Isla & Co. Buckhead - Permanently Closed

We stopped by Isla & Co. for dinner and was impressed by its beautiful open loft design. The ambiance was inviting and laid back. However, our overall experiences at this restaurant were mixed. One aspect that disappointed us was the slow service, despite the fact that the restaurant was not very crowded. It took quite some time for our orders to be taken, and the kitchen seemed to be operating at a sluggish pace. Our waitress did informed us that she was training two other servers simultaneously, which may have contributed to the slow service. Regarding the food, it was decent but failed to leave a good impression. Unfortunately, the dish I initially wanted, the charred octopus, was unavailable. So, our waitress recommended the market fish of the day, which was cod. However, when the dish arrived, it was a bland salmon on a spicy, watery broth served on a bed of steamed vegetables and a few couscous. We brought this issue to the attention of our waitress, who immediately rectified the mistake and brought out another dish promptly. On the positive side, the restaurant was accommodating in addressing the error and provided a 20% discount on our bill. Additionally, the draft beer was reasonably priced. Considering the shortcomings in service and the underwhelming food experience, Isla & Co. did not leave a lasting impression. However, the ambiance and the discount offered do make me consider giving it another chance, perhaps for brunch in the future.

Updated review: We went for brunch this past weekend and had a great experience. The service was friendly and welcoming. The food was excellent. A special mention to Sam for making a lot of fantastic changes at Isla & Co. We will definitely be back regularly. Loved the Sambal Scramble, Crispy Brussels Sprouts and their specialty drink which I think was called Olive Devine. It was espresso, whisky, banana liqueur, salted cream with olive oil drizzle on top. We were weary until we tried it. It’s so good! Thanks again, Sam! *** It bums me out to end the 5 star review streak, but we had a mixed experience. The service was clunky, but friendly. After a somewhat lengthy wait after ordering, the server brought our starter and salad at the same time. Only minutes later, just having started the first course, she asked if she should bring our mains or have it held in the kitchen. Our 2 top table wouldn't accommodate any more plates, so we asked her to have it held until we were done with the course. When the main dishes came out, they were luke-warm. My husband said the lamb shoulder was dry and that he thought it had been sitting for awhile (prior to our having held the mains). When the bill came, they had charged us for 5 drinks when we had ordered 3. The first round of drinks were a different price than the second. They were apologetic and fixed the problem, but we left feeling we had a so-so experience. With that being said, we will give them another try for breakfast. I'm hoping they iron out the kinks since they recently opened. I know the restaurant industry is tough and I want them to succeed.

Wow, i had a great experience! The staff is personable & friendly, the food is so FRESH and flavorful and gives a great feel to the Australian - Asian fusion they’re going for. I really enjoy that they are accommodating of vegans and gluten-free eaters. ⭐️They do have sourdough however gluten -free bread is available. ⭐️My favorite is the brussels sprout, the beet & arugula salad and the chai latte 😋 ⭐️ perfect for all occasions it seems like. Definitely great for a date at night and brunch with friends in the day

Buckhead isn't short of brunch spots, but lately it's been hard to find a spot that isn't over-hyped, overcrowded, or over-priced. Isla & Co is a relatively new addition to the scene, having opened just a year ago next to Lucy's Market. In my mind, that's the reason why this charming spot isn't overrun with hungry diners. The whole menu is enticing here (with their full menu available during brunch hours), but I gamely went with the Sambal scramble, which turned out to be exactly the right choice. It can be ordered with your choice of avocado or bacon, and I chose the former. It turned out to be like a beautiful plate of spicy avocado toast. The only tiny drawback was that the bread underneath was quite soft, and I would've personally wanted it to be somewhat toasty. But it was an otherwise clever meal and I savored every unique bite. To top things off, the people who work here are as sweet as can be. Both our server and the manager (owner?) came by our table multiple times to either top our water off or to check in about our food. When we wavered over a shareable side, they recommended the fried Brussel sprouts, which turned out to be a fantastic choice. They're deep-fried to a crisp, with a light glazing of sweet chili sauce that makes the humble vegetable very, very naughty. And delicious. The barista also came by the table to ask whether I wanted my Tim Tam (an iconic Australian biscuit) on the side or in my latte. "It's not typical to have it in a turmeric latte," she cautioned gently. "Who knows? It might be a killer combo, but I just wanted to check in with you to make sure." I was glad she asked beforehand. The turmeric latte was golden and punchy with that earthy flavor, but it turned out the two didn't mix terribly well. I was doubly impressed that she circled back with me to ask how it went down. It feels like everyone genuinely cared about how and whether we enjoyed our food. Toward the end of our leisurely meal, our server even came by with a gorgeous glass of their newest espresso martini for us to try. For free. The restaurant is bright, airy, and beautiful, so we were happy to dine indoors. But as my friend and I left, we spotted quite a few diners taking advantage of the beautiful al fresco space, which would be a nice alternative in fair weather.

We visited for date night Friday dinner. We walked in to upbeat music and friendly staff. Drinks: we had the What the Buck and the Spritz. Both were delicious and didn’t last long. Starters: Oysters were average. Kangaroo bites were really good. Would have loved to have more meat in the serving though. Entrees: Spicy rigatoni had great taste but not spicy at all. We felt all the dishes were short on the amount of protein. Would have been great served with a toasted bread slice or two. The octopus dish was missing flavor. Service was great!

Atmosphere and service: 5 stars Food quality: 5 stars This is a relatively new Australian restaurant in Buckhead area. The interior and patio are really nice and cozy. The staff is very friendly. Great first impression. Menu has a good selection including Kangaroo meat (soon). Dinner was delicious. Burrata and Brussel sprouts were very flavorful. For entree we had lamb shoulder and prawns pasta. Can recommend everything and we gonna come back! Thanks to the nice staff @ Isla!

Where else can you find an authentic Australian meal? This place is a hidden gem in Buckhead. The Brussel sprouts were incredible, fries like McDonald's and great meals! Chill atmosphere that you could do work in the morning or have a business lunch or a family dinner. Will definitely be back!

Excellent cuts of meat paired with bright flavors. Approachable dining in an elevated environment with specialty coffee and cocktail-driven dinner. I tried: Roasted Half Chicken Braised Lamb Shoulder Charred Octopus Pork Sausage Rolls