MP Island Cafe

Food is always nice and hot. The jerk chicken is my go to dish. The Mac and cheese is amazing too especially when the jerk sauce is mixed with it

I’m usually pleased with them but today I was disgusted. I went in to get oxtails and the woman was really rude. Also as she was attempting to give me my oxtails I noticed a roach crawling back and forth. The employees were aware and just looked on as if it were nothing. I told her nvm I could not eat from an establishment like that. I could only imagine what it looks like when the lights go off. So will not be going back!!!

Love their Jerk chicken. Not a fan of their curry chicken but everything else is pretty good

Jerk chicken salad was delicious. They give you a really generous amount of chicken. The seasoning on the chicken was just right.

The food truck service was horrible. no clue how to service customers. It took 40 min. to get 2 precooked beef pockets. The only reason they got 2 stars was because they had good flavor. luke warm tho.

MP Island is definitely my favorite spot for Caribbean food in Hampton Roads! Their Oxtail and rice and peas are flavorful and delicious, plus the beef patties are good too. There is always a line whenever I go but that’s because the food is amazing!

OMG it’s been awhile Mp island! But the food was great! Soul food meets the islands. I did the lunch buffet Everything was fresh and hot. The stew chicken and cabbage was so good I had seconds. I tried a little of the curry goat and it was pretty good. My daughter doesn’t eat bread too much but I told her that the cornbread was cake lol so she ate it up ! The cornbread does really taste like cake. We had an enthusiastic waitress… she kept our glasses full and had good energy. So try the lunch Buffett if you’re new to Caribbean flavor, you can try it all!

Let me start by saying that I’ve eaten here once, years ago (buffet) and I wasn’t wowed, so I ended up only occasionally coming here for happy hour sometimes. This time; however, I was in the mood for Caribbean food and this was the only spot open so I decided to give them one more go figuring, It can’t be that bad can it?
CLEANLINESS: The restaurant is set in shades of browns and reds so it has more of a warm, cave feel to it. Simple enough.
FRIENDLINESS: I placed an order to go. The line was sort of long (6 people) but moved fairly fast I suppose. The cashier was cordially at best.
MENU: I knew exactly what I wanted: Oxtail dinner. Yum!.. but when I asked the cashier if they came over a bed of rice, she said no, the rice would have to be ordered for an addtl’ charge. So I opted for the large dinner (comes with two sides) with Mac n Chz and Cabbage. The cashier asked me if I wanted «more mac or more cabbage?» I was instantly confused and she explained since I wasn’t getting the rice so I chose Mac n Chz. I found out when my food came.
FOOD: I wish I had a picture because I was immediately and completely disappointed instantly! They use the traditional 3-​section foam containers; however, they put my cabbage in one small side, the ox tails in the other small section, and filled the big section with about 4 giant scoops of Mac N Cheese. I questioned the serving cashier that the meat should be in the big part, and her reply was that, «The meat’s always in the small part» Well I’d hate to see what a small order would have looked like! SMH If I wanted to pay $ 12 for Mac N Cheese, then I would’ve did just that. Besides, I’ve never heard of anyone putting meat in the small section for sides. What a jip. I was hungry and a little under the weather so I just took it anyways, afterall I’d already paid and waited about 30min to get it.
TASTE: Just like the first time, the food was only «OK» Average at best. The cabbage was probably the best part but after biting into a big clumpy piece, was short lived. The oxtails were ok, not bad, but not the greatest, and lastly the mac n cheese or should I say Cheese N Mac. SMH I could tell by the yellow-​orange color that it was cheesy but geez, after 4 bites, I almost died and threw up at the same time… besides it was so much also and nasty so I ended up throwing half of it away with NO REGRETS.
VALUE: $ 12 for 1scoop of cabbage, 1 scoop of Oxtails, and 4 scoops of Mac N Cheese. Need I say, NEVER WORTH IT!!!
OVERALL: The second chance put the nail in the coffin, I would’ve been better off calling my mom, buying oxtails, and waiting all night for her to fix them. Lol & the fact that they are trying to be slick and get over on customers by using the smaller section more meats so that they save is far less than admirable and honest. I WILL NEVER FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THIS BUSINESS for food again. It’s not right. As far as taste, they are highly overrated as well. I’ll stick to my other real/​honest Caribbean restaurants thank-​you very much.

MP Island Café is my go-​to for Carribean food on this side of the water. I mainly go for the lunch buffet. I find it best to go right at 11 am so the food is freshly cooked and brought out.
Their buffet offerings include curry chicken, jerk chicken, stew chicken, curry goat, salad bar, plantains, rice and peas, mac n cheese, etc. I believe the selection changes slightly on a day to day basis. The cornbread and coconut muffins are very good sides too. Personally, I think the coconut muffins taste like rum cake without the rum!
I’ve never had a disappointing experience at MP so far, and at $ 7.95+tax, this place can’t be beat!

My last visit to MP was several months ago and I am just now getting around to writing a review. I’ve gotten takeout food here a couple of times and it was okay so I thought I would try the dine-​in experience. Whatever you do don’t dine in and get the buffet. The service is pretty hands off so if you need something you can’t find you’ll probably have to get up and look for someone to help you. Maybe we picked a bad night but my wife and I both agreed the buffet was absolutely hideous with dried out food that had been on the steam table way too long. Everything was bland and tasteless, we couldn’t find one single thing we really enjoyed except for the cornbread. The place is dark and dreary and the fact you’re eating with a plastic fork on disposable plates only enhances the decidedly low budget experience. I’ll give them props for the cornbread though, it was delicious.
Based solely on my last visit I would rate it one star but since I’ve gotten decent takeout here in the past I’ll bump it to two.

My friend raved about the food here all the time. So finally I went with him and was very disappointed. The place had a run down fell to it and the food wasn’t good. I won’t be coming here again.

Been coming here intermittently for years and every visit has been acceptable. It’s definitely my go-​to for Jamaican Cuisine, spices, & produce!
Only place I know who serves Ackee w/​salt fish. I crave Ackee about 2−3x’s a year & this spot satisfies! I’m always served with a smile. I prefer Ackee Saltfish with rice, peas, & greens. Last time I ordered it with rice & greens, I was scolded by my Jamaican friend about how that’s not the way to eat it! LOL On this visit, I chose to get the traditional, yams, dumpling, banana, & fried plantains just to see if I liked. Yams & fried plantains were delicious. Dumplings and banana I believe are acquired tastes. These sides could be the equivalent of what steamed rice is to Asians. No flavor, but, have to have it with every meal. A day without rice is like a day without sunshine. This could be the case with dumplings and bananas which I can respect. I like that bananas are healthier than rice. I LOVE MP’s Ackee but, will divert from traditional next time and stick to greens & rice. Good stuff & well worth the price!!! Believe me, I almost collapsed when I saw the price of one can of Ackee.
The grocery. It has been awhile since I’ve been to the grocery section. There are great deals and unique finds. Everything appeared more organized and fresh than previous visits. I did a quick walk through and got what I needed (garlic, bundle of thyme, scotch bonnet peppers, Jamaican Curry seasoning). It seems like they’ve added more produce. I saw some veggies I could use for Asian dishes such as chayote aka cho cho. My father (Filipino decent) used to come here 10 years ago for his meats & produce. He was an outstanding cook. I think he was onto something…

Great food. Love too get this when I’m in the mood for something different. There Mac –n– cheese is great wish I knew how to make it and there jerk chicken has the right amount of spicy and flavor to make me keep coming back. I seen in other views that they are always packed but that just means there doing something right the food is worth the wait but the wait to me is still never that long.

I had another favorite Jamaican restaurant, but that has changed. I tried MP Island Café, the food was authentic and delicious. It’s actually a international grocery/​café. Regardless the food is excellent. The variety is good, the aroma awesome. So if your in the Newport News area give it a try!

…if you’re looking for carribean food this is an option, now me personally, I don’t think is the best but a lot of people like the place. Not enough for the money in my opinion but hey.

Everytime I try to give this location another shot I’m reminded why I stopped going. While the food is decent the wait time and service is horrible. There is no reason the wait should be as long as it is. 10 people behind the counter looking at you and you will stand in line for 20 – 30 minutes at a time (even if you called your order in). The only time I’ll eat here is if I’m eating the buffet and that’s just because serving myself is much faster. A business that does not value my time won’t get it. I’m not interested in being told it’s the Caribbean way. The wait time is ridiculous! I’ll drive to the other Caribbean spot before I return here. They have better escovitch fish anyway. I’m usually easy on local and small business but the wait time is beyond disrespectful.

Just ate there again today and it was delicious! The curry chicken and Mac and cheese is the best !

Jerk chicken omg, rice and beans, cabbage and don’t forget plantains all was perfect. My bf had the yellow rice, ox tail and cabbage and I can’t decide who’s plate was better his or mine. You can taste the tradition in the food. Now once you get in you might not think much of the place and it did take them a while to get you seated but as soon as they get you selted all’s down hill, our waitress was very nice and accommodating.

There is ALWAYS an excessive wait, whether you dine-​in, carry out, place order by phone. it really doesn’t matter you.will.wait! The staff is friendly but you will be ignored until it’s your turn to order, then and only then will you receive any common courtesy. You will not be greeted when entering this establishment so don’t expect it. The food is amazing tho.
Mediocre service + great food = MP island
Mediocre food + great service = Island Krave
The choice is yours.

If there’s one thing that Hampton Roads has a lot to offer of, it’s a good buffet and MP Island café certainly falls into that category. I’ve been coming here since I was a little boy, and I love it.
From the outside it looks very small; however once you step inside it is very spacious. A Jamacian grocery store to the right, a dining area /​dance floor /​bar to the left. An area to get carry out orders in the front, and a delicious buffet in the back.
The buffet has many yummy Jamaican /​Soul food options. The fried whiting, the jerk chicken, the cabbage, the macaroni & cheese, the rice & peas, the cabbage, fried plantains, and the coconut corn muffins all landed among my favorites. I was with a big group of picky eaters and nobody complained about their meal, so you know it must be good.
The customer service was pretty good as well, a tad on the slow side; however, our waitress was very nice and she had a lot of people to tend to by herself. She definitely earned her tip. I have no idea why a lot of people are saying that they’re rude here, I’ve never had any problem when I attended.
The one drawback of this restaurant is the décor and the bathrooms. I think that its time for a rennovation. Other than that, MP Island Café is a good choice to stop off for a good meal with good customer service.