The Islands

 

1

92

Emily M.

Brooklyn, NY

Excellent jerk and curry and escoveitched (sp?) fish.  

If you get takeout, don't ask Mama Shawn (sp?) to hold the rice.  When I did this, I actually received less chicken than did my pal who ordered the same dish but didn't try to mess with the establishment.  I wasn't trying to get more jerk out of them - I swear - I'm just allergic to certain beans.  And this is sad, obviously, for many reasons, one of them being that these particular rice and beans are very pleasant indeed (I've cheated - many times... I know, I'm only cheating myself.)

The upstairs is a really cozy, musty little treat.

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3

9

Vanitha V.

San Francisco, CA

The Islands is the main reason I'm still living in Brooklyn, and what I will miss the most when I move to the West Coast.

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1

34

Bianca B.

Brooklyn, NY

The Islands is the truth.
These two women have fed me on many a warm summer night.

For real, though, I always complain about the wait time, but they are so accommodating with the modifications I want on my food (more calypso sauce on everything, the corner of the macaroni pie, etc.) and in the end it's always worth it.
I must say I've only ordered the calypso shrimp with peas & rice. Sometimes, I'll get macaroni but that stuff looks like it could give you are heart attack (read: it's so good & cheesy).  I don't know about much else, but that calypso sauce is perfection. Coconut milky and spicy at the same time! My mom says the oxtail is great, as well.
In the summer, if you like to eat your food on the street (I don't) you may be lucky enough to score a table outside. If not, there's a small space upstairs for dining-in. I recommend getting it to go and eating it wherever you can let the 'itis set in.

Bring cash, they don't accept cards.

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Elite '08

15

70

Elizabeth J.

Brooklyn, NY

Normally my palate is a bit overwhelmed by Brooklyn's Jamaican/Caribbean  food offerings. Normally the heavy use of seasonings leaves me choking for air or a careening into my kitchen for more water if I come across an especially bad cook who (all to often) tend to rely on pepper  to mask a horror show of a meal - but not today.

Having made my commute in one piece I decided I was a bit too lazy to cook . I had passed The Islands on many a hot night , shamefully ducking my thrifty ass in the neighboring Chinese food store, but today with my twenty in hand I nervously entered and ordered some Curry Chicken with Plantains. The woman who ran the shop was friendly in that particularly Caribbean way ; that is, she is very kind but ultimately disinterested with strangers until they become regular faces I'm guessing .

Used to Caribbean portions, I noticed my meal had a little bit of extra poundage on it; a definite sign of quality rice. My arm almost got tired carrying it and I got a small!The rice was nicely balanced by the meat, and everything was lush and frag rent. I was skeptical but after I put the first bite into my mouth all I could do was dance..dance and moan in delight!! The heat in the curry was just right, the rice was lighter then I expected and the chicken fell off the bone fresh! Anyone can make chicken fall off the bone, but a place that can do that FRESH at $8 while keeping that level of spice and quality they have is rare!

I'm too new to give advice, but if you want standard Caribean fare at great prices, I'll meet you in The Islands,

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5

29

Jon T.

Brooklyn, NY

The best things in life are worth the wait, a truism made even more true at this hole in the wall right off of Eastern Parkway and Washington Ave. You may end up waiting over an hour for Jerk chicken that is perfectly spiced and falling off the bone, because each order is made from scratch. And the prices...hard to believe. $10 will get you a half a jerk chicken, beans and rice, cabbage, a salad, and plantains. In other words, enough for two people easily. I recommend takeout though...the upstairs dining area is cramped and the service is non-existant. When you're eating food this good, who cares?

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3

11

Laura B.

Brooklyn, NY

I'm happy to live around the corner from this place!  Yum, jerk shrimp!  The mac and cheese and plantains are also so so yummy.  I've never eaten-in and usually opt for delivery.  I can tell you that the first time I walked up and ordered, the woman behind the counter started peeling the shrimp.  This being said, the food is fresh but it takes forever.  I would suggest calling ahead or ordering delivery.  The food is flavorful, spicy, and delicious.  My only wish is that they had greens and rice and beans on the side, although I've got nothing against the rice and cabbage.  

Get something spicy and enjoy with a ginger beer and rum!

Ah, love the spice, so good!

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Elite '08

91

90

Tamara W.

Mount Vernon, NY

Though I love the food and the people there, the service is really slow. But once you finally get the meal in front of you, you are in heaven. If you are into traditional Caribbean meals, or want to try them, this is the place for you. The owner is a doll and though the service is a little slow for my liking, it's definitely worth the wait.

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0

3

Pascal A.

Brooklyn, NY

I live in the neighborhood and often stop by to get some Oxtail on my way home from work (when I'm too tired to cook.) As many have stated, the service can be slow, but the food is "the bomb!"  Yah man!

Sometimes, if you've been waiting for a while, the owner will give you a free cup of soup that you can sip on while you wait.

The place is small, but there are even a couple of tables set up in a makeshift second floor if you want to relax.

I give this a definite recommendation.

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Elite '08

144

333

Allison G.

Brooklyn, NY

"You've never been to The Islands before?!" my friend Heather exclaimed. "We have to go. Right now."

Conveniently located on the corner of Washington Ave, and Eastern Parkway, The Islands is so small that one might easily walk right past it without really noticing it is there (as I have done many, many times). It is LITERALLY a "hole int he wall" kind of place. Teeny. Tiny.

However, Heather told me they had awesome soup. So, on a cold, cold night we went. Heather introduced me to one of the owners, Marilyn, who was as sweet as can be. We ordered chicken soup and headed to the seating area.

When you first come here, you'll say, "Allison G. said there was a seating area. WHAT seating area?! I don't see anything." Well, that's what I said, too. But, if you climb a scary little set of stairs, you'll be welcomed into an adorable, tiny little seating area where you can sit and enjoy delicious food.

The soup is one to write home about. You can taste that it is homemade. Its broth isn't just runny and thin; it is thick and robust!

I am definitely coming to The Islands again. Heather got some take-home jerk chicken, and I am now intrigued to get some of my own, as I hear this is their specialty.

Also: they have take-out and delivery!

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12

27

emcee b.

Brooklyn, NY

Late last year there was a bit of a press pop for this tiny Caribbean spot (New York Magazine and NYT put over the jerk chicken). So it was to great relief  that when I visited last weekend there was room in the 4-table dining room, located directly above the kitchen (prime for catching a whiff of the 6-inch thick mac and cheese or that famous jerk).

I basically order the same thing every time---a large plate of jerked chicken. I am an adventurous eater and usually order around the menu on return visits. But The Island's chicken is so sweet, spicy and fall of the bone, I'm terrified of ordering a sub-par dish and missing out on the jerk.

Even with this fear, the plate is not only about the chicken. It's the sides that make this meal almost perfect. The red beans and rice is smothered with spices, honey and fat (I'm guessing a savory blend of drippings from the goat, beef and chicken) and is always the first item to go when sharing the plate with someone, which I highly recommend if you don't want to be stuffed for the next 24 hours. No joke, you cannot stop eating this rice and it will sit like lead (wonderful lead) if you are not careful. The plate also includes cooked vegetables and a piece of cornbread, which is probably the only low point of the meal. But who makes good cornbread anyway? I'm still shopping around.

If you dare to order an additional side, go with the mac and cheese. It's thick and rich and probably includes a nice shot of those fat drippings as well. The macaroni noodles are "standard size" and tender for the most part, but if you are lucky enough the get a burned piece you will be treated with a hard, salty crust cracked to reveal the gooey insides. Outside of Chicory, this is the best mac and cheese in the city. Seriously, FUCK MaMa's. Those shitheads running the joint only wished they had the cooking chops of the two overly friendly (and liberal! Air America is usually blasting from the radio) owner/cooks of The Islands. And they sell Ting, which tastes like a highly concentrated Fresca/Squirt derivative. A nice sugary/sour companion to the sugary/spicy chicken.

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1

20

Danelle W.

New York, NY

Watch out... you might just pass this restaurant and not have noticed!  Wait... what was a terrific aroma?  Yes, it's pretty enticing, isn't it?  There it is, sharing an awning w/ the neighboring Key Foods...

Try the jerk chicken.  You won't regret it.

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Elite '08

83

129

Ting S.

Brooklyn, NY

Living around the corner from this place, and considering the limited food options in this neighborhood so far, I desperately wanted to love this place.  I went in on a weekday nite, my suitor friend and i were the only ones at the takeout counter, and yet somehow everyone who entered after us ordered, paid, and got served before us. The dirty look we got from behind the counter was on par with looks we typically get due to our interracial pairing. Not only did it take practically 40 min (and normally i would've never waited, but was so hungry couldn't bring myself to leave the promise of food), but we were clearly charged a different price than others.  Despite the bad impression, I still couldn't wait to try the food. The fried chicken was overly breaded and soft, and the mac and cheese lukewarm and bland.  I had to add salt, pepper, and my own seasonings to it when i got home.  So disappointed, and will never ever go back to this place of inequality.

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0

8

Emily M.

Brooklyn, NY

Islands is SO GOOD.   With entrees that are around $10 for chicken, (more for seafood), you get a ton of food and also comes with rice and beans.  It's just so tasty.  Real comfort food.  The restaurant is BYOB.  I recommend delivery instead of take-out if you're nearby, we've had a rather long wait for takeout.  My boyfriend loves the Oxtail, so if you're into that, it's also really good.   Get the Jerk chicken or Curry Chicken and you won't be disappointed.  The Jerk is the right amount of spicy, and the curry is so smooth.  Beware of bones.

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2

8

Satoru O.

Brooklyn, NY

My favorite Jamaican in the area. I try to go here as often as I can.

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2

26

ariel s.

Brooklyn, NY

The best caribbean, hands down. sometimes the wait is like being in the islands.... Ting soda. yum.

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