Good food, poor service
Although the food IS pretty good (my favorite are the Exotic Mango Wings), the service is poor. The last time I went it took 20-30 minutes for the server to bring one glass of wine, not to mention the fact that she seemed annoyed and irritated. It's not worth it for a $15 minimum. In addition, I tried to book this restaurant for a private event and was treated with outright disrespect. The owner was abrupt, rude and unprofessional, even though our event would guarantee a large revenue. Unfortunately, the food and proximity to Metro won't make up for the bad service and the venue's poor treatment of its customers.    [24 Sep 2004 15:55:19]

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Recommended Dishes: Exotic Mango Wings

     ­Anonymous   

Great food, great music, great price
You have got to try the Calypso sauce on anything. I tried the Calypso Shrimp and was treated to a wonderful delight. My tongue was dancing with joy. In addition, they have live entertainment on Saturday and Sunday evenings. The food is authentic, the young man serving was pleasant and professional and the price was right. Two people can have dinner, drinks and entertainment for a reasonable price.    [26 Apr 2006 16:32:47]

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Recommended Dishes: Calypso Shrimp, Calypso Chicken

     ­Anonymous   

Horrible service and disrespectful manager
Let me start by saying I eat everywhere and love dining in the U. Street area. I frequently go to Dukem but decided to dine at Islander one evening. I had been here before and alredy knew that the service was as slow as service could possibly be.

My mother and I made a simple request and the manager was outright the rudest manager I have ever dealt with in my life. My mother had simply asked the waitress whether she could box up her food to take home, to which the manager responded that only kitchen staff could box up the food.

We asked again only because my mother had just had surgery and was very particular about who touched her food. The manager refused to come out and speak to us and also told us that if we wanted to talk to him, we would have to come talk to him behind the bar. There were NO other customers in the restaurant. It was completely empty and he did not have the common decency to walk about 6-7 feet from the bar to our table.

They are already going out of business as no one really eats at this place because there are better restaurants with cheaper prices and more professional staff.

Don't go here - you'll wait hours for your food and then be treated like crap. Plus, the bathroom is unsanitary and the people who use that restaurant and touch all of the filth and germs in there will also prepare your food. If you are the ONLY customer, they'll take a long time to serve you and if the restaurant has a few customers they'll still take a long time to serve you. It's a lose lose situation.    [06 Dec 2006 15:39:24]

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     ­Anonymous, DC - U Street Corridor   

Beyond ultra rude
Beyond Ultra Rude: The Islander Caribbean Restaurant
On 10.12.07, had the displeasure of owners (mother & son) yelling at my 11 yr old daughter, husband and me after we experienced a personal health emergency in the ladies room. The mother belittled & berated us while we were in the rest room and as we left it to return to our seats, never expressing care or concern for our well being. When I told her we had an emergency, she accused me of talking on the phone, ranting about how old she was and how many years she's been in business. While shouting, her son bolted in front of me. As a veteran worldwide diner, a native Washingtonian, and a professional woman with advanced degrees, their total lack of customer service was beyond ultra rude; it's pathetic & shameful. Their distasteful behavior left such a bad taste in our mouths that we left, not wanting to trust their food service.    [13 Oct 2007 23:52:52]

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     ­Worldwide Diner