Island Krave
222 W 21st St,Ste J, Norfolk, VA, 23517
Island Krave Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Norfolk for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Norfolk for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Norfolk for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
222 W 21st St,Ste J
Norfolk, VA, 23517 - Phone (757) 627-1725
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Darnell P.
A big taste of island Caribbean food in a small place. Anything you order here will be very good.my favorites are the curry chicken and jerk chicken coupled with a beef empanadas the hospitality is always packed with smiles and great customer service
(4)Kerri G.
As an islander I know authentic food and Island Krave gets it right. The curry chicken roti wrap was like no other. Hubby had the jerk pork coco bread sandwich and enjoyed it to the last bite. A new favorite and we are anxious to try other items.
(5)Çhêrelle B.
I had the brown stew chicken and it was really good. They have options between a small plate or a large plate. I got a small plate and it was enough to make me full. Their coco bread is good. Only thing I do not like is how long they take to make the food. The large portions are very expensive so if you prefer oxtail it is about 18$ unless they have a special.
(3)Laura H.
I guess I've been spoiled for a long time, with REAL Jamaican food. Whilst this restaurant is OK, it's not Authentic Island food. I don't know any other Jamaicans (& I know A LOT) that coat their plantain in cinnamon, before frying!!! Also, the jerk pork, was not traditional Jamaican Jerk-it was a slightly spicy barbecue sauce. I'm not saying the food was bad, it's just not the real deal!!!
(3)Matt R.
I have been here many times since they have been open and everytime I come back for my fix Mrs. Dorothy remembers me and is such a sweet heart! The food has never been even close to unsatisfactory! I cannot get enough of the coco jerk and plantains, I save my cheat days for this place and I love every second of it!!! You have to check this place out if you have never been and want the best Caribbean food on the east coast!
(5)Enrique C.
The menu seems to constantly change, but the jerk chicken is always consistent. It's incredible, there's nothing more to say about that really. It is a bit pricy, but occasionally you can find either a student discount or a special. I also really like the fried sweet plantains. They cover them in sugar at the end which adds a nice additional sweetness. They never make the ever-common mistake of using plantains that are still green, which causes sweet plantains to come out dry, starchy, and not sweet at all.
(5)Garrett Y.
Unbelievably awesome delicious food!!!! Great service, and food that brings you back for more! One of our favorites!
(5)Alisia N.
My husband and I are on a mission to check out more - restaurants in the area this summer. We decided to check this place out today. We started off sampling the meats which were pretty tasty. I got the small Kraving chicken curry and the husband got the large kraving jerk pork with mac & cheese. The food was pretty good. The service was really slow but the wait staff was nice.
(4)Ashley N.
Ermah God! This place is so yummy. My husband and I first ate here when it opened, and we fell in love (me moreso than him!). I usually get the jerk chicken with beans and rice. I'm not going to lie that I am usually really swollen the next day because I always tend to overeat and there is quite a bit of sodium in this type of cuisine. However, the lovely ladies here are always so nice and I can have it delivered (thanks Orderup!). Everything here is so good from their fries (omg. yummmmm) to their mac and cheese. Very affordable as well with good portion sizes!
(4)Briana E.
Excellent food. Samples for your first time and excellent customer service. Small place fills up quick. Good vibes. Island music. Loooveee this place. Oh and the manager is awesome...and I figured that out in the 5 seconds I talked with her.
(5)Mike K.
I love this place. Delicious food and great customer service. Reminds me of my trip to the Caribbean! Try the Coco Jerk. The smoke flavor in their food really shines!!! Good stuff:))
(4)Christy P.
The place is very small--I think its meant to be more of a take out place than dine-in, but we had a Groupon so thought we would try it out. The food was pretty good, but we found it to be very salty. I do like that they give you samples of the smoked meat so you can decide what you want to order. I don't see a return trip in my future!
(2)Curtis J.
I'm not sure why this food is called Jamaican food. I ordered the curry chicken and it came out looking like throw up. If your used to real Jamaican food don't go here. They are way over priced....I could go on. I'm very disappointed with my experience here. Oh one more note the waitress had no idea what make it Spicy meant lol she asked if I wanted more black pepper WTF?
(1)Don J.
Good choice for something different but yummy. We try to stay away from chain food places and this one is on our list. Come and try the sample plate especially the cocobread.
(5)Gabrielle C.
I've eaten here 4 times this week. Need I say more? I really make it a point to stop in whenever I'm in Norfolk. I usually get it to-go. The portions are definitely healthy. I normally get either the jerk pork or chicken with extra spicy sauce, cabbage, collards and plantains. The collards are everything. I decided to try a combo platter of curried goat and braised oxtails tonight, though since they're the weekend specials. The oxtail was very rich. The goat just wasn't my thing. I'll stick with the pork and chicken.
(4)Ashlea L.
I finally had the chance to visit Island Krave yesterday when my fiance picked me up for lunch. We both really enjoyed our meal! My coworker gets take out from here at least once a week & the jerk chicken always smells delicious wafting from his office. It's a small dining area, but there was still tables open for us when we arrived around noon. The staff is as friendly as can be & brought out some of the meat samples since it was our first time there. Everything looked delicious on the menu, but we both went with the small Krave portions that came with a choice of rice & a side for around $7. I went with the jerk pork, yellow rice, and their mac & cheese. My fella went with the brown chicken stew, rice & beans, and sweet potato fries. He also added a side of their hot sauce which he raved about, too hot for this gal though! Our lunches came out piping hot & with everything in one bowl , which we like for mixing about. The flavors were delicious. I wasn't the biggest fan of their mac & cheese since it is very garlicky, so next time I'm going for the cabbage that my coworker swears by. My favorite part of the meal was their plantains that we added. O.M.G. those lil things are amazing. It's an awesome place to go for a yummy meal!
(4)Paul T.
Best place in Ghent! Friendliest staff to boot! Favorite is jerk chicken roti wrap it will definitely fill you up!
(5)Helen S.
We've eaten here once before but didn't get back to the area from New York for a while. Once we got here one of the places we decided to definitely go to was this wonderful restaurant. The owner came out and chatted with us like the time before. We felt more like family than customers. The same server waited on us from 10 months ago, so it must be a nice place to work. This place is very small but makes up with tasty food and atmosphere. I'd love to eat here every day.
(5)Dawn M.
My parents took my husband and I here for dinner on a Groupon when we were in town for Father's Day weekend, and I was pleasantly surprised! My parents mentioned my husband and I hadn't been to the restaurant, and we got to try the different proteins before we ordered--all were fantastic. Three of us went with the jerk pork--I went spicy--and my dad got the goat. WARNING--do NOT get the spicy jerk pork if you don't like spicy. I loved it, but definitely couldn't eat the whole thing. Phew! The goat dish was great, albeit full of bones. We had a bit of a snaffoo with our order, which meant two dishes were brought out at least 10 minutes before the others. Not cool, but oh well. Mistakes happen. With the groupon, we had a choice of either lemon or chocolate cake to complete our meal. As I'm not a chocolate lover, my dad and I split the lemon cake--amazing!
(4)Jasmine M.
It's not authentic island cuisine. Ive never had "cocoa bread" toasted with margarine and granulated sugar on it before..its definitely an Americanized version of Jamaican food, But they have done some research and discovered the basic flavors and menu selection. The place seems very clean and the staff was very friendly. I ordered stew chicken but it tasted like jerk (not sure if they just put jerk seasoning on everything here, or if they gave me the wrong chicken) nonetheless it tasted decent But If you are looking for REAL jamaican food go to MP Island cafe.
(3)Miranda R.
Excellent food and service! I ordered the brown stew chicken, rice and peas, collard greens, and plantains and it was all very delicious. Best I've had in 757. I also liked the fact that they offered a sample of some of the main entrees before placing your order. Will be back for sure!
(5)Daniel D.
I've come to this restaurant once in the past and raved about their smoked wings. Groupon brought me back, and now it's time for a review! Food: Again, the smoked wings are amazing. The flavor of the smoked wings is entirely wrapped in every bite that you have. Look beyond the price, 6 wings for $9.99 sounds like a lot but it's worth it. Goat Curry with cabbage, rice and beans, and cornbread was ordered. The goat curry was rich in flavor, and the meat was nicely cooked. The sides had great flavor, the cabbage was well cooked, and the rice and beans were spot on. The cornbread was good, different than what I'm used to, but was good just a little spongy - but I'm not complaining. The Jerk Pork entree was ordered with Mac-n-cheese, sweet potato fries, and yellow rice. The sides were great, the Mac and cheese was different but the flavor was great! I was a little disappointed at the jerk pork I received. It was flavorful, and it was good, but it was pork with jerk sauce poured on top. It was tasty, so I'm not rating it less, but it should be marinaded and cooked. Dessert: The dessert was great, and we were told that they are homemade desserts - or at least what we ordered. The Rum Cake was delicious, but may be a little strong for some. It was not overly sweet, but you could smell and taste the rum. I enjoyed it, but it might not be everyone's choice. Ambience & Service: We were served by a sweet waitress. She did let us know that she apologized for the wait, they were catching up after the dinner rush they had. We weren't in any hurry, so we didn't mind. The first time I was here, the whole restaurant was attentive. They are pretty on top of their customers. Seating is different, and may seem a little limited - it's a small place. The music and decorations are great, and a great setting for dinner. Go (Cari)be-in it!
(5)Errign S.
My husband and I came out to Island Krave last week because we had purchased a groupon deal. At the recommendation of our server, we got the cocobread as an appetizer, which was good, but a little boring. Just buttery sweet bread grilled on a flat top with no sauce or other accompaniments. The did bring out a sample plate with a taste of 4 different kinds of meats so we knew what we were ordering (jerk pork, jerk chicken, curry chicken and brown chicken). For entrees, we both got large Kravin' entrees (jerk pork and jerk chicken). I had the pork and really enjoyed it with the mild sauce. I didn't think their mac & cheese was anything too special, but it still tasted good. The chickpea curry side I got was delicious and I liked the rice and beans. My husband got the jerk chicken with fries, yellow rice and mac & cheese. We both finished our meals with no real complaints. The chocolate cake (included in our Groupon) tasted store bought, so that was disappointing. We will probably come back again after trying out more restaurants in the area.
(3)Alison E.
Back for more because we spent the week dreaming of the Best of Both. Right when we entered we put in our order for two very berry vegan smoothies. Shortly after that we put in orders for cocobread and Best of Both. Tonight we decided to stick to just the jerk chicken with sides of yellow rice, sweet potato fries, plantains, and collards. We wiped everything out again! The collards are so good. The chicken tonight was even better than last weekend. Plantains were as good as they were last time (plantains are usually hit or miss, but not here). Unlike last time, there were more people this time with almost nonstop carry out orders then entire time that we were there. Did I mention that parking is free and plentiful? We'll be back a couple more times before leaving Norfolk. If you haven't stopped in yet, I still highly recommend it!!
(5)Saint P.
This place is absolutely awesome everyone is right great friendly service and nice reggae music in the background all that's missing is the ocean and sand.
(5)Les S.
Absolutely amazing amazing amazing food and customer service!!! We ate the Goat Curry, Jerk Pork, Stewed Chicken, plantains, sweet coconut bread and numerous kids meals! Perfection!!! This is my absolute favorite restaurant in Norfolk! You need to eat here!
(5)Lily L.
My husband and I loved everything about this place! All waiters were polite and kind. They even brought us a taster plate, since it was our first time there. Let me tell you, OUR FOOD WAS AWESOME! We will be back again.
(5)Jim D.
On a cold day in January 2013, I moved to Suffolk. A lovely place to be, unless you like high quality places to eat out. No offense Suffolk, but there are very few. Needless to say, I was pretty shocked to find a Caribbean food restaurant in my Suffolk travels (Island Krave) so I went. What an amazing place. The owner and wait staff were nice as can be, and the food was top notch. Having been almost weekly for 4-5 months, I should have known the menu inside and out, but I struggled to order anything other than wings. They were too damn good. Every sauce was great and had a Caribbean flare to it. To seal the deal, the plantains were the best I had ever had. Well, good things must end, and I moved. Soon thereafter, Island Krave (Suffolk location) closed. Likely no coincidence since I was no longer there to give a paycheck a month for wings. Fast forward a year - I sit today... wondering... what is there to eat near Portsmouth that doesn't suck? I'll Yelp. Island Krave, in Norfolk, WTF?! Impostors... must be. Could the woman who called me "hot wing man" be in Norfolk? Well... SHE IS! I guess this spot isn't new, but I didn't know about. The menu is nearly the same, and so was the experience. I went straight for wings, this time "smoked" and plantains. Better than ever. I vow this time, I will explore the rest of the menu. Its easy to overlook in a packed strip on 21st in Norfolk but be sure to stop in, you wont be disappointed! -Jim
(5)Shey O.
Brown stew chicken wasn't the best; i wish i ordered jerk chicken. But cornbread was amazing and plantains were to die for. Both types of rice (with beans or yellow) were good. Vegan chickpea curry was good, too. Cute little place and i didnt try the desserts but they looked delicious :)
(4)Sean M.
This place is getting five stars by the food alone. The jerk chicken is to die for and we had a starter of the cocobread wrapped enchanada which was absolutely phenomenal. The food was true to its roots , it wasn't an American take on Caribbean cuisine it was legit homemade deliciousness.
(5)John D.
The food was just ok. The staff friendly. I'm not trying to make this bad review just think the food wasn't all that. The table arrangement was off also The dessert was easily know to be a piece of Duncan Hines cake mix. Hope they come around
(2)Catherine H.
Amazing!!! Everything we tried from the jerk chicken to the sweet potato bread and the dark & stormy beverage was so tasty and presented with a smile and great tunes.
(5)Katrina C.
Ahhh! Spicy! I love it! This place has a pretty small space, but it packs a big island punch! Seriously, their jerk pork and chicken is fantastic! They serve a small tasting plate for the newbies, so you can sample a little bit of every chicken they serve. The meats comes with your choice of 2 sides and oh so soft cabbage.Serving size of small is actually pretty darn filling, trust me, i was way over full. Their specialty "hot" and "spicy" sauces are just that. So thread carefully with those things! The cocobread was a wee bit burnt when we had them, but it tasted just as good. The plantains are soft and sweet, just like how they are suppose to be. The owner of this place is awesome! She made us truly feel like family. That says something. I would definitely check them out, if you haven't yet!
(5)Ryan D.
Ok first the food was very good. Everything was really good. However The service is the worst part about eating here. Cornell is a wonderful great guy. But serving tables is not his strong suit. It was not busy at all and he just really has no clue about serving tables. I finished my meal before I even got my drink that I ordered 20 mins ago. He did apologize and all. Get a better server here and take better care of your customers and I feel this place will do much better. I would not come back again because of the service.
(2)Steve R.
Very good food. Empanadas were good as was the oxtail I had for dinner. Sweet plantains were an amazing side. Only disappointment was the chocolate cake. Felt store bought.
(5)Tina I.
The food was really good and flavorful. I went with my boyfriend who is from the Bahamas and he was impressed with the quality and flavor of the dishes. We will come again for sure!!
(4)Sean W.
Ate here after smelling meat smoking while walking down 21st street. Tried the jerk chicken, curry chicken, chickpeas, and collards. Everything was amazing. Two of us walked out stuffed for under $30. Also, cheap drinks during happy hour (5-7). $3.50 mixed drinks and $2 O'Connor beers?! This might be my new favorite place to eat in Norfolk.
(5)Terry D.
The jerk pork is the best thing ever! And if you come on a weekend go for the braised Ox tails.
(5)Bob B.
Excellent meals, this my fifth visit, is the norm. Not a fancy place but tastefully decorated. I crave their brown stew chicken but like the curry and jerk as well. They have a very sweet bread that is tasty. Greens are excellent especially collards and cabbage but the curried chick peas just might be better. All the folks are friendly and all new visitors can get a sample of all of their meats. While they do not offer fountain soft drinks they do have island drinks like ginger beer and soft. Drinks in bottles. This is worth a visit. Because I gobbled my food down so quickly, the cook offered extra helpings for free. They welcome kids too.
(4)Sharon B.
Stopped in to order take out. Was very disappointed in how long it took to make a sandwich and plantains. After 45 minutes, I received three slices of burnt plaintains and a soggy sandwich. Will not be returning.
(1)Chequess B.
The food was good, but not as good as I expected. I would go back to try something different. Great customer service, but I didn't like how small and tight it was.
(3)Tuna B.
Never been to a place this slow. Waited 45 minutes for two takeout sandwiches. How hard is it to put jerk chicken on a sandwich?! Ordered the plantains as a side and only 3 pieces came with it. They were burnt. There are better joints with faster service and cheaper prices than this. Will not come back here again...
(1)Phil C.
Owner is a sweet lady, the service when dining in requires patience...Having said that, the food served here is nothing short of outstanding. All the dishes burst with flavor in your mouth, leaving you "kraving" more. If I didn't think eating here every day would expand my waistline 12", I would =) Do yourself a favor and enjoy the curry chicken, brown stew chicken and the rice and peas. The one downside - I think the patties are of the frozen variety so these can be skipped.
(5)Kristian B.
A family member suggested Island Krave and I'm so glad they did. The staff was welcoming and chatty. They gave us a sample platter since it was our first time and were very diligent in making sure we were taken care of. We got our food "to go" but I'm thinking with the ambiance and staff, we will need to eat in next time. If I had to give a tip, it would be to call ahead with a to go order if you are in a hurry. This isn't fast food, so don't get huffy if they take their time prepping your order. It's worth the wait.
(5)Caroline C.
Good comfort food and friendly staff. Our waitress was so nice and the cook was the sweetest person. She came out to check in on us and gave us recommendations for next time. This would be a 5 star place based on Norfolk standards. I would recommend the chicken curry and brown chicken stew. The chicken was flavorful with the falling off the bone texture and none of the dryness. The downside is that the yellow rice was on the salty side. FYI: They give you a sampler of their meats if you are undecided and you can substitute/add plantains to your dish for $1 more (recommended!)
(4)Ronald K.
How many establishments give you a free sampler plate? That alone gets Island Krave high marks. After that, I though this was some pretty good grub. Their jerk blend reminded me of barbecue with a little extra allspice/nutmeg/whatever thrown in, but then again, I have very limited exposure to Caribbean cuisine. No complaints, just pointing out what I notice. When I'm in Norfolk again, I'm definitely stopping in again.
(4)Kim N.
Love love love this place! I've never actually dined inside but I've never been disappointed with my takeout orders.. I love both the chicken and the pork with the yellow rice. I like to switch it up between the sweet potato fries (sometimes they do get soggy if Order Up is busy that evening) collards and plantains! Great great great comfort food :)
(5)Ashley E.
Amazing food and great service!!! Staff was beyond friendly and very helpful. Food also came out fast.
(5)Miracle M.
This food is amazing and authentic as it gets. The services is professional an friendly. I love the music and the vibe of this restaurant.
(5)Brandon M.
From the beginning to the end of our meal my Island Krave experience was great. When we walked in we were greeted. They offer free samples of four different style chicken they cook. The staff is great and the food is amazing. This place is highly recommended.
(5)Sean C.
We decided to use our Groupon as a group and eat here....... Awesome overall experience. They let you sample the four main dishes before eating. I chose the jerk chicken with Mac n cheese. Awesome. The meat patties were good also. The smoked wings were amazing!!!! The service was really nice and genuine too. Will go back!!
(5)David C.
One of the nicest yet most often times unnoticed things about a great restaurant is the demeanor of the people who work there. Most often time it only becomes ever become apparent of their attitude when something is messed up or doesn't go our way. However the experience is amplified so greatly when the staff takes their time to chat and get to know you and you them. My first time eating here was very pleasant because of this. When first entering the restaurant the owner and waitress were so very helpful and pleasant. They offered a sample plate to try their various smoked meats and the aided me in my decision from the menu. I ended up getting the brown stew chicken and jerk pork. Both dishes and sides were delicious (got beans, yellow rice, plantains, collards). The plantains provided a real nice contrast with the salts of the smoked meats. Portions were decent, but could always stand for more meat. Simple delicious food, couple with great service makes for a good time. Thank you for a unique and great experience!
(4)Valentina C.
Best place hands down.. wings are incredible .. food is delicious.. small atmosphere but id come again always
(5)O. P.
The Ribs here are very special! Try them, you will clean the bones up and become a very happy person. Sweet potato fries were among the best I've had and I say that because they can often be slightly bitter. These were not at all. The cornbread was somewhere between omg good and heaven. The coco bread was buttery and quite a treat. The empanada was something that I thought I wouldn't like but was surprised because it was spiced just right and not greasy; different from all other's that I've had. Really, I can't say enough about how happy I was with my meal here. I came back a few days later and had the chicken bbq. only because they were out of the pork. I'm really glad I tried it because I was not disappointed at all. You won't leave here hungry as the portions are very generous too.
(4)Sandy H.
I ordered take out from here, the chicken was a bit dry but the pork and chicken dishes were delicious. We specifically asked for extra mango something sauce, can't remember the exact name of it. The customer service was also great!
(4)Joseph A.
We have been talking about visiting this restaurant for months, and found ourselves strolling by it today. Luckily, we were very hungry and decided to walk in. An excellent decision on our part. As soon as we walked in, the server came up to us and asked us if we were first timers, and after saying yes, she had us sit down, and she brought us a plate with a taste of all of their Jerk entrees (jerk Chicken, Jerk Pork and Curry Chicken). That extra service alone made me love this place. We sat down and I ordered a Beef pie, and the jerk Pork small plate (more than enough to fill me up) It came with a nice sized portion of Jerk Pork in a tangy sauce, a side of fried Plantains and a large scoop of rice and beans. My girlfriend also had the jerk Pork, but her sides were Collard Greens and Caribbean mac & Cheese. The pork was very moist and delicious, and very lean, better than pork BBQ any day- but it was the sides that blew us away! the collards were some of the best that I ever had, they were tender and were seasoned perfectly. The Mac & Cheese, while not out of this world, were very good as well. The rice and beans were delicious, and the plantains had me drooling they were so good. I mean really really good- the Best Fried Plantains that I have had in ages. We shared an order of their excellent Coco-bread, which was obviously homemade, like everything else at Island Krave. All in All, the food was amazing and I look forward to visiting again and again. All of the food was fresh and delicious, and the house-made hot sauce was unique, with a nice amount of heat and flavor. Ok, so the food is great. The service was even better. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted like old friends or family. The young lady who served us was engaging, knowledgeable and extremely helpful to us when deciding what to have. A gentleman who was running the front counter was also friendly and welcoming. They were playing some cool Reggae music while we were there, and I swear for a minute, I felt like I was in Jamaica. Everyone should try this place at least once, it is that good. The menu also had ox tails, and curry chicken, Jamaican sodas, as well as great sandwiches and wraps. A most enjoyable experience to be sure.
(5)C K.
One of my favorite spots in Norfolk! First timers get a sample plate of all the meats. MUST GET COCOBREAD!
(5)Andrew J.
This place is diggity diggity dope. .. beef pattie was on point andthe jerk chicken on cocobread is one of the best things ever! The staff is great, they will give u samples and make u feel at home can't wait to come back!!
(5)Jessica J.
Well, I'll be honest. Not my favorite. I went a couple weeks ago and the lady (I guess the owner) said people had just found out about her place opening and she had a huge rush before I came in. So I was already assuming the food was going to be sub par... I ordered the shrimp curry with rice and added vegetables. First off, eww to the vegetables. They were plain ol frozen peas n carrots. The shrimp was cooked well but the curry wasn't strong at all. Plus, I could tell regular boxed rice was used. Womp womp... I was disappointed. This isn't your authentic Caribbean place. If your in the area and you want great authentic spicy Caribbean food at the same comparable price, head to Granby Street just about 5 minutes away to Higher Heights, it's in the same shopping center as Auto Zone. They will blow your Caribbean mind :) The only reason I gave this place two stars was because service was nice, friendly, and caring. On top of that a Caribbean place is essentially a nice add in to the Ghent area.
(2)Matelina S.
Wow, I don't know what took me so long to come here. We've passed by this place many times and never thought to try it but I'm so glad my husband and I went because the food was delicious. First off, the hostess/cashier was very friendly and helpful. It's unfortunate that I didn't catch her name. She asked if we were first timers and offered us a sample plate of the different meats (jerk pork, jerk chicken, curry chicken, and brown chicken) which all of them were reaaaaaally good. I had trouble choosing which meat I wanted, but I appreciated that she offered a sample plate without us even asking for it. She was also helpful with answering any questions I had about the different items on the menu and which items were the most popular. My husband and I ended up settling for the CocoJerk Sandwich which is your choice of meat in between two slices of sweet, buttery coco bread. It also comes with one side of your choice. I had the cornbread and my husband had the colligreens. I've never had colligreens before but if they all taste the way Island Krave makes it, holy crap I'd eat it over and over again. The cornbread was sweet and moist. And the sandwich? Definitely satisfying. I would go here again just to try more things on the menu. I'm a first timer to this ethnicity of food but I'm so glad I tried this place. You definitely won't regret it. They serve alcohol too and it's normally $5 but if you go during happy hour (I think it's from 5 PM - 7 PM Can't be sure), they drinks are $3.50. Not bad. They also have a special of the day menu but I only glanced at it briefly.
(5)Kelli J.
I'm still not sure how I feel about this restaurant. The staff is very very nice, which makes up for the jerk chicken being a bit too salty. The brown stew chicken was good and the cabbage was mostly made up of the hard center, so I didn't eat it. Next time I go, I think I'll pick the curry chicken instead. Try the sampler. That should help you decide what to try.
(3)Samantha S.
Perfection in a restaurant is so rare nowadays, but Island Krave is a shining example of such a unique jewel of wonderful beauty. Truly. I have been an avid and happy customer at Jammin Jerk (Suffolk, VA) for years (sometimes driving the 40+ minutes to fetch dinner), so when I found out that a Norfolk location would be opening down the street from where I live, I was elated. I came hungry and left filled to the brim with Jamaican deliciousness. This location has much of the same menu as the Suffolk location, with a few additions. We ordered the shrimp curry and jerk pork for our entrees, the coco bread for an appetizer, and an Island Krave-Mango smoothie to share. The coco bread here is just as fluffy, sweet, and delicious as it is at their Suffolk location. We devoured it within moments of its appearance. The jerk pork and shrimp curry were likewise amazing. We've enjoyed the jerk pork many times in Suffolk, but the shrimp curry is unique to Norfolk. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and seasoned, and there was a generous portion of them nestled amid the tender chickpeas and flavorful sauce. The mango smoothie had just the right blend of sweet, smooth fruitiness with none of the icy grittiness some other places have in their "smoothies." The best news of all is that they deliver!!! Heaven on earth.
(5)Christopher S.
Great food, they gave you samples before dinner so you could make a better selection. Their family meal makes for great sharing in a group. Very friendly service. We will go back.
(4)Krys F.
Deliciousness! Definitely recommend it. The small portion size was perfect! I had the curry chicken and my friend had the jerk chicken...they are both great! Would come back if I could.
(5)Mary W.
Loved it! After being welcomed by the most friendly staff ever, we sampled some of their dishes. Such a great move - we were sold on the first bite! I'm vegan and they brought me a sampling of their vegan dishes, all of which I loved. In the end I went with the Peacock, which was curried chickpeas, plantains, choice of greens, and choice of rice. I chose the cabbage, which was buttery and perfectly cooked, along with the rice and beans. I thought they had a little more flavor than the yellow rice. The plantains were charred and sweet. The curried chickpeas were flavorful and had the slightest bit of spice. I cleaned my plate by the end of it. I highly recommend it!
(5)Lauren T.
The food is delicious! The jerk chicken was perfectly cooked and not overloaded with sauce. Their spicy sauce was DEFINITELY spicy! Which I loved! The plantains were sweet and chewy with a hint of the fried outer coating. The curry chicken had great flavor but no spice which is fine since yellow curry doesn't normally unless requested. The boiled cabbage was great as well. And the vegan smoothie was spot on, a little bit of kale taste but it had great consistency and not freezing cold. The only downside was the time it took to get out. There was only one server and the place was about half full so she was having to work extra hard but it was still worth it!
(4)Meredith S.
Delicious REAL food. Awesome flavor, affordable, and friendly staff. Our first visit here we were offered a complimentary sampler of all the smoked meats. The Cocobread is unreal!
(5)Nick S.
I have to admit, I am not a huge Caribbean foods fan, so when my wife said she wanted to check this place out, I reluctantly agreed. I'm so glad I did! The food is amazing, especially the smoked pork with spicy jerk sauce. I really enjoyed meeting the staff, super friendly and truly cared about their food and service. I highly recommend!
(5)Harvey C.
It's a very basic restaurant. It's not about fancy ambiance or stuffiness - it's about plain home cooking. I'm a fan. If it's your first time they will give you a sample of all the meats. I ended up getting the jerk chicken with beans and rice. I got the full portion and it was a good amount. It's not the most healthy food, but it's simple and delicious. Service is great. The person at the counter was friendly and just offered a welcome that made you feel at home. The cook in the back came out and asked how was everything. This is a place that cares about providing good service to it's customers. It's not good for a first day or second date. More like a grab a simple bite to eat without any frills.
(4)Rob H.
Opened about 3 months ago and this was our first visit. Biggest challenge was attempting to satisfy a 13 year old boy. We were at Jake's Place getting haircuts and decided to give it a try. Mind blowing food!! Completely impressed with the service, the quality and the price!! Can't understand why anyone would want to eat at chain restaurants. Excellent vegan options too. Must try if you're in Norfolk!!
(5)Amy R.
This place is AMAZING!!! Great atmosphere and top notch service. Food is awesome as well as the venue. HIGHLY recommended!
(5)Buju D.
Impressive! It is true what they say. Bigger is not always better. It took awhile to find this place, but, it was worth it! I felt like I was home in JA. I was skeptical at first but the lady of the house was able to boost my confidence. You should try this place out at least once. It was raining outside...I think that added to the ambiance and recognition.
(5)James R.
Incredible food and service! Vacationing in the area and wanted something different from the chain establishments. Found Island Krave on Yelp and had to try it. It was even better than I expected. The flavor and the portion were BIG! If we are in the area again, we will definitely be back.
(5)Mark K.
Exceptional place to eat -- friendly, deep and rich flavor at exceptional prices. Bold smokey Caribbean flavors. Pork and chicken jerk sandwiches were big and filling. Smoked chicken wings rival any I have had across the South and Mid-West. The rum cake was to die for ... Highly recommended.
(5)Robert D.
This is a five star restaurant for food and service. This is a small restaurant with simple Jamaican menu with savory flavor. The place was clean and had a good Island vibe. The price was very reasonable. I had the jerk chicken with beans and rice. It was fantastic. I told the owner that it was my first time and he brought out a sample plate. They were all great! I even took home some Jamaican patties to go. I will definitely come back for more.
(5)Kate W.
I really want to give Island Krave 5 stars... so here's my request: PLEASE cut back on the high salt content (in every dish we tried). The flavors were wonderful, but everything was way too salty. That said, we will be back to try other dishes, and you should too. The Great: friendly staff, reggae music, clean seating area, PLANTAINS, house-made flavored waters, vegan/vegetarian selections, and real plates (not plastic). The Good: brown curry chicken, jerk chicken & pork tasted wood-grilled, like in Jamaica, and the goat curry were all flavorful, and not greasy, Just too salty for me. Rice & beans (rice & peas) were mild and perfect. Yellow rice was loaded with veggies, but again, too salty for me. The cocobread is sweet and buttery and very rich. It was devoured. Big enough to share! Maybe skip the cabbage side, it was pretty bland. I'll be back to try the roti, meat patties, wings, and get MORE PLANTAINS.
(4)Amaryllis S.
Very good food at this place. The parking is ample and the location is easy to find. I like the decor in the restaurant even though it is a bit small...the staff is super helpful if you need suggestions on ordering. I ordered jerk chicken, yellow rice and plantains. High score for having plantains when a lot of restaurants in this area are out of them. I love plantains! Anyway, the jerk chicken was delicious, and the rice as well. I also had rum cake. The rum cake is amazing and it will put you to sleep. Cocobread is also rich, buttery and sweet all at the same time and I dare you to try eating the whole piece in a sitting. This restaurant has been consistently good. They aren't cheap but you definitely get quality. I also think it's great that they deliver on OrderUp. The only reason I can't give 5 stars is because of my most recent experience. I ordered CocoJerk (jerk chicken in cocobread) and it was great...until I bit into something hard that seemed to be bone and/or gristle. There were several pieces of this hard matter throughout my sandwich and had I not noticed, I could have potentially broken a tooth on it. Other than that, it's a great place to eat.
(4)Gregg L.
My new favorite Caribbean food spot!!! The staff is extremely friendly and the food is amazing. So glad they are in a central area of town. If it's your first time you should definitely try a sampler before you begin to order. The aroma from the kitchen is amazing. I've been twice in 2 days now!!!!
(5)Rodney F.
This place is nice.. Delicious food some of the loveliest food in town, a guaranteed enjoyable experience, you won't regret your visit.
(5)Kenneth A.
Stopped in for lunch. Service was a bit slow for someone on a lunch hour but the people were quite friendly. The corn bread was warm & delicious, the jerk pork tasted more like BBQ until I asked for the "hot sauce." Rice & peas were OK, not as good as my Jamaican wife makes, though.
(3)Robert B.
I love my Jamaican I love this place. Very friendly. They even remember me and I only go about one a month. They did is great and they are willing to turn up the heat a lot if you ask them to.
(5)James A.
I have been here on multiple occasions for lunch. I have yet to have a bad meal from this place. The employees are the nicest people you will meet. Everyone in the building is interested in your experience and it shows. Even the owner is onsite most of the time, and comes out from the kitchen to chat with her customers! FOOD IS AMAZING!!!
(5)Audrey M.
Excellent food and great value. Everything was delicious. I had the jerk pork with plantains. Very friendly wait staff.
(5)Scott And Raquel L.
He says: I had the bun & jerk (chicken) sandwich for $7, with rice and beans side for $1 extra. It was 99% rice and exactly 3 beans. The meat was okay, but overwhelmed by the greasy bun. She says: if I wanted to spend $14 for 5 ounces of chicken in gravy (brown stew), I could've bought a bunch of whole chickens and stewed it up myself and made it last a week. I got it to go and the meat was in the smallest two receptacles ( the tiny squares), which I eyeballed at 5 ounces of meat. It was tasty, but not enough for the price. Plantains were excellent! Didn't care for the curry chickpeas. Meat patty: dry hamburger in a greasy hot pocket. The title "beef patties" also lead me to believe $3 got you patties plural. Service is odd; servers had lengthy conversations of business matters in front of customers (who's working what shift, etc). I spent $30 and could've had dinner for 2 elsewhere with leftovers.
(3)Charles F.
Just awesome caribbean food. One really cool thing is that they give you a sample plate if it's your first time. Also, $0.99 chocolate cake. I will be back often!
(5)Jazzhole H.
The staff is cool. Samples on the first visit are a great way to explore the options. I've had the jerk pork, jerk chicken, ox tail, and brown stew chicken. Honestly the jerk chicken tasted like smoked chicken with bbq sauce. The pork was so salty I couldn't eat it. The ox tail and stew chicken were pretty good. Is recommended it to anyone looking for smoked meats, but not necessarily for that authentic Caribbean kick that jerked meats should have.
(3)Joy L.
Amazing. Delicious. Delectable. Any other positive adjective to describe food can be applied here. My server almost took my plate away with 1 plaintain left and I told him that I would fight him for that last piece. I'm not even lying. We had the cocoa jerk chicken with fried plantains and the curry chicken with rice and beans. So good you'd smack your mama. I'm not even exaggerating. Do yourself a favor and get here. Yesterday.
(5)Jeffrey C.
Yelp led me here instead of waiting for a seat at a nearby establishment. Turned out to be a great option! Free samples to try before you buy. I had curry chicken entree that comes with two sides and chose rice and beans and plantains. Everything was tasty but loved the plantains! Fast, friendly service...well deserved kudos!
(4)Rachael P.
I am completely shocked at how many people have rated this place with 4 or 5 plus stars. My husband had seen this place while driving, and we decided to give them a try. I found this place to be extremely over priced and well..... not very good. I'll start with the service. The guy at the counter was nice, very welcoming, however he seemed a bit stressed and distracted at times. It took a few minutes to get our order in. But all was well. When we received our food (about 20 minutes later), and it look a bit small. Maybe they changed portions. I don't know. But from what I saw on other yelp reviews, I obviously did not order the same thing. I order the jerk chicken with collards and Mac n cheese. My husband tried the jerk pork with Mac n cheese and chick peas. I ordered some corn bread just to give it a try. Our side items were in little clear bowls. The dishes were hot to the touch, but the sides themselves were hardly warm at all. Let me start by saying this, I am never very optimistic about Mac n cheese, only because I make mine from scratch, but please tell me that if your charging $4 for a side of Mac n cheese that it will not be a box mix. All of our sides were made hours ago and then reheated in a microwave and served. The Mac n cheese was very rubbery and my collards were bland. Not to mention our meat was COLD and was covered in a not so jerk sauce. I could barely taste the "smoked meat" and the jerk sauce was extremely mild. The corn bread was piping hot and but then again was just down right bland. Maybe I came in on a bad night. But I can assure you this meal was not worth the $33 I dropped for dinner. On another note, the decor is a bit weak, and the music was very generic.
(1)Celia S.
The owners and staff are awesome, the food is perfect, and the restaurant itself is cute and cozy. Absolutely LOVE this place! :D They have goat curry on the weekends, which is my favorite dish. Om nom nommmmmmm...writing this review makes me crave it. I think I'm going to have to go get some, followed by their yummy rum cake! :D
(5)Elizabeth M.
OMGoodness. I have never gone on yelp and written a review. I read them but don't write them until now. I literally just got my order from island leave via order up and tasted the food. This place is AMAZING. I would have never suspected this given its in a strip shopping center but so glad I did. The pork and chicken are fantastic!!! Best food I've had in a long time.
(5)Bill B.
Jamaica no Mistaka by eating here! We had the Cocojerk sandwich (jerk pork on special bread) and the Curry chicken bowl (curry chicken with rice and beans). Both were excellent. Had a plantain too-good. You have to ask for the spicy sauces. They had a green sauce for the curry and another for the jerk. I love spicy food and these sauces made the food right, without them bland would be the word. They don't mix the spicy jerk seasoning in during cooking, but give it to you on the side. I understand why they do this because so many Americans have bland palates and snivel if there is any zest in food and complain that they can't eat it so restaurants put it on the side. The people here are nice too. I've been to other Jamaican places and have not always received a warm welcome, maybe because I'm not Jamaican. They have a nice selection of Jamaican drinks (non-alcoholic), like Ting, Ginger Beer and pineapple soda. They should add some Red Stripes to go with the spicy dishes. First place I've been that Xerxes hasn't been too, I follow his recommendations. Can't wait to go back and try the Roti and the chicken wings. Ya Mon!
(5)Kaye W.
Omg. Friendly welcome!! Staff was funny. Gave samples of the meat. Much much better than MP Island. Has more a home feel. Jimmy John's may say free smells but Island Krave has the best smelling and tasting food. I'm sitting in the dining area smelling smoked meat listening to reggae music. The staff constantly checks on us and smiles. I want more more
(5)Sahil D.
Way to little food, for way too high a price. Too salty pork.... Will not recommend and will never go again.
(2)Ashley W.
3 for 3! We've eaten here three times now and it's been more than fantastic every time. Twice dining in, within 10 days at that, and the latest, delivery. The food is always hot, fresh, and authentic. The menu is diverse and colorful with options from vegan to carnivorous favorites. Personal favorites are the wings and the brown stew chicken. The coco sweet bread will melt in your mouth and the fried plantains are 10x better than you've had before! Great customer service, friendly and answer questions without attitude. A great must-try when you're tired of the land of sushi!
(5)Ed B.
This place is wonderful. Visiting from Corpus Christi Texas we came here with our navy daughter. The food was great. The service was better and the owner makes dining here a true pleasure. We will return when we visit in the future.
(5)Jasmine G.
I thought this would be a delish Caribbean restaurant closer to home than MP island cafe. But the ratings are extremely false. It is not what I consider true Caribbean cuisine. The beef patties are not hand made and are very eerily similar to what I have bought from Walmart in the frozen food section when I need a little fix. The jerk chicken has nothing spicy and what I consider jerk! No reminisce of a scotch bonnet pepper at all. I love the spicy jerk that I get from mp this is not spicy it is more like BBQ chicken. The coco bread is buttery and the best thing I tasted and the plantains were also good. The yellow rice I had was bland and unseasoned. Everything is EXTREMELY OVERPRICED. The green menu is the menu pictured and used in store. You definitely get more bang for your buck at MP Island and the food is much better quality and authentic. All in all I will drive the extra 5 miles when I get a craving for true Caribbean cuisine.
(2)Sweet T.
The best place to eat in Norfolk! Plantains are carmelized and out of this world. Brown stew chicken is better than momma makes. And I don't say that easily!
(5)Chris P.
Very friendly and ridiculously savory with generous portions. Over half the menu consists of "signature dishes." Like all of the best Carribean restaurants, they are small - lunch tables fill up early - and not for those in a great hurry. But the jerk pork is utterly worth the wait. A treat.
(4)Aaron W.
Hidden gem! My family and I are from out of town and ate here for the first time. Everything was incredible. The food tasted great and the staff was extremely attentive and friendly. Definitely going back.
(5)Mike B.
Went for lunch today...amazing! Decent price and good size portions. Friendly staff and nice/clean restaurant.
(4)Zach D.
Wonderful food, wonderful service, and overall a great unpretentious restaurant! They always give samples to newbies, and I have yet to be disappointed by the food. Cocobread lives up to the hype, and the chicken curry, brown chicken stew, and jerk all are delicious, as are the sides. Dark and stormy was a little weird (w vodka instead of rum). Also a dinner with an app main and drink can easily come out to below $20 w generous portion sizes. The owners/chefs are always checking in and talking w regulars, of whom I aspire to become one.
(5)Louie D.
Tried this cute little establishment on a whim a few days ago. Really kicking myself that I didn't try it sooner. Huge portions and great options for Veg Heads. Very very pleased. Will most definitely be going back.
(5)Jamie C.
Island Krave is a small little restaurant with amazing Caribbean food. It's not a place that you get dressed up for but the food is worth stopping in. I will definitely go back. I had the Jerk Chicken with spicy sauce on the side plus the cabbage and plantains. I would recommend this place to all my friends :-)
(5)Imrul H.
This place is simply the best carribean food in town. Super friendly staff and absolutely amazing food. Can't beat that awesome combo.
(5)Lacey N.
Absolutely amazing! It's all about the food here and boy does it show. They let you try samples of all the different kinds of meat which made my husband's choice that much harder! The jerk pork is definitely a must-try and the curry chicken is fantastic. It's authentic Caribbean, not run-of-the-mill American imitation. You won't regret trying this place!
(5)Barbara A.
Great food! Since I was a newbie, I got to sample several dishes....all were good, but I chose the chicken jerk bowl and was not disappointed. I will definitely be going back!
(4)Kimberly M.
Man oh man. I'm a big fan when it comes to Caribbean food. I usually would go to MP Island Café off of Virginia Beach Blvd. or Higher Heights Caribbean in Kempsville. I was really glad to find Island Krave in Ghent. It's a quick bike ride and I'm already there. I came in for the first time and was greeted by a friendly guy who offered a sampler plate. The plate consist of jerk chicken, jerk pork, curry chicken, and brown stew chicken. Damn. All of it was so good. I went ahead and ordered the curry chicken with cabbage, rice and beans, and a bottle of Ting. (A wonderfully carbonated grapefruit drink). I also went ahead and got their Beef Patty and their signature sweet cocobread to go. I was surprised to find that they were having a buy one get one on the patty and cocobread, so I gave the other one to my boyfriend to take to work. Goodness. That cocobread of theirs is ridiculously good. I kinda regret giving the other one to my boyfriend. Lol! I recommend them if you're definitely having an island crave!
(5)Natalie M.
AMAZING ox tails!!! Way better than any other local Jamaican restaurants! Staff are super friendly and the owner is the sweetest. She remembers her frequent customers which gives you a "homey" feeling. Not a disappointment!
(5)Mary M.
Food and customer service is always good everytime we come here. Owner is nice and sweet. :)
(5)Kunal T.
CAN I SAY BOMBBBBBB FOOD!!!! It was our first time here and they treated us so well. They brought out a taster plate where we were able to try all the types of meat form the curry chicken, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Jamaican Jerk pork, and another spicy sauce style chicken. Buy the Groupon if you go its a great price and 2 appetizers and 4 main courses filled all 6 of us. The service was amazing very comfortable, home-y, and very sociable. I would highly recommend the restaurant for a lunch or dinner casual outing.
(5)Regina H.
Disappointed. I read the reviews and decided to treat my partner to great Jamaican food. The atmosphere is great an the service is outstanding but this is not authentic Jamaican food! I have relatives from Jamaica and this food does not have the proper consistency. It appears to be American dishes spiced. Great if you have not been to Jamaica or tasted dishes cooked at home. The food is good just not authentic. I do admire their style, presentation and branding because if you do not know what you should be getting you will be satisfied. It's good food, great service and fairly priced. Isn't that the point of going to a restaurant anyway? The Jerk chicken was tasty and worth a try. Enjoy the atmosphere but go somewhere else for authentic food.
(3)Jeffrey R.
In a very busy little shopping center on W. 21st Street you'll find this little gem. My business partner discovered it while stopping for morning doughnuts and invited me for lunch yesterday. It's a cozy little place, maybe seats 20. The aroma walking in was mouthwatering. Our perky waitress invited us to our table, asked if we had been before and offered us a sampler upon learning we were first timers and took our drink order. A small plate with "tastes" of pulled smoked jerk chicken and jerk pork along with curry chicken, and cocojerk chicken. A small puddle of what was described as spicy sauce was in the center, "if you like a little heat", said the nice gal who brought it to the table. The curry chicken was some of the best I've ever eaten. My business partner, who admittedly is not a fan of curry chicken, said it was something he'd definitely order on a return visit. Everything was delicious which made it a little hard to decide but our mission, as usual, was to try the smoked pork and ribs. Oh and that spicy sauce - wow, very spicy. The heat snuck up on you quickly. Was very good, not just heat and very tasty, but I can't handle that level of heat like I used to. We ordered the ribs which are only available Friday thru Sunday. They came with rice and beans and two sides. We chose sweet plantains (vegan) and island mac 'n' cheese. We also ordered a Jerk Pork plate which came with more rice and beans and cabbage. Our food was delivered quickly along with two plates so we could share. The amount of smoke they are able to infuse into their pork would make any competition barbeque competitor envious. It married well with the "Jerk like" rub and sauce which was drizzled on top in just the right measure. The ribs are fall off the bone tender. As a competition judge they are way overdone for me but they were very tasty. Again the level of smokiness was amazing. I am a big fan of plantains and these did not disappoint. Very well done with a hint of cinnamon. I was not a fan of the island mac and cheese. There was s pice that didn't seem to pair well with the cheese sauce and my tastebuds. The rice and beans were what you would expect from a Caribbean themed restaurant and also done well. We asked the waitress if she could tell us what wood was used in the smoker and she said she'd ask. A few minutes later the delightful owner and Chef came out and spoke with us for several minutes and shared her secret and vision for the place. This will have to go on the top of my "must eat here when in Norfolk" list of restaurants.
(4)J E.
Very delicious! We were asked if we were familiar with the cuisine, and given a sample of the proteins. I thought that was awesome! I had the curry chicken, rice, beans and plantains. You get lots of food for not a lot of money. It was all simply amazing.
(4)Jordan S.
BOMBACLAAAAAAAT! This spot is bangin'! Honestly the best Jamaican food I've had since I came to VA. I'd eat here everyday if possible. Reasonably priced and the staff is great. I felt like I was gonna grow dreads after I ate here. You have the option for bone in or bone out with the chicken and you can't go wrong with either. They have red strip beer and those Jamaican sodas with the cat on them. You know the ones. They have beef patties too. I couldn't even finish my food. I had to get a to go box. It even made the day after better because all I thought about was my leftovers so work went by really quick.
(5)Diana N.
Cute and quaint restaurant, clean and bright. There are 6 tables, 4 seats at the bar, and 3 seats on each side of the window tables. The aromas coming from the kitchen are tantalizing. The restaurant is pretty empty for a chilly Monday night, but they do have people coming in and out constantly for take out orders. Right off the bat we were greeted happily by two smiley and friendly women. She asked us if it was our time and apparently we stuck out like 2 sore thumbs. Lol She immediately brought us a small sample plate of jerk chicken, jerk pork, brown chicken stew & curry chicken. YUM! What a great start to our Caribbean dinner! For dinner, I ordered the large jerk chicken plate w/ rice & beans, signature cabbage, & Mac + cheese. Hubby ordered the small curry chicken w/ yellow rice and collard greens. He also ordered a rum punch which he is very pleased with. He says that there's flavors of coconut, pineapple with rum of course and he swears there's a hint of vodka in there as well. OMG our dinners were AMAZING! I am totally mind blown. If Caribbean food is this tasty then sign me up! The lady also brought us two hot sauces, each complimenting each dish. Fiery hot! The collard greens are nice and tangy. The Mac & cheese is light and barely coated with any cheese which is quite refreshing. Not gut exploding at all. Both rices are flavorful. Both chicken dishes were superb. Overall, I definitely recommend this place. Friendly staff & great food in a nice establishment. My only wish is that I actually lived in Norfolk so that I can come get my fix once a week. Drools.
(5)Tiffany L.
Awesome food!! They brought about a meat sampler so we could try a little bit of everything before we ordered. What a great idea! We both ordered jerk chicken (but all the meat we tried was yummy!) and chose yellow rice, rice and beans, chick peas, collard greens, cabbage, and fried plantains. It was all delicious, esp the plantains! Will definitely be back!
(5)Spencer B.
I just moved to Virginia and this is the first place I went. And I have not one regret for choosing Island Krave as my first meal in Virginia. To start, I walked into Island Krave and I told them it was my first time so the lady brought me out a sample of all their meats. All the meats are good but I went with the brown stew chicken and ordered yellow rice and island Mac n cheese to compliment it. After scarfing down every last bit of everything I put myself into a satisfied food coma and dreamed about what I was going to order next time I go. The vibe in Island Krave is very mellow and relaxing and I am sure you will never hear anyone complain about the food or the service. I highly recommend everyone to go and try this place out! If you have something negative to say about their service or their food..you were either heavily drugged or have no sense of taste.
(5)Abiola W.
To start off I am very picky eating food. This place makes a really good roti with split peas and all which was a surprise after getting some imitation roti in Norfolk from different places I won't mention!!!. The rice was good but could have used a little more flavor. The jerk chicken was good. Not as spicy as what I am used too but still good. Wish they had more jerk sauce on it. The sweet potato fries was the boom !!! Yummy!!! My son likes the plantain so I know it was on point and the even ate the jerk pork !! (My kid doesn't like meet much) but he loved it. The collard greens were great delicious. Good ambiance with dance hall and soca playing in the back ground. The Resturant is also centrally located and not too hard to find. They also offer alcohol (beers and wine) I suggest you come between 5-8pm Mon-Friday to catch the happy hour on the drinks ;)
(5)Mary C.
It got two stars because we tried the samples of the meats prior to ordering and were impressed. As for drinks, they had two cocktails to choose from.. One sangria that tasted like cough medicine and the second ginger that tasted like no alcohol was in it. Our sandwiches came out drenched in the grease they use to toast the bread. Gleaming in oil, we took it back and they messed our receipt us twice. Making us pay original price for everything basically. Not a good look, still liked the chicken.
(2)Tiffany R.
I love the food here, especially the jerk chicken! I am only giving 3 stars though because I am taking off for price. The price used to be very affordable but now they charge an extra $1.50 for plantains which is a huge increase. Now the meal comes with cabbage instead of any side you want. Very disappointed.
(3)Mark B.
If you're looking for cheap and quantity look somewhere else. If you want a quality by someone who is passionate and believes in serving the best come in and take a seat. Hands down the best Caribbean food in the area. The Vibe is great. Can't go wrong listening to Bob Marley. The service is great. Very clean an lots of room to eat in or outside. I come here for the coco bread appetizer, the Oxtail with sides of collard greens and Mac n cheese. It's so good I have to rush home before I fall into a food coma. I think I could eat that coco bread for breakfast lunch and dinner. The oxtail comes of the bone with ease. The sides were on point as well. Do try the rum cake if available. It is potent. I go here so much that the chef/owner calls me mr. Oxtail. Definitely a great place that stands out in the Ghent food scene. My next mission is to look for a spot like this in Japan.
(5)Andria G.
Wow!! The staff was so friendly and welcoming. They gave us a sample of different meats to try and we loved them all. We had jerk chicken, pork, yellow rice, rice and beans, and cabbage. It was all delicious! Can't wait to come back
(5)Desiree D.
The past two times I have visited the place I had ordered to-go; I have yet to dine in. The to-go portions are huge, hence the pic!! I usually get jerk chicken and cabbage and chickpeas also. Sooooo good. Most definitely coming back!
(5)Cory N.
I'm a fan. I was in the area doing business and parked in the lot of this shopping center. A security man chased me down saying he would tow me if I didn't move. Naturally I said I was here to eat lunch but go across the street for a bit. He seemed satisfied. The "smokehouse" in the name of island krave brought me in. It seemed fresh and locally owned. The two large parties sitting also seemed to acknowledge the same sentiments I had. I was greet by a kind woman who seems to be the owner and chef. She asked if I had come before and I said no. She said she would be back in a moment. She brought back a kind taste of several items from her menu. I tasted four of them and immediately fell in love with the jerk chicken. All if the items were excellent. The menu is full of surprises. Including a kids, vegan, small plates, lunch menu, entrees, dessert. The portion came back. Huge. A overly large jerk chicken sand which on some intoxicating sweet bread. I ordered with plantains. Fresh. Sweet. Soft. Grilled well. I could only finish half my sandwich but I wish I had room for the entire thing. It's one of those holy cow did I just eat that I hope no one is looking because I want to lick my fingers clean... Darn napkins and my fear of being judged. All in all. It's good. The owner cares. The place is clean. Service is excellent. The krave of the island has arrived in Norfolk.
(5)CChat C.
Island Krave had me craving this food. My hubby had the ox tails ( I believe only sold on weekends) It was absolutely delicious and I had the chicken with brown sauce. It was definitely not something I would have ordered just by reading the menu but since they bring you a sampler of meats it helps when picking out something. The coca bread is a buttery melt in your mouth sweet bread. It is soooo good and filling. The beef patty is great too comes with a dipping sauce. Plantains are the best I have ever had. Crispy on the outside and sweet and creamy on the inside. Both times we have come we have had awesome service! The restaurant is a bit tight but we were always able to get a table for two quickly. You seat yourself here and then someone comes over within 3 minutes and greets you. Best of all there's a Groupon for it!
(5)DéJa G.
INCREDIBLE! AMAZING! DELICIOUS! This is what I dream about when I think of Caribbean Food. Why are people even talking about MP's anymore?
(5)Amanda H.
I've eaten here a couple of times, and love it. Eating here feels like grabbing something to eat from my nonexistent long lost Caribbean Auntie's house. Very homey and welcoming. The decor is tasteful, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is, like others have noted, extremely chill. The jerk pork and jerk chicken are tasty - my favorite thing to order here is the cocojerk sandwich: your choice of either jerk chicken or jerk pork sandwiched between two pieces of sweet, fluffy coco bread, plus one side. The portion sizes are big enough to share, but so good, you really won't want to. Note: the spice level has been toned down to accommodate the American palette, but there's still enough of a kick to be noticeable. You can ask for extra sauce on the side if you'd like a little more heat. According to the chalkboard on the wall, there's a happy hour Monday through Friday from 4PM - 7PM. Stop by for dinner: grab a Red Stripe, a seat by the window, and watch the people in the apartment complex across the street who forgot to close their blinds watch TV & dance in their living rooms.
(5)Marc L.
Never. Never ever had I ever tasted anything so wonderfully delicious in my life - not the stewed pork belly and egg that my late doting mother made each time I was home to visit; not the crispy-on-the-outside, yet-tender-and-sweet-on-the-inside grilled lobster I once had in a restaurant on Amsterdam; not even the tender, juice-exploding steaks the fine folks at Outback Steakhouse once came out to a war zone in Afghanistan to feed me. Nothing compared to the culinary experience I just had. In preparation for what the weatherman said would be a downpour of white, flaky snow, I decided to stop by Island Krave to order a few to-go meals for the days I am to be imprisoned in my home. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted with a wide smile and a boisterous hello. It only got better from there. Announcing it was my first time there, I was taken aback when the owner presented in front of me a sampler plate - morsels of delightful island cooking to get me familiarized with the menu. I tasted the two jerked meats first (don't you make a dirty joke!), and the smokey, tangy flavors danced in my mouth as I slowly chewed, letting the meat melt until they were merely juices before swallowing. I jumped the gun and tried to order. "No! You can't order until you finish your sampler," the owner admonished. I am glad she did because the stringy bits of chicken drenched in a semi-thick brown sauce won me over. Imagine cooking chicken in gravy until the chicken falls apart, adding that distinct poultry taste to it. That's what I got, along with a deep, salty flavor of the gravy. My last sample was curry chicken, and I admittedly had concerns. Curry is spicy and spicy makes me sweat. But this curry? No, sir! Just the right touch of spice adds to the chicken flavor but does not take away from it. The initial saltiness is hidden with a sweet, subtle musk of an aftertaste. I was hooked. I ordered the double platter - and as I waited, I gave in and ordered a single jerked pork plate to eat there. I wolfed in down in about five minutes, not caring that I was in sweatpants and a dress shirt - meaning to only pick up good rather than eat there. Do give this place a try. The ambiance is rather dark and mundane, but with good this good, I don't give a damn what the ambiance looks As for me, now - as the snow approach, I am in bed looking like a beached whale - and I just don't care about that either, because no matter how frightful the weather outside might be, I know I have found my beach in Island Krave.
(5)Hector O.
Great atmosphere. Great service. Great food. What more can you ask for? It was an absolute pleasure to eat there.
(5)Allena H.
I've been here twice. The first time I had a groupon and went with a friend. Our waitress was AWESOME! She greeted us right when we came in, talked to us, came back to check on us, and was as friendly as can be. I got the vegan plate, the cabbage was AMAZING. (I don't eat cabbage, and it was so good!) The dessert was just okay. Food was a little expensive, but we had the groupon and the service was great, so it was fine. It was so good that I bought my husband. The service wasn't nearly as good. We sat for a while before our waitress (a different one) came and greeted us. She didn't know the beers that they had. When she came back and listed them, she didn't tell us any of the cheaper ones on the menu. The next time she came back we asked her about the cheaper ones and she told us that they didn't have them. (So why are they on the menu?) Food was still great, service just wasn't as good. I do like that they have the tables outside which is nice.
(3)