Island Krave — Restaurant in Norfolk

We Found The Best West Indies Food in Norfolk

Let’s face it, finding the best West Indies food in Norfolk comes as a surprise. It’s not really the kind of food this area is known for. Island Krave is a long way from the Caribbean, but you wouldn’t know it when you taste their food.

Ever since I first visited the West Indies I’ve been searching for that distinct flavor and all the restaurants I tried fell short. I was beginning to think I would need to return to the islands to experience those flavors again, but I was wrong. For the best West Indies food in Norfolk, Island Krave gets it right from start to finish.

The décor is simple, but tasteful, and the staff warm and helpful. In fact, I felt like I was coming to visit a friend for dinner, not visiting a restaurant for a meal. There is a definite feeling of coming home within you walk through that door. Perhaps it was the great smells wafting out of the kitchen or the lively tunes playing in the background that brought back good memories, but I completely forgot it was a dingy, grey day outside. If I shut my eyes, I could have sworn I was closer to the Caribbean than Chesapeake Bay. My partner and I were intrigued by some of the items on the menu. Gratefully, there were the usual items like jerk chicken, but there were also signature smoked wings and a side called cocobread that we had to try. The wings were amazing and it turns out that this light, fluffy and slightly sweet bread is made with coconut milk.

Following that, I tried the succulent brown chicken stew cooked on the bone. It is marinated in its’ own juices until the meat literally falls off the bone. I am still dreaming about that sauce. My partner is vegetarian, but that was not an issue at all. She chose curried chick peas, collard greens and sweet plantains. I tasted her dishes and they were divine.

We’ll be coming back to Island Krave again. The food was fabulous, the service was excellent and the prices were very reasonable. In fact, we noticed they offer family sized meals that we might order when we have company over one night. We can’t think of anything better to warm us up and make us forget about winter than the best West Indies food in Norfolk from...

This was from a delivery order. I ordered jerk chicken, spicy sauce, yellow rice, Mac and cheese, corn bread, and rum cake.

The delivery set up when ordering the meal was confusing with the sauces because it has mild and spicy and then an option to get extra sauce, but they’re limited to one selection so you can’t order extra sauce and pick a mild/spicy sauce. I thought that the spicy was a spicy jerk sauce while the mild would be just a less spicy version. The spicy sauce was really hot, I’d put it on the same level as straight up habanero hot sauce. I didn’t get any jerk flavors in the meat or sauce just some smoke flavor from the chicken but it was good all the same and there’s different ways to make jerk foods.

The meat came diced, and not on the bone, which wasn’t expected but there was a very good portion of it and it was hot and very tasty. I was hesitant to really lay into it out of fear of finding a bone but didn’t find a single one in the meal. I do not believe I got yellow rice and while the alternative was good, it wasn’t what I was ordering. It looked like rice and beans and it was still good.

The Mac and cheese seems to be getting flak from people here in the reviews. I think most people up in arms about it only have two categories of mac and cheese, it’s either in a box or it’s baked into a brick, and there’s so many kinds out there. This didn’t taste anything like a box of Mac and cheese and was noodles in a cheese sauce which I think had some garlic in there. It’s still mac and cheese and it’s delicious.

The corn bread was soggy about 50% of the way up either the top or bottom side of it and it wasn’t ideal, it still tasted good but it was pretty soggy unfortunately.

The rum cake I ordered was good, there’s two firm cake layers that were light and moist with a generous amount of frosting. It had an overpowering rum flavor that really dominated everything but then again it’s rum cake so that did make sense. I would have preferred a more mild flavor but it’s rum cake so there you have it.

I took one star off for the rice mixup, good food that has dominating flavor profiles. A lot of heavy hitting flavors that work...

Island Krave in Ghent is an absolute gem for anyone craving authentic, flavorful Caribbean cuisine right here in Norfolk! From the moment you step in, the welcoming aroma of spices and the friendly staff immediately set a relaxed, island vibe. I've tried a variety of dishes, and each one has been a culinary delight. The Jerk Chicken is a masterpiece – perfectly smoked, incredibly tender, and with just the right amount of fiery kick that balances beautifully with the smoky sweetness. It's truly a taste of the Caribbean. The sides are equally impressive; the rice and peas are a comforting staple, and the plantains are caramelized to perfection, offering a delightful sweetness. What I truly appreciate about Island Krave is the consistency in quality and the generous portion sizes. You definitely get your money's worth, and then some! Whether you're dining in their cozy space or taking out, the food always arrives fresh, hot, and packed with incredible flavor. They also have fantastic options for everyone, including delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes, which is a huge plus. The staff goes above and beyond to make you feel like a welcomed guest, and their genuine passion for their food shines through in every bite. Island Krave isn't just a meal; it's an experience that transports you to a sun-drenched island with every delicious mouthful. If you're in Ghent and looking for seriously good Caribbean food, do yourself a favor and stop by Island Krave. You won't be disappointed – it's easily a...