Have you ever received a recommendation that surpassed your expectations? Island Fusion Grill did that for me, making it my second favorite Broward eatery because it has some of the best food I’ve had in South Florida. (Swirl Wine Bistro is my favorite).
Bordering Davie, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood, this unique gem is located at 4811 S State Rd 7 B, Davie, FL 33314, nestled between a Brandsmart and a catering business in a shopping plaza. Reminiscent of the Jamaican coastal shacks serving fresh, organic, and delicious seafood with its wood furniture, edible gardens, and bright colors, we’ve discovered one of Broward County’s most delicious and versatile Caribbean eateries.
With both vegan and non-vegan items, I ordered just about everything off the menu. The chef and owner, Ms. Deanna Allen is a 30 year Jamaican cooking veteran who magically turns cubes of coconut jelly into tender and seasoned pieces of sweet and sour chicken. Sweet and Sour Sauce, in its purest form, typically includes a few ingredients, like pineapple juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Ms. Allen’s version was a welcome surprise that was doing something altogether different.
She has a talent for pushing flavors to their extreme while inviting Afro-Caribbean character to her Asian mashups. It’s always refreshing when folks do vegan right. No fake meat. No lab $%^@, just natural plants being used in the same way I ask God to use me. Yeah, it was that delicious, no capping at all. See, I can be hip…..
Her use of fresh and organic vegetables as meat continued with her delicious cauliflower curry chicken. The sauce had all the components of a delicious curry with the cauliflower forming nice blocks of meat for a delectable bite. The texture was so pleasing I even forgave it being served with peas and rice instead of white rice! (Our Jamaican and South Floridian followers, please leave your comment at the bottom and let us know your preference of the best rice for curry.) Thankfully, no matter which rice you chose, her vegan curry chicken is hittin!
Next, I dove into her incredibly flavored Shrimp Udon pasta with a homemade savory sauce that was so delicious, I asked for more to pour over the dish until no pasta could be deciphered, only the sauce!
Winding down, we saw the conch fritters and had to give them a try. LORD HAVE MERCY! These babies were outstanding. Fried to perfection and so flavorful, I had already eaten three before Ms. Allen’s daughter shocked me by revealing they were vegan. Utterly amazing! How is she doing this?
In addition to blowing your mind and loving on your taste buds with her vegan options that do not taste meatless, she also comes through with a really nice twist on a Caribbean classic. The JERK CHICKEN FLATBREAD IS ALL YOU NEED! This dish is very filling and has a homemade jerk cream sauce that is addictive. Eat it at the restaurant or take it home and immediately pop it in the oven, because its best eaten freshly heated.
For the first time in my five years of food writing, I have no idea how she is accomplishing such intense and robust flavors with sea and land animals by using only seasoning and straight up vegetables. This lady is sweet, bubbly and quite talented. I was so excited to taste true homestyle cooking served with love, passion and a genuine motherly vibe that I have eaten there several times since our initial visit. Island Fusion Grill has easily become one of my top five favorite restaurants in Broward County. They are open Wed – Sunday. Check them out at www.islandfusiongrill or call (954) 395-8200.
White rice with curry! LOL