Something about Caribbean food when the winter weather's frigid sounds dandy to me. Guess if you can'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! read more

"Deep in Brooklyn, hides the Caribbean" 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 read more

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We found this gem of a spot after visiting the Brooklyn botanical gardens for the Lightscape show (see my next review) Chris the owner was warm and welcoming! Great Jamaican hospitality. Service was excellent, we felt like we were visiting an old friend who happens to have a great restaurant. The food was delicious, we had the home made sorrel perfectly sweetened and the right amount of ginger. The oxtail with rice and peas with cabbage was on point. The meat was perfectly tender and the gravy was savory, the rice and peas was moist and delicious, the cabbage had a nice flavor and texture and the side of fry plantains were perfect, the right level of soft and sweet. Do yourself a favor and visit Islands. Cool . read more

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Yum, yum, yum!! This was my first time having Caribbean food, and it was tasty! I got their Chicken Stew, homemade Sorrel, and plantains. The chicken was so tender, and the sauces really sunk into the meat. It was just a tiny bit too heavy for me, but that's not the fault of the restaurant at all - it's just my preference. If you pair it with the rice, then it's perfect. The plantains were very unique as well. I'm used to Colombian plantains, and the ones here were much softer, sweeter, and the outside had a really nice crust. The highlight of my meal though, was the sorrel. I am a sucker for hibiscus, so I absolutely loved it. It's much more potent than most hibiscus drinks I've had, but it really hit the spot. It wasn't too sweet, had a nice sour tang to it, and it helped wash everything down. There's only one employee there who does both the cooking and serving - not sure if it was because it was so early, but I came at around 1pm on a Tuesday afternoon. read more

The Islands - Chicken stew, plantains, and homemade sorrel - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Really fun gem in Prospect Park. Slow service to start but kind worker. Every component of the oxtail was delish--the meat, the rice, and the steamed vegetables. Great entree. The roti curry is extremely flavorful too. Love the roti texture, and it ended up being a great burrito-like wrapper at the end of my meal. While the Jerk Chicken wings are delicious, I do think the spice and/or flavors could ramp up. The mac and cheese is the only fully disappointing dish at the table. It was very dry, crunchy, and anything but cheesy. read more

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Let's travel to the Caribbean! Tried a variety of dish and each one was so tasty! All the dishes were mild in flavor. If you need it to be spicy, ask for their spicy sauce. Jerk chicken was definitely delicious. Oxtails! So good! Tasty and tender! Flavors were delicious. Comes with some oxtail gravy. Mix it in with the rice and peas. Yum. Definitely recommend to get this! So all entrees come with rice and peas, Jasmine rice ,steamed vegetables or salad. Entrees are $28+. Okra and salted fish dish. Considered an entree so comes with rice and vegetables. $20. Okra was melt in your mouth smooth. Tasty. There wasn't much fish though. And a bit on the salty side. Decor. A nice sized restaurant with plenty of seating. We chose to sit in the back with bench seating and comfy pillows. A long bar takes over the side of the dining room. On the other side is an open kitchen, where you can see the chefs, hard at work, making delicious Caribbean food. Everyone was super friendly! Looking forward to going back. Come out here and get the oxtails or jerk chicken! read more

Your search for outstanding Jerk Chicken should include a stop at The Islands! Every piece in The Islands' Jerk Chicken is packed with meaty and flavorful bites. It also checks every box to make a tender Jerk Chicken worth recommending: * an excellent Jerk marinade * smoky skin on the outside * juicy meat on the inside * and of course, a healthy portion of scotch bonnet spice. The rice and peas were perfectly cooked and give the warm feel of dinner at someone's Caribbean home. I happily recommend The Islands and hope you try them too. read more

The jerk chicken is amazing!!! My friends and I meant to eat at the se7en next door but the kitchen was closed for the night so we were heading to the diner around the corner. Pete popped his head out the window and offered us some food. Pinito made is three huge platters of jerk chicken rice and peas and cabbages. Chris the bartender made us a really strong drink, not sure of the name. Food was amazing, the owner Jahmal was very inviting and willing to accommodate us. Great restaurant! read more

The Islands - Jerk chicken rice and peas with cabbage - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

We went to check Monet in Venice exhibition food and wanted carribean food and this one was the closest and best reviewed. We tried jerk leg of lamb, salt fish & okra and oxtail....Portions were generous, food came quick and service was great...My favorite was the oxtail the meat was so soft and the rice and peas were perfect for soaking up the juices....my only dissapointment was not having the desserts on the menu available. read more

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

The food was wonderful. We had curry goat, curry chicken, stamp and go, jerk chicken wings, curry vegetables and stewed chicken. All of this with rice and peas. The hospitality was great. Chris, the owner very welcoming. Great place. read more

Highly recommend this restaurant! The Islands has been on my to try list for a while if I could ever make it over to Brooklyn. I was visiting a friend for a quick lunch and we knew the service had to be quick and the food delicious. The islands did not disappoint on either category! My friend and I came here during lunch time. We were greeted by the hostess and sat immediately. I love the layout of the restaurant. Depending on where you are sitting, you are able to see the kitchen as well as the front of the restaurant where the drinks are being served. It's a good size restaurant and wouldn't have an issue sitting various different party sizes. For food, I ordered the curry chicken with jasmine rice while my friend ordered the jerk chicken with beans and rice. We also ordered the Mac and cheese. Everything was delicious and the portion size was huge. While I ate a lot, I still had plenty of food to take home. I will definitely be back to try new dishes! read more

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Stumbled upon this quaint place with very sweet staff on a Monday night. My friend and I shared the jerk chicken wings appetizer and the jerk chicken entree with roti that came with plaintain, salad, and curry. The jerk chicken from the entree is noticeably more tender (sliding-off-the-bone tender) than its jerk wings appetizer counterpart (but still good to me nonetheless). Sadly, we came on a day where there was no salt fish available but that will be for another day :) read more

The Islands - Jerk Chicken with roti, curry, and plantain - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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What a pleasant surprise! We were looking for some good takeout in Brooklyn and since I was feeding my parents, sub-par Jamaican food would not be acceptable. The Islands did not disappoint! We had curry and jerk chicken which was well seasoned and cooked to perfection. The rice & peas which always seems to never come out right in most restaurants, despite being a staple dish, was cooked properly here. The portions were generous and worth the money. Most notable was the friendly service from the warm and welcoming staff. Next time we plan to dine in and enjoy the ambiance. I'd recommend The Islands for its delicious authentic food and professional service. read more

Very friendly service, and plenty of tables for larger parties. Jerk chicken was a miss unfortunately- both white and dark meat pieces were overcook and dry, and there wasn't enough jerk sauce to cook and moisten every bite. Mashed potatoes was ok, definitely leans on the buttery side. read more

The Islands - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Excellent food and service... meet the owner Chris nice interaction and conversation. Will be back or see him in Jamaica

The PRICE! $29 for curry goat?!? $8 Red Stripe?!? Look, here's the key: 1. Caribbean restaurants are always rude 2. Caribbean restaurants are always out of at least 1/2 their menu, even if they've just opened. 3. Caribbean restaurants are delicious and reasonably priced. So, when the woman running the place is choking down barely contained contempt, and the prices are about double what they are in any other neighborhood, and they're not out of half the menu items, this is clearly just a money grab. No. No thank you. Not in this lifetime. Not when Queens is scarcely 35 minutes away. read more

This review is for the food only. Props to the chef because the food is banging. However, the ambiance and service are sorely lacking. We came in on a late Sat evening and the place was empty. The waiter seemed like he was struggling after a bender. It was truly a strange and confusing experience. I would give it a two star but can't because the chef did us right. My rec would be to order takeout. read more

The meal hit all the right notes for flavor. The staff maintained highest-quality service. This restaurant delivers reliable results. We ordered conservatively, and the food was fine. Make time for this restaurant. read more

I was quite satisfied with what this restaurant delivered. The compact place serves impressive dishes. This restaurant treats people better than places with highest ratings. Their dishes and service delivery earn highest scores. I appreciate this place and will visit again. read more

You might have read rave reviews about this place but if you value respectful service, please consider other Jamaican places that do not take their customers for granted. We found the servers rude and unprofessional. We placed our order with an inattentive rude waiter. When the food was delayed for 45 minutes, we asked what was taking long and we were told it would be ready in 15 minutes. After waiting for nearly 90 minutes, they told us they didn't have our order and asked us to reorder, shamelessly and unapologetically. We talked to both the server and the cook making the food (I think the owner), and they told us they lost the order. We were absolutely infuriated and still got no apology. There are many hardworking smaller Jamaican places. Take your business to those, and do not continue to support a clearly unprofessional and lazy establishment who cares very little for the community. read more

The Islands - The outside since we couldn't get food - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

It has been over 8 years since The Islands relocated due north on Washington Ave. After a trek to Brooklyn Museum- we stepped foot and were greeted with warmth. My rum punch was nice and strong- the curry shrimps were succulent and fresh. So happy I got a chance to enjoy! read more

The Islands - Rum punch - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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If Yelp allowed 4.5 stars, I would give it. I can't give 5 only because I wish the spice level here was a tick or two higher but I recognize that my tolerance for such things is extremely high. I began frequenting this place when it was a tiny restaurant with maybe three tables for seating and a roof that you hit your head on if you stood up. Now The Islands has graduated to a much bigger space and deservedly so. The friendly service hasn't changed and neither has the food. The food is simply delicious here -- in my opinion, the best Carribean food you'll find in the tristate area. Start with those jerk wings and try the calypso shrimp. Any shrimp really. Lord, just writing this is making me hungry. They'll soon see my face again. read more

I'm wondering how my review for this wondrous spot is no longer here. Super long story short, this is a staple in the community. When it moved down the block when its original location was accosted by a development, I was happy! Mainly b/c it was closer to me now...lol. Oxtails, rice & peas, & sweet plantains...is the order every time! I would get something else, but that's what I'm usually craving at the time. Try it! read more

Delicious Caribbean food, massive portions, good bang for buck. Came here on a Thursday with some friends for dinner. When we arrived at 7:30 there were only a couple of other tables taken. Service was a little bit slow, but the restaurant is small enough that if you really need something you can quickly flag down the staff. We opted to share a couple of different dishes and I'm glad we did because the plates were massive! Food-wise we tried: - Jerk Chicken: the jerk chicken was flavorful and cooked well! More than enough meat to split between three people - Ackee and Nori: this vegetarian dish was tasty! I haven't had it before so I can't comment in comparison to other places, but I enjoyed it. - Plantains: we got this as a side and it did the job. Each of the plates came with a variety of side dishes. Even though we were all extremely hungry, we couldn't finish everything! Overall, a solid neighborhood spot or one worth checking out if you're in the area read more

The Islands is our go-to for Caribean food when we need delivery. The oxtail with rice and peas and garlic shrimp are to die for. Our vegetarian friend loves their curry vegetables with tofu as well. Prices are high although the food matches the quality. I wasn't a big fan of the jerk chicken wings, mac and cheese, nor the plantains. Both were not as moist as I like however it might have been an off day. I definitely want to try the other dishes such as the curry goat and stewed chicken! read more

Horrible. Price went up and the quality of the food is disgusting. Mac and cheese was old, cold and tough and horrible. Shrimp was over cooked tough and the rice and veg was sub par. I haven't been here in about 6 years and I remembered why immediately why I stopped. My dish price went up 13 dollars. I'm done. Even if I was offered for free I don't want it. read more

The Islands - Old Mac and i taste no cheese and tough shrimp - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The best! I love this place and they're so nice! Ordered takeout and it was delicious.

My Jamaican friend brought me here to introduce me to Caribbean cuisine and even he said it was like the food he has as a child!! I cannot express how good this oxtail was -- the sauce paired perfectly with the tender meat and the flavorful rice!! The rice was cooked with beans, coconut milk, and all spice, along with a bunch of other spices that were so so good. My #1 recommendation from here and I will 100% be returning just to eat it again. The same rice was used with the jerk shrimp, which was also good! The boiled veggies on the sides were both alright as palette cleansers. TLDR: do not miss out on the oxtail!! read more

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We drove here from New Hyde Park, where we love, to meet friends for dinner. We have tonnnnns of delicious Caribbean food in our area and we're excited to try this restaurant! I ordered my usual, Oxtails, for research purposes haha! The oxtails were tender and flavorful, but I was surprised the sauce was a sweet as it was and not spicy at all. I thought the portion was pretty decent, but it is pricey. My husband enjoyed his codfish, but said he felt it was a little salty. The rice and peas were standard-well cooked and accompanied the meals perfectly. And I always live the side of cabbage. We also ordered a lemonade and it had a lovely floral taste-we loved it! I'd say this restaurant is a solid choice if you're in the area and craving Jamaican food! Just a side note- we did bring our 2yr old and they do not have highchairs. The waitress provided a folding chair, which worked for us, but may not work for others! read more

The Islands - Codfish and Okra with Rice and Peas - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Nice people friendly service and amazing food. I moved away 13+ years ago and one bite of oxtail and I was transported right back. The prices have gone up but the quality has too. Highly highly recommended. read more

The Islands - Oxtail rice and peas and steamed veggies. Amazing. - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The food here is amazing. I had the jerk chicken with rice & peas, and they didn't disappoint. Flavor packed food with great customer service. read more

I love trying new places but honestly this wasn't one of them. I normally dont do reviews but after the experience I had too. Went here with a couple of loved ones and we noticed that all of the food was microwaved . I explained to the waitress that the food wasn't good due to texture and taste , she removed the plates from the table . Then we've noticed that the food that I had (jerk chicken) was re-heated and plated for the next guest.out of 5 of us 4 ppl ordered food 1 person had a salad 2 ppl returned the food and the last person couldn't even finish their food because it started to taste weird to them. read more

Found this place while exploring the neighborhood with my family and was in the mood for some good Jamaican food. Upon entering the restaurant we were greeted by our waitress and were told to sit anywhere. We asked if they had a high chair for my daughter however they didn't which was a little bummer. We were going to leave and try somewhere else but I wanted to try their food. As we sat I noticed the simple decor on the walls. The chairs that were used were cheap outdoor foldable chairs that you would get from Walmart. I didn't mind because most Jamaican restaurants don't usually focus on decor and mostly on the food. Waited about 15mins before the waitress could take our order. I ordered a homemade sorrel, oxtail with rice & peas, jerk chicken with rice & peas, and an order of macaroni and cheese. Got the sorrel drink in less than 5 minutes and it tasted delicious, however, the food took almost 30min to come out. Once again I didn't mind as I knew it had to be fresh! When the food finally arrived the waitress apologized for the long wait which was nice of her. The oxtail was soft and tender and fell off the bone. It was flavorful and the portion size was decent for $30. The jerk chicken had a good amount of spice and might be the best jerk chicken I've had thus far. I did notice we didn't get any plantains with our entrees as I seen in other yelp reviews. The macaroni and cheese was the worse I've had. For $10 The cheese was not melted and although it had a nice crisp at the top it was very hard to chew. Tasted like hard chips! Overall the establishment was great and the food was delicious. If I am ever in the neighborhood I would get the food again! read more

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The hype is well-deserved. The Islands has long been on my list of restaurants to try, but I was previously deterred by the long lines. While I wouldn't have considered ordering delivery from here before COVID, I wanted to support a small business and didn't want to hold off any longer on trying this place, especially when the FOMO factor with indoor dining was low. I'm glad my husband and I pursued delivery, because even with the food in takeout containers and less than piping hot out of the kitchen, it was fabulously delicious. We ordered the curry chicken and jerk chicken, each $12. Both were so flavorful and well-seasoned. We heartily enjoyed the generously portioned dishes, though I preferred the curry chicken slightly more since I found the jerk chicken to be too spicy for me. Take that with a grain of salt; I just can't handle much spiciness. My husband, on the other hand, loves spicy foods and couldn't get enough of the jerk chicken. Looking forward to trying other dishes, hopefully at the restaurant, next year when this crazy pandemic is over. read more

The Islands - Curry Chicken ($12) delivery - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I found The Islands while searching for a BYOB in Brooklyn with food that would help me weather the cold winds outside. It ended up being one of my favorite meals I have had in a long time. I ordered the curry shrimp with jasmine rice and vegetables and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. I bet everything on the menu is amazing, bring someone you love. Classically, when the foods too good I can't wait for a picture to dig in. My pic is of the takedown. read more

The Islands - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Classy Caribbean Cusine. Sexy Ambiance. Kitchen Is On The Bar. So First Class Culinary Cooking. Flavorful & Tasty. Sexy Jamaican Food Restaurant. Stop By & You Will Enjoy. read more

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

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The aroma of Caribbean flavors were in the air when we first opened the door ! Was in the mood for som jerk chicken and selected this spot after checking out the reviews. Our server and host was super cool and answered all our questions. We ordered a few plates of jerk chicken and curry chicken along with rice and peas, cabbage and a side of no plantains, roti and what was described as a small Mac n cheese but it was huge !!! Food came out quickly and we went to town . The chicken was tender, juicy and full of flavor. It literally fell off the bone !!! Everything was one point and so good. A must do if you are in Brooklyn and looking for some island flavors !! read more

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Jerk chicken was delicious, fell off the bone & so juicy :) loved the steamed cabbage, rice & peas were perfect! I also got a slice of the pineapple cheese cake with guava to go, absolutely heavenly! Owner Marilyn Reid was there too :) very relaxing spot with lovely seating by the windows, ambiance is on point read more

The Islands - Jerk chicken with Rice & Peas - Caribbean Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Their jerk chicken (with rice and peas) is one of the best meals you can eat in New York. It is transcendent. It will elevate you to an entirely new plane of culinary existence. It will open your eyes to a new world of spice and texture and flavor. No seriously. I moved from Brooklyn to Jersey, but whenever we're back in Crown Heights, we buy a large jerk chicken or two to eat over the week. Takeout service is friendly and lightning quick. Prices are very reasonable for the amount and preeminent quality of food. I hope this restaurant stays open long enough for me to take my great grandchildren there someday (I'm in my thirties). read more

Delicious! The jerk chicken and curry shrimp were so flavorful! Generous portions and the entrees came with a side of rice and vegetables. From the menu, it seemed like the entrees also included plantains and mac and cheese, but after asking about it, they were additions. Misleading design. The restaurant was nicely decorated, and our server was very friendly. The food came out quickly, and overall, I would recommend this spot. read more