Island Flava - Ottawa, Ontario

Top Notch! I really just walked by to see if they were open and maybe grab a snack. The service was so welcoming and pleasant I just had to support the restaurant! I bought a nice combo meal and fresh mango juice! Thank you, I'll definitely be back.

Visit Ottawa every few months. Was excited to try this spot. HORRIBLE. Worst jerk chicken I ever tried. At the price point the quantity is already horrendous…but the taste was AWFUL. I never tested such flavourless jerk chicken in my life. Oxtail was terrible, chicken was horrible and rice was ... clearly overcooked. Never again. Smh i had such high hopes…Worst island spot of all time. Do yourself a favour and get ANYTHING else. Read more

The most disgusting, flavorless swill posing as "Caribbean food"! How dare you !!!! The oxtail stew turned my stomach at the first bite. It was obviously seasoned with salt, pepper (maybe) and pressure cooked until it became almost gelatinous with the gravy itself looking and tasting greasy and unpalatable. Ugh! Into ... the garbage it went! My husband gagged on the curried chicken roti. Ditto. Garbage! It had no curry flavour whatsoever. It was dry. It was cold. It tasted stale and "off". Oxtail is a traditional slow-cooked, delightfully seasoned Jamaican dish for which there is no shortcut. It must be well-seasoned with fresh and dry herbs and other ingredients and marinated overnight in the refrigerator. Thyme and Scotch Bonnet pepper! For the love of Jah it must have at the very least have those seasonings. You must remove the marinade and sear the pieces then add back the marinade and cook slowly for as long as it takes to tenderize the meat and bring all those herbs and spices to a crescendo of flavor. Island Flava is a sham. The "chef" does not have a clue about Jamaican food or curry dishes. Please get a clue and stop ruining the reputation of our food! On a positive note, the service was actually polite! That was a pleasant surprise in a Caribbean restaurant! Read more

As someone who values good advice, I opted for this restaurant on my first night in the city. The lady at the counter had an elegant demeanor, setting a rhythm that couldn't help but uplift your mood. The curry goat rice was truly remarkable, with robust flavors of goat meat.The ... curry chicken poutines was also top-notch. Hailing from Mississauga, I sincerely wish we had such hidden treasures back there. Read more

**updated review from many years ago with some new pictures** There is nowhere in Ottawa that can even try to compare to Island Flava's curry goat meal, it is simply as good as it gets. The goat is always beautifully seasoned and melt in your mouth tender accompanied by awesome rice ... and beans and the best plantains you will ever try. The goat roti (bone in) is equally incredible and only ever has 1 or 2 bones which are easily removed. All portion sizes are very reasonable for the price. I have been coming here for years now and only ever had amazing service, especially by awesome owner himself: Chef Antoine! The goat is my favorite, but the jerk chicken is also great and I would recommend it. The ox tail was pretty good, although slightly too salty and less filling than the other options. **updated review with pics of their awesome 6.99$ lunch deal that I was finally able to try, as well as pics of their 1 time special bakes and saltfish!** Read more