The Island Spice
1701 Gulf Dr N, Bradenton Beach, FL, 34217
The Island Spice Menu
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Address :
1701 Gulf Dr N
Bradenton Beach, FL, 34217 - Phone (941) 527-0123
- Website https://www.theislandspice.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
India is the birth place of Chicken Tikka Masala and Curries. Indian foods are prepared with a blend of finely mixed spices quite popular across the region. The spices develop the rich taste in Indian food enough to boggle your mind. The ever-increasing fan base of Indian food around the New York city is steadily increasing because of the large number of Indians who traveled to the land of dreams. The Indians also brought their very own vibrant, colorful, and aromatic authentic dishes for the people in the West. While most of the Indian population is Vegetarian, Indian food is great for people who are looking for vegan or vegetarian food option. If you are a Meat lover, don't get disappointed yet. Indian food also boasts of some popular non-vegetarian dishes too. Few examples are the famous Butter Chicken, Mutton Biryani and Tandoori Chicken are enough to satisfy your taste buds.
Indian food has gained reputation all over the world especially in the United States. You can find many places serving the appetizing Indian food across all major cities in the US. India is a diverse country with different food culture originated from different parts of the country. While the Northern region boasts tandoori dishes and korma offering royal taste, the Western Ghats offers sea foods that is made in naturally sweet tender coconut milk. The South Indian food servers a quality of different dishes made from rice accompanied with spicy chutneys, curries and famous sambhar. Also, the Indian sweets are a delight to relish. If you ever want to have a burst of sugar syrup in mouth, don't forget to try few Bengali Sweets. Be it spicy, tangy, or sweet flavor, you can find everything in the Indian cuisine. Be assured that the melody of spices will surely bring delight to you.
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Tara T.
We were looking for something flavorful and different on Anna Maria Island, and we found it in The Island Spice! We started with samosas and coconut curry mussels. Both dishes came out Hot, and looked delicious. They were well prepared, and the flavor was wonderful. For our meal we decided to split a Lamb combo, since we were very satisfied with our appetizers. Everything came out hot, well plated, and well prepared. We will be back for sure!
(5)Brady M.
You know when places say "authentic" you kinda of get nervous because it never is... This place is LEGIT!! Man, what a great surprise. The food was fantastic!! If you like Indian food - this is your go to!!
(5)Eric A.
This place is amazing. The food is all freshly made and is absolutely delicious. The staff is friendly and polite. This is authentic Indian food. If you don't want your food to spicy go with mild. The selection of Indian beers is large enough to please everyone. The Naan bread was perfect for dipping.
(5)David E.
This small restaurant was the cleanest place we ate at on island. We had the chicken tikka lunch combo and clams in curry. Both were sufficiently spicy and fantastic!
(5)Brett D.
Simple decor and accoutrements but that's alright. It fits with the area and temperament of the island. The owners were late opening up today, but as it's the day after 4th of July, and I arrived as they were opening their doors, I didn't mind. The operator was nice, and very accommodating. The food (ordered Aloo Palak) was tasty, with different spicy levels offered. I went for medium to be safe and quickly realized that I should have asked for hot. Their onion gravy was earthy and filling on all the right notes. It was simple but really hit the spot. The Island Spice lists vegetarian and vegan but it is really, mainly a lacto-ovo vegetarian place. There are vegan options, for example my Palak, but you have to really pick your items. Still, with the dearth of vege-vegan options in this area, and the over abundance of surf and turf, The Island Spice makes for a lovely lunch spot.
(4)Tanya L.
Yummmmm. We moved to the area about 1.5 years ago from NYC and have been craving good Indian food for about as long. I had read about The Island Spice in Edible Sarasota and kept it in mind for the next time we ventured out to AMI. Today was the day! Our 2-yo had been begging us to go to the beach ever since watching the Daniel Tiger episode where he goes to Jungle Beach. So we played in the sand a bit at Coquina Beach, went to the playground, watched the gorgeous sunset and headed to the restaurant. We started with the butter-potato dosa--a huge crepe served with lentil soup on the side (we dipped the dosa in it. So delicious). My husband ordered the lamb vindaloo--medium (they can adjust the heat to your liking) and I got the butter chicken curry, medium. Ummm, it's a good thing we got mango lassis because our mouths were on fire! The flavors were great--rich and complex. Portions were perfect. Presentation was simple but nice. I enjoyed the heat but was surprised at what they considered to be "medium" lol. My husband was sweating bullets and his face was red. I don't think it was sunburn!! But the two grandmothers at the table next to us ordered their dishes very mild and they seemed very happy with their meals, so note that they really can accommodate your needs. Speaking of, they offer American food for the kiddos! Grilled cheese, chicken fingers and fries, hot dog, etc. so if you have kids that aren't culinary adventurers yet, Island Spice has something for them too. The only thing I worry about is that we went shortly after sunset on a Saturday night and it wasn't busy at all. So please go! We finally found an Indian restaurant that is on par with or better than many in Curry Hill and we want to make sure it stays in business!
(5)Nibbler D.
If you like Indian food you'll love Island Spice. A great selection of absolutely delicious food, prepared fresh and spiced perfectly (I like it hot and it was wonderful). Atmosphere is pretty basic, with simple tables, one TV on sports and another on Indian music videos (which are great). You won't impress your date here...unless your date is a foodie, in which case...major win! Nice selection of bottled Indian beers and draft beers available. FYI my less-than-ice-cold Stella ($4.50) was not filled to the .33 liter line (11 oz) on the glass...so that's a pricey brew. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Srinivas S.
Just had dinner at island spice. Awesome indian food. Small place , but its nice and clean. the food is just great. Serving was awesome too.
(5)Allen S.
Now that was a proper meal! Normally eat at places in LWR area but rented a house near Anna Maria island for the week. Food was amazing and you should definitely give it a try. Pretty bored with the usual seafood around here; all the same really. Want something different with a kick??? Try this place! I went in for a quick lunch take-out. Had the lamb tikka masala, somosa and some garlic naan. Absolutely delicious! Going back for lunch tomorrow!
(5)Daniel H.
Some of the best Indian food I've had! I really enjoyed the medium-spiced lentils with spinach.
(5)Bill R.
Where to start... 1.). 150 meters from the beach. 2.). Awesome atmosphere. Quant, small, unassuming. 3.). Owner/chef/worker really knows his food. 4.). Food: Oh Em Gee! Fantastic Indian cuisine.
(5)Thomas H.
This is our second time back to the Island Spice and we just love it!! What a hidden gem! Today we had the combination with some appetizers. Plenty of food for the two of us. Highly recommed :-)
(5)Jean F.
Food and service were excellent. Lentil soup and osmosis were tasty. Lamb vindaloo was cooked to perfection. Recommend that you order no spicier than medium for the vindaloo. Very spicy. Dosa was a real treat...giant, crispy pancake rolled around a flavorful filling. Great Indian beers. The grouper Mahkani was a special you must order if they have it. Like butter chicken, but with grouper instead. Everything was fresh and nicely spiced. Wish we lived closer so we could go often.
(5)Elisabeth C.
We live in Tampa, but spent the weekend in Anna Maria Island recently. We went to Island Spice for dinner and it was amazing. My husband is Indian and very particular about his Indian food. The samosas were some of the best I've ever had and the butter chicken was amazing as well. My husband had the special, shrimp makhani, and really loved it. We would take the one hour drive to Anna Maria just to enjoy this great spot again!
(5)Joey Y.
One of our new favorite joints. Amazing lamb.
(5)Jyoti K.
I went there twice already, loved the food but the service is horrible. The wait for our appetizers took forever then dinner even longer. But if you don't mind the wait then definitely go there for the food.
(4)Big E.
FINALLY, Dam near GREAT Indian food in FL. Having enjoyed state side authentic Indian food in NY for 30+ years, I can excitedly say, I've finally found a real good Indian spot that I look forward coming back to . Stayed on Anna Maria Island for bit, found Indian on Yelp; why not, it can't be any worse than less than great Indian I've had in the Tampa bay area. Get there, small parking lot, equally cozy restaurant interior, decor is that of a typical-Any-cuisine take-out spot, which is one of the only lacking parts of the dining experience here, nothing that stood out as Indian themed, however maybe that was the plan.. ;) .. like the name "Island" *not "Indian" "spice".. So don't expect a Romantic experience, nor an upscale one.. think "take out".. and that is the end of anything less than great I have to say. The servers were polite, friendly, and attentive. We had a little of everything over 2 consecutive nights here. The wings were banging! They're not breaded (a plus for Gluten intolerant people) and they were doused in a chili pepper sauce, delicious, probably the best wings I've had in years or ever, these ain't your average "Buffalo wings", if you don't like at least semi-spicy, maybe pass on these. Had a Fish (Grouper) Curry, delicious, finally I could taste all of those potent delicious spices missing from so many restaurants. Tried the Lamb Curry, fantastic flavors too, more subtle than the fish curry. My real test was the Chicken Tikka Masala, how did it compare to my last experiences.. Delicious! I was glad I got it! Add to that red chili paste, and some Raita (make sure to try if you've never had it) and you've got the perfect mix of flavors on one plate! Chicken Saag (un-breaded chicken cubes in a spinach based sauce sauce) also very good, which is another dish that can sometimes be very subtle in taste, as this was, but the flavor that peeked through was great. *Chicken Tikka Masala was ordered "very spicy" as was the Fish Curry, it was perfect, and I still added red pepper sauce they brought over; I say order it as hot as you can still enjoy it! :) Portion sizes were good. A little price y for FL.,($12- 16 average entree) but..the food IS good...so... PS: Ordered Gulab jamun (2 pcs to an order) for desert, good / on par as expected, to save you the time, they're small "sugar balls", that's what I called them, they're a ball of "milk solids", fried, and then served warm in a sugar, rosewater, etc light syrup.. Think moist, very sweet, sugar syrup soaked marzipan-like sponge balls.. Exactly.. Enjoy, thank me later ;)
(4)David Z.
Fantastic authentic Indian meal. Don't let the outside appearance of restaurant prevent you from coming here. This is a small, quaint little restaurant with great food. If you like ethnic cuisine, specifically Indian cuisine, you should definitely try this place. There is no view and no outdoor seating at this restaurant.
(5)Scott p.
Good vegetarian food! Berkeley vegetarians, far from home, were glad to have this tasty South Indian food. Aloo Gobi was especially good.
(5)Jay R.
Food is very good, we got vegetable vindaloo it was spicy. Uttahapam and Mysore masala dosa were good. We also got aloo palak and channa masala both were very good. Service could be faster but awesome food!!
(4)Amanda C.
The food is good (we've had it once before) but service is terrible. It's slow and very unwelcoming. We tried to eat here for dinner tonight but after sitting at the table (it's a very small place, we were 1 of 5 tables) for about 10 minutes without him even so far as greeting us or bringing us menus, we left and went to the new restaurant down the road. We tried to get his attention several times but he just kept ignoring us in favor of tables that hadn't even been there as long as us. The thing that just bugged us the most was that there were 2 family members/employees/not sure sitting behind the counter and playing on laptops who couldn't bother to get up and help the other guy. Very very disappointing because we've had carry out here before and the food is good. We definitely won't be eating in again but we'd do the carryout and I'd recommend that instead. If you want a nice Indian dinner, just go to Sarasota. Lots of good choices.
(2)Maureen C.
Delicious!! Why isn't this place packed with customers?!?! Everything was excellent!!! You will not be disappointed! They have both non vegan and vegan menus and everything is cooked fresh to order. The flavors are amazing! It breaks my heart that people are flocking to that "No Mans Land" up the street (Gulf Cafe/Tiki" where they serve Vandekamps and Gordons fisherman frozen food and not coming here for an excellent meal.
(5)George C.
This is the best bar none! The non veg combo is my favorite and is enough food for a day! The curry is the best I have ever had and I have been around the world Such a gem in Holmes Beach. This is worth the drive!
(5)Geoffrey B.
Food was excellent but it took awhile for it to be ready. Otherwise perfect but no complaints as it takes time to make fresh. Well done.
(4)Richnkate M.
Great service and food. We had a large party of 8 and ordered all the dishes mild to accommodate sharing. Since it was our first visit it was difficult to judge how much to order so we ended up ordering some additional dishes during the meal. If you are hungry plan to order at least one dish per person. We returned for another meal with fewer people and ordered our items extra spicy which they were also able to easily accommodate. As mentioned in other reviews the location is simple and since the restaurant is small there may be a wait for the food when all of the tables are full but it's well worth the wait. The bread order is a little small so if you love nan don't count on sharing one order. Nice change from standard fish and chips or crab cakes.
(4)Lily H.
I've been searching for a good Indian place in Florida for years and have found disappointment in Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, and Orlando. And finally there is a place I count on for good Indian food. This is a really nice little place on the island. Customers started filling up around 11-12. There were many tourists with children and even a large group. Seems to be a popular place! My order: -the chai and it was so yummy that I had to order another mid-meal. -Non-Veg Combo: Chicken Tikka, Palak Paneer (spinach and indian cheese), Channa Masala (curried chickpeas) Change to lamb for $3. We ordered one with lamb and one with chicken, we changed one of the regular naan to garlic naan for an extra $1. The chicken was a bit dry, but the lamb was really really good! Both the Palak Paneer and Channa Masala was amazing. Very very flavorful. They also have the crepes and pancakes, which I can't remember the names. I would want to try one of these next time. I can't wait! PS. The medium spicy was not really spicy at all and normally my buds can't handle too spicy.
(4)Adam B.
As a Glaswegian, curry rates pretty highly amongst my favourite foods - finding an Indian restaurant in the area was therefore great luck. The food was excellent; our party had a mix of lamb, chicken and paneer dishes, all really fresh, well-spiced and vibrant. Service was friendly and attentive, and the price of the food was fair. Highly recommended.
(5)Bill T.
I had lunch here the other day with my sister and the food was excellent. We had their non-vegetarian lunch special and the chicken tika, curried chick peas and paneer with spinach were all tasty as was the naan bread. I had one of the Haywards 5000 beers and it was pretty decent too, it went well with the spice pallet of the food. I would definitely recommend this place if you are beachside and have a craving for some Indian fod.
(4)Desiree B.
We have been coming to the island for years and we carve time out each trip to come to the Island Spice at least once. The food is outstanding. If you are looking for ambiance, this is not your place. If you are looking for amazing, authentic Indian food, this is for you.
(5)Nic D.
Great food and excellent service. When we only ordered vegetable entrees, the server asked if we were vegan and made recommendations. I would never had tried the dosa, but it ended up being delicious.
(4)Pallas K.
Great for take out. Solid Indian food and the people that work there are super friendly. The only thing lacking is the ambience at the restaurant, but I love the location. Awesome vegan and vegetarian options!
(4)Erin M.
This place is so good. We collectively make a "mmmm" sound whenever someone suggests it for dinner in our house. Amid a sea of grouper sandwiches, burgers and ice cream...this is an oasis for authentic, delicious food. The samosas are great with two tasty dipping sauces, the butter chicken is delightful, panak paneer, all the curries and of course the garlic naan is to die for. VJ delivers great service. The lunch platters are amazing, inexpensive yet top notch. Call ahead, get dinner to go and take it back to your place, spread it out on the table and go crazy sharing everything. That's what we do!
(5)Bizz M.
Now this will be an interesting review. Why?... This place is small. Full capacity is around 20 people. When we walked in there were a few full tables. We sat ourselves and waited roughly 10 minutes before we saw anyone that even worked there. After looking around and trying to get an idea of what was happening we realized that the entire staff was one waiter, one cook and child. With this determination we crafted our master plan. The waiter dropped off menus and rolled...quickly into the back. We decided on our food and when he came over to our table again after around 10 minutes we made it worth his time. The drink order, the app order and the dinner order all at once. BAMMM...now Mr. Waiter you can go and do whatever you need to do to make your night a little less of a jog. More and more people came in to the point where every table had people at it. A full house. Me and my wife grinned with excitement waiting for the waiter to come out of the back and gaze upon the situation....The infamous. FULL HOUSE. Here he comes, here he comes!!!...he makes the turn and....turns right around and runs back into the kitchen. I gave him a score of 8.5 because he lost a little balance in the spin move. At this point we think he was also doing some cooking....and we danced, like a wave on the ocean romanced. So he disappears again for about 10 minutes. Every once in a while they throw this 12yo kid out on the floor with a plate of food. This kid looks petrified. Seriously at a loss of the situation he is in. He did well but he was really uncomfortable. Get used to it kid. You are now a full time waiter at this joint. So the new people that came in were not privy to the information that me and my wife have acquired in our 30 minutes here. They also did not look like they wanted to understand as well. After 15 minutes of sitting there they left....and another group of 4 followed them a few minutes later. Oh well. On to the food. The food was nothing short of great. It was well worth the 35 minute wait. The Fish Coconut Curry, Palak Paneer, Aloo Gobi, Butter Chicken. All really really good..... and get yourself a Mango Lassi. 1durful. My recommendation. Smoke a joint, go to Indian Spice and relax. Don't get all crazy because your in a rush to watch Modern Family when you get home. Just wait...and make your time with the waiter worth it. The food is great and now that you are in the know. Enjoy the jog.
(4)Kathie C.
Came here for dinner with my mom & dad and all of us are Indian food newbies. It was a rainy Thursday night around 4:30 so we were the only ones there. It smelled good as we came inside and looked very clean. The waiter was super patient with many questions and took the time to ask what kind of food my parents liked and what spice level they preferred. My mom had Chicken Tikka Masala, my dad had Lamb Palak and I had Aloo Gobi. We started with garlic naan break and lentil soup. All of it was excellent -- well spiced and super tasty. For drinks, we had a Mint Cooler with fresh mint (kind of tasted like green tea with mint leaves which was very refreshing) and Mango Lassi (yogurt/mango which doesn't sound good but it was very light and tasty). We will definitely be back again the next time we are visiting the island!!
(4)Judy L.
We were greeted at the door and welcomed into the restaurant by a very nice person. He answered our questions and we decided on our choices. We ordered 5 different dishes to share and all were excellent. Dessert was equally delicious. We are looking forward to visiting again, very soon.
(5)MaryAnn C.
An Anna Maria Island gem. I've driven past this restaurant hundreds of times but it wasn't until I was looking through yelp to find an Indian restaurant that I found it- and so close to home. The place is very, very clean. I was impressed with how tidy it is. The food is delicious. The portions are huge. I was able to take some of my meal home for lunch the next day. We all had lamb in different sauces and all were so tasty. Cute restaurant with attentive staff. I truly enjoyed it and hope others will too.
(5)Kim H.
Clean, intimate dinning. The owner was helpful with suggestions. I choose the Mango-Ginger curry chicken. I asked for the spiciness to be medium. It was served with rice and It was delicious. The owner gave me a small cup of minted lemonade and it was a wonderful treat on a hot day. A large selection on entrees for dinner priced from $14 & up. I wish they had a larger selection for lunch items priced at $10 and under. I will dine here again and encourage others to also.
(4)Carissa B.
If you are looking for something new to try with robust flavor check out Island Spice. The Food is delicious and very authentic tasting. You must dry the dosa, it's fun experience and good for appetizer sharing. The chicken tikka masala is very good. We had a medium spice and it was pretty spicy, but a good spicy! The special was shrimp mankani and the shrimp were huge and very fresh tasting. Cooked to perfection! We will definitely be back!
(5)Amber W.
Island Spice is a new addition to the cuisine available on Anna Maria Island. The location they have has seen many different places come and go through it, but I hope this one stays put! It was excellent! A wonderful blend of spice and sweet results in delicious entrees! We had the Channa Masala, Lamb Curry, and Chicken Curry. They ask for whether you prefer mild, medium, or hot. We went with the hot for all three, we like things pretty spicy. And they did not disappoint! No extra spice needed, nice punch of heat. If you are not one for spicy, go for mild. We loved all three and would definitely go again. And there is still leftovers too! It's nice to finally have a great Indian place in the area!
(5)Cheryl K.
I ordered butter chicken - mild. It was spicy enough to get my lips tingling but not break a sweat. Perfect. Also the sauce was delicious. Complex and savory. Yum! $14 But...the naan was a disgrace. It was rubbery and soggy (microwave?) also it was small...a dessert plate sized piece for $2. Also the veggie samosa was delicious...crispy and very flavorful. But...only two racquet ball sized pieces for $5. So overall lots of good taste, but several let downs. I will give them another try, and you should too.
(3)Pony B.
Hands down easily the best place to eat on AMI. Truly authentic South Indian food- so flavorful and fresh. Service was a bit slow but who cares it's island time.
(5)Eric G.
The first impression I got when I walked was the cleanliness. It was small but very clean and nice. The whole staff was attentive and helpful as I don't eat Indian food much. The food was most excellent, the best Indian food I have ever had. They even had Jamaica Stout for beer! tl;dr Great food, great people, good beer and clean
(5)Matthew T.
I've been hearing rumors about this place and last night heard from a reputable source that it was good and I needed to try it. So with the long weekend and all I headed out to Bradenton Beach to give Island Spice a try. Went out for lunch on the way for a stroll around the beach. The Indian food is a bit limited at Lunch as they also serve some typical beach type fair during the day, but Dinner looks like a great selection of Indian food. After being greeted warmly by the two men running the place, the DC and myself sat down with Chai and decided to try the veg and non veg combo. The place is small and seems like it might still have the furnishing from the last place to have this place, but it was inviting and the smells coming out the front door were a bit of heaven and should be brining in people. The veg combo has Aloo Gobi (potato and cauliflower curry), Palak Paneer (spinach and indian cheese), Channa Masala (curried chickpeas), and Basmati rice with Batura bread. The non veg swapped the Aloo Gobi with Chicken Tikka, and also served with Batura bread. The Batura was light and tasty. I don't have a lot of experience with it but I know I want more of the version Island spice makes. The Palak Paneer was good representation of that dish but the Aloo Gobi and Chicken Tikka were some of the best we've ever had. I would go back at a drop of the hat for either and Chicken Tikka isn't even one of my favorites! But it had a real depth of flavor I've not had with that dish before. Some love went into this food, that is for sure. Planing on going back to try some of the lamb dishes and Dosas and Uthappam as soon as I can. If your idea of Indian food is the lunch buffets in tampa or some of the other places around Sarasota, this is way better. So drive out to Bradenton beach and give it a try. And don't think "spicy" think flavorful and aromatic. Service was excellent and the owner/manager was curious about what we like in the way of ethnic food, how we heard about them, and serious about making sure we enjoyed our food and lunch. WE also talked about spicy vs. not spicy and what that means for the different parts of India. When we left I said, "we'll be back" and the said, "you'll always be welcome.", which made me smile. Now how can I get out to the island for dinner this week?
(4)Joe C.
AWESOME!! Top two best restaurants we found on Anna Marie Island. Chicken curry was fantastic. When you ask for hot, expect hot. It was great. Definitely a place to return to. Only negative was rice pudding, not good. Everything else was great.
(5)Joan Y.
Went toThe Island Spice restaurant tonight after reading the great reviews! It was all and more that the reviews indicated! Both the food and service was excellent and the restaurant was very clean and comfortable. I had the butter chicken and my husband had the vegetarian curry with mango and ginger...both wonderful! A must go !!!
(5)Michael H.
This a great little Indian restaurant. My wife and I ate here last night and the food was absolutely wonderful. The food was very well prepared and excellently presented. The service was very good.... not rushed or "in your face". There were three separate party's in the restaurant, which means the restaurant was at least half full (I said it was little). All you could hear from the other tables was how excellent the food was. If you want authentic, well prepared, Indian cuisine, this is absolutely the place to go on Anna Maria Island. I want to know why they don't open a restaurant in my home town! Like the previous reviewer said, don't go to the "regular/easy" locations. Get to The Island Spice and enjoy a really great food experience!
(5)Patrick J.
In a word: Incredible. This is some of the best Indian food I've ever had - even better than on Devon in Chicago. The samosas were flavorful and crisp. We had chicken vindaloo, butter chicken, Goan shrimp curry, and chicken tikka masala. All four dishes were great. The proteins were perfectly cooked, and the spice was well balanced. The garlic naan was fresh, crispy, and chewy. I will be back.
(5)Inga L.
Spicy!! :) The place was empty when we walked in.. But the food was really fresh and tasty. I asked my food to be prepared mild but got it really spicy.. Loved it afterwards :) Would come back again!!
(4)Joel P.
Im not the biggest fan of indian food, mainly because I haven't been exposed many amazing choices. I first experienced Island Spice at the "Wine on Pine" event where they sold samosas from a tent for the event. There were some amazing fish tacos and tuna nachos out that day but the samosa's stole the show! Its a good drive from my house in Sarasota but a peaceful one. After heading out to the farms in east bradenton I decided I might as well swing on over to Island Spice. The food is amazing! Best indian I have had personally but then again in Sarasota we dont have many choices and the ones we do work mostly with buffets. Sadly back when I first went they sold american food like waffles and pancakes! They fixed that and now only cater to those in search of the best indian food in bradenton! I had to have the samosas! The presentation was nice but this is more like comfort food not some kind of artsy dish. They have AMAZING sauces but it is wicked hard to tell when they lightly decorate the place with it, and then to top it off cut the hot samosas in half robbing me of bitting into a pipping hot crispy samosa. The flavor was amazing anyways so Im not mad. Not knowing indian food I went with the sampler which was good. The sampler and naan were both incredibly fresh. Looking forward to going back to venture away from the sampler and getting myself schooled!
(4)Rachel C.
Incredible delicious spicy food!! A clean and bright restaraunt with a kind and soft spoken gentleman serving us! Tried samosa chat and the vegetarian and the non vegetarian lunch plates! A definite come back here!!!
(5)R P.
The restaurant was very clean and the service was was good. I'm Indian and I thought the food tasted very good.
(5)Paige T.
You do not come to this place for the atmosphere, although it is clean - my #1 priority - you come for the wonderful Indian food! I've enjoyed authentic Indian food from CA to NY and many places in between and find this place to be right up there with the best. We started by sharing the Veggie Uthappam with sambar & chutney sauces for dipping. Ok, if I'd died right after that I'd have gone out happy. We moved on to Channa Saag & Palak Paneer, both with rice of course and both were excellent. The service was perfect - prompt but not overbearing - and the food came out relatively quickly. We will be back! Soon!
(4)Lydia A.
My husband and I were on our honeymoon and thought this place would be a nice place to have one of our first meals. It was just a sad experience all around. When we walked in we noticed that there was no AC. A Florida restaurant serving Indian food shouldn't be hot. Then we noticed bugs were crawling on the walls and under the glass table top. I immediately lost my appetite. The soda was flat, our meal took too long and had no flavor. We love Indian food! This just made us sad for the people running the restaurant. They were clearly struggling and now we know why the place was pretty much empty during dinner time.
(1)Evie S.
I really loved their utappam, sambar, and aloo gobi. Their spinach vegetarian dishes weren't as good. The owner and waiter were VERY nice and knowledgable about gluten free and veg diets. My only complaint is that sometimes the food can take super long to be ready even when restaurant isn't busy. I still like it a lot and would go back when I am in the area again.
(4)Chan H.
The food is good, but the service is lacking. You would be better off with take out because it is very hot inside (they had the front door open).
(3)Chico R.
Legit. Delicious. Naan could be crispier but Dahl was excellent, spicy and flavorful. Real Indian beers, too
(4)Jaslin G.
The Island Spice serves some seriously delicious Indian cuisine!!! As a vegan in a family of non-vegans I was in need of some hearty food after a few nights of eating salads so my family could enjoy the local seafood and boy did I find a gem!! The restaurant was small, but very clean and the Aloo Gobi was delectable. I ordered a side of Naan as well and was happily surprised by how big a piece I was served. On top of it all the service was great!! The waiter was one of the most polite I've had in quite a while. It was a wonderful experience to have such a delicious vegan meal in seafood city.
(5)Angie S.
AMAZING!!! The food was delicious and authentic. The server was very prompt and helpful land the ambiance was perfect! This is truly the best indian restaurant in the Manatee/Sarasota area. You could not get more authentic if you tried.
(5)Michael Z.
Nothing fancy, just good Indian food. Give it a try you wont be disappointed.
(5)O. D.
good Indian food, nothing out of ordinary but definitely worth trying when you on an island and looking for place to go.
(3)Vicky F.
Indian food in Manatee County? Must. See. And. Eat. To. Believe. We went out to the beach a little early because several reviews had commented it wasn't fast. We did fine even though there were only three people working in the entire place. The food. AMAZING! Fish Coconut Curry prepared medium heat was moist, filling, flavorful and delicious. Lamb Vindaloo prepared spicy gave a huge burst of flavor (extra cinnamon was a factor) and a very nice heat build up. It is hard to please the man on heat and this dish did the trick. We shared a basket of puffy bread and nearly licked our plates clean! Next time, I want to try the lunch combo, a couple of the vegetarian dishes, the butter chicken..................... Oh yeah, there will be many more next times!
(5)Raechel T.
I've only had Indian food one other time, but the food here was Amazing!! The Channa Masala in medium heat was what I ordered, my husband got the Chicken Masala Tikki in hot. The medium heat had spectacular flavor and got hotter the more I ate, but the flavor was so glorious I couldn't stop eating until I was in a full on sweat! (Excellent flavor and well worth sweating for!). My husband greatly enjoyed his meal as well, he eats very spicy food and found the heat very pleasing. For dessert I ordered the kheer, it was wonderfully creamy and the spices were wonderful! They also make a stellar cup of chai!
(5)Lee M.
Good food, GREAT staff! On a crowded island, here is a place with real food (not beach food) and not crowded at all. But maybe it should be. Worth stopping in!
(4)Alexey V.
Well, we've been to this place 2 times. And if the first was good, the second was awful. I have to tell right away that the food is fine (only same dishes on a secon visit somehow differed from our first one) but it takes a very long time to get it. There were three people in there before us waiting for their food, so being the last ones we waited for the appetizers for 50!! minutes. We've been with kids, they were hungry. Main courses came after more than an hour and 10 minutes. Awful experience, spoiled mood and the whole evening.
(2)Eric S.
Ordered takeout during a visit to Holmes Beach. Definitely one of the better Dosa's I've had any where. My wife ordered the Dal Makhani and said it was great. Much better than expected for Indian food in a beach town. Would recommend for anyone who enjoys South Indian and vegetarians.
(4)Angela H.
We LOVE this place! Have been there many times. Our picky 6-year-old says they have "the best rice ever!" and my favorite is the curried fish dish. Soooo delicious!
(5)Dave W.
Great Indian food cooked while you wait. This is not fast food but is well worth the investment in time.
(5)Asif F.
Went to this place for lunch over spring break. I had their Chicken Tikka. It consisted of one piece of chicken and small portion of white rice for $9.00. The chicken had been cooked the previous day. It was dry and hard. They covered it by dipping it in yellow curry sauce. I eat Indian food 2-3 times a week for the last 40 years. This by far was the worst Indian Food I have ever had. I ended up throwing it out after 2 bites. The owner of this restaurant should take note. There is a reason why their only competitor down the street, Da Bones barbeque, is packed every night and they are not. Improve the quality of your food and people will patronize your establishment. Doubt they will be open next year.
(1)Susan E.
I feel that I am a pretty good judge of taste when it comes to Indian food, and I can honestly say, with confidence, that this restaurant knows how to cook! This was my first introduction to Southern Indian food and the discovery of the incredible Dosa, and I am now an official Dosa addict. Of the 5 days my girlfriends and I were staying in Bradenton Beach, we visited twice and I could have easily eaten there everyday! I specifically ordered the veggie Dosa and the presentation was a thing of beauty and talent and the meld of warm spices oh so divine. I know one should not base a such a high score on only one item on the menu, but because I was afraid I would be hard pressed to find a comparable restaurant in the Denver area, I ordered what I loved and it was just as good, if not better the second time! I want to see this restaurant succeed so, get your appetite into The Island Spice and experience what I am talking about. You will not be disappointed!! On another note, I found the chef and waiter to be very pleasant and helpful and friendly and the establishment clean and inviting.
(5)Tara T.
We were looking for something flavorful and different on Anna Maria Island, and we found it in The Island Spice! We started with samosas and coconut curry mussels. Both dishes came out Hot, and looked delicious. They were well prepared, and the flavor was wonderful. For our meal we decided to split a Lamb combo, since we were very satisfied with our appetizers. Everything came out hot, well plated, and well prepared. We will be back for sure!
(5)Brady M.
You know when places say "authentic" you kinda of get nervous because it never is... This place is LEGIT!! Man, what a great surprise. The food was fantastic!! If you like Indian food - this is your go to!!
(5)MaryAnn C.
An Anna Maria Island gem. I've driven past this restaurant hundreds of times but it wasn't until I was looking through yelp to find an Indian restaurant that I found it- and so close to home. The place is very, very clean. I was impressed with how tidy it is. The food is delicious. The portions are huge. I was able to take some of my meal home for lunch the next day. We all had lamb in different sauces and all were so tasty. Cute restaurant with attentive staff. I truly enjoyed it and hope others will too.
(5)Kim H.
Clean, intimate dinning. The owner was helpful with suggestions. I choose the Mango-Ginger curry chicken. I asked for the spiciness to be medium. It was served with rice and It was delicious. The owner gave me a small cup of minted lemonade and it was a wonderful treat on a hot day. A large selection on entrees for dinner priced from $14 & up. I wish they had a larger selection for lunch items priced at $10 and under. I will dine here again and encourage others to also.
(4)Carissa B.
If you are looking for something new to try with robust flavor check out Island Spice. The Food is delicious and very authentic tasting. You must dry the dosa, it's fun experience and good for appetizer sharing. The chicken tikka masala is very good. We had a medium spice and it was pretty spicy, but a good spicy! The special was shrimp mankani and the shrimp were huge and very fresh tasting. Cooked to perfection! We will definitely be back!
(5)Amber W.
Island Spice is a new addition to the cuisine available on Anna Maria Island. The location they have has seen many different places come and go through it, but I hope this one stays put! It was excellent! A wonderful blend of spice and sweet results in delicious entrees! We had the Channa Masala, Lamb Curry, and Chicken Curry. They ask for whether you prefer mild, medium, or hot. We went with the hot for all three, we like things pretty spicy. And they did not disappoint! No extra spice needed, nice punch of heat. If you are not one for spicy, go for mild. We loved all three and would definitely go again. And there is still leftovers too! It's nice to finally have a great Indian place in the area!
(5)Elisabeth C.
We live in Tampa, but spent the weekend in Anna Maria Island recently. We went to Island Spice for dinner and it was amazing. My husband is Indian and very particular about his Indian food. The samosas were some of the best I've ever had and the butter chicken was amazing as well. My husband had the special, shrimp makhani, and really loved it. We would take the one hour drive to Anna Maria just to enjoy this great spot again!
(5)Tanya L.
Yummmmm. We moved to the area about 1.5 years ago from NYC and have been craving good Indian food for about as long. I had read about The Island Spice in Edible Sarasota and kept it in mind for the next time we ventured out to AMI. Today was the day! Our 2-yo had been begging us to go to the beach ever since watching the Daniel Tiger episode where he goes to Jungle Beach. So we played in the sand a bit at Coquina Beach, went to the playground, watched the gorgeous sunset and headed to the restaurant. We started with the butter-potato dosa--a huge crepe served with lentil soup on the side (we dipped the dosa in it. So delicious). My husband ordered the lamb vindaloo--medium (they can adjust the heat to your liking) and I got the butter chicken curry, medium. Ummm, it's a good thing we got mango lassis because our mouths were on fire! The flavors were great--rich and complex. Portions were perfect. Presentation was simple but nice. I enjoyed the heat but was surprised at what they considered to be "medium" lol. My husband was sweating bullets and his face was red. I don't think it was sunburn!! But the two grandmothers at the table next to us ordered their dishes very mild and they seemed very happy with their meals, so note that they really can accommodate your needs. Speaking of, they offer American food for the kiddos! Grilled cheese, chicken fingers and fries, hot dog, etc. so if you have kids that aren't culinary adventurers yet, Island Spice has something for them too. The only thing I worry about is that we went shortly after sunset on a Saturday night and it wasn't busy at all. So please go! We finally found an Indian restaurant that is on par with or better than many in Curry Hill and we want to make sure it stays in business!
(5)Nibbler D.
If you like Indian food you'll love Island Spice. A great selection of absolutely delicious food, prepared fresh and spiced perfectly (I like it hot and it was wonderful). Atmosphere is pretty basic, with simple tables, one TV on sports and another on Indian music videos (which are great). You won't impress your date here...unless your date is a foodie, in which case...major win! Nice selection of bottled Indian beers and draft beers available. FYI my less-than-ice-cold Stella ($4.50) was not filled to the .33 liter line (11 oz) on the glass...so that's a pricey brew. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Srinivas S.
Just had dinner at island spice. Awesome indian food. Small place , but its nice and clean. the food is just great. Serving was awesome too.
(5)Allen S.
Now that was a proper meal! Normally eat at places in LWR area but rented a house near Anna Maria island for the week. Food was amazing and you should definitely give it a try. Pretty bored with the usual seafood around here; all the same really. Want something different with a kick??? Try this place! I went in for a quick lunch take-out. Had the lamb tikka masala, somosa and some garlic naan. Absolutely delicious! Going back for lunch tomorrow!
(5)Daniel H.
Some of the best Indian food I've had! I really enjoyed the medium-spiced lentils with spinach.
(5)Big E.
FINALLY, Dam near GREAT Indian food in FL. Having enjoyed state side authentic Indian food in NY for 30+ years, I can excitedly say, I've finally found a real good Indian spot that I look forward coming back to . Stayed on Anna Maria Island for bit, found Indian on Yelp; why not, it can't be any worse than less than great Indian I've had in the Tampa bay area. Get there, small parking lot, equally cozy restaurant interior, decor is that of a typical-Any-cuisine take-out spot, which is one of the only lacking parts of the dining experience here, nothing that stood out as Indian themed, however maybe that was the plan.. ;) .. like the name "Island" *not "Indian" "spice".. So don't expect a Romantic experience, nor an upscale one.. think "take out".. and that is the end of anything less than great I have to say. The servers were polite, friendly, and attentive. We had a little of everything over 2 consecutive nights here. The wings were banging! They're not breaded (a plus for Gluten intolerant people) and they were doused in a chili pepper sauce, delicious, probably the best wings I've had in years or ever, these ain't your average "Buffalo wings", if you don't like at least semi-spicy, maybe pass on these. Had a Fish (Grouper) Curry, delicious, finally I could taste all of those potent delicious spices missing from so many restaurants. Tried the Lamb Curry, fantastic flavors too, more subtle than the fish curry. My real test was the Chicken Tikka Masala, how did it compare to my last experiences.. Delicious! I was glad I got it! Add to that red chili paste, and some Raita (make sure to try if you've never had it) and you've got the perfect mix of flavors on one plate! Chicken Saag (un-breaded chicken cubes in a spinach based sauce sauce) also very good, which is another dish that can sometimes be very subtle in taste, as this was, but the flavor that peeked through was great. *Chicken Tikka Masala was ordered "very spicy" as was the Fish Curry, it was perfect, and I still added red pepper sauce they brought over; I say order it as hot as you can still enjoy it! :) Portion sizes were good. A little price y for FL.,($12- 16 average entree) but..the food IS good...so... PS: Ordered Gulab jamun (2 pcs to an order) for desert, good / on par as expected, to save you the time, they're small "sugar balls", that's what I called them, they're a ball of "milk solids", fried, and then served warm in a sugar, rosewater, etc light syrup.. Think moist, very sweet, sugar syrup soaked marzipan-like sponge balls.. Exactly.. Enjoy, thank me later ;)
(4)David Z.
Fantastic authentic Indian meal. Don't let the outside appearance of restaurant prevent you from coming here. This is a small, quaint little restaurant with great food. If you like ethnic cuisine, specifically Indian cuisine, you should definitely try this place. There is no view and no outdoor seating at this restaurant.
(5)Scott p.
Good vegetarian food! Berkeley vegetarians, far from home, were glad to have this tasty South Indian food. Aloo Gobi was especially good.
(5)Jay R.
Food is very good, we got vegetable vindaloo it was spicy. Uttahapam and Mysore masala dosa were good. We also got aloo palak and channa masala both were very good. Service could be faster but awesome food!!
(4)Cheryl K.
I ordered butter chicken - mild. It was spicy enough to get my lips tingling but not break a sweat. Perfect. Also the sauce was delicious. Complex and savory. Yum! $14 But...the naan was a disgrace. It was rubbery and soggy (microwave?) also it was small...a dessert plate sized piece for $2. Also the veggie samosa was delicious...crispy and very flavorful. But...only two racquet ball sized pieces for $5. So overall lots of good taste, but several let downs. I will give them another try, and you should too.
(3)Pony B.
Hands down easily the best place to eat on AMI. Truly authentic South Indian food- so flavorful and fresh. Service was a bit slow but who cares it's island time.
(5)Eric A.
This place is amazing. The food is all freshly made and is absolutely delicious. The staff is friendly and polite. This is authentic Indian food. If you don't want your food to spicy go with mild. The selection of Indian beers is large enough to please everyone. The Naan bread was perfect for dipping.
(5)David E.
This small restaurant was the cleanest place we ate at on island. We had the chicken tikka lunch combo and clams in curry. Both were sufficiently spicy and fantastic!
(5)Brett D.
Simple decor and accoutrements but that's alright. It fits with the area and temperament of the island. The owners were late opening up today, but as it's the day after 4th of July, and I arrived as they were opening their doors, I didn't mind. The operator was nice, and very accommodating. The food (ordered Aloo Palak) was tasty, with different spicy levels offered. I went for medium to be safe and quickly realized that I should have asked for hot. Their onion gravy was earthy and filling on all the right notes. It was simple but really hit the spot. The Island Spice lists vegetarian and vegan but it is really, mainly a lacto-ovo vegetarian place. There are vegan options, for example my Palak, but you have to really pick your items. Still, with the dearth of vege-vegan options in this area, and the over abundance of surf and turf, The Island Spice makes for a lovely lunch spot.
(4)Bill R.
Where to start... 1.). 150 meters from the beach. 2.). Awesome atmosphere. Quant, small, unassuming. 3.). Owner/chef/worker really knows his food. 4.). Food: Oh Em Gee! Fantastic Indian cuisine.
(5)Thomas H.
This is our second time back to the Island Spice and we just love it!! What a hidden gem! Today we had the combination with some appetizers. Plenty of food for the two of us. Highly recommed :-)
(5)Jean F.
Food and service were excellent. Lentil soup and osmosis were tasty. Lamb vindaloo was cooked to perfection. Recommend that you order no spicier than medium for the vindaloo. Very spicy. Dosa was a real treat...giant, crispy pancake rolled around a flavorful filling. Great Indian beers. The grouper Mahkani was a special you must order if they have it. Like butter chicken, but with grouper instead. Everything was fresh and nicely spiced. Wish we lived closer so we could go often.
(5)Patrick J.
In a word: Incredible. This is some of the best Indian food I've ever had - even better than on Devon in Chicago. The samosas were flavorful and crisp. We had chicken vindaloo, butter chicken, Goan shrimp curry, and chicken tikka masala. All four dishes were great. The proteins were perfectly cooked, and the spice was well balanced. The garlic naan was fresh, crispy, and chewy. I will be back.
(5)Inga L.
Spicy!! :) The place was empty when we walked in.. But the food was really fresh and tasty. I asked my food to be prepared mild but got it really spicy.. Loved it afterwards :) Would come back again!!
(4)R P.
The restaurant was very clean and the service was was good. I'm Indian and I thought the food tasted very good.
(5)Paige T.
You do not come to this place for the atmosphere, although it is clean - my #1 priority - you come for the wonderful Indian food! I've enjoyed authentic Indian food from CA to NY and many places in between and find this place to be right up there with the best. We started by sharing the Veggie Uthappam with sambar & chutney sauces for dipping. Ok, if I'd died right after that I'd have gone out happy. We moved on to Channa Saag & Palak Paneer, both with rice of course and both were excellent. The service was perfect - prompt but not overbearing - and the food came out relatively quickly. We will be back! Soon!
(4)Joel P.
Im not the biggest fan of indian food, mainly because I haven't been exposed many amazing choices. I first experienced Island Spice at the "Wine on Pine" event where they sold samosas from a tent for the event. There were some amazing fish tacos and tuna nachos out that day but the samosa's stole the show! Its a good drive from my house in Sarasota but a peaceful one. After heading out to the farms in east bradenton I decided I might as well swing on over to Island Spice. The food is amazing! Best indian I have had personally but then again in Sarasota we dont have many choices and the ones we do work mostly with buffets. Sadly back when I first went they sold american food like waffles and pancakes! They fixed that and now only cater to those in search of the best indian food in bradenton! I had to have the samosas! The presentation was nice but this is more like comfort food not some kind of artsy dish. They have AMAZING sauces but it is wicked hard to tell when they lightly decorate the place with it, and then to top it off cut the hot samosas in half robbing me of bitting into a pipping hot crispy samosa. The flavor was amazing anyways so Im not mad. Not knowing indian food I went with the sampler which was good. The sampler and naan were both incredibly fresh. Looking forward to going back to venture away from the sampler and getting myself schooled!
(4)Rachel C.
Incredible delicious spicy food!! A clean and bright restaraunt with a kind and soft spoken gentleman serving us! Tried samosa chat and the vegetarian and the non vegetarian lunch plates! A definite come back here!!!
(5)Michael Z.
Nothing fancy, just good Indian food. Give it a try you wont be disappointed.
(5)O. D.
good Indian food, nothing out of ordinary but definitely worth trying when you on an island and looking for place to go.
(3)Vicky F.
Indian food in Manatee County? Must. See. And. Eat. To. Believe. We went out to the beach a little early because several reviews had commented it wasn't fast. We did fine even though there were only three people working in the entire place. The food. AMAZING! Fish Coconut Curry prepared medium heat was moist, filling, flavorful and delicious. Lamb Vindaloo prepared spicy gave a huge burst of flavor (extra cinnamon was a factor) and a very nice heat build up. It is hard to please the man on heat and this dish did the trick. We shared a basket of puffy bread and nearly licked our plates clean! Next time, I want to try the lunch combo, a couple of the vegetarian dishes, the butter chicken..................... Oh yeah, there will be many more next times!
(5)Raechel T.
I've only had Indian food one other time, but the food here was Amazing!! The Channa Masala in medium heat was what I ordered, my husband got the Chicken Masala Tikki in hot. The medium heat had spectacular flavor and got hotter the more I ate, but the flavor was so glorious I couldn't stop eating until I was in a full on sweat! (Excellent flavor and well worth sweating for!). My husband greatly enjoyed his meal as well, he eats very spicy food and found the heat very pleasing. For dessert I ordered the kheer, it was wonderfully creamy and the spices were wonderful! They also make a stellar cup of chai!
(5)Lee M.
Good food, GREAT staff! On a crowded island, here is a place with real food (not beach food) and not crowded at all. But maybe it should be. Worth stopping in!
(4)Alexey V.
Well, we've been to this place 2 times. And if the first was good, the second was awful. I have to tell right away that the food is fine (only same dishes on a secon visit somehow differed from our first one) but it takes a very long time to get it. There were three people in there before us waiting for their food, so being the last ones we waited for the appetizers for 50!! minutes. We've been with kids, they were hungry. Main courses came after more than an hour and 10 minutes. Awful experience, spoiled mood and the whole evening.
(2)Eric S.
Ordered takeout during a visit to Holmes Beach. Definitely one of the better Dosa's I've had any where. My wife ordered the Dal Makhani and said it was great. Much better than expected for Indian food in a beach town. Would recommend for anyone who enjoys South Indian and vegetarians.
(4)Amanda C.
The food is good (we've had it once before) but service is terrible. It's slow and very unwelcoming. We tried to eat here for dinner tonight but after sitting at the table (it's a very small place, we were 1 of 5 tables) for about 10 minutes without him even so far as greeting us or bringing us menus, we left and went to the new restaurant down the road. We tried to get his attention several times but he just kept ignoring us in favor of tables that hadn't even been there as long as us. The thing that just bugged us the most was that there were 2 family members/employees/not sure sitting behind the counter and playing on laptops who couldn't bother to get up and help the other guy. Very very disappointing because we've had carry out here before and the food is good. We definitely won't be eating in again but we'd do the carryout and I'd recommend that instead. If you want a nice Indian dinner, just go to Sarasota. Lots of good choices.
(2)Maureen C.
Delicious!! Why isn't this place packed with customers?!?! Everything was excellent!!! You will not be disappointed! They have both non vegan and vegan menus and everything is cooked fresh to order. The flavors are amazing! It breaks my heart that people are flocking to that "No Mans Land" up the street (Gulf Cafe/Tiki" where they serve Vandekamps and Gordons fisherman frozen food and not coming here for an excellent meal.
(5)George C.
This is the best bar none! The non veg combo is my favorite and is enough food for a day! The curry is the best I have ever had and I have been around the world Such a gem in Holmes Beach. This is worth the drive!
(5)Geoffrey B.
Food was excellent but it took awhile for it to be ready. Otherwise perfect but no complaints as it takes time to make fresh. Well done.
(4)Richnkate M.
Great service and food. We had a large party of 8 and ordered all the dishes mild to accommodate sharing. Since it was our first visit it was difficult to judge how much to order so we ended up ordering some additional dishes during the meal. If you are hungry plan to order at least one dish per person. We returned for another meal with fewer people and ordered our items extra spicy which they were also able to easily accommodate. As mentioned in other reviews the location is simple and since the restaurant is small there may be a wait for the food when all of the tables are full but it's well worth the wait. The bread order is a little small so if you love nan don't count on sharing one order. Nice change from standard fish and chips or crab cakes.
(4)Jyoti K.
I went there twice already, loved the food but the service is horrible. The wait for our appetizers took forever then dinner even longer. But if you don't mind the wait then definitely go there for the food.
(4)Lily H.
I've been searching for a good Indian place in Florida for years and have found disappointment in Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, and Orlando. And finally there is a place I count on for good Indian food. This is a really nice little place on the island. Customers started filling up around 11-12. There were many tourists with children and even a large group. Seems to be a popular place! My order: -the chai and it was so yummy that I had to order another mid-meal. -Non-Veg Combo: Chicken Tikka, Palak Paneer (spinach and indian cheese), Channa Masala (curried chickpeas) Change to lamb for $3. We ordered one with lamb and one with chicken, we changed one of the regular naan to garlic naan for an extra $1. The chicken was a bit dry, but the lamb was really really good! Both the Palak Paneer and Channa Masala was amazing. Very very flavorful. They also have the crepes and pancakes, which I can't remember the names. I would want to try one of these next time. I can't wait! PS. The medium spicy was not really spicy at all and normally my buds can't handle too spicy.
(4)Pallas K.
Great for take out. Solid Indian food and the people that work there are super friendly. The only thing lacking is the ambience at the restaurant, but I love the location. Awesome vegan and vegetarian options!
(4)Bizz M.
Now this will be an interesting review. Why?... This place is small. Full capacity is around 20 people. When we walked in there were a few full tables. We sat ourselves and waited roughly 10 minutes before we saw anyone that even worked there. After looking around and trying to get an idea of what was happening we realized that the entire staff was one waiter, one cook and child. With this determination we crafted our master plan. The waiter dropped off menus and rolled...quickly into the back. We decided on our food and when he came over to our table again after around 10 minutes we made it worth his time. The drink order, the app order and the dinner order all at once. BAMMM...now Mr. Waiter you can go and do whatever you need to do to make your night a little less of a jog. More and more people came in to the point where every table had people at it. A full house. Me and my wife grinned with excitement waiting for the waiter to come out of the back and gaze upon the situation....The infamous. FULL HOUSE. Here he comes, here he comes!!!...he makes the turn and....turns right around and runs back into the kitchen. I gave him a score of 8.5 because he lost a little balance in the spin move. At this point we think he was also doing some cooking....and we danced, like a wave on the ocean romanced. So he disappears again for about 10 minutes. Every once in a while they throw this 12yo kid out on the floor with a plate of food. This kid looks petrified. Seriously at a loss of the situation he is in. He did well but he was really uncomfortable. Get used to it kid. You are now a full time waiter at this joint. So the new people that came in were not privy to the information that me and my wife have acquired in our 30 minutes here. They also did not look like they wanted to understand as well. After 15 minutes of sitting there they left....and another group of 4 followed them a few minutes later. Oh well. On to the food. The food was nothing short of great. It was well worth the 35 minute wait. The Fish Coconut Curry, Palak Paneer, Aloo Gobi, Butter Chicken. All really really good..... and get yourself a Mango Lassi. 1durful. My recommendation. Smoke a joint, go to Indian Spice and relax. Don't get all crazy because your in a rush to watch Modern Family when you get home. Just wait...and make your time with the waiter worth it. The food is great and now that you are in the know. Enjoy the jog.
(4)Kathie C.
Came here for dinner with my mom & dad and all of us are Indian food newbies. It was a rainy Thursday night around 4:30 so we were the only ones there. It smelled good as we came inside and looked very clean. The waiter was super patient with many questions and took the time to ask what kind of food my parents liked and what spice level they preferred. My mom had Chicken Tikka Masala, my dad had Lamb Palak and I had Aloo Gobi. We started with garlic naan break and lentil soup. All of it was excellent -- well spiced and super tasty. For drinks, we had a Mint Cooler with fresh mint (kind of tasted like green tea with mint leaves which was very refreshing) and Mango Lassi (yogurt/mango which doesn't sound good but it was very light and tasty). We will definitely be back again the next time we are visiting the island!!
(4)Judy L.
We were greeted at the door and welcomed into the restaurant by a very nice person. He answered our questions and we decided on our choices. We ordered 5 different dishes to share and all were excellent. Dessert was equally delicious. We are looking forward to visiting again, very soon.
(5)Adam B.
As a Glaswegian, curry rates pretty highly amongst my favourite foods - finding an Indian restaurant in the area was therefore great luck. The food was excellent; our party had a mix of lamb, chicken and paneer dishes, all really fresh, well-spiced and vibrant. Service was friendly and attentive, and the price of the food was fair. Highly recommended.
(5)Bill T.
I had lunch here the other day with my sister and the food was excellent. We had their non-vegetarian lunch special and the chicken tika, curried chick peas and paneer with spinach were all tasty as was the naan bread. I had one of the Haywards 5000 beers and it was pretty decent too, it went well with the spice pallet of the food. I would definitely recommend this place if you are beachside and have a craving for some Indian fod.
(4)Desiree B.
We have been coming to the island for years and we carve time out each trip to come to the Island Spice at least once. The food is outstanding. If you are looking for ambiance, this is not your place. If you are looking for amazing, authentic Indian food, this is for you.
(5)Matthew T.
I've been hearing rumors about this place and last night heard from a reputable source that it was good and I needed to try it. So with the long weekend and all I headed out to Bradenton Beach to give Island Spice a try. Went out for lunch on the way for a stroll around the beach. The Indian food is a bit limited at Lunch as they also serve some typical beach type fair during the day, but Dinner looks like a great selection of Indian food. After being greeted warmly by the two men running the place, the DC and myself sat down with Chai and decided to try the veg and non veg combo. The place is small and seems like it might still have the furnishing from the last place to have this place, but it was inviting and the smells coming out the front door were a bit of heaven and should be brining in people. The veg combo has Aloo Gobi (potato and cauliflower curry), Palak Paneer (spinach and indian cheese), Channa Masala (curried chickpeas), and Basmati rice with Batura bread. The non veg swapped the Aloo Gobi with Chicken Tikka, and also served with Batura bread. The Batura was light and tasty. I don't have a lot of experience with it but I know I want more of the version Island spice makes. The Palak Paneer was good representation of that dish but the Aloo Gobi and Chicken Tikka were some of the best we've ever had. I would go back at a drop of the hat for either and Chicken Tikka isn't even one of my favorites! But it had a real depth of flavor I've not had with that dish before. Some love went into this food, that is for sure. Planing on going back to try some of the lamb dishes and Dosas and Uthappam as soon as I can. If your idea of Indian food is the lunch buffets in tampa or some of the other places around Sarasota, this is way better. So drive out to Bradenton beach and give it a try. And don't think "spicy" think flavorful and aromatic. Service was excellent and the owner/manager was curious about what we like in the way of ethnic food, how we heard about them, and serious about making sure we enjoyed our food and lunch. WE also talked about spicy vs. not spicy and what that means for the different parts of India. When we left I said, "we'll be back" and the said, "you'll always be welcome.", which made me smile. Now how can I get out to the island for dinner this week?
(4)Joe C.
AWESOME!! Top two best restaurants we found on Anna Marie Island. Chicken curry was fantastic. When you ask for hot, expect hot. It was great. Definitely a place to return to. Only negative was rice pudding, not good. Everything else was great.
(5)Joan Y.
Went toThe Island Spice restaurant tonight after reading the great reviews! It was all and more that the reviews indicated! Both the food and service was excellent and the restaurant was very clean and comfortable. I had the butter chicken and my husband had the vegetarian curry with mango and ginger...both wonderful! A must go !!!
(5)Erin M.
This place is so good. We collectively make a "mmmm" sound whenever someone suggests it for dinner in our house. Amid a sea of grouper sandwiches, burgers and ice cream...this is an oasis for authentic, delicious food. The samosas are great with two tasty dipping sauces, the butter chicken is delightful, panak paneer, all the curries and of course the garlic naan is to die for. VJ delivers great service. The lunch platters are amazing, inexpensive yet top notch. Call ahead, get dinner to go and take it back to your place, spread it out on the table and go crazy sharing everything. That's what we do!
(5)Nic D.
Great food and excellent service. When we only ordered vegetable entrees, the server asked if we were vegan and made recommendations. I would never had tried the dosa, but it ended up being delicious.
(4)Eric G.
The first impression I got when I walked was the cleanliness. It was small but very clean and nice. The whole staff was attentive and helpful as I don't eat Indian food much. The food was most excellent, the best Indian food I have ever had. They even had Jamaica Stout for beer! tl;dr Great food, great people, good beer and clean
(5)Michael H.
This a great little Indian restaurant. My wife and I ate here last night and the food was absolutely wonderful. The food was very well prepared and excellently presented. The service was very good.... not rushed or "in your face". There were three separate party's in the restaurant, which means the restaurant was at least half full (I said it was little). All you could hear from the other tables was how excellent the food was. If you want authentic, well prepared, Indian cuisine, this is absolutely the place to go on Anna Maria Island. I want to know why they don't open a restaurant in my home town! Like the previous reviewer said, don't go to the "regular/easy" locations. Get to The Island Spice and enjoy a really great food experience!
(5)Jaslin G.
The Island Spice serves some seriously delicious Indian cuisine!!! As a vegan in a family of non-vegans I was in need of some hearty food after a few nights of eating salads so my family could enjoy the local seafood and boy did I find a gem!! The restaurant was small, but very clean and the Aloo Gobi was delectable. I ordered a side of Naan as well and was happily surprised by how big a piece I was served. On top of it all the service was great!! The waiter was one of the most polite I've had in quite a while. It was a wonderful experience to have such a delicious vegan meal in seafood city.
(5)Angie S.
AMAZING!!! The food was delicious and authentic. The server was very prompt and helpful land the ambiance was perfect! This is truly the best indian restaurant in the Manatee/Sarasota area. You could not get more authentic if you tried.
(5)Joey Y.
One of our new favorite joints. Amazing lamb.
(5)Lydia A.
My husband and I were on our honeymoon and thought this place would be a nice place to have one of our first meals. It was just a sad experience all around. When we walked in we noticed that there was no AC. A Florida restaurant serving Indian food shouldn't be hot. Then we noticed bugs were crawling on the walls and under the glass table top. I immediately lost my appetite. The soda was flat, our meal took too long and had no flavor. We love Indian food! This just made us sad for the people running the restaurant. They were clearly struggling and now we know why the place was pretty much empty during dinner time.
(1)Evie S.
I really loved their utappam, sambar, and aloo gobi. Their spinach vegetarian dishes weren't as good. The owner and waiter were VERY nice and knowledgable about gluten free and veg diets. My only complaint is that sometimes the food can take super long to be ready even when restaurant isn't busy. I still like it a lot and would go back when I am in the area again.
(4)Chan H.
The food is good, but the service is lacking. You would be better off with take out because it is very hot inside (they had the front door open).
(3)Chico R.
Legit. Delicious. Naan could be crispier but Dahl was excellent, spicy and flavorful. Real Indian beers, too
(4)Angela H.
We LOVE this place! Have been there many times. Our picky 6-year-old says they have "the best rice ever!" and my favorite is the curried fish dish. Soooo delicious!
(5)Dave W.
Great Indian food cooked while you wait. This is not fast food but is well worth the investment in time.
(5)Asif F.
Went to this place for lunch over spring break. I had their Chicken Tikka. It consisted of one piece of chicken and small portion of white rice for $9.00. The chicken had been cooked the previous day. It was dry and hard. They covered it by dipping it in yellow curry sauce. I eat Indian food 2-3 times a week for the last 40 years. This by far was the worst Indian Food I have ever had. I ended up throwing it out after 2 bites. The owner of this restaurant should take note. There is a reason why their only competitor down the street, Da Bones barbeque, is packed every night and they are not. Improve the quality of your food and people will patronize your establishment. Doubt they will be open next year.
(1)Susan E.
I feel that I am a pretty good judge of taste when it comes to Indian food, and I can honestly say, with confidence, that this restaurant knows how to cook! This was my first introduction to Southern Indian food and the discovery of the incredible Dosa, and I am now an official Dosa addict. Of the 5 days my girlfriends and I were staying in Bradenton Beach, we visited twice and I could have easily eaten there everyday! I specifically ordered the veggie Dosa and the presentation was a thing of beauty and talent and the meld of warm spices oh so divine. I know one should not base a such a high score on only one item on the menu, but because I was afraid I would be hard pressed to find a comparable restaurant in the Denver area, I ordered what I loved and it was just as good, if not better the second time! I want to see this restaurant succeed so, get your appetite into The Island Spice and experience what I am talking about. You will not be disappointed!! On another note, I found the chef and waiter to be very pleasant and helpful and friendly and the establishment clean and inviting.
(5)Pallas K.
Great for take out. Solid Indian food and the people that work there are super friendly. The only thing lacking is the ambience at the restaurant, but I love the location. Awesome vegan and vegetarian options!
(4)Joel P.
Im not the biggest fan of indian food, mainly because I haven't been exposed many amazing choices. I first experienced Island Spice at the "Wine on Pine" event where they sold samosas from a tent for the event. There were some amazing fish tacos and tuna nachos out that day but the samosa's stole the show! Its a good drive from my house in Sarasota but a peaceful one. After heading out to the farms in east bradenton I decided I might as well swing on over to Island Spice. The food is amazing! Best indian I have had personally but then again in Sarasota we dont have many choices and the ones we do work mostly with buffets. Sadly back when I first went they sold american food like waffles and pancakes! They fixed that and now only cater to those in search of the best indian food in bradenton! I had to have the samosas! The presentation was nice but this is more like comfort food not some kind of artsy dish. They have AMAZING sauces but it is wicked hard to tell when they lightly decorate the place with it, and then to top it off cut the hot samosas in half robbing me of bitting into a pipping hot crispy samosa. The flavor was amazing anyways so Im not mad. Not knowing indian food I went with the sampler which was good. The sampler and naan were both incredibly fresh. Looking forward to going back to venture away from the sampler and getting myself schooled!
(4)Bill R.
Where to start... 1.). 150 meters from the beach. 2.). Awesome atmosphere. Quant, small, unassuming. 3.). Owner/chef/worker really knows his food. 4.). Food: Oh Em Gee! Fantastic Indian cuisine.
(5)Thomas H.
This is our second time back to the Island Spice and we just love it!! What a hidden gem! Today we had the combination with some appetizers. Plenty of food for the two of us. Highly recommed :-)
(5)Jean F.
Food and service were excellent. Lentil soup and osmosis were tasty. Lamb vindaloo was cooked to perfection. Recommend that you order no spicier than medium for the vindaloo. Very spicy. Dosa was a real treat...giant, crispy pancake rolled around a flavorful filling. Great Indian beers. The grouper Mahkani was a special you must order if they have it. Like butter chicken, but with grouper instead. Everything was fresh and nicely spiced. Wish we lived closer so we could go often.
(5)Tanya L.
Yummmmm. We moved to the area about 1.5 years ago from NYC and have been craving good Indian food for about as long. I had read about The Island Spice in Edible Sarasota and kept it in mind for the next time we ventured out to AMI. Today was the day! Our 2-yo had been begging us to go to the beach ever since watching the Daniel Tiger episode where he goes to Jungle Beach. So we played in the sand a bit at Coquina Beach, went to the playground, watched the gorgeous sunset and headed to the restaurant. We started with the butter-potato dosa--a huge crepe served with lentil soup on the side (we dipped the dosa in it. So delicious). My husband ordered the lamb vindaloo--medium (they can adjust the heat to your liking) and I got the butter chicken curry, medium. Ummm, it's a good thing we got mango lassis because our mouths were on fire! The flavors were great--rich and complex. Portions were perfect. Presentation was simple but nice. I enjoyed the heat but was surprised at what they considered to be "medium" lol. My husband was sweating bullets and his face was red. I don't think it was sunburn!! But the two grandmothers at the table next to us ordered their dishes very mild and they seemed very happy with their meals, so note that they really can accommodate your needs. Speaking of, they offer American food for the kiddos! Grilled cheese, chicken fingers and fries, hot dog, etc. so if you have kids that aren't culinary adventurers yet, Island Spice has something for them too. The only thing I worry about is that we went shortly after sunset on a Saturday night and it wasn't busy at all. So please go! We finally found an Indian restaurant that is on par with or better than many in Curry Hill and we want to make sure it stays in business!
(5)Nibbler D.
If you like Indian food you'll love Island Spice. A great selection of absolutely delicious food, prepared fresh and spiced perfectly (I like it hot and it was wonderful). Atmosphere is pretty basic, with simple tables, one TV on sports and another on Indian music videos (which are great). You won't impress your date here...unless your date is a foodie, in which case...major win! Nice selection of bottled Indian beers and draft beers available. FYI my less-than-ice-cold Stella ($4.50) was not filled to the .33 liter line (11 oz) on the glass...so that's a pricey brew. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Srinivas S.
Just had dinner at island spice. Awesome indian food. Small place , but its nice and clean. the food is just great. Serving was awesome too.
(5)Allen S.
Now that was a proper meal! Normally eat at places in LWR area but rented a house near Anna Maria island for the week. Food was amazing and you should definitely give it a try. Pretty bored with the usual seafood around here; all the same really. Want something different with a kick??? Try this place! I went in for a quick lunch take-out. Had the lamb tikka masala, somosa and some garlic naan. Absolutely delicious! Going back for lunch tomorrow!
(5)Daniel H.
Some of the best Indian food I've had! I really enjoyed the medium-spiced lentils with spinach.
(5)Elisabeth C.
We live in Tampa, but spent the weekend in Anna Maria Island recently. We went to Island Spice for dinner and it was amazing. My husband is Indian and very particular about his Indian food. The samosas were some of the best I've ever had and the butter chicken was amazing as well. My husband had the special, shrimp makhani, and really loved it. We would take the one hour drive to Anna Maria just to enjoy this great spot again!
(5)Tara T.
We were looking for something flavorful and different on Anna Maria Island, and we found it in The Island Spice! We started with samosas and coconut curry mussels. Both dishes came out Hot, and looked delicious. They were well prepared, and the flavor was wonderful. For our meal we decided to split a Lamb combo, since we were very satisfied with our appetizers. Everything came out hot, well plated, and well prepared. We will be back for sure!
(5)Brady M.
You know when places say "authentic" you kinda of get nervous because it never is... This place is LEGIT!! Man, what a great surprise. The food was fantastic!! If you like Indian food - this is your go to!!
(5)MaryAnn C.
An Anna Maria Island gem. I've driven past this restaurant hundreds of times but it wasn't until I was looking through yelp to find an Indian restaurant that I found it- and so close to home. The place is very, very clean. I was impressed with how tidy it is. The food is delicious. The portions are huge. I was able to take some of my meal home for lunch the next day. We all had lamb in different sauces and all were so tasty. Cute restaurant with attentive staff. I truly enjoyed it and hope others will too.
(5)Kim H.
Clean, intimate dinning. The owner was helpful with suggestions. I choose the Mango-Ginger curry chicken. I asked for the spiciness to be medium. It was served with rice and It was delicious. The owner gave me a small cup of minted lemonade and it was a wonderful treat on a hot day. A large selection on entrees for dinner priced from $14 & up. I wish they had a larger selection for lunch items priced at $10 and under. I will dine here again and encourage others to also.
(4)Carissa B.
If you are looking for something new to try with robust flavor check out Island Spice. The Food is delicious and very authentic tasting. You must dry the dosa, it's fun experience and good for appetizer sharing. The chicken tikka masala is very good. We had a medium spice and it was pretty spicy, but a good spicy! The special was shrimp mankani and the shrimp were huge and very fresh tasting. Cooked to perfection! We will definitely be back!
(5)Amber W.
Island Spice is a new addition to the cuisine available on Anna Maria Island. The location they have has seen many different places come and go through it, but I hope this one stays put! It was excellent! A wonderful blend of spice and sweet results in delicious entrees! We had the Channa Masala, Lamb Curry, and Chicken Curry. They ask for whether you prefer mild, medium, or hot. We went with the hot for all three, we like things pretty spicy. And they did not disappoint! No extra spice needed, nice punch of heat. If you are not one for spicy, go for mild. We loved all three and would definitely go again. And there is still leftovers too! It's nice to finally have a great Indian place in the area!
(5)Cheryl K.
I ordered butter chicken - mild. It was spicy enough to get my lips tingling but not break a sweat. Perfect. Also the sauce was delicious. Complex and savory. Yum! $14 But...the naan was a disgrace. It was rubbery and soggy (microwave?) also it was small...a dessert plate sized piece for $2. Also the veggie samosa was delicious...crispy and very flavorful. But...only two racquet ball sized pieces for $5. So overall lots of good taste, but several let downs. I will give them another try, and you should too.
(3)Pony B.
Hands down easily the best place to eat on AMI. Truly authentic South Indian food- so flavorful and fresh. Service was a bit slow but who cares it's island time.
(5)Eric A.
This place is amazing. The food is all freshly made and is absolutely delicious. The staff is friendly and polite. This is authentic Indian food. If you don't want your food to spicy go with mild. The selection of Indian beers is large enough to please everyone. The Naan bread was perfect for dipping.
(5)David E.
This small restaurant was the cleanest place we ate at on island. We had the chicken tikka lunch combo and clams in curry. Both were sufficiently spicy and fantastic!
(5)Brett D.
Simple decor and accoutrements but that's alright. It fits with the area and temperament of the island. The owners were late opening up today, but as it's the day after 4th of July, and I arrived as they were opening their doors, I didn't mind. The operator was nice, and very accommodating. The food (ordered Aloo Palak) was tasty, with different spicy levels offered. I went for medium to be safe and quickly realized that I should have asked for hot. Their onion gravy was earthy and filling on all the right notes. It was simple but really hit the spot. The Island Spice lists vegetarian and vegan but it is really, mainly a lacto-ovo vegetarian place. There are vegan options, for example my Palak, but you have to really pick your items. Still, with the dearth of vege-vegan options in this area, and the over abundance of surf and turf, The Island Spice makes for a lovely lunch spot.
(4)Maureen C.
Delicious!! Why isn't this place packed with customers?!?! Everything was excellent!!! You will not be disappointed! They have both non vegan and vegan menus and everything is cooked fresh to order. The flavors are amazing! It breaks my heart that people are flocking to that "No Mans Land" up the street (Gulf Cafe/Tiki" where they serve Vandekamps and Gordons fisherman frozen food and not coming here for an excellent meal.
(5)Big E.
FINALLY, Dam near GREAT Indian food in FL. Having enjoyed state side authentic Indian food in NY for 30+ years, I can excitedly say, I've finally found a real good Indian spot that I look forward coming back to . Stayed on Anna Maria Island for bit, found Indian on Yelp; why not, it can't be any worse than less than great Indian I've had in the Tampa bay area. Get there, small parking lot, equally cozy restaurant interior, decor is that of a typical-Any-cuisine take-out spot, which is one of the only lacking parts of the dining experience here, nothing that stood out as Indian themed, however maybe that was the plan.. ;) .. like the name "Island" *not "Indian" "spice".. So don't expect a Romantic experience, nor an upscale one.. think "take out".. and that is the end of anything less than great I have to say. The servers were polite, friendly, and attentive. We had a little of everything over 2 consecutive nights here. The wings were banging! They're not breaded (a plus for Gluten intolerant people) and they were doused in a chili pepper sauce, delicious, probably the best wings I've had in years or ever, these ain't your average "Buffalo wings", if you don't like at least semi-spicy, maybe pass on these. Had a Fish (Grouper) Curry, delicious, finally I could taste all of those potent delicious spices missing from so many restaurants. Tried the Lamb Curry, fantastic flavors too, more subtle than the fish curry. My real test was the Chicken Tikka Masala, how did it compare to my last experiences.. Delicious! I was glad I got it! Add to that red chili paste, and some Raita (make sure to try if you've never had it) and you've got the perfect mix of flavors on one plate! Chicken Saag (un-breaded chicken cubes in a spinach based sauce sauce) also very good, which is another dish that can sometimes be very subtle in taste, as this was, but the flavor that peeked through was great. *Chicken Tikka Masala was ordered "very spicy" as was the Fish Curry, it was perfect, and I still added red pepper sauce they brought over; I say order it as hot as you can still enjoy it! :) Portion sizes were good. A little price y for FL.,($12- 16 average entree) but..the food IS good...so... PS: Ordered Gulab jamun (2 pcs to an order) for desert, good / on par as expected, to save you the time, they're small "sugar balls", that's what I called them, they're a ball of "milk solids", fried, and then served warm in a sugar, rosewater, etc light syrup.. Think moist, very sweet, sugar syrup soaked marzipan-like sponge balls.. Exactly.. Enjoy, thank me later ;)
(4)David Z.
Fantastic authentic Indian meal. Don't let the outside appearance of restaurant prevent you from coming here. This is a small, quaint little restaurant with great food. If you like ethnic cuisine, specifically Indian cuisine, you should definitely try this place. There is no view and no outdoor seating at this restaurant.
(5)Scott p.
Good vegetarian food! Berkeley vegetarians, far from home, were glad to have this tasty South Indian food. Aloo Gobi was especially good.
(5)Jay R.
Food is very good, we got vegetable vindaloo it was spicy. Uttahapam and Mysore masala dosa were good. We also got aloo palak and channa masala both were very good. Service could be faster but awesome food!!
(4)Amanda C.
The food is good (we've had it once before) but service is terrible. It's slow and very unwelcoming. We tried to eat here for dinner tonight but after sitting at the table (it's a very small place, we were 1 of 5 tables) for about 10 minutes without him even so far as greeting us or bringing us menus, we left and went to the new restaurant down the road. We tried to get his attention several times but he just kept ignoring us in favor of tables that hadn't even been there as long as us. The thing that just bugged us the most was that there were 2 family members/employees/not sure sitting behind the counter and playing on laptops who couldn't bother to get up and help the other guy. Very very disappointing because we've had carry out here before and the food is good. We definitely won't be eating in again but we'd do the carryout and I'd recommend that instead. If you want a nice Indian dinner, just go to Sarasota. Lots of good choices.
(2)George C.
This is the best bar none! The non veg combo is my favorite and is enough food for a day! The curry is the best I have ever had and I have been around the world Such a gem in Holmes Beach. This is worth the drive!
(5)Geoffrey B.
Food was excellent but it took awhile for it to be ready. Otherwise perfect but no complaints as it takes time to make fresh. Well done.
(4)Richnkate M.
Great service and food. We had a large party of 8 and ordered all the dishes mild to accommodate sharing. Since it was our first visit it was difficult to judge how much to order so we ended up ordering some additional dishes during the meal. If you are hungry plan to order at least one dish per person. We returned for another meal with fewer people and ordered our items extra spicy which they were also able to easily accommodate. As mentioned in other reviews the location is simple and since the restaurant is small there may be a wait for the food when all of the tables are full but it's well worth the wait. The bread order is a little small so if you love nan don't count on sharing one order. Nice change from standard fish and chips or crab cakes.
(4)Jyoti K.
I went there twice already, loved the food but the service is horrible. The wait for our appetizers took forever then dinner even longer. But if you don't mind the wait then definitely go there for the food.
(4)Lily H.
I've been searching for a good Indian place in Florida for years and have found disappointment in Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, and Orlando. And finally there is a place I count on for good Indian food. This is a really nice little place on the island. Customers started filling up around 11-12. There were many tourists with children and even a large group. Seems to be a popular place! My order: -the chai and it was so yummy that I had to order another mid-meal. -Non-Veg Combo: Chicken Tikka, Palak Paneer (spinach and indian cheese), Channa Masala (curried chickpeas) Change to lamb for $3. We ordered one with lamb and one with chicken, we changed one of the regular naan to garlic naan for an extra $1. The chicken was a bit dry, but the lamb was really really good! Both the Palak Paneer and Channa Masala was amazing. Very very flavorful. They also have the crepes and pancakes, which I can't remember the names. I would want to try one of these next time. I can't wait! PS. The medium spicy was not really spicy at all and normally my buds can't handle too spicy.
(4)Adam B.
As a Glaswegian, curry rates pretty highly amongst my favourite foods - finding an Indian restaurant in the area was therefore great luck. The food was excellent; our party had a mix of lamb, chicken and paneer dishes, all really fresh, well-spiced and vibrant. Service was friendly and attentive, and the price of the food was fair. Highly recommended.
(5)Joe C.
AWESOME!! Top two best restaurants we found on Anna Marie Island. Chicken curry was fantastic. When you ask for hot, expect hot. It was great. Definitely a place to return to. Only negative was rice pudding, not good. Everything else was great.
(5)Joan Y.
Went toThe Island Spice restaurant tonight after reading the great reviews! It was all and more that the reviews indicated! Both the food and service was excellent and the restaurant was very clean and comfortable. I had the butter chicken and my husband had the vegetarian curry with mango and ginger...both wonderful! A must go !!!
(5)Bill T.
I had lunch here the other day with my sister and the food was excellent. We had their non-vegetarian lunch special and the chicken tika, curried chick peas and paneer with spinach were all tasty as was the naan bread. I had one of the Haywards 5000 beers and it was pretty decent too, it went well with the spice pallet of the food. I would definitely recommend this place if you are beachside and have a craving for some Indian fod.
(4)Desiree B.
We have been coming to the island for years and we carve time out each trip to come to the Island Spice at least once. The food is outstanding. If you are looking for ambiance, this is not your place. If you are looking for amazing, authentic Indian food, this is for you.
(5)Erin M.
This place is so good. We collectively make a "mmmm" sound whenever someone suggests it for dinner in our house. Amid a sea of grouper sandwiches, burgers and ice cream...this is an oasis for authentic, delicious food. The samosas are great with two tasty dipping sauces, the butter chicken is delightful, panak paneer, all the curries and of course the garlic naan is to die for. VJ delivers great service. The lunch platters are amazing, inexpensive yet top notch. Call ahead, get dinner to go and take it back to your place, spread it out on the table and go crazy sharing everything. That's what we do!
(5)Nic D.
Great food and excellent service. When we only ordered vegetable entrees, the server asked if we were vegan and made recommendations. I would never had tried the dosa, but it ended up being delicious.
(4)Michael H.
This a great little Indian restaurant. My wife and I ate here last night and the food was absolutely wonderful. The food was very well prepared and excellently presented. The service was very good.... not rushed or "in your face". There were three separate party's in the restaurant, which means the restaurant was at least half full (I said it was little). All you could hear from the other tables was how excellent the food was. If you want authentic, well prepared, Indian cuisine, this is absolutely the place to go on Anna Maria Island. I want to know why they don't open a restaurant in my home town! Like the previous reviewer said, don't go to the "regular/easy" locations. Get to The Island Spice and enjoy a really great food experience!
(5)Patrick J.
In a word: Incredible. This is some of the best Indian food I've ever had - even better than on Devon in Chicago. The samosas were flavorful and crisp. We had chicken vindaloo, butter chicken, Goan shrimp curry, and chicken tikka masala. All four dishes were great. The proteins were perfectly cooked, and the spice was well balanced. The garlic naan was fresh, crispy, and chewy. I will be back.
(5)Inga L.
Spicy!! :) The place was empty when we walked in.. But the food was really fresh and tasty. I asked my food to be prepared mild but got it really spicy.. Loved it afterwards :) Would come back again!!
(4)R P.
The restaurant was very clean and the service was was good. I'm Indian and I thought the food tasted very good.
(5)Paige T.
You do not come to this place for the atmosphere, although it is clean - my #1 priority - you come for the wonderful Indian food! I've enjoyed authentic Indian food from CA to NY and many places in between and find this place to be right up there with the best. We started by sharing the Veggie Uthappam with sambar & chutney sauces for dipping. Ok, if I'd died right after that I'd have gone out happy. We moved on to Channa Saag & Palak Paneer, both with rice of course and both were excellent. The service was perfect - prompt but not overbearing - and the food came out relatively quickly. We will be back! Soon!
(4)Lydia A.
My husband and I were on our honeymoon and thought this place would be a nice place to have one of our first meals. It was just a sad experience all around. When we walked in we noticed that there was no AC. A Florida restaurant serving Indian food shouldn't be hot. Then we noticed bugs were crawling on the walls and under the glass table top. I immediately lost my appetite. The soda was flat, our meal took too long and had no flavor. We love Indian food! This just made us sad for the people running the restaurant. They were clearly struggling and now we know why the place was pretty much empty during dinner time.
(1)Evie S.
I really loved their utappam, sambar, and aloo gobi. Their spinach vegetarian dishes weren't as good. The owner and waiter were VERY nice and knowledgable about gluten free and veg diets. My only complaint is that sometimes the food can take super long to be ready even when restaurant isn't busy. I still like it a lot and would go back when I am in the area again.
(4)Chan H.
The food is good, but the service is lacking. You would be better off with take out because it is very hot inside (they had the front door open).
(3)Chico R.
Legit. Delicious. Naan could be crispier but Dahl was excellent, spicy and flavorful. Real Indian beers, too
(4)Kathie C.
Came here for dinner with my mom & dad and all of us are Indian food newbies. It was a rainy Thursday night around 4:30 so we were the only ones there. It smelled good as we came inside and looked very clean. The waiter was super patient with many questions and took the time to ask what kind of food my parents liked and what spice level they preferred. My mom had Chicken Tikka Masala, my dad had Lamb Palak and I had Aloo Gobi. We started with garlic naan break and lentil soup. All of it was excellent -- well spiced and super tasty. For drinks, we had a Mint Cooler with fresh mint (kind of tasted like green tea with mint leaves which was very refreshing) and Mango Lassi (yogurt/mango which doesn't sound good but it was very light and tasty). We will definitely be back again the next time we are visiting the island!!
(4)Judy L.
We were greeted at the door and welcomed into the restaurant by a very nice person. He answered our questions and we decided on our choices. We ordered 5 different dishes to share and all were excellent. Dessert was equally delicious. We are looking forward to visiting again, very soon.
(5)Jaslin G.
The Island Spice serves some seriously delicious Indian cuisine!!! As a vegan in a family of non-vegans I was in need of some hearty food after a few nights of eating salads so my family could enjoy the local seafood and boy did I find a gem!! The restaurant was small, but very clean and the Aloo Gobi was delectable. I ordered a side of Naan as well and was happily surprised by how big a piece I was served. On top of it all the service was great!! The waiter was one of the most polite I've had in quite a while. It was a wonderful experience to have such a delicious vegan meal in seafood city.
(5)Dave W.
Great Indian food cooked while you wait. This is not fast food but is well worth the investment in time.
(5)Asif F.
Went to this place for lunch over spring break. I had their Chicken Tikka. It consisted of one piece of chicken and small portion of white rice for $9.00. The chicken had been cooked the previous day. It was dry and hard. They covered it by dipping it in yellow curry sauce. I eat Indian food 2-3 times a week for the last 40 years. This by far was the worst Indian Food I have ever had. I ended up throwing it out after 2 bites. The owner of this restaurant should take note. There is a reason why their only competitor down the street, Da Bones barbeque, is packed every night and they are not. Improve the quality of your food and people will patronize your establishment. Doubt they will be open next year.
(1)Matthew T.
I've been hearing rumors about this place and last night heard from a reputable source that it was good and I needed to try it. So with the long weekend and all I headed out to Bradenton Beach to give Island Spice a try. Went out for lunch on the way for a stroll around the beach. The Indian food is a bit limited at Lunch as they also serve some typical beach type fair during the day, but Dinner looks like a great selection of Indian food. After being greeted warmly by the two men running the place, the DC and myself sat down with Chai and decided to try the veg and non veg combo. The place is small and seems like it might still have the furnishing from the last place to have this place, but it was inviting and the smells coming out the front door were a bit of heaven and should be brining in people. The veg combo has Aloo Gobi (potato and cauliflower curry), Palak Paneer (spinach and indian cheese), Channa Masala (curried chickpeas), and Basmati rice with Batura bread. The non veg swapped the Aloo Gobi with Chicken Tikka, and also served with Batura bread. The Batura was light and tasty. I don't have a lot of experience with it but I know I want more of the version Island spice makes. The Palak Paneer was good representation of that dish but the Aloo Gobi and Chicken Tikka were some of the best we've ever had. I would go back at a drop of the hat for either and Chicken Tikka isn't even one of my favorites! But it had a real depth of flavor I've not had with that dish before. Some love went into this food, that is for sure. Planing on going back to try some of the lamb dishes and Dosas and Uthappam as soon as I can. If your idea of Indian food is the lunch buffets in tampa or some of the other places around Sarasota, this is way better. So drive out to Bradenton beach and give it a try. And don't think "spicy" think flavorful and aromatic. Service was excellent and the owner/manager was curious about what we like in the way of ethnic food, how we heard about them, and serious about making sure we enjoyed our food and lunch. WE also talked about spicy vs. not spicy and what that means for the different parts of India. When we left I said, "we'll be back" and the said, "you'll always be welcome.", which made me smile. Now how can I get out to the island for dinner this week?
(4)Eric G.
The first impression I got when I walked was the cleanliness. It was small but very clean and nice. The whole staff was attentive and helpful as I don't eat Indian food much. The food was most excellent, the best Indian food I have ever had. They even had Jamaica Stout for beer! tl;dr Great food, great people, good beer and clean
(5)Susan E.
I feel that I am a pretty good judge of taste when it comes to Indian food, and I can honestly say, with confidence, that this restaurant knows how to cook! This was my first introduction to Southern Indian food and the discovery of the incredible Dosa, and I am now an official Dosa addict. Of the 5 days my girlfriends and I were staying in Bradenton Beach, we visited twice and I could have easily eaten there everyday! I specifically ordered the veggie Dosa and the presentation was a thing of beauty and talent and the meld of warm spices oh so divine. I know one should not base a such a high score on only one item on the menu, but because I was afraid I would be hard pressed to find a comparable restaurant in the Denver area, I ordered what I loved and it was just as good, if not better the second time! I want to see this restaurant succeed so, get your appetite into The Island Spice and experience what I am talking about. You will not be disappointed!! On another note, I found the chef and waiter to be very pleasant and helpful and friendly and the establishment clean and inviting.
(5)Angie S.
AMAZING!!! The food was delicious and authentic. The server was very prompt and helpful land the ambiance was perfect! This is truly the best indian restaurant in the Manatee/Sarasota area. You could not get more authentic if you tried.
(5)Joey Y.
One of our new favorite joints. Amazing lamb.
(5)Michael Z.
Nothing fancy, just good Indian food. Give it a try you wont be disappointed.
(5)O. D.
good Indian food, nothing out of ordinary but definitely worth trying when you on an island and looking for place to go.
(3)Vicky F.
Indian food in Manatee County? Must. See. And. Eat. To. Believe. We went out to the beach a little early because several reviews had commented it wasn't fast. We did fine even though there were only three people working in the entire place. The food. AMAZING! Fish Coconut Curry prepared medium heat was moist, filling, flavorful and delicious. Lamb Vindaloo prepared spicy gave a huge burst of flavor (extra cinnamon was a factor) and a very nice heat build up. It is hard to please the man on heat and this dish did the trick. We shared a basket of puffy bread and nearly licked our plates clean! Next time, I want to try the lunch combo, a couple of the vegetarian dishes, the butter chicken..................... Oh yeah, there will be many more next times!
(5)Raechel T.
I've only had Indian food one other time, but the food here was Amazing!! The Channa Masala in medium heat was what I ordered, my husband got the Chicken Masala Tikki in hot. The medium heat had spectacular flavor and got hotter the more I ate, but the flavor was so glorious I couldn't stop eating until I was in a full on sweat! (Excellent flavor and well worth sweating for!). My husband greatly enjoyed his meal as well, he eats very spicy food and found the heat very pleasing. For dessert I ordered the kheer, it was wonderfully creamy and the spices were wonderful! They also make a stellar cup of chai!
(5)Lee M.
Good food, GREAT staff! On a crowded island, here is a place with real food (not beach food) and not crowded at all. But maybe it should be. Worth stopping in!
(4)Alexey V.
Well, we've been to this place 2 times. And if the first was good, the second was awful. I have to tell right away that the food is fine (only same dishes on a secon visit somehow differed from our first one) but it takes a very long time to get it. There were three people in there before us waiting for their food, so being the last ones we waited for the appetizers for 50!! minutes. We've been with kids, they were hungry. Main courses came after more than an hour and 10 minutes. Awful experience, spoiled mood and the whole evening.
(2)Eric S.
Ordered takeout during a visit to Holmes Beach. Definitely one of the better Dosa's I've had any where. My wife ordered the Dal Makhani and said it was great. Much better than expected for Indian food in a beach town. Would recommend for anyone who enjoys South Indian and vegetarians.
(4)Angela H.
We LOVE this place! Have been there many times. Our picky 6-year-old says they have "the best rice ever!" and my favorite is the curried fish dish. Soooo delicious!
(5)Rachel C.
Incredible delicious spicy food!! A clean and bright restaraunt with a kind and soft spoken gentleman serving us! Tried samosa chat and the vegetarian and the non vegetarian lunch plates! A definite come back here!!!
(5)Bizz M.
Now this will be an interesting review. Why?... This place is small. Full capacity is around 20 people. When we walked in there were a few full tables. We sat ourselves and waited roughly 10 minutes before we saw anyone that even worked there. After looking around and trying to get an idea of what was happening we realized that the entire staff was one waiter, one cook and child. With this determination we crafted our master plan. The waiter dropped off menus and rolled...quickly into the back. We decided on our food and when he came over to our table again after around 10 minutes we made it worth his time. The drink order, the app order and the dinner order all at once. BAMMM...now Mr. Waiter you can go and do whatever you need to do to make your night a little less of a jog. More and more people came in to the point where every table had people at it. A full house. Me and my wife grinned with excitement waiting for the waiter to come out of the back and gaze upon the situation....The infamous. FULL HOUSE. Here he comes, here he comes!!!...he makes the turn and....turns right around and runs back into the kitchen. I gave him a score of 8.5 because he lost a little balance in the spin move. At this point we think he was also doing some cooking....and we danced, like a wave on the ocean romanced. So he disappears again for about 10 minutes. Every once in a while they throw this 12yo kid out on the floor with a plate of food. This kid looks petrified. Seriously at a loss of the situation he is in. He did well but he was really uncomfortable. Get used to it kid. You are now a full time waiter at this joint. So the new people that came in were not privy to the information that me and my wife have acquired in our 30 minutes here. They also did not look like they wanted to understand as well. After 15 minutes of sitting there they left....and another group of 4 followed them a few minutes later. Oh well. On to the food. The food was nothing short of great. It was well worth the 35 minute wait. The Fish Coconut Curry, Palak Paneer, Aloo Gobi, Butter Chicken. All really really good..... and get yourself a Mango Lassi. 1durful. My recommendation. Smoke a joint, go to Indian Spice and relax. Don't get all crazy because your in a rush to watch Modern Family when you get home. Just wait...and make your time with the waiter worth it. The food is great and now that you are in the know. Enjoy the jog.
(4)