A Jamaican restaurant that closed late last year and was once featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives is making a comeback and reopening in a new neighborhood.
Island Frydays closed its Corryville restaurant in December 2024, with owner Leo Morgan citing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason. But now, Morgan is firing up the grill to once again serve the jerk chicken, oxtail and other authentic Caribbean dishes the restaurant became known for, this time in College Hill.
“Island Frydays has been a Cincinnati treasure for years, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome them to College Hill,” Emmanuel Karikari, CEO of the College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CHCURC), said in a press release. “This is about more than just food. It’s culture, it’s energy, it’s community. Their return is another powerful step in making the College Hill business district a true destination for the city.”
Island Frydays will be located in the revitalized College Hill Plaza at 5835 Hamilton Ave. The food truck will serve the public Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with Monday through Wednesday reserved for catering services. The restaurant plans to move into a more permanent brick-and-mortar location in College Hill’s business district in 2026, according to CHCURC.
“Island Frydays is about more than cooking; we’re about bringing people together,” Morgan said in the release. “We’re so thankful for the love and loyalty Cincinnati has shown us, and we can’t wait to share the joy of our food and culture with the entire City of Cincinnati.”
Island Frydays’ return is part of the more than $91 million invested in revitalization efforts in the College Hill Business District, which includes restaurants, bars and other small businesses.
You can follow Island Frydays on social media for updates. More info: islandfrydays.com.
This article appears in Aug 20 – Sep 2, 2025.
