Beautiful space but the service and food lacked refinement. The Isla Daqu is an extremely sweet daquari dyed purple. Looked beautiful, tasted poorly. Same can be said for almost everything else we put in our mouths. The porkchop was a stunning dish with a a pleasant sauce but came out extremely dry. We had asked for it to be cooked medium but we were served something far past well done. The chicken tasted of nothing but filthy smoke. The flavor of the smoke on that chicken lingered in our mouths for hours after the meal. The only pleasant part was the wine we transitioned to after cocktails. As we were leaving our server chased us outside asking about there tip. We had left $40 cash on our half of a $200 bill. It was hard to tell if they were saying it wasn’t enough or they feared it was taken by another server but either way it is concerning. I am hopeful that they can work things out at Isla as the space truly is beautiful but that is not enough to make a great restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 3
LhalahD (lahlah02)
Scored a spot at the bar for an early dinner, a win since reservations are tough! Beautiful space with top-tier, elevated Caribbean fare.
The Wagyu Oxtail and Crab patties are must-orders with a perfect filling-to-pastry ratio. The Fire-Grilled Branzino was deboned and cooked to perfection, we paired it with the macaroni pie. Despite the Saturday rush, Roberto provided excellent service. Can’t wait to return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Victoria Aderin
I went Saturday evening with a friend, and from the moment we walked in to the time we left EVERYTHING was perfect. Ambiance, engaging! Playlist was everything and more! First, our host Nathan was energetic, engaging, and just all about lovely. He made some amazing recommendation from drink to food. He constantly checked up on us to ensure we were fine and no doubt, Nathan added to the perfection of this experience. Between us two, we ordered the Tempura Okra, Waygu Oxtail Patties for Appetizers; I ordered the Branzino with BBQ greens and Cook Up Rice, my friend ordered the Grilled Prawns w/the Chocho Slaw. EVERYTHING was amazing! It was a firework of flavors, the layered in the flavors came to light with bite! A true experience for someone who really enjoys fresh ingredients, Caribbean flavors, and overall good damn food! Chef Andre was nothing but amazing in making sure we had a good experience! That carrot cake was superb! We left happy, bellies full and taste buds tantalized. Thank you for an amazing evening. Thank you. 🙏🏾 We will certainly be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tanisha Darkins
Amazing experience . Ambiance, staff and food was delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amina Akhtar
Marcus was a phenomenal addition to our experience at Isla. His recommendations were spot on. He went above and beyond with his passion for food and attentive service! Do not sleep on the red snapper and cilantro mint chutney.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amira Ouji
DC finally has a spot that feels like it was made for people who actually care about food and atmosphere and Isla is it.
Let me start with the branzino, because I’m still thinking about it. Best filet I’ve had in this city, and I don’t say that lightly. The lime chimichurri was the kind of pairing that makes you wonder why anyone would ever serve fish any other way. I told myself I’d pace it… I did not. Gone in maybe seven bites
The crab patties were bomb and flaky just how I like it. the real surprise of the night was the lamb tartare. I’d never had lamb tartare before and honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. Phenomenal doesn’t cover it.
And the ambiance? Moody, intimate, a little sexy exactly the kind of vibe DC needed more of. Great for a date, great for impressing out-of-towners, great for treating yourself because why not.
Oh, and the carrot cake. Chef’s kiss. Full stop. I’ll absolutely be back probably sooner than I’d like to admit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Faith Martin
I had an amazing experience. I just popped in briefly to order food at the bar to go however Robert and Drake at the bar really went above and beyond to make such a simple experience smooth and magical. They continually checked in on how I was doing and offered me water and a delicious mocktail while I waited. The hospitality was amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kyla Butler
We had such a wonderful experience, and a huge part of that was thanks to our server, Nate. From the moment we sat down, he made us feel genuinely welcomed and taken care of. He jumped right in with amazing drink recommendations and helped us choose the perfect mix of small and large plates. His pairings were spot on, and you could tell he really knew the menu.
What stood out the most was how attentive he was the entire evening. He checked in just enough to make sure we were always comfortable, never rushed, and truly enjoying ourselves. He even added thoughtful touches that made my husband’s birthday feel extra special, which meant a lot to both of us.
Nate’s personality, kindness, and enthusiasm made the night memorable. It felt less like standard service and more like someone who genuinely wanted us to have a great time. We left feeling happy, appreciated, and excited to come back.
Denise Forte
The food was amazing. The snapper, patties and carrot cake are must have. The service on the other hand was horrible from the wait at the host stand to ordering to delivery. We had a reservation and still waited for ten minutes to get seated and there were maybe five parties in the restaurant at 5:30. The waiter asked us for water preferences and never brought them. I had to ask for water. He clearly didn’t know the menu as I ordered a drink clearly on the menu. First try: wrong drink. Second try: had to ask for my order again. Third try: the maitre de finally stepped in after we told him I still hadn’t received my drink (my table mates had their drinks for twenty minutes by then). Really disappointing for what the bill was and because the food was really good. Hire better.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 2
K M
Beautiful restaurant, people, and food! Service was top notch.
Had such high hopes, unfortunately, ISLA missed the mark big time. Went for a birthday gathering with a group of girlfriends. Waited over 20 minutes to even be greeted by the server and to get initial orders. For 7:15 reservations, I should not have been placing my food order after 8:35. Nevertheless, I continued to wait another 35 minutes before receiving the food. The majority of the stars given are solely for the empanadas, and not the ordeal it took to get said empanada.
While both management and a chef from the kitchen came to the table in attempts to smooth things over, it was not organic as we had to ask for the manager, after waiting 1 1/2 hours to even place an order. Trouble shooting should have started within the first 30 minutes.
I am very doubtful I will be returning. The food is pretty good, but the service and front of house staff needs to refining.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
alexandra marie
We had an absolutely exceptional experience at Isla, and a huge part of that was thanks to Kellen Colbert, the Assistant General Manager. From the moment we arrived, the hospitality was top-notch. Kellen went above and beyond to make sure our group was comfortable and that my friend's birthday celebration felt truly special. Every detail was thoughtfully handled, and his attentiveness and professionalism elevated the entire experience. It's rare to encounter leadership that is so present, accommodating, and genuinely invested in making sure guests have an unforgettable time. Everything was seamless, welcoming, and superb from start to finish. If you're looking for a place that truly understands hospitality and knows how to make a celebration feel meaningful, Isla delivers-especially with someone like Kellen setting the standard. We'll absolutely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carrot Cake
Arielle D.
I was really looking forward to dining at Isla and had a 4:00 PM reservation right when they opened. Unfortunately, DC traffic and unexpected police road closures delayed me by about 10 minutes—just past their grace period. I called ahead to let them know I was on my way. The hostess on the phone was not very accommodating, but since I was already two blocks away in a $30 Uber, I decided to come anyway in hopes they might show some flexibility.
When I arrived, I was turned away rather dryly and rudely. I even overheard the hostesses say, “She called but came anyway,” which felt unnecessarily dismissive. What made it more disappointing was that the restaurant was empty, as it had just opened.
As someone who has previously worked as a hostess and has extensive experience in hospitality, I understand policies and timing. However, hospitality also involves empathy and discretion. Given the circumstances and how close I was, I would have appreciated a bit more understanding—or at least a warmer interaction.
I had been excited to try Isla for quite some time, so this first impression was really disappointing. I hope they can work on delivering a more gracious and empathetic guest experience moving forward.
Service: 1
wendy ozurumba
Nikki is a beautiful soul and I’m still so thankful for her and how she made my birthday dream come through, she accommodated my request, very patient with me, very hospitable and fun, she even brought out the chef when we asked so we can take him for his wonderful meals, we ate until we had food babies… helped with good love also. Can’t thank her enough.. definitely going back again just to see her and enjoy my meal
Thank you so so so so much Nikki. XOXO Wendy ❤️. Happy Super Bowl
Beautiful space but the service and food lacked refinement. The Isla Daqu is an extremely sweet daquari dyed purple. Looked beautiful, tasted poorly. Same can be said for almost everything else we put in our mouths. The porkchop was a stunning dish with a a pleasant sauce but came out extremely dry. We had asked for it to be cooked medium but we were served something far past well done. The chicken tasted of nothing but filthy smoke. The flavor of the smoke on that chicken lingered in our mouths for hours after the meal. The only pleasant part was the wine we transitioned to after cocktails. As we were leaving our server chased us outside asking about there tip. We had left $40 cash on our half of a $200 bill. It was hard to tell if they were saying it wasn’t enough or they feared it was taken by another server but either way it is concerning. I am hopeful that they can work things out at Isla as the space truly is beautiful but that is not enough to make a great restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 3
Scored a spot at the bar for an early dinner, a win since reservations are tough! Beautiful space with top-tier, elevated Caribbean fare.
The Wagyu Oxtail and Crab patties are must-orders with a perfect filling-to-pastry ratio. The Fire-Grilled Branzino was deboned and cooked to perfection, we paired it with the macaroni pie. Despite the Saturday rush, Roberto provided excellent service. Can’t wait to return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
I went Saturday evening with a friend, and from the moment we walked in to the time we left EVERYTHING was perfect. Ambiance, engaging! Playlist was everything and more! First, our host Nathan was energetic, engaging, and just all about lovely. He made some amazing recommendation from drink to food. He constantly checked up on us to ensure we were fine and no doubt, Nathan added to the perfection of this experience. Between us two, we ordered the Tempura Okra, Waygu Oxtail Patties for Appetizers; I ordered the Branzino with BBQ greens and Cook Up Rice, my friend ordered the Grilled Prawns w/the Chocho Slaw. EVERYTHING was amazing! It was a firework of flavors, the layered in the flavors came to light with bite! A true experience for someone who really enjoys fresh ingredients, Caribbean flavors, and overall good damn food! Chef Andre was nothing but amazing in making sure we had a good experience! That carrot cake was superb! We left happy, bellies full and taste buds tantalized. Thank you for an amazing evening. Thank you. 🙏🏾 We will certainly be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing experience . Ambiance, staff and food was delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marcus was a phenomenal addition to our experience at Isla. His recommendations were spot on. He went above and beyond with his passion for food and attentive service! Do not sleep on the red snapper and cilantro mint chutney.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
DC finally has a spot that feels like it was made for people who actually care about food and atmosphere and Isla is it.
Let me start with the branzino, because I’m still thinking about it. Best filet I’ve had in this city, and I don’t say that lightly. The lime chimichurri was the kind of pairing that makes you wonder why anyone would ever serve fish any other way. I told myself I’d pace it… I did not. Gone in maybe seven bites
The crab patties were bomb and flaky just how I like it. the real surprise of the night was the lamb tartare. I’d never had lamb tartare before and honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. Phenomenal doesn’t cover it.
And the ambiance? Moody, intimate, a little sexy exactly the kind of vibe DC needed more of. Great for a date, great for impressing out-of-towners, great for treating yourself because why not.
Oh, and the carrot cake. Chef’s kiss. Full stop. I’ll absolutely be back probably sooner than I’d like to admit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had an amazing experience. I just popped in briefly to order food at the bar to go however Robert and Drake at the bar really went above and beyond to make such a simple experience smooth and magical. They continually checked in on how I was doing and offered me water and a delicious mocktail while I waited. The hospitality was amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had such a wonderful experience, and a huge part of that was thanks to our server, Nate. From the moment we sat down, he made us feel genuinely welcomed and taken care of. He jumped right in with amazing drink recommendations and helped us choose the perfect mix of small and large plates. His pairings were spot on, and you could tell he really knew the menu.
What stood out the most was how attentive he was the entire evening. He checked in just enough to make sure we were always comfortable, never rushed, and truly enjoying ourselves. He even added thoughtful touches that made my husband’s birthday feel extra special, which meant a lot to both of us.
Nate’s personality, kindness, and enthusiasm made the night memorable. It felt less like standard service and more like someone who genuinely wanted us to have a great time. We left feeling happy, appreciated, and excited to come back.
The food was amazing. The snapper, patties and carrot cake are must have. The service on the other hand was horrible from the wait at the host stand to ordering to delivery. We had a reservation and still waited for ten minutes to get seated and there were maybe five parties in the restaurant at 5:30. The waiter asked us for water preferences and never brought them. I had to ask for water. He clearly didn’t know the menu as I ordered a drink clearly on the menu. First try: wrong drink. Second try: had to ask for my order again. Third try: the maitre de finally stepped in after we told him I still hadn’t received my drink (my table mates had their drinks for twenty minutes by then). Really disappointing for what the bill was and because the food was really good. Hire better.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 2
Beautiful restaurant, people, and food! Service was top notch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Nice spot great food 👌🏾
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had such high hopes, unfortunately, ISLA missed the mark big time. Went for a birthday gathering with a group of girlfriends. Waited over 20 minutes to even be greeted by the server and to get initial orders. For 7:15 reservations, I should not have been placing my food order after 8:35. Nevertheless, I continued to wait another 35 minutes before receiving the food. The majority of the stars given are solely for the empanadas, and not the ordeal it took to get said empanada.
While both management and a chef from the kitchen came to the table in attempts to smooth things over, it was not organic as we had to ask for the manager, after waiting 1 1/2 hours to even place an order. Trouble shooting should have started within the first 30 minutes.
I am very doubtful I will be returning. The food is pretty good, but the service and front of house staff needs to refining.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
We had an absolutely exceptional experience at Isla, and a huge part of that was thanks to Kellen Colbert, the Assistant General Manager.
From the moment we arrived, the hospitality was top-notch. Kellen went above and beyond to make sure our group was comfortable and that my friend's birthday celebration felt truly special. Every detail was thoughtfully handled, and his attentiveness and professionalism elevated the entire experience.
It's rare to encounter leadership that is so present, accommodating, and genuinely invested in making sure guests have an unforgettable time. Everything was seamless, welcoming, and superb from start to finish.
If you're looking for a place that truly understands hospitality and knows how to make a celebration feel meaningful, Isla delivers-especially with someone like Kellen setting the standard. We'll absolutely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carrot Cake
I was really looking forward to dining at Isla and had a 4:00 PM reservation right when they opened. Unfortunately, DC traffic and unexpected police road closures delayed me by about 10 minutes—just past their grace period. I called ahead to let them know I was on my way. The hostess on the phone was not very accommodating, but since I was already two blocks away in a $30 Uber, I decided to come anyway in hopes they might show some flexibility.
When I arrived, I was turned away rather dryly and rudely. I even overheard the hostesses say, “She called but came anyway,” which felt unnecessarily dismissive. What made it more disappointing was that the restaurant was empty, as it had just opened.
As someone who has previously worked as a hostess and has extensive experience in hospitality, I understand policies and timing. However, hospitality also involves empathy and discretion. Given the circumstances and how close I was, I would have appreciated a bit more understanding—or at least a warmer interaction.
I had been excited to try Isla for quite some time, so this first impression was really disappointing. I hope they can work on delivering a more gracious and empathetic guest experience moving forward.
Service: 1
Nikki is a beautiful soul and I’m still so thankful for her and how she made my birthday dream come through, she accommodated my request, very patient with me, very hospitable and fun, she even brought out the chef when we asked so we can take him for his wonderful meals, we ate until we had food babies… helped with good love also. Can’t thank her enough.. definitely going back again just to see her and enjoy my meal
Thank you so so so so much Nikki. XOXO Wendy ❤️. Happy Super Bowl
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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