We've not been here in a bit and decided to pop in for a Caribbean inspired lunch. Of course we had the amazing chips and mango salsa to start. My wife had coconut shrimp and plantains and she loved them both. I went for the pork ribeye and holy smokes was it good. The fat was rendered and soft and wasn't overly fatty. The bread crumb topping sounded odd to me but that was what made the dish. It provided a rich buttery crunch to the soft chop. It was also cooked to perfection and juicy. This is now my "go to" dish here. Service was outstanding as usual and we spoke with the owners for a couple minutes and they were super kind and just great people! If you're in town looking for something great or sitting at home trying to figure out what to have for dinner, this is the answer!!! read more

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The jerk chicken and the island burger were delicious. Definitely recommend the plantains and the corn ribs for sides! Service was great, food was fantastic! The vibe was one of love. You can really tell when someone is super passionate about what they do, and Tonya (the owner) was warm and friendly with everyone. Shoutouts to Barbie our server! Definitely coming back here and bringing friends (and try more of their delicious food). read more

I had to go to Richmond to get some things done and I had been wanting to try something different and this lil place popped up on my maps. The location is funny because it's between the Paddy Wagon and a tattoo parlor but it's bright white so you can't miss it! It is a small little area inside but homey. There were a handful of customers in there when I came and apparently they all got hamburgers so it was a little smokey in there for a few mins. So the burgers must be delicious too. I ordered the grilled fish, plantains, and mango rice. The fish was so delicious and moist (blackened) and the plantains were perfect. The mango rice was ok but I would definitely go back for the plantains. The service was great and just the atmosphere of the place was fun and nice. I also got a rum cake to go... GET THE CAKE! It's little but light and packs a punch! Delicious! I can not wait to come back and try something else. I'm happy I don't live in Richmond because I would be in there once a week! read more

Islands In The Stream - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Richmond, Kentucky

First time here and I will be back. I stopped in for lunch today. There were a few people outside when I drove by so I decided to stop. Inside is small and quaint with very cool decor. The staff were very friendly and quick to wait on me. I ordered the Jerk Chicken with Coconut and Mango Rice and a side of Fried Plantains. The chicken was excellent with a little heat from the sauce and a nice char. The Fried Plantains were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, perfectly prepared. The Cajun seasoning set them off. I was not a fan on the Rice. It was clumpy and just a few mango chunks were thrown on top. They do have Caribbean beverages to choose from as well. read more

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I want to preface this review by saying that this restaurant has only been open a week so keep that in mind. We sampled the jerk chicken, the Panini's, the coleslaw, the conch fritters, the Oxtail soup and the coconut shrimp. Everything was delicious! A completely different taste experience than you normally find in Richmond. The decor is very creative and different. Can't wait until the outdoor dining is open. The service was exceptional. Both owners on site checking with everybody to make sure that everything was just right. Very friendly and we will definitely be back for another dish on the menu. Lots of choices to explore here. The only negative was certain foods being overcooked. Panini had black strips instead of brown, fried items, etc. They are training a new cook so hopefully those issues will be corrected in time. read more

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Wanted to try a few of the things that sounded great so we got deviled eggs and coconut shrimp for an appetizer and then both ordered the jerk chicken combo with the mango rice and it was amazing. Definitely will eat there again. read more

Islands in the Stream is a locally owned Caribbean restaurant offering menu items that are inspired by Caribbean cuisine in downtown Richmond. The restaurant is smaller, but very clean and all of the employees were very friendly. The main wall of the restaurant is decorated in an Ernest Hemingway theme and tries to provide an island feel while dining. There are a few tables available on the front porch/ patio to sit on and watch the traffic go by wile you are dining. We started off with the Johnny Cakes as an appetizer. Initially, they were kind of greasy and I had to place a napkin in the bottom of the basket to help absorb the grease (see photo) but they were rich, buttery and full of flavorful. My wife had the Jerk Chicken Panini Sandwich with kettle chips. She said that it was good, but the sandwich just didn't have the full jerk flavor. There was a generous portion of chicken on the panini along with Swiss cheese and some bread and butter pickles. It was listed on the menu as having ham on it, but there was none, and I'm not convinced that the bread was homemade. I tried to order the same thing, but when the waitress brought our food, she brought me the Jerk Chicken platter. The waitress realized her mistake, apologized, and immediately offered to switch it to what I had ordered, but it looked really good on the plate, and I agreed to give it a try. The grilled chicken thigh was cooked to perfection and very juicy and had the jerk seasoning served on top. It had been marinated in their jerk sauce which our waitress said that they order directly from Jamaica. When I look at their menu online, it shows that it was supposed to have been served with a coconut and mango rice, but I'm fairly sure that I received just plain red beans and rice with mine. Again, the grilled chicken thigh was juicy, but to me, it just didn't have the expected levels of flavor that I was anticipating with jerk chicken. The red beans and rice were typical -- good flavor with a little bit of spice. We also ordered the Corn Ribs. They were good and had a lot of seasoning on them. Overall we had a good dining experience and the staff and atmosphere were very pleasant. We have some other family members who absolutely love this place, but for me, it was just ok. read more

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Such an amazing island gem tucked in the Richmond Downtown! The atmosphere is super friendly and relaxed, like you pulled up to a friend's outdoor cabana bar at the beach, partnered with amazing, flavorful food! Every thing that hit our mouths was packed with flavor from sweet and savory to a little bit of spice (I stayed on the milder end by choice !). The coconut shrimp, deviled eggs, and homemade sauces hit the spot to start our visit of right! Husband had a shrimp Bo-boy that reminded him of our time in the Caribbean and said the red beans and rice were the best he'd ever had. My tacos were divine.. the heat hit my tongue right with the sweetness of the peaches. They didn't last long! Rum cake was a delicious treat to end the night! Can't wait to come back and work our way thru the rest of the menu! read more

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3/26/26 I came here for lunch as I was in town for work. I never heard of this spot nor did I realize Richmond has a Caribbean restaurant now. I stumbled upon a random FYP (for your page) on tik tok and had to see what it was all about. So I came here, parked across the street, thankfully Richmond still has free parking, and walked inside. It was a nice tropical spot with a lot of fun decor. I was greeted and seated immediately and met the owner/chef. I wasn't sure what to get because I was just simply overwhelmed by excitement to have a Caribbean restaurant in Kentucky! So I went with what I've had and loved and got some conch fritters along with the white fish and mango rice as a recommendation. The food came out super quickly, which is great when you're practically hangry. The conch fritters were okay, but not how I remember them in Bahamas. The sauce they came with was tangy and tasty. I didn't care for how much breading the conch fritters were covered in, kind of took away from the chewy fishy flavor I wanted. But nonetheless I'm glad to have been able to experience it here in Kentucky. Now the highlight of my foodie adventure was trying the white fish and mango rice. Wow! Both of these together complement each other so well, it was a flavor explosion in my mouth. The fish used if I remember correctly is Pegasus, it did not taste fishy at all which was such a unique taste. I couldn't get enough of it so I ate it all. I will most definitely be coming back and can't wait to try their oxtail soup. I'd love to just have a platter of oxtails and that mango rice If and when it's available. So glad to have this kind of cuisine in Kentucky. read more

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Have you ever wanted to go to the Caribbean? Well, I'd say who doesn't?! Look no further, as the Caribbean has come to you in one of the most unlikely of places....downtown Richmond, Kentucky. From start to finish this place couldn't miss even if it tried! Not quite sure where to start, the plantains had just the right amount of spice to them, the coconut shrimp with the mango sauce made me contemplate slapping my own mother! The Caribbean pulled pork with the mango rice was just such a crazy combination of flavor that I didn't even know could be pulled off with pulled pork, no seriously you've got to check that dish out. The corns ribs were not to be outdone with their savory presence and their slaw which tastes as if your aunt Betty actually found out what seasonings were and how to use them! I am saving the best for last here folks, the deviled eggs! The flavor, spice, consistency, and the pure taste of soaking up Caribbean flavor in an American staple. I don't even know how they were able to fit that much flavor in such a small dish but they sure did and they got the post card to prove it. The ONLY thing that I would've changed about this meal would've been ordering the 8 piece deviled eggs instead of the 5 piece. So do yourself and your taste buds the favor of giving this place a try, I promise you won't be disappointed....and yes for my wonderful Caucasian palated friends the fries were outstanding as well! So run, don't walk down to the Islands in the Stream and give this family owned business the try it deserves! read more

Islands In The Stream - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Richmond, Kentucky

My husband and I were looking for a place to eat while in Richmond and decided to give this place a try based on reviews, boy I'm so glad we did! The atmosphere and decor is so fun. The staff was friendly and helpful. We both had the fish & shrimp tacos which were bursting the flavor. We added a side and got the 3 bean salad and mango rice which were both delicious. One of the owners, Tonya, came over and took a seat and visited for a while. She shared her story and how the restaurant got started 6 months ago. We share a love for Jamaica so we shared our traveling stories. Such a great evening! We will definitely be back read more

TRY THE RIBS!!! Dallas and Genie are the best, very kind and helpful. Dallas provides a very strange rizz that I am a particularly big fan ofthe owners are also the shit. Very homey and personable. The cook, Michael is cracked, as is the prep guy Logan. The coconut shrimp is also very delicious, as are the paninis. AS IS THE RIBS!!! Anything with the bbq sauce is amazing The atmosphere is very nice, it is a small space but i think that only serves to make sure the waitresses always come by and check on you. My drink never went empty Everybody should go check this place out! read more

I rarely leave negative reviews, but this was one of the worst dining experiences I've had in a long time. So many misses - chips so undercooked they were still doughy, corn ribs so tough I could barely cut through them with a knife (after finally flagging down a server to get one), and jerk chicken that was so far from authentic it wasn't even mildly spicy. Certainly, the staff is quite friendly, and they had a packed room, but I was astounded at how hype everyone seemed about this place given how bad it was in my experience. read more

Everything was fantastic! We had chips and mango salsa and fish/shrimp tacos. All was top notch!!

Born and raised jamaican here, moved from florida to KY and i was excited that an caribbean restaurant was in town! Had to try and will say the food was amazing it took me back home, the caribbean beers off the hook and the service was incredible lovely staff! I shall recommend 100% if your from the caribbean and happen to be in town please stop by! read more

Very chill vibe. Fantastic fried plantains and great jerk pulled pork. Service was fast and friendly!

The building is decorated in sea themed decor. The tables are brighly colored sets of metal spread throughout the room. There was a lovely lady serving and another on the grill. The food came quickly, and was delicious. I got the white fish and he got the carribean beef patty. She kept our teas full and was very friendly. read more

First time visiting Islands in the Stream. I was with my daughter and granddaughter. Upon entry we almost left because the chairs are all metal and very uncomfortable to sit on. However, we decided to stay. We all asked for water (we drink a lot of water) when the server appeared. After looking over the menu, we placed our order. My granddaughter ordered from the kids menu since she is only 8 years old. The kids menu comes with a drink so her mom requested a sprite for her. The server informed my daughter that the water she ordered for her was her drink so she would not be getting the sprite with the meal ( water is complimentary in most restaurants). We found this to be extremely odd and my granddaughter was disappointed not getting her sprite. I would also like to add that beverages are served in Styrofoam. I ordered the Caribbean burger with fries. I didn't care for the burger...it was a soggy mess. My daughter ordered grilled fish with squash and zucchini. She said her food was okay but too heavy on the seasoning. After I paid our ticket, I noticed that we were charged for our waters even though one water was supposed to be a replacement for my granddaughters sprite that was supposed to come with her meal (attaching receipt). Overall, we did not have a pleasant experience at this establishment read more

Islands In The Stream - Charges for water. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Richmond, Kentucky

My husband and I ate there yesterday and it was freaking amazing! The homemade in house sauces and the coconut shrimp, omg this is a must to visit. Feels like you're on vacation! they have done a great job right out of the gate read more

Great food. Affordable. Good service. Great vibes. Didn't disappoint at all. Definitely will go back

This new establishment has great authentic Caribbean good, staff was the greatest. Friendly and welcoming. Everyone needs to experience this amazing new restaurant read more

We had such a good experience here that we ended up coming back a second time in the same night! The food and drinks are great, and extremely well priced. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and enjoyable! We met the owners, who were extremely welcoming and friendly as well as knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. My friends and I had a great time, and we will definitely be back and highly recommend. read more