Island Quizine, Quisine, or Cuisine restaurants keep being a disappointment . Why do I keep going back? I wonder the same; hope, maybe? But, I think that I now give up hope for Island Quizine.

Especially after finding restaurants like St. Mary’s Restaurant & Bar in Baltimore City that does justice to Jamaican food; more so than Island Quizine ever will.

Island Cuisine: The Worst Place to buy Jamaican Food

Its been over four years and I still cannot justify giving Island Cuisine/Quizine a favorable review. I have tried at least 4 to 5 different locations and they keep being a disappointment.

Rice Served with No Meat

The location in Reisterstown area sometimes has poor customer service. My first time there they sold me oxtail and rice, without the oxtail – gravy only and no meat. I was a good 100 miles away at my destination when I realized the error because I bought several meals and they packed it all to go.

Won’t make that mistake again. Always check your food before leaving a restaurant.

Onion Substitutes the Meat

The location in Baltimore City prepares flavorless food riddled with onions, because they skimp on the actual ingredients. Looks good in pictures and when it is in front of you; however, the truth is revealed when you dig in.

Today, I decided to give that location a final try. So, I bought a saltfish breakfast, two patties and a rack of lamb. The image below shows all the seasoning, as we call it. It does not include the saltfish.

This saltfish meal was three quarters (3/4 )onions and scallion – scarcely any saltfish. The food was tasteless, or rather it tasted like onions and oil.

No Ackee Mostly Onions

It smelled like onions, and tasted like cooking oil. No proper gravy. Did I say the gravy was the oil? Oh and I even smelled of onions afterward. yech 😦 . Seriously, Island Quizine should stop skimping on proper ingredients and stop cheating the customer.

The first time it happened, was with their ackee and saltfish dish; which was also primarily onions and saltfish as well.

I was gravely disappointed because I haven’t had this meal in such a long time.

In the picture above, if you can make out the yellow objects, that’s the ackee. Everything else is seasoning. This does a gross injustice to our national dish.

The ackee is a nice plum fruit and in totality, this was probably I peg.

This picture above shows what a true ackee and saltfish dish should look like. Do you see the big pieces of ackee? If you look carefully, you will only barely make out tomato, scallion or onions. These are seasonings, only added to give a little flavor.

Not to overwhelm the dish.

The Other Meals Ordered

The jerk chicken patties were kinda passable. The lamb meal, however, was renk, smelled like pee, no appealing flavor or taste. It was minimal and overpriced. Island Quizine not taking care of its brand. For example, St. Mary’s Restaurant produces tasty Jamaican food. They don’t skimp or short cut.

 

St. Mary’s Restaurant & Bar

 

…

*****

About the writer:
Poetess Denise N. Fyffe is a published author of over 30 books, for more than eight years and enjoys volunteering as a Counselor.

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