

I'm sorry that I slept on this place. The restaurant is clean and has a fun coastal theme. Seafood…read morewas fresh and cooked perfectly. I recommend the Aloha Special sauce. Our server was attentive, and the food arrived quickly. We will be back!

Great food at reasonable prices. They're also good at customizations which is great for helping me…read moredeal with my garlic allergy. They also brought out a slice of cheesecake because it was my birthday! Server was nice and helpful. The place easily accommodate larger parties which is super helpful. Parking on that side of the mall can get full easily, so leaving an extra few minutes to park is a good idea.

Mussels boil with aloha sauce

See all

Bonefish Grill

3.6(177 reviews)

6.9 mi

Megan was our server, she did an excellent job, our food was taking a little longer due to a large…read moregroup and she continued to check in on us and offered us a complimentary appetizer on our next visit, the food was excellent and my kids also loved their meals. My family and I will be back for sure, we found a new place to come and enjoy! Great job!

Very good food and drinks. Not your usual chain menu. It was very cld and it could not be adjusted.read more

Barrel Cut Filet

BFG Burger

See all

Bone-In Fontina Pork Chop

CJ's Seafoods

4.3(18 reviews)

2.6 mi

Great food ,hospitality is #1,you ever experienced old time fish store,order written on bag,wrapped…read morein same bag. Old school . Experience brought me back to simple days when parents would take our family out for a real good tasting fish fry . Everything is made from scratch, fish is brought in and battered as orders are placed ,Mac n cheese is out of this world so you better get there early before they sell out of this spectacular side.Todd Taylor great job keeping with traditional fresh not frozen or processed food. Found a friend for life! Thanks Todd !! 5 stars rating

I've been going here for years. It has the best fish in town. And the prices are good.read more

See all

Daniella’s Fresh Seafood and Pasta House

4.2(25 reviews)

3.5 mi

This place is so phenomenal. Its one of our favorite places to go when looking at a more expensive…read moreestablishment to food ratio. There was a jazz musician playing when my table went and that added a great atmosphere. Service was okay, it was great at first but fell a little short towards the end as we didnt get our cocktail and wine refills we put in. The king crab from here is so delicious and well worth trying if you havent.

Location was a challenge to find as e ended up at Daniella's steakhouse down the road…read more Food was overall pretty good and the atmosphere is unique. We had the greens and scallops for an appetizer, for entrees I had the king cut prime rib and others had the lobster roll. Service was pretty decent overall, seating was perhaps the only negative as it was almost set in a banquet hall. I'd give it 4.5/5 Piggybacking off some lower star reviews I didn't see ANY issues with portion sizes or quality. Crab sauce had a lot of crab in it and the king cut prime rib was massive, a tiny bit fattier for my liking but that's how prime rib comes sometimes. Very flavorful meals and even though I put down as much food as I could we still had plenty of leftovers!

Filet mignon with a side of squash and zucchini.

Dynamite shrimp

See all

Shrimp cocktail

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

1 review that is not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Ellen S.

0

2

0

4 years ago

The rasta pasta is absolutely delicious!! the chicken is beyond tender and melts in your mouth.

Erma's Island - caribbean - Updated October 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Syracuse, New York Coffee near Erma's Island

BEST of Syracuse, New York Things to Do near Erma's Island

BEST of Syracuse, New York Restaurants near Erma's Island

BEST of Syracuse, New York Desserts near Erma's Island

BEST of Syracuse, New York Parking near Erma's Island

BEST of Syracuse, New York Jamaican Food near Erma's Island

BEST of Syracuse, New York Jerk Chicken near Erma's Island

BEST of Syracuse, New York Soul Food near Erma's Island

BEST of Syracuse, New York Beauty Supply near Erma's Island

BEST of Syracuse, New York Smoke Shop near Erma's Island

Best of Syracuse

Things to do in Syracuse

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed Erma's Island also viewed

Jamaica Cuse

4.2

(56 reviews)

The food was spot on. Our family has been looking for some culture food that reminds me of my…read morefather's food and this was AMAZING! Next time we visit my son in Syacuse, we definitely be there. My son was excited to have this home away from home comfort food.

We recently worked with Kimone and Shane to cater our SUNY Cortland Alumni Reunion, and the…read moreexperience was excellent from start to finish. The process was simple and straightforward. Getting a quote was easy, and they were flexible as we updated our final guest count closer to the event date. Kimone was especially wonderful to work with. She communicated frequently throughout the planning process to make sure we had everything we needed and answered all of our questions along the way. I truly appreciated her patience, professionalism, and valuable input as we worked through menu options for approximately 95 guests. Most importantly, the food was amazing! Our attendees enjoyed the meal, and we received many positive comments about the quality and variety of the food. The catering delivery arrived about 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. While that was unexpected, it worked out well. Thank you, Kimone and Shane, for helping make our alumni reunion a success. We would gladly work with you again and recommend your catering services to others planning events.

Mr. Bigg's Restaurant

4.4

(41 reviews)

A quick review from a recent uber eats order…read more I was in town for a business trip and decided to order a few uber eats orders since my hotel's food is not the best. Looking through recommendations I came across Mr. Bigg's restaurant. I am always open to try different cuisines and one for sure was Caribbean/ Jamaican when I am back home. It was definitely surprising how fast it was made and delivered but then I also noticed it was located pretty close to my hotel. I ordered the Oxtail with beans & rice, plantains, steamed cabbage and an additional side of corn bread. First bite was a delicious. The oxtails are tender fall of the bone. Great depth of flavor and texture was delicate. Plantains are nice in flavor and color, steam cabbage is steamed nicely not watery, rice was a great compliment and the corn bread was moist and sweet. Overall I appreciated the food from Mr. Bigg's restaurant. I did not have a chance to stop in around the city for restaurant due to my schedule but this was a great presentation of what the restaurant offers. Caribbean cuisine is something I do not often get but when I do, I never am disappointed. I would recommend this and especially if you like a meal that is full of flavor, spices and possibly put you to sleep haha

i ate here a while ago and it honestly just wasn't very memorable. i keep seeing people on tiktok…read moredo places to eat in syracuse and i question if they have taste buds. anyway there's always better and you probably could make it yourself. will go back and update if anything changes

Jerk Hut

3.8

(28 reviews)

Honestly the food was not good at all. The rice and peas had minimal flavor. The jerk fish was…read moreentirely too spicy. The cabbage had no flavor and tasted like mush. The brown stew chicken was not flavorful at all. As a Caribbean person myself, i know this could be better. I would not recommend.

My First Time Trying this place and The oxtails and Rice Taste So good and you get alot of it i…read morecould be exaggerating but it really is good the cabbage was good to i dont know what the other thing was so i didnt try .

Las Delicias

3.4

(69 reviews)

Last Delicias has always been one of my favorite local Caribbean resturants…read more The food is always cooked with love, prices are more than reasonable and the quantity of food is always great. Lately I have been taking advantage of their $7 meal deals which are super convenient when you are a foodie who's sticking to a budget. Customer service is always friendly and respectful. There are a few tables for those who choose to dine in.

I understand that things happen, but the service today was unacceptable and left a really bad taste…read morein my mouth. I work hard for my money, and if I'm spending $20 on a meal, I expect better service and fresh food. If I had time I would have went elsewhere but I was rushing to work. But never again.... Normally I would give 5 stars but not with what I received.

Mi Casa Grande

4.4

(39 reviews)

Love this place! My fiancé is from the Bronx and it's so hard to find a good Spanish spot that fits…read morehis criteria! But this place is amazing. Staff are really friendly and food is amazing, empanadas and tostones are so good. I love the pepper steak and rice. My fiancé loves the carne asada tacos! And the passion fruit juice is to die for! I have never ate inside, only did take out. I would recommend it to everyone.

Mi Casa Grande in Syracuse NY, is also another place that has later open hours. Their potato ball…read morewas really good much like the potato knish that sold out quickly. The empanadas were fresh and good as well as the portion sizes. A place I will be back to.

Big Fellas

4.4

(27 reviews)

By far the best meal from our vacation…read more My boyfriend and I are long distance and he had ordered this place for me before as a cute date night thing. He was finally able to be in Syracuse these past 3 days and he was most excited about trying your guys' food. We both got the Cajun Chicken Pasta and shared the Chicken Bacon Ranch Fries. Very delicious and he was almost sad that he had to go home to Michigan without this kind of food!!

Forgot to post this for takeout thursday (4/16/26)…read more Wow this place was amazing. The Portions were huge and I got two meals out of it. The pasta was spicy and flavorful as were the two cut up chicken breasts. No extra fluff just meat pasta and sauce and sometimes thats exactly what you want. Price was fair, 2 entrees that each got 2 meals out of them for $44 ($11 a meal). I definetly wanna try more from them. Also apparently owned by a basketball player

Sam's Chicken Land

4.1

(60 reviews)

What's wrong with Sam's chicken land? Nothing!…read more Still the reining Philly cheesesteak king in Syracuse. I think what makes these so good is their attention to detail even down to the fresh bread they make sure you get. They ask you specifically what you want on it and they don't mess up. You get the steak, cheese melted, hot peppers, of course, peppers, but hold the onions. The french fries are always outstanding so that rounds out an excellent lunch. They even make sure that these are fried to perfection before they serve them.

Sam's is a small little shop that you should make sure to keep your eye out to spot. We decided to…read moreget some chicken & a few sides when we visited. I can confidently say the chicken was delicious & was certainly crispy when they made it. Unfortunately by the time we got home (maybe 15 minutes away) the chicken & fries had to be put in the air fryer to get their crisp back because of the condensation since the food was packaged so hot. I didn't care for the macaroni salad as it was more mayo than flavor. The chicken was well seasoned however & if we stop by again we would probably just order that.

Chi’ Soul Food

4.8

(17 reviews)

We've wanted to try this place for years, but it's never occurred to us during a Friday or…read moreSaturday, which are the only days they're open. Last Friday was one of those days we knew we needed to order out, but we were well on track to make a whole evening out of fretting over where to go. I don't know what it is, but sometimes absolutely nothing in the world sounds good. By some act of god, I remembered this place and our evening was saved. Their menu changes weekly, so we referred to their Facebook page for this week's options. I've only heard great things about them, so I had no question whatever we ordered would be good. No prices on their website, and money was definitely an issue on the eve of the St. Patrick's Day Parade, so we made kind of a flow chart in case pricing got crazy. Placing the order over the phone was difficult. They couldn't understand us, and they had to run every question by somebody else and get back to us. We ordered the jerk chicken and smothered pork combos, then threw in a pint of shrimp fried rice. I wish I could have tried everything; it was really tough coming to a decision. Cash only. I read so many reviews and everything they had online and didn't see this mentioned. Luckily I had just hit the ATM for the parade. The place is pretty small, take-out only. Easy parking, easy in and out. Everyone's super friendly. A lot of the appeal is how clearly they take pride in what they do. All around it just seems incredibly authentic and like nobody's cutting corners. So the food was great all around. We'd eaten garbage all week and were really going for that fresh, wholesome feeling, and they delivered in every way. The only hiccup was that they gave us Smothered Chicken (I think) instead of Smothered Pork. They labeled the box SP, but put the wrong thing in it. I was disappointed to see it because the pork was the first thing I knew for sure I wanted to get. Six seconds into the meal though, I truly didn't even care anymore. It was absolutely amazing. So tender it came right off the bone. It has to be the best I've ever felt about a chicken thigh entrée. I've only tried Jerk Chicken a few times, and mostly from a few Jamaican restaurants right here in town. I never really understood the point of it, like the taste just never amounted to anything I cared about. One bite of this one and it all made sense. Like, I now understand what they're going for with the flavor. Same perfectly tender chicken, and we absolutely loved the taste of both. We were curious about how the Shrimp Fried Rice would shake out with soul food, and it's definitely unique from Chinese takeout. Nowhere near as greasy, and it had a more savory, mildly smoky taste to it. No conflict with the beds of rice our entrées came on either. This wasn't our favorite fried rice, but it was good to have with our meals. My favorite side was the baked beans. Perfect texture, amazing taste. So soft and yet, so completely distinct. Didn't even know I could enjoy plain no-frills baked beans this much. The collard greens and yams were about average. I think for yams I'm used to a lot more butter and sugar than these ones had. Collard greens were just straightforward as well, no taste outside the greens themselves. Texture couldn't have been better though. Mac and cheese was good, but well past al dente. Super soft and didn't really pack enough flavor to make it top tier. The cornbread is standard issue - really soft and pretty dry with just the regular cornbread taste. I'd love to try some of the other things on the menu, but probably wouldn't for the price. There's nothing here I wouldn't be absolutely excited to have, but the experience wasn't profound enough to pull us back for $25 a plate.

On my way to the airport to fly back home to Detroit, found this place and boy was it a home run!!…read moreGreat smothered pork chops with green beans and collard greens. I will definitely hit this place up again the next time I'm in the area. Also the people were very friendly!

Don Juan Cafe Restaurant

4.1

(15 reviews)