West Island Grill — Restaurant in Town of Hempstead

I’m genuinely glad to see a new Jamaican restaurant open up in Baldwin—especially since we all know the other spot nearby (that I won’t name) has seriously fallen off in recent years.

Parking is super easy. The interior is spacious, well-lit, and very clean. They give you the option to order at the counter with the cashier or use a self-service kiosk, which is a nice touch for convenience. I chose to dine in during my visit. While I appreciated the cleanliness, I do think the dining setup could use some improvement. The single long table didn’t feel like the most comfortable arrangement for dining in—especially if others were sitting at the same table. A few smaller tables would definitely help make it feel more inviting.

Now, on to the food. I had the salmon, pasta, plantains, and one fried dumpling Thats right, one fried dumpling. First, the positives: the plantains were fresh, sweet, and cooked just right. The rice was solid too. But I was definitely caught off guard when I received just one fried dumpling, especially since it wasn’t all that flavorful. For $16, I expected a bit more than a piece of salmon that was smaller than my palm, plus an extra $3 for the pasta felt like a stretch.

That said, the flavors are there, and I see a lot of potential in this place. It’s not exactly a bang for your buck (yet), but with some tweaks—especially to portion sizes and dine-in comfort—it could easily become one of my go-to weekly takeout spots. I’ll definitely give It another try, especially for...

This restaurant has a clean environment. The food is delicious, and the service is just "ok." I bought food from here twice, but I don't know if there will be a third time. I don't like the feeling like I'm begging for food. If i buy a large dinner, I expect to get more food than plate. The first time i got the garlic shrimp, I literally saw the worker counting the shrimp she put in my plate. I didn't get rice and got mac n cheese instead, which they charged me extra but didn't tell me when i placed the order it was an additional cost. I recently went, got a large fried chicken, mash potatoes, and veggies. Again, I felt like they put the small meal portion in the large plate. I'm paying for a large meal that should be reflected in the meal portion. At this point, I don't know if I want to continue to give this...

This place reminds me of a relative of mine who went by the nick name Queen. She’d ask me before I came to the table to eat - “Ya hand clean?” That’s what this place as soon as you step in - cleanliness! It’s brand new and spotless, the display of food is on point, and you have a side salad option I. Addition to the regular Caribbean favs - Ox Tail, Curry Goat, chicken, etc. I had the goat tonight Ann’s the meat and gravy were amazing. They also put cocoanut milk in the rice and peas which really enhances the flavor of the dish. They got an assortment of beverages and tonight I got a coconut water to finish the meal! This is my go to and they are open until 10 weeknights! Mmmmmm is all I can say! Food is so good when done right! Next level cuisine and service! Glad they are now in my...