Island By The Sea

Like others, my boyfriend and i were looking forward to trying this place. It’s unfortunate that at the rate they are going, they will not make it. I’ve been here twice and both times the experience has been the same. The first time I got there around 1:30pm and they didn’t have stew chicken or rice and peas ready. Their explanation was that they got a «late start» even though they open at 11am and it was almost 3 hours later AND the chicken and peas and rice should be a staple for the menu. I went back yesterday trying to give them a second chance because I want them to make it and I really like Jamaican food. We got there around 5pm on Friday night just for take out. The mile was busy but the restaurant only had a few people there. We waited 45 minutes for curry shrimp. Never again. The food is decent but the wait is unreasonable. They need professional management and quickly.

We tried this place last night, even after I read the Stephanie K. review – well, we shouldn’t have. Just like the Stephanie K. review, they were out of food, even with their small menu. They were out of their chicken fingers appetizer and they were out of their rum punch. Oddly, sometime after we received half our meal, they placed a rum punch on the table, with no explanation. Just like Stephanie K., my daughter ordered Italian dressing with her salad, but got Thousand Island. Also just like the Stephanie K. review, the portions appeared small and there was definitely «sticker shock» when it came to the bill. The biggest disappointment was the time to took the get our order, even though the restaurant was nowhere near full. A family at a nearby table got up to leave because their order was taking so long, but the owners talked them into staying. I guess I’m not surprised that my experience matched Stephanie K.‘s, largely because restaurants that can’t get their act together are often consistent in their failures. I wish I would’ve trusted the Stephanie K. Unilocal review, it wouldn’t saved me a lot of time and money.

Was not what I expected. I’m use to eating West Indian food and this did not meet any of the standards. I ordered food for delivery, driver was prompt. However, when it came to the food just not happy. I ordered medium oxtails I received 3 pieces of oxtails and parts of them were burnt. The rice and peas had no flavor and the steamed cabbage was bland. I also ordered Large Curry goat for the kids same thing and the curry goat had no flavor and that’s strange for goat because it has it’s own unique flavor. Lastly I ordered Pepper Shrimp paid $ 12 and only got 5 small shrimp and was cooked. Not the Pepper Shrimp I know and love, the one i’m use to still has the head and shell and is marinated in reddish pepper sauce. I’m originally from brooklyn and go to island spots all the time so I know my west indian cuisine and plus I’m married to a west indian. This was below the standard and I want them to succeed however so far my experience with them has been a no go. And this is the second time I have gotten food from them. The first time I ordered Jerk Chicken and the chicken was dry and burnt. I won’t be eating from here again.

This is a bit painful, but I want everyone to know that I’m writing out of love and I want this place to succeed. However, they have some problems that need to be addressed. I had been wanting to come here for weeks since I first rode by it on the Mile. So, tonight I finally got my chance and the average patron would have walked out before the meal order was taken. My friend and I are VERY easygoing.
I ordered a mango martini. They were out of mango.
Then, the kitchen literally caught on fire.
Then, they were out of the soup the waiter told us was the only soup they had.
He initially listed what they had for food that they weren’t out of which was limited and the menu is already small. So, they only had a few items on the menu.
He didn’t ask me what dressing I wanted for my salad. He brought out ranch with it, and I accepted it, but I would have ordered something else. We were being VERY nice.
The beef soup was a rustic stew and it was hot. Not spectacular, but at least hot.
The salad was just o.k.
My friend ordered oxtails and I ordered jerk shrimp.
Our food comes out and my shrimp (made to order) were room temperature.
We were the only customers besides a table of family members.
The plating is all wrong and they serve the dishes in separate bowls which is good for sharing, but it makes the portions look tiny.
I definitely had sticker shock when I saw the food. All the dishes are near $ 20, and it doesn’t look like much.
The jerk sauce was amazing. The steamed veggies are amazing.
The oxtails had a descent gravy, but I was hungry when we left.
They need a waiter who is a waiter and not the owner. He is sweet, but not a great waiter.
He told us they alternate the rice and peas with two different kinds of legumes.
Do NOT alternate the dish under any circumstances. Offer a consistent experience and product. Or offer both versions, but do not make a situation where you have to explain that sometimes the dish is different than today’s dish.
Other than the mediocre food experience, the setting a little like a café and again the price for the food is out of place.
The photos on the website are stock images.
I want this place to make it. I think Jamaican is a great fit for the Mile, but it needs a little nudge to get there.