Island

Went with a few friends for a nice dinner. Started with a calamari and salad to share. Both were great. I had the sesame tuna and was cooked perfectly. Couple friends only had burgers but they really enjoyed them. The atmosphere was warm and cozy and server was friendly. Had the donut holes for desert and they were great. Hope to make it bck to try the swordfish or curry chicken.

My family loves this place for a nice casual meal. We always sit outside, which is nice for bringing our little one and pup. Staff is friendly as can be and accommodating. Food is always very good. Kids menu is a nice touch. Try the chimichuri beef, red snapper and the salads are all good. For non alcoholic try the detox. Really you can’t go wrong!

My family plans to return here every chance we get. This place shows attention to hygiene and vibe. This spot offers the freshest ingredients without the premium cost. The staff truly treated us with exceptional kindness. Good character forms this restaurant's foundation.

A really nice place with a wonderful staff and ambience, good food and service (John was great). Will definitely come back when in the area.

Always have a wonderful time here! My husband and I have been going here for decades- even when we were dating. Casual, sophisticated, and relaxed. We’ve always had a great meal with friends, family, or just by ourselves. A steady go-to restaurant now that we don’t live in NYC. Now our kids go!

Amazing ambiance, kind staff, good food! Coming again for sure!

Rarely write reviews unless I think a place is out of this world - I think this place was great (as I was only there for 30 mins), but felt the need to write a review because I almost didn’t come mainly because they have not so nice reviews from years ago that come up first & weren’t up to par with how amazing the food was. Came here for lunch and WOW. Food was absolutely amazing - was in a rush so didn’t get the full experience of slowly enjoying, however I was still very impressed with the little things no one ever notices unless you cook all the time! Thanks for a perfect NYC lunch! & thanks John who was my server for executing hospitality very well!

This restaurant sits right on Madison Ave very close to Central Park. It is very cozy but super cute too. I arrived right Brunch and lunch time and even though they were a little bit busy and already had reservations booked, they still sat me and took great care of me. My server was Kate and she was very knowledgeable about their cuisine. As an appetizer they serve popovers with strawberry jelly. The popovers doesn’t really taste like anything but the strawberry jelly more than compensates for it so be sure to eat them together. I order the scrambled eggs and it came with bacon, leafy greens, potatoes and multi grain bread. I loved the entire combination but their bacon was by far the best bacon I have ever had from any restaurant. Not sure if they smoke it and what they do, but it is delicious. I am so glad I went there for brunch, I received great service, the price was very fair and the food was also pretty tasty. #brunch

I've passed this spot many times and finally said, "let's try it." American fare and always busy, I was curious beyond its prime location on the UES. Everything was delicious. Too nice to sit in the spacious indoor area, we opted off the sidewalk and in the street structure, which while warm, cooled quickly with the help of fans. We ordered margaritas which were tasty, although I'd have liked salt with mine. Two burgers, both cooked medium. Both arrived medium rare. No worries, the waiter took the burger back for another grill, and a fresh plate appeared, followed shortly by the accompanying delicious crunchy fries. Excellent proportion of pickles to tomato and lettuce, and tasty beef. My only complaint was that the man who was in charge of outside, wearing a shirt and tie, no waitstaff apparel, put his hand on my shoulder each time he interacted with the table, refilling water, bringing back the burger plate or the cup of fries. My son observed the same and also thought it odd - and agreed: uncomfortable.

Nice restaurant that doesn't really specialize in any one cuisine. They add a modern, seafood twist to their dishes. The interior is very nice and cozy. It's on the fancy side. The calamari and sweet potato fries are very good, especially the sauce. I had the tuna poke. It is served on top of a bed of Basmati rice and salad. Mix everything together and it's delicious. Their entrees are a bit small though except for the burgers.

We came to Island last night after my daughter's Christmas performance at a nearby church. I hadn't been here in several years, so my memory of that experience is vague, but it was cold last night and it was on our way home so we gave it a shot. So glad we did. My burger with fresh mozzarella was perfectly cooked and the super thin and crisp fries sent me over the edge. So good. My wife's fish and my daughter's chicken curry dish were likewise well executed. We had ordered an app of calamari to nibble on before our mains, but it never showed up which was actually fine because our mains were quite filling. Our server, Adriana, was so apologetic about it and refilled my wine glass to make up for it. She didn't have to do that, but it was a very gracious move and it's the type of service that makes this diner want to return. Well done!

A great variety of well prepared foods and excellent service. Ambiance is simple and elegant

A casual intimate fine dining experience. I came here for a Christmas luncheon and was thoroughly impressed with the food. As a large group we were given a fixed menu (pita/hummus app; 3 salads,2 hot entrees and chocolate cookies/fruit dessert). I did wish we had more diverse options because as I walked through the restaurant, which is fairly small, I was salivating from the calamari and other food on the others guests' table. The pita was warm and to live for in addition to the hummus *chefs kiss*‍ I had the chicken melt with fries which was delicious! It was nicely roasted with mozzerella in btwn buttery toasted panini bread alongside crispy fries and a mini salad. The salad options looked aesthetically pleasing from afar lol. Service was kind and attentive. I look forward to trying other entrees in the future. Overall it was a A!

I came in ,the other day, by chance -seeking a comfortable seat and a nice drink-and I found both here-and more! A nice respite from the Nyc Labor Day rush and a creative menu- I opted for fried calamari-good- and a watermelon vodka special.The appetizer portion was so big I could barely eat a third of it. And a good group of sophisticated people were in the dining room. The bartender-a young man-was friendly and gave very good service. I ended up taking home the Lobster Quesadilla with chopped lobster and a nice spin on it -with the addition of melted Brie. I couldn't finish it -large portion-but the taste was delicious. Count me in!

Very enjoyable meal (lunch). Delicious tomato soup -- really recommend this -- and classic shrimp cocktail. Nice Prosecco. Pleasant service. Only complaint -- my teabag was served with a little pot of lukewarm water. My companion's was hot so we shared hers. Since she was treating me, I didn't want to complain since everything else was so lovely, but it's a detail they should be mindful of.

Cozy neighborhood dinner/date spot or even solo at the bar. They always have good options for specials including soup of the day and a fish entree and the service is timely.

This is the cutest neighborhood restaurant in the upper east side I can't say enough about the awesome staff!

Island was recommended by someone at the Museum of the City of New York for a nice, relatively inexpensive lunch. It was perfect. Friendly service, good food, nice surroundings. Very nice.

From the high-end, high-cuisine dining sophistication to more affordable spots in the UES, hubs decided to go for this underdog on Madison & 93rd. Despite the already preppie, old-money attire at Island, our sneaks and my Nike pants had to suffice as we just finished with an Ephrat Asherie performance at the Guggenheim. With their yacht and nautical design, Island paints a picture of an almost sea-worthy journey- without a trip to the beach. We nabbed an 8pm Wednesday reservation in their second dining room right off their bar. Seats directly in front of the bar however, are skillfully arranged in a narrow stretch- as it's the only way to get to the middle and back dining rooms. The menu seems to represent just about any island in every continent you can think of: Caribbean islands, Islands off South America, Asian islands, islands in the Indian Ocean and so many others. When you hear about a place is "all over the place" you generally think of chaos- but not here. It's actually the menu because it's all over the place. You have Hummus next to Guacamole next to a Tuna Poke Bowl. So Mr. Owner- please don't take any insult- the menu has A LOT because it's formed around the world. Miso Japanese Eggplant appetizer was creative and delicious while hubs enjoyed his Arugula salad with a load of Parmesan. My rare, sesame crusted Tuna as requested was juicy but needed a hair touch of salt to bring the dish together and hubs' Maine Lobster Quesadillas had juicy lump meat- but weren't form correctly. I'm admittedly not much of a pie person and it's unlike me to order anything outside of Chocolate but the Key Lime Pie with Meringue called me. That sucker was tart, good and incredibly sweet (maybe turn down the sweetness on this one a bit)- while hubs' Blueberry Cobbler had the right warm temp and oozed nicely. Despite everything, food was very nice and service was awesome from our server.

Food is on the expensive side and the restaurant's default tipping suggestions are too high. But the dishes are mostly good, and the waiters are attentive. Ambiance is reasonable, and it's a good place to have conversations.

I've gone to island twice now. Both times were great service was great and drinks were very tasty. My favorite thing so far is the asparagus appetizer, a must try!

When Barbara Corcoran recommends a lunch spot close to her office we had to try t. Great lunch spot! Awesome tomorrow soup, great salmon bowl, and blt. Make a reservation- it fills fast!

Fantastic brunch all around, from the poached eggs to the chopped Cobb salad, the service was great! Quaint neighborhood restaurant. Will be back!

My wife loves this place but quiet honestly it is hands down the worst place on the UES. The got our entire order wrong, it took forever and to make things worse the waiter argued with us about what we ordered. I have never left zero tip before, I did tonight.

Definitely recommend making a reservation. The salads are good and they have a nice variety. Good location. Waitstaff always seem a bit annoyed.

Perfect neighborhood spot. Not touristy, charming cozy interior, great classic menu, great staff

Island is not a place I would seek out -- we dined there recently when a family member who lives on the Upper East Side suggested it and treated us. My impression is that most of its customers live nearby and want convenience and comfort. The decor is generically refined but not noteworthy. Our meals were very tasty. My husband's black cod was perfectly cooked with white wine and butter, and accompanied by sweet potato and kale, also perfectly cooked. I had a generously sized crab cake on a bed of creamy spinach and ate it all. The chocolate gelato was amazing. Drawbacks? The service from our early-20s server; she was not terribly attentive -- we had to ask for water refills on a very slow evening -- and she was a little too abrupt, casual, and "hi guys" for the refined ambiance. The cloth bench on one side of our table had a few stains on it and the cloth tablecloth had food on it at the hem. Overall, I would forgive these misfires and recommend Island for those on the UES.

I have been coming to Island since I was probably three years old. It's a time honored tradition of my family to come to Island after church whether it be for brunch, dinner or just some drinks. The food is always exceptional. I try to change up my order every time and it always blows me away in the best way possible. I live for the lobster quesadilla and the calamari though! For drinks I highly recommend an espresso martini made by Rudy. Maria and Adriana are divine and always so accommodating. They truly make you feel like family! The entire staff for that matter do! Always with a smile on their face and always remember your name. The ambiance and atmosphere are cozy and classy. Small, lovely, but absolutely perfect. You can always find me at the Island whenever I'm in Carnegie Hill!

Very cute spot that I want to love, but overall was a bit underwhelming. The place has a cool island concept, and the menu certainly reflects that, but the prices don't really match up to what you pay for, and service pretty inconsistent. The staff was all very nice but I think there was a large party in the back while we were there, and our server would disappear for long amounts of time, and we ended up ordering certain things with a different server. The calamari was fine, standard frozen situation. The mussels were a little bit under-seasoned, and the fries that were meant to go with them came out about 10 minutes later. The steak was good but again for the price I was expecting a little bit more. My favorite part of the meal was the ice cream sundae (but in all fairness it's hard to mess that up). Overall, would try this place again to hopefully get better results!

I visited Island for the first time in many years last night. I very much enjoyed it! The decor is preppy meets nautical and the clientele skews older but we felt welcome. Ordered: Caesar Salad ($14)- this salad was made with Boston lettuce instead of the typical romaine. This was a nice touch. The Boston lettuce was softer than romaine. The salad had croutons and a generous amount of fresh Parmesan cheese. The dressing was the real star. It had depth of flavor and the taste of anchovies. Roasted Maple Glazed Norwegian Salmon ($30)- the salmon was a nice sized piece that was cooked to order. It was roasted with a maple mustard glaze. The skin was crispy. The salmon was not dry/overcooked. It came over roasted Brussels sprouts. Seafood Linguini ($28)- the pasta was cooked al dente and served with shrimp, mussels and clams. The sauce was natural, made from the liquid from the mussels and clams, olive oil, garlic and multicolored cherry tomatoes. I really enjoyed this dish! I was a little disappointed that one of the clams arrived shut and therefore couldn't be eaten. Overall, I really enjoyed my dinner at Island. It was a little more expensive than other restaurants I typically dine at, but the service and the quality of the food was very good.

My favorite lunch spot on the UES. My go-to is the Autumn Kale salad paired with sweet potato fries (and an Island Margarita or two).

I honestly cannot speak to the food, but had to get on to write a review about the staff at this restaurant. I had an unfortunate incident today where I was being harassed and followed on the street. I instinctively ducked into Island because it was the first place I saw. Three of the staff - two young women and one waiter, instantly sprang into action to help me. They sat me down, calmed my nerves, and brought me a glass of water. They patiently and kindly let me sit for minutes and escorted me out of the restaurant safely. I wish I got their names but I was so frazzled. I am so appreciative and thankful for their help today. I will definitely be returning to the restaurant to actually experience the food soon. The management and owner of Island should be extremely proud of the high quality staff they have hired.

My kale salad was delicious. The vibe is nice and the staff are friendly. It was a good spot for lunch.

A friend of mine's kid went to school in one of the many prep schools in this area so he became quite familiar with Island And text me there every time I am in the city. I love it. The staff is wonderful and the food is refreshing. Drinks are perfect.

Great location and very cozy and intimate setting. Nicely decorated Outdoor seating available with heaters or on sidewalk . Staff is very friendly and professional. Locals frequent this restaurant probably due to its warm setting and great and consistent menu. Don't miss any of the desserts especially the doughnuts!

Enter a New Yorker cartoon on this enchanted Island! Was the maitre d playing Wordle? No matter the best table is available in the middle of a buzzing lunch hour on a Thursday. How cozy to be surrounded by Hermes bags and blonde ladies who speak in hushed tones! Wait staff brings tap water (the native choice) without asking! Lovely calamari feeds a family of 3, followed by a crab cake special (very nice) and juicy burgers. You may want to hang out just to people watch and forget all about that nasty pandemic.

Food and service are adequate at best. It's in a area that is not noted for great restaurants. Skip it

We had our second visit to Island for brunch yesterday and our feeling was confirmed...It's best compared to country club food, from not a very good country club. There were 2 poke bowls, 1 tuna burger and a goat cheese omelet at our table. The poke bowls arrived on plates but that's not really a big deal, it's what's on the plate that counts, and that was really sad. There was a ring of "cold" mashed avocado sitting on an ordinary green salad and the "sushi grade" (not) tuna on the avocado. Circling the plate were easily the worst corn tortilla chips I've ever had. The refrigerated avocado mash had zero flavor as did the tuna. The green salad was definitely a green salad, that's about it. The tuna burger was completely flavorless. The omelet was surprisingly good. There were sweet potato fries served with the tuna burger and were excellent. We ordered donut holes for the table which were fried in old oil and if you've ever tasted something fried in old oil....well I'm sure you get it. I will tell you that on our first visit I had the chicken melt sandwich which was spectacular! Chicken topped with mozzarella, arugula and a balsamic dressing pressed between 2 slices of sour dough bread, perfectly crisp. I would happily go back for the chicken melt sandwich, but I would get it to go if its a nice day and eat it in a park bench.

I came to Island last night after having a beyond disappointing dinner at Pil Pil, and I must say they saved the night! I want to first highlight the service there - both our server as well as the wait staff were very attentive to us and made sure that we had a great experience. They even let us move our table outside so that we weren't sitting in the dark -- it was pretty late in the evening at that point. Now, onto the food... the tuna burger that I had was amazing as were the sweet potato fries that they came with. My friends' dishes looked and smelled great as well. The drinks were good as well. I would recommend the Island Margarita. I can't wait to come back and explore the rest of their menu items. If you're having a disappointing night, there's a high chance Island might make it better.

The kitchen is barely trying. Like seriously how do you mess up a burger. At the very least get a proper bun, not the cheapest crap bun you literally can buy. And the steak is tough as shoe leather. You don't deserve the attention you get from the geriatrics that go there out of convenience. Just try a little and it could be great. Staff is very kind. Place looks great. But chef should be tossed.

Island was generally good and had a lot of menu options so there is something for everyone whether you want seafood, pasta, or meat. They checked our temperature when we entered and gave us hand sanitizer. We had to wait 10 minutes for a table to get cleared. The tables probably could have been spaced out a little bit more as it felt like more than 25% capacity. The bread was really good and came with butter at the perfect temperature so it was easy to spread. For cocktails, we got a hot toddy and cherry old fashioned. They overdid the sour in the hot toddy and the bitters in the old fashioned. We shared the special salad which was Boston lettuce with chickpeas, quinoa, avocado, feta, and cherry tomatoes. The salad was really flavorful and the feta provided a nice balance of saltiness. I got the ahi tuna which came with snow peas, pickled ginger, and bean sprouts. The tuna was a big chunk and was cooked well. For desert, we got the apple tartan. I was a little disappointed that the dish came on a thin pie crust instead of the traditional tarte shell. As a result, the dish was very soggy. Our server was very friendly and attentive.

from one of our favorite neighborhood places to never going back thanks to the poor and rude behavior of manager Raymond who definitely brings the restaurant down. when I asked on open table not to be seated toward the rear of the restaurant the new inexperienced girl did exactly that, brought my party of four to the end of the restaurant right by the stairs. my son got up to tell her and she proposed two other tables. we moved to more desirable table in main dining room, sat down when Raymond appeared out of nowhere causing a scene demanding we vacate the table! he insisted someone 'had specially reserved' that table. I said well I reserved a table in main dining room as well, he continued getting ruder however he would not relent and made us move to a table in desolate, cold part of the dining room. never did I encounter such arrogance and prejustice from a manager no apology,nothing. sad part is I kept standing up to see--no one sat at the table he forced us to vacate. between him and the new hostess, I doubt this restaurant will survive much longer.

Maria is the best bartender/waitress. Everything she recommended was spot on and delicious. I cannot wait to come back to have another great time! She works Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. She knows her stuff!!!

What a delightful restaurant experience we enjoyed here. Island has an attractive, rather intimate dining room with a little space for sidewalk tables, and the theme is sort of yacht-like without going overboard about it (keep in mind the restaurant's name). And the eclectic menu offers some appealing seafood dishes without slipping into Red Lobster mode. For instance, you can find some delicious crispy calamari, a tasty lobster quesadilla, Maryland crab cake sliders and a moist and lightly crusted yellowfin tuna burger if you are so inclined. We did and relished all but the crab cakes, which weren't bad at all but lacked the bursting crab meat flavor we've found at a few other restaurants (looking at you Guppy's in Florida). We also, however, tried the Kobe beef hot dog, an item we have never seen anywhere before this. When served, it looked almost like the Oscar Meyer weinermobile, neatly curved over a bun and packed with lots of sauerkraut. The verdict? Gimme' more. We didn't try any of the desserts though our server said we would be missing something good. No doubt. The wait staff seemed attentive and friendly though not obtrusive. In general, the atmosphere is not quite laid back but spiffy and focused as you might hope the staff on your yacht would be. As we said, a good experience, and given it's location not far from a family member's home, we'll certainly return.

A forgettable restaurant - from food to service. The price is expensive for the food taste and portion size, but the location is convenient. They do seem somewhat family friendly though. Got the burger and asked for sweet potato fries... they messed up the sub and charged me for a full side. The burger was undercooked. There was a SINGLE leaf of romaine lettuce lol

Delicious spot in the UES. Such a quaint atmosphere, generous and friendly staff, and the food is top notch. We ordered the kale salad (so fresh and crispy), roasted chicken, tuna, and fillet of sole. All were quality entrees and perfectly flavored. And can't forgot the donuts for dessert - over the top!

I was visiting a friend on the UES and he lives close by to Island. We went for Sunday brunch. The space itself is very nice inside, small and intimate. Our wait staff was excellent, friendly and attentive. Island serves these dough puff things that are like crack, especially when your hungry. I had the Goat Cheese Omelette with cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs with mesclun greens and home fries. This was excellent and cooked just right. A few others in our party of five ordered the Brioche French Toast with fresh berries and maple syrup. This was huge and looked really tasty. I would definitely return to Island again and after reading some other Yelp reviews, try the hamburger. 4 soldi Yelp stars for brunch.

Upscale tropical villa ambiance, excellent reading and intimate conversational volume. The food tasted whole and simple - No mystery ingredients. will definitely return to this restaurant.

We sat down the block outside and not in the little building they built where cars should be parked and that was nice..........except for the sounds of busses and motorcycles and garbage trucks. I had a caesar salad and a hamburger and they were fine. Service nice and we sat outdoors for more than 2 hours. I guess this is what a NY neighborhood restaurant has become during covid season

I ate here a few months ago and had a great experience. Good food with nice and welcoming staff. I wanted to get my five stars in considering the posts circulating social media right now. It's a good spot and and I'll come back again. Don't judge an entire restaurant by one experience posted by someone else, look at the aggregate of all the reviews and go for yourself.

The food was fantastic. The ambiance was wonderful...the service was a touch slow (but they were quite busy so it was understandable). The main area where Island needs improvement are the desserts, which are fine but nothing special especially after having the wonderful food. I had the Seafood Skewers with rice which was absolutely divine. But then I had the Key Lime pie and while the crust and meringue were good, there was not a trace of key lime that I could detect, and I have sampled several key lime pies in Key West, FL, so I know what it's supposed to taste like. The owner is a sweetheart and was on the premises to make sure everything was going smoothly. I would suggest reservations - this place is cute and good and in a great location, so it gets busy and very full quickly.

This restaurant sits right on Madison Ave very close to Central Park. It is very cozy but super cute too. I arrived right Brunch and lunch time and even though they were a little bit busy and already had reservations booked, they still sat me and took great care of me. My server was Kate and she was very knowledgeable about their cuisine. As an appetizer they serve popovers with strawberry jelly. The popovers doesn't really taste like anything but the strawberry jelly more than compensates for it so be sure to eat them together. I order the scrambled eggs and it came with bacon, leafy greens, potatoes and multi grain bread. I loved the entire combination but their bacon was by far the best bacon I have ever had from any restaurant. Not sure if they smoke it and what they do, but it is delicious. I am so glad I went there for brunch, I received great service, the price was very fair and the food was also pretty tasty.

Good quality food and patient, accommodating staff. There are both indoor and outdoor tables. The salads are great! I love beets, and the combo of goat cheese, greens, nuts and a lite dressing in the beet salad is perfect for warm weather. Beware of the bread! It's too good and will fill you up before your meal!

Always excellent food & service, ambiance inside or out calming. My favorite is the French Toast at brunch and or those crab cakes! Brioche French Toast

Just left Island disgusted with the service and some of our family were upset with the food. Most of our Party of 8 ordered appetizers however after 30 minutes, finally one person got his gazpacho. We all watched him eat it thinking we'd get the watermelon feta salads soon. But no!!! Some mains showed up and the salads showed up at the same time. I have never seen this happen at a restaurant before. The man who brought out the salads said he could have brought them out earlier but we don't know why he didn't. The salad nicoise has seared tuna and the waiter specifically asked how he wanted it. It was ordered as medium rare and was delivered well done. The Mussels dish was to have charred bread to soak up the sauce and 3 waiters acted as if they never heard of charred bread!! ITS ON THE MENU!! The sides we're tasteless and over cooked. Carmelized Brussel sprouts??? Very overcooked , not carmelized and tasteless. So was the Parmesan cauliflower. And $8 for 5 asparagus? Really?? One diner ordered the lobster quesadilla and due to a disability she asked to have it cut in quarters. It was delivered whole and not quartered. She had to bother others to help her cut her food and that was just unnecessary. No apologies were given and we were very patient. I know we'll never go back to Island and think twice before you go.

Let's start with the positive: the decor is pleasant. While the menu at Island is varied, the food and service are average at best. The hummus was bad and they don't even give you enough pita bread to eat with it. The chicken melt sandwich was okay, but tiny. The Cobb salad was fair. There was a minuscule amount of tiny pieces (slightly larger than peas) of chicken, slightly more blue cheese, a couple hard-boiled eggs and a decent amount of bacon. Who wants a salad full of bacon? The dressing lacked taste. The server was friendly when he took the order and was MIA for the rest of the meal, then again, we didn't order drinks.

Maria is brilliant the best bartender! Everything she suggested was fabulous! She knows her things, and was very attentive.

you have to come here! We found it, by luck, on open table, and we were SO happy with it! They keep it so warm with heaters, and it's such a lovely vibe. We got Ronald as our server and let me tell you, ASK. FOR. RONALD. He is the kindest soul, best server. The best place ever!