Taste of the Islands

Taste of the Islands is hands down my favorite Caribbean spot, especially when I’m craving authentic Guyanese food. The oxtails are incredibly tender and packed with rich, comforting flavor. Paired with perfectly seasoned rice and peas, savory spinach, and sweet, caramelized plantains, every bite feels like a home-cooked meal done right. I also can’t skip the beef patties — flaky, flavorful, and always satisfying. On top of the amazing food, the customer service really stands out. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming, which makes picking up food a great experience every time. If you’re looking for delicious Guyanese Caribbean cuisine made with care, this place is a must.

First time visit here. I placed a call in order and upon my arrival my food was being bagged. The establishment is nice, workers semi-friendly, has music, and groceries for sale. As far as the food….imagine my surprise when I walked in to find that the food is served from a hot bar and not cooked to order. My food was seriously lacking in any kind of flavor; from the main to the sides. I ordered jerk chicken, cabbage, rice and peas, plantains, and a crab cake. The chicken was soggy and had no real jerk flavor. They claimed that it came with sauce but it is only served with the chicken juice that it sits in on the hot bar. The rice and peas and cabbage had no taste, salt, or pepper. The plantains were extremely dry. The crab cake was laughable and extremely fishy! A total waste of $25. I

Relaxing atmosphere. The spicy beef patties and the doubles are my favorites. First time trying the other items so I got the “pickney plate” (kids meal size) stew chicken and the special of the day which was the bone in curry chicken. The stew chicken was very flavorful. The curry chicken wasn’t too seasoned but it had a good taste. They also have a bunch of authentic snacks, seasoning and drinks that I haven’t seen in a long time.

I’ve been coming to this restaurant for many, many years, and it has always been a 5-star experience. It had been a while since my last visit, so I was surprised by the changes—possibly due to new management? In the past, walking in felt comforting, like a weight lifted off your shoulders. But this time, the atmosphere felt tense and unwelcoming—almost like walking into a courtroom. It was quiet, cold, and not the warm, inviting space I’ve always known. Things seemed rearranged, and I had trouble finding a particular item. Normally, a staff member would ask how they could help—but no one did. It felt more like everyone was just ready to clock out, rather than focused on the customers. To top it off, I specifically asked for double cabbage, no rice, and the cashier even wrote it on the r

My husband was craving ethnic food for dinner, so I ordered the oxtail combo and jerk chicken to go. The food was absolutely delicious — big portions with rice and potatoes, and the meat was perfectly slow-cooked. Three days later, we came back to dine in. My son had the jerk chicken, which was fresh (not frozen — you can truly taste the difference!). I couldn’t resist ordering the oxtail plate again — hands down the best oxtail dish I’ve ever had, cooked to perfection, with even the bones bursting with flavor. The roti was freshly made, and the fried plantain paired perfectly with the dishes. We will definitely be back to try more from the menu! We also had the pleasure of meeting the owner, who was very accommodating and friendly.