Island Shack has to be understood in context to appreciate what's going on here. Let me get the bad news out first. Service is slow. It appears the husband is manning the bar, while taking orders, serving, and busing the table at the front of the restaurant. The wife is in the kitchen and comes out to the bar from time to time. There may be a few other people working here, but understand tings take time. There is one toilet, clean as it may be to the back right behind pocket door that failed to flush while I was there. They took care of the issue, but it's one more thing that may annoy a person. They have a DJ on weekend nights and that may well suit the context and energy of the small triangle park in front of the restaurant quite well. If you're not accustomed to that kind of atmosphere, you may be turned off, but it might be the mood and energy you're seeking. If you can focus on the food, that is where you will be rewarded. I ordered the curry shrimp and it was delicious. The rice was cooked perfectly and the shrimp was not overcooked. The chef was paying close attention to cooking times and the curry sauce was right on point. The veggies were also not overcooked. In the midst of all that was going on that Saturday night, the DJing, the number of people in the busy little restaurant, the kitchen was together and turning out great food at a reasonable price in the low twenties, albeit with some delay in producing the same. Island Shack is very popular with the locals here. You can order a drink, sit in the small park, and enjoy great conversation as many people do here. I took my beer and curry shrimp outside as well and enjoyed the people in the small park. It's a vibe and you can catch it here as many people do. You have to understand Island Shack in context to appreciate it fully, especially when the weather is cooperative. 3.6 stars read more

Island Shack - The front of Island Shack from the small triangular park - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Restaurant was boarded up and closed when I tried going June 28. Too bad because they had the best vibe and Carribean corn soup.

This is where you wanna go for a "Caribbean getaway" and not leave the city. The food is amazing the jerk chicken wings are crispy, favorably and seasoned with the perfect sauce to pair with. The trini soup is AMAZING dish that just hugs you in comfort and a delicious treat. The service is OUTSTANDING the owner Tonya is a beautiful person her inside out. She definitely makes you comfortable and welcoming. Every time I go there it's like a family reunion. Run in go try them today don't wait. read more

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Oxtail that sticks tightly to the bone is BAD oxtail! I went with my cousin to Island Shack this past Sunday to grab food to go. First, let me say that the vibes inside and outside are excellent. Soft glow lights, great DJ and a warm Caribbean vibe. Outside feels like Brooklyn used to be. Real Bk residents who knew and loved the neighborhood before the "G" word, sit at the tables outside just vibing. I didn't drink but the bartender looked busy and he was cool. Took my food home and my heart fell to my feet. My oxtail with rice and peas and veggies was turrrible! Fatty, undercooked,underseasoned pieces of meat sat in the corner of my container with crunchy, dried out rice. The steamed vegetables were nearly raw and barely any gravy. I thought that maybe I could doctor up this flavorless food myself but there was no saving it. No amount of pan frying, added seasoning or prayer would save this food. Disappointed. read more

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My attempt to support this local CARRIBEAN business and my culture was very disappointing after reading the InKind, and Yelp reviews which should've been my first clue! There's a big difference between a restaurant and a club. When you sit down at 6 o'clock in the evening in a cold porch I was doubtful; and order your food, it should not take an HOUR to come to the table. Particularly slow cooked, tender, curry goat curry. At 7 o'clock we got served finally. My plate of curry goat was mostly bones and literally five pieces of chewy, just cooked gamy curry goat! Lord have mercy! My friends jerk salmon ,which literally takes six minutes to cook also took an hour, coming out at the same time overcooked. Way overcooked, tiny piece of dry salmon for almost $30.... A lord of mercy.... The tall gentleman who was bartender, waiter, bus boy, stock boy and manager looked quite capable. However had to go to the basement my sorrel; which took 15 minutes. Lord have mercy.... Poor guy was running around doing everything,no excuses. I can name 12 places on Flatbush Ave where I can get better, curry goat and oxtails! Lord mercy... so he brings me out oxtails after I sent the poor chewy undercooked poor goat back. It tasted like salted leather and bones. I guess that's what happens when you have Carlos and Jose... making Caribbean cuisine.... Lord of Mercy.... They have no macaroni pie, no wings and this was a Friday evening 6 o'clock.!!! LORD HAVE MERCY!! My people... do better! When I sent the, explained, undercooked, and boney yard goat back, he asked me what should I do with this...??? I said take it off on my check please. Lord have mercy...! Why something so so easy, so difficult for some people? I have high standards and I'm unapologetic for having high standards, for something so simple as good "Resturant Business" food... Lord have mercy....lol.... I guess that's why I had passed this place so many times I saw the sign said ISLAND SHACK!.... And being from the island, I was skeptical. Unfortunately, you can't eat cute... food is a serious thing in the islands, even the island of Brooklyn!!! Lord of mercy... I may try them one more time cause I try to give my people a second chance! I know rent is high, but my food expectations are higher!!! Lord have mercy...lol read more

Island Shack - VERY LIMITED SEATING...COLD ENCLOSED STREET PORCH, GREAT POSSIBILITIES! - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I just wanted to provide an update. I've been to this several times now and each time the service has been great and the food has been good. Last night, my boyfriend and I ordered 2 Snapper fish dinners to go. Taking the train back I noticed that there was a very fishy smell coming from the bag. When we got home we noticed the fish that was fried, smelled very foul. Even when I pulled the fish apart it wasn't white and flaky but grey and slimy. I had to wrap it up and throw it away. It's very unfortunate but we work too hard to throw our money away. read more

Island Shack - Red Snapper - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Place is comfy, feels like a classic caribbean bar. service is friendly. food was so good. mango chow amazing. jerk chicken was so good and especially the way they serve it in a deep tray u get more of that sauce. i always feel like im short on that sauce but they solved that. read more

Excellent Caribbean food. I'm not exactly sure where this team hails from. I saw a Cayman Islands license plate and some Trinidadian flags as decor, so I'm guessing it might be a Caribbean fusion. The roti was the best we ever had. We shared the goat curry which was delicious, but the roti was the highlight for us. We had sides of macaroni pie and another spinach based side. Everything was great! There was one gender neutral restroom. They had a couple TVs showing college basketball. Hospitable mom and pop vibe. read more

The service approach and restaurant environment blend perfectly. You'll want to keep this discovery to yourself. Our order allowed everyone to try multiple dishes. The team maintains quality service even when busy. I'll come back before long. read more

Delicious!! Glad to have so many options as a challenged food person. Loved how laid back it was too.

I came to this place, hoping that my five-year-old kid could use the bathroom. Of course I have to pay for something because there's no free public bathrooms in Brooklyn. So I bought a six dollar drink in order for my son to relieve himself. After I paid for the drink, my kid use the bathroom and then I was told I could not sit at a table because it was for dining in customers only. it's ridiculous. I cannot sit there. Giving it such a low review because of terrible customer service. read more

The food was exceptional, I had the oxtails , peas and rice. Absolutely the best tasting Oxtails that I've ever had. The location is small and the service was very good.. definitely a great experience. Derrick M read more

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As a Caribbean woman who searches far and wide for authentic Caribbean food, I can't say enough good things about Island Shack. The food is phenomenal, namely the corn soup, curry goat, and rotis. The service is always excellent and professional, and the ambiance will transport you to the West Indies in 1/2 a minute. Not to mention, the immaculate vibes on Sunday night?! Drinks flowing, soup flowing (THE BEST CORN SOUP IN THE TRI-STATE AREA FULL STOP) it's always a good time. Don't think twice about coming here, you will leave full and happy. Thank you to the owner there who always takes care of us and truly embodies the meaning of a local staple. 10000/10 stars. read more

When I say the food is good it's so delicious. Please go here for some good Trini food. This cute intimate Trinidadian restaurant is located right Downtown Brooklyn minutes away from BAM, and Atlantic Center. It's where the old Smoke Joint/ Peaches Hot House was located. The music was good and the staff was so sweet and accommodating. That Trini corn soup had lots of corn and was flavorful with the right amount of heat and mini dumplings. The mango chow was a perfect way to start our dinner. My stew snapper was the stellar item and must have dish. It was slightly sweet with peppa. Watch out for some tiny bits of scotch bonnet. The snapper was huge. The rice and peas had a bit too much peas for me but the rice was flavorful. I only tasted the curry since I couldn't eat meat and but it was good. Tell them @Eatingwithetienne aka Geraldine sent you. You would not be disappointed. read more

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The former Peaches Hot House at 87 S. Elliot Place is now ISLAND SHACK and the food is delectable!! Service is 5 stars and THE CORN SOUP IS A MUST! Do not leave without having some! Come tek ah taste soon! @islandshackcaribbean read more

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Lovely place! I had the jerk wings- my friend enjoyed some great cocktails and the rice bowl. The owner is really nice. I love that we popped in! read more

Island Shack - Jerk wings - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Wasn't a great experience, I don't like to leave negative reviews although I need to for this... 1) understaffed 2) attitude 3) said we don't substitute (although upcharged my friend her meat) but when I asked for a little coliloo instead of the veggies and offered to pay the difference, I got a hard NO!!! Well idk how you do it for my girl from the islands and say no to me. I know we aren't the same color but are money is??? Then the food comes out and the ox tail wasn't cooked enough it was hard, and it wasn't in oxtail gravy..... it was mixed with some type of barbecue sauce. Smh I wasn't impressed with anything. Either was my friend for that matter. Thanks but no thanks. read more

- jerk chicken was good - food came out fast - drinks and cocktails look pretty - no pepper sauce - soca soundtrack was nice - friend didn't like corn soup he says it had good space, but it was watery and dumplings were scrawny - champagne and wine were available, but not cold - not much seating, but it wasn't full on a Friday evening at 8pm - friendly service read more

Happened up this little gem while running errands. The sign pulled me in but it was the bake and shark that made me stay. I originally was going to order doubles but had a change of heartS read more

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Oh gosh, the food good, ya see! I'm at this spot whenever I can because I love good food -- and when I tell you everything on the menu is fire, I mean it. Flavors are rich, authentic, and always hit the spot. What truly keeps me coming back though? The consistency. Every visit, the food is on point and the vibes are just right -- welcoming, warm, and full of energy. And I have to shout out Toya -- remarkably polite, always serving with a smile, and just a joy to be around. Service is 10/10 every time. If you love real island food and good vibes, this place is a must. read more

My favorite Caribbean spot is now serving our favorite island street food as a take out Today I had doubles . Phlourie, and a tasty $10 lunch. Can't wait for the Sunday brunch. This type of restaurant has been long over due in this neighborhood . read more

Kalan was our 16 year waiter, i believe he was the owner's son. His service was better than any server i had this year!!! Goes to show the hospitality this establishment has. His manners were amazing. He had all of us at the table in awe. I had to ask his age! He was well spoken and attentive. I will definitely be back and ask for Kalan. Shout out to the owner!!! read more

Didn't get to try the food because they took their time opening. First, their opening time for Sundays is wrong on Yelp and Google. They supposedly open at 1pm on Sundays according to their Instagram. My friend and I got there at 12:30pm and decided to walk around the neighborhood when we realized our error. We returned at 1:00pm only to see a gentleman stroll in at about 1:05pm with absolutely zero urgency. The doors remained closed. Then, a woman walks in carrying a bunch of bags of food around 1:20pm. My friend and I joked that that was the food for the day, and we wouldn't be eating any time soon. Well, I decided to ask. The woman said they'd be opening in an hour or so, no apology, nothing. My jaw dropped. I can't imagine any establishment in NYC just opening whenever they want and having such a cavalier attitude when asked. So don't head here if you have any plans or are hungry. There is no telling when they'll actually get around to feeding you. read more

Friday at 8 pm, my dear friend and I came to try out this new-ish Trini restaurant, one of only a few southern Antilles spots in northern Brooklyn, aside from Sugar Cane as a close neighbor. The interior looked cute, and who appeared to be the owner's friends drank Stag at the bar, not making her much money. The waitress had to shout over the loud music to take out orders and get them wrong. Blaring like it was 1 AM at KC's Hideaway in 2004 was an uncurated ramble of mostly unpopular soca from the last few decades. A good Destra song was cut off by a Red Plastic Bag oldie, then a classic parang by Scrunter, too long an Iwer George, and back to today with Lyrikal for only 45 seconds. Why not just turn on Triple 9 or a properly mixed DJ set from Soundcloud? Ent! The fun now start! The seating in the front was so awkward that we had to climb over other diners to get to the one available table because the space wasn't designed with enough room for the tables to be walked behind. The couple we interrupted never finished their meals, which was a sign of things to come. Fried plantains and mango chow were ordered as appetizers. The maduros were deep-fried, and the ends were dark, hard, and crusty. The cost was $1 each. I tried as hard as those plantain edges to not get vexed thinking of how I could have bought 3 whole plantains for $1 and cooked them right myself. The chow didn't come until we were almost done with our entrees--after they went across the street to Mr Mango and bought an unripe mango to smother with too many Scotch bonnet peppers. The cook must have no tastebuds or sense because the resulting dish was inedible. My Indian Rasta Bowl dish came with rice even though twice I stated I did not want rice. The waitress never read back to us our orders, during which time she could've clarified that. My dining companion opted for the curry chicken roti since they were out of oxtail. By this point, we had closed the glass French doors between us and the bar so we wouldn't have to yell at each other over the loud mess of music. No one else was coming into the restaurant, not even delivery guys picking up orders. As we tried to eat, the roti my friend had was dull and leathery in the center, but hard at the edges. He grew up making roti and buss up shot at his family's roti shop, so he was offended by this lack of quality. The chicken was ragged and dry. My food also was stale and old, since nothing seemed made to order and had been sitting for too long. No amount of seasoning could hide how tough and flavorless the carrots were. The chana were so overcooked the were softer than mashed aloo. The sorrel was overpoweringly sweet, perhaps made by the same person using pepper as the main ingredient in the chow. And all of this was overpriced and unbalanced, like the fake glowing reviews. Save your money and mood by eating better food at Gloria's and Ali's, without the pretense. read more

Very good food and service is great. Love the jerk chicken with rice and peas and vegetables. The portions could be more though, especially the vegetables. Would do more take out but can never reach them by phone. read more

The food is incredible!!! The drinks are incredible!!! The owners and service are top tier!! Couldn't be happier with my experience. Of course I'll be telling everyone! read more

$15 for five pieces of shrimp! I wasted a whole Grubhub coupon for this. When I went into the the store, she said this is an appetizer and shrimp is expensive. I would have never spent $15 on an appetizer. This wasn't jumbo shrimp or prawns. It's tiny little shrimp. Never again. read more

Island Shack - Chandon Beni Garlic Pepper Shrimp - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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My mouth is watering just thinking about it. If you're looking for authentic Caribbean food, specifically Trini food; here's the place. The food here definitely hits the spot. It was beyond what I expected, and I'm now calling it the hottest Caribbean spot in NYC. Can't wait to make my next trip there. read more

Island Shack - Pholourie, Jerk Wings, Mango Chow & Chandon Beni Garlic Pepper Shrimp - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The only thing holding this restaurant back from getting a 5-star review is the super long wait for your food, though it does seem like it depends on what you order. Some dishes come out in no time and others take over 45 minutes to arrive. That said, everything I ordered came out piping hot and clearly fresh, not just warmed up. Food was delicious and I liked that the cook is adding their little spin on a lot of the traditional Trini dishes which is perfectly fine since I don't go out for home cooking. They have great music, awesome drinks, and the ambience of the place was really nice. I'll definitely go again but I think I'll just do drinks/appetizers to avoid the wait lol. read more

Food, service and Ambiance was excellent. Enjoyed the Roti, Oxtail, and Jerk chicken. read more

Island Shack - Bar area - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Stopped at Island Shack Yesterday, had the Accra with Tamarind sauce , Jerk Wings, rum and Sorrel, everthing was amazing, seems like they were having Kareoke night, wasn't to sure about the Kareoke at first but when I tell you it was a vibe, hope they have it again!!! I will definitely be back!! read more

Island Shack - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I treated a friend to dinner at the Island shack. I bought two rotti , and a couple of drinks .Bill came up to $100 .Apart from the long wait, I was charged a gratuity of 18% which I think should have been voluntary. She has seen the last of me. read more

Great vibe and even better food. The curry coat and jerk chicken were delicious, some of the best we've had in NY. Service and music were also great. Definitely recommend! read more

Island Shack - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Excellent food! Some of the best Caribbean food I have ever had. Ordered online 3 days in a row and I almost never order out.

Truly the best chicken wings in Brooklyn. So worth the train ride from the city! We had both the jerk and bbq wings which were perfectly seasoned and nicely grilled. The jerk wings even came with jerk dipping sauce on the side. The rice and peas were so tasty and rich! We also got the Phoulourie and they were so light, fluffy, and crispy served with a tamarind sauce that had the right balance of sweetness and tanginess. Also ordered the Mango Chow! Amazing for heat lovers! The owner/chef is so sweet...Toya cant wait to come back and enjoy your tasty food! The ambiance is also quaint and warm! read more

Island Shack - Bbq wings - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The food here is delicious. Service is slower than usual so if you are picking up an order expect to wait 30-40mins from when your order is placed, but they are a smaller mom&pop place so I am more forgiving of that. Goat curry was delicious and so were the jerk wings. It is worth the wait and I will definitely be back. read more

great flavors and relaxed vibe. really happy to see Island Shack here in the location where peaches hothouse used to be read more

Island Shack - Vegetable Roti Jerk Chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

First time visiting Island Shack , I really love the decor. It gives you shic shack and I'm here for it. Also some good soca music playing. Visited Island shack to celebrate my friend bday , and also happy to support a black owned establishment. The bartender/host was very attentive, not to mention the establishment was able to accommodate my party , although we were extremely late for dinner reservations. As of now , island shack doesn't have any speciality cocktails n which they just obtain there liquor licenses. However the bartender is able to make mix drinks with mixers available. As of now they don't have a dessert menu , however I was able to purchase a slice of cake from Mr. Mango across the street. The host offered to go get it , but I told her no. The host was such a sweetheart. I had the mini bake n shark which I really enjoyed. The jerk chicken is delicious, and definitely has spice too it. The vegetables provided were extremely salty , don't bother to order them. Everybody at the table enjoyed there meal, I would recommend ordering the corn soup , bbq wings , jerk chicken if you enjoy spice , and the roti. The only con is that the kitchen is slow, we had to wait a while for our food. My friend and I received our entree however had to wait over 10/15 for our rice. I'm unsure of the delay because the restaurant was not crowded at all. I want this business to Strive and last , so please improve wait time for food. But despite the wait time , I'll revisit. read more

Island Shack - Menu - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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When we walked in we were met with immediate warmth and smiles! Our waitress was so sweet and friendly. We loved chatting with her. I got the sunday Bowl with rice and beans and curry goat with white rice. The plantains in the bowl were expertly fried and so sweet. The green sauce in it made me wet. Soooo good. The goat was supple and perfectly spiced. Everything was incredibly flavorful and the atmosphere was great. There was even a dj! read more

Great authentic caribbean food. This is definely one of new spots. Very friendly environment. Good music. read more