Our friend brought us to The Islands and she said it’s her favorite Caribbean Cuisine in the neighborhood. The decor is humble, simple and wide-spaced with plenty of seating. There are limited but signature options on the menu. We got Ox Tail with Rice & Bean, Curry Chicken with Steamed Veggies and Salad with Jerk Chicken. The portion was huge with a reasonable price and we left a lot to go. Food was amazingly delicious, especially the jerk chicken, which was extremely tender and juicy. We also were impressed by their rice & bean, surprisingly appetizing and smelled so great.

This establishment offers excellent food. We decided to try several items from the menu, and while some dishes stood out more than others, overall, the food was enjoyable. The service we received was decent, although there was an issue with the timing of our order. Surprisingly, our food arrived later than that of customers who arrived after us, even though we had placed our order before them. It's unclear how the kitchen operates, as this was an unexpected occurrence. Among all the dishes we tried, the curry goat and oxtail stood out as our favorites. Their flavors and preparation were particularly satisfying.

Such a Delightful Experience for my family. We thoroughly enjoyed it & Our Host ❤️ That Guy Jahmar Top Teir Attentive On Point Smooth such a delight & I must mention we were a party of 8 & his Attention 2 detail with out a mistake is definitely commendable he made the Experience even better . Wish all my outstandings for dinner ran this smooth . But the food was great as usual definitely a good choice

We arrived as a group of four and saw that there wasn’t any free outdoor tables, so we had expected a wait. However, after putting our name down, one of the waiters brought out tables and chairs for us, so we were basically seated immediately. Not only that, but this place lets you drink your own wine AND WILL GIVE YOU WINE GLASSES FOR IT! The liquor store is literally 20 feet away and most tables had bought wine there for the meal. So you are supporting TWO local businesses — VERY NICE! Now for the food, I highly recommend the jerk lamb / chicken or the curry chicken. Meat is literally fall off the bone tender and HUGE portions — we were literally cleaning the place of the jerk lamb, and it’s just spicy enough for you to feel the heat but still keep you coming back for more. The roti is BOMB though, and would definitely recommend getting this to compliment your meal and just help sop up the sauce. The plantains and steamed veggies included in each plate are also delicious :) However, if they offer you the Mac and cheese as an add-on, I would say to pass: it’s decent but not worth the price. Service could have been better while we were dining; we didn’t get any water refills or check-ins, and had to flag down a waiter to order and get the check. However, for their initial service + the treat of being able to drink your own wine with the meal + the portions and quality of the food, I am still more than happy to give this place five stars. I will definitely be back the next time I’m in the city.

I don’t normal write reviews but this was a must.. I ordered a oxtail with rice and peas . They charged me $29 I thought it’s probably going to be worth it .. I got home started eating and IMMEDIATELY REGRETTED IT ..the rice was so pasty with no flavor and the oxtail was as tuff as if I bought it uncooked . Like I would need to throw it back on the stove … I love to support my fellow black business but this was not it and I’m extremely disappointed. My suggestion get a chef that is actually from the islands and learned to cook from there cause whomever made this definitely missed the point

Spicy food? Yes this is the place for you. My tolerance for spice is terrible, but still tried some of the food here and it was great! This place is byob, and the staff were really nice. We ordered mac n cheese with ox tail gravy, jerk chicken, ox tail, shrimp garlic and curry goat. Each protein we got came with rice and veggies. We did like a family style so we each got a bit of everything. Everything was really flavorful and spicy so I had most of the ox tail because that wasn't spicy. Wish I could handle spice because all the food was flavorful, juicy and soft!

So I only had ox tails once in my life and I wasn't blown away. Apparently, that's blasphemous and I decided to give them another try. The Islands ox tails were highly rated online and from people I know so I gave them a shot and man, they are delicious and the portions are great. Definitely worth the trip and money!

The food was five stars! The waitress, Celine was 5 stars. BUT! She was the only person working the whole room so we waited literally 2 hours to get our food. Also, the restaurant was extremely cold. Many diners were eating with their winter jackets on. I would recommend the Islands because the food and vibes are so good but bring a good book and only go on warm days.

I ordered the chicken salad (with jerk chicken) and the mac and cheese. The salad was super tasty; the dressing is a little sweet which works well with the spices in the jerk chicken. There are raisins in the salad, which I was a little taken aback about at first, but it works really well in the salad! You can tell they shredded chicken from drumsticks to put in the salad because there were a few pieces of bone left in, which was not great. The mac & cheese was inedible. It had no flavor and the crust was like plastic. I do not recommend.

Ask for an order of escovitch branzino and sorrel for your drink! Chefs kiss and the portion is so good. It’s honestly a meal for 2 people. The escovitch is packed with flavor and you can taste the coconut in the rice and peas that comes with this meal. When I am in Brooklyn, I always stop here. The staff are so attentive, warm and welcoming from the start of business to closing.

The Islands is a cozy, home kitchen vibe restaurant. Went on a Sunday night and lots of families from the neighborhood were there. There was a lot of activity in the take-out area. Service was a little slow, but very friendly and nice. The food was good, but did not wow me. The space could use some maintenance, the entrance door is cracked and some tables seemed very old.

Amazing food. Super fresh and flavorful. The mac and cheese was a 10/10. The coffee was also great comes in these cute little carafes! The server was so sweet and just a great comfortable vibe all around.

Got the goat curry and tried the plantains. Fabulous flavor and abundant portions! Very homey feel to the restaurant, though on a Tuesday night it was very quiet (just one other table was occupied). The menu is not long, but what they make they do very well. Good prices and bonus, it’s BYOB!

THIS PLACE IS BOMB!! I had roti with curry chicken and I cleaned up that plate! The waitress was so sweet and the food came out fast! I’m definitely going back here!

My experience was a good one; customer service was terrific. I thought I was in a different country for a moment, couldn’t believe I was in the U.S! As for the food, the oxtail was ok, tender, and flavorful. The jerk chicken had a good flavor but not a good texture, it seemed like it was sitting too long, and it was tough and dry, yet it was drowning in “gravy!” It’s missing that grilled crispy texture that a broiler or grill would give. I would go back and eat in I want to try their other dishes.

Decent place for a meal. The food was good and the portion size was great.

Coming from Japan where Jamaican food is hard to find, I missed such quality good like this. The lady working here was very friendly and helped me decide on my order. The oxtails were cooked to perfection in a delicious sauce that tasted almost like a mix of Jamaican and French Demiglace. The rice and peas were also perfect, not dry, with a subtle coconut flavour. The plantains were a delicious accompaniment to the meal. Overall one of the most delicious Jamaican meals I’ve ever had.

First place in NYC I found where the portion sizes and prices are proportional! With such a large quantity you'd think the quality would suffer, but that's not the case. Every time I'm in BK, I make a concerted effort to visit this place. Highly recommend the Jerk Chicken

I’ve been looking for a good Caribbean food spot near NYC, and I think this may be my new go-to spot. Best food I’ve had in a while, jerk chicken was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Everything I ordered was amazing. I would eat here everyday if I could! Lol. 10/10 would recommend.

Wonderful little spot in Brooklyn. Food was good (a little bland, I ordered oxtails). Service was great also. I came for an early dinner and noticed there was only one waitress. I could see this being an issue during a dinner rush. But she was very friendly! The entire staff was welcoming. Great spot I definitely recommend.

Currently here eating this bomb steam snapper please note that they make everything fresh here so there is a wait time. But trust me guys it is worth the wait.

I wanted to try this place based on the great reviews, but now I don't think those reviews were real. I spent over $100, and 'm sorry to say that this food was AWFUL. I don't know how this is possible, but the oxtail was flavorless and had a weird taste at the same time. The oxtail meat itself also didn't taste like real oxtail (I kid you not).The plantain had the same flavorless and weird taste, which I think is probably from the oil they used. The macaroni pie was a shame. I really couldn't believe that I spent over $100 for this garbage. It was so disappointing. NEVER AGAIN.

The food is amazing. The curry chicken is well seasoned meat falling off the bone. The rice and peas perfect the Mac and cheese awesome is delicious 😋 The food is 100% fresh and authentic Will revisit

I cannot get enough of this place. My go-to order is the curry chicken and the homemade lemonade -- the chicken is always cooked to perfection, the rice is delicious, and the cabbage consistently has me on the verge of tears. This is probably the best lemonade I've ever had as well. I love the food here, the service, and the space with the Caribbean tunes they have playing in the background at _just_ the right level. I will be returning here consistently for as long as they're open and I live in NYC

Absolutely hospitable and delightful service, and delicious food. I rate the food a 10/10 easy!!! ‘The Islands’ is the perfect name indeed because I felt like I was transported straight to the Caribbean with the atmosphere and decor. I am definitely going to be frequenting this place. 👏🏾🙌🏾😆

I gotta say i miss their old interior better. Also service was so much better in that small space. Honestly the service is only a two star but food makes up for it. Server does not care about anything, he is just very lazy. Water never came, menu never came, he didn’t come to ask to order (because he never gave us the menu) so we had to go to the counter to order. Asked for the hot sauce, of course it never came. Food is good. Service sucks.

The food was okay...i had the jerk chicken not what i am used to. It didn't have the full jerk effect like it was baked then jerk seasoning added. The server was nice. It was lunchtime on a weekday so it was quiet. The shocking thing was payment! If you use your card your bill will jump waaay up in price! For us it was 60 to 70 dollars. I understand a charge when using a card but somehow this seemed illegal. So if you choose to eat here bring cash!

The prices are on the expensive side but the protiin and the quality is worth it. I had the rice and peas with jerk chicken and a side of plantains. The rice was very flavorful. I could taste the coconut in it and it was delightful. The chicken was spicy just how i love it and i bit every bone lol. The plantains were very good but some were dry. The service was very intimate and accommodating. Felt like i was being served in their home as a guest. Wonderful friendly staff.

If you’re craving great Jamaican in the area - come here! The jerk chicken and Mac and cheese are exceptional and the hospitality here is great too! 😋

If I could give it 100000/5 I would Hands down best stew chicken and jerk chicken I've had. Even their cabbage on the side is absolutely delicious

I was looking for a place to eat near the Brooklyn Museum and found this spot via Google Maps. I had a beautiful experience here - I ordered a preamble, which I believe was the plantain boat and rice and peas. Flavor was on point and the owner was so kind and welcoming. The chefs were amazing as well and the whole ambiance of the space was relaxed, comfortable and easy-going. I have to come back when I'm in town again. Thank you!

Rice and peas? I need to be re-educated on the terms or travel a little more. They meant these are rice and beans. It’s a little spicy btw. After our Friday drinks, I decided to get a proper meal at the island. Jamaican food is always one of my favorites especially ox tail and jerk chicken. We end up getting them both. Jerk chicken just falls off the bones and the sauce is out of this world. They topped it off with some steam veggie which I highly suggest. Ox tail is amazing. I would go every day if it wasn’t for the $24 price tag. Oh yah this place isn’t cheap for an entree. Expect to spend $25 a person for a meal including tip and just plain old water. I think they can use an actual menu. Paper menu is a bit cheap and also dirt. I saw some sauce left over on my menu and that’s not okie. I let this one go for now. Just print out some QR code and have people scan on their phone. Overall great to dine in here but definitely can use some upgrades with the outdoor and in door. Music is too loud btw.

Beautiful Staff @ The Islands. Food was delicious and healthy portions, allowing you to have leftovers. 👏

Food was delicious! I appreciated and very much enjoyed the vegetarian options. My friend enjoyed her curry chicken as well. Selene, our server, was an absolute delight! Decor is utilitarian but the other patrons were happy and enjoying themselves as well. Walked in randomly after a visit to the Brooklyn Museum. While chatting with Selene I mentioned that it was my good friend’s birthday. Selene later found a moment to subtly ask me if my friend liked cheesecake, I nodded. Not only did Selene come to our table with the most delicious slice of pineapple cheesecake but she subtly asked the other 3 tables to sing happy birthday before she approached our table. It wasn’t in a cheesy chain restaurant kind of way, but in a very sweet, good community way. I knew the cake was coming, but I did not expect that extra level of effort from our beautiful server and it was such a lovely touch. My friend was totally surprised and at first didn’t even realize everyone was singing to her. Ha! Thank you! This is now a destination spot for me, as I don’t live near the restaurant but just joined the Museum. We didn’t have time to pop into the lounge next door, but it looked like a good vibe and plan on trying it next visit to the neighborhood.