The Islands Caribbean Cookshop - Yonge Sheppard Centre

In line with other reviews, I feel this place used to be GREAT and then sharply went downhill (I do still love the festival dumplings, though). I'm not sure if it changed hands or if it's because restaurants have razor thin margins and it's hard to sustain great quality if not enough people buy in the first place. Yonge and Sheppard is also really competitive. I do sympathize, but my go-to meal has become really bad.

I used to love getting their vegetarian lunch deal with chana, rice, and callaloo. It was very mild (which is good for me), but rich and flavourful. People who like spicy food can get their housemade scotch bonnet sauce. They didn't skimp on the seasonings or the oil. The chana had a tasty, glistening, thick sauce.

Nowadays, the chana is basically unseasoned chickpeas floating in water. There's no flavour or richness, and the liquid is so thin that you don't get any sauce when they scoop it on--it just sort of waterlogs your rice.

Hoping that it wasn't a permanent thing, I've gotten the chana 4-5 times since it went downhill, and it's been bad each time. I think I have to give up :(

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 3

I got over cooked fried chicken that was as hard as a brick !

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 1

Very nice

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

If you're looking for a place to eat for your elderly grandmother or are just recovering from major surgery, the mild food here will be right up your alley.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 4

Ordered curried goat, which was a soft as butter and SO well seasoned, with fluffy rice and beans, along with a salad with mango pineapple dressing that was so zesty and refreshing. Washed it down with ginger beer. 10 out 10. Portion size was good value! Will deffo go back...

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I placed a catering order scheduled for delivery on May 22nd at 5:00 PM, totaling $300 ish . Due to a severe soy allergy, I attempted to make a last-minute change from jerk chicken to BBQ chicken. I sent an email requesting the change but never received a confirmation—neither a yes nor a no. I understand it was a late request, but even a quick response would have been appreciated.

I also called the catering number listed on their website multiple times throughout the day and left a voicemail, expecting a callback. Unfortunately, I never received one. With no response, I called the Liberty Village location, assuming the order would be prepared there since the delivery address was in Parkdale. I was surprised to learn that the order was actually being handled by the Yonge and Sheppard location in North York.

When I contacted the Yonge and Sheppard location closer to the scheduled delivery time, I was told the order still hadn’t been picked up—despite it being due at 5:00 PM. The delivery ended up being 1.5 hours late.

That said, I want to acknowledge that the person at the Yonge and Sheppard location was kind enough to accommodate the allergy concern by preparing half BBQ chicken and half jerk chicken. I really appreciated that thoughtful gesture.

This meal was meant as an appreciation dinner for staff who work with individuals facing mental health and homelessness challenges. It was important to me that this went smoothly. Unfortunately, the lack of communication, missed follow-ups, and the late delivery made for a frustrating experience. I hope your team takes this feedback seriously to improve reliability and customer communication moving forward.

I ordered Oxtails with Gravy. I paid for tough bread, warm cola, bones, and spicy gravy. The Oxtails were all very small and there were more bones than there was meat. I was unaware that the small amount of meat and the gravy would be spicy. The bread was tough and old, and apparently, they don't refrigerate the cokes. Would not recommend.

Food: 2

Good food but would be a 5 stars if they brought Jheel back!! Her customer service makes the experience 10 times better!

The female cashier at this moment or verse rude!
As a customer, I don’t memorize all the food and I need some time to figure what to order. The approach very rude, when I can my family to clarify what order they like, she’s very upset. I asked her to place another order and for some reason she didn’t hear me and don’t include on my current order. I can place another order if that’s her issue, I have money to pay, but with her behaviour like that, I can’t. She’s rude!!! She should not work in food industry if she behaves like that. I asked her if she wants to serve me and she said no so I left the place. What a day!
I won’t recommend this place, If you’re looking for Carribeann foods , try other places which serves your better and nicer.

Atmosphere: 1

Service: 1

I used to go here all the time with my brothers for some good quality Caribbean food. Seems they have gotten more popular now so the quality of the food and the size of the portions have gone down and the prices have gone up. Last time I ordered the fried chicken was still pink in the middle, there was no stew chicken and no oxtail gravy and I had to wait for dumplins to be made, I was so disappointed when I got home, I didnt even waste time and complain or ask for a refund I decided to just stop coming, you have lost a loyal customer.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 2

Food here is very good no complaints

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Salad, Rice and Peas

Amazing flavour, affordable and great portions!

Charged $19.12 for stew chicken which was covered with BBQ sauce. It was not freshly prepared. We know the times are tough but the portion sizes have been reduced significantly. Used to be a good spot to eat before it changed hands.

Jerk Sandwich!! Small portion for 8.50 after tax. No upsell when asked about popular items and Food Court has bad phone reception.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 3

The woman at the back knows how to cook some good chicken!