Island Taste
“I luv shrimp rasta pasta it's a definite must have.”
“Buying bottles are not expensive maybe $110-160 depends on what you request.”
“Their happy hour from 5-10., with $5.00 mason jar drinks., like rum punch., long island ice tea.”
Island Taste
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
7 reviews
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Great food. Excellent music. Place is nestled right on the corner of Merrick n' 24th st. Very small location with great backyard access with tables and chairs and umbrellas too accommodate whatever your needs maybe. They have an excellent menu. Wednesday seafood special are mouth watering. Their happy hour from 5-10., with $5.00 mason jar drinks., like rum punch., long island ice tea. Even this blue drink I believe was blue island tea. Also had their sweet and sour shrimp. Excellent. Will return.
So the stars for this place are really dependent on what you're expecting when you walk in. A friend asked me if I wanted to go out for some Rasta Pasta so I was expecting a restaurant. This is your typical local bar. I came at 9:00, but my friends were there towards the end of happy hour. ($5 strong drinks) The music was low enough to talk, and the food though it took an hour to arrive, was pretty good. My friends ordered my food for me around 8:45 and I got it a little before 10. By then the music was blaring and I was screaming at my friends trying to have a conversation with them.
We noticed people getting charged at the door and the comedy show host let us know there was a show starting in a few minutes so we waited… And waited… And waiteddddd. It finally started around 11:30, and ok the host was slightly funny but everyone else sucked so bad. I feel bad for anyone who paid for that show, I would recommend coming RIGHT before they start charging If you are that bored on a Monday night. I will say it was a tough crowd for a comedy show, but maybe if the comedians were actually funny it wouldn't have been.
If I ever do come back it'll be for food, but definitely getting the check by 9:00!
A friend and I were initially looking for a lowkey spot with good atmosphere and good drinks. Rosedale is local and I expected any bar in the area to really fill that need.
Upon arriving, I was surprisingly mistaken! After being greeted by a bouncer at the front door, I knew things were not as they seemed.
No cover charge.. Sweet.
As I walked inside through the large glass double doors, something told me I wasn't in Rosedale anymore. Island Taste brings tries to bring a tear-the-roof-down type of feel to a residential area. The decor, blaring dancehall music, and hookah scream club, but the tables and dining room layout tries to persuade you into thinking its a restaurant. I'm not sure what they were going for.
On top of all of that, the space is so small that if the bar is full and there's a wait for a table, you have virtually no room to stand/wait. I waited over 30 minutes after several people took my name and tried to get me a table; partly due to not knowing who the hell even works there. I saw a couple servers with "IT" shirts, but the hostesses and the strange man sitting at the host stand, double fisting his drinks worked there as well apparently. Easy to skip your duties when blending in with the crowd.
Things looked up a bit when we finally got a table. We were handed about 4 different menus, so navigating them took time. Our server politely let me know that a bunch of the drinks i wanted weren't available because of a time restriction or it was the wrong day (the $5 fishbowl menu didn't say Tuesday's Only). Whatever. Kept it movin'.
Island Taste's redeeming factor comes straight out of the bar. Every drink came with a HEAVY pour. Each time I received a new round, I instantly forgot that it took 20 minutes for the bartender to make it because they were so strong. Not to the point of being undrinkable, but enough to make the experience worth a little something.
Now, I can't comment on food because we decided not to eat; however, I would try to come back a little earlier before the heavy crowd for a decent bar seat, but the table seating is too cramped and close together and the music volume makes it impossible to carry a conversation. If they're gonna go that route, either lower the music or just get rid of the tables and make it a dance floor. If I'm looking for that kind of scene, I'll check out Island Taste a second time.
(Speaking on behalf of the food) I love the way they make escovitch fish! They won me over with that. The reason I have it 4 stars and not 5, is because of the wait. I remember I waited almost an hour and a half. (Mind you, I called my order in). I didn't mind it much because they had some nice music playing. Can't see myself coming here to party though, it's super small and gets super packed. (as expected) People will literally be on top of each other. Whatever, their food is bomb! Try it 🙂
I've been to this spot twice and had a good time both times. The first time we visited, the location was on the corner and some friends and I ordered some appetizers and drinks and sat down and chilled. We listened to some music and I remember saying wow, its not that crowded I guess because its a weekday. Nevertheless, we enjoyed ourselves and was able to catch up with each other since it had been a while we hung out. I remember the young ladies working that night were damn near naked and I was like dayum I haven't been out in a while. LOL
Ok, the second time I met some friends here was a Thursday night and the location moved to the middle of the block. It seemed a lot smaller inside and when we arrived around 11PM the place was packed and pumping like it was a Saturday night. I was like okay I am definitely getting old now. But shoot, the crowd looked about my age or a bit younger and the place was turnt up!!! There was no place to sit so we stood, had our drinks and chilled. I enjoyed the mature crowd and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. There were a lot of people sitting and appeared as if they had already had dinner. I would definitely come early to eat because i wouldnt want to eat in that place with people all around you and your meal.
I was amazed at the amount of people buying bottles and just pouring their drinks into their own damn plastic cups, while I nursed my happy hour apple martini all night. LOL (I am not a big drinker and I was the designated driver). My friends had a few drinks and we just enjoyed the music and vibes of the spot. I wish the DJ played more old school R&B and Reggae. But I guess he had to accommodate what the party people wanted and that was "trap music." LOL After awhile I couldn't take the trap music and was ready to go. However, I stayed an extra hour since my friends wanted to stay longer. I would definitely check this spot out again while hanging with friends or just to chill.
I just visited this spot during my weekend visit to New York and this is the first happy hour spot that we hit. I will definitely go back because the drink prices were on point! We ordered basically top shelf drinks and our bill was VERY nice and affordable. We didn't order any food but what I saw come out from the kitchen looked pretty good. The bartender told us that they have live reggae bands in there that start around 9pm and that seems like it would be a nice setup. They advertised a ($25) brunch for that Sunday with bottomless mimosas that sounded like it would be good.
We got a great spot on the street and I'm not sure if they have a private lot or not.
I will definitely visit again!
I attended a NYE party at Island Taste on 12/31/15. I purchased my ticket the day before for $20 which included free food and champagne. I met up with my girls and we were amongst the first of the party goers. It was early and the staff was still setting up. The Dj tested his sound system which was extremely loud. It was as if they placed speakers behind our heads. He was making strange sounds and blasting the music at an unnecessary level.
They were already enjoying their rum punch. After exchanging pleasantries I decided to get myself a drink. I was waiting at the bar and was completely ignored until I called someone over. The $10 rum punch I ordered wasn't strong. It was mainly sweet. I figured I'll stick with it being that I was unsure what else to order.
At one point a staff member walked over to us and said there may be some people who'd like to buy bottles and if that's the case they will need to use the table we were using. I thought it was strange but it ended up working out just fine.
There's two things that I find disturbing about I.T. One being the lack of enforcing a dress code. Women came in with overalls and sneakers as if it were a 80's party. They were the very same group that started trouble with a drunk guy and tried to start another fight with my girl.
Also the food they served was beyond spicy. It was flaming spicy. Not your typical Caribbean taste. It was not edible nor enjoyable. Things that shouldn't have been spicy were. I want to come back here for dinner and see if they can redeem themselves and receive 5 stars.