All Island Cafe

The food is delicious. But calling in your order is the worst. More often than not, you may get a busy signal. If you’re lucky enough to get through, more than likely you will get put on hold before you can open your mouth to say anything. Even if you decide to go inside, there will still be a long wait. But no complaints with the food. They just need to step up the customer service.

Food is great but be prepared for short staff and long wait times. It’s best to do a call in order if they answer the phone and. The place is usually very clean.

Once again I decided to try this place to hopefully leave a more pleasant review. But alas! That apparently isn’t possible so I can definitely say I won’t be returning.
I came with my family and we all had the same comments SALTY!!! And tasteless but there were a lot of people inside so I was confused. Are their taste buds dead or is this their first time?
Needless to say my family wasn’t thrilled and I have a feeling I won’t be able to pick our next outing anytime soon.
40mins later… I have been in the restroom for 10mins now and it’s NOT PRETTY!
I forgot to add also that we were told we had to order Togo because sit down service was unable due to the unavailability of their serving staff. But it was ok to eat our boxes there.

Had a good experience to the food is good… had the curry chicken! The service was OK this place does get busy though so patience is required when order!

Horrible Service… Piss poor management. Food quality has deteriorated tremendously!

I frequently come to All Island Café when I’m craving some Jamaican food. As a NYC native I’ve had my share of Really Good Jamaican food. After trying different places in the ATL this place is the best I had in ATL and reminds me of the Jamaican food back home. I generally order the baked Jerk chicken (on the weekends they have grilled jerk chicken). The chicken is always so tender and spice just right. I’m so hooked that I have yet to try any other entrees. Definitely the place to come to when you want some good Jamaican food. The prices and portions are good.
Definitely recommend this place to get your Jamaican food fix.

But they take to long I am still here but their food is so good but it is worth it worth the wait

I heard about this from an island nurse at Emory. It is in a rough section of Memorial replete with danger and drugs. The entry and endless empty dining alcoves make this place a bit spooky. At first it looks like a closed down restaurant, than you find your way to the back of the house. The food was decent, but the prices are WAY beyond reasonable. A leg, thigh, rice and peas, and a ¼ cup of cabbage was almost $ 10. They had way less than one dollar in food cost, yet were charging ten times that. That is a complete rape of the customer. They have figured out the recipes, but need to move to a smaller space so they do not have to charge almost $ 10 for what should cost $ 5. They didn’t even include plantains at that price.

The floor was nasty and slippery like someone threw grease all over. (Great slip n fall lawsuit) the food was room temperature… No lemons for water and a lot of items on the menu were not available for order.
The food was tasty indeed but the experience itself was a turn off and I won’t return

Craving authentic jerk? This place offers a huge plate of food that is the REAL deal… not a sad effort to create Jamaican flavor. Slow cooked, tender and the perfect spices all for a great price. Large jerk chicken plate under $ 10.50 and you will probably have leftovers. Easy location and great staff.

This is a place that’s a don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
When you walk in, you’ll be at a empty space. Walk towards the counter front to order food. Most folks to go, but you can grab your food and find a seat or booth to enjoy your meal.
The price and quality here were pretty great. The quality was def there, and the quantity was good for its price.
The bf had the large ox tail curry. I loved his pick even though I am not a curry lover. I expected it to be soupy like Indian or Thai curries, but this was tasty and not over watered. And the bf had the alternative rice option which had some veggies in it.
I had the small grilled chicken. The chicken was tender and doused with their specialty sauce. The plain rice I chose was okay. I much preferred the bf’s option. Both our meals came with the usual steamed cabbage and plantains.

I ate hear last night and was admittedly a little worried because there were a) very few cars in the parking lot and b) very few people inside. That said, my friends and I stuck it out and I wanted to trust the Unilocal reviews and give it a shot.
My husband ordered the oxtail with rice, beans, cabbage, and plaintains. I ordered the jerk chicken with the same sides. Wow. Wow. Wow. Talk about the most unexpected – and pleasant – surprise. The best Caribbean place we’ve tried was located in Savannah, but this place is equal. The meat was incredibly tender and the sauce had just enough spice with hints of sweetness. Pretty nice portions too. Like other reviewers have mentioned, the atmosphere (or lackthereof, at least on a Tues night) and the layout with drab, green walls is strange and easily off putting, BUT the food – the food – was wonderful! If I had to be über picky, I’d say the cabbage was slightly undercooked, but overall, the oxtail and chicken were so memorable for all the right reasons. In spite of how full I was, I nearly devoured my leftovers in the car before we pulled out of the parking lot! I’m looking forward to going back (especially after reading about their great desserts too).

Best oxtail I’ve ever tried. Service is slow thought. You have to wait Awhile but doesn’t all good things? Highly suggested

Very good. Fresh and authentic. I had the jerk chicken, rice and peas with a spicy beef patty. A-​1

Pissed … Drove all the way here for Grilled Jerk Chicken … This dude had the nerve to say we only sell the Grilled Thursday-​Sunday … Fawk You Mean… Who choosee what day they sell Jerk Chicken. Black people that’s who… Smh!!!

This is the ONLY Caribbean restaurant that I eat at in Georgia. You know it’s good when Irie folks are lined up ordering and spending their money.
My favorite is the Oxtails with rice & peas and extra gravy. Next up Pit Jerk which is only available on the weekends. My Moms bestie likes the cow-​foot and the stew peas are wonderful too.
Carrot cake and red velvet are available and the Fruit Punch and Lemonade are good. I’ve NEVER BEEN DISAPPOINTED. It’s best to call your food in but if you don’t mind waiting walk in isn’t bad.
They moved a couple of doors down from the original location so it’s more spacious and the décor is nicer. Portions are good too.

Hands down best jerk chicken I’ve ever had. Whenever I’m local to Atlanta I got to go to island café

My wife and I have been searching for a good Jamaican restaurant for a long time and finally we found a decent one. I had the jerk chicken and it was very good, it had the right jerk flavor, all it was missing was a spicy kick. My wife had the oxtail which had a very good flavor also. The rice and peas was cooked perfectly as well. We both enjoyed our meals and we will be back to try something else for sure.

I totally thought I have wrote a review for All Island Café… but I guess I didn’t. I have been eating here for years… I used to work a couple of doors down and so this was where I would go for Caribbean food. I love the oxtails, chicken stew and the coco bread. All island is a little pricey but it’s worth it in my opinion. Their foods and taste is always on point and doesn’t disappoint. The only thing that would disappoint in my opinion is the portion size. Other than those dishes that I have listed, All Island Café’s cakes are really good as well. Their carrot cake always satisfied and also their coco bread. Overall, if you are in the area and want good, legit Caribbean foods, stop by.

Here’s the deal… if you think Island Café is dive-​ish, you are absolutely correct :-). When you first walk in, you come through the main door… into a mini vestibule… then through the 2^nd door… and into an empty room with a counter LOL. However, many years ago, this place was a true «hole in the wall» (no shade), so this location is an improvement! But, the thing that has always been consistent is the food!
Island Café has one of the best preparations for oxtails in ATL (and I’ve tried a lot)! Plus, I also cook this type of food and I promise it is extremely time consuming and you have to know what you’re doing. Personally, I would rather go somewhere that reminds me of HOME and is consistently tasty – and that’s exactly what I have received over the years. If you want to try the FAVES… you won’t go wrong with Oxtails, Curry Goat or the Grilled Jerk Chicken (there is a baked version that is available most days of the week, but just not the same). Also, pick up a Beef Patty for $ 1.50, they’re good!
Things to note: there was mention of new ownership and that definitely seems likely. The most notable negatives are that portion sizes are smaller than in years past, although still fairly hearty… and something odd is happening with the plantains (just not moist and flavorful, so I’ve been tossing them to the side). Beyond that, the oxtails taste the same, which is largely the reason I come here! On a positive note, service has gotten much better and it seems they’re becoming slightly more efficient with To Go orders when it gets busy (they will show you your food to ensure everything is satisfactory before bagging you up, thanks). If you eat-​in, please have Cash for your tip… they will tell you this :-o. And, you’ll need to show ID if you’re using a credit card (apparently someone stole a credit card and bought a bunch of Jamaican Food, huh???). Anyway, 4 stars for the oxtails alone… happy eating!!!

Love love love this restaurant. The BEST oxtails HANDS DOWN! as a matter if fact the best EVERYTHING in the city. the best curry chicken and goat the best stew chicken and the best jerk. I’ve tried others in the neighborhood and they do NOT compare. they give u a lot of meat and rice. I will drive from Lithonia every time I’m in the mood for island food.

I was craving Jamaican so of course, I sought out the assistance of Unilocal.Again, never steers me wrong — love you Unilocalers! When you walk into the dimly lit cafeteria like space at the entrance, it totally throws you off but once you’re inside, you’ll see tables and a looonnggg line. The menu is small and written on a dry eraser board — forget the frills! This place does not disappoint-​the oxtail was seasoned to perfection and just succulent and the curry chicken was good too. The rice and beans are great and come with every dish. The few plaintains that came with my food tasted like they weren’t fresh though. I didn’t get a chance to try their patties either because they were sold out :(I’m also a stickler for customer service and here, it’s just non existent. Go for the great food — you won’t be disappointed.

I went to All Island Café for a late lunch on a Monday while avoiding traffic on 285. I must say, I was PLEASANTLY SURPRISED.
Cons:
–I was a little confused when I walked in. The foyer area was empty and the lights were off in little room in the front of the restaurant. The great smell and the beckoning «open» sign persuaded me to take a look around anyway. After figuring out that you actually had to walk around back to the counter to order, I was fine.
–The menu is handwritten (legibly, albeit) on a medium-​sized marker board. I can understand how this could be seen as sketchy for some but, not a huge problem for me.
–Not sure if it was the odd hour I visited, but the restaurant was remarkably empty. I was the only patron with about 4 employees kind of standing around… awkward much?
–Although I did not try them, the cakes on display looked quite dry.
Pros:
–The food was AMAZING. I ordered a small plate of curry chicken with the rice and peas. I feel the need to repeat this. IT WAS AMAZING. I am typically a very picky eater, but this place was so good I overlooked them.
–The plate had two decently sized pieces of dark meat, a healthy heaping of rice and peas, a smaller side of cabbage and some plantain. I am not usually a fan of dark meat but this was delicious. I have also never eaten (or wanted to eat) cabbage in my adult life. However it is safe to say this place has converted me into a cabbage lover.
–The pricing is reasonable. It’s certainly not cheap (my small plate rung up about $ 9 after tax with no drink), but for the quality AND quantity of food, it’s not bad.
–The portion size was perfect, after having my fill, I still had enough to save for another meal even though it was the small plate.
–The staff was friendly, and explained some of the menu items that I was not familiar with.
–Service was QUICK! This also may be a side effect of the time that I was there, but I was in and out with my to-​go plate in under 5 minutes.
TLDR: Food is good, large portions, highly recommended.

I was bringing the SO lunch and we both wanted Jamaican. Based on the Unilocal reviews we decided to go for it. The restaurant has a weird layout. First, you walk into a vestibule, then around the corner, down a hallway and it opens up to a dining area to your left, another one to your right and then the bar area behind that.
Keep in mind, there are no signs, so just kinda follow those directions and you will find yourself joining a line at the bar to place your order. Although there are about 2 people behind the counter, there is only 1 person actually writing down your order and then ringing you up so it can take a few minutes. It doesn’t help that the person doing this looks so annoyed at being there and moves slower than molasses either.
I decided on the ox tail combo and the brown stewed chicken combo, both came with rice, cabbage and plantains. The food runner does open up the cartons and shows you the contents. The ox tail were pretty big pieces with lots of gravy.
I brought the lunch to SO and we both devoured it, however, I did not like the plantains. They were not cooked thoroughly and were very tough/​fiberous without any actual flavor. I did like my chicken, but it too wasn’t as flavorful as I have gotten at other places and found the ox tail much more flavorful.

Annoyed… I usually love this place but this is the second time I have been here in the last 3 months that they don’t have things as they have advertised which is frustrating. Furthermore, their menu is tacky and unprofessional. They have the menu prices blackened out and written with a black marker are the words «our menu is being updated». How hard is it to just print a temporary price menu. The food was so salty and cold which doesnt make any sense since we had to wait for 20mins for our food. I had to return it and they actually warmed my plate and brought it back (evident by the piece of chicken I had already cut into)!
Needless to say, I wont be back. If I wanted crappy food and service I would go to McDonald’s (sorry).

So I loved the red beans and rice with veggies…
My bf loved oxtails that he suck the bones dry…
Mmmm… Food was hot and fresh and smelled so awesome.
Everyone was super nice and friendly. Not a long wait, but then again it was 11am. This place has character and has a great vibe. I can’t wait to come back again.

Fantastic Caribbean food! I’ve tried a few around the area, and this one takes the prize as one of my favorites.
I usually get the stew chicken; their’s is sweet and savory. They have pretty big portions, and one can person can eat the ‘small’ size. The large is enough for two to share.
Service is generally very slow and a little haphazard. But if you can get past that, the food is great.

The food here is gooooood. Pricing is reasonable, but not a steal. They cashier was super nice and offered us samples because it was our first time. Wait time is a little long, but other than that, the food is great!
I highly recommend the stew chicken, oxtail and curry goat. I’ll definitely be back for all of these.
The plaza it’s in is kinda run down, and the restaurant is about 3 times larger than it needs to be. But make it past the empty portion in the front of the house and you’ll find delicious food waiting for you in the back.

I’ve been here numerous times but I’ve always ordered to go. Today was the first time I actually dined in and I’m thinking to myself why I haven’t done this earlier.
To start off, this place is a gem right smack dab in the middle of a questionable area. This building instantly stands out amongst other cluttered buildings nearby in the fact that it’s painted full on green. Upon entering, it’s actually decorated pretty nice and it’s very roomy with large amounts of seating available.
The food portions are huge and the pricing is low. I think I’ve tried most of their entrees and every single one of them are on point. Didn’t care too much for their jerk chicken though. Try their Jamaican beer! You can really taste the ginger in it. I love it so much, I ordered 2 just now. Out of all the Jamaican restaurants I’ve ate at, this is my #1. Definitely come check this out if you’re in the area!