Isola
Italian restaurant · Shelter Island Heights ·

Isola

Italian restaurant · Shelter Island Heights ·

Live music, burgers, pasta, and brick oven pizza

owner engaged
friendly service
homemade pasta
pizza
good food
live music
great atmosphere
chicken parmigiana
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Information

15 Grand Ave, Shelter Island Heights, NY 11965 Get directions

$50–100

Restroom
Accepts reservations
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Dinner reservations recommended

Information

Static Map

15 Grand Ave, Shelter Island Heights, NY 11965 Get directions

+1 631 749 9036
isolany.com
@isolashelterisland
𝕏
@Isola_NY

$50–100

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Dinner reservations recommended
•Cozy
•Romantic
•Trendy

Last updated

Jan 17, 2026

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Historic Gage & Tollner in Downtown Brooklyn Will Reopen | Eater NY

"An Italian restaurant, Isola, has shuttered in the neighborhood." - Stefanie Tuder

https://ny.eater.com/2019/1/14/18181921/gage-tollner-opening-brooklyn
Isola

William Knight I.

Google
Whoever said Shelter Island goes to sleep after Labor Day clearly hasn’t been to Isola. This gem of a restaurant is alive with energy, laughter, and the kind of warm Italian hospitality that keeps you lingering long after your plate is clean. The atmosphere is electric—live saxophone sets the mood, and just when you think it can’t get cooler, Brad, the ever-attentive owner, jumps in with his harmonica to jam a tune or two. The bar scene is buzzing, the crowd is happy, and every table feels like part of the family. As for the food? Absolutely top-notch. I had the seared sesame-crusted tuna special, and it was nothing short of phenomenal—perfectly cooked with a flavor that rivals any fine-dining spot on the East End. Other standouts include the classic chicken parmigiana, melt-in-your-mouth Norwegian salmon, hearty homemade pastas, and, of course, their brick oven pizza that makes you rethink what great pizza should be. Isola is more than a restaurant; it’s an experience. Whether you’re local or just visiting, the short five-minute ferry ride is worth it. Shelter Island’s best-kept secret? Not anymore.

Deborah B.

Google
Loved this restaurant. From the moment we walked in, we loved the place. Pre-dinner they brought out bread and olives. Delicious. You could see they put love into it. I had a salad with meatballs. Yum. My husband had the burger. Also yum. Highly recommend.

meera D.

Google
Visited this fun little place off season and was delighted to find live music (from local artist Sarah). We didn't make reservations prior and had to wait a bit for a table to open but didn't mind at all. They were really busy this holiday weekend but the staff was so gracious for our patience that it made me wonder what nonsense they normally have to deal with. The food is on the Italian side of American. I ordered the penne Alla vodka which was a bit softer and sweeter than it probably should have been but I inhaled it like it was a warm hug. The pizza was good and really cheesy- Napoli / wood fired with some nice bubbles topped off with a delicate truffle honey. I will definitely be going back, not only for the wonderful staff and bonus entertainment, but also bc I'm told the gnocchi is very good! Plus Sarah owes me a Sinatra song ;)

Christopher S.

Google
We started with the arancini balls, which came out frozen in the middle—a clear sign they were not properly cooked. That set the tone for the rest of the meal. I ordered a steak medium rare, but it was served well done. To her credit, the waitress noticed the issue before I even said anything and had the kitchen remake it, which I appreciated. The second attempt came out correctly. However, the bigger issue was the salt. Every entrée at the table—from the steaks to the salmon—was overwhelmingly salty to the point of being inedible. It wasn’t just a preference thing; it was an across-the-board problem for everyone in our party. Service was attentive, but the kitchen needs serious attention. Between the poorly prepared appetizers and excessive salt, it was a disappointing experience. Stay away, far away, so many better restaurants on the island.

Hank L.

Google
Food great; definitely will go back. Kitchen was excruciatingly slow. Ex_cruciating_. Hopefully that was a one-time mess up.

David C.

Google
Lovely little Italian place, good food, friendly service, prices no less but no more than you'd expect for one of the roughly two places to dine on a very upscale island. :)

Z K

Google
Great live band, lovely ambience inside. The carbonara is delicious!

Anna B.

Google
Have been coming here since they opened and my family and I were in disbelief last night after our meal. We waited 2 hours for some of the worst Italian food I’ve had. We had to send the Penne Vodka back because it genuinely tasted like water. I went to see reviews afterwards and none of our dishes looked how they were supposed to. It was also extremely loud inside. Despite everything, the waitress was very very kind, but unfortunately I will not be going back.

Robert G.

Yelp
The food was great, service was excellent. We purchased our waitress taramasu and she sat with us and really enjoyed it, now that's Ambiance.
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Megan M.

Yelp
We met on the 6:30 ferry like two people who believe in both DPI and sunsets: him, a VP at TPG Growth, muttering about "consumer-infra adjacencies" like anyone outside a deal team cares, me pretending to listen while calculating if he's a Hamptons-rental or Hamptons-deed kind of man. He picked Isola, naturally. Shelter Island's idea of a local spot: porch breeze, wood-fired everything, no influencer ring lights, just people who can actually afford to be here on a Wednesday. He ordered a Peroni, which is what men drink when they think beer has a personality, I asked for a margarita because I have one, and when he said "you really know your way around a bar menu," I smiled like someone preparing to leverage that observation. I wore dad's Rolex 1675 "Pepsi" GMT, a Bottega Jodie in fondente, and Tribute 105s because I respect the ferry as a legitimate runway with higher stakes than Fashion Week. The margherita was blistered and properly saline, the vongole bright and uncomplicated in a way Nate probably isn't, and the tiramisu was as light as his understanding of waterfall mechanics. Mid-meal, I ran his numbers: VP comp hovers around $600K if the portfolio holds, promotion in 18 months if someone above him retires or spontaneously combusts (statistically improbable), carry locked in vintage-nine purgatory where distributions go to die. Translation: Hamptons share house, not deed; Kelly 28, not Birkin 30; "let's split this" energy disguised as egalitarian values. He mentioned "we're patient capital," which is finance poetry for "our LPs have stopped returning calls." Still, he was charming in that finance-guy-who-read-one-article-about-emotional-intelligence way: polite to the server, glanced at my watch twice like he was cataloging assets, tipped 22% so I didn't have to supplement out of principle. Somewhere between the vongole and his third mention of "thesis development," I had a vision. Not Gwyneth this time, but my mother, martini in hand, wearing something linen and judgmental. "Darling," she said, voice carrying across decades of country club lunches, "patient capital is what poor people call waiting." She vanished before I could ask if she meant Nate or my dating strategy. I ordered a second margarita to consider both possibilities. Isola: 4.2 out of 5, breezy, competent, the kind of reliable that doesn't require performance. The porch alone deserves equity. Nate: 3.1 out of 5 currently, with optionality to 4.2 if he ever exits anything beyond small talk. If his fund marks to DPI instead of hope, I'll be back on that porch in September, hair properly salted, wrist layered with inherited confidence. If not, I'll see him from the ferry deck, me headed somewhere with a grandfather who had robber baron cash flow and thus waterfront in the estate section. I'd raid his grandmother's closet and find something vintage and French to wear on this exact porch, knowing that some legacies compound better than others.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Erika K.

Yelp
We had such a wonderful experience at Isola! From the moment we walked in, the service was warm and attentive -- you can really feel how much they care about their guests. The owner even came over to our table to greet us personally, which was such a nice, genuine touch that made the evening feel extra special. The food was just as impressive as the hospitality. The pappardelle bolognese was absolutely outstanding -- rich, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The carbonara was just as amazing, creamy and balanced without being heavy. You can tell the pasta is made with care and attention to detail. Between the welcoming atmosphere, personable service, and incredible dishes, Isola is truly a gem on Shelter Island. We'll definitely be back soon! Additionally Annie was amazing as a server !
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William K.

Yelp
Whoever said Shelter Island goes to sleep after Labor Day clearly hasn't been to Isola. This gem of a restaurant is alive with energy, laughter, and the kind of warm Italian hospitality that keeps you lingering long after your plate is clean. The atmosphere is electric--live saxophone sets the mood, and just when you think it can't get cooler, Brad, the ever-attentive owner, jumps in with his harmonica to jam a tune or two. The bar scene is buzzing, the crowd is happy, and every table feels like part of the family. As for the food? Absolutely top-notch. I had the seared sesame-crusted tuna special, and it was nothing short of phenomenal--perfectly cooked with a flavor that rivals any fine-dining spot on the East End. Other standouts include the classic chicken parmigiana, melt-in-your-mouth Norwegian salmon, hearty homemade pastas, and, of course, their brick oven pizza that makes you rethink what great pizza should be. Isola is more than a restaurant; it's an experience. Whether you're local or just visiting, the short five-minute ferry ride is worth it. Shelter Island's best-kept secret? Not anymore.
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Echo L.

Yelp
It's a depressing room. With a depressing singer. Waitresses who are inappropriately dressed. Service is slow. Food is mediocre. Prices are high. I'm not sure why anyone comes here.
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Anthony L.

Yelp
Food was great and fairly priced. Also loved the drinks , especially "blood and sand" Was a fun crowd especially for karaoke and the owner hangs out and sings as well Bartender Eric did a great job when I come back and visit shelter island , would def come back

Rosie R.

Yelp
Ordered a margarita pizza - and the crispy eggplant parm dish. The pizza was a bit doughy and the 'crispy' eggplant parm dish was anything but crispy. It was disappointing. Did not replicate the description at all.

Carol D.

Yelp
Great food! Actually, it tasted like real Italian food. Great service. The owner even came over to make sure everything was well. Prices were actually reasonable and the wine selection good. It was a fantastic enjoyable evening.
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Geri M.

Yelp
Food is great and the owner is very engaging ! Music most nights and karaoke on Fridays, which is great fun!
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Vivienne G.

Yelp
Great place for a drink and a bite at the bar. Love the olives and bread served with your meal. Friendly staff and owner.

Chris S.

Yelp
We started with the arancini balls, which came out frozen in the middle--a clear sign they were not properly cooked. That set the tone for the rest of the meal. I ordered a steak medium rare, but it was served well done. To her credit, the waitress noticed the issue before I even said anything and had the kitchen remake it, which I appreciated. The second attempt came out correctly. However, the bigger issue was the salt. Every entrée at the table--from the steaks to the salmon--was overwhelmingly salty to the point of being inedible. It wasn't just a preference thing; it was an across-the-board problem for everyone in our party. Service was attentive, but the kitchen needs serious attention. Between the poorly prepared appetizers and excessive salt, it was a disappointing experience. Stay away, far away, so many better restaurants on the island.
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Rodney M.

Yelp
honestly, in my opinion of this place is okay... however, we found the service to be impeccable... I'll let you be the judge... wait staff member was very nice, informative, kind and friendly... we ordered... salad come out (the standard dinner salad) and it was great... nice flavor and nicely presented... NOW THE "OOPS" PART, my chicken parm with bucatini was good/nice... I really liked it's simplicity and flavor... my wife's eggplant was awful... we weren't angry or hostile but we needed help... both the manager and server arrived quickly... completely empathized with us and graciously brought an order of pasta bolognese... it was great! WELL HANDLED AND TOTALLY APPRECIATED! hey, nobody's perfect and we all can have a bad day but all in all we left with good feelings and will go back! Cheers Nice job Isola's!

James N.

Yelp
In fairness, I must update my review of Isola. I had a very disappointing experience when I visited with my date just post-pandemic, when there was a group -- no, not a group, a crowd; no, not a crowd, a Mob!!! -- of tipsy sailors (co-ed) celebrating either their regatta victory, or loss (I couldn't tell), and the noise level was excruciating, with even Isola staff traumatized and unable to function . . . the shockwave effect evidently penetrated the kitchen also, as the food presentation was careless and taste flavorless . . . But I returned last summer -- a perfect Shelter Island day weatherwise -- with my son, and Isola had its act and presentation and people magic together. My son and I ordered the same beer, the same appetizer, and the same main course: Seared tuna salad (paper-thin cucumber curls, carrot ribbons, watercress, etc.) with goddess dressing. Speaking of goddesses, the wait staff were Helen of Troy and cousins, unobtrusive except for their extreme poise, serene radiance, and graceful poetry-in-motion service. Everything was P E R F E C T. Not a cloud in the sky, only the softest summer breeze, priceless view from the second-storey porch . . . and meal elements transported by angels from Heaven via Isola's kitchen. Timing was gracious, and I would give anything to go back in time and be stuck there. . . . Cost was surprisingly reasonable as far as I can remember, and I said to my son as we were settling up, "I wouldn't want to be guilty of overtipping", to which he replied -- "But we're loving it." Thank you Isola.
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Carl S.

Yelp
Made a reservation and they called to cancel the day before I was to arrive. They decided to be open for labor and close for Tuesday. And there are not many restaurants open on Tuesday. Called about eight restaurants and finally found that was open. Don't go to Shelter island on Tuesdays

Daniel R.

Yelp
Great spot to sit outside with friends on a summer evening Food is generally okay, not great and service subpar 3 stars for ambience and live music at the bar which is usually hopping and a lot of fun Just don't go for great food
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Nella B.

Yelp
Dinner here tonight was very good. Menu had nice options and service was great. Calabrian pizza and margarita pizza were delicious as were the arancini. Steak entree was good as were the orecchiette pasta, seafood pasta and carbonara. My pet peeve though is Do Not put grated cheese on my food . Cheese is not a garnish and is a personal preference . Drinks were Vern good especially the espresso martinis. Nice place .

Patti M.

Yelp
This dish was amazing. My grandmother used to make this so it been a long time since I have had something this good. My husband had the margarita pizza that was out of this world. The staff were amazing and the atmosphere was very warm and welcoming.
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Alexis O.

Yelp
I arrived at shelter island pretty late and was struggling to find food. Isola was open til about 11pm which was great but just wasn't as seamless as you would think. We tried to order online because we were exhausted and they cut online orders off at 9pm. We drove to the restaurant and we were welcomed to order to go. The sidewalks roll up at about 7:30, you can't even find bottled water after a certain hour (just an aside). The hostess who took our order was amazing, the food was subpar. We ordered the burrata, there was a bunch of arugula a few tomatoes and burrata was somewhere in there. We also ordered the mushroom Gnocchi and although gnocchi is my favorite it just wasn't good. I ordered some fried seafood and it also just wasn't great. I think options on the island are limited but this just wasn't what I expected.

Anna R.

Yelp
Packed rainy nite restaurant! We ran in all three of us ! With my 95 year old mom may I say! Greeted immediately! No reservation we had we were accompanied in the bar area immediately everyone was so nice owner came and introduced him self , we had a quick app at the bar which was a pizza delicious, atmosphere and dinner was amazing! Definitely appreciate the kindness and service! Hope to see them next year!

Judy S.

Yelp
Everything delicious! Salads, apps pasta and bread! Nice ambiance and friendly service!

Samantha F.

Yelp
Amazing homemade Italian food in a rustic setting in the heart of the town. The warm bread and olives to start were addicting and pasta was homemade. Definitely worth a visit and would love to come back. The staff were also so warm and welcoming.

Nic S.

Yelp
Ordered pasta carbonara - really not okay. Flavored by flour, no salt, and a fried egg. Timing of cocktail and wine was way off. You guys could do better.
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Keith W.

Yelp
The people / service is relaxed and friendly, the pastas are top notch, flavorful, bar is fun and friendly. Love this place.
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Andrea S.

Yelp
I've tried this place a few times now and the food never gets any better. Tonight I ordered the special " Chicken Francaise" with spaghetti. The portion was large but the chicken was terribly salty, too thick ,over breaded, no sauce and no lemony flavour at all. Pasta was bland and overcooked. I gave it Two stars because our server was very pleasant. Sorry to say I won't be coming back.
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Dano O.

Yelp
Checked out isola for first time for take out Pizza and salad We had the arugula and mushroom One size which is fairly standard smallish - 12 inch Fine but kind of pricey for a pie A bit disorganized takeout and long wait but no complaints during covid Would give a 4-5 based on the delicious taste and flavor of the pie but strangely the nice thin crust was very soggy- not from travel since we live 5 mins away- it was so soggy it was impossible to actually pick up a slice Weird but still tasted great
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Dylan B.

Yelp
The owner is too much. We dont need a hug or kiss or a talk on the weather every time we, as guests walk in. #1 turn off. Nice bar scene, but if you have an intellectual eye, you can tell it is micro managed by a fake man. Food is Good Enough. They do brag about their pizzas. joke
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Nicholas P.

Yelp
Wonderful restaurant with an accommodating staff Great value, atmosphere and delicious food every time... be sure to order the Cesar salad with fried capers (skip the mozzarella stick not worth it) Photo is of the eggplant Parmiagana w spaghetti other meal is the daily special paparella w sage fennel and sausage Enjoy!!!

Katherine J.

Yelp
Sub par on every level, frozen food we sent back and was still charged for. Food was bad and so was service
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Tom P.

Yelp
My wife and I dined at Isola Restaurant twice during our recent Summer vacation to Shelter Island. The food we ordered was outstanding. For appeitizers we had the grilled octopus and stuffed zucchini blossom. Each dish was prepared to perfection. Our entrees were black ink pasta with shimp and homemade pappardella with bolognse sauce which we highly recommend. Our server (Bert) was extremly attentive and competent. The owner Brad stopped by our table to check on us and was very friendly. Two thumps up for a great meal and dinning expierence. Tom & Margaret - July 18, 2021.

Anita J.

Yelp
A quick stop for a bite to eat before the long drive back to the city proved to be very interesting. Quaint restaurant and bar. Loved the conversation with the owner but was disappointed by bartender inflating prices on our tab to pad his pockets. When I questioned him, he blamed it on the menu not being updated. The food and drinks were good
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Jennifer L.

Yelp
Delicious authentic handmade pastas and pizza! Only wish they gave us bread so we can sop up all the sauce because it was that good! Can't believe we never tried this place before but will definitely be back next time.

Lydia B.

Yelp
We were looking forward to going back since we had two excellent dinners there this past fall We decided to order a salad and a pizza I can overlook the slow service because of staffing issues , but the lukewarm undercooked pizza was a real Disappointment Bad dinner

Lorrie W.

Yelp
Have to say that I was a bit skeptical about going here based on the Yelp rating and reviews, but the host of my B&B recommended it and I could walk. Sat in the bar area and was waited on quickly. Ordered a glass of wine, Pinot Noir, that was very easy to drink. I personally love a good gnocchi and the menu said it was made fresh, and I hadn't had good gnocchi in a very long time. Well, I wasn't disappointed, this gnocchi melted in my mouth, it was fresh and the mushroom flavors were perfection. Only regret is there wasn't more! The price tag was worth it for gnocchi that was ACTUALLY good! So, if you are skeptical based on the reviews, do yourself a favor and go eat the gnocchi!!!
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Paige J.

Yelp
There are many good things here, but overall a 3 star experience. Treatment - they treat you like a local, even if you aren't. It's about feeling like you're at the owners house and enjoying your time. This 100% happened, and this was the reason we were excited to come here. I'd say they knocked this out of the park. Ambiance - adorable and homey. Staff - incredibly nice, but not as knowledgable as we'd hoped. It's ok, everything our waiter didn't know he found out, and did so in a hurry. He was also personable and fun. Bar tender was great, we were told to meet her and say hi. -Where our first issue was that our waiter did not understand one of our friend's orders. She ordered the fish, but ended up getting a special that had fish in it. Not only did she not get what she wanted, the fish was smaller and battered. It also had onions and peppers all over the dish, which she doesn't like. This dish was also quite a bit more expensive than her original dish. To compensate he did not offer to get a manager, or to replace the dish with what she did want, or to remove the dish from the bill. He later brought her an extra drink, which was nice, but not exactly what we'd expect at a fine dining establishment for bringing the entirely wrong meal. Drinks - decent and what you'd expect for fine dining. Some nice wines and top shelf liquors, no complaints. Fish/Scallop special. I ordered this, on purpose but was also very disappointed. The grouper was battered and pan fried, as I was hoping it was grilled. This may have been an oversight from how the menu read, so I'm not faulting them entirely. The biggest disappointment was the size of the fish, it was incredibly flat and small. Not like any grouper I've ever had. The scallops were also very low quality and probably the worst I've ever had. Maybe they were just overcooked. Maybe the mound of onions and peppers that sit on top of your fish are supposed to make up for the flavor that is lacking in the seafood, but I was only interested in the seafood so to me it was incredibly bland. I realize they are on an island, so perhaps they're buying large quantity frozen bagged seafood and serving it as fine dining. I don't want to make claims when I don't know - but that's how it seemed to me. Pasta - truffle oil pasta was delicious, but absolutely drowned in the oil. Yes, it was rich and tasty but I think anything in that much truffle oil would taste good - also not an accurate depiction of quality food which I was deeply in search of. Kobe Meatballs - These were good, and so was the sauce. I can't say I'm a wagyu beef connoisseur but these tasted similar to regular ground beef meatballs - point is that they were good. The gentlemen that ordered the Calabrese said his was good, but I did not try it. I think for the price it's worth taking the ferry over to Greenport. We spent over $400, which is more than we usually spend for a group of 6. We did enjoy ourselves all things aside, so if you aren't a huge foodie it might be worth visiting.
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Michele C.

Yelp
The best thing about this restaurant is the location/set up. I would only go there for a drink. Unfortunately I had dinner there and it ranked among some of the worst food I ever had. The striped bass puttanesca was absolutely terrible: bland, poor ingredients, horrible presentation on top of white pappardelle (which was how people would eat Italian food in America 20 years ago. ) In the specials they had a burger: Patty on a bun with a micro slice of mozzarella and a whited leave of basil with a side of soggy, oily, strangely dark french fires. Upon request they brought me a tomato sauce as ketchup Panna cotta was on the same tone as everything else on the menu.

Lauren M.

Yelp
Went here a while ago with my sister and the food was okay but the service was terrible. The owner (i am assuming) was beyond rude and we ordered takeout and didn't receive our dessert or any utensils or anything.
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Emily N.

Yelp
Thank you Isola for a lovely take out experience! The pizza was delish, the Caesar salad was great, but most of all, we really love the staff!! Always a joy!
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Kathryn W.

Yelp
There is nothing like a Friday night spent at Isola! Sarah singing her heart out and the rest of the bar just enjoying the fact that no one has to go to work tomorrow! Sarah is beyond amazing. Ask a song... she may not know it but girl will SING it and play it on the piano perfectly. You go girl! I have to say the olives in the oil with the bread to start is an amazing touch. So delicious and wonderful with a glass of wine. The Chicken Marsala special I had tonight was exactly what I was dreaming about on the ferry ride over! Great job. Portions are huge. I have half a meal for tomorrow nights dinner. Was out with my mom but still have to applaud the certain level of romance that Isola brings. Great job keeping SI alive after Columbus Day!
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John K.

Yelp
We had a nice time here. Grabbed a drink at the bar while waiting to meet up with people then they were able to accommodate us at a table for 9. They split some salads up for us which was convenient and pizzas were great!
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Dis V.

Yelp
We ordered half the items on the menu and sadly there wasn't one i would want to taste again. As a long time resident i had high hopes for the new iteration of sweet tomato that were dashed. The wait staff is very young and untrained. The pizza was wet and soft and the fryer too cool so the fish was heavy with oil. the wine list was very limited and the selections not at all representative of their grape and region. On top of this the price point is the highest on the island. While the owner tries very hard to be charming, I really hope he engages an experienced restauranteur and islander to help him come to grips with the reality of his current product. Although it doesn't come through here, i really hope he manages to raise his quality to equal his price point. As is, the food is better at any place on island save perhaps the deli counter at the IGA.

Nick R.

Yelp
We arrive to the restaurant in wonderful weather, a little warm, slight breeze, sun setting on the horizon - perfection was just about to begin... or so we thought. We walk into the restaurant only to be greeted by a smiling hostess who seemed to be fumbling with the reservation sheet. After telling her our name, maybe three times, she was able to locate our table on the sheet - and then escorted us to said table and luckily for us it was on the deck outside. Our hostess turned out to be our server. She was patient and answered our questions as if a politician, in a roundabout way without actually giving the answer we were looking to receive. "Is "insert name here" rosè sweet?" After explaining the fruit tones for each of the 3 rosès we were still perplexed to the actual answers - was "insert name here" rosè sweet? Mother ordered a Riesling instead. Her sweet tooth had to be satisfied and not knowing if the rosè was sweet or not was a bit unsettling. We attempted to order a cocktail with muddled blackberries and gin - sounded delicious, right? Too bad the blackberries had left the building, or never arrived, before we arrived... We opted for the rosemary old fashioned. If you like rosemary caught in your teeth, this is the cocktail for you! Next time, just put a sprig of rosemary in there for garnish as opposed to the individual leaves. Not that I don't like rosemary, but having it float around in your teeth as if you just dove in the water at the beach and ended up with a mouth full of sand just isn't pleasant - unless that's your thing. Oh, by the way, the buss girl spilt the juice from the olives they bring to your table all over one of our guests white dress and replied with "oopsie." And if you ask for water, make sure you ask for a full glass. Being on island, we thought that the water was probably rationed or something, but maybe the busser just didn't want to get a second carafe of water to make sure we each received a full glass... we think the latter. Dinner time! Pork shoulder special, cod special, cavatappi pasta, and chicken parmigiana. Pork shoulder was tasty - sides underwhelming. Cod special - small piece of cod, mashed potatoes okay and the corn salad was slightly refreshing. Pretty sure the cod was a garnish... Cavatappi was underwhelming, scoop of ricotta was not enough to keep the dish form drying out. Chicken parm - we all should've ordered that and played it safe. We skipped on dessert. Why you ask? How could we risk indulging in sub par offerings when we were already disappointed? Oh! And a food runner brought us our neighboring tables dessert midway through our entrees only for us to say... "not us!" No one checked on us during our meal, and about 3/4 of the way through we were finally asked if we would like cheese for our pasta. Better late than never? Oofa... Did we have a nice evening with family? Yep. Were the severs and bussers untrained seasonal staff members that look like they didn't want to be there? Yep. Did we pay for the ferry ride over just the dinner? Yep. Will we go back? Nope.

E N.

Yelp
Wonderful local restaurant. Excellent service, food, and atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Richard S.

Yelp
Living full time on Shelter Island for a couple of years now, we rarely dine out. When we do, there is a short list of restaurants where we dine. Isola is among the top 3 or 4 on island and well worth the experience. Reading some other experiences on here is baffling. While there has been some adjustment dining out as restaurants now balance dining in v take out, the impact here was and remains minimal. The owner and manager have always been gracious. Dining is quality. Staff does quite well. Maybe other diners have different expectations and may have conducted themselves accordingly. Hard to say. But the negative reviews I read on here are not my experiences with a variety of guests who join us. Dined there twice in the past month or so and hosted a 25 reunion in side, semi-private dining area. Great island restaurant.
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Jenn M.

Yelp
Great location. Jenna the bartender is quite an asset Remembers your name. Knowledgeable on the local wines. Food isn't authentic Italian but it's good. Nothing to write home about. Nice bar and loved the outdoor space. I'll be back for a nice glass of Rose next summer.

John M.

Yelp
Went here with a group of 7 people on a quiet weekend. Restaurant was not crowded. Two tables were available in the bar but only gave us one table because he was "making a decision in the interest of the bar" Took at least 30 minutes to get a drink, again, wasn't crowded Terrible service...

Robert A.

Yelp
Received the same wrong order 4 times in a row. Service was poor. Seafood was horrifically familiar to natural sea water. Overall a poor experience to stop at on a trip between Wölffer Estate in south Hampton and Stirling Marina in Greenport. Should've just ate at any of the amazing restaurants in greenport. Friend of yelp reviewer: concur.

Donna N.

Yelp
We went there last night for dinner with my family ..our waitress was great. The food was okay..the owner. Was quite rude . Think about before u go there

Joe S.

Yelp
It was my wife's birthday. I had asked the manager, a middle aged white lady with short blonde hair to please bring out a simple dessert with a candle after dinner. After waiting for an hour for dinner , she was brought the wrong dish. They left my dish in the table as if I was going to eat without her.I asked for them to take back my plate and keep it warm till hers was ready. It took another 45 minutes and the restaurant wa not busy. All that time nobody came to the table to ask if we need anything or for a drink of water or to just say a simple sorry for messing up. When I voiced my displeasure, the lady brought the bill! As if we were ready tonleave but the food was just served. To hell with their dessert and candle. Their not worthy of it. This on my wife's birthday. And when we left the lady said "you're kind is not welcome here"! "You're kind"!!! Racist stupid and cruel. Their kind are not deserving of us a patrons. I've never not left a tip ever in my life. She was just terrible. Confrontational and downright rude. She knows who she is. She should resign and get mental help. She knows who she is.
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Robert R.

Yelp
We were very disappointed with our meal and our service. We waited to order drinks for a long time. It seemed that we forgotten and had to remind the waitress that we needed service. The chicken marsala and linguine with clams were dry and bland. A saving grace was the swordfish but the grilled polenta that accompanied it lacked flavor. Our female server was inattentive. After nearly spilling a drink on one our guests she did not offer an apology. She was not customer friendly.