Island Flava Caribbean Bar & Cuisine — Restaurant in Pooler

Was looking for something different for dinner (6-7 pm) last night, so my friend and I decided to give Island Flava a try. We were a bit hesitant at first because we were the only folks eating, which typically isn't a good sign. The fellow who waited on us was super cool and welcoming and then proceeded to tell us what wasn't available on the menu. We weren't sure how to take this, but forged ahead.

We had appetizers of coco bread and chicken wings. Took a little while to get to us, because things were being made fresh, to order! Great sign. The wings were really good (even without sauce), and I could have eaten another few loafs of the bread.

Our meals made it out to us - again, made fresh from when we ordered - and... I was totally upset that the place wasn't crowded. The food was FAN-TAS-TIC! I had the red snapper w/creole sauce and sides of black rice and cabbage/carrots. The snapper was a healthy portion cooked to perfection, and the sauce... wow... it was a red curry-ish sauce with (I think) scotch bonnet pepper in it? It had a little kick, but not overpowering at all. I could have eaten a bowl of the stuff like soup! My friend got the brown chicken (I think that's what it was called) with similar sides. Again, the sauce with this chicken was crazy good. It was dark and somewhat sweet, but not exactly like barbecue sauce. Almost like a hoisin sauce. Either way, phenomenal stuff. As a garnish of sorts, a couple of sweet plantains are served on the side. Again, could have eaten a bucket of those.

We were happy with how we were treated by the staff, who kept our water glasses filled and were happy to chat a bit. If you're getting a soda, I got a Jamaican "Ting," which is like Squirt, but not as sweet, and was very tasty. My friend got a watermelon soda which tasted like a combination of Jolly Rancher's candy and bubble gum. Thing is, they have a fairly wide variety of "different" sodas and beers, which was very welcome.

My only suggestion would be that they print out menus with what IS available, so people can focus on what they CAN get instead of seeing what they can't (the whole menu looks awesome, btw). It would help the waiter out when taking orders, at least!

This is a place that does a small number of things INCREDIBLY well, and served us some of the best food that we've had in a restaurant in quite some time. That's why I said I was upset that there weren't more people eating - I want them to stay in business. That creole sauce... can't get it out of my head. Definitely going to try and get back...

I literally just went in to the restaurant to order food. The young lady was very very nice and it’s not her fault. The young lady stated they didn’t have a menu and the only items available was jerk chicken and shrimp. I asked “Fo you have any patties” the young lady stated “Yes, chicken, beef and veggie and we have spicy chicken and beef as well”. I said okay and ordered 1 chicken pattie and 1 veggie pattie and the young lady went in the back. Once she returned the stated that the patties are in the oven, it will be one moment. Now, when I entered there was only one white guy that was already waiting on his food. After about 10 minutes waiting a guy that had been sitting in a van in front of the restaurant came in with 2 children that had been playing in a grass area. He immediately went behind the counter and then asked the guy and myself had we been taken care of and we both stated, Yes. Next, a short pudgy brown skinned lady comes from the back and begins interacting with the guy that came out of the van and the children are now at sitting at one of the tables playing with Easter eggs in a basket. After another 10 minutes she then stated “ I need to go in the kitchen and start cooking”. The guy leaves back out the door and goes back in the van outside. Next, the young lady appears from the back and gives the white his food. The young lady again disappears to the back. Now, I’m looking at my damn phone like how long does it take to bring me 2 patties. Another couple comes in to order to find out there’s no menu and this poor young lady is trying to tell them by memory what comes on a dinner plate. The couple asks where are the people and why no menu and pricier edge doesn’t have and answer. I sit and wait another 15 minutes for the young lady to reappear as I got up to begin walking out the door waving by. She asked me to just wait and the patties were about to be done. I asked her “Do you realize how long I’ve waited for just 2 patties? It’s been well over 20 minutes”. This is HORRIBLE BUSINESS and I went next door to Popeyes to get something to eat. While waiting several pepperoni that was in line had the same experience at this restaurant. The workers at Popeyes highly recommended that no one should go to the restaurant for food. I just don’t understand why it had to be this way and they didn’t seem to care about loosing business and horrible...

We came here to eat and while we were very I understanding of the delay in food and drink orders being provided, the plantain being burnt, we were completely disrespected because of a miscommunication by one of the staff. There’s just a write way to talk to adults and this wasn’t it. Do better. Customers should be given utmost respect when they are patronizing your business, especially when we weren’t being disrespectful.

In response to Owner's reply: We were not asked respectfully. 2. It was not three bottles, it was two. 3. We graciously asked permission after our drink orders on two occasions were not what was ordered. It tasted nothing like what we knew and seemed like we were given a mediocre substitute that tasted horrible. To be gracious, we decided not to make a fuss because the options were limited and asked our waitress if it is allowable to have our own drink as we had already ordered food for five individuals in addition to the drink orders. We were told, "Sure, that is not a problem once there is no disorderly conduct or excessive drinking." The issue I am raising was not because we were told by another individual that it was in fact NOT okay, to which we said 'Okay', it was the disrespectful way we were treated as a result. Like I said, there's a right way to speak to adults and paying customers. We aren't children. Your disregard of that fact as an owner, is also part of the problem because it starts at the top. I wish you...