Island Paradise Restaurant & Grill

The owner was a little slow getting to us for our order, but I have to put that behind because it was well worth the wait. Plus she was the only one there, making takeout orders, and serving those before my selfish self. I had some of everything, curry chicken, jerk chicken, plantains/ ripe and green. Man was the food GOOD, so good that I almost ate myself into a coma! And with all that I had plus what my wife had the total read only$42.00 - Not bad at all.

The customer service was great from beginning to end we ordered a couple dishes and a couple alcoholic beverages pretty weak but it was sweet The food was okay It was a bit bland in my opinion The cabbage could have been better but the wings were really good VERY spicy I did get the jerk flavor tho. We wanted some items off the paradise menu but they weren't available so we settle. Cute little restaurant but not my cup of tea I don't see myself coming back.

Hands down this place has the BEST oxtails in the city of New Orleans. Savory with the perfect spice blend and subtle heat, Island Paradise never misses when oxtails are on the menu. Well with the price, oxtails plate with rice and peas and cabbage with two side orders of cornbread are my go-to. Their wings aren’t traditional jerk but have a sweet/tangy sauce and complement the oxtail order. Service is great and the vibes are perfect, you walk in and almost forget you’re in the states. Whether you dine in or carry out, you can’t go wrong with Island Paradise.

$20 Special during the month of August 2023. Jerk wings, fries, and rum punch. All delicious! Happy Birthday Ms. Nadine. Love Island Paradise. The food is great and customer service is on point. The stewed oxtail is my favorite.

Did takeout out but looking around the place it seems cozy and intimate. There is a bar and dining area. The food was good. The oxtails was amazing worth going back for. To be honest the cabbage was no way what I though it would be. Its taste and texture gave me smothered coleslaw vibes not cabbage plus it did not even look like the cabbage in other pictures on their review page. 😞 The rice and Peas was okay but again not my fav. (In my opinion) But those Oxtails was everything. They were tender, juicy and seasoned to perfection. Worth a another drop in for the oxtails only.

Fantastic place to eat, authentic Caribbean. I love the jerk fries, chicken and Trini doubles. Great customer service, comfortable dining and bar area. Great music and overall vibe in the restaurant. They also cater and do delivery services.

I placed an order over the phone, and I asked for a substitution with the cabbage, I don’t eat cabbage. They told me I cannot substitute the cabbage at all. When I got there this young girl with blue hair had an attitude and said they never did substitutions. I feel like that’s not right because it’s my mom and if I want something else on the menu, why I cannot get it if I’m paying for it? I’m literally being forced to pay for something I do not want, and that’s not right. I got the jerk chick plate with the rice and peas/ and the cabbage I spent $19 to basically just eat two pieces of chicken and a little bit of rice. So on top of attitude, bad service, getting forced to pay for something I don’t want, the portion was really really small and over priced. I’ve gone to so many ignore Jamaican restaurants, and I’ve paid $15 for a plate where they fill it up so much until they could no longer fill it up with so much chicken and sides. But two pieces of chicken for $19 is wild. This was my first and last time at this restaurant. I ate it and I was still hungry. The part that upset me the most though, was that I don’t eat cabbage, I wanted something else but they didn’t allow, that I had to pay for it. Never again. I

This food was amazing! The jerk chicken is a little spicer than what I’m use to, but finger licking! Everything was hot and delicious. They were not serving bread when we came, but I hope to try it next time. This Place doesn’t disappoint, definitely the best ox tails, we’ve had!

Loved these tacos! They were definitely spicy but not in an over bearing way & they came out hot and fresh. Will definitely be back to try other things on the menu.

Big thanks to Mrs. Ann Marie for some of the best curry chicken, jerk chicken, and cabbage that I've eaten in my life! Can't wait to get to try some stew chicken, roti, and bread pudding! Blessings on blessings to you until we see you again.

All I can say is we were looking for good trini food and we found it . Hand down this place was Amazing . The doubles were out of this world

I finally arrived at the highly referred dining place. I had read Yelp and talk to folks who highly recommended Island Paradise Oxtails are so tender and seasoned to perfection. I am always in search of great oxtail and this place is tops. Cabbage is tender and still has a crunch too it. Dem oxtails falling off the bones. The gravy makes you wish you had a slice of bread to sooo it up. Peas and rice were different from a lot I have tried. Almost like my mothers gravy and rice. Sooo good Anthony, one of the owners stopped by my table to allow me to interview him for yelpers. I told him we are a force in the food world...lol He shared some daily specials that are not on the menu. You must dine in or drive through to take advantage of the deals. See photos I ordered the jerk chicken meal to go, but I am confident I will enjoy As I sat there dining in a a Carribean atmosphere, I sipped on a Shandy Carib Sorrel. Alcohol so watch it. And I enjoyed some good music. Tell them Lynn sent you because I loved dem.

Jerk chicken wings are to die for !! The food is good . I don't know who's in that kitchen but they are doing a perfect job

Absolutely AMAZING!! So far the customer service has been great. I'll update this post after I finish this drink.

I love Jamaican food and grew up on it in South Florida but baby, this right here.....no indeed! I'm not sure who these folks are but this is NOT the authentic look of curry goat or oxtails. This was by far the absolute worst form of Jamaican food I've ever seen. There was also a horrible stench coming from the food containers when I opened it as if it was old food. The cabbage looked ghastly, the plantains were burnt and they tried to pass the $16.95 curry goat I paid for, with curry chicken. When confronted, she admitted the "mixup" and apologized. I'm just not sure how you mix up goat with chicken when you're not busy at all and I'm the only customer in the place. I may be wrong and I hope I am but I believe this was leftover food from the Essence Festival. I couldn't believe anyone calling themselves a cook would feel comfortable serving this. I've never ate my food and returned them both: that unsavory smell was too overpowering. I got a refund and went to Boswell's.

Hubby and I grabbed a quick bite to eat during work . Service was good. The food was very succulent.

Let me tell ya'll something!! If you know me "Carol Ann Chef Shorty Marie Lebrane " then ya know I wiggle my feet when it's good! I Damm near want to jump up and tap dance! It's soooooo GOOD! They touched my inner Fat Isaland Girl today! Being married to Chef Myron means I know fantastic food......lemme tell ya.....Chef Myron could only sit back in his seat and shake his head!! We had jerk chicken w/sweet plantains, Ox Tails w/Trini Callaloo, Trini Macaroni Pie, served with steamed cabbage! Drinks.....red strip and a Island Paradise Drink......BEAUTIFUL AND SOOOO TASTY! This Gets a 5 star from me FOR sure!

Back in Spring 2021 when I got my Covid vaccine, I started chatting with the nurse and, as is often the case in NOLA, the topic of restaurants came up. One thing led to another and she highly recommended Island Paradise and its Trinidadian cuisine. As she was from Trinidad originally, I figured I should listen to her. I'm happy I did. Very. I went yesterday (finally!) with a friend and we were both EXTREMELY satisfied. We started with the jerk shrimp tacos w/garlic sauce--delicious! The garlic sauce is a little like a Chinese sweet & sour sauce but the NYC version, not the gloppy red style served here. Sweet and tangy and garlicky it was absolutely yummy. The tacos were overstuffed with shrimp, some even falling out of the tortilla. An order of these could easily serve as a meal if you aren't too too hungry. I then got the Curried Goat; at $24.99, I thought it was a bit pricey and I'm not always crazy about Indian style curries, but because my nurse had recommended it, I thought I'd try it. BOY, was she right! First of all, this was NOT your typical curry, at least by Indian-style standards. I don't know quite how to describe it but it was absolutely delicious, the goat meat tender and lean. And the portion was VERY substantial with a hefty (and equally scrumptious) side of steamed cabbage plus I got the Trini Macaroni Pie as my side of choice--described as "Baked Macaroni" I was expecting mac'n'cheese (tho I had heard that the Caribbean version is its own creature) but it was a small brick of thin flat layers of pasta, a kinda first cousin to mac'n'cheese...and pretty heavenly! Suffice to say, I took about half of my serving home and am looking forward to having it tonight for dinner so it turned out to be very good value for the money. Planning to serve the goat over rice which should be pretty amazing. My friend had the Paradise Jerk Chicken and she was kind enough to give me a bite (or two)--absolutely wonderful. I'm a little disappointed that I didn't have room for the Sweet Plantains, but I guess they'll have to wait for my next visit :-) Seriously, the only item that was slightly disappointing was the Dhalpouri Roti; it was ok but nothing special. This was a little surprising as my nurse had recommended it. I just looked at the online menu and there's also Paratha Roti which on the menu in the restaurant was listed as "Buss Up Shot"; I'll plan to get that roti next time. Island Paradise is more geared to take-out than dine-in. You place your order at the counter and you pick it up there when it's ready. Even tho we let the staff know we would be dining there, the food came in to-go packages (which turned out to be fine when I wound up taking i/2 of mine home). That said, the ladies behind the counter, Nadine and Ju, were very friendly and, with 8 tables, Island Paradise could certainly accommodate more of a dine-in clientele if they so wanted to (we were there from about 6-7pm on a Saturday evening and the only folks who were dining there). Island Paradise is a bit off the beaten path but, with GPS, easily findable...and VERY well worth it! PS Loved the Caribbean music that was playing. As for the Owen Wilson movie that was on the TV, well, it didn't take anything away from all that we enjoyed but it didn't add anything either. Lol

My friends and I made a good discovery in Westbank when we found this place. Island Paradise is a small Caribbean restaurant hidden on the levee side of Westbank. It has a nice Caribbean feel when walking in with plenty of Caribbean décor. The menu is simple, but has all of your Caribbean dishes that you know. My friends and I ordered Buffalo Paradise Wings with Jerk Fries and Ranch, Paradise Jerk Chicken with Rice & Peas and side cabbages, Stew Oxtail with White Rice and side cabbages, Curry Chicken with White Rice and side cabbages. The food took a little while to come out and there was not much attentive service, but I think everyone works in the kitchen when they get the chance. The wings came first and they looked amazing. They were as good as they looked! We upgraded the fries to jerk fries but I do not think it made the fries any different or special. When the entrees came, they all looked tasty and filling. I had the jerk chicken and they were pretty flavorful with nice spices to make your nose run. Everything else were tasty and I would probably choose them again the next time I come. Overall, a solid Jamaican place to eat for lunch and catch up with friends. The food may take a while and service is alright, but the food will be worth it!

The food was the bomb! I will be back I ordered the jerk chicken po boy! It had the right amount of spice and the right amount of food I was full after a few bites

So glad I found this GEMS in Gretna... Omg!!!! The food was so amazing; My new spot for Caribbean cuisine. I never tired oxtails and am proud to say my tastebuds were happy; meat was tender tender!!!!The portions sizes are filling, I was about to bring food home. Waiters were friendly & attentive. Bathroom was clean. Decor has island vibes. Music selection on point. Needless to say I will be returning sooner than later.

I just had an absolutely DELICIOUS dinner from Island Paradise Restaurant in Gretna! We got oxtail, jerk chicken, cabbage, sweet plantains, and curry chick peas and potatoes. Every single thing was fabulous! If you love incredibly flavorful food, come here! Also, these guys gave away countless free plates following Hurricane Ida! Awesome folks! Check them out!

The food is the best I've had in the New Orleans and surrounding areas. Jerk chicken plate is flavorful from start to finish and I'm not talking it's just seasoned. It's marinated, seasoned, and made with love. Oxtails are excellent fall off the bone. Jerk wings are amazing. If you don't believe try it for yourself.

This place is a hidden gem, food it great. Staff is friendly but slow. I recommend this place to everyone. I'm given it 4 stars due to not being baby friendly (no changing station) and the waitress doesn't come back to check on you.

Was across the river and stopped over with a friend for oxtails. Though expensive, two plates and drinks cost almost $50 with tip the plates were huge. One of these plates is big enough to split between two people. Most places cut the oxtails smaller and give you way less but this place gives you big, huge pieces. For the price this is a special occasion delicacy but if you split the plate its pretty affordable.

The ox tails are some of the best I've ever tasted. The gravy alone is worth a trip to the West Bank. The macaroni is Caribbean, not African American. Just remember that and manage your expectations. It's not bad, just different than baked macaroni you'd get at a regular soul food spot. Not cheesy. The rice and peas is not dry and has a good flavor. You can't go wrong with the calypso wings or anything from the bar. I would eat here as often as possible if they were closer.

One of the best jerk chicken spots ive ever had! I will say the wait was a while from when we ordered our food to when we ate (everything was made fresh!). I'd advise ordering ahead if you're starving or in a rush.

I am a DC native, and while visiting New Orleans I really enjoyed the New Orleans cuisine , but after about 5 days into my visit I needed something different... and to my surprise Island Paradise Restaurant Grill was just what I needed. From the moment I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised. The staff was super friendly, the owner personally greeted all of the costumers. The music was great. My food was amazing!!!! It was Fresh, and full of flavor, real Caribbean food. If you are in New Orleans and want to try something other than the traditional Creole and Cajun vibe, this is a must do. If you're interested in trying Real, authentic, delicious Caribbean food then this place is a must!!! You'll thank me later.

The best authentic Caribbean food I've had! I'm extremely picky with this type of cuisine because it isn't seasoned enough- or cooked thoroughly. They're always so friendly when you walk in and the service is quick. If you're a beginner, get the jerk chicken with rice & peas + cabbage. After get the oxtails *chefs kiss*

We were turned on to this establishment but friends that know Trinidadian foods when at our current bar love, Portside, where on some nights there is Trinidad food served there and told there is a place on the good ol Westbank. Say no mo! Very similar in appearance to the real deal. Loud reggae music, bright color scheme, simple seating furniture and the smell of jerk. No loose chickens or flies like the real deal tho. Even better! The menu is simple. The staff/ owners are friendly and willing to explain whats what. Drinks are canned or bottles, so no refills. The menu is chicken heavy and if you have a picky eater that only likes white meat, they wont have alot of selection for strictly white meat. There is a crinkle cut french fry that comes with jerk seasoning,,,, get that! I had a jerk chicken poboy. All good. Awesome flavors. The big highlight that my picky partner fell in love with is the simplest and most common of Trinidadian street food..... the double. Its a vegetarian snack that didn't last 2 mins. Ask for spicy if you like spicy, it was fantastic! They take orders fast but it takes a little while to come out. Not super fast even when there is no one else there, but that means its made to order goodness. Look at the pics and come educated. But definitely get a order of doubles if you don't see anything on the menu you would eat. And a Caribe beer.

I have passed this place so many times over the past few years and I finally decided that it was time to stop in and see what it was all about. Although I have had Caribbean food before, I'll admit that I'm not as "schooled" in it as I am other cuisines. I went into Island Paradise with an open mind and excited to try a few things that I hadn't had before and sample some old familiar favorites. For my lunch, I knew immediately that I wanted to start with Traditional Trini Doubles- which is made with two pieces of flat fried dough filled with curried chickpeas, peppers and chutneys. This is one of the foods I had never had before, so I was going in blind. also ordered the Paradise jerk chicken with a side of Dhalpouri roti and I also indulged in some cornbread and sweet plantains. All of the food here is made to order, but my patience definitely paid off when an incredible spread of food was laid out in front of me. The first thing that I tried was the Trini Doubles and it was fantastic! I loved that the baras (fried dough) was nice and light and the filling was tasty with a lot of flavor. In this version, you can get it with or without peppers. I got it with peppers and I found it to be the perfect combination of savory and spicy. It was my first experience, and I liked it so much that I am already planning to order it again on my next visit. Next, I dug into the jerk chicken and Dhalpouri roti. I love jerk chicken and the version here didn't disappoint. Island Paradise serves up a large piece of juicy and flavorful chicken topped with a sauce that was sweet and complimented the dish well. The Dhalpouri roti was traditional flatbread served with Island Paradise's Trinidadian potato curry. This was a dish that had some really good spice to it and I loved it! I feel like a lot of restaurants are afraid to really serve well-spiced dishes, but I'm happy to report that Island Paradise doesn't cut any corners when it comes to flavors. The cornbread went wonderfully with everything and the sweet plantains were perfection. Fun fact about me: sweet plantains is one of my all-time favorite foods and I order it whenever I see it on a menu. A line on Island Paradise's menu reads, "Where the island meets the mainland." and my experience here reflected that mantra perfectly. If you're looking for traditional Caribbean food in a bright atmosphere served by friendly people, then this is the spot for you.

Ordered the curry chicken and oxtails and sweet plantains and corn bread. The chicken curry was ok. Not a lot of flavor but good. The oxtails were better. Very tender! The side of cabbage was the best thing on the plate to me. And they forgot to put my cornbread in the bag.

This was our first time at this establishment and I tell you we will visit again. Everything was soooooooo good and very flavorful. The staff very nice.

I got the Oxtails with rice and peas as the side. The oxtails were tender and full of flavor, and the side rice and peas complimented the meal. I also tried the bread pudding with white rum sauce, so moist and delicious. My wife helped finish my plate, it was her first time trying oxtails...she was very satisfied!!!

I love their oxtail stew. Occasionally, I try to fix my own but their version is never as oily as the home version. The rice and beans are flavorful and I would never even attempt to replicate them. Cabbage - meh! I am not a cabbage fan and would have swapped cabbage for a different side, but like a good customer, I finished the entire plate. :-)

So I finally made it here and they had Oxtails. My place was Oxtails, rice and peas, cabbage and cornbread. Starting with the sides the cabbage was well seasoned and tender but not wilted there was a slight crunch which was delightful. The rice and peas was amazing esp with the oxtail gravy on top. This was perfection in a bike. The cornbread tasted like a island grandmother made it for Sunday dinner and dropped in some love as a special touch. The oxtails though weren't what I was expecting and I had such high hopes. They were good but not great and I had 3 with a bit of bone. Tender but not falling off the bone. Maybe I came too early and they didn't sit long enough. I'll try again another time. Maybe go with the jerk chicken and sides next time.

Truly a Westbank gem. Ive been back twice in two weeks to try more of the menu. The jerked chicken is simply perfect, and don't pass on the roti -- it gives Banana Blossom a run for its money!

This place is delicious! Food is on point!! We had the oxtail, rice & cabbage with cornbread and sweet plantains. I'm so full because I couldn't stop eating. The service is great and the place is run by a very sweet family. We just moved here and this will definitely be one of our go to spots!!

Food was good. I ordered a dhalpuri, chicken curry and potato entree. Big meal and very filling. I ate it over 3 days. I also had doubles and that was very good. I highly recommend that you try it.

Good oxtails. I recommended this place to so many friends. They all love it! Def my go to when bk I want Caribbean food.

Went here today for a going away lunch! I had the chicken curry and while it was good, it lacked any spice at all. A few had the jerk chicken and they loved it! The service was also lacking- it took forever to get our food and when we did, we still did not have any drinks, & getting refills was not going to happen. Tip for Parking - it is not marked, which left us all having to wait for another to move. Back into your spot to save yourself.

Great place for Jamaican food! I'm a veg so I get the veggie roti... delicious curry, pea, chickpea and potato filling. This time, I accidentally ordered the normal dhalpurri roti thinking it was the veggie and it wasn't, but they were very polite in letting me know to specify the veggie and bringing a new one out a few minutes later. Highly recommend to try their cornbread and desserts as well!

Super cute little restaurant. Looks like we were back in Jamaica . Family ran. Taste like the cooked love right onto your plate.

The best service and oxtails hands down and the portion size is enormous! I'm a regular

Nice too see island food in New Orleans can't wait too go back and try the oxtails I love them especially when they cooked the right way so I will be back too try them thanks again

We ordered oxtail, jerk chicken and bread pudding. Everything was delicious and the portions are generous. The oxtail was fall off the bone tender. Everything was so full of flavor, down to the sides!!

Really love this restaurant. Frequent customer right here. Love the paradise jerk chicken, buss up shot, dhal puri and jerk shrimp.

We drove all the way from west Texas to attend a wedding in NOLA, our AirBnB wasn't too far from this place so we decided to stop by. Man, the food was definitely a different pace from my typical Mexican food and steakhouses, but holy crap... The food here was the best I have had in my life. I went there back in 2016 and I still think about it to this day. The shrimp po-boy and jerk chicken po-boy was the highlight of the entire trip, screw the wedding. We ate there 4 times in about 3 days. The staff was extremely friendly and if I remember correctly, they brought out their mom (who was the cook?) to come out and meet us. Very friendly and many smiles were shared. I would love to meet them again and have more of their amazing food, if they weren't 15 hours away. If only they could deliver lol. Could not recommend enough.

This is my new go-to for a warm, comfort meal with an international flavor flair! I'm currently hooked on the curried goat stew with potato-chick pea side. I absolutely loved the bus up shot pastry/bread but they don't always have it. I like a little pepper-warmth to my food but not too much and this dish is just right, although I wouldn't be mad at them if they added a little more curry flavor to the goat! It quite possibly tastes better and better every time I go!

I am so angry it took me so long to check this place out!! It is AMAZING! I thought I would go get my fix for Trinidadian food that is readily available in the northeast and I'd be content. This, however, was some of the best Trini food I ever had! We had the jerk chicken with dalphouri roti and the curry chicken with buss up shot! We also had doubles as appetizers! This food was so good! It comes out steaming hot so be patient. The atmosphere was nice too. With the music playing and Soca event flyers around I felt like I was at home in my favorite Caribbean hang out. They only downside is that it isn't closer to my neighborhood but it so worth the trek. The portion size is very filling. It sent us right into a food coma and 2 hour nap! The owner was very nice, which is not something I'm used to in Roti Shops...that makes this restaurant even more special!! Why did it take me so long??? I can't wait to go back and try everything and have drinks. This is my new spot!

Listen...if y'all want a meal so good it make you wanna slap ya significant other...go on to Island Paradise and order an Island Paradise and some Oxtails and mix them rice & beans with that gravey.....BOI My husband almost got it! I'm sure if the oxtails was errthing else on the menu is too!

Best oxtails and Mac & cheese. Overall menu is solid and consistently good. Stew chicken and jerk chicken are good as well.

Oh my God!!! The oxtails are amazing. I've been trying to get here for 3 months and, it was worth the wait

Best Caribbean food in NOLA! Jerk Chicken Poboy is delicious! Ox Tails are flavorful and tender!

One word-DELICIOUS!!! Island Paradise dishes up the tastiest Caribbean food in Louisiana. The meals are just bursting with delicious flavors. I usually travel over 30 miles to enjoy the tasty curry and stew chicken. My husband favorites are the fried plantains, doubles and jerk chicken. If you like Caribbean food, make Island Paradise your next stop. If you have never tried it-you just Got to!!!!! Carol V ~~**~~

This place makes me feel like I'm back in the Bahamas. I love the Island food. Island Paradise gives me that! Yes! Awesome place.

Food is great. Hours are a bit odd but that's within expectation. Get the oxtails if it's available. But you can't go wrong with the jerk chicken Poboy and jerk fries.