The Islands Caribbean Cookshop - Liberty Village — Restaurant in Toronto

WORST CARIBBEAN FOOD LIBERTY VILLAGE

Aug 16th 2025 Saturday ~8:30pm

I walked in excited to try a new place, got in to see it wasn't a Jamaican making Jamaican food. I got the chicken sandwich and the signature meal fried chicken that comes with a side. The "service" worker asks me the dumbest question "do you only want the chicken" and I thought with the quiet voice and accent that she was asking if I wanted the chicken. Mind you that's after I paid full price expecting a meal with the side. I see her prepare my food as she seemed to be working solo. I'm confused as to why she didn't pack any rice with the fried chicken. I ask "why there isn't any rice, doesn't this come with a side?" She says "oh, I thought you said you only wanted the chicken?" Me confused outta my mind, "oh no I wanted the rice on the side. And this "service" worker (who looked super unenthusiastic to work in the food industry) has the audacity to say "I'll have to charge you extra to give you the side." This made me so pissed off, but being a citizen that cares about the structure of society and with the premise of being kind since there was two people behind me in line, I didn't crash out on this terrible "service" worker for not simply adding the rice in a separate container as any normal and legitimate food service worker would, i didnt even grab the bag off the counter yet. I hope to god she gets fired for the terrible service.

Food was also not good, you would think jerk chicken would atleast have a little kick to it, this trash did not. The bun was stale and the chicken for both the sandwich and fried chicken was dry as heck. And the fried chicken came with no sauce. I got a average sized drumstick but the thigh piece I got was so small it was pathetic.

Bad atmosphere, immediately could tell the "service" worker didn't love or even like her job. But seriously, not giving me the side after I had paid full price for the item that includes a side is outrageous. Pls hire better next time, look for people that are kind and hospitable as it's a service industry where they have to interact with customers.

Verdict do not spend your money here, there's better food options all around you, the bang for your buck prices and bad service ain't worth it since the food is also bad. Will absolutely not try again.

This also ain't an A.I. essay, legit just a pissed off enough customer to write the...

UPDATE: The owner is now questioning my ability to discern authenticity. I have tried superb Caribbean cuisine in the GTA and in Caribbean nations and I have a good sense of authenticity; and this place does not pass the authenticity test

Liberty Village food blows and this place will let you know why. Almost every resto here serves unauthentic food. The shawarma place is unauthentic, the pizza place is unathentic, the thai place is unathentic, and this place served unauthentic Caribbean food

The oxtail curry here was awful. The rice was too bland and the oxtail was gelatinous and the gravy had a very off taste.

Everything on the plate felt like it was made by a place that just put up some Caribbean decorations and uses unauthentic methods. But this seems normal in the restaurants of Liberty Village where people are easily fooled on authenticity. Liberty Village food blows.

There are far better Caribbean food places in the area like Alwyns, Roywoods. Consider visiting those places for quality and authentic...

I would have given a zero.. however I didn’t have the option on this review. This is one of the worst restaurant I’ve ever been to in my life. The food and the service was unacceptable. I bought the curry chicken dinner and the flavour and taste wasn’t good what so ever. I asked if I can change my meal for the same price and they refused to change or refund me( if this was Kelsey’s, Montana’s, Applebee’s) it wouldn’t have been any issues to make it right for the customers. I’m not from city and it was my first time ever eating from this restaurant as I was very excited to support the Caribbean culture food and was very disappointed with the answer I got from management on the phone saying “There’s nothing we can do or we cannot control your taste buds” (Wrong answer coming management) and horrible service. Do not waste your time and hard earn $$ at this restaurant you’re better off buying pizza or McDonald’a at least you know...