Island Spice Flava Restaurant & Lounge in East York
2636 St Clair Ave E, East York, ON M4B 2S6, Canada
About
Restaurant for families and friends. Come enjoy the flavorful and tasty island dishes.
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So glad I stumbled upon this restaurant and decided to host a family reception here. I ordered almost everything on the menu for my guests - it was all delicious. Everyone raved about it afterwards and the food was praised by my highly critical Guyanese and Jamaican family. The staff were also incredibly friendly, accommodating and helpful. The restaurant is located in a nice little plaza with lots of parking. It is modern, clean and well maintained with a large patio. I highly recommend and will be back!
This restaurant is what I would consider an upscale version of Caribbean cuisine…. I had an unforgettable experience for my first time visiting…. Island spice is very neat , clean and organized especially the washroom establishment…. The service is quick and very friendly…. The menu is kid friendly as well as a variety of different dishes one may enjoy 😉….. I had the pleasure of visiting on the fish fry Friday and I ate the escovitch snapper with steam vegetables and rice 🤤…. Compliments to the chef for a wonderful meal …. Reasonably priced and a great portion size …. There is a bar as well as room for dancing … hours seem to be until 12 midnight on weekdays … either way I will be back …. Did I mention free parking
Came in for some take out. Got the jerk chicken sandwich, one with fries and the other with onion rings. The jerk chicken was so good, nice spice and a big portion. The coleslaw was a nice contrast to the chicken. Bun was toasted. Onion rings were good, fries were also good. I’d get the onion rings again. Service was great, staff was friendly. I would call ahead to order if you don’t want to wait. Restaurant was clean. They have a patio and plenty of indoor seating. Would recommend!
To be fair...it was tasty & Seasoned! It didn't taste like jerk though ...even simply spice wise. I decided to try on Uber eats and options were listed for sides. Selected options , but didn't receive the options. No note to state why. I am assuming one of the sides became 2 sides as a substitute. Also, felt I saw only 1 peas/ beans for the rice and beans. As a just opened timing of the day....hoped for different. I was also expecting a bigger portion, but it is a fair side. It is not a total hit or miss... Maybe one day I will try other dishes.
Service was great! Very warm and welcoming lady at the front. She was all smiles! The jerk chicken bbq and jerk chicken dinner plate were great. Mac n cheese pie was okay. You can tell it was made in a batch and reheated. I’d say stick to the dinner plates and you won’t be disappointed.
Had the most lovely dinner. Jordan our server was so friendly and helpful and Petra made the best Rum Punch and cooks the most delicious food. We ordered Oxtail Stew and Beef Brisket with Jerk Chicken wings and a side of plantains. The sides of rice and peas, garlic potatoes and coleslaw were just as tasty as the mains. Can't wait to come back and try other dishes. I was sent by Tony Yayo after I met him at the 50 Cent show last month. He and his crew recommended I come to this fantastic restaurant.
Delicious fresh food and friendly service. I’ve tried plenty of Caribbean restaurants around Toronto, and this is one of my new favourites. Tried the Jerk Chicken dinner with Rice and Peas and Coleslaw and the Mac and Cheese, with the Oxtail gravy. Everything was delicious. Chicken was moist and perfectly seasoned, oxtail gravy was spicy and flavourful, coleslaw cool and creamy. Also had the homemade hot-sauce. Everything was great! The restaurant is also newly renovated with a bright, clean and causal feel. Lots of TVs to watch the game, and comfortable seating inside and in the patio. The manager Petra was super friendly and welcoming. Will be returning!
Great new neighborhood Caribbean restaurant. The interior is bright and welcoming and the service is as friendly as you will find in the city. The menu offered a great selection of options for all palates and diets. Had the jerk chicken - which was seasoned excellently and quite tender. Had some festivals with gravy as well - a flavourful and filling starter. Overall highly recommend a visit or grabbing something to go.
The food was delicious but I would have taken more rice or chicken and way less coleslaw also the coleslaw is a bit sweet for my pallet. Service was good and friendly and plenty of parking even though this place is a bit tucked away. Definitely worth a visit and I will return for maybe the oxtail next time.
Really nice establishment. Theres a Dj there on Saturday nights. Its a nice spot for an event or party. The food is good too!
Stew chicken is the best!
Best jerk in the city no question.
Maybe my expectations were too high... This place is just another Caribbean restaurant that makes authentic food that isnt spicy, and tastes like there was no love put into cooking it. The coleslaw was watery, the Oxtail--- got only a few pieces & it was a lot of bones. Not sure why this plate costs $25. The jerk chicken was not flavorful and wasnt spicy at all. Not to mention I had to argue with the staff to get everything that was supposed to be included in my meal without paying extra... Too expensive to have such mediocre food & service. I got takeout, so I cant comment on the restaurants atmosphere, but I feel like I wasted my money and likely wont come back to this place.
Closest I ve ever had to my mom s rice and peas - can t go wrong ordering anything from Island Spice. Hands down best Jamaican restaurant in the city, and probably the most underrated. Friendly too!
Food is bomb
Excellent service! Thank you Trinity for taking care of us. The music was awesome and the food was of course amazing!! I had the jerk chicken with oxtail gravy. So delicious!
Excellent spot. Chill atmosphere, awesome people. Full bar and beer selection. Food is always good. Great option to eat in or take out.
Bought my employees lunch here today. Everything was great. The place was extremely clean and the atmosphere was great. The service was fantastic. And the food was delicious. I will be back next time Im in the area
Poor quality old food
Great food, good music, and quick service. Really liked the fried chicken and jerk chicken. Will be back to try other things next time.
I started going here the first week they opened! Have been going ever since. Friendly people, good food. Its slightly more expensive but its clearly better than the caribbean restaurants around here. Vegetarian options: They have them! Just ask! Parking: They have a few spots and some on the streets.
This place is a gem YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED
I ordered for pick up, the 1/4 barbeque chicken was really good, flavorful, fresh, and juicy. The fish was spicy which my husband likes and the barbeque jerk chicken was good. I dont know the name of the lady who served me but she was also polite
Bang on food!
The poutine was amazing!
Not sure why this place has so many high ratings. Maybe reviews by family and friends? I went in inquiring whether their food met some allergy requirements I have and they didnt even try to help. Got some food for the family regardless as they were excited to try it out and I didnt want to disappoint them. Apparently its all quite plain which was surprising considering the prices.
I met Petra, super nice. Very friendly and accommodating and the food was fabulous. i ll be going back there very soon. Vegetarian options: Lots of options
Authentic Caribbean restaurant. The food, service and atmosphere, were all great. The salmon with steam veggies was perfect and the red snapper was well seasoned and not dry. I would recommend. Food
Excellent food excellent service, I would recommend this spot for anyone who loves jerk chicken. Cheers to the chefs .
BEST JERK CHICKEN I HAVE EVER HAD! Spicy pasta side dish is amazing too! I love this place!
Sweet gem of a restaurant. Excellent food, goat roti and chicken wings to die for. Ackee and salt fish delicious. Manager Petra and Trinity are awesome. Will be back again and again.
Owner Petra is amazing! Today we were served by Tinity, she did an awesome job! Food and staff amazing! Ive tried the jerk chicken, the wings, goat roti, soup and callaloo This is a nice spot, I have nothing but good things to say! I hope theyre around for many years!
Extremely delicious roti. Wow. They do offer both paratha/buss up shut and dhalpouri roti so ask for your preference. Chicken and aloo roti was extremely well seasoned. Just the right amount of spice plus extra pepper sauce on the side. Meat was lean and tender. Roti skin was soft and delicious. Parking: Shared parking lot in little strip mall
Excellent time had by all! We took a large group of students to celebrate our youth grads & the end of the school year ... we had a blast!!! Vegetarian options: The Alfredo dish was deeeeelish! Kid-friendliness: Kid-friendly, youth- friendly, adult- friendly & senior-friendly ... They are just amazing here!
$25.99 +tax for the oxtail dinner. Got me thinking at that price this has got to be something really good i would not regret since I liked their jerk chicken on my 1st experience visiting here. But was I ever sadly mistaken pretty disappointed to say the least I expected juicy fall off the bone oxtail and delicious gravy over authentic jamaican style moist and steamy rice and peas (you know the kind that looks a little pink from the red beans when you cook it down just right) but I never had oxtail so tough and chewy you literally had to rip and pull off the bone with your teeth, the rice was nothing special either over all i found the meal quite pasty from some what of a thicker gravy than Im used to after experiencing oxtail several times from other places mind you. Definitely something I would not recommend from here to anyone i would introduce to trying oxtail for their 1st time who doesnt know any better. Especially at such a whopping cost per dinner serving that could easily buy a satisfying dinner for 2 elsewhere. If youre going to charge a premium price like that at least blow your customers away and back up and justify your reasons for doing so with something worthy raving about. Last but least I had also tried to see what the place might be like on a saturday night thinking hey it wouldnt be a bad Idea to try and catch a playoff game there with some friends have some drinks and listen to some good music but we showed up in 2 cabs after leaving another establishment during half time to catch the end of a game there and to our surprise they were closed early for the night. What a huge bummer this place has everything it needs to be a very profitable hit spot that the area could really ude and appreciate but theyre currently fumbling the ball if you ask me. Service on my 1st experience was exceptional it was a vibe the kind lady had a warm smile and was so very nice. Service on my second occasion was ok... pretty girl smiled and said yes a lot had no clue what cash back was but pretended like she did said yes they provide it but we gave up after 3 attempts to have her enter the correct amount on the debit machine I then asked her if it was busy on saturday nights and of course she said yes again lol apparently I guess she meant they was too busy to be open Hope my honest opinion comes across as positive criticism I am totally not trying to harm your business just trying to bring awareness to some things that may concern you to address
GASSS some of the best jerk I ve had in the city
Food was amazing, the people are great.
Food taste like back home the Mac pie is best in the city
It was a great experience dining in this restaurant. The food was yummy and tasty. Also, the staffs was friendly and very accommodating.
Modern and clean...very yummy food.
10/10 would definitely come again , great food, amazing service. DONT WALK RUN THERE
The boneless curry goat was really good, was happy with the portion. Service was good as well. Jordan was very friendly. Music had classics too Food
Found this place on Google Maps, but it is really good! Friendly waitress who did not rush us order. The food and beverages came promptly. I had the goat Roti and a friend had the Jerk Chicken sandwich. Portions were a good size and flavour was on the money. I will be back.
The food here is certified garbage if you looking to get the same quality as the Scarborough location .. completely white washed .. over priced .. small portions .. I will not go back unless it s free
The food was fresh and very tasty. The fish was cooked to perfection. Flavour and spice wasn t lacking. The staff were attentive and so sweet, even the chef checked in on us & stuck around to chat. We will definitely be coming back.
THE FOOD WAS ON POINT AND GREAT SERVICE 10/10
Service and atmosphere was great !!!! Food : 5/5
I drive past here all the time. Theyre hidden. Was originally gonna get pizza but then seen this! Seen a girl eating something fried. It was bbq fried. I ordered that however I got bbq jerk. Its was still good though. Definitely coming back
The food was to die for. Probably the best jerk food I ve had. Both the jerk shrimp and jerk chicken were delicious.
Excellent spot for casual dining or date night. They accommodated our club Christmas party and the food was impeccable, service was spot on, and the atmosphere was such a great addition. Whole family enjoyed themselves and club members all had good things to say. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a clean classy location with great food at an affordable price!
I ve lived close to Albert s, and The Real Jerk. This place is better. Friendly folks, great service, and the food has a homemade feel. Highly recommended Food
Staff was friendly and appeared to be enjoying where they work...thats a good thing. Vegetarian options: I had a veggie roti.
Karaoke and the Dj are a great addition to Saturday night!
This is a fairly new restaurant in the O Connor/St.Clair intersection. They also have another location by McCowan/Sheppard that I ve been to before. Food was blessss, I tell you, the chicken falls right off the bone with the jerk chicken and the oxtail is great as well! They re both perfectly seasoned, perfect amount of spice (I m asian and can handle my spice but I still needed a bit of water). Crystal and Petra were super friendly as well as the chef in the back Ari. Very nice space inside for dine in, with a pool table and sometimes they re playing music with their beautiful sound system, lots of bass! Will be coming back! Perfect for grab and go for lunch as well! Great job guys!
The Jerk Chicken Poutine absolutely slaps! I would say this is best one ive ever had. The service is warm and friendly. We will definitely be back! Parking: Tons of parking right beside the restaurant
One of my favourite. Food is amazing and staff are the best. Definitely recommend this place, it s a must.
Friendly staff, delicious food -- a great addition to the neighbourhood.
Amazing Staff. The best jerk chicken in the city! The fried chicken burger is incredible. Big restaurant with many TVs. Great for the whole family.
Food is very delicious
Wow the Jerk Chicken dinner was so good! Super tasty.
Jerk chicken delicious. Very tasty. Great heat but could had more rice and peas.
Best curry goat I ever had! 10 star!
Tried this place after being opened for 2 weeks. Heard about it from some of my coworkers and I ve found my new spot. I had the oxtail and it s the best oxtail I ve had. Staff are friendly too! My friends also said the jerk and curry goat is also amazing. I can t wait to try those when I return! Great job, guys.
Great jerk chicken and oxtail. Definitely coming back.
The jerk chicken, plantains and goat roti were so tasty. I highly recommend and can t wait to come back to try more on the menu!
Delicious Very friendly staff !! Amazing food !!
Stopped in and got some take out as I saw this place under construction for a while, the wait was worth it! Found my new go to spot. Jerk Chicken was super tasty, fresh and authentic.
Fantastic Jerk chicken and even better staff will definitely be back. Welcome to the Neighbourhood
Some of the best jerk chicken and oxtail on the East end.
Just like the name says. They have brought the Flava into the O Connor St.Clair neighborhood!! The jerk chicken, curry goat and curry chicken were delicious!! Perfect amount of spice in all the meals. Absolute must try!!
This is such a great addition to the East York area! I was so excited to see they were finally open. I went on a Sunday and I loved everything about it. Staff were so warm and welcoming which was seen amongst one another and through their customer service. The food was hot and tasty. I ordered the ackee and salt fish with fried dumplin. Between that meal and the gospel-reggae mix it was such a homelike feeling to spend my Sunday afternoon. Price points are reasonable. Very spacious with a good amount of seating. I can very much see great things for this place based on the atmosphere alone. Be sure to give them a try! I wish them great success :)
Been looking forward to this place opening for a while and got to check it out today. Had the goat curry dinner; incredible cooking. If youve been waiting for a Caribbean place in the area you are going to be very happy! Pretty big place, lots of tables if you want to eat in.
very good, chicken is fall-off-bone
Highly recommend Island Spice Flava. They really do bring the flavour to their delicious dishes! We love their jerk chicken. It has become my new favourite . Coleslaw is tasty, as well as the rice & peas (don t forget the oxtail gravy). Staff is lovely and friendly!
Came here on a Wednesday evening around 4pm. Service was great! I got the jerk chicken dinner with coleslaw, rice and peas, chickpeas, and side of plantain. Food was yummy, dining area and washrooms were clean. There is parking on the side. Vegetarian options: Chickpeas, and plaintain and others on the menu Parking: About 7-8 parking spots total on either side
Great jamaican food it was on point.
Proper Jamaican food! The jerk chicken was flavourful juicy and cooked to perfection, the rice and peas fresh, the oxtail gravy was thick and tasty, the coleslaw was sweet and creamy and the plantain was ripe before cooking. This is what I crave when I crave jerk and Island Spice Flava hit the spot on all points. Don t waste any more time and come check this place out!
Friendly spot, lovely staff and owners, wonderful food. Had the chicken roti and jerk chicken wings. Both were awesome. Jerk wings were the best I ve had. Roti was spicy enough as served (they spice it to your taste) but extra hot sauce sealed the deal. Will be back for sure.
Wonderful. Great barbecue brisket. So tender and delicious. Their jerk chicken is awesome too. It s flavourful without overpowering the meat. Super excited to try everything on the menu.
The food is so delicious! I would highly recommend this restaurant. The friendly service is a bonus! Bravo!
Best Caribbean foooooddddddd
Very clean friendly inviting staff. Been here twice and understand this, the food is full of favour and generous portions. I hope y all keep up the standard and quality you are providing to the public. This is my new go too restaurant. Thanks
Wow! The food is soooo good! Brisket is very tender but still enough to chew.. maybe just a little too much sweetness for my taste..I just scraped of the sauce and then it was perfect. The jerk chicken wasnt just cooked chicken that was tossed in a sauce..you could tell it was marinated. I could still taste the beautiful jerk flavour after the chicken skin was removed. Nice bright and clean eat in atmosphere. I will become a regular!
Best jerk chicken I ever tasted. Also, the girl in the front was super nice.
Worth every cent!
Food is good and staff are good but prices are high
This is by far the best Jamaican restaurant in Toronto. The service matches the food and atmosphere only compliments it. The food is absolutely delicious, taste, presentation and as the name says Flava. Please support them
I tried the curry goat, beef brisket and wings as well as the desserts. Everything was amazing! You can notice all the food is made to order and fresh. One of the best Caribbean Restaurant in the area! The service was great, Sue was very nice and recommended good option. Highly recommend if you are craving some good quality Caribbean food!!
First encounter with Island Spice Flava restaurant and staff on St. Clair and O Connor. I kept it simple and had their Jamaican bbq wings with a side of rice & peas ( topped with curry goat sauce). Top Rank meal! The Dragon Stout was ice cold! Will definitely return! Support this biz! Round 2: Fred dumplings with curry and oxtail sauces. Fusion JA Jerk BBQ wing sauce has the proper heat and sweetness! Stag beer (Trini) was frosty cold! Top Rank flava! Disclaimer: Straw in ginger & rum strictly for stirring only!
The goat roti was to die for. I love curry goat, but Ive never had it like this before and so flavourful. The pepper! The pepper taste like they made it in house. The best Jamaican food Ive ever tried.
Curry goat, oxtails, rice and peas, coleslaw... all just terrific!! Friendly folks too -- you will not be disappointed.
The brisket is to die for. My kids and I love this place. They normally only go for plain rice, but said the rice and peas was delish. The staff are super attentive and the restaurant is very clean too. Highly recommend!!
Ive tried almost everything they have to offer and this is the best place to get food in the GTA. Amazing people in charge of the shop and the greatest chef. The curry goat roti is my favorite.
Excellent food. Amazing service too. I was served by a nice lady named Sue. She encouraged me to order the goat and even let me taste it first. Delicious. I ll be coming back for sure!
I just left and this location is amazing! Such good vibes. The food was extremely tasty and the portion sizes were huge. The lady owner was so sweet and professional and my waitress Sue was warm and gave service! The overall atmosphere was great. It felt like I went to an island! 10/10 definitely recommend.
Great hole in the wall restaurant serving delicious food! Had the jerk chicken and oxtail with the rice and peas and coleslaw. Both were so flavourful and tender.. literally fall off the bone greatness. They are both a must try!
Dine in was an excellent experience and take out was not in the same ballpark. Next time I will stick to dining in.
Jerk chicken poutine is amazing
Absolutely amazing food and staff!!! I decided to try this place after hearing someone mention it on Tik Tok and boy am I glad I did. I got the jerk chicken dinner for hubby and he was blown away by the flavour. The chicken was tender and juicy. The coleslaw was by far the best hes had from a restaurant, creamy with a little sweetness, not soggy or vinegary like a lot of places. I got the dumplings and gravy for me and the kids to try and they didnt last long. I wishe I ordered more. lol. The people there were so nice and friendly, even offering my daughters a free drink on our way out. We will definitely be back now that we know of this awesome place.
Great food and music
Excellent food here. I wish there were lunch specials to keep the price down but the quality of the food is 10/10. The owners are good people too. Ill be back for sure.
The atmosphere was very nice and clean, I had the brisket meal it was very tender and succulent. 10 out of 10. Petra the manager was very pleasant and welcoming, such a sweet personality. I will definitely return for some authentic good food. P.S. Mek sure unnu get di briskit
Amazing food and people. BBQ jeerk chicken is a nice twist. I come here at least once per week. Only place near by serving Caribbean food too.
They deserve all 15 stars: 5 for food, 5 for service, 5 for atmosphere. And more. We used to go to Beach Hill Smokehouse for Burnt Ends but after trying the brisket here this is our new spot. Smoked to perfection and tender as heck. The Mac and cheese isnt just the regular... its a real homemade dish with flavour. Ive never been a fan as its usually just too creamy and bland until my wife got it at this restaurant and I was blown away The jerk chicken dinner was the other plate we got and it was spiced to a point where you could enjoy the flavour and not run out with your mouth burning. It definitely has the perfect kick. Its replaced my previous all-time favourite at Allwyns. The service was professional: the waitress brought all our dishes on a tray after setting one of those platforms up beside your table. She was careful and attentive and very friendly. The food presentation was on point: not even a single grain of rice in the wrong spot. The food was all simply yet tastefully dressed and plated. The atmosphere was immaculate and spotless. Id bring both groups of good friends and family here. This is our new spot. These guys make it obvious that theyre serious about good Jamaican food along with growing their business here in a competitive Toronto market. It was the first time in a long time that I didnt even care about the price. I wish they were more on the main street so more people could see their location, but hopefully all the other great reviews will bring more people in. Dont miss out on this hidden gem. Kid-friendliness: Lots of space, good food options for kids.
Had the jerk chicken with rice and peas with oxtail gravy. Chicken was super fresh and full of flavour.
Food is amazing at this new location! 10/10 Very welcoming environment. My only complaint is that they are open til 10pm BUT you can only order food til 9pm Food
Nice Place Serving All Your Jamaican Favourites.
Great food!! Awesome service! Great atmosphere! Highly recommended! Must try place
Happy to have this spot within walking distance. The outdoor space is great. Food was wonderful. Tasty. Tasty. Tasty. Very attentive service. I personally dont love the green walls inside and the multiple TV vibe inside. I wish it was a bit warmer, low key. But, I will definitely hit the patio again or get take out.
Great restaurant nice atmosphere good customer service. Oh and did I mention the food is outstanding. If youre ever in the mood for amazing Jamaican food this is a must try.
Ox tail meal with coleslaw was delicious, gonna be my go to food when Im in that neighborhood.
Fantastic food and experience
Spacious, good food and a bartender that can sing ICU by Coco Jones !!!
Jerk chicken was NYCE, rice n peas with oxtail gravy was NYCE, coleslaw was well creamy, and the main point Ill add. The atmosphere has a family vibe to it which is a rare gem these days. Plenty seating and a setup for a live DJ. Also has some outdoor patio space for patio season.
I am thrilled to have found this sports bar and lounge. The atmosphere here is a total vibe. This is the perfect place to have a cold beer and watch a hockey game. The seats are so plush and the big speakers sound amazing. The server lady was very welcoming and attentive. The food here is excellent. They have many screens so you can watch multiple sports at once. The place is clean. The place is well orchestrated. All the patrons appeared to be having a great time. I had a perfect experience. I will be back for more sports, more beers and to try their entire menu.
Best Jerk Chicken in Town
Made with love every time
Great dinner, service was awesome! Kalaloo and jerk chicken was delicious. We will be back.
Wonderful customer service. I order the bbq fried chicken dinner, this has to be one of the best dinners ive had in the city, West to East. They also have one the best coleslaw in the city, especially if you like it creamy.
The waitress was really nice & accommodating. The curry goat was good, my dad keeps asking for us to go back. I didn t really like the mac pie, I found the noodles to be too soft for my liking. Overall I recommend trying this place
Very inconsistent with menu / prices. Ive ordered macaroni & quarter jerk leg with coleslaw frequently. The price / menu option changed. Then when i called today the representative on phone said shes never heard of macaroni & chicken being on same dinner. Advised its these items are seperate each never together. Said okay let make the order inquired on how much. She Advised she cant let me know total until i come in, my reply was genuine asked i need know total of meal in order to know if i want order. If i cant know price i cant order something i dont know cost for, her reply well have goodnight. Foods good just wish wasnt so hard order some macaroni & jerk chicken.
Great place. Walked in during a function, they still looked after us well. Had a terrific sandwich. Im happy this is in the neighborhood.
