iSLAS Filipino — Restaurant in Toronto

2 Reviews:

I recently dined at Islas Cafe Restaurant and had the pleasure of being served by Jolina, who truly made my experience unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, Jolina greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel like we were the only guests in the restaurant. Her attentiveness and genuine care for our dining experience were evident throughout our meal.

Jolina took the time to explain the menu options and offered thoughtful recommendations based on our preferences. She checked in regularly, ensuring that our drinks were full and that we had everything we needed without being intrusive. It was clear that she was not only knowledgeable about the dishes but also genuinely passionate about providing excellent service.

The food itself was fantastic, but it was Jolina's exceptional service that elevated the experience to another level. It's rare to find someone who can create such a welcoming and personal atmosphere, and I truly appreciated the effort she put into making our visit special.

If you're looking for a restaurant where you'll feel valued and well taken care of, I highly recommend Islas.And if you’re lucky enough to have Jolina as your server, you’re in for a treat! Thank you, Jolina, for making our evening so enjoyable. I can't wait to return .

Regards, Mark Pec ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Had the pleasure of dining at Islas Cafe, and I can confidently say that it was an extraordinary experience from start to finish!

First off, the service was impeccable. Josie and Jolina were our waitresses, and they were not only attentive but also genuinely friendly. They made us feel right at home, and their recommendations were spot on.

Now, let’s talk about the food. I ordered the sisig, and it was simply amazing! The flavors were rich and perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of tanginess. The pork was crispy yet tender, and I loved the citrusy notes that elevated the dish. It was evident that Chef Marc puts a lot of care and creativity into his cooking.

We also tried the sliders, which were a fantastic addition to our meal. Juicy, flavorful, and served on soft buns, they were the perfect size for a light bite or to share. Each slider was bursting with flavor, and they paired wonderfully with the sisig.

Overall, Islas Cafe is a gem with phenomenal food and outstanding service. I can't wait to return and explore more of the menu. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a delicious dining...

Absolutely disappointed! Service - went there to check out the new place. I am expecting someone would assist us to can dine in. I had to navigate inside the building which is fine, the only problem is, 3 crew past me without any glances or acknowledgment to help me or ask me why am i by the hostess stand. The only reason I got seated is when I finally reach out a crew and I ASKED to be seated. Typically, in any type of restaurant, the crew SHOULD ASKED for guests to be seated.

Additionally, the floor control on this establishment is a mess, yes its new, but its your 2nd location, you should have SOP in place in regards of floor control. Everyone is so focused on the big party that is coming in in an hour??? While the rest of the guest there are waiting for yall to provide them service. When serving tables, everyone is in a hurry that they forget to take finished dishes off the table. No eye contact, no smile to lighten the mood, no awareness at all to tables. And im speaking to all tables that was there while we were there.

Food - We ordered calamari, Pork sinigang, 2 Cocktails (ube collada & rainbow something):

Ube Collada - typically for a collada it has crushed ice, this one dont have any ice. It is purely water, with ube puree and rum

Rainbow drink - very sweet, like someone put a bag of sugar in it.

Pork Sinigang - it has 3 little strips of meat, THREE!! The soup it self is BLAND, no sourness, it tastes like water!!

Calamari - it was so oily and too salty!! Like im eating a spoon of sugar. We tried to eat it by soaking it in the vinegar you provided. It is also half way done, both fries and the calamari itself. We gave it a chance and we thought that the main will be better

Waiting Time - we had to wait about 20-25 minutes for the raw and salty calamari and additional 15-20 minutes for the bland sinigang.

We decided to just go and decided to be hungry instead of eating their food. And yall OVERPRICED!

Message to chef: maybe you should take the words from your customers who eats your food. I understand that you think your food always comes fresh and tastes good. Taste them too maybe youll see...

UNFORGIVABLE EXPERIENCE – A MASTERCLASS IN HOW TO DESTROY YOUR BUSINESS

We chose this restaurant to celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary, expecting something special based on all the glowing reviews. Big mistake. What we got instead was an unforgettable reminder of how quickly a business can fail when basic respect for customers is thrown out the window.

We had a reservation for 5:30 PM. We arrived at 5:20 to find the place completely empty — not a single guest inside. Even worse, not one staff member was present to greet us. No host. No server. Just silence. We stood awkwardly at the front, until someone who looked like a chef finally noticed us and seated us without a word.

And then? Absolutely nothing.

No water. No menus. No server. Not even a passing glance. We sat at our table for over 30 minutes—completely ignored. Meanwhile, staff were busy giving a private tour for some future event that may never even happen. There we were, the only real customers in the building, treated as if we didn’t exist.

It was insulting. It was pathetic. And frankly, it was infuriating.

This was supposed to be a special night—time we carved out from our busy lives to enjoy something together. And instead, we were met with indifference and total neglect. It’s hard enough to get time alone. It’s harder still to find places that respect that time.

To the owners: You’ve been open since April. If this is how you operate, your doors won’t stay open much longer. Hospitality is not a luxury—it’s the bare minimum. And on this night, you didn’t just miss the mark. You failed. Miserably.

People will read this. And if they’re smart, they’ll take their hard-earned money somewhere it’s actually appreciated. Because what happened to us wasn’t just bad service—it was a complete failure of leadership, professionalism, and decency.

Wake up....