Island Grill

Mediterranean restaurant · Virginia Court

Island Grill

Mediterranean restaurant · Virginia Court

2

2365 Rice Boulevard, Houston, TX 77005

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Island Grill by null
Island Grill by null
Island Grill by null
Island Grill by null
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Island Grill by null
Island Grill by null
Island Grill by null
Island Grill by null
Island Grill by null
Island Grill by null
Island Grill by null
Island Grill by null
Island Grill by null
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Fresh Mediterranean dishes, smoothies, and healthy options  

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2365 Rice Boulevard, Houston, TX 77005 Get directions

islandgrillhouston.com

$10–20 · Menu

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2365 Rice Boulevard, Houston, TX 77005 Get directions

+1 713 527 8070
islandgrillhouston.com

$10–20 · Menu

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Aug 9, 2025

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@eater

Houston’s Best Restaurants Near Rice University | Eater Houston

"This casual, family-friendly restaurant, with a dog-friendly patio, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — with dishes like pitas stuffed with falafel, grilled salmon, and sliced pastrami, and brunch favorites like breakfast tacos and creme brûlée French toast. As a bonus, Island Grill has fresh fruit and vegetable smoothies." - Brittany Britto Garley

https://houston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-near-rice-university-rice-village-houston
View Postcard for Island Grill
@eater

Where to Eat and Drink in Rice Village

"This casual, family-friendly restaurant, with a dog-friendly patio, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — with dishes like pitas stuffed with falafel, grilled salmon, and sliced pastrami, and brunch favorites like breakfast tacos and creme brûlée French toast. As a bonus, Island Grill has fresh fruit and vegetable smoothies." - Megha McSwain, Brittany Britto Garley

https://houston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-near-rice-university-rice-village
View Postcard for Island Grill

Sherman On

Google
This is a nice little gem in the Rice village area. Delicious food really friendly service great healthy options with you Felt. Welcome clean atmosphere outside of need to put a coat to use the bathroom. It was a great experience from entering to exiting parking. Can be quite difficult as it’s a very busy restaurant Highly recommend I look forward to going back.

Korinne Sparks

Google
We went to this place for my mom’s birthday brunch and the food was amazing! There are so many gluten free options too—it’s so easy to find something to eat here! BUT—it’s best to not go with a large group. Seating is incredibly limited, both inside and out. Outside patio is beautiful but the tables don’t move. There were multiple large parties there that day that had to sit separately. The service was a little slow and it is a walk up to order situation. Between that and the patio, I would advise going with the right group and expectations. The food is worth it!

The Foodie Lady

Google
Went here for breakfast and really enjoyed it! The service was great, food was delicious and the coffee was strong! Ill be back when I am in the area 😊

Allyson Smith

Google
We ordered lunch for our office from Island Grill. I found the restaurant on a whim while trying to find something everyone agreed on. We were NOT disappointed! The food was delicious! The portions were more than generous. Staff was helpful when I arrived and all of our food was packed for pick up correctly. Definitely a place I want to bring my family to try one Saturday or Sunday.

fordw60s

Google
Good food, atmosphere, worked well with helping with recomendatios. I had a chicken pita which was great. fruit was fresh and pita was good. Definitely a return trip if we are around here again.best I've had in Texas so far.

Lynn Jackson

Google
We are visiting from Dallas and stopped at Island Grill for lunch. Great choice!! Everything was so fresh. The steak with kabob plate was amazing. Pitas were excellent. Portions are good size. Staff were super friendly and attentive. We will be back before we leave town to try more!!!

Jing Jing

Google
Counter service; fresh ingredients and good flavors; the atmosphere is cozy. It's a very good casual restaurant.

Joseph Boccuzzi

Google
This was our first time at Island Grill. You order at the front desk and they give you a number to place on a table you select. This whole process was so easy and the food arrived quickly. We will be back. The Beef Kabob plate was delicious, I had it with Greek Salad and Hummus. You get two sides and these looked like the best choices for me. The Falafel balls were very tasty, they were cooked just right. One point to make they looked more like donuts and less like balls, but it didn’t matter it’s the taste that counts 🤓 The Gyro Pita was great, the meat was tasty and the salad was just right. We also had the Gyro rice plate- both options are great. If you wanted to come in and site at the bar, it looks like that is a good environment as well. Also the pita bread was great, it wasn’t doughy and was just right to complement the meal.

Michele H.

Yelp
We came to MD Anderson and ate here every meal! Everything we had was excellent! It was fresh, healthy and delicious! I will come here every time I come to Houston!
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Allison L.

Yelp
Been wanting to try Island Grill before JJ Watt's shout-out in 2024. Finally able to dine here at the Rice Village location and we left here satisfied, happy, and excited to return! He got the Houstonian sandwich. It comes with chips, fries, or fresh fruit. The upgrade fee to sweet potatoes is only $1! He upgraded and the sweet potato fried were delicious! Order them! I enjoyed the Avocado Hummus Pita. It was perfect and full of veggies and flavor! We will return.
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Evelyn L.

Yelp
Came here for a quick lunch with a friend and I really liked it. I got the pastrami pita (w/garlic & tzatziki sauce) and I thought it was a delicious. I would definitely come back here just for that. I took a star away because I felt like the floors and every table we tried sitting at was super dirty.
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Angela R.

Yelp
This used to be Ruggles years ago. I thought I would give them a try... It was decent, not Ruggles, but the salad was good... Service was fast and friendly... Atmosphere 10/10 Shirmp Ceasar Salad 8/10 Service 10/10
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Lou C.

Yelp
It's funny. I have been to Rice Village twice in a week. This time was to meet a friend for lunch at Island Grill. I didn't ask why island. But okay. If it's just a name. But I can't relate to the island here. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Pita. Because I was too lazy to learn about the menu. It was the first thing on the menu. I kind of hesitate to order anything chicken. But the cashier was well versed with the tenderness of their chicken breast. Sure enough, the chicken was so juicy. I didn't need any sauce. The pita was already flavorful. I couldn't resist of the soft serve machine. It specifically said "Paying Customers Only". So, I had 3. Hahaha. I loved their outdoor seating area. I just wish it was not as windy. The napkins flew all over the place. Parking lot was kind of tricky. I think I could only park where the sign says for Island Grill and not the mall. It was a late lunch. I didn't have issues finding parking. Except some cars were parked too close to the edge. Overall, I had a wonderful experience. I will be back to try other dishes.
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thienly n.

Yelp
Went here because a friend that's local recommended it and it was so good! Everything was very tasty and high quality. It was very busy so it's not speedy if you're in a rush but my family really enjoyed it! Especially the free froyo you get with it!! Will definitely be back!
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Gustavo R.

Yelp
Food? 7.7/10 - Consistently good! $$ range. Many options. Service? 9/10. Friendly. Reliable. Responsive! Ambiance? 6.5/10. Nothing special, but decent for conversing.
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Bacon and egg s.

Yelp
Food took 30 minutes to come out and it wasn't even busy. People that ordered after us got thier food before we did. Eggs were supposed to be cooked soft but were overcooked to a rubber texture.
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Gavin W.

Yelp
Wow, when you first walk in the doors, a tropical breeze hits you in the face like you're on Little St. James island. Makes you question why and how you even got here. I recommend the double meat gyro with extra testosterone boosted goon sauce on the side. The gyro was so soft and juicy, allowing for maximum pleasure when thrusting. I couldn't even finish it before covering it in goon sauce. After this meal I went for a quick lift and doubled my last PR. Also give this place extra bonus points because I had the chance to run into Jeffery himself and even Stephen hawking was there!
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Jonisha T.

Yelp
I was in the Rice Village Area running errands and decided to grab a bite to eat. The lady at the register recommended the chicken kabob plate which comes with two sides. I got Greek salad and veggies and ordered an additional side of hummus. Decided to also grab a smoothie because I'm greedy. The food was fresh and delicious. I loved the Greek salad! The grilled marinated chicken so tender and juicy that it's now engraved in my mind. The smoothie was made with all fresh ingredients and equally delicious. I can't wait to go back. The dining area was clean and beautifully decorated with Christmas decor. If you love Mediterranean food, please give this restaurant a try! Island Grill is now saved under "favorites" :)
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Hector V.

Yelp
4-17-24 Worst breakfast dine in experience ever!!! No smile, not friendly, unprofessional, not customer focused, etc. Food was insipid, coffee was so strong, it looked scorched. Yogurt was tasteless. First time visiting and it will be the LAST. Nobody smiles.
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Robert A.

Yelp
Very friendly manager who came and made sure everything was ok. Falafel plate was very nice and well made. Not greasy and fried perfectly with a tender inside. Benches could use a cushion. lol.
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Bree D.

Yelp
Island Grill is definitely one of my go to's even though it's a little on the more expensive side. Then again aren't most things and places are these days?!?! The fact that the kids meals are proportionate enough that my 10-year old with a "bottomless pit" for a stomach doesn't leave still hungry, says so much more than you'd think. Not to mention... they actually enjoy the food! The couple times we've had an issue - very minor - the staff have promptly corrected it and politely. I've yet to have a bad encounter- which again says a lot. The restaurant is easy to access, parking is ample, and seating inside isn't usually an issue. Walking around post-meal is a breeze as well - there's much to explore! I recommend giving it a try if you're in the area - the food is pretty good! My fave is the chicken kabob with a side of hummus. Of course when you're done, make sure you grab a cone of froyo on the way out... it's free! ;-)
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Danny A.

Yelp
Sooooooo fresh! And you can go breakfast or lunch and you won't go wrong. Staff is friendly too. But most of all, sweet potato fries are the best !!!
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Lynn L.

Yelp
Delicious food, great patio, lots of options. I've had their food catered from work lunches but I've never dined in. You order at the counter and receive a number. They are also open for breakfast and have lots of options. I opted for the Mediterranean Plate: chicken, gyro meat, grilled onions, mushrooms with a greek salad and warm pita. The gyro meat was tender, tasty, not dry or gamey. The chicken was seasoned well with warm spices. There was also a serving of a white garlic sauce on the side. My green salad had lettuce, tomato, red onion, black olives and a feta dressing. The plates can be pricier but you get lots of food. For a lighter option, they have a selection of pitas. They have plenty of seats, a spacious patio and you can have a complimentary serving of frozen yogurt when you leave. Will be back to try other lunch options.
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Melanie C.

Yelp
This is a very good, very classic, fast-casual Mediterranean American food. The plates we ordered came out hot and fresh, and we didn't have to wait too long either! It was also a very comfortable interior and had a nice vibe. To share, we ordered the Hummus & Pita Appetizer portion together with the Mediterranean Plate. We were both very satisfied. This is probably my favorite fast-casual 'classic' Mediterranean American spot at the moment.
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Sandra S.

Yelp
The food here never disappoints. It's consistently fresh and delicious. Pete and his team are always delightful. Thank you
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Stephanie Z.

Yelp
Island Grill was a nice place to grab a casual lunch/brunch! I opted for the blueberry pancakes and scrambled eggs, and my friend tried the grilled chicken sandwich and fries. The pancakes were fluffy and light; I would have preferred a bit more blueberries, but it was still tasty! The eggs were standard. My friend said her chicken sandwich and fries were good as well. They have free ice cream soft serve for dine in customers which was a nice touch. You order at a counter, and they bring the food to your table. Drinks are self serve. Service and value were fine. The parking lot in front is a usually full, so if you can't find a spot, I recommend parking in the Rice Village garage (free 2 hour parking).

Bryon P.

Yelp
Service by Lizeth and Louis outstanding truly care about service and if you like what you ordered! COD flatbread and Pastrami flatbread and more simple awesome and great price and filling Gyros pizza great too and muffins for morning Cheese blue berry and bananas walnut yum! Lizeth makes great beverages too! Greatcattitude! Louis cares how all is food drinks service and makes sure all perfecto Very please with all fun place filling and really good food Unique like a great island will swim back soon Bryon and HIS Angel Can't wait to try breakfeast
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Carolyn C.

Yelp
We are always looking for a good brunch option on a holiday Monday, and Island Grill more than satisfied our craving. Ample free parking in Rice Village, open on Labor Day, and friendly smiles greeted us upon arrival. The menu is straightforward, and you order at the counter after perusing the menu. The coffee is self serve, and is strong and hot. The pancakes are light and fluffy, the bacon smoky and savory, and the omelette is light and bursting with the flavors of lox, mushrooms, spinach and buttery egg. Even the salsa and buttered wheat toast tasted amazing! Smiles all around.

Jennifer O.

Yelp
Pleasantly surprised. We're healthy eaters and tend to feel typically feel underwhelmed when trying "healthy & fresh" restaurants. BUT this was not the case. The place is clean, we were greeted as soon as we walked in...ordered at the counter and chose our table. The food came out and the presentation was beautiful. The food was fresh, full of flavor and the portions were perfect.
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Rebecca M.

Yelp
Every Island Grill I have visited is consistent in their excellent service, delicious food & smoothies! This particular location is also walkable to many other things in Rice Village. Tonight we ordered the chicken penne pesto, teriyaki chicken, and salmon filled with a side of Marsala cream sauce We also grabbed an island sunrise, pacific cooler and strawberry wave natural smoothies! This place never disappoints!! Obviously I'm not alone in these opinions because it stays so busy!
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Demetria C.

Yelp
Island Grill is a Mediterranean restaurant/juice bar located in downtown Houston. They have a decent amount of seating inside and a cute little covered patio outside filled with beautiful plants. The gyros were seasoned and cooked to perfection. They have bottles of Pino Grigio for $28 and the pitas and gyros are reasonably priced for the portion size. Island Grill is one of those spots where you have to walk to the counter to place your order and pay and your food/drinks will be brought out to you. The guy taking the orders was very friendly and funny. He made you feel like you were in the right place with his warm greeting upon entering the restaurant. I definitely recommend stopping here for a quick bite to eat, if you're in the area.
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Mariah M.

Yelp
Island Grill has been a great place in the neighborhood to grab food and delicious smoothies. The first time I came here i accidentally dropped my smoothies in the lot on my car and was so embarrassed. They remade them and came out to help me clean it all! The team is so friendly and the interior is so cute. There's not a ton of parking in the front since it's in a strip but there's parking around the back. This is next to the dog park so it's a great place for us to order ahead, grab delicious burgers and smoothies and enjoy on the outdoor patio or at home. Highly recommend this place !!
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Suzy R.

Yelp
First time visiting Island Grill and definitely won't be my last time. This unassuming place is perfect! Fresh food, delicious hummus, AND FREE yogurt, yes please everyone was very friendly, customer service was fire I got the Gyro bowl, so very good with grilled onions/vegetables and fresh rice, yes please. My sister ordered the Mediterranean plate and that was just as good if not better with a very fresh salad. The menu is diverse with a variety of options. I can't wait to try everything on the menu. Highly recommend, we visited on a Tuesday evening, no wait and a bonus.....there is alcohol on the menu! This place has my heart
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Kelsy P.

Yelp
We drive by this place all the time and always say "we gotta try that sometime," so we finally did! Island grill is a great spot if you're looking for a casual meal out or to go for a big group. They have a decent amount of drinks and food items on happy hour from 3-6 pm and lots of food options on the regular menu. The falafel balls were a fun start and the Hanover plate was hefty. The cashier also sold us on a couple frozen margaritas which were actually pretty good! I'm not dying to go back but the food fits the reasonable price!

Mike S.

Yelp
Well I ordered the island breakfast, the potato were cold, mushy, and not what I would call breakfast potatoes and the toast was cold. It's a shame you have to leave a tip before you get your food, service was less than friendly and welcoming . Tried this place on the recommendation of Michael Berry- Not the level of Quality I would expect from his recommendation. Won't be back
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Deborah D.

Yelp
First time ordering from Island Grill this Sandwich is not worth $15.00 at all, very disappointed. And they forgot the sauerkraut how do you forget the sauerkraut?
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Gin Y.

Yelp
Overall, I think this spot was 3 stars. The outdoor patio was spacious and beautiful. Customer service was just ok. It's counter service and they just bring the food to your table. I think the food overall was ok. It just depends on what you order here. My sis ordered the pesto pasta with chicken, which was pretty good. There could've been more pesto sauce in the dish. I ordered the gyro platter, which was disappointing. The roasted vegetables didn't seem fresh. The rice was ok. The gyro meat was edible, but I've had better gyro meat. I think if you come here to eat, I wouldn't have such high expectations of the food.
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Alexcia P.

Yelp
So yummy. Bright and nice atmosphere. Free froyo for paying customers and super nice staff. A little pricey for just a lunch but it was worth it and delicious

Conrad S.

Yelp
Had a Friday lunch with a colleague/friend. You order at the register, they give you a number and then they bring the food to the table. I had the grilled chicken and veggie penne with pesto sauce. It wasn't a long wait before it came out. The establishment itself is open and bright. The food was excellent and the portion was generous. I finished only half of it and took the rest home for dinner. Overall it was a good experience. I would give it 5 stars overall but the parking was a problem. The lot is small and cramped. My companion had to exit my car before I parked or else he would have had trouble getting out of the car. Some larger vehicles couldn't fit in the spaces. I didn't notice if there was parking off the lot nearby, but some might find that situation annoying. Bottom line, 5 stars once you get inside, 4 stars otherwise.
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Robert E.

Yelp
The food is fair. Service was slow. Ambience feels more like a university cafeteria with that much noise

Stephanie H.

Yelp
Food was delicious! Awesome atmosphere! No wait on a Saturday so that was nice. Great service. Will definitely be back!
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ami F.

Yelp
Food is always consistent and delicious. I wish I didn't live so far. I would eat here multiple times a week. The staff is friendly and I have yet to come and not enjoy my food.

Angele D.

Yelp
The food was so fresh and good. We had their fresh made tuna salad and a gyro pita wrap. Very reasonably priced and super friendly staff, will definitely visit again.

Candice S.

Yelp
Food was great, tasty and season well. Bartender was amazing. Mojito mango and espresso martini was amazing. Prices are very affordable. Service was awesome.
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Ginger P.

Yelp
Met for a family girls dinner. Ages from 11 to 50 all found something they liked! Servers were so helpful and friendly. Food was fresh and tasty. Hummus was great!

Camille H.

Yelp
Food was amazing and the service was awesome!! Chicken pita quesadillas changed my life, see you soon at the island
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Britney B.

Yelp
I could eat here everyday! The food is fresh and consistent, with something on the menu for everyone. They probably have the best breakfast tacos in town and their salsa is soo fresh! Known for their pitas, chicken is my favorite and their garlic sauce is bomb! Fries are A1 also. They've been around for years and for good reason, service and quality is always on point! Ramona and Pete are awesome, remembering your name and sometimes even your order. Feels like you're family here! Loyal customer for life!
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Jyl C.

Yelp
Surprised by how good this place was! We stopped in because it was close to the medical district where we were staying, and what a great choice. Fresh, flavorful food with healthy and delicious choices. I had the Kabob Plate and both the chicken and the beef were great, lots of flavor for grilled meat and veggies. The hummus and pita and sweet potato fries were all great too, went well with the meal. After lunch, Island Grill offers free soft serve! My kid companion was so happy. I would definitely go back to this place. Might even order the exact same thing!
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Amber S.

Yelp
Ordered takeout last night and got the Hanover with mixed chicken and beef ($17) and gyro pita ($10). Pros: My food was prepared quickly. I liked that the gyro pita had mushrooms in it. Also liked that the meat included walnuts! The hummus spread was arranged quite beautifully. Separating the dish components for takeout was a great idea. The two sauces were yummy. Cons: The gyro pita is hard to eat by hand--I ended up making it into a salad. The pita in it was average and a bit soggy by the time I ate it. I would have liked more of the thin pita that came with the Hanover! Overall, I enjoyed this meal. I think I would have liked to pay a bit less for it, maybe $15 and $9? But always glad to support a local restaurant!
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Rodrick B.

Yelp
Great food, atmosphere and service! I had the pleasure of meeting the owner who recognized me from a different location. I'm almost certain that he's not from the south...but he's definitely adopted southern hospitality. I can see this being one of my favorite places to visit in the near future...

Priya B.

Yelp
I went a day ago and the lady in blue was coughing and sneezing everywhere and didn't cover her mouth and didn't wash her hands. The food and smoothie were great but having someone doing that while working is unsanitary.

Dee G.

Yelp
The service is always good . The breakfast tacos are consistently delicious. The salsa served with breakfast tacos is a perfect match. The patio is a great place to stop for breakfast during a walk.
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C L.

Yelp
Great greek salad and added Gyro meat! Good menu and friendly staff. Free soft serve ice cream.

Emily J.

Yelp
Super nice people great customer service great food always love coming here their smoothies are amazing

Billy G.

Yelp
I don't believe I've ever written a restaurant review before but I have been so pleased with the food and the staff that I felt the need to share. I don't believe I've ever been more impressed with a host than I was with Louis. The breakfast was superb to say the least and the service just awesome. I'll be back for sure!
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Ivy L.

Yelp
Was looking for a place for dinner one night and was curious about Island Grill cause they had a ton of amazing reviews! Located right in the neighborhood, we decided to come check it out on a Saturday evening. Huge parking lot and definitely not busy at all an hour before close! Restaurant is clean and modern, super bright and airy. Service was friendly. I opted for the Mediterranean plate and replaced the chicken with falafels. The bf for the island Reuben sandwich with fries! The food took a little bit to come out cause they prepare it fresh. The salad that comes with the Mediterranean plate was crisp and delicious! It was light but also flavorful. The falafels were some of the most moist falafels I've had in the city. They usually come out super dry - but these ones were definitely not. They break apart easy and reminded us of corn bread. The gyro meat was tender, cooked with onions and mushrooms. Not greasy and a bit lighter in flavors but we enjoyed it a lot. Especially with the pita on the side! I enjoyed the dish. The bf said the Reuben was just ok - nothing special about the sandwich but the fries were super crispy and delish. There's a complimentary frozen yogurt machine after your meal - though it wasn't working when we were there. There's also plenty of outdoor seating and a full bar! Great place for a quick bite, with friendly service and a great ambiance! Would definitely come back again!

Amber H.

Yelp
Love island grill! Great patio Food is fresh with good flavor, and the free soft serve yogurt is a nice treat at the end!

Priyanka I.

Yelp
Island greek salad portion with salmon price was almost $30 but portion size was small. Service was decent. Would like to try out their other dishes but I think their menu is over priced.