Isla & Co. - Midtown

What a great breakfast! I ordered the breakfast sandwich and I was a little skeptical because I had a hash brown potatoes on the sandwich, but it was absolutely outstanding. Much better than what I anticipated. My wife had the avocado toast and she very much Enjoyed that. Service was very attentive and punctual.

I see why this place is highly recommended, it’s a great chill and intimate atmosphere, for couples or friends, and there are several sections for seating that have unique vibes - such as a terrace area with greenery but still indoors. Great drink selection, a cute nod to Australian foods and great service. The squid was some of the best I’ve had! Highly recommend if you’re in Midtown.

Juan is an outstanding waiter — always attentive, cordial, and respectful. He is very kind, friendly, and quick to respond to any request, which makes the dining experience at Isla & Co. even more enjoyable. The only recommendation I would make is to add a baby changing table in the restroom, as it is truly indispensable for families with little ones.

Came here for brunch on a Saturday. Service and atmosphere were great. The chicken sando was just ok; the sauce it’s coated in was underwhelming. The fries were really good, though. I split the strawberry cheesecake waffles and that was good, too. I also liked the virgin mojito.

This was the best place to get brunch with my girls. The atmosphere was cozy and calm, and the service was beyond incredible. Our waitress, Lina, was the sweetest, most amazing person ever. Not only was she super attentive, she went above and beyond to make sure my friend, the birthday girl, got the pics she needed for the gram. She also checked up on us multiple times and made us feel so taken care of. She made our whole day. Definitely needs a raise and a promotion! :) The food was also super yummy and reasonably priced. I highly recommend the strawberry cheesecake waffles and the truffle fries. I can’t recommend this spot enough and we’ll definitely be coming back!

Food, drinks and service were good. They have happy hour so we tried some of the happy hour food (Spicy Chicken Wings) and drinks (Espresso Martini, Margot Robbie & Smoke Show). The bathroom was unisex and it was dirty. Also they have a 2.5% credit card fee which wasn’t disclosed on the menu; I told saw it when I asked for a receipt after paying so if I didn’t get a receipt I wouldn’t have known that there were fees.

Very nice restaurant. The decoration was cool, 5 stars service and vibe and really cool people working there. The main dishes were okay, they lacked some taste. But the dessert was out of this world made with caramel and dates.

I had a birthday brunch here and the service and atmosphere of the restaurant was amazing. Our waitress, Lina, was super friendly and helpful, she even helped us take photos while setting up an area for us to take pictures. The restaurant was nice, comforting, and clean. The food was also amazing for the prices, overall had the best time. Can’t wait to come back again!

Walked in for brunch on a Sunday. Ordered a few cocktails and brunch entrees. I was specifically craving a pork hash and Isla & Co. popped up. I was delighted that the current menu still had this. It satiated my craving, with the sauce soaking the sourdough toast at the bottom. The breakfast burrito was also tasty. Service was very friendly. I loved the menu with the illustrations and fun information about Australia. I appreciate business that put a little more effort into their menu design. Ambiance was casual and lively but not too lively. It's located in a hotel and has modern stylish seating.

An Aussie brunch place in midtown on the first floor of the Hendricks Hotel. I still haven't figured out what Aussie food is, though it seems similar to New American, which incorporates a varying degree of international influences to mix up traditional European/American dishes. Overall would recommend though certain dishes were better than others. I gathered with several friends for brunch a couple weekends ago, within 5 minutes of our reservation at 1:30pm, we were seated. It's a little hard to tell how large the restaurant is from outside, it seats about 50-60 people in a railroad layout meaning narrower from the front and deeper. There are a few smaller tables outdoor under the overhang, which opens directly to a bar along the left wall. Walking back into the restaurant a handful of tables along the walkway opening to a section with several larger tables in the back. Food--we ordered: - Kungpao Fried Cauliflower $15: crispy sweet spicy battered cauliflower, chili, cilantro, fried shallots, chimichurri. This was ok, kinda a misnomer since it wasn't truly "kungpao" flavor, more like sweet and sour. Need to eat this right away or will get soggy, the chimichurri sauce felt extraneous bc the cauliflower was already very saucy and salty. - Smashed Avocado Toast (vg, gfo) $16: multigrain toast, smashed avocado, marinated feta, pickled onion, heirloom tomatoes, salsa verde, toasted seeds. A solid avocado toast, pretty to look at, a good balance of texture and flavor. - Pulled Pork Hash (gfo) $22: multigrain toast, sautéed potato hash, pulled pork, poached eggs, hollandaise, fried parsley, chili threads. This was really delicious! The pulled pork had a lovely smoky, sweet bbq flavor, the egg was cooked perfectly runny on the inside. Would recommend! - Lemon Broccolini Orecchiette (vg) $18: lemon pesto, capers, garlic crumb, fried parsley. Very tasty though on the rich side. If you're looking for a creamy pasta get this. - Fried Fish Sando (gfo) $22: toasted brioche bun, battered atlantic cod, tartar sauce, gem lettuce, pickles, french fries. The portion of fish on this sandwich was very generous, and the fish was fresh. The bread was good, the pickles were definitely needed as the tartar sauce was on the blander side, wish there were more crunchy pickles minced into this. The fries were decent, slight crispy. This was my dish and unfortunately there was an execution issue because oil was constantly dripping out of the fish as I was eating it. Getting approx 3 tablespoons of oil in a puddle on my plate was pretty off-putting. - Aussie Iced Coffee $8: this was a like an iced coffee with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. A decadent and tasty treat. The staff was cordial and on point for the most part, we had to flag down our server for the check though whenever we needed something (water, napkins, an extra plate), they brought it right away. Bonus star for their Guide to Australian Animals in the menu, this was informative and hilarious.

I got the Mushroom Toast which I thought was delicious. Toast was great and mushrooms were cooked perfectly. We got the Truffle Fries and Thai Spiced Squid to share. The fries were so good. The squid was slightly overcook. We also got the Espresso Martini Flight to share. The Scarlet Rose was my favorite. The Coco Devine was good but too strong for me personally. The Olive Temptation did not work for me - didn't like the olive oil. Note: the sizes for the flight are smaller than normal which our waitress did inform us about.

Isla & Co is tucked away on the side of a hotel lobby. The restaurant is more spacious than it looks. We were seated in the back section with has a skylight that peeks thru the leafy ceiling decor. I struggled between a three and a four. I would say it's a 3.5 stars. The positive - bright open space, Our server was fantastic. Friendly, and engaged but not overly so. We never felt rushed and it was perfect catchup for the 5 of us. Espresso martini (cocktails in general were excellent) Pork hash - 3/5 - we added bacon as a side to the hash. The bacon was crispy. It wasn't a hash. It was pulled pork on top of toast with poached eggs on top. There was no potato hash that I can recall and the pulled pork had a too sweet bbq sauce. Isla burger was fine - we added bacon. The bun is slightly too much for the patty and wish the bacon was as crispy as the side on the hash. Bkfast burrito - ask for the chimmichurri on the side. After a few bites it is too much. Power bowl - it's fine if you want a healthy option.

This restaurant is super cute. Tucked inside the first floor of a hotel. The menu is a bit all over the place but the shrimp rigatoni was delicious. I really enjoyed that dish. It is spicy. Tried the kangaroo for the first time. It was alright. I did feel like it could have used a bit more seasoning but the cook on it was good. Meat was tender and juicy. The hummus plate was pretty as well.

Very nice brunch place in Midtown. It's behind the hotel lobby. There's not much space to wait for a table, you have to wait in the lobby and it's pretty small. I was able to make a reservation for Sunday brunch the same morning. They had a delicious espresso martini menu. The food was eclectic and very delicious. I loved the decor of the restaurant, very bright and playful. There's only one single use bathroom there. I had to go like five times because of the cocktails I was drinking at each time I had to stand on a line. Overall great place to catch up with friends and have a good meal

This is a very nice and rustic elegant restaurant. Came here strictly for brunch and found some of the food appetizing and drinks were well made. While waiting at the bar I did order a matcha latte which was bitter but I added some sugar and it tasted like normal. My partner ordered the chai latte which needed no additions, it was truly delicious. Once we were seated we got our Aussie breakfast, the mini big brekkie and breakfast sandwich. Both were really good. A friend of ours got the popular pulled bbq pork but found the sweetness to be overwhelming. Being a little adventurous we got kangaroo. It was very tough, very bland and not appealing at all. Kangaroo might have to be my least favorite meat.

The food was strictly fine, nothing was amazing or standout but overall decent quality. I was honestly most happy with the Kangaroo Tuckers, which were a lot more tender than I thought they'd be! The breakfast roll was pretty good, with a little too much sauce for my taste. Seating seems kind of competitive, but we managed to get in quickly without a reservation on a weekend if we were okay sitting at the bar. Service was quick and friendly!

Isla and Co. is tucked away within a hotel lobby. We were in Bryant Park and wanted some food to eat and saw an Australian restaurant on the map and this place came up! At first glance it looks really small but as you are brought to your table it reveals that it's a beautiful open space! The service was great and everyone was in a great mood! The breakfast burrito itself was not my favorite though. I do appreciate that it was toasted to give it a crunch a prefer in a breakfast burrito. But the hash brown and herb sauce in it just didn't pair well with me. It was a little greasy from the hash brown. The eggs inside were perfectly fluffy to me though. The fries felt familiar but were not a dissapointment. Not pictured was the mushroom toast, and I can say this was really really good! The mushrooms were cooked down to a good texture, the chimichurri whipped ricotta was a perfect accent to it, and the bread itself was toasted yet still super soft for a great meal.

Great spot for a date, business lunch/dinner or celebration. Interior is super cute and modern. They even have a private room for small group celebration. I've been here for a business dinner a year ago and loved the food, it's very shareable and unique. Decided to come back recently for lunch with my husband and we enjoyed our meal. For lunch we ordered a cortado, Kangaroo Tucker, Fried Fish Sando and Pulled Pork Hash. The pulled pork hash was on the salty side, if it was less salty, it would have tasted much better. They were very generous with the portion. Service was on the slower end but my husband and I didn't mind it.

If you want to check kangaroo off the list, this place is it, conveniently, in midtown. The salad with it is delicious. The meat itself is like beef, albeit, chewier. They can make a good matcha latte. I ordered the fish sandwich, also. It was filling.

Decided to check out Isla & Co. after reading they're the "Home of the Espresso Martini Flight." And with my boyfriend and I being experienced espresso martini drinkers, we had to check it out! They have two locations in NYC, one in Midtown and one in Williamsburg. They bring their Australian culture and vibes through everything I love... food, drinks and shared experiences! We started with the espresso martini flights (predictable I know) and had to get our own which I'm glad we did. In the flight, we tried the Olive Temptation (my favorite), Scarlett Rose and Coco Devine. Olive Temptation has a touch of banana, cream and olive oil which is why it is my favorite. Scarlett Rose is more on the saltier side if you like drinks with salt and Coco Devine is a "desert-y" martini so save that for the end. As we were sipping on our flights, of course I had to try the food what goes better with espressos than a caesar salad and fries? Both were SO good. The fries were perfectly crispy and I loved the crispy parmesan wafer in the salad. My boyfriend ordered the chicken parmesan with a salad and kangaroo skewers. We were both pleasantly enjoying our time here. The service was great as well, our waiter was super attentive and gave great suggestions throughout the night. Isla & Co. is located on the ground floor of Hotel Hendricks so definitely check them out at the bar or grab a table because you'll definitely be here a while enjoying everything their menu has to offer!

Tucked away within a hotel lobby, Isla and Co. offer a delicious casual brunch spot! Our waitress was extremely welcoming and friendly, and made some great drink recommendations. Our food though was overall just okay. For two people, we ordered the Breakfast Burrito and the Pulled Pork Hash. Breakfast Burrito: (3/5) While the first few bites of it were delicious, it quickly became too heavy and greasy due to the hashbrowns inside. I ended up taking apart the burrito, and extracting just the eggs (which were cooked perfectly). Overall, I wouldn't get it again. Pulled Pork Hash: (3/5) Similar to the breakfast burrito, the first few bites of this were pretty good! However, after a while, it really needed some citrus or something else to break up the sweetness of the pork. Overall, the balance just felt off making it difficult to finish.

My friends and I recently tried this cute restaurant the last time we were in the city - and we will certainly be returning! It is located in a hotel, which is always a bit of a red flag for me - but not this time! We had exceptional service with some of the best coffee I've had in awhile. Next, they have a great Australian menu with options for our vegan friends. One friend and I split the mushroom toast and the waffles and both were so so good. Next time, I definitely want to try their espresso martini flight!

Yum! Came here for a work lunch, the staff was super kind and the aesthetic was amazing. We ordered kangaroo skewers as appetizers for the table (all of our first time trying kangaroo). The meat was flavorful and well cooked. I personally wasn't a fan of the tahini underneath, but some of my coworkers liked it. I ordered the power bowl as my meal. So good! Each bite gave different flavors and textures. Definitely recommend trying them out! I would return to try out their drinks

This restaurant has been on my to try out list for awhile. Finally made it here post a comedy show nearby. We came here closer to 9pm on a Saturday night. We ordered fried squid, sausage roll and cocktails as we weren't that hungry. I was looking forward to trying one of their espresso martinis garnished with Tim Tams but i was told it was sold out so I opted for the OG Espresso Martini. We waited for our food then the waiter came back advising us that they also had ran out of sausage rolls and asked if we wanted to order something else. He lingered around whilst we were looking at options and we asked if we could have a couple of minutes to decide but he said the kitchen was closing so he needed to know right there and then. With being under pressure, we ordered their cheeseburger. The fried squid came out first followed by our drinks. The fried squid was underwhelming, it was OK but more on the soggier side. The cheeseburger came out after and again, it wasn't anything fantastic. The bread tasted a bit dry so I didn't eat the top bun. All in all my friend and I were pretty disappointed with the experience, had high expectations given the reviews. Might give it another go for their brunch menu and hope for a better experience.

Yummy and noticeably fresh brunch! Fries were a bit lackluster but the eggs were delicious with large portions.

Isla & Co. - Midtown was as good as I'd hoped. I'm completely at ease at the Isla & Co. - Midtown. The staff demonstrated exceptional commitment. You can taste the quality in every dish they make. You'll enjoy this restaurant!

Went here for the espresso martini flight - I wasn't too crazy about it. One of the drinks was salt forward and it just wasn't for me. I preferred the reg espresso martini on the menu and that was solid. We tried the kangaroo - if you like lamb you may enjoy this- it was too chewy for me. I wasn't a fan. The chicken sandwich is VERY good along with the kung pao cauliflower

this place has delicious food at a reasonable price for midtown but it's such a shame that it is criminally busy on the weekends and it has a weird open layout in the lobby of a hotel that makes it difficult for poeple to get around (including the waitstaff which btw this place is probably understaffed or they just dont know how to manage) The bartender also needs work. i was sitting at the bar for a whole 10 minutes and no one waited on me. The hostess also needs to learn how to accomdate reservations or at least have a bit of an apologetic attitude about it!! we were sitting at the bar for almost a half an hour after the reservation and no one came to get us. the temperature of the restauarant is..... tepid there's only one single use bathroom for all of the patrons, leading to an astronomical line that further creates traffic. the layout of the restaurant is weird, with a bunch of tables in the middle we had to wait ages for our waiter to come take our order, then the food came what seemed like AGES later, then we barely got waited on again after that except for when we asked for the check i would love to come back again to try other things like the esp. martini flight which looekd awesome but im a bit traumatized by the experience and the service experience!

The place itself was nice, especially if you get seated inside. The staff wasn't the most friendly but it was probably because they were overworked. The food came out fast and was not bad, (both the burgers/sandos weren't recommended to us) both tastes "normal". The cauliflower was the highlight of the meal for sure, delicious. Would come back to try the espresso martini flight.

My girlfriend had booked reservations for my birthday dinner and I surprised her by proposing. I reached out and the general manager Adam Franklin was very helpful ask well as our waitress Taylor who was able to record the proposal. Isla and Co thank y'all for helping make this an unforgettable moment. The ambiance was great and the service was amazing. The food was great as well. #21525

Visited yesterday for lunch and was pleasantly surprised with how delicious and fresh the meal was. The flavors were very unique and they put an interesting twist on traditional meals. I truly enjoyed my meal and certainly look forward to returning and trying other options. This place is also really nice, great for having a nicer lunch date. Service was standard for a lunch spot. Nothing exceptional but nothing to complain about either.

Came here on a nice day and sat outside with some friends. The outdoor area kinda smells weird and is super buggy so would not recommend. That being said, the service was super friendly. On Wednesdays they have a deal that was half off bottle of wines which we took advantage of. We also had the happy hour fries which were fried to perfection and super tasty. We also tried the espresso martinis which were super delicious. Would come back again for happy hour!

The food was great and well priced. It was also fun to try different foods like kangaroo and vegemite. Definitely not a vegemite fan but it was worth the try. The service was nice but slow at the beginning. I liked the design of the space. This is definitely a nice date night spot and would recommend it for that. I'd definitely come back here. Also, if you use inKind, this restaurant uses them.

Good food, quick service, small but nice interiors We had expresso martini, austrian beer, appetizers : Hummus Plate and Kung Pao Fried Cauliflower. Expresso martini was well made. Cauliflower appetizer was tasty. Hummus plate came with toasted multigrain bread which we thought was a little disconnected.

What a wonderful experience! Its inside a hotel but wasn't too difficult to find, there's a bar & seating area when first walk in. For drinks I enjoyed the O.G. Australians favorite espresso martini. For the appetizers we tried the crispy calamari, cauliflower and kangaroo (for me & guests, it was too chewy). Then for entrees, the chicken Parma which was a huge portion, fish sando, cheeseburger, lemon broccolini orrechettie, shrimp vodka rigatoni, all were delicious & flavorful. Desserts - I recommend the sticky date pudding! Service was great, so friendly warm and inviting , came around Christmas time, definitely recommend!

Originally came here over a year ago for a fantastic , but limited time happy hour. We came here again and it did not disappoint! The espresso martinis ($8/9 on happy hour) were really tasty and not too sweet. We also came on a Wednesday when they have an all day and all night 1/2 price deal on wine by the glass or the bottle. We got an Oregon white blend (I think Riesling) and it was great. Can't beat that price! We also got an order of fries and they were perfectly fried (maybe double fried?), super crispy and tasty. They were very satisfying to crunch in to

Great space that was airy, yet cozy. Amazing server who was friendly and helpful with recommendations. The curry was delicious and the right level of spice, my friends chicken sandwich was also great. Definitely a good fairly casual meal spot in midtown

Yum! Cute place, super friendly service, and fun dishes! Came in for Saturday brunch with no reservation and got seated and served quickly. This espresso martini tower was amazeeeee

Wow! This place really impressed me. Came for the espresso martini flights that I have been seeing on Tik Tok, and ended up getting some small plates to share! Service: - It was Monday around 1pm so not too many people. We were quickly seated and had great service. - Waittress quickly checked in on us and made sure to take our order. Also constantly checked-in while eating to see if anything else was needed. - Everyone was friendly, asked us how we liked our food, and made us feel comfortable. Ambiance: - The place is located/ connected to the hotel next door. - There's a cute small bar when you first walk in. You then walk through a narrow seating area which then leads you to a bigger/ open seating area in the back. Very cute and modern. Food: - Kangaroo Tucker (4.5/5) - We were scared to try, but almost felt like we had to and were so hapyp we did. Tender meat on top of a cucumber tahini sauce. Really yummy! - Fries (4/5) - Good texture, big, just a bit too salty. Came with an awesome garlic aoili sauce. - Quinoa Grain Bowl (4/5) - Flavor was very good. Would have liked more veggies with the grains, but still tasty. Absolutely enjoyed the spicy sauce they gave us on the side. Not sure what it was, but it was good! - Espresso Martini flight (5/5) - Unique but really good flavors! (1. Olive Oil, 2. Tequila, 3. Vodka) Can definitely see myself coming here again with a group to just enjoy beverages and share food. Will need to try the main dishes next time.

Enjoyed eating lunch here! I did have a reservation but it wasn't needed since it wasn't that busy around 12:30pm. I got the quinoa grain bowl and it was seasoned very well and didn't need the sauce that it came with. I also got an iced coffee which was tasty. The service was quick and the food came out quickly as well.

The chefs know food and the servers know hospitality. You can enjoy good cooking in suitable surroundings. The personnel maintain exceptional attention each time I dine. The location is just awesome. I can't believe how good it was, will visit again.

Came here on a whim - needed a spot near Grand Central for a quick lunch. Both got drinks - yummy! We also both got burgers, they were huge!! The burger was yummy (probably not medium as requested, but was good nonetheless). The French fries were sooo good. Service was good. I'd come back if I was in the neighborhood and needed something on the quicker/casual side.

Waited at the host stand for a good few minutes before someone noticed me standing there. Seated and waited about 10m before a server asked if I was "good" and "needed to order". Crispy chicken sandwich and wings (to go) all doused in the same sauce. Chix sando was a bit messy, ask for more napkins

Came here with a group of friends for brunch. The service was extremely slow. Now sure if the restaurant was understaffed but it took about 10-15 minutes for a waiter to even come by our table. The food was good especially the brekkie sandwich. What brought this place down was the "outdoor" seating area inside the restaurant. It was so cold and the mini heater they had was not good enough. If you get a chance to sit inside, please do especially in winter. The cold air in the area ruined our dining experience. I had to put a coat on during my meal so it wasn't enjoyable.

Amazing service and staff and tasty food and cocktails! I emailed in advance for the room in the back and was delighted by the space and service. Espresso martini flight looked so fun and the technology to pay bills separately was amazing - need more of that in NYC!

The food was decent; nothing really wowed me. I ordered the burger, which was quite ordinary. Similarly, my peers who got the French toast and a pasta dish felt the same about theirs. We visited for lunch on a Monday, and the restaurant was not crowded, with no need for reservations.

ATTN: espresso martini lovers!! The Espresso Martini Flight was the highlight of our meal. My favorite was the Olive Temptation - so rich and smooth. The Crispy Halloumi was voted the fav out of the appetizers. The Spicy Chicken Wings and Brussels sprouts were good but seemed to share the same (sweet and sour?) sauce, which became cloying very quickly. I got the Spicy Shrimp Vodka Rigatoni as my entree and really enjoyed it. It wasn't too spicy, just delightfully tingly. The restaurant is behind the little bar so keep walking after you enter the hotel to your left. Very vibrant decor. Great for a girls' night out.

The best thing we ate here was the strawberry cheesecake waffles. The cream cheese and strawberry compote type thing were VERY YUMMY. I enjoyed this a lot, even the waffles itself were absolutely delicious. I do wish there was more cream cheese and less whipped cream though, because the whipped cream didn't add much and we were scraping the plate trying to get more of the cream cheese frosting. The rigatoni and pork rolls were quite underwhelming :( The rigatoni was simple and felt like something a little too homemade. It didn't have that kick that I expected a spicy rigatoni to have. It just felt like a tomato sauce with not much else going on. The flakey pastry on the sausage rolls was great! It melted in your mouth. But the sausage just had very little to no seasoning. This could've been a phenomenal dish if the sausage was just slightly more seasoned, it was almost there I will say the vibes were great for brunch, lots of natural light. Very bright roomy decor, super elegant with lots of greenery! Our server was quite friendly too but the service was on the slower end for sure.

A great happy hour stop! Came here for the espresso martini flight and some bites and really enjoyed the quick meal. The 3 martini flight is a good deal for $25 and perfect for two people. The fries and oysters for less than $10 was also hard to pass up and they were both delicious.

Don't believe the reviews and hype you've seen about this place on TikTok. This is a tiny hotel bar that's done away with all the specials that likely brought you over to this page. Came here after seeing the cover photo of the oyster special on this Yelp page along with many other social media posts stating that this place does an espresso martini flight and oyster happy hour. The only happy hour they're currently offering as of this review is from 3-5, not 5-7, which I guess caters to their hotel guests who have that kind of midday flexibility. They no longer serve oysters. The $8 espresso martini during the way too early happy hour and friendly service were the only good things about this place. The interior of the space looks like a cheaply decorated waiting room, it's so funny to think about people on TikTok shooting this and managing to make it look otherwise. Glad to see other folks on here have had positive experiences, but if you're coming here looking for a chic happy hour spot you'll be disappointed.

Isla&Co is serving up $25 espresso martini flights!!! That's I love it !!!! There are three different flavors for the price of one! I love the kangaroo skewers, and homemade hummus. This is one of my new favorite spots in NYC. ISLA & CO. Is 1000/10. This is Australian cuisine with a little extra flair. Good deal on $25 espresso martini flight. sexy, fun and perfect for drinks, dinner with the girls or date night I can't pick my favorite dish but you HAVE to try the kangaroo.

I had brunch at Isla & Co. a week or so ago when I was in NYC for a solo weekend over Labor Day weekend. I can really overeat on trips to NYC (there's so much to try and enjoy!!!), so I wanted a healthier brunch to start my Sunday. Isla & Co. is Australian, so I thought it might have some healthier options. I was right, but it also had plenty of not so healthy options if you want something fun and decadent (strawberry cheesecake waffles and pulled pork hash, for example). I ordered the power bowl (quinoa, sauteed mushrooms, avocado, roasted yams, grilled broccolini, marinated feta, cilantro, sambal emulsion, and toasted seeds) with added grilled shrimp. I really enjoyed it - healthy and delicious. It was a little early for a drink for me (it was an early brunch), so I ordered a coffee. Big thanks to the staff who informed me when I ordered an Aussie iced coffee (just because I thought I should order an Aussie coffee at an Aussie restaurant) that Aussie iced coffee has ice cream in it (!?). So I ordered my basic iced americano instead. The service was good and so was the decor. The only thing I kind of didn't love is that it's in the lobby of a hotel and open to the street even on a hot, humid September day (it was a little warm for me throughout my meal). But overall, it was a good spot for a healthier brunch.

Large group on a Wednesday night in October (sat in the large back room). Beautiful space with great food and wine (I didn't get to try any of the cocktails), conveniently located a couple blocks from Bryant Park. It's connected to a hotel and Daintree Rooftop is in the same building. It was a mild night so there were a lot of people sitting outside in front of the doors. When you walk in you are in the bar area in front of the elevators, and the host stand is at the end of the bar. I was not expecting such a large space once I turned the corner... and then was even more surprised to see the large, bright private back room. Our group shared a few things including Crispy Halloumi, Kangaroo skewers, Blistered Brussels Sprouts, and Charred Octopus. (A few people ordered other things that I didn't try.) We ended up ordering extra of the Halloumi and the Brussels because we enjoyed them so much. I love Halloumi and it really hit the spot. I was craving white wine and decided on the orange wine that someone in our group highly recommended. Delicious, not too sweet, not too orangey. According to the menu the alcohol selection is local and sometimes changes. A few tables in the main dining area were enjoying the new espresso martini flights and they looked amazing. (I need to come back to try the espresso martinis, but decided against having something caffeinated so late on a weeknight.) We went up the elevator to check out Daintree Rooftop after, but as it was a Wednesday night (sigh) we didn't stay for drinks. Apparently there are happy hour specials, hopefully I am able to get here in time to try them. Someone mentioned the restaurant participated in NYC Restaurant Week, I'd love to try more food items the next time!

Loved this place! The ambience was great, the food was absolutely delicious and the portions were HUGE. Tried the espresso martini flight which was also very yummy, the tequila one was my fave!

After spending some time in Bryant park, my husband and I were pretty hungry and looking to eat somewhere nearby. I came across Isla & Co and thought it looked perfect. I also have a bias towards Australian restaurants (as in I love them!). The restaurant is located inside the Hendricks Hotel which is very nice. As far as food goes, everything was just fine. Nothing wowed me or necessarily offended me with its flavor profile. The fish sandwich tastes exactly like what you expect--fried fish, tartar sauce and lettuce. I think you would be able to find this sandwich anywhere. The Brussels sprouts were cooked well but I found the chili sauce to not pair as well with the sprouts as a balsamic glaze. That might just be personal preference. The rigatoni was good! Cooked al dente and had spice from the Calabrian chili. Good but nothing special or standout. Lastly the service was also just ok.

The food was great but the beginning aspect was not the best. Online said they opened at 10:00 AM so I arrived at 11:30 AM where they told me they weren't opening till noon that day and to come back. I apologized and stated their website said they were already open. I left and did a small walk in the area and came back at 11:50 AM where they again told me they can't sit me till 12 when they open. I was the only one there so I did find it odd they can't just sit me down so instead I sat outside for 10 minutes. Besides the beginning though the food and drinks were good.

So I went to this restaurant on Thursday and ordered food to go. I went to this restaurant over the summer and enjoyed the food is why I ordered food to go. I thought I would have the same experience but I didn't. First I called the restaurant and asked could I place an order. I was told I had to order online. That's a disadvantage because I had to go through a third party to order. We'll I finally placed my ordered and it said it should be ready in 15 minutes. Well, 15 minutes turned into 45 minutes. All I ordered was the fish sandwich and fries. The fact that I had to wait 45 minutes for food was ridiculous. When I made it home, i was not impressed by my food. First my fries were not good. Some were overcooked and the fish sandwich was alright. I enjoyed the food better in the restaurant. I was very disappointed by the wait time for my food and how my food was prepared. The fries I had at the restaurant i ate inside were perfectly cooked not to crispy or uncooked. But what I recieved for my food was overcooked crispy fries. You would think if a person waited that long, the restaurant would at least compensate for the wait time like give a dessert for free or something. If you plan on ordering food to go be prepared you will wait for a while before it's ready. Also, you can't order over the food but through a third party for pickup.