Now, I would not normally give such a high rating to a chain restaurant, but this Islands is the exception. I rarely ever visit large chain restaurants unless a stinky boy drags me there. Unfortunately for me, the last visit to a chain was less than a week prior to this visit and it was the Islands in Leucadia with a stinky boy. The food at that Islands was kinda ehh (3-stars for that experience), but at least it wasn't Hometown Buffet. I think I need to find me a man to take me to nicer places! I guess that's beside the point... Anyway, I gave this particular Islands mad props because of their generosity and hospitality to our school. My colleague put together an end-of-the-year incentive outing/recycling program for the kids in our classroom. The kids had to raise money by recycling to fund an end-of-the-year outing. My colleague discussed our plan with the manager at this Islands right down the street from our school and the manager provided us with certificates for free kids meals! NICE!!! We ended up raising $60 through recycling for the 6 kids that earned the outing, so this deal really helped us out! The kids could also order dessert with the money we raised. When we got to the restaurant, we were seated promptly and the servers were very attentive to us through the whole experience. Free refills on drinks and free refills on fries???? SWEET! Drinks and fries kept on coming and the kids were pumped on that! I ordered the lunch special for $7.95 which included the drink and endless fries. The burger I had was nice and fatty, which I'm always a fan of. Was it the best burger ever? No. But did I like my food more because I had a great experience? Yes! The food came out quickly considering the size of our group. I was very impressed with how accomodating they were to our group. Thank you Islands for making the day of 6 kids and 4 staff members! There's a lesson to be learned here kids: being kind and generous will get you far in life. Islands may not serve the most delicious food, but by showing us kindness, we had a memorable and enjoyable experience!
(4)
L O.
Great customer service from walking in the door to when we walked out and great food. The burger was a little under cooked, both my waitress, Brandi, and the manager, Matt, were extremely accommodating. Also, huge beer for not too bad of a price, not a huge selection though.
(4)
Brandie B.
OMG do they have anything remotely healthy here? I think I ended up ordering some fish tacos here. They were decent, but the service was kinda crappy and I think the food was overpriced. I coulda just gone to Rubios and had just as good of tacos. Oh well.
(2)
Maria B.
I tried Islands for the first time a couple weeks ago. I met some friends there for our weekly dinner and we had the nicest server. I think his name was Jonathan, and even though he misheard my friend who didn't want jalapenos on her nachos, I give him a thumbs up. The decor is kitschy Hawaiian/Tiki themed and the food is not terribly healthy--not that I was expecting it to be. It was just nothing special. One of those places I wouldn't necessarily seek out, but if someone wanted to go I wouldn't balk at the idea. They do take out service which is probably a good way to go if you want some simple burger and fries or tacos and want something a step above fast food.
(3)
Vanessa F.
This yelp should have been posted about 4 months ago sorry it's late. Food here is always great cheddar cheese fries and trade wind shake is my usual, but on this particular I wanted to thank the store manager for going above and beyond to get my little brothers kedama toy back. My little brother is 12 and our father past away about 4 years ago needless to say my mom and little brother have had a hard time adjusting. So when he forgot his kedama at the restraunt my mom freaked out on him so I went in and asked the manager if we could get it back. Unfortunately they donated my little brothers toy with the rest of lost and found. But because there was a miscommunication between the person I talked on the phone with saying that the toy would be there, the manager and the district manager order my little brother a new kedama. It's not the toy that gives this place 5 stars it's the people that work there. Thank you islands for hiring people who care :)
(5)
Vanessa F.
This yelp should have been posted about 4 months ago sorry it's late. Food here is always great cheddar cheese fries and trade wind shake is my usual, but on this particular I wanted to thank the store manager for going above and beyond to get my little brothers kedama toy back. My little brother is 12 and our father past away about 4 years ago needless to say my mom and little brother have had a hard time adjusting. So when he forgot his kedama at the restraunt my mom freaked out on him so I went in and asked the manager if we could get it back. Unfortunately they donated my little brothers toy with the rest of lost and found. But because there was a miscommunication between the person I talked on the phone with saying that the toy would be there, the manager and the district manager order my little brother a new kedama. It's not the toy that gives this place 5 stars it's the people that work there. Thank you islands for hiring people who care :)
(5)
Elle N.
We haven't been to Islands in so long! My husband and I ventured out to run some errands and decided to return here for lunch. It's really refreshing to go back to a restaurant that you haven't been to in so long. We started out with an order of fries. They were not as good as I remembered - they seemed overcooked on this day (and a good reason for a 4 star vs 5 star rating). The side of ranch for dipping was good (not everyone has a tasty ranch)! I ordered the BLT with Avocado and it was well prepared with great taste. I realized that I missed the tropical ice tea they make, it is one of the best tasting iced teas out there. I almost forgot the Kona Pie (Islands version of the coffee mud pie), it is quite good too. Most impressive was the staff and service. Our server was Katia who did a great job (reminds me of Marley from Glee). The place was super clean from the tables to the bathroom. Islands really has it right for a smaller chain with just the right size menu and variety...there is something here for everyone!
(4)
Marcus F.
A good lunch sport when visiting the Vista Courthouse. Trials can last several days which means you're on the hook for lunch. Islands is more than adequate for a quick, filling, and tropical themed escapism. Most people are well acquainted with the items here, but I tried something new. I ordered the Turkey Burger on a white bun. This "burger" was basically seasoned ground turkey smashed into an hash oval. Whatever, it worked and tasted pretty good. The white bun that came with my burger was different than everyone else's bun. - Quick - Safe - As always, simply amazing passion iced tea.
(3)
Kayla S.
Take-Out can sometimes be a drag just as much as dining. Islands has executed the process. Calling in an order is simple, and the service is quick. They come out to your car and take car of everything there. Always double check the order when taking out only because your food experience should be just as good when eating "out". They left my ranch. No hard feelings, but it dampened the experience to walk out of the car and grab another one. However, their speed made up for the mishap.
(4)
Lindsey M.
Hang my head in a bit of shame due to the fact that my signif other and I strolled in around 10:15pm, knowing darn well the place closes at 11pm. The staff didn't seem phased at all by our cutting it close to closing-time! Not a huff nor puff from the young gentlemen that helped us that evening. The service was speedy, but it could have been due to the time of night: kitchen staff wanting to go home, therefore cooking faster? Fewer people in house to have to cook meals for and serve food to? Who knows, but our food was on our table moments after we ordered. Hawaiian burger and sweet potato fries: +Flavorful. Mmmmm, pineapple! +Giant proportions. -Burger became soggy and harder to manager after each bite +Fries were on point! Favorite part of the meal. Mai Tai: -Expected the typical tropical essence of the drink, ended up lacking the fruity flavors I was desperately seeking. -All alcohol. Fine by me in most cases, but not in this instance. I was most impressed by how accommodating and polite the staff was on our impromptu, late night visit. Bummer was that the food didn't exactly WOW me. I'd try it again though.
(3)
Gina C.
My husband and I enjoy coming here for a quick dinner and a beer. We've always had efficient and friendly service. However, the 3 stars is mainly for when we order take out. They never seem to get our order correct- which is odd because we've never had that issue dining in. We live close so of course we will always return :)
(3)
Michael A.
I took out my family to this restaurant and I am happy that I did. From the beginning we were received by friendly employees. The place was full because it was on a Friday night so we had to wait for a table. We only waited about 5 minutes until we got a table. We order our food and waited. Mean while the employees got us our drinks fast. The food was delicious. We order hamburgers and the tortilla soup. All the employees were friendly and were checking on us regularly to see if we needed anything. I'm really happy that I took my family to Islands and I will be coming back soon.
(5)
RD H.
The food is very good. I had a native cheese burger and fries. Both were great. She had mahi mahi tacos which were, also, wonderful. The vegan choices were better than average. You can even substitute a veggie or turkey burger for any beef at no extra charge! It's been a while since our last visit, but we won't wait as long for the next one.
(4)
Renee M.
GREAT happy hour during football! All night on Mondays and Thursdays I believe, $3.25 well drinks yay! They even do an Islands raffle for halftime, you could win a $25 gift card! :) I've been coming here for years and have always been treated well, will keep coming back :)
(5)
Gipper R.
Great lunch specials. Love the sweet raspberry ice tea. Trey was our server and I think he was working the bar as well. Someone taught this young man well. Very polite and attentive. Thank you Trey we had a great lunch.
(5)
Karleen H.
It's a decent place to take kids for a burger or to meet friends for a drink and watch a game. Not impressed with the menu selection but what they do offer they do well enough. Really noisy, which makes it kid-friendly but not very relaxing.
Been here many times through the years and I've never been disappointed. I got the Malibu burger yesterday which I've never tried before and it was very good. The server was also very sweet and provided excellent service. Happy hour there is great too!
(5)
Kayleena S.
Islands has some decent burgers and fries. I love the tuna sandwich and cheese fries. The bar is pretty large and the eait during dinner is never too much.
(4)
Megan D.
My whole family loves coming here for great food and service! mmm they have the best special Long Island, I think its called the Big Island Iced Tea? Its mixed with pineapple and strawberry so be sure to order one of those! Every time I come here I get the same waitress and I wish I could remember her name, because she's always awesome. (I will update this when I see her again!) Here are some of my favorites: The Hula Burger with Island reds on the side (so they don't get soggy, they are soo good fresh and crispy!) The Kaanapali Cobb salad (everything you've dreamed of in a salad!) The Chicken Tortilla soup! YUM!! might just be the best I've ever had & The Bleunami burger w/ side of Island reds. They offer really good lunch specials and happy hour too!
(4)
Amanda R.
Javier was very attentive and a sweetheart! Food was great! I would recommend this place. I always leave happy!
(5)
Heather F.
Never really have anything bad to say about this place. Foods always good, service is decent, happy hour is great. If I lived closer I would be here more often so maybe that's a good thing. Lol. The burgers are awesome, the beach bowls are great, and the menu selection is awesome.
(4)
Stephanie G.
I have a gluten allergy, and hands down this has been the best place to eat with this allergy. They make sure that you are well taken care of. They also have a separate menu for gluten free items.
(5)
Jon D.
Good burgers and sandwiches. Usually ok fries. Tonight our food came out cold and overly crunchy. First bad experience here. They seemed under staffed tonight. The beer helped me forget about this trip to Islands. Better luck next time.
(3)
Keith A.
Good food, unlimited fries, lots of big tasty burger options. Burgers are a little pricey though. They also have salads and chicken sandwiches and other options. Some decent desserts like the kona pie too. Friendly staff and service. Brandy is very nice. Chain with a few locations nearby too.
(4)
Dan J.
The manager went out of his way to fix the order that we made the mistake on I was so impressed with him trying to make sure that we enjoyed our dinner..
(4)
Deb A.
UGH, cold burgers, cold fries, the beer was good. The manager dropped by to ask how everything was, we told him, he laughed and walked on. Tip: when someone tells you the food was bad, you may wish to explore that statement. Oh right, you really didn't care what was said, just the fact you asked. WAYYYY too expensive for what is produced. Never will go to this chain again.
(1)
Jay M.
I literally hate to do this but I have to, and I won't be returing soon. Try to know what is on your hamburgers before you serve them. Twice on separte occasions I ordered one hamburger and get another. Even McDonalds can do better. If you are going to have names for your hamburgers and other food try to get close to what they are when you serve them. What is the point in going out for dinner if you don't get what you want.
(1)
Janine I.
Excellent customer service! I have an allergy to canola oil and Island's uses it in all of their cooking. The server discussed it with me, then sent a manager over to be sure they understood and that my meal would be prepared without it. They went out of their way to be sure I wouldn't get sick and I was truly grateful. On top of that the salad was great!!
(5)
J B.
They have amazing tortilla soup. Service was great! Waiter was on it with my refills. Will defiantly be back when im in town
(5)
Megan M.
Funny story! My family and I left the house with intentions to go to a bbq place in vista, got there there was no seating, so we hopped into the car and decided to head to Islands (the baby was getting cranky and we knew this would be a good place with lots of visual stimulation) As soon as we walked through the doors we were greeted with a warm smile from the lovely hostess! She was so kind and whitty. With BBQ on the mind I ordered the Mavericks burgar, fries and a pale ale. The food was DELISH better then I've ever had at any other islands location (it being one of my dads favorite places I've been to my fair share) And I even got my beer compt because the beer rep was there! Awesome!!!! Over all I had a really great time I recomend this location!!
(4)
Glenn C.
Islands is one of my staples. I love the ICE COLD mugs, cold and fresh brews, as well as their consistent menu options. You really cant go wrong. The positives: This location of Islands is conveniently placed just off the 78. It is also right across the street from one of the best but slowest carwash in SoCal so we often find ourselves crossing the street to get a clod one. Consistently great food. Bottomless fries are either a positive or a wild negative for those of us watching the notches on our belts. Check the boxes on the avocado and bacon for your burgers and you wont be disappointed. Finally, many of the staff here are a hot bit of eye candy...or so I hear... The not so good: I have no issues with employees taking breaks but they should be limited to the side or the back booths of the house. Here they let the servers take up precious bar and bar table space during peak times. I have seen as many as 6 servers at and around the bar taking a break at peak hrs. The issue is limited seating forces patrons to wait for the employees to be done to get a seat at the bar. Additionally, all those folks seem to draw a crowd of more servers. You spend more time waiting for the servers to get done visiting with each other at the bar so you can get served. This also causes bar tables and spots at the bar to go 15-20 minutes before they get wiped down and ready for someone else to use. Otherwise this locale is really some stronger management away from being a strong 4 or even a 5 star for all it does right. Either way, you wont find a better place to get an ICE COLD brew, catch a game and get some good chow!
(3)
Gus L.
How did we end up at Islands? "I want a cold beer and a good burger"...and in this case this past weekend that seemingly simple problem was solved by Islands. I must say I am a fan of their Yaki tacos and Greek salad as well! The service here has always been good, the younger staff doesn't come off immature or childish, the food is consistently good...and the beer is always super cold.
(3)
Joe'll W.
A family favorite- ask the kids where they want to go- this is the place! Service is fast and friendly, food is always good and consistent, we all have our favorite meals! Drinks are great also!
(5)
Hasty K.
I started out as a customer and ended up being an employee for four years. I started as a host and worked my way up to server. The management is awesome! When I was there it was Jeff, Tom, and Matt, who were all like dad's to me. Some of my closets friends came from working at this restaurant. Even though I no longer work here, I am still a regular. The atmosphere is very fun and welcoming and the food is always consistently great! You can't go wrong coming here.
(5)
Jennifer M.
Okay, we made it back and ... I am glad we did. Absolutely no issues with the food this time around. All the food was cooked very nicely. Everything came out quickly. Our waitress, Taylor M., was extremely attentive! She walked to out table often to check on us, and make sure we didn't need anything. Our cups were never empty. Give the girl a raise! :-)
(4)
Lisa S.
I will not recommend this place to anyone! The mgr feels like the drink police making decisions to cut people off when he has no idea what's going on. Food was purchased and drinks were served one an hr and after three hours and three drinks it was the decision of management to discontinue serving drinks to me. I WAS a frequent customer! No more! I will not spend another dollar at this place nor will I recommend it to anyone. Chili's has my business! Had to rate it but didnt deserve it! Lousy call mr fat head mgr!
(1)
Keeana M.
I've been here before and I had a decent time, that's the only reason I gave it two stars. Yesterday, my husband and I decided to stop in and have some dinner and cocktails. I got turned away because I had an out of state license with a California address. The owner apologized and stated that his liquor license was too valuable. He also said that they tried to research this and found nothing. That's funny because when I did a quick google search I found a bunch of forms that military personnel fill out when they are a permanent resident of one state but reside in another for work. But Ok...and 4 different airports accept my ID (and that's in regards to national security) but your little crummy establishment doesn't... Right. Never will I go back to this place, because if they would have actually checked I'm sure they could have found the answers and saved me the embarrassment (and the dumb look on their faces).
(2)
Diamond D.
When in yesterday and had the Yaki tacos. Not even 10 minutes later I realized the tacos gave me food poisoning. I am still sick... Beware of this place!
(1)
Sarah S.
Mmmmm.. I love Islands. Hands down my most favorite fries EVER! Just don't look at the calorie count.. kills the mood every time. I don't have a favorite entree, they're all pretty good. I am not a fan of their wheat buns; I can't put my finger on why, but I always choose white. Turkey and veggie patties are great options, very tasty too. Onion rings are amazeballs. My newest favorite addition to the menu for summer is the I-Shandy. Not at all what I expected, but amazing! It is part Islands golden ale and part lemonade with a splash of mango.. delish! Very tropical, almost passionfruity with the perfect amount of carbonation. Servers are good and attentive at this location, I'll be back.
(4)
Gayle R.
Most people who go in the bar area do so to watch a little of the game and to relax and have a beer and burger....we are not amused at all to see children in this area...which today there were 2 tables with children. One child was actually sitting at the bar with his/her dad. Although these children were well mannered that is not always the case as we all know so well. I realize that if food is being served children are in these areas but ....PLEASE.....set the bar area aside for adult diners. We'd love to come back and enjoy a delicious burger and a beer ..... but not in the company of children in the Bar area
(2)
April R.
Islands is always a safe choice. The food is always good but not amazing. I like the BLT, the chicken tacos, cheese fries, and the tortilla soup. The mixed drinks are pretty good and the service average. I do like the decor, the fun island vibe with the surf videos playing. This is one of the few chain restaurants that I will go to. It is consistent and you know what to expect.
(3)
Vivianne V.
While the quality of food is consistently good and the beer is super cold like the Carlsbad location that we frequently visit, the level of service is simply not there. Granted, the staff is friendly but not very attentive. This is not the first time we have experienced this level of service at this location. On several occasions, my husband and I have seen the bartender socialize excessively on the side of the bar with other wait staff that are either on or off duty. The priority to serve fellow servers outweighs the desire to provide superior customer service to the actual patrons. I am not sure if it is by chance that every time we visit the Vista location it is "industry night" at the bar, but it sure feels like it.
(3)
Tom S.
I love this place it's so good and the service is the best so I was there the other day and I really like the place are you there is often as I can always hungry are probably should lose weight but still I just I got a ferrets best place in the world my whole family loves it to
(4)
Joshy F.
Always get the Kiluauea burger. It's Spicy and Fries are are fresh cut. With a beer, was just over $18.
(4)
Judy S.
came in for a burger fix. the food was on par but the service stunk! we were already having some issues among ourselves and were trying to have a good meal at least but the waitress was too busy to wait on us, short w/ us and just not very nice. I know we all have our bad days as we were but you can't bring it to work especially as a server. Terrible experience, will never come back!
(2)
Will C.
For a quick lunch or dinner, it's good. Always know what I'm going to get, and have always had great service here. Pretty good lunch deals, too.
(4)
Brianna C.
My boyfriend and I ordered our burgers and he asked for no mayo and no onion when it came out unfortunately the burger had both. Without skipping a beat they brought out a new burger and took it off our bill without us asking. Our waitress Brandy was so sweet and went out of her way to keep us happy! Everyone should come here, great service and great food.
(4)
Chris L.
Clean, comfortable, and quick service. I'm not a fan of chain restaurants, but this place is fine for a good burger in a pinch. Leans towards a little pricey, but now that McDonalds charges almost eight bucks for a crappy Bic Mac meal, this place is a much better bang/buck proposition. They have Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on tap, best beer ever made in the history of beer and we typically don't patronize places that serve elsewise. The trick is to order a Rosorita burger. It is no longer on the menu, but it's the best thing Islands has ever concocted and they'll still make it when requested (I hear it's the manager's favorite too so he won't let it go away).
(4)
Ryan S.
I enjoy this place because of the surfer/cool guy atmosphere. They play big wave videos and stuff like that while you're sitting there eating. Its just enough to entertain you without distracting you completely. The food is better than your average bar and the fries are never ending (for free). I really enjoy this place. The Yaki tacos are Amazing. The strawberry lemonade is delicious. I also get the jalapeño burger quite often.
(4)
Nino R.
If you're looking for a burger and a beer, then Islands should be on your map. Is this heresy? Am I going to lose my badge for this? I don't think so. Yes, Islands is a chain. About 50 restaurants or so. But they do things right. My GF and I, along with 2 friends, spent a few hours here for lunch on Saturday. It was about 2pm, so the restaurant was fairly slow, but our server (Cherokee) was on point. She kept our drinks full and food was on the table as soon as it was off the grill. I had 2 pints of their home brewed Brown Ale and my GF had the Golden Ale. The brown is very similar in flavor to Newcastle while the golden is like a great tasting Coors Banquet Beer and both are less than $5 a pint. We shared a small bowl of their, very good, tortilla soup for starters. I had the Mavericks Burger and she had the Turkey Burger Lite as our mains. Mavericks Burger was great and cooked perfectly (medium) and came with a side of endless fries. Those fries are good. So cripsy and hot. I had 2 refills, but don't worry, I shared with the table. My GF enjoyed her turkey burger, so I guess that's a worthy option if you're not into meat. Our friends were originally hesitant to eat at Islands. Luckily my forcefulness paid off. They had their eyes opened here. Islands will now be in their burger and beer rotation. Other good burgers include the Point Break and Pipeline. If you've got kids, then Islands is a perfect fit for you. But if you want to get away from those kids, there's plenty of room at bar for you. Parking is ok, but this is a busy shopping center so be vigilant. Open those eyes...
(3)
Jenn B.
Date night with the hubby. We were greeted right away by the host team and sat at a table. It didn't take long to be greeted by our waitress. She was efficient and the rest of the team displayed great team work by pre bussing, dropping drinks and food. My husband and I ordered a side salad and a burger. I asked for Medium and he asked for well done, weirdo. My only complaints for the meals were that the salad just seemed like a bunch of red cabbage and shredded lettuce with a little tomatoes and croutons. No cheese ...I like cheese in my salad. But I'm sure if I had asked for it I would have received some but I didn't bother. The burgers came out right after we finished the salads, perfect timing. Mine was cooked perfectly and so was the well done one for my hubby. The other complaint I have is that I love the fries...and my basket seemed to have a bunch of scrappy ones. Once again, I am sure if I asked for new ones I would have received them. Overall a nice night out. Thanks Islands!
(4)
Frank Lee Wong Z.
Kids eat free on Tuesday. Maybe I shouldn't have posted this.. But 2 free kid meals with 1 paid adult. The bartender is the best! My family loves her so much. We eat at the bar so we can chat with her while having dinner. Come for happy hour and its under $5 a drink. This place gets crowed on Tuesday. So expect to wait 30 minutes+ if you come after 5:30. I wish the food was better so I can give it more than 4 stars.
(4)
Cynthis A.
I was contacted by the Regional Manager of Islands, and he gave me a Islands gift card to come back and try it again. I have to say that the manager is very professional. I appreciate workers that always make room for improvements. Not only did I go back and try food again which was above my expectations, but it also taught me to say never say never. kudos to the Regional Manager for caring for his business and his customers. ;)
(4)
Tim H.
The YAKI tacos hit the spot.
(4)
Humberto G.
Since they are down the street, Island's is the place where I come for a quick burger or taco. Service can be slow here, but depends on the server. I'll have one of two things, the Hawaiian Burger or the Yaki taco's If you like a sweet kick (pineapple slices)to your burger, definitely try the burger. While I am spoiled to what a real taco is like, these are my favorite dish. Chicken teriyaki in a tortilla? Sounds funny but they are quite tasty. Maybe I just like their teriyaki sauce. Either way, try some if you want something a little different. What's better than a side of fries? Unlimited fries, as they you don't have to order a side to go with your burger/sandwich. While the fries aren't "the best", they'll work to satisfy your fry urge. They do get better if they are the smothered in cheese, which is a good appetizer if you aren't counting calories. Their Passion Fruit Iced Tea is really good, and sometimes I'll come here on a hot day just to have a few of these. Overall a good place to have a restaurant style burger that doesn't hurt the wallet too much.
(3)
Daniel R.
great food great staff cant complain. when possible i request Brenden he always provides excellent service and knowledge of the menu.
(4)
Sara B.
As soon as i could get over the SMELL of the place. ((dirty beer bar mats)) i got to try the worst fish tacos EVER!!. they tasted freezer burned then warmed up in a microwave for a min or so. Service sucked. We seen our waiter to take our order and give us the check. Any other help was from random staff members. Its to bad though since this is the only real restaurant for awhile on melrose. Our search continues though. we will not be back.
(1)
Heather P.
Great price, food, and beer selection during happy hour! Sit in the bar for happy hour, great quick service.
(5)
Jeanette U.
Our first time to this location. The wait was long but had a FANTASTIC waitress Jennifer who cheered us up :) The Maverick Burger was made perfect to his taste. We would return to the Vista location just to sit in her area.
(4)
TJ P.
Boy it's easy to pack away about 3,500 calories here. Went with friends and we split an order of cheddar fries (2700 calories)... oh wait, we added chili on the side (200 more). Couple drinks at 200 calories each. Here's my healthy taco entree. It's only 1400 more calories. Man, that dessert looks good! What? It's 1300 calories? What the heck! Let's get it! I must admit. It was all tasty. But I felt so damn guilty running up that clock in my head. I mean I could have had three Big Mac meals at MickeyDs for what I packed away in one sitting at Islands. Tasty though... Damned tasty...
(3)
Aron D.
I love the Kona Pie; especially when I get it free on my Birthday. Brenda was our waitress and she did a good job last night. Thank you folks!
(4)
Doug S.
I usually enjoy Islands, however I will not go to this particular islands again. I was in a party of 6 and we were told that the wait would be 15 minutes. It ended up being more like 35 minutes, which I could have accepted had I been told that the wait would be that long originally. It also was a more difficult to accept with the four children that I was with. It became even more difficult when a party of 5, who came in after us, was seated before us. And within 5 minutes of getting there. When we were finally seated, it took our server a long time to acknowledge us and once she did, it took an excessive amount of time for her to get us our drink order. The food was fine and came in a timely manner, however the wait was excuriating.
(2)
Scott T.
can't say i'm surprised at the lukewarm reviews -- ISLANDS is a chain that all the surf barn atmosphere and hula-girl kitsch in the world can't save if the food isn't great -- and it's not. this is just a place to escape the dreary tedium when you've hung around the court house all morning after getting one of those nasty jury duty summons. my burger (medium-rare KAHUNA with pepper jack cheese) was not distinctive (or medium rare). not bad but not really good either -- just okay. the FRIES (kudos for fresh cut) never seem to come out right -- the sugars brown before the get starches crisp. then again, when the server brought a basket of the bottomless spuds for the table, they all got eaten. we got charged full price (not the lunch special price) but it was quickly and cheerfully corrected when we brought it to our server's attention. well, the beer's cold. that's always a good thing.
(2)
Sean L.
My family and I went out to Islands tonight to get a quick fix. We have been going to the Vista and Carlsbad locations for years because we've always liked the food. This time was great because we didn't feel rushed about getting in and out of the restaurant so the waitress could turn another check. We were able to take our time so our 3 year old could eat at a slow pace. I believe our waitress was named Margaret.. Very courteous and patient as we needed a little extra time. Good experience!
(4)
Gena L.
I have tried this Islands about 10 times. The first couple of times it was decent and it was all downhill from there. The last couple of times it was pretty bad so I won't be going back. I do have to add that I have always taken it to go and I'm not sure if that has something to do with the quality or not.
(2)
C L.
called, on hold for 4+ minutes while checking if the bar had southern comfort. WTF? called back and they didn't have it. this means they have been out for over a week. female tender said they normally carry it. fuck.
(1)
Tim M.
It's not fair to this particular Islands, but I just think Islands in general is not a great place to eat. Very limited menu and what little they do have I can find better pretty much anywhere. Maybe happy hour is worth it, but that's about it for me.
(2)
J R.
I'm kind of surprised this place has such cruddy ratings.. Admittedly I'm not a HUGE burger person but I'm a bit of a foodie, so when I want a burger I want a DELICIOUS FREAKING BURGER. But, be it that I'm female and nuttier than banana bread, I'm on a permanent diet. This is where ALTERNATIVE BURGERS step in! If money were no issue it'd be buffalo all the way but it's a resection people! Islands has the BEST VEGGIE BURGERS EVER. I'm a sworn carnivore - I cringe at the thought of tofu or soy. But 1300 in a single meal is a hard buy for me. (that's what I usually consume in an entire day). It was full of flavor and crispy on the outside! Perfection. Turkey burgers are pretty good too. The service has been great every time I've come here. We have refills on our drinks right after they hit the half way mark and my waitresses have always been very accommodating. Their house beer isn't anything to write home about but it's a refreshing alternative to the big brand lagers.
(4)
Thom H.
I have eaten here many times. Besides the burgers, I have tired the salads and the wraps. All the meals have been delicious. Prices are not out of the ordinary and the service was very good & friendly. Tonight we had a very pleasant surprise, after we were through eating, the manager, through the loud speaker system, told the entire restaurant, that they wanted to show their appreciation to their customers and that they entire meal, sans the alcohol, was on them. As in free! Yeeha!!! Even the deserts, but we already had plans to have ice cream elsewhere and others were going to meet us there, so we passed on the dessert. Bummer. Anyways, a very nice experience. The manager told us that they started doing this about a month ago and do it about once per month.
(4)
Chantel B.
went here for a quick bite w ma boyfriend and best friend... not bad... good shyt!! got the teri chx sandwich, and it was all OVER the place lol!! first set of fries were cold and ugly, but the server was nice enough to replace em. Good STuff! BOTTOM LINE... good price, good food, nuff said!
(4)
Toni B.
I usually eat at the bar less crowded, food arrives faster and better service.... Food is always awesome.... With every order I always get there tortilla soup... hot or cold day their soup is soo freaken good...
(4)
Tracy S.
Where to start with islands.... First off the waitress we had was pretty dingy. Second the food was not great. Third the food was over seasoned and dry (burgers). The wrap was small and full of lettuce...where is the meat? Was very disappointed. Been here twice, and both times it was like this....very disappointed.
(2)
Romeo C.
Island burgers are the biz! I ordered the Kilauea Burger with onion rings and ranch dressing -- very delicious and filling! My GF got fries so we were able to get endless fries as well! Service was great, prices are reasonable and was located pretty close to our house!
(4)
Debra H.
I go to Islands quite a bit... The one in Irvine, and Laguna Niguel have the best servers and the best food... I always order the same thing Shore Bird, and now that it comes with fries that is even better... I ordered the same thing this location, I was very dissapointed Chicken was cold, and the fries tasted like they were made the day before... I won't be going back to this location...
(1)
Aimee L.
I've been here one other time before. It's nothing to really rant or rave about. I was deciding whether to go here or to Chilli's and I picked Island's. I ordered the mediocre tortilla soup and the chicken fingers, or whatever they were called. The food was fresh and my server was timid. If I feel like having a place to chat over some food I would go back once in the next five years.
(2)
Bob G.
Good burgers, sometimes great burgers... and there are other items, too, for those who don't want a burger. We've had people rave about the food, while others were disappointed. Everything seems to be right on the edge of pricey... not quite too high for what you get, but almost. Then again, what restaurant isn't this way anymore? Also, the place can be quite noisy... but that seems to be the way restaurants are designed these days. The service is OK - sometimes really good, sometimes not so much. How would I give an overall description of this place to someone who has never been there? If you think of a Chili's with a Hawaiian-ish /surf-ish decor, you've pretty much got it.
(3)
Scott B.
So like I've"ve been with DAD allot coaching him at the court house and we eat at Islands twice this week. The first time just the two of us and the burgers were cool Hockey Pocks, cold I mean cold lettuce & onions and our Buns were a little maybe stale. Good lemonade and onion rings. The second time we brought our cheer leaders, this time it was good may be cause I had soft fish tacos. Service was pretty good we were back to the court room on time. Well we had an hour & a half and we got back in an hour and fifteen minetos. There was a jury member there so we had to hold it down about all the lies!!!!
(4)
Jenna R.
I hate this place. My sister loves it so for some reason we always end up going there but it's just diner food with islandy crap added to it.
(1)
Michael S.
I think our server's name was BRAD but he was just BAD. One of the ladies we were with ordered a seven & seven; which contains only Seagrams No. 7 and 7-Up. How do you mess that up? Well, she got a whiskey neat which had to be sent back twice. Aside from the mixed drink fiasco the 25 oz beers were cold and I think about 5 bucks or so. The food was just aight... tacos and salads were ordered around. I did dig that the bottomless chips were in fact bottomless and the guac and salsa was refilled. Overall, Islands is just a Hawaiian themed Chile's.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : No Caters : No
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Cristyn T.
Now, I would not normally give such a high rating to a chain restaurant, but this Islands is the exception. I rarely ever visit large chain restaurants unless a stinky boy drags me there. Unfortunately for me, the last visit to a chain was less than a week prior to this visit and it was the Islands in Leucadia with a stinky boy. The food at that Islands was kinda ehh (3-stars for that experience), but at least it wasn't Hometown Buffet. I think I need to find me a man to take me to nicer places! I guess that's beside the point... Anyway, I gave this particular Islands mad props because of their generosity and hospitality to our school. My colleague put together an end-of-the-year incentive outing/recycling program for the kids in our classroom. The kids had to raise money by recycling to fund an end-of-the-year outing. My colleague discussed our plan with the manager at this Islands right down the street from our school and the manager provided us with certificates for free kids meals! NICE!!! We ended up raising $60 through recycling for the 6 kids that earned the outing, so this deal really helped us out! The kids could also order dessert with the money we raised. When we got to the restaurant, we were seated promptly and the servers were very attentive to us through the whole experience. Free refills on drinks and free refills on fries???? SWEET! Drinks and fries kept on coming and the kids were pumped on that! I ordered the lunch special for $7.95 which included the drink and endless fries. The burger I had was nice and fatty, which I'm always a fan of. Was it the best burger ever? No. But did I like my food more because I had a great experience? Yes! The food came out quickly considering the size of our group. I was very impressed with how accomodating they were to our group. Thank you Islands for making the day of 6 kids and 4 staff members! There's a lesson to be learned here kids: being kind and generous will get you far in life. Islands may not serve the most delicious food, but by showing us kindness, we had a memorable and enjoyable experience!
(4)L O.
Great customer service from walking in the door to when we walked out and great food. The burger was a little under cooked, both my waitress, Brandi, and the manager, Matt, were extremely accommodating. Also, huge beer for not too bad of a price, not a huge selection though.
(4)Brandie B.
OMG do they have anything remotely healthy here? I think I ended up ordering some fish tacos here. They were decent, but the service was kinda crappy and I think the food was overpriced. I coulda just gone to Rubios and had just as good of tacos. Oh well.
(2)Maria B.
I tried Islands for the first time a couple weeks ago. I met some friends there for our weekly dinner and we had the nicest server. I think his name was Jonathan, and even though he misheard my friend who didn't want jalapenos on her nachos, I give him a thumbs up. The decor is kitschy Hawaiian/Tiki themed and the food is not terribly healthy--not that I was expecting it to be. It was just nothing special. One of those places I wouldn't necessarily seek out, but if someone wanted to go I wouldn't balk at the idea. They do take out service which is probably a good way to go if you want some simple burger and fries or tacos and want something a step above fast food.
(3)Vanessa F.
This yelp should have been posted about 4 months ago sorry it's late. Food here is always great cheddar cheese fries and trade wind shake is my usual, but on this particular I wanted to thank the store manager for going above and beyond to get my little brothers kedama toy back. My little brother is 12 and our father past away about 4 years ago needless to say my mom and little brother have had a hard time adjusting. So when he forgot his kedama at the restraunt my mom freaked out on him so I went in and asked the manager if we could get it back. Unfortunately they donated my little brothers toy with the rest of lost and found. But because there was a miscommunication between the person I talked on the phone with saying that the toy would be there, the manager and the district manager order my little brother a new kedama. It's not the toy that gives this place 5 stars it's the people that work there. Thank you islands for hiring people who care :)
(5)Vanessa F.
This yelp should have been posted about 4 months ago sorry it's late. Food here is always great cheddar cheese fries and trade wind shake is my usual, but on this particular I wanted to thank the store manager for going above and beyond to get my little brothers kedama toy back. My little brother is 12 and our father past away about 4 years ago needless to say my mom and little brother have had a hard time adjusting. So when he forgot his kedama at the restraunt my mom freaked out on him so I went in and asked the manager if we could get it back. Unfortunately they donated my little brothers toy with the rest of lost and found. But because there was a miscommunication between the person I talked on the phone with saying that the toy would be there, the manager and the district manager order my little brother a new kedama. It's not the toy that gives this place 5 stars it's the people that work there. Thank you islands for hiring people who care :)
(5)Elle N.
We haven't been to Islands in so long! My husband and I ventured out to run some errands and decided to return here for lunch. It's really refreshing to go back to a restaurant that you haven't been to in so long. We started out with an order of fries. They were not as good as I remembered - they seemed overcooked on this day (and a good reason for a 4 star vs 5 star rating). The side of ranch for dipping was good (not everyone has a tasty ranch)! I ordered the BLT with Avocado and it was well prepared with great taste. I realized that I missed the tropical ice tea they make, it is one of the best tasting iced teas out there. I almost forgot the Kona Pie (Islands version of the coffee mud pie), it is quite good too. Most impressive was the staff and service. Our server was Katia who did a great job (reminds me of Marley from Glee). The place was super clean from the tables to the bathroom. Islands really has it right for a smaller chain with just the right size menu and variety...there is something here for everyone!
(4)Marcus F.
A good lunch sport when visiting the Vista Courthouse. Trials can last several days which means you're on the hook for lunch. Islands is more than adequate for a quick, filling, and tropical themed escapism. Most people are well acquainted with the items here, but I tried something new. I ordered the Turkey Burger on a white bun. This "burger" was basically seasoned ground turkey smashed into an hash oval. Whatever, it worked and tasted pretty good. The white bun that came with my burger was different than everyone else's bun. - Quick - Safe - As always, simply amazing passion iced tea.
(3)Kayla S.
Take-Out can sometimes be a drag just as much as dining. Islands has executed the process. Calling in an order is simple, and the service is quick. They come out to your car and take car of everything there. Always double check the order when taking out only because your food experience should be just as good when eating "out". They left my ranch. No hard feelings, but it dampened the experience to walk out of the car and grab another one. However, their speed made up for the mishap.
(4)Lindsey M.
Hang my head in a bit of shame due to the fact that my signif other and I strolled in around 10:15pm, knowing darn well the place closes at 11pm. The staff didn't seem phased at all by our cutting it close to closing-time! Not a huff nor puff from the young gentlemen that helped us that evening. The service was speedy, but it could have been due to the time of night: kitchen staff wanting to go home, therefore cooking faster? Fewer people in house to have to cook meals for and serve food to? Who knows, but our food was on our table moments after we ordered. Hawaiian burger and sweet potato fries: +Flavorful. Mmmmm, pineapple! +Giant proportions. -Burger became soggy and harder to manager after each bite +Fries were on point! Favorite part of the meal. Mai Tai: -Expected the typical tropical essence of the drink, ended up lacking the fruity flavors I was desperately seeking. -All alcohol. Fine by me in most cases, but not in this instance. I was most impressed by how accommodating and polite the staff was on our impromptu, late night visit. Bummer was that the food didn't exactly WOW me. I'd try it again though.
(3)Gina C.
My husband and I enjoy coming here for a quick dinner and a beer. We've always had efficient and friendly service. However, the 3 stars is mainly for when we order take out. They never seem to get our order correct- which is odd because we've never had that issue dining in. We live close so of course we will always return :)
(3)Michael A.
I took out my family to this restaurant and I am happy that I did. From the beginning we were received by friendly employees. The place was full because it was on a Friday night so we had to wait for a table. We only waited about 5 minutes until we got a table. We order our food and waited. Mean while the employees got us our drinks fast. The food was delicious. We order hamburgers and the tortilla soup. All the employees were friendly and were checking on us regularly to see if we needed anything. I'm really happy that I took my family to Islands and I will be coming back soon.
(5)RD H.
The food is very good. I had a native cheese burger and fries. Both were great. She had mahi mahi tacos which were, also, wonderful. The vegan choices were better than average. You can even substitute a veggie or turkey burger for any beef at no extra charge! It's been a while since our last visit, but we won't wait as long for the next one.
(4)Renee M.
GREAT happy hour during football! All night on Mondays and Thursdays I believe, $3.25 well drinks yay! They even do an Islands raffle for halftime, you could win a $25 gift card! :) I've been coming here for years and have always been treated well, will keep coming back :)
(5)Gipper R.
Great lunch specials. Love the sweet raspberry ice tea. Trey was our server and I think he was working the bar as well. Someone taught this young man well. Very polite and attentive. Thank you Trey we had a great lunch.
(5)Karleen H.
It's a decent place to take kids for a burger or to meet friends for a drink and watch a game. Not impressed with the menu selection but what they do offer they do well enough. Really noisy, which makes it kid-friendly but not very relaxing.
(3)DawnMarie F.
Like coming here when I visit my Mom. We usually split a burger and fries. Sometimes the fries taste stale like cardboard. Think they make too many and they sit too long. Ask your server for fresh fries. Also recommend staying away from sautéed or caramelized anything, way to much grease applied in kitchen. Service is typically good and friendly. Feeling like a guilty pleasure you are sure to be satisfied.
(3)Syntha C.
Been here many times through the years and I've never been disappointed. I got the Malibu burger yesterday which I've never tried before and it was very good. The server was also very sweet and provided excellent service. Happy hour there is great too!
(5)Kayleena S.
Islands has some decent burgers and fries. I love the tuna sandwich and cheese fries. The bar is pretty large and the eait during dinner is never too much.
(4)Megan D.
My whole family loves coming here for great food and service! mmm they have the best special Long Island, I think its called the Big Island Iced Tea? Its mixed with pineapple and strawberry so be sure to order one of those! Every time I come here I get the same waitress and I wish I could remember her name, because she's always awesome. (I will update this when I see her again!) Here are some of my favorites: The Hula Burger with Island reds on the side (so they don't get soggy, they are soo good fresh and crispy!) The Kaanapali Cobb salad (everything you've dreamed of in a salad!) The Chicken Tortilla soup! YUM!! might just be the best I've ever had & The Bleunami burger w/ side of Island reds. They offer really good lunch specials and happy hour too!
(4)Amanda R.
Javier was very attentive and a sweetheart! Food was great! I would recommend this place. I always leave happy!
(5)Heather F.
Never really have anything bad to say about this place. Foods always good, service is decent, happy hour is great. If I lived closer I would be here more often so maybe that's a good thing. Lol. The burgers are awesome, the beach bowls are great, and the menu selection is awesome.
(4)Stephanie G.
I have a gluten allergy, and hands down this has been the best place to eat with this allergy. They make sure that you are well taken care of. They also have a separate menu for gluten free items.
(5)Jon D.
Good burgers and sandwiches. Usually ok fries. Tonight our food came out cold and overly crunchy. First bad experience here. They seemed under staffed tonight. The beer helped me forget about this trip to Islands. Better luck next time.
(3)Keith A.
Good food, unlimited fries, lots of big tasty burger options. Burgers are a little pricey though. They also have salads and chicken sandwiches and other options. Some decent desserts like the kona pie too. Friendly staff and service. Brandy is very nice. Chain with a few locations nearby too.
(4)Dan J.
The manager went out of his way to fix the order that we made the mistake on I was so impressed with him trying to make sure that we enjoyed our dinner..
(4)Deb A.
UGH, cold burgers, cold fries, the beer was good. The manager dropped by to ask how everything was, we told him, he laughed and walked on. Tip: when someone tells you the food was bad, you may wish to explore that statement. Oh right, you really didn't care what was said, just the fact you asked. WAYYYY too expensive for what is produced. Never will go to this chain again.
(1)Jay M.
I literally hate to do this but I have to, and I won't be returing soon. Try to know what is on your hamburgers before you serve them. Twice on separte occasions I ordered one hamburger and get another. Even McDonalds can do better. If you are going to have names for your hamburgers and other food try to get close to what they are when you serve them. What is the point in going out for dinner if you don't get what you want.
(1)Janine I.
Excellent customer service! I have an allergy to canola oil and Island's uses it in all of their cooking. The server discussed it with me, then sent a manager over to be sure they understood and that my meal would be prepared without it. They went out of their way to be sure I wouldn't get sick and I was truly grateful. On top of that the salad was great!!
(5)J B.
They have amazing tortilla soup. Service was great! Waiter was on it with my refills. Will defiantly be back when im in town
(5)Megan M.
Funny story! My family and I left the house with intentions to go to a bbq place in vista, got there there was no seating, so we hopped into the car and decided to head to Islands (the baby was getting cranky and we knew this would be a good place with lots of visual stimulation) As soon as we walked through the doors we were greeted with a warm smile from the lovely hostess! She was so kind and whitty. With BBQ on the mind I ordered the Mavericks burgar, fries and a pale ale. The food was DELISH better then I've ever had at any other islands location (it being one of my dads favorite places I've been to my fair share) And I even got my beer compt because the beer rep was there! Awesome!!!! Over all I had a really great time I recomend this location!!
(4)Glenn C.
Islands is one of my staples. I love the ICE COLD mugs, cold and fresh brews, as well as their consistent menu options. You really cant go wrong. The positives: This location of Islands is conveniently placed just off the 78. It is also right across the street from one of the best but slowest carwash in SoCal so we often find ourselves crossing the street to get a clod one. Consistently great food. Bottomless fries are either a positive or a wild negative for those of us watching the notches on our belts. Check the boxes on the avocado and bacon for your burgers and you wont be disappointed. Finally, many of the staff here are a hot bit of eye candy...or so I hear... The not so good: I have no issues with employees taking breaks but they should be limited to the side or the back booths of the house. Here they let the servers take up precious bar and bar table space during peak times. I have seen as many as 6 servers at and around the bar taking a break at peak hrs. The issue is limited seating forces patrons to wait for the employees to be done to get a seat at the bar. Additionally, all those folks seem to draw a crowd of more servers. You spend more time waiting for the servers to get done visiting with each other at the bar so you can get served. This also causes bar tables and spots at the bar to go 15-20 minutes before they get wiped down and ready for someone else to use. Otherwise this locale is really some stronger management away from being a strong 4 or even a 5 star for all it does right. Either way, you wont find a better place to get an ICE COLD brew, catch a game and get some good chow!
(3)Gus L.
How did we end up at Islands? "I want a cold beer and a good burger"...and in this case this past weekend that seemingly simple problem was solved by Islands. I must say I am a fan of their Yaki tacos and Greek salad as well! The service here has always been good, the younger staff doesn't come off immature or childish, the food is consistently good...and the beer is always super cold.
(3)Joe'll W.
A family favorite- ask the kids where they want to go- this is the place! Service is fast and friendly, food is always good and consistent, we all have our favorite meals! Drinks are great also!
(5)Hasty K.
I started out as a customer and ended up being an employee for four years. I started as a host and worked my way up to server. The management is awesome! When I was there it was Jeff, Tom, and Matt, who were all like dad's to me. Some of my closets friends came from working at this restaurant. Even though I no longer work here, I am still a regular. The atmosphere is very fun and welcoming and the food is always consistently great! You can't go wrong coming here.
(5)Jennifer M.
Okay, we made it back and ... I am glad we did. Absolutely no issues with the food this time around. All the food was cooked very nicely. Everything came out quickly. Our waitress, Taylor M., was extremely attentive! She walked to out table often to check on us, and make sure we didn't need anything. Our cups were never empty. Give the girl a raise! :-)
(4)Lisa S.
I will not recommend this place to anyone! The mgr feels like the drink police making decisions to cut people off when he has no idea what's going on. Food was purchased and drinks were served one an hr and after three hours and three drinks it was the decision of management to discontinue serving drinks to me. I WAS a frequent customer! No more! I will not spend another dollar at this place nor will I recommend it to anyone. Chili's has my business! Had to rate it but didnt deserve it! Lousy call mr fat head mgr!
(1)Keeana M.
I've been here before and I had a decent time, that's the only reason I gave it two stars. Yesterday, my husband and I decided to stop in and have some dinner and cocktails. I got turned away because I had an out of state license with a California address. The owner apologized and stated that his liquor license was too valuable. He also said that they tried to research this and found nothing. That's funny because when I did a quick google search I found a bunch of forms that military personnel fill out when they are a permanent resident of one state but reside in another for work. But Ok...and 4 different airports accept my ID (and that's in regards to national security) but your little crummy establishment doesn't... Right. Never will I go back to this place, because if they would have actually checked I'm sure they could have found the answers and saved me the embarrassment (and the dumb look on their faces).
(2)Diamond D.
When in yesterday and had the Yaki tacos. Not even 10 minutes later I realized the tacos gave me food poisoning. I am still sick... Beware of this place!
(1)Sarah S.
Mmmmm.. I love Islands. Hands down my most favorite fries EVER! Just don't look at the calorie count.. kills the mood every time. I don't have a favorite entree, they're all pretty good. I am not a fan of their wheat buns; I can't put my finger on why, but I always choose white. Turkey and veggie patties are great options, very tasty too. Onion rings are amazeballs. My newest favorite addition to the menu for summer is the I-Shandy. Not at all what I expected, but amazing! It is part Islands golden ale and part lemonade with a splash of mango.. delish! Very tropical, almost passionfruity with the perfect amount of carbonation. Servers are good and attentive at this location, I'll be back.
(4)Gayle R.
Most people who go in the bar area do so to watch a little of the game and to relax and have a beer and burger....we are not amused at all to see children in this area...which today there were 2 tables with children. One child was actually sitting at the bar with his/her dad. Although these children were well mannered that is not always the case as we all know so well. I realize that if food is being served children are in these areas but ....PLEASE.....set the bar area aside for adult diners. We'd love to come back and enjoy a delicious burger and a beer ..... but not in the company of children in the Bar area
(2)April R.
Islands is always a safe choice. The food is always good but not amazing. I like the BLT, the chicken tacos, cheese fries, and the tortilla soup. The mixed drinks are pretty good and the service average. I do like the decor, the fun island vibe with the surf videos playing. This is one of the few chain restaurants that I will go to. It is consistent and you know what to expect.
(3)Vivianne V.
While the quality of food is consistently good and the beer is super cold like the Carlsbad location that we frequently visit, the level of service is simply not there. Granted, the staff is friendly but not very attentive. This is not the first time we have experienced this level of service at this location. On several occasions, my husband and I have seen the bartender socialize excessively on the side of the bar with other wait staff that are either on or off duty. The priority to serve fellow servers outweighs the desire to provide superior customer service to the actual patrons. I am not sure if it is by chance that every time we visit the Vista location it is "industry night" at the bar, but it sure feels like it.
(3)Tom S.
I love this place it's so good and the service is the best so I was there the other day and I really like the place are you there is often as I can always hungry are probably should lose weight but still I just I got a ferrets best place in the world my whole family loves it to
(4)Joshy F.
Always get the Kiluauea burger. It's Spicy and Fries are are fresh cut. With a beer, was just over $18.
(4)Judy S.
came in for a burger fix. the food was on par but the service stunk! we were already having some issues among ourselves and were trying to have a good meal at least but the waitress was too busy to wait on us, short w/ us and just not very nice. I know we all have our bad days as we were but you can't bring it to work especially as a server. Terrible experience, will never come back!
(2)Will C.
For a quick lunch or dinner, it's good. Always know what I'm going to get, and have always had great service here. Pretty good lunch deals, too.
(4)Brianna C.
My boyfriend and I ordered our burgers and he asked for no mayo and no onion when it came out unfortunately the burger had both. Without skipping a beat they brought out a new burger and took it off our bill without us asking. Our waitress Brandy was so sweet and went out of her way to keep us happy! Everyone should come here, great service and great food.
(4)Chris L.
Clean, comfortable, and quick service. I'm not a fan of chain restaurants, but this place is fine for a good burger in a pinch. Leans towards a little pricey, but now that McDonalds charges almost eight bucks for a crappy Bic Mac meal, this place is a much better bang/buck proposition. They have Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on tap, best beer ever made in the history of beer and we typically don't patronize places that serve elsewise. The trick is to order a Rosorita burger. It is no longer on the menu, but it's the best thing Islands has ever concocted and they'll still make it when requested (I hear it's the manager's favorite too so he won't let it go away).
(4)Ryan S.
I enjoy this place because of the surfer/cool guy atmosphere. They play big wave videos and stuff like that while you're sitting there eating. Its just enough to entertain you without distracting you completely. The food is better than your average bar and the fries are never ending (for free). I really enjoy this place. The Yaki tacos are Amazing. The strawberry lemonade is delicious. I also get the jalapeño burger quite often.
(4)Nino R.
If you're looking for a burger and a beer, then Islands should be on your map. Is this heresy? Am I going to lose my badge for this? I don't think so. Yes, Islands is a chain. About 50 restaurants or so. But they do things right. My GF and I, along with 2 friends, spent a few hours here for lunch on Saturday. It was about 2pm, so the restaurant was fairly slow, but our server (Cherokee) was on point. She kept our drinks full and food was on the table as soon as it was off the grill. I had 2 pints of their home brewed Brown Ale and my GF had the Golden Ale. The brown is very similar in flavor to Newcastle while the golden is like a great tasting Coors Banquet Beer and both are less than $5 a pint. We shared a small bowl of their, very good, tortilla soup for starters. I had the Mavericks Burger and she had the Turkey Burger Lite as our mains. Mavericks Burger was great and cooked perfectly (medium) and came with a side of endless fries. Those fries are good. So cripsy and hot. I had 2 refills, but don't worry, I shared with the table. My GF enjoyed her turkey burger, so I guess that's a worthy option if you're not into meat. Our friends were originally hesitant to eat at Islands. Luckily my forcefulness paid off. They had their eyes opened here. Islands will now be in their burger and beer rotation. Other good burgers include the Point Break and Pipeline. If you've got kids, then Islands is a perfect fit for you. But if you want to get away from those kids, there's plenty of room at bar for you. Parking is ok, but this is a busy shopping center so be vigilant. Open those eyes...
(3)Jenn B.
Date night with the hubby. We were greeted right away by the host team and sat at a table. It didn't take long to be greeted by our waitress. She was efficient and the rest of the team displayed great team work by pre bussing, dropping drinks and food. My husband and I ordered a side salad and a burger. I asked for Medium and he asked for well done, weirdo. My only complaints for the meals were that the salad just seemed like a bunch of red cabbage and shredded lettuce with a little tomatoes and croutons. No cheese ...I like cheese in my salad. But I'm sure if I had asked for it I would have received some but I didn't bother. The burgers came out right after we finished the salads, perfect timing. Mine was cooked perfectly and so was the well done one for my hubby. The other complaint I have is that I love the fries...and my basket seemed to have a bunch of scrappy ones. Once again, I am sure if I asked for new ones I would have received them. Overall a nice night out. Thanks Islands!
(4)Frank Lee Wong Z.
Kids eat free on Tuesday. Maybe I shouldn't have posted this.. But 2 free kid meals with 1 paid adult. The bartender is the best! My family loves her so much. We eat at the bar so we can chat with her while having dinner. Come for happy hour and its under $5 a drink. This place gets crowed on Tuesday. So expect to wait 30 minutes+ if you come after 5:30. I wish the food was better so I can give it more than 4 stars.
(4)Cynthis A.
I was contacted by the Regional Manager of Islands, and he gave me a Islands gift card to come back and try it again. I have to say that the manager is very professional. I appreciate workers that always make room for improvements. Not only did I go back and try food again which was above my expectations, but it also taught me to say never say never. kudos to the Regional Manager for caring for his business and his customers. ;)
(4)Tim H.
The YAKI tacos hit the spot.
(4)Humberto G.
Since they are down the street, Island's is the place where I come for a quick burger or taco. Service can be slow here, but depends on the server. I'll have one of two things, the Hawaiian Burger or the Yaki taco's If you like a sweet kick (pineapple slices)to your burger, definitely try the burger. While I am spoiled to what a real taco is like, these are my favorite dish. Chicken teriyaki in a tortilla? Sounds funny but they are quite tasty. Maybe I just like their teriyaki sauce. Either way, try some if you want something a little different. What's better than a side of fries? Unlimited fries, as they you don't have to order a side to go with your burger/sandwich. While the fries aren't "the best", they'll work to satisfy your fry urge. They do get better if they are the smothered in cheese, which is a good appetizer if you aren't counting calories. Their Passion Fruit Iced Tea is really good, and sometimes I'll come here on a hot day just to have a few of these. Overall a good place to have a restaurant style burger that doesn't hurt the wallet too much.
(3)Daniel R.
great food great staff cant complain. when possible i request Brenden he always provides excellent service and knowledge of the menu.
(4)Sara B.
As soon as i could get over the SMELL of the place. ((dirty beer bar mats)) i got to try the worst fish tacos EVER!!. they tasted freezer burned then warmed up in a microwave for a min or so. Service sucked. We seen our waiter to take our order and give us the check. Any other help was from random staff members. Its to bad though since this is the only real restaurant for awhile on melrose. Our search continues though. we will not be back.
(1)Heather P.
Great price, food, and beer selection during happy hour! Sit in the bar for happy hour, great quick service.
(5)Jeanette U.
Our first time to this location. The wait was long but had a FANTASTIC waitress Jennifer who cheered us up :) The Maverick Burger was made perfect to his taste. We would return to the Vista location just to sit in her area.
(4)TJ P.
Boy it's easy to pack away about 3,500 calories here. Went with friends and we split an order of cheddar fries (2700 calories)... oh wait, we added chili on the side (200 more). Couple drinks at 200 calories each. Here's my healthy taco entree. It's only 1400 more calories. Man, that dessert looks good! What? It's 1300 calories? What the heck! Let's get it! I must admit. It was all tasty. But I felt so damn guilty running up that clock in my head. I mean I could have had three Big Mac meals at MickeyDs for what I packed away in one sitting at Islands. Tasty though... Damned tasty...
(3)Aron D.
I love the Kona Pie; especially when I get it free on my Birthday. Brenda was our waitress and she did a good job last night. Thank you folks!
(4)Doug S.
I usually enjoy Islands, however I will not go to this particular islands again. I was in a party of 6 and we were told that the wait would be 15 minutes. It ended up being more like 35 minutes, which I could have accepted had I been told that the wait would be that long originally. It also was a more difficult to accept with the four children that I was with. It became even more difficult when a party of 5, who came in after us, was seated before us. And within 5 minutes of getting there. When we were finally seated, it took our server a long time to acknowledge us and once she did, it took an excessive amount of time for her to get us our drink order. The food was fine and came in a timely manner, however the wait was excuriating.
(2)Scott T.
can't say i'm surprised at the lukewarm reviews -- ISLANDS is a chain that all the surf barn atmosphere and hula-girl kitsch in the world can't save if the food isn't great -- and it's not. this is just a place to escape the dreary tedium when you've hung around the court house all morning after getting one of those nasty jury duty summons. my burger (medium-rare KAHUNA with pepper jack cheese) was not distinctive (or medium rare). not bad but not really good either -- just okay. the FRIES (kudos for fresh cut) never seem to come out right -- the sugars brown before the get starches crisp. then again, when the server brought a basket of the bottomless spuds for the table, they all got eaten. we got charged full price (not the lunch special price) but it was quickly and cheerfully corrected when we brought it to our server's attention. well, the beer's cold. that's always a good thing.
(2)Sean L.
My family and I went out to Islands tonight to get a quick fix. We have been going to the Vista and Carlsbad locations for years because we've always liked the food. This time was great because we didn't feel rushed about getting in and out of the restaurant so the waitress could turn another check. We were able to take our time so our 3 year old could eat at a slow pace. I believe our waitress was named Margaret.. Very courteous and patient as we needed a little extra time. Good experience!
(4)Gena L.
I have tried this Islands about 10 times. The first couple of times it was decent and it was all downhill from there. The last couple of times it was pretty bad so I won't be going back. I do have to add that I have always taken it to go and I'm not sure if that has something to do with the quality or not.
(2)C L.
called, on hold for 4+ minutes while checking if the bar had southern comfort. WTF? called back and they didn't have it. this means they have been out for over a week. female tender said they normally carry it. fuck.
(1)Tim M.
It's not fair to this particular Islands, but I just think Islands in general is not a great place to eat. Very limited menu and what little they do have I can find better pretty much anywhere. Maybe happy hour is worth it, but that's about it for me.
(2)J R.
I'm kind of surprised this place has such cruddy ratings.. Admittedly I'm not a HUGE burger person but I'm a bit of a foodie, so when I want a burger I want a DELICIOUS FREAKING BURGER. But, be it that I'm female and nuttier than banana bread, I'm on a permanent diet. This is where ALTERNATIVE BURGERS step in! If money were no issue it'd be buffalo all the way but it's a resection people! Islands has the BEST VEGGIE BURGERS EVER. I'm a sworn carnivore - I cringe at the thought of tofu or soy. But 1300 in a single meal is a hard buy for me. (that's what I usually consume in an entire day). It was full of flavor and crispy on the outside! Perfection. Turkey burgers are pretty good too. The service has been great every time I've come here. We have refills on our drinks right after they hit the half way mark and my waitresses have always been very accommodating. Their house beer isn't anything to write home about but it's a refreshing alternative to the big brand lagers.
(4)Thom H.
I have eaten here many times. Besides the burgers, I have tired the salads and the wraps. All the meals have been delicious. Prices are not out of the ordinary and the service was very good & friendly. Tonight we had a very pleasant surprise, after we were through eating, the manager, through the loud speaker system, told the entire restaurant, that they wanted to show their appreciation to their customers and that they entire meal, sans the alcohol, was on them. As in free! Yeeha!!! Even the deserts, but we already had plans to have ice cream elsewhere and others were going to meet us there, so we passed on the dessert. Bummer. Anyways, a very nice experience. The manager told us that they started doing this about a month ago and do it about once per month.
(4)Chantel B.
went here for a quick bite w ma boyfriend and best friend... not bad... good shyt!! got the teri chx sandwich, and it was all OVER the place lol!! first set of fries were cold and ugly, but the server was nice enough to replace em. Good STuff! BOTTOM LINE... good price, good food, nuff said!
(4)Toni B.
I usually eat at the bar less crowded, food arrives faster and better service.... Food is always awesome.... With every order I always get there tortilla soup... hot or cold day their soup is soo freaken good...
(4)Tracy S.
Where to start with islands.... First off the waitress we had was pretty dingy. Second the food was not great. Third the food was over seasoned and dry (burgers). The wrap was small and full of lettuce...where is the meat? Was very disappointed. Been here twice, and both times it was like this....very disappointed.
(2)Romeo C.
Island burgers are the biz! I ordered the Kilauea Burger with onion rings and ranch dressing -- very delicious and filling! My GF got fries so we were able to get endless fries as well! Service was great, prices are reasonable and was located pretty close to our house!
(4)Debra H.
I go to Islands quite a bit... The one in Irvine, and Laguna Niguel have the best servers and the best food... I always order the same thing Shore Bird, and now that it comes with fries that is even better... I ordered the same thing this location, I was very dissapointed Chicken was cold, and the fries tasted like they were made the day before... I won't be going back to this location...
(1)Aimee L.
I've been here one other time before. It's nothing to really rant or rave about. I was deciding whether to go here or to Chilli's and I picked Island's. I ordered the mediocre tortilla soup and the chicken fingers, or whatever they were called. The food was fresh and my server was timid. If I feel like having a place to chat over some food I would go back once in the next five years.
(2)Bob G.
Good burgers, sometimes great burgers... and there are other items, too, for those who don't want a burger. We've had people rave about the food, while others were disappointed. Everything seems to be right on the edge of pricey... not quite too high for what you get, but almost. Then again, what restaurant isn't this way anymore? Also, the place can be quite noisy... but that seems to be the way restaurants are designed these days. The service is OK - sometimes really good, sometimes not so much. How would I give an overall description of this place to someone who has never been there? If you think of a Chili's with a Hawaiian-ish /surf-ish decor, you've pretty much got it.
(3)Scott B.
So like I've"ve been with DAD allot coaching him at the court house and we eat at Islands twice this week. The first time just the two of us and the burgers were cool Hockey Pocks, cold I mean cold lettuce & onions and our Buns were a little maybe stale. Good lemonade and onion rings. The second time we brought our cheer leaders, this time it was good may be cause I had soft fish tacos. Service was pretty good we were back to the court room on time. Well we had an hour & a half and we got back in an hour and fifteen minetos. There was a jury member there so we had to hold it down about all the lies!!!!
(4)Jenna R.
I hate this place. My sister loves it so for some reason we always end up going there but it's just diner food with islandy crap added to it.
(1)Michael S.
I think our server's name was BRAD but he was just BAD. One of the ladies we were with ordered a seven & seven; which contains only Seagrams No. 7 and 7-Up. How do you mess that up? Well, she got a whiskey neat which had to be sent back twice. Aside from the mixed drink fiasco the 25 oz beers were cold and I think about 5 bucks or so. The food was just aight... tacos and salads were ordered around. I did dig that the bottomless chips were in fact bottomless and the guac and salsa was refilled. Overall, Islands is just a Hawaiian themed Chile's.
(2)