We enjoyed several restaurants for the first time: La Plancha Del Mar, Donkey Diner, and Shipwreck Landing. And we revisited a couple of old favorites: Lime Inn and Cafe Roma. Look for individual reviews of these places soon, as well as my complete trip report. One thing’s for sure – there’s no shortage of good food to be enjoyed on St. John!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Satyamuna Is Closed
Both Frank Barnako and St. John Tradewinds report that Satyamuna in the Marketplace has closed. The restaurant had been for sale for some time. Those who choose a vegetarian diet have lost a popular option for dining on the island. I will remove the reviews when I update the postings in April.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Chinese Food Returns!
On-Stjohn.com reports that Lucky Pagoda, a new Chinese restaurant, opens on March 11. Lucky Pagoda is located in the Lumberyard complex in Cruz Bay. Most main dishes for dinner are priced from $10-14. Since China Shack closed, the island hasn’t had Chinese carry-out, so I’m sure Lucky Pagoda will be welcomed by locals and visitors alike.
Monday, March 2, 2009
They Yum and They Go
Lots of activity on the St. John restaurant scene in recent months. Time to catch up.
THEY YUM:
The most notable addition is La Plancha del Mar, a new resident of The Marketplace. It’s on the second floor (Starfish Market is the main tenant on the first floor). There’s been a lot of buzz about this place. Read what they’re saying at On-St. John and News of St. John and St. John Talk.
Not quite as new, but getting a lot of favorable traveler talk, is The Tourist Trap. Give lots of credit for a cheeky name and tongue-in-cheek Web address (www.wedontneednostinkingwebsite.com), but even more credit for those lobster rolls everyone is talking about. Can’t wait to try them myself. The Tourist Trap is located past Coral Bay on the way to Salt Pond.
THEY GO:
Probably the most significant loss is Chateau Bordeaux. It was blessed with the most incredible location on the island (for its view) and maybe the worst location on the island (for accessibility). It briefly tried a reduced-price menu in hopes of jump-starting its fortunes, but the changes didn’t work. Au revoir…
If you can figure out what’s going on at the Pastory Gardens property, you’re better than me. Compass Rose closed, giving way to Etta’s West Indian Cuisine. That’s now closed, and I think it’s back to being Compass Rose again. It used to be a nice mid-price place to go for a drink or sunset dinner…when I know more, I’ll post the information.
Aqua Bistro
(Coral Bay – 776.5336. Open 11-3:30 M-Sa, 5:30-9 Nightly) http://www.aquabistrovi.com/
5/16/08 Blog Post
Anonymous said... My chicken sandwich had a bone in it and the wife's salad had "the worst salad dressing ever", her words exactly. Not impressed. At all.
5/28/08 Forum Post
Our one dinner out was at Aqua Bistro, in Coral Bay by the gourmet grocery store. Hadn't been there before, but thought it was very good and reasonable. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/29/08 Forum Post
We sat in the back area and enjoyed the live music. The calamari appetizer was a little bland, and the sauce was bitter, but the main dishes were good. I had a local tuna rare seared with a ponzu sauce and some soba noodles and seaweed, John had mahi with couscous and orange butter. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
1/22/09 Forum Post
Best dinner hands down. The New York Strip was as good as any steakhouse we've been to. The bistro rum punch is the cheapest mixed drink on island & kicks ass, the fried onions that came with the meal were the best I've ever had, the fish was a big portion and cooked perfectly, everything was good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/7/09 Forum Post
Our family just got done with dinner at Aqua Bistro in Coral Bay. It was our second time dining there this vacation. The food is absolutely fantastic. Our first night we had the mahi-mahi and I had the nut crusted grouper over mushroom risotto. It was fantastic. Tonight they had a special with fresh ahi tuna over some light soba noodles, ponzu - soy sauce, wasabi and some greens. It was truly fantastic. We ordered it for an appetizer but you could have ordered the full meal version. We then had the blackened mahi-mahi mexican style with black beans, salsa, sour cream. The service was great, but the meal made us want us to return for more. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
2/22/09 Forum Post
We only stopped in here for a snack but thought it deserved mention. After the long and winding road to Coral Bay, I was in need of a little liquid refreshment. We sat down and decided to order a midday snack. We went for a fried shrimp and fries plate and buffalo wings. My husband and sons are Buffalo Wings connoisseurs. They said the wings at Aqua Bistro were the best they ever had. When we spoke to the waitress she informed us they are baked, then flash fried when ordered and coated with the perfect spicy buffalo sauce. The sauce is a secret combination of a number of sauces. Worth the long drive to Coral Bay. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/15/09 Forum Post
We ate lunch at the Aqua Bistro, I had the grouper sandwich and my husband had the chicken sandwich. Both were good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/25/09 Forum Post
We liked the food at Aqua Bistro, but were annoyed at the portions. The dinner salad that BM ordered was enough for all four of us. So, we split it four ways, but wondered what we would have thought if we'd all ordered a salad. BG and I split a great dish of mahi mahi on black beans and rice, but when we asked where the plantains were that had been mentioned on the menu, we were just told in an offhanded fashion that they were out of plantains. MoC and BM both ordered what turned out to be a huge portion of pasta with scallops. They agreed that they could have easily split one order. All in all, we left there feeling that they could have executed things much better than they did. The idea of wasted food, especially when so much is flown in, seemed ridiculous to us. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/8/09 Forum Post
Dinner at Aqua Bistro was AWESOME. This is the second time I have eaten here and was not disappointed. The service we received and the quality of the food definitely made up for the previous nights experience at Shipwreck. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food. If you haven’t tried Aqua Bistro, you really should. The drinks are excellent here as is the quality of food and the portions are huge. This will stay on our must visit list from now on. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Asolare
(Northshore Rd. – 779.4747 – Open 5:30-9:30 Nightly. See 360° Virtual tour at http://usviwedding.com/virtual_tours_restaurants.html) http://www.stjohn-restaurants.com/
Fodor’s Review
Contemporary Asian cuisine dominates the menu at this elegant open-air eatery in an old St. John house. Come early and relax over drinks while you enjoy the sunset lighting up the harbor. Start with an appetizer such as pork dumplings served with a glass noodle salad; then move on to entrées such as beef fillet served with roasted haystack potatoes and napa cabbage, or seared tuna served with an orange-and-greens salad. If you still have room for dessert, try the chocolate pyramid, a luscious cake with homemade ice cream melting in the middle.
Frommer’s Review
This is the most beautiful and elegant restaurant on St. John, with the hippest and best-looking staff. Asolare sits on top of a hill overlooking Cruz Bay and some of the British Virgin Islands. Asolare translates as "the leisurely passing of time without purpose," and that's what many diners prefer to do here. The chef roams the world for inspiration and cooks with flavor and flair, using some of the best and freshest ingredients available on island. To begin, try the grilled Asian barbecued shrimp or the squid and shrimp medley. For a main course, you might be tempted by the ginger lamb or the peppercorn-dusted filet of beef. Two truly excellent dishes are the chicken Kiev and the sashimi tuna on a sizzling plate with a plum-passion fruit sake vinaigrette. For dessert, try the fresh berry dishes or the chocolate pyramid cake.
2/7/08 Forum Post
Asolare: new favorite! 2 great meals. Love this place and wonder why we avoided it before. We thoroughly enjoyed entrees of lamb, filet mignon, duck and tuna. Appetizers of sushi rolls, shrimp tempura, tuna tartar, thai coconut soup...mmmmmmm...and a lovely apple strudel dessert. Definitely on the list to return here! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/6/08 Forum Post
The view was beautiful (would have been better w/o the overcast skies) and the service was very good. Fresh mahi mahi with crab mashed potatoes and a scallop on top was the favorite dinner pick. Read more at Tripadvisor.com…
5/13/08 Forum Post
Asolare was very good, not great. I had the filet, he had the Kobe, the salad was ok the sushi app was barely filled on the inside. Kelly our waitress at both Asolare and La Tapa is a doll. Read more at Tripadvisor.com…
5/30/08 Forum Post
We started with some cocktails, tempura shrimp, then some fried calamari, finally some seared tuna with soy reduction. Everything was delicious. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/31/08 Forum Post
Grandma babysat Toddler that evening and Husband and I went for the best dinner of our vacation at Asolare. I wasn't quite sure what to expect considering some of the reviews, but we thought it was absolutely amazing. When I called for a reservation they told us they didn't reserve certain tables, so to get there when they open for a table on the railing outside. After a little bit of parking confusion, we still arrived at about 5:20 and had to wait outside for them to open. Then we went and enjoyed a drink at the bar before being seated at a table on the railing. It was still quite sunny so I was glad I had my sunglasses. We started with apps - green curry coconut shrimp soup for Husband, endive salad wrapped in cucumber with asian dressing, wontons and edamame for me, yum! We loved everything. Our main course was tuna with sesame seeds, jasmine rice and veggies for Husband, grilled mahi mahi on sweet potato mash and grilled pineapple plus a veggie salad for me. Double yum! I was surprised at how generous the portions were for a fancy place. Everything was exactly to our liking, relatively light and fresh with interesting food combinations. Dessert was not so light! Husband had white chocolate cinnamon bread pudding. After considering chocolate mousse, I went with the more island-y feeling mango and plantain spring roll with vanilla ice cream. Wow, they were both wonderful. As I said before, the sunsets while we were there were not very showy, but we still enjoyed watching the sun go down over St. Thomas while we ate. We switched chairs half-way through to trade the Cruz Bay-St. Thomas views. While the Asolare staff wasn't in any big rush, we find that typical of an upscale restaurant where you're paying for the leisurely experience. We found everyone friendly and helpful and to us, who are used to DC restaurant prices, the rates weren't that high. It was $179 including tip and a couple of drinks. Between our last visit and this one, this restaurant was hands-down our favorite.
10/27/08 Forum Post
I hear less about Asolare on this board than I do about ZoZo's or La Tapa. In my opinion, Asolare is the best dining experience on the island, hands down. The service tends to be slightly more casual than ZoZo's, but it's always very friendly without seeming forced. And the food and view - both are just superb. I had two specials, the shrimp tempura appetizer and the dinner special, which was a mahi filet topped with a Caribbean lobster tail served over crab mashed potatoes with asparagus. No food porn, but d*mn it was good. You'll just have to trust me. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
12/23/08 Forum Post
We arrived at Asolare for our reservations at 8:00 pm. The hostess informed us that our table wasn't ready yet. I surveyed the half empty restaurant... "Fine. We'll go get a drink at the bar," I say. The hostess looks uncomfortable "Umm. Yeah. We don't have a bartender tonight." "Pardon?" I ask. "Yeah, Our Bartender had to go home," she explains. About 3 minutes later someone came over to hook us up. Asolare really is a lovely establishment. It's what I imagine every bar in a Hemingway novel set in the Keys to look like. Everything has the yellowish- brown glow and you can look out over Cruz bay and the water to see St. Thomas twinkling lights in the distance. The in-laws marveled at the beauty of the bar and were clearly impressed. MIL looked fabulous in her tropical maxi-dress and seemed pleased with her choice for restaurants... and it all went downhill from there. Ordering seemed simple enough. Asolare serves Asian fusion cuisine and typically their service and food are done reasonably well. I ordered three courses. Everyone else at the table ordered two. Appetizers were fine but I should have know that something was up when the server came to collect my fish fork (my second course was supposed to be calamari, followed by a third course of duck breast) and placed down a meat knife. I noted to the server that I still hadn't gotten my second course yet and I asked for a refill of iced tea for the 4th time. He said he would check on it. He hadn't been gone for two seconds when they brought out the main courses for all four of us. The server came back out and said that they were working on the second course. I told him to just not worry about it and to take it off the bill. MIL tries to cut into her fish with a fork and it's like rubber. She reaches for her knife to try and cut into the fish and is literally sawing at it. Clearly it's overdone. At this point someone else came over and asked, "How is everything?" "Not good," I reply. I start to politely list off the things that are "not right" about the meal and our experience this evening. She looks at the fish, my empty glass and realizes that I am not being picky but have an actual grievance. She apologizes and takes the fish away. Two seconds later a profusely sweating chef delivers the calamari and apologizes. I told him it wasn't necessary but he insisted that we should take it and that it was on the house. Seeing that the MIL had nothing to eat I figured she could munch on this until her fish came back out. The duck was decent and the rest of the meal was generally uneventful. So I quickly dial my Mom. Thanks Mom for talking me off the ledge! As I hang up, the chef steps out of the kitchen to smoke a cigarette. He sees me and apologizes for the fish. "Hey, no worries I say. It's just fish. We've eaten here several times before and this was probably the worst ever." He took it on the chin and said, "You're right. We totally screwed up. Really sorry." "It happens, nothing personal" I say. "None taken," he replies as he draws in his smoke. Knowing that I couldn't just hang out by the trash can talking to the chef the rest of the night, I squared my shoulders and headed back inside. Everyone asked if I wanted dessert. Nope. Not interested. Alrightythen. Here's my thing about Asolare having eaten there many times over the years. They've got a nice place but the food and the service are often lacking especially when you're paying those prices. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/17/09 Forum Post
Interesting cocktails to start: I had a moonbow, which is rosemary-infused vodka with grapefruit juice—very herbal and not too sweet. John had the tequila-tini, very fruity and light. Starters were the fried calamari with basil aioli and sweet soy sipping sauce, which was just fine. The standout appetizer was a green curry lemongrass shrimp soup with soba noodles and cilantro. It was rich, spicy, and full of flavor. Main dish was grilled halibut with shrimp and scallops in a coconut rum-jalepeno sauce with mashed potatoes and carrots. All the fish was perfectly cooked. The sauce had a nice hit of spice but I thought the coconut rum was too sweet with the fish. The mashed potatoes were heavy and superfluous, and the carrots were completely raw—not crisp cooked—raw. John had the tuna, which was a huge piece –1.5 inches thick, cooked rare, with more sweet soy, excellent sticky rice and a refreshing jicama slaw. The entrees were so large that there was no room for dessert. Although it is pricy, I think that the setting and professional service, as well as the (in recent years) relatively high quality of the food make Asolare a good choice for a special occasion meal. Make your reservation at 5:30 PM to ensure a seat on the rail for unobstructed views of the sunset and down into Cruz Bay harbour. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/6/09 Forum Post
On to Asolare: we were 10 min. early for our reservation to ensure our balcony table, but they had just given the last balcony table away. I was ticked. When I told her we'd just wait at another table and chat until a balcony table came open, the waitress looked at me like I was an idiot and said "uhhh... OK". Then a 2nd girl came and brought bottled water after I had asked, but the water had no lid and absolutely no label. She said, "Oh, it just fell off in the cooler." That was it. Everything I had read on this website about Asolare was happening to me... good view, but bad service. And I wasn't about to wait on the less then excellent food. So we paid the $7 for the water and left. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
7/17/09 Forum Post
We started with the crispy calamari salad (good, but I missed the version with the sweet soy), and the tuna tartar. John had tuna and I had mahi. Both were tasty. We ordered a bread pudding for dessert which was a mistake. Too heavy! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Balcony
(Upstairs, Wharfside Village – 774.8470.
See 360° Virtual tour at http://usviwedding.com/virtual_tours_restaurants.html)
See 360° Virtual tour at http://usviwedding.com/virtual_tours_restaurants.html)
2/7/07 Forum Post
We ate there as a last minute thing and it was the nicest meal and evening we had that trip. It wasn't crowded so we lucked out with a rail table, and the service was over the top wonderful. Before we got our first drink we seemed to know everyone. We opted not to get an appetizer, but our waiter brought one for us anyway (no charge of course). It was a couple of seared scallops on a bed of Josephine's greens with a wonderful vinegar sauce... YUMMY! Both our meals were fabulous. Mike had the ahi tuna, seared just a bit with a selection of hot sauces. He is still talking about it!! Said it could not have been any more perfect. I had the mango glazed ribs and they were all but perfect. They do a good job plating the food, and of course it was the one night I didn't take my camera. I highly recommend the place, consider reservations though... and ask for a table by the rail. ENJOY! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/21/08 Forum Post
When I made the reservation, they had ask for a credit card to hold the reservation which I gave them. I also re-confirmed the reservation earlier in the week. Of course, they had absolutely no record of the reservation when we arrived, and they were really not even apologetic about it. We waited in the bar and did get seated after not too long. The bar is a great spot. Pretty good dinner – ahi tuna to start (my favorite) and Janie and I split a NY Strip – not terribly adventuresome. I would give The Balcony another shot though, it’s a very pretty view and the food was good – just not ZoZo's quality. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/2/08 Forum Post
I was disappointed because they were out of ribs but I had pork instead and it was great. The view from the Balcony is wonderful – watching Cruz Bay and the lights of St. Thomas. Another great meal and night! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/6/08 Forum Post
Dinner at the Balcony at Cruz Bay. I had the crab cake appetizer & DH had the lobster crepes. Both were excellent. We both got the crab ravioli with prawns; also good. Nice atmosphere, but they charge $2 for bread, which is a little over the top. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
11/20/08 Forum Post
Wow, first time eating there this year - and we went back twice because it was that good! Yummy food with a view! Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
2/2/09 Forum Post
I don’t know why but we have not been to The Balcony in the last 8 years or so. The food was really good. I had the garlic ginger chicken satay skewers and a delicious salad with blue cheese, candied walnuts, poached pears dressed in balsamic and mrdndw/l had crab cakes and the same salad. I think we’ll be back and I recommend it. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Banana Deck
(Across the street from Wharfside Village – 693.5055. Closed Wed. in off-season) http://thebananadeck.com/
2/23/08 Forum Post
The atmosphere is great, the front of the house does a great job. The food was fine...86's delmonico could have used a higher temp grill to sear it on both sides in my opinion. It seemed a bit more prime rib like. #1 really enjoyed his shrimp curry over rice and my burger and #2's pasta with sauce were fine. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/27/08 Forum Post
Lovely atmosphere, steel drum music playing, food was not bad either. Just loved the ambiance of that place. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/22/08 Forum Post
Really good; you must try the Xanga dessert! It’s a burrito stuffed with banana cheesecake and covered with caramel sauce and whipped cream, with vanilla ice cream on the side…decadent! Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
6/6/08 Forum Post
They were out of scallops so we had the double shrimp fettuccini alfredo. Sorry guys, no food porn. We were too hungry to pause for Forum grace. The food was hot. The shrimp were plentiful. And the flavor was terrific. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/3/08 Forum Post
Jamaican ribeye steak was my favorite. Amazing jerk spices. It was so good I purchased some spices and plan to make it tonight in sunny Southern California! Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
8/17/08 Forum Post
We enjoy this restaurant for its reasonable prices, ability to seat large groups easily, and good food with a variety on the menu. Everyone enjoyed their meal, especially those who ordered steak (and we are picky steak eaters). I had some kind of super rich chicken dish that was so good. My only complaint is that the drinks here are extremely tasty, but we never feel they have much of a kick to them! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
8/20/08 Forum Post
Speaking of grazing, the newbie wanted to try Conch Fritters. She had never even heard of them before, let alone tried them. We had searched the entire time we were there. But everyone was either out of them, or they just didn't offer them on the menu. But after several stops and inquiries, we found they offered them at The Banana Deck! So off we went! Then we had lunch. The newbie and Barb had salads, and I had the fish sandwich. The drinks and food are very good at Banana Deck...I would recommend you go there, at least for lunch! It was YUMMY. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
11/24/08 Forum Post
That night we went to Banana Deck for dinner and cocktails. Everyone really liked their food. Drinks were really GREAT too. In fact, I think these were the best cocktails we had on the island. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
2/18/09 Forum Post
Banana Deck has consistently been one of my favorite lunch spots in Cruz Bay. The prices are reasonable, the food is always fresh, the portions are large enough to share, and the owners are very friendly and helpful. This time we ordered one of our favorites, the spicy mahi wrap, which comes with salsa, pineapple, cheddar, tomatoes, and lettuce in a flour tortilla with crispy French fries. This sandwich is always delicious and satisfying. We also ordered the BLT salad with blackened chicken. This HUGE salad had very fresh romaine lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, bacon, and cheddar cheese topped with a juicy delicious blackened chicken breast with a basil-bacon aioli on the side. It was way too big, but really satisfying. Highly recommend. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/3/09 Blog Post
Island Girl writes…After my nap ( yep, that's what i'm calling it!) we headed to Woody's,then the Banana deck for supper! The food is awesome there, and the chicken wings are the best on the island! The service rocks too! Read more at newsofstjohn.com…
3/15/09 Forum Post
Lunch today is at Banana Deck - love the Greek salad with grilled chicken. We see Dimitrius who works there and he remembers us. I don't know why but we love to be remembered. It makes us feel good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/8/09 Forum Post
We unpacked and then headed to Banana Deck for dinner. Enjoyed a great dinner (conch fritters, Caesar salads, Caribbean chicken, Thai chicken), and assorted rum drinks. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Beach Bar
photo by Stjohnjulie
(Wharfside Village - 777.4220.)
http://www.beachbarstjohn.com/index.shtml
New York Times comment
The outdoor Beach Bar (Wharfside Village; 340-777-4220; www.beachbarstjohn.com) has cheap tropical cocktails like the $4 Painkiller (rum, orange and pineapple juices, coco lopez and nutmeg). There’s live music on most weekend nights, plus jazz on Sundays.
2/22/09 Forum Post
Our final night on STJ was spent at a plastic table in the sand at The Beach Bar. We were all craving burgers and fries and that's what we went for. The burgers were like the ones my mom made when I was a kid. The shape of a slightly deformed meatball but still juicy and delicious. The cocktails were cold and strong. A great beachfront spot to grab some beach food and enjoy the sights and sounds of the harbor and plan for the next trip to STJ. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
6/19/09 Forum Post
We stayed for a lunch of hamburgers while we rested up between beach venues. The hamburgers were as good as you all remember but we would encourage you to share the fries since the serving size was very generous. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
Cafe Roma
(Cruz Bay – 776.6524 – Open 5:00 nightly) http://stjohn-caferoma.com/9caferoma1.htm.
My Review
The first night I wanted to go somewhere comfortable, and where the sticker shock wouldn’t paralyze us for the rest of the week. So we went to Café Roma. It was a great choice. Jeannie wasn’t that hungry, so she ordered wilted spinach with pine nuts and olive oil. Pam had chicken parmesan, while Gary enjoyed seafood stuffed manicotti in a lobster sauce with asparagus. And I, following the recommendation of a forum post, got the spaghetti Bolognese. We were all delighted with the food. The place doesn’t have much ambience, but the service was good and the price was very reasonable. The bill for G&P was $54, for J&me, $35. (Obviously, we didn’t have drinks or desserts this time.)
Fodor’s Review
This casual second-floor restaurant in the heart of Cruz Bay is the place for traditional Italian cuisine: lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken piccata. There are also excellent pizzas, but they are for takeout only. Rum-caramel bread pudding is a dessert specialty. The place can get crowded in the winter season, so show up early. Frommer’s Review This restaurant in the center of Cruz Bay is not a place for great finesse in the kitchen, but it's a longtime favorite and has pleased a lot of diners such as families who just want a casual meal. To enter, you have to climb a flight of stairs. You might arrive early and have a strawberry colada, then enjoy a standard pasta, veal, seafood, or chicken dish. There are usually 30 to 40 vegetarian items on the menu. The owner claims, with justification, that his pizzas are the best on the island; try the white pizza. Italian wines are sold by the glass or bottle, and you can end the evening with an espresso.
2/3/08 Forum Post
I'll just get this out of the way now, but Cafe Roma was the worst experience we had. The service was rude and irritated, the food was subpar and, FYI, they will treat you like you're a stupid tourist the minute you say you won't be ordering a bottle of wine. I know others have had good Cafe Roma, so I'm trying not to sound mean here. But it was bad, and they were rude. I hear they're under the process of being sold (also shocking, I'm sure) so maybe that made for some unhappy employees. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/21/08 Forum Post
We thought the italian food was excellent & a pleasant change from seafood & island fare. Read more at Fodors.com…
5/31/08 Forum Post
That night was Café Roma for dinner – yum! We all loved our meal – I had chicken parm – it’s a standard for me. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/1/08 Forum Post
After parking at the Lumberyard (cause it's after hours), we walked down to the restaurant where we were seated right away and ordered up more drinks. Almost immediately, our server comes over with a basket of yummy and Critter Boy excitedly exclaims "Ooooh YUM, olive tapenade!" while grabbing for the goods. I'm like "WHAT!?" I was curious to know how Non-weird Food Boy knows what olive tapenade looks like let alone how to pronounce it since I don't make it at home, and more importantly what the hell made him want to try it so I asked. "I saw it on iCarly and she said "OMG! This is gooooood!" I've been wanting to try it ever since!" It's official, the kid's OD'd on TV! That was so funny! After careful consideration though, maybe it was only funny cause we had a couple few feel goods in us already. Dinner selections this eve were the mozzarella bread followed with spaghetti & meatballs for Critter Boy, lasagna for Honey, and chicken fettuccine X2 for the girls. OMG! Can I just say YUM! That pasta was so good I'm over here salivating just thinking about it. I'm pretty sure we didn't utter a peep for the first for the first ½ of the plate and I’m totally shocked due to the inhalation factor that we were even able to taste it! The BEST meal of the trip for sure. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/19/08 Forum Post
We each ordered an entree -- BIG mistake. We could have shared one! Venetian scallops and shrimp for me, fettucine for Layne and baked penne for Greg. We all took home a huge portion. My favorite item at Cafe Roma, however, was the bread -- thick, dense slices of bread. Delicious! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
12/21/08 Forum Post
We decided on Cafe Roma for dinner. We met the new owner, John Hebert. He is a really nice guy and reminds me a little bit of a thin John Candy. I am pleased to report that Cafe Roma is even better now. They served a delicious tampanade with plain and cheese bread. I don't remember them having that before but we did a lot of take out from there. Both of our meals were excellent (lasagna with meat sauce and spaghetti with Italian sausage). We then had some drinks and chatted with John, the owner and the bartender Tyler. John sent us a complimentary piece of cheesecake with mango sauce. Very yummy and I'm not one to be into sweet treats. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/22/09 Forum Post
Walking into Cafe Roma is like walking into a restaurant in Boston's North End. The restaurant is small and dark but as the saying goes, good things come in small packages. We started the evening with a basket of the delicious bread and dipping oil. I ordered a pomegranate martini which was top notch. For an appetizer, we ordered the mozzarella and tomato stuffed bread. The dish featured a quarter loaf of french bread, sliced 3/4 through and stuffed with fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil and a drizzling of olive oil. The dish was filling and delicious but we enjoyed the bread basket so much, we wished we had tried something else. For entrees, I ordered the Sierra, a pasta dish with fresh asparagus, sundried tomatoes, red onion, garlic and feta cheese. There is also an option to add shrimp. On the evening we were there, they were out of asparagus and substituted broccoli. The dish was one of the best pasta dishes I've had in a very long time. The broccoli and shrimp were both cooked perfectly- tender but with a slight snap. The feta cheese was a top quality cheese- creamy and piquant. It really made the dish. My husband ordered a special of cheese ravioli, with chicken topped with a creamy gorgonzola cheese sauce and walnuts. The dish was like a savory dessert with the cream sauce being perfectly executed. One son ordered the rack of lamb with fettucine alfredo. The lamb was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The alfredo featured a wonderful creamy sauce. Not overly sauced and a perfect accompaniment to the lamb. Finally, my son ordered manicotti. The cheese stuffed pasta came drenched in a delicious marinara that can rival any restaurant I've ever been to. The portions here are HUGE. We each took home a large Chinese take out container overflowing with leftovers. The prices were very reasonable making this the best value restaurant we dined at in STJ. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/15/09 Forum Post
We were very happy that it was just as good as it had been with the previous owner. We had great food, good wine, and fun times. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/6/09 Forum Post
We ate at the bar and loved our meal so much that we got take out from them the following night. I had a simple pasta with meatballs. Scott had a pasta with seafood, Mr H had something yummy and the Remora had lasagna which was fantastic. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/3/09 Forum Post
I recommend Café Roma as I have heard good stuff about it from forum folks and it sounds good to them. Andy absolutely loved his meal, wouldn’t shut up about it, was talking about it two days later. Some kind of seafood linguine stuff, it was really good, he gave me a taste. Teresa and I enjoyed ours too just not quite as much as Andy. I thought he was going to have an orgasm he liked his so much. Dawnys chicken parm was top notch also. What’s up with that bread and olive spread, is that to die for or what? We got seconds of that goodness. I could have made a meal of that stuff and a couple beers YUMMY! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/25/09 Forum Post
Delightful Italian fare at good prices. We enjoyed a Caesar salad, pizza and spaghetti – which was WAY more than we could eat. We have been enjoying this little gem for years and it’s consistently good. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
Candi's Delights
(Near The Marketplace – 779.1452)
6/18/08 Forum Post
It was not the best BBQ we've had but was very tasty (the meat was cooked well but everyone has their own taste in sauce). Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
1/10/09 Forum Post
We got take out from Candi's twice, chicken and ribs and tasty side dishes. Good food at a very reasonable price. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/22/09 Forum Post
My husband LOVES BBQ. He's a fanatic. He counts Dinosaur in Syracuse NY and the Rendezvous and Corky's in Memphis among his top 3. He's making room for Candi's on STJ. We had a small breakfast and skipped lunch one afternoon and were looking for a little something before we headed out for the night. We stopped at Candi's- the heavenly smells had taunted us all week. We ordered an order of chicken and ribs to split between the 4 of us. The chicken was good but the ribs were fabulous. Tender and meaty and slathered in a sweet and smoky bbq sauce. Everyone agreed next year will feature a Candi's BBQ dinner at the villa. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/18/08 Forum Post
It was not the best BBQ we've had but was very tasty (the meat was cooked well but everyone has their own taste in sauce). Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
1/10/09 Forum Post
We got take out from Candi's twice, chicken and ribs and tasty side dishes. Good food at a very reasonable price. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/22/09 Forum Post
My husband LOVES BBQ. He's a fanatic. He counts Dinosaur in Syracuse NY and the Rendezvous and Corky's in Memphis among his top 3. He's making room for Candi's on STJ. We had a small breakfast and skipped lunch one afternoon and were looking for a little something before we headed out for the night. We stopped at Candi's- the heavenly smells had taunted us all week. We ordered an order of chicken and ribs to split between the 4 of us. The chicken was good but the ribs were fabulous. Tender and meaty and slathered in a sweet and smoky bbq sauce. Everyone agreed next year will feature a Candi's BBQ dinner at the villa. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/6/09 Forum Post
We stopped back at Candi’s to pick up our order and went back to the villa for dinner on the deck as the sun set and a cruise ship floated by… simply dreamy. Candi’s chicken, ribs, and chicken fingers/fries were very good and very reasonably priced. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Chloe & Bernard's
(Westin Resort – 714.6075. Open 6-12 Nightly.
See 360° Virtual tour at http://usviwedding.com/virtual_tours_restaurants.html)http://www.stjohn-restaurants.com/
See 360° Virtual tour at http://usviwedding.com/virtual_tours_restaurants.html)http://www.stjohn-restaurants.com/
Fodor’s Review
With a focus on Asian cuisine, Chloe & Bernard's is always delightful. The menu changes regularly, but you might start with a tasty wasabi-potato pancake or a pea sprout salad drizzled with a sweet chili-lemongrass dressing. Dinner might be marinated tuna served with mandarin fried rice and a lobster-mango summer roll. Frommer’s Review At the Westin Resort, this luxurious restaurant features one of the island's best dining experiences. Lying on the upper level of the open-air lobby, the restaurant offers intimate, relaxed dining. Chloe and Bernard are named after two fictional characters who spend their time traveling the world in search of delectable recipes to add to their mouth-watering menu. The talented chefs turn out savory dishes redolent of Caribbean sunshine and full of flavor. This is best evoked by such dishes as steamed Chilean sea bass in tomato sauce with caramelized onions in white-wine shallots; oven-roasted beef tenderloin with green, white, and red peppercorn sauce; and oven-roasted duck breast topped with Roquefort cheese and crushed walnuts.
7/15/08 Forum Post
We had understood this to be one of the best restaurants on St. John & we wanted to have one really nice, romantic dinner. Given the prices they charge it should be. For a $150 dinner, we were really, really disappointed. The food just wasn't as good as the prices suggested they should be. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
Crazy Cracker’s
(Cruz Bay - 715.3361)
http://crazycrackersvi.com/
12/22/08 Forum Post
We ate there yesterday. Was very impressed! Food was great nice server and bartender, and for only being opened for a week everything went very smoothly. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
http://crazycrackersvi.com/
12/22/08 Forum Post
We ate there yesterday. Was very impressed! Food was great nice server and bartender, and for only being opened for a week everything went very smoothly. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
3/25/09 Forum Post
The food at Crazy Cracker's was really good. Much better than Morgan’s Mango, which is the only place I was a little disappointed in. And we loved the atmosphere on the deck upstairs where we ate. Then we headed to the bar downstairs after dinner. Highly recommend the fish tacos and mahi mahi wrap. Gimme shrimp was also very good though it wasn't a lot of food. Oh, and the tuna sashimi app was great. We hung out with the owners for a while and that was fun. We really enjoyed the food, drinks, ambience and people at Crackers. We will be back on our next visit! Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
4/10/09 Forum Post
Nice little place. Great prices too. The food is WAY better than just meatloaf, etc. The head chef has lived all over the world. They've spared no expense in staff, decor and food quality. We go there most Saturdays for their special of appetizer, dinner, desert, drinks and a movie for $30 a couple. It's one block north of the ferry dock - go left just before Woody's and it's 1/2 block on your left. Don't miss it. Great, affordable place in an otherwise pricey town. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
6/18/09 Forum Post
Crazy Crackers earned a very favorable recommendation. They feature wraps and paninis as well as a varied appetizer menu. The blackened Maui Panini was tasty, portioned appropriately, and was served with a side of a corn and salsa relish with chips. The turkey wrap met with Jim’s approval as did the Bushwhacker that kept it company. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
6/29/09 Forum Post
Good atmosphere, not busy…we had the same waitress as we did at Rhumb Lines the night before…good drink specials. BOGO and ½ price nights. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
Cruz Bay Pizza
(Wharfside Plaza. Open 11a-9p. 775.5200)
(picture courtesy Stjohn Julie)
http://www.wharfsidevillage.com/bars_restaurants.php
8/15/08 Forum Post
We just had a new pizza place open in Wharfside in the place where Senorita Pizza was. It's called Cruz Bay Pizza Shoppe. It was gutted and completely redone and looks great! They are still getting organized, but it seems like it will be a winner. Had a couple of slices the other day and they were pretty darn good. Less greasy than the other places. They do sandwiches, salads, and stromboli and will surely add a lot more items in the near future. Whole pies are $14.50-$20, slices, $3 and $4. They don't have their phone in yet, but will let you know what their number is when they get they have one. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
9/17/08 Traveler Review
I thought any pizza is good pizza, but this place changed my mind--and I even like generic frozen pizzas from the store. Way too thin, WAY too expensive ($3.50/slice). Only good part is the Rum Bar right outside the door--about $6 a drink and you can't beat the view! Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
10/16/08 Forum Post
That evening, we spent hours in the pool, drinking beer and being ridiculously silly for our ages. Once we all realized we were hungry, we sent someone down to Cruz Bay Pizza (used to be Senorita's) for a couple of pies. We got a pepperoni and a veggie, and both were really good. I think the total cost was $46, in case anyone is wondering what dinner for six on the cheaper side will run you. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
12/27 Traveler Review
I LOVE the pizza here, I truly believe it is the best pizza on the island. I ordered the Greek pizza and the crust was chewy and crisp in all the right places. They use REAL cheese, REAL mushrooms (not canned, gross!) and REAL Calamata olives (not the canned variety.) Pizza crust is thin, the way it's supposed to be. I have a hard time staying away from pizza of this quality. I DO NOT LIKE FROZEN PIZZA. So, maybe that is the difference between my review and the guy's review before me, who does like frozen pizza. just a matter of TASTE, good taste! Seriously, if you have an appreciation for a simply delicious authentic pizza pie, i do recommend it. The guys there are friendly, too! I asked them to chop up a piece of pizza for my daughter, while they were super busy and without a hesitation and with a smile they said sure, no problem. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
Da Livio
(Cruz Bay – 779.8900)5/27/08 Forum Post
That evening we headed into town for dinner at DaLivio. The waiter was friendly and welcoming. For starters, he brought out complimentary bruschetta – one topped with roasted peppers and one with caponata. Yum! To begin the meal, we ordered their "giant antipasto for two." Yeah, it was GIANT! This consisted of five vegetable dishes: eggplant parmesan, grilled eggplant, broccoli slow cooked with capers and kalamata olives and topped with cheese, roasted peppers, and caponata. All liberally glazed with olive oil, all very fresh and delicious! The excellence of the antipasto made, I think, the next course that much more of a disappointment. We both ordered pastas, which were noted on the menu as being "house-made." Well, they were house made in that they were boiled on the premises, but they were NOT made from scratch. In fact, I think they were Buitoni brand. It was really disappointing. But, the antipasto was good, as was the house wine, and we were both full after eating all of the vegetables anyway, so we did not dwell on it. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
10/20/08 Forum Post
DaLivio is wonderful. We just returned from St. John last week after having visited the place. It is small, quaint, and some very good food. Mr. Livio is a charming guy with a very Italian-looking restaurant. It's quite well appointed with some incredible food. We sampled everything from rost duck breast. veal salimbocca, rack of lamb, and all sorts of homemade pasta. He also offers a nice small selection of Itlaian wine to complement the dishes. Do yourself a favor and begin with the inslada caprese or even the mista. Incredible flavors with such simple dishes. Oh, and did I mention ALL the pasta served here is home-made! you will love it. BRAVO DaLivio! Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
Donkey Diner
(Coral Bay – 693.5240. Open 8a Wed.-Sat., noon-8 daily) http://www.donkeydiner.com/
Fodor’s Review
In an odd combination that works well for Coral Bay visitors and residents, this tiny spot along the main road through Coral Bay sells yummy breakfasts and tasty pizza. Breakfasts can be as ordinary or as innovative as you like, with the menu running from fried eggs with bacon to blueberry pancakes to scrambled tofu served with home fries. Pizzas are equally eclectic, with toppings that include everything from the usual pepperoni and mushrooms to more exotic corn, raisins, and kalamata olives.
1/8/09 Forum Post
We decided to venture out to the Donkey Diner for breakfast this morning…it was surprisingly crowded at 9:30 a.m., but much quieter by the time we got out of there at 11:00. I try to operate on island time, but this one was a little hard to take. The food was okay (my daughter loved her French toast), but it was a bit pricey and s-l-o-w!! They warn you on the menu, but it was hard for my very impatient nature to accept. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
1/22/09 Forum Post
New owners, awesomely nice people. Food just as good as ever since the recipes have been passed from owner to owner. I do think the pancakes are better than I remember. I recc. The Sampler Plate -- everything you could possibly crave in the AM for $10. Good pizza too! We ate here A LOT cuz it's aaaalll goooood. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
3/24/09 Forum Post
We woke up with the sounds of church bells and hymns in our ears, and breakfast on our minds, and headed for the Donkey Diner again. I love the sausage at Donkey Diner. My husband gave me some of his sausage at Donkey Diner because he thought it was the best he ever had. And I agreed. I got the French toast stuffed with cream cheese topped with a hot mango pineapple sauce. I wanted to go back there for MORE sausage, but alas, we never made it. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
5/12/09 Forum Post
We decided on pizza at the Donkey Diner. Great choice. We split a salad which was very good -- the balsamic dressing was wonderful. Our pizza was very good as well. Great place, we wanted to get back for breakfast but never did. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
Equator
(Caneel Bay Resort – 776.6111. Days and hours vary by season) www.caneelbay.com/dine3.cfm
My Review
This was the only place I made a reservation all week, since it doesn’t really seem necessary during low season. I only did it this night because I wanted a table by the rail to watch the sunset. The restaurant was only about half full at its busiest time. This was the one night Gary and I wore long pants, and the ladies wore skirts. I’d heard great things about the location, and it was truly romantic and special. And the food measured up to the surroundings. Jeannie and Gary had the red snapper special, Pam had tiger shrimp, and I had swordfish. The only thing that was only so-so was the lobster bisque, which was slightly disappointing. On the other hand, I had banana cheesecake for dessert, and it transcended the cheesecake genre. It was served with caramelized bananas, much like bananas foster, and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. I’d go back just for that. Very good service, exceptional atmosphere, and delicious food. With soups, no drinks, and one dessert, our bill came to $98. Gary’s was $90. Certainly a wonderful evening out, and the price wasn’t extravagant.
Frommer’s Review
This restaurant lies behind the tower of an 18th-century sugar mill, where ponds with water lilies fill former crystallization pits for hot molasses. A flight of stairs leads to a monumental circular dining room, with a wraparound veranda and sweeping views of a park. In the center rises the stone column that horses and mules once circled to crush sugar-cane stalks. In its center, the restaurant grows a giant poinciana-like Asian tree of the Albizia lebbeck species. Islanders call it "woman's tongue tree." The cuisine is the most daring on the island, and for the most part, the chefs pull off their transcultural dishes. A spicy and tantalizing opener is lemon grass-and-ginger-cured salmon salad. A classic Caribbean callaloo soup is offered, and the salads use fresh ingredients such as Roma tomatoes and endive. Daily Caribbean selections are offered, or you can opt for such fine dishes as seared Caribbean tuna, or penne pasta with shiitake mushrooms and roasted tomatoes in an herb-garlic-cream sauce. There's always a dry, aged Angus steak or a grilled veal chop for the more traditional palate.
2/15/09 Forum Post
First night’s dinner was at The Equator. We opted to stay on the property because our wagons were draggin’ since we were on the road at 4 a.m. on our travel day. We had a table with a view, not quite at the rail, but a beautiful view nonetheless. I don’t remember what everyone else had, but I had the mango-glazed chicken which was delicious. Everyone was satisfied with their meals and we received personable service from our waiter. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
7/6/09 Forum Post
Too hot at 6:15pm in late June, but by 6:45pm it felt incredible as sun was setting. Views were great having asked for a balcony table. Service was awesome (Dawn was our waitress, special kudos. Again, I was SO happy with the Caneel Staff this week. I treat folks as good friends, and they in return act like good friends). I had NY strip. It was good (but the bride said I make better steaks in my backyard kitchen with my secret sauce Allegro). She had mango BBQ chicken, which was good. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
7/15/09 Forum Post
We had bad service and mediocre food a couple of years ago, but everyone deserves a second chance, right? Verdict: not bad. We started with some conch fritters, which were crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and loaded with conch: and some chicken roti, which was tasty. I would have liked a little more heat, but it was still good. For entrees, John had the Caribbean lobster, and I had fennel crusted mahi mahi with vegetables and mashed potatoes. The mahi was fresh and nicely cooked, and John thought the lobster was good also. Dessert, coconut creme brulee, was a bit of a bust. The top was not bruleed, and the texture was odd. The main problem with this place is the price! I guess you are paying for the location. Examples include: Lobster (smaller than the one he got at the Lime Inn): $69. A glass of Rodney Strong sauvignon blanc: $14. John also was not happy with the wine list. His notes say “limited and uninspiring.” I guess all the good stuff is over at the Estate House. He reluctantly chose a bottle of Stags Leap chardonnay for us, which at $79 he noted was the best value on the list, but still overpriced for what it is. Service was very good though, so that was a plus. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
Fish Trap
(Raintree Court – 693.9994. Open 4:30-10, Closed Monday) http://www.thefishtrap.com/
Fodor’s Review
The rooms here all open to the breezes and buzz with a mix of locals and visitors. Chef Aaron Willis, who also presides over the kitchen at Stone Terrace, conjures up such tasty appetizers as conch fritters and fish chowder (a creamy combination of snapper, white wine, paprika, and secret spices). You can always find steak and chicken dishes, as well as an interesting pasta of the day. Frommer’s Review This aptly named place serves St. John's best seafood. It's a casual, laid-back atmosphere with tables placed on a covered patio open to the trade winds, an easy walk up from the ferry dock. Chef Aaron Willis is the island's favorite, bringing his New York culinary training with him but showing a total familiarity with West Indian seasonings and flavors. Nobody on St. John does conch fritters better than this skilled cook, and he's been praised by such national magazines as Vogue and Gourmet. Depending on the catch of the day, six fresh fish specials are featured nightly, most likely wahoo, shark, mahi mahi, or snapper. The grilled tuna, for example, comes in a wasabi sauce and the swordfish is made more appetizing by the use of lemon grass. An array of steaks, tasty pastas, chicken cutlets, and burgers are always served.
Virgin Voices Review
Aaron Willis fuses flavors with the magic of a wizard, but with the deft precision of seasoned chef. Willis ran the The Fish Trap Restaurant in St. John’s Cruz Bay for almost 15 years, and later served as visionary for The Stone Terrace, also in St. John. But after decades of working on the island, he took his talent to Grand Cru at Yacht Haven Grand Marina in St. Thomas. Last June Willis reopened The Fish Trap with some of his original recipes and creative new inventions. He now owns and operates the restaurant with his wife Lisa, a native of St. Vincent, who ran the dining room at the Bitter End Yacht Club in Virgin Gorda for many years. On any given night, guests find the dynamic duo on site and smiling. And it appears is everything is better the second time around. Willis attributes it to more “wisdom” behind his dishes, and Lisa, who adds to the atmosphere, with her warm approach to customers. Willis, graduated from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, and may well be St. John’s only native-born culinary trained chef. He began experimenting with the contents of his family’s fridge, as a pre teen, and chopped vegetables and learned to create stocks from scratch at local restaurants. By junior high he had already decided to pursue a culinary career. Willis returned to St. John, after culinary school and a stint honing his craft in California, to help run The Fish Trap, then owned by his parents. Friendly and even folksy, Willis is no stuffy chef. He just loves food, and has made it his business to create dining pleasures. Over the years he’s garnered accolades from local regional and national press including Bon Appetite and Gourmet. The Fish Trap, nestled in a tropical family friendly setting, has become a landmark for the freshest seafood in the entire region. The Fish Trap chowder, conch fritters and tuna with soy glaze and wasabi mayonnaise are legendary, along with a coconut cake, served with a spice rum caramel sauce. But it’s the daily features that continue to keep it all creative for Willis and his following, Willis says he likes to “ combine flavorsand textures with eye appeal, observing that “ if it doesn’t feel good in your mouth, the meal just won’t be memorable.”
1/3/08 Forum Post
This was our first time and last. We ordered conch fritters for appetizer, got 4 mini bowling balls both in color and consistency. I had the steak and shrimp plate. My steak was ordered medium rare. If it had been cooked any more I could have put laces on it and walked home. My wife had fish, was not impressed. I pointed my steak out to the waiter, declined a replacement (I am highly suspicious of "replacement" food, having heard stories from friends in that business.) To their credit, when I got the check they told me that the steak had been comped. Service was efficient, and the people around us seemed pleased with their food, but I doubt I will return. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/14/08 Forum Post
Dinner at Fish Trap. This is because my youngest insists. Ok, turns out his fish and chips (mahi mahi) is excellent as is the mahi mahi sandwhich. And because his dinner is delayed (whoops, long face) but wait, he gets a free dessert. Yea! And I must say his belgian waffle with vanilla bean ice cream and strawberry sauce is an excellent choice. Read more at Tripadvisor.com…
4/21/08 Forum Post
This was our least favorite place to eat on St. John. Waaaay too expensive for what you get. Read more at Fodors.com…
6/21/08 Forum Post
We have a wonderful meal, really great. Chip had mahi with black beans and cumin sour cream and I had Corvino with a red pepper cream. This is not the Fish Trap I remember. It was very good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/29/08 Forum Post
We headed over to the Fish Trap for a great dinner. My husband had the mahi with the mango barbecue sauce and chili spiced onion straws. It was fantastic. I had the herb crusted grouper in a lobster butter sauce. It was also very good. The kids had…chicken tenders! Yay, the first day without a cheeseburger! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/26/08 Forum Post
The food was wonderful, pj had the red snapper, hla had the mussels and grouper and I had the blackened mahi mahi with black bean salsa and lime sour cream. Maybe it's just me, but I thought the food was better than last year. Our waiter was from Toms River, NJ and was a lot of fun, and very helpful. Service was better than expected, actually. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
8/1/08 Forum Post
Anyway, the food is great, reasonably priced, atmosphere comfortable (real napkins), decks have lots of nice foliage and hummingbirds flitting around as sunset hits. Good service and nice people. Good for kids too. Great fresh fish. Loved the fried calamari. Hamburgers, chicken dishes and steaks too. Fresh in house desserts (try the coconut cake with rum-caramel sauce) TV in bar. CLEAN bathrooms as well. Read more at Fodors.com...
6/11/09 Forum Post
The Fish Trap is our choice for this day…Not bad…almost no-one there, but it was good food and a nice time to just breathe and relax with my lovely wife. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Happy Fish
(Marketplace, Cruz Bay – 776.1717. Open 11:30-2 Mon-Fri, 5-10 nightly)
6/24/08 Forum Post
I am from a coastal town in Japan. I grew up eating fabulous sushi (but I didn't realize that until I left there), so, naturally, I have very high standards when it comes to sushi. Please keep that in mind! I thought the sushi at Happy Fish was so-so. Sushi is not all about the fish. Their sushi rice didn't seem quite right to me. Freshness of their seafood varied depending on the item. Some were fresher than the others. Generally I prefer simple nigiri sushi to fancy creative rolls - I believe most Japanese do. You can somewhat hide the freshness of the seafood in elaborate rolls but not with nigiri sushi (I don't mean that's what they were doing at Happy Fish, so don't get me wrong!). I noticed that as extensive as their sushi menu appeared to be, especially in rolls, if you are not in the mood for eel or tuna, there weren't that many other choices left. I wouldn't expect the same quality I get in Japan in their sushi, but even so, it was still just okay to me but not bad at all by any means. Sorry, Happy Fish. I'm so hard on you! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
11/5/08 Forum Post
Happy Fish re-opened last night. New paint, new chair covers, looks nice! The placed was absolutely packed and everything was fantastic. Happy Fish is my favorite "casual" place to eat on island. I didn't even like sushi before I went to this place. Plenty of parking, A/C, good service, great food. Can't go wrong! Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
6/24/08 Forum Post
I am from a coastal town in Japan. I grew up eating fabulous sushi (but I didn't realize that until I left there), so, naturally, I have very high standards when it comes to sushi. Please keep that in mind! I thought the sushi at Happy Fish was so-so. Sushi is not all about the fish. Their sushi rice didn't seem quite right to me. Freshness of their seafood varied depending on the item. Some were fresher than the others. Generally I prefer simple nigiri sushi to fancy creative rolls - I believe most Japanese do. You can somewhat hide the freshness of the seafood in elaborate rolls but not with nigiri sushi (I don't mean that's what they were doing at Happy Fish, so don't get me wrong!). I noticed that as extensive as their sushi menu appeared to be, especially in rolls, if you are not in the mood for eel or tuna, there weren't that many other choices left. I wouldn't expect the same quality I get in Japan in their sushi, but even so, it was still just okay to me but not bad at all by any means. Sorry, Happy Fish. I'm so hard on you! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
11/5/08 Forum Post
Happy Fish re-opened last night. New paint, new chair covers, looks nice! The placed was absolutely packed and everything was fantastic. Happy Fish is my favorite "casual" place to eat on island. I didn't even like sushi before I went to this place. Plenty of parking, A/C, good service, great food. Can't go wrong! Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
5/12/09 Forum Post
Back at the villa, we clean up and get ready to go out for Paul’s birthday dinner – sushi at Happy Fish in Cruz Bay. While savoring an assortment of creative sushi rolls with tuna, salmon, eel, avocado, cucumber, crunchies and spicy sauces, we reminisce about our trip and realize how lucky we’ve been to be able to vacation on this special island all these years. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/29/09 Forum Post
One of our favorite meals…we had 3 rolls all were very good and fresh. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
High Tide
(Wharfside Village, Cruz Bay – 714.6169) http://www.hightidevi.com/
6/10/08 Forum Post
We dropped off the luggage and headed back to the High Tide to join in the party. Lunch was awesome (great burgers and the Cruzan Confusion was even better). Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
1/22/09 Forum Post
This is a decent lunch place but never gets any props. Very good chix fingers & fries, awesomely flavorful blackened mahi sandwich, good blackened chix wrap, decent pasta salad, great waitstaff, superb people watching. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/22/09 Forum Post
We ate here 2x. The location is top notch -- a large deck overlooking the ferry dock where you can watch all the comings and goings. My sister met us at Red Hook and took the ride over to STJ with us. She had been to High Tide on quite a few occasions with crew members and suggested we grab a light dinner there. The food and service were both great. On the first night, we had margaritas (yummy with quite a kick). We wanted to try the conch chowder and fritters so we shared one order of each. The chowder was like a New England clam chowder with a cream base. I had never had that particular preparation but it was very good. The conch fritters were decent. I’m not a fan of fried foods so I’m not a very good judge but they were very tasty with a lot of conch in the batter. My husband and I both ordered the blackened mahi which came with a mango chutney and pineapple salsa over rice. It was very fresh and tasty. The blackened fish was perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. My sister got the lobster which was grilled and had the same mango chutney as a glaze. She said hers was good as well. The kids had chicken parmagiana and seafood fra diavlo. The fra diavlo was full of shrimp, calamari and lobster. I didn’t try either but both boys inhaled the huge portions and said it was “awesome”. The second night we ended up there by chance. My sister had to get the ferry back to Red Hook so we stopped in for drinks and a quick bite. It was still lunch time so we ordered sandwiches and cocktails. I tried the lime n coconut – heaven in a glass. For sandwiches we had burgers, chicken Caesar wrap, mahi sandwich and chicken parm sandwich. All the lunches come with pasta salad or you can get fries for an extra $2. All the sandwiches were delicious. The burgers were enormous and very fresh tasting. The pasta salad was one of the best I’ve ever had made of tri color rotini with fresh red and green peppers, carrots, capers and parmesan cheese. I could have had that as my meal. The kids and my sister ordered the fries which were truly worth the extra $2. Prices were extremely reasonable -- I’d even say cheap. Dinner entrees were $17-$28 and sandwiches $10-$13. Portions were very generous. This is a great spot for people watching and a casual meal or cocktails. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/18/09 Forum Post
Again, nothing wrong with it but just has strong competition. Good view and a lot of activity around it so it is a great place for a cocktail (or two) and just chill out with some locals. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
Hinds Restaurant
(18-11A Enighed, Cruz Bay. 340.775.9951)(Photo courtesy of http://www.on-stjohn.com/)
9/17/08 Blog Post
Audrey P writes... I have eaten at Hinds and the atmosphere isn't at all compromised by their location. The same thumping SUV's can be heard here just like LaTapa just yards down the block. He has done a wonderful job redecorating the dining area and his staff is very friendly and accommodating. The prices may be a bit high but what isn't these days on St. John. I would say his largest competition would be the recently opened Waterfront Bistro which also has comparable prices but a much smaller range of creative dishes on the menu. Me and my girl friends often stop into Hinds for cocktails after dinner somewhere else in town (not much is open this time of year) or stay late after enjoying his 5 choice Tapa sampler he is now offering. I feel that Walter made a great decision opening his own restaurant and the location won’t stop diners from joining him. By the time season rolls around he will have already captured the palates of many locals and be able to entice visitors who may have dined at Stone Terrace in the past. I for one was a dedicated diner at Stone Terrace and will continue to indulge myself at Hinds. If you do get a chance to visit Hinds try the Escargot Shortcake -- very unconventional, but equally delicate and delectable. Read more at News of St. John...
9/17/08 Blog Post
Elaine E writes... I too have dined at Walter Hinds new restaurant. It was excellent. We all had different entrees, and all got rave reviews. The location, is as mentioned above, comparable to La Tapa, which is one of the premier restaurants on island. If you do not have the view, then you MUST have good food. Which he does. I hope with the coming season, all will give it a try. You will not be disappointed. Read more at News of St. John...
10/24/08 Blog Post
DEEUSVI writes... We ate at Hinds last week. Awesome food and service. He lowered his prices and he now takes credit cards, MC and VISA. This is one of St.John best restaurants...Hands down. Read more at News of St. John...
11/30/08 Forum Post
Three of us ate at Hinds last night and it was delicious. It is no longer cash-only (we paid with a credit card), and the food and service were impeccable. We have special dietary restrictions (one of us has celiac and can only eat gluten-free and the other two are kosher/vegetarian) and Walter Hinds (owner/chef) came out and discussed our options with us before our meal, adapting the menu as necessary. The service was excellent, with a very nice and knowledgeable waitress, and the restaurant had a very relaxed atmosphere. I'd definitely try to stop in here next time you're on the Island! Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
2 comments:
L. D. said...
I must say, on my first visit to St. John, my best friend and I were eager to find some of the more "fine dining" on the island and so we asked around to the locals as to where was the best place to eat that evening. Each and everyone of the 9 people we asked mentioned only two restaurants, and Hinds was one of them. We went there one evening late for drinks (prepared by Mr. Walter Hinds himself) and after taking a look at his restaurant, the ambiance and after being served delicious drinks by Walter himself, we decided to come back the next evening for dinner. Let me just say, we were NOT disappointed one bit. Our FIVE course dinner, the drinks and the service we received were far and beyond any other experience that we had on the island during our week there. It was a fusion of Asian and French cuisine served up in a very new, bold and delicious way. It was one of my favorite experiences while there and a place I look forward to visiting again very soon.
November 30, 2008 3:35 AM
Stacey M said...
Six of dined at Hinds Restaurant on 1/2/09. Hands down the best meal of our trip. I have never received such personal service as I did with Hinds. First off, when I left a message to make the reservations, Walter Hinds personally called me back. When I asked if he could send me a menu - he told me it was updated weekly, and he would send me a copy of the menu the week we would be dining. Again, another phone call from Walter himself, telling me he was sending the menu via email. We dropped by Hinds on NYE around 2:00a.m. and Walter came out from the kitchen, made us drinks, and kept us entertained. Now for the food:We arrived for our 7:00 pm reservations. Our server had only been working there for two days, but she was very good (and a Red Sox fan). We all had the truffle mac and cheese - you could tell the pasta was homemade and the cheese sauce was very flavorful. Walter sent us a couple of items as a treat, such as tomatoes marinated in oil and scallops - all delicious. I ordered the filet mignon. This is the best filet I've ever tasted. You could cut it with a butter knife and it just melted in your mouth. We had the flourless cake for dessert - fabulous. For drinks - I ordered champagne and the rest of the group had red wine. Walter visited us twice in the evening to see how we were enjoying our meal.If you just eat one meal out in St. John, make sure it's Hinds - you will not be disappointed.
January 7, 2009 6:18 PM
2/10/09 Forum Post
Located in the old Tage space, and headed up by the chef previously at the Stone Terrace, Hinds offers upscale food in a streetside location. Service was very good, but our experience with the food was decidedly mixed. We started with an amuse of spicy tomato gazpacho. This was delicious—just the right amount of heat and salt. It tasted like a slightly crunchy bloody mary. For appetizer, we split the country salad—frisee with poached egg, blue cheese, and lardons. This was an excellent dish. The chef was nice enough to split the salad in the kitchen, and gave each of us a full egg. The eggs were perfectly cooked, the greens were wonderfully fresh, the cheese was just “stinky” enough, and the thick chunks of bacon were crisp, smoky, and fatty. I could have made this salad alone my entire meal! If you go to Hinds, get this dish.For mains, John ordered the lobster three ways: Lobster cappuccino, butter poached lobster tail, and a lobster falafel cake. I tried some of the falafel and the cappuccino. Both were excellent—especially the cappuccino. The layering of flavors was truly exquisite. My main dish was less successful. I ordered the tuna with fingerlings, greens, and foie gras jus. The tuna was very fresh and perfectly cooked, but the fingerlings were frankly boring, and I did not understand the purpose of the foie sauce. Not only was it slightly grainy, I thought it muddied the flavor of the tuna and the color of the sauce was very unappetizing. Dessert was a white chocolate lavender creme brulee, and it was a disaster. The flavors were good, but the custard came out from the kitchen completely liquefied and extremely hot. The sugar crust was too thick also. I’m not sure what went wrong here but it was very disappointing. The chef also allowed us to sample his house-infused cinnamon rum. It tasted just like those red hot candies—tongue numbing!There are a lot of well done things on this menu, and the chef is obviously very talented, but for the prices charged I think there are some kinks that need to be worked out before dinner here is worth the tally on the final bill. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
Island Blues
(Coral Bay – 776.6800) http://www.islandbluesstjohn.com/
2/18/08 Forum Post
After a serene few hours we were all hungry so we headed to Island Blues in Coral Bay. As remembered the soup of the day was really tasty. Tomato with cream and cognac sprinkled with parm and fresh parsley. Really good and so was the blacked shrimp app. The guys loved their quesadillas and fried chicken. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/19/08 Forum Post
Lunch at Island Blues in Coral Bay was fantastic. I couldn’t figure out why all the fuss on this board when Island Blues was rumored to be closing, but now I know why. It’s definitely some of the best food on the island. We had a gigantic gourmet salad big enough for two, with nuts and all kinds of extras, plus their cheese bread. Two thumbs up. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/22/08 Forum Post
At Island Blues, I had a Carib and Tam had a rum punch and I ordered the philly cheese steak while she ordered the quesadillas. We had some mozza sticks for and appetizer. That philly cheese steak was very good! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/28/08 Forum Post
John had a blackened mahi sandwich and I had a California ruben. The french fries were badly overcooked but we enjoyed the sandwiches, plus you can’t beat the setting! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
1/7/09 Forum Post
I know St. John is a mostly casual place, but the girls and I got a little dolled up for the big night and headed out. We didn’t want to go to Aqua Bistro again, so we headed to Island Blues. After being greeted by a cute little dog that decided to hump my oldest daughter in full view of the people at the bar, eliciting boisterous laughter, we made our way into the restaurant. We felt like we were aliens landing on a new planet. We were very out of place, but we sat down outside and ordered dinner. It was the worst meal we had on St. John. I had a crab cake and it wasn’t very good. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
1/15/09 Forum Post
I can testify that the food there was great! Especially their wings, popcorn shrimp, crabcake sandwich and other sandwiches (based on what we ordered at our table). Fries and drinks were great too. Just good yummy food! Prices were good as well. There was a board with specials and all of those looked good too. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
1/22/09 Forum Post
Terrible. And this used to be our favorite lunch. One guy was bartender AND waiter and it was lunch-rush busy. My mahi sandwich was tasteless, out of chix fingers for hubby and then chix sandwich was the saddest I've ever seen with a dry portion of chix smaller than a piece of Silly Putty & a similar-sized piece of wilted iceberg lettuce. We did not return for a second try. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/18/09 Forum Post
Not that there is anything wrong with the place but it has some very good competition that does things slightly better (food and service). Probably a better place to get a cocktail and then eat somewhere else like Shipwreck Landing or Miss Lucy's which is nearby. Has a nice view so go there in the daylight hours. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/12/09 Forum Post
Cleaned up and hungry, we head to Island Blues, where we enjoy tropical drinks, nachos and a tasty dinner on the patio, while being entertained by a table of little island girls with beaded braids and colorful outfits who are drinking their Shirley Temples, whispering and giggling as all little girls do! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/6/09 Forum Post
Again, we were too hungry to get any food porn! Sorry, guys. My hubby and I started with the coconut shrimp, which were excellent and then I had the sirloin with fried onions while he had the ribeye with jerk seasoning. Among our group I think we ended up with at least one of each Carnivore specialty. Everything was very tasty and our waitress was excellent! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
JJ's Texas Coast Cafe
(Cruz Bay – 776.6908)1/9/09 Forum Post
We had breakfast at JJ Texas Coast. It's right in the center of town near the ferry dock. The breakfast was very good, especially the Champagne Kiss - a mimosa only with pineapple instead of OJ. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
La Plancha del Mar
(The Marketplace - 777.7333) 1/26/09 e-mail
I had a Caesar salad, phenomenal, with these crispy capers on it. Yellow fin tuna app with cucumber red chili salad, toasted coriander and roasted red pepper foam, also phenomenal and highly recommended by the staff. Yellow fin tuna steak frites, homemade fries, perfectly cooked fish, this was also very very good. We also had the chocolate brownie waffle that was to DIE for!
2/13/09 Forum Post
Last night four of us decided to try La Plancha. It's new where the chinese restaurant used to be. Everything on the menu looked so good that we decided to share most of the small dishes. Everything we had was fresh and wonderful. The best meal I've had on St John and i've been coming here for 20 years. Do not miss the chocolate waffle or the passionfruit mojoita. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
2/13/09 Forum Post
My husband and I ate there on Tuesday night - YUM! The owners are super friendly and it's a small but very nice place. I had a chicken roulade that was wonderful and an excellent ceasar salad. Ron had crab cakes for a starter and a great steak. Dessert was a pinapple foster type desser that was to die for! We will definitely be back there in May. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
2/13/09 Forum Post
When John and I were there we split three small plates, shared an entree, shared a dessert, and bought two cocktails and a bottle of wine. Bill was $148 before tip. We could have ordered less food and been fine but I wanted to try a bunch of stuff. I really like this place! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
2/14/09 Forum Post
The last time I went (last night) I went with my 7-year-old son. We tried two small plates and they made my little guy a burger. My guy ate more than half of the chicken and steak skewers before he got a HUGE burger and fries. The skewers were AWESOME! I also got the scallop small plate and it was PHENOMENAL! I was stuffed when I left. The scallops were huge and it was plenty for me. The first time I went we had the brownie waffle dessert and it almost knocked me off my chair. It was just that good! One of the things that I like best about this place is the service. That is very very important to me. The three guys that are partners are all very nice. They have a super dynamic and it is fun to watch them each "do their part". I highly recommend this place. Not only is the food amazing, the service is top notch. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
2/18/09 Forum Post
Despite its small size, the owners have managed to create a funky and cool vibe. The menu is divided into small plates and large plates, and they told us that we could mix and match as we liked. We tried two cocktails—the hibiscus cosmopolitan, which was tasty but very strong, and the el guapo, which was fruity and light. We tried three small plates: bruschetta two ways: roasted tomato and mushroom goat cheese. Both were delicious and highly flavored. You get two small bruschetta of each flavor—perfect for sharing. We also tried the house made foccacia—crunchy and doused with some tasty olive oil. Next up was chicken and steak skewers with spicy romesco sauce. The meat was tender and juicy, and the sauce was spectacular! The final small plate was prawns with salad greens. Again, the prawns were snappy and fresh. Our shared main dish was the tuna frites. The presentation was spectacular, the tuna was rare and topped with a grapefruit foam, there was a delicious pepper sauce, the frites were so crispy and greaseless—perfect, really…BUT…the tuna was slightly fishy. After the perfection of everything else, I was so disappointed! They’ve only been open around two weeks so I am sure that they are still working out the kinks as far as how long to keep stuff in rotation. I doubt this will be an ongoing problem.Dessert was a key lime creme brulee and it was terrific. Service was great too. Despite the issue with the tuna, I think this is one of the most interesting menus available on St. John right now. I’m looking forward to returning. Highly recommend. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
3/11/09 Forum Post
But the best food was at the still-new La Plancha del Mar in the Marketplace in Cruz Bay. This is a real winner. Excellent food, great service. Each of the three owners came by our table at some point during our meal. My wife had the diver scallops, which were probably the best I've ever tasted. I enjoyed my tuna, but the best part of my meal was the fantastic polenta. La Plancha gets my highest recommendation. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
3/15/09 Forum Post
Dinner is at the new place in the Marketplace -- La Plancha. Our meals are wonderful and the owners are 3 really nice guys. We wish them the best! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
3/15/ Blog Post
Jay and I ate at this new restaurant on St. John with our forum friends Rick and Christine. Wow! The food was fabulous! We shared four small plates (appetizers), one main dish and two desserts. All were fantastic. For starters, we had the garlic tiger prawns, seared diver scallops, yellow fin tuna and focaccia. All had wonderful presentation and melted in your mouth. For the main dish we shared the one pound ribeye. It's cooked on a super hot flat grill so it's seared on both sides and oh so juicy in the middle. They sliced it like a NY strip for us since we were sharing it. Then for the big finish, we had the Key Lime creme brulee and the brownie waffle with vanilla ice cream. Yum!! If you're on St. John you definitely need to give this establishment a try, you will not be disappointed. The owners were very personable and came out and talked to us about their new place and you could just feel their excitement. We wish them well in their new endeavor. Read more at http://livedelifeusvi.blogspot.com/
7/4/09 Forum Post
We got there about 6:15, so happy hour still had enough time left for some $2 sangrias and three $5 small plates. We did end up sharing the churrasco style steak and having key-lime creme brulee. First, snorkeling makes you hungry, but secondly the food here is AWESOME. The atmosphere is nice, too, and we vowed to come back before leaving the island and to sit at the bar to chat with the guys. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
7/5/09 Forum Post
This place is rather small and has no view but serves excellent food. The folks there are very nice too. This is definitely our new favorite in Cruz Bay and is on top of our must-do list now. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
7/7/09 Forum Post
We decided to try out La Plancha del Mar on the recommendations of the forum and it was a hit. For those who don't know, La Plancha del Mar is in the Marketplace complex on the 2nd floor, above Starfish. We started with calamari with a really yummy dipping sauce. Followed by a seared tuna salad (the special of the day) for me and a chicken wrap for Gromit.
The highlight of this place was the owner/guy in charge. No clue what his name was but he was super nice and very on top of it. Again, another new business trying to do it right. Very good, fresh ingredients. Nothing fancy or over the top, just solid food. And the kicker, for our iced tea (which was delicious and very fresh) simple syrup to sweeten it! We were SOLD! Very good experience. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...La Tapa
(Photo by Margo Gripp) (Centerline Rd., Cruz Bay – 693.7755. Open Mon, Wed-Sat 6-10, closed Tue)
http://www.latapastjohn.com/rest.html
Frommer’s Review
This is one of our favorite restaurants in Cruz Bay, where you can sample the tapas, Spanish-inspired bite-size morsels of fish, meat, or marinated vegetables, accompanied by pitchers of sangria. There's a tiny bar with no more than five stools, a two-tiered dining room, and lots of original paintings (the establishment doubles as an art gallery for emerging local artists). Menu items are thoughtful and well conceived, and include fast-seared tuna with a Basque-inspired relish of onions, peppers, garlic, and herbs; filet poivre, a steak soaked with rum and served with a cracked-pepper sauce and mashed potatoes; and linguine with shrimp, red peppers, and leeks in peanut sauce. Live jazz is offered on Mondays, and on Wednesdays, Spanish merengue and salsa music is played.
12/3/07 Forum Post
We ate at La Tapa tonight and it is so fantastic I can't begin to tell you what a wonderful dinner we had. If you only eat one expensive dinner on St. John be sure to make it La Tapa. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/9/08 Forum Post
Dinner at La Tapa... Absolutely one of the best meals I have ever had. Worth every penny...all thousand or whatever of them, by now we have lost count! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/27/08 Forum Post
Dinner was La Tapa for six. This is our favorite restaurant on our favorite island. We had five great meals. Christine's sauteed duck breast on duck leg confit was over-salted, for her. I had the same thing and it was perfect. We didn't say anything, they probably would have replaced the entree, but that would have ruined the mood. We'll be back and make a note to ask about the salt. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/30/08 Forum Post
This was easily the best meal of the trip. I was initially concerned that our waitress was not at all kid friendly (and our kids are really well behaved and polite) but she warmed up soon after we ordered (or was that the Everything is Beautiful effect that a cold glass of pinot grigio has on me)? The kids have pasta with shrimp, and devour the breads and dips. M has a very fresh piece of tuna and A and I each have a pasta dish with scallops and bacon. It’s yummy! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/22/08 Forum Post
I know everyone raves about this place, but we just didn’t get it. We thought it was the worst meal on the island. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
4/30/08 Forum Post
We’ll do it again. Went back to the villa, got cleaned up and ate at La Tapa. I liked it, food was good, but not better than Rhumb Lines – at least to me. And if they’re going to give us bread, I think asking us $5 to get oil to dip it in is a little much when they are asking $35 for an entrée. Just put the entrée up to $38 and give me the oil please. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/13/08 Forum Post
La Tapa is a sweet Spanish tapas bar/restaurant which was good but could be better. My main complaint was the portions. Smallest cheese plate portions I have EVER been served and I seek out Spanish restaurants everywhere I go. I thought it was a joke when it came to the table! Also, the "3 Sauce" accompaniment to the bread was not Spanish influenced at all and I literally saw the sauces sitting in a "ice bath" which had no ice in it. NOT GOOD for mayo based (?!)sauces. Did not complement the delicious (yet frozen they told us) french bread in any way. Bizarre. Good atmosphere though. Main dishes nothing to write home about but ok. Sorry to sound harsh but it's just my humble opinion... Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/14/08 Blog Post
Rob said... La Tapa was the absolute best place we ate - it was so good for our wedding reception that we went back 2 nights later! We even tried escargot because we felt we could totally trust them there (we've never tried it before!) Alex is the nicest lady on earth, and Craig, the front end mgr is excellent. I will make sure to eat at La Tapa everytime I go back!
5/21/08 Forum Post
I wanted a light dinner since I was already stuffed, so I got the gazpacho and the Josephine's greens with goat cheese. Wow, both were great. For dessert, I couldn't resist the homemade coffee and Bailey's ice cream. So good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/26/08 Forum Post
La Tapa is one of my favorite restaurants on St. John and it did not disappoint. We started with a mahi mahi seveche with red peppers and mangoes over Josephine’s microgreens, and a grilled shrimp with a green curry coconut sauce. Both were excellent, but we voted the seveche our favorite for both taste and presentation. For dinner we had a pan seared mahi mahi which came with some cippoline onions, tomatoes, and roasted peppers over a crunchy polenta flavored with mint and coconut. The mahi and vegetables were outstanding, very fresh, perfect portion size. I was not a huge fan of the polenta, but John enjoyed it. Dessert was cheese plate--delicious. Service was very good also. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/29/08 Forum Post
Dinner was at La Tapa again. The food, as always, was terrific. The service was not as good as usual, but that’s OK. I had a housemade mozzarella cheese which came with a balsamic reduction and some beets and greens. John had mahi seveche. We both enjoyed the mahi entrée, which came with a bacon dill buerre blanc sauce and some jasmine rice. A cheese plate ended the meal. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/5/08 Forum Post
Our server at La Tapa was a bit snooty or something – I didn't like him. We had some great chardonnay, Schug 2006 (we had had this at home Wine Spectator's best under $25 but triple the price here) and we also had a red that I didn't drink so I don't remember. I had filet mignon for dinner (I'm a chicken, beef and pork eater – sorry, no fish for me). Everyone had a great meal. We split dessert and then headed up to the Quiet Mon. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/22/08 Forum Post
Sharon arrives and we get a street side table at La Tapa. We start with a carafe of Sangria and bread with olives and seasoned olive oil. Then comes a bottle of wine and Josephine's greens with goat cheese. Dinner was escargot for me, tuna for Chip, and lamb for Sharon. We split the chocolate torte while we finished the wine and head home, as they say, fat and happy! Dinner was wonderful, service was great as well. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/26/08 Forum Post
We hadn't been back to La Tapa for 5 or 6 years because the last couple of times we ate there, we weren't quite impressed with their food. Lately I've heard such rave reviews of this place on this forum so thought we should try again. We had mussels for an appetizer and they were excellent. My husband had a mahi entree and I had linguine with seafood & vegetables. My husband was VERY happy with his fish. The flavoring of my linguine was nice but the dish was too salty for me and I'm not particularly sensitive to salt. For dessert we split an apple tart a la mode and it was excellent. Although La Tapa didn't quite meet our, or should I say "my" expectations that night (only because of the excessive sodium in my dish), we will be back again next year. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/15/09 Forum Post
We definitely saved the best meal for last…La Tapa. Our table wasn’t ready yet so we had a drink at the bar. I couldn’t get over how small the restaurant was. They really jam the tables in there! I ordered the cheese plate and a salad for my dinner (I just get tired of eating by the end of our vacations) and my husband and our friend ordered the ribeye. My husband said it was the best steak he’s had in years. The cheese plate was delicious. It looked rather small to me at first, but turned out to be just enough. They had great wines by the glass and the food was to die for. By far, our favorite place to eat on St. John. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/17/09 Forum Post
La Tapa is hands down my favorite restaurant in Cruz Bay. We have never been disappointed in our meals here. This time we started with the bread and la tapa oil—a blend of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, parmesean cheese, and herbs. It’s delicious—my only complaint is that I really wish La Tapa had more interesting bread. For appetizers, we split the salad of josephine’s greens topped with cashew crusted goat cheese. This is a refreshing salad—I really like the mint in it. Next course was langoustines in a mango-ginger buerre blanc…yummy! For mains, we shared a dish of seared tuna on crispy polenta with a red pepper sauce—absolutely divine. We finished with the cheese plate. I did feel a little rushed to pick which cheeses we wanted, but I guess I don’t blame the waiter—they bring the cheese selections to the table on a large display platter, and that big wooden board must be heavy! All of the cheeses were delicious, though I would have liked a little more truffle honey than what was on the plate.Service was efficient and helpful. I recommend sitting inside to soak up the atmosphere of the restaurant. The unique decorations and soft lighting sets the mood for a delicious dinner better than sitting out next to the street, in my opinion. Highest recommendation. Definitely try this restaurant! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/22/09 Forum Post
We decided to try La Tapa as we had read so many great reviews. We went there hungry, which is probably not a great idea. There are too many good things on the menu! I started off with a lime martini. Very refreshing and quite a kick! One was enough. We split 3 appetizers to start. The bread with the dipping oil, escargot, and mussels. The bread was wonderful and the oil well seasoned. One complaint is the cheese is grated coarsely and not the best for dipping. The mussels were done in a lemony cream sauce. It was not my favorite preparation but the mussels were plump and perfectly cooked. The escargot was wonderful. Served in a creamy sauce over puff pastry, they were meaty and tender. The kids thought they were the best they had ever eaten. My husband ordered the duck with a cherry pinot noir sauce. It was very flavorful with the skin perfectly crisped and the meat moist and tender. It was served with a creamy goat cheese risotto and tender green beans. The bite of the goat cheese was a fantastic contrast to the slight sweetness of the cherry/wine sauce. One son ordered the ribeye steak special. It came with a chipotle hollandaise, black olive and tomatoe salsa, green beans and a potato pancake. The sauce was wonderfully spicy and the salsa was fresh and delicious. The green beans were served at room temperature and dressed with a light dressing- delicious. The only negative of the night was the paella special. The paella was a special served for 2. The dish was almost void of the chicken, calamari and spicy sausage and heavy on a very strong flavored fish and mussels. This dish was not worth the $68 price tag. It was so lacking, the son who I was sharing with asked to order something else. He enjoyed the same ribeye his brother had ordered. The presentation was not as nice as the first one that came to our table. The waiter was not pleased when we ordered the additional entree. He did not come back but to give us our check. No one asked why we only ate 1/4 of the paella. When the busboy came to clear the tables, he looked at the dish and asked "do you wanna wrap this or are you over it?" We didn't complain nor did we expect anything to be done for us- we ordered a dish and just did not enjoy us but the experience left us cold. Service was inattentive and a bit rushed. Both my husband and I asked for a wine suggestion. The waiter brought us each a glass of wine that was a wonderful accompaniment to our meals. Unfortunately, there was no explanation or were we told what we were drinking. Generally, in finer establishments, this is done. We got the "drop and run." The restaurant is small and obviously, turning over tables is a priority. We didn't let the service or paella ruin our evening. If we were to return to La Tapa, we would probably go to the bar and stick with ordering the small plates and salads and cocktails and not go there for a "big night out". Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/22/09 Forum Post
We decided to try La Tapa as we had read so many great reviews. We went there hungry, which is probably not a great idea. There are too many good things on the menu! I started off with a lime martini. Very refreshing and quite a kick! One was enough. We split 3 appetizers to start. The bread with the dipping oil, escargot, and mussels. The bread was wonderful and the oil well seasoned. One complaint is the cheese is grated coarsely and not the best for dipping. The mussels were done in a lemony cream sauce. It was not my favorite preparation but the mussels were plump and perfectly cooked. The escargot was wonderful. Served in a creamy sauce over puff pastry, they were meaty and tender. The kids thought they were the best they had ever eaten. My husband ordered the duck with a cherry pinot noir sauce. It was very flavorful with the skin perfectly crisped and the meat moist and tender. It was served with a creamy goat cheese risotto and tender green beans. The bite of the goat cheese was a fantastic contrast to the slight sweetness of the cherry/wine sauce. One son ordered the ribeye steak special. It came with a chipotle hollandaise, black olive and tomatoe salsa, green beans and a potato pancake. The sauce was wonderfully spicy and the salsa was fresh and delicious. The green beans were served at room temperature and dressed with a light dressing- delicious. The only negative of the night was the paella special. The paella was a special served for 2. The dish was almost void of the chicken, calamari and spicy sausage and heavy on a very strong flavored fish and mussels. This dish was not worth the $68 price tag. It was so lacking, the son who I was sharing with asked to order something else. He enjoyed the same ribeye his brother had ordered. The presentation was not as nice as the first one that came to our table. The waiter was not pleased when we ordered the additional entree. He did not come back but to give us our check. No one asked why we only ate 1/4 of the paella. When the busboy came to clear the tables, he looked at the dish and asked "do you wanna wrap this or are you over it?" We didn't complain nor did we expect anything to be done for us- we ordered a dish and just did not enjoy us but the experience left us cold. Service was inattentive and a bit rushed. Both my husband and I asked for a wine suggestion. The waiter brought us each a glass of wine that was a wonderful accompaniment to our meals. Unfortunately, there was no explanation or were we told what we were drinking. Generally, in finer establishments, this is done. We got the "drop and run." The restaurant is small and obviously, turning over tables is a priority. We didn't let the service or paella ruin our evening. If we were to return to La Tapa, we would probably go to the bar and stick with ordering the small plates and salads and cocktails and not go there for a "big night out". Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/15/09 Forum Post
We sit inside to avoid the rain (the pouring really never let up). We both enjoy our meal. Our server is the one we always seem to get. He is really the only negative to me about this place. He always seems annoyed and not super friendly. Guess you have to take the good with the bad. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/31/09 Forum Post
Dinner that night is at La Tapa. This is one of my favorite “Dinner will be more than $200” restaurants. We start with the bread with three sauces. Yummy. Some wine – in my glass – even yummier. Mr H. orders the short ribs, Scott orders the blackened mahi and I order a pasta dish with shrimp and scallops. The pasta is advertised as containing braised fennel, so I request the dish without fennel, which the waiter (Joshie – is that you?) tells me they can do. The wait is long. The waiter is cute, but probably not Joshie. (No bronzer.) My dish arrives and it tastes overwhelmingly of what I think is fennel but turns out to be star anise. The waiter takes the dish back to the kitchen, returns and says that he doesn’t want to argue with me but there’s no fennel in the dish. I’m not an expert but according to Scott, the foodie and former chef, if you don’t like fennel, you won’t like star anise. He tastes the dish and agrees that it has a very strong anise flavor. The waiter offers me another dish and I choose the mussel appetizer, which is wonderful. They don’t charge me for the pasta, which is more than fair. All in all a good evening but I didn’t love it as I have in the past. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/18, 6/25/09 Forum Post
We had dinner last night at La Tapa and it was as good or better than ever. I (Sharon) had the tuna and Bob had the lamb shank. If you are on island don't miss La Tapa, we think it is the best food of any we have had on any island. We have been going there for many years and it is never disappointing. The food is not just “Island Good” it is “New York Good” and the price is reasonable for the quality and quantity. The staff are all delightful, helpful and very knowledgeable about the food, wines and preparation. We could not recommend this establishment more highly. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/6/09 Forum Post
La Tapa: waiter Peter, good kid. Alex the chef came out and was extremely helpful with Mrs GE's gluten allergy. Mrs GE had mahi mahi, I had linguini w/shrimp. Holy cow, wow, this was the best food of the week. Every bit hits you with 3-5 flavors in every bite. It was so, so good! This place is NO DOUBT a can't miss restaurant for both food and friendly service. They have no view, but WHO CARES, the food is so good and staff so nice. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
7/8/09 Forum Post
Later on, Gibber and I ventured out and hit La Tapa. We had bread with La Tapa oil, warm goat cheese salad, and veal sweetbreads. The food was outstanding. The wine list is varied and comprehensive, fun to read, but most of the reds would be too big for La Tapa's cuisine. Spain is under-represented on La Tapa's wine list, which was also a little surprising. Otherwise, the food is amazing, the atmosphere's great, and the servers are wonderful. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/15/09 Forum Post
Yum, yum, yum! I love this restaurant! We started with Josephine’s greens with cashew crusted goat cheese, and a mahi-mango seviche. The seviche was outstanding. Main courses were mahi with lobster sauce on squid ink orzo and a linguini with shrimp, langoustines, arugula and pine nuts in a garlic cream sauce. YUM. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/17/09 Forum Post
Dinner was good again. We had the sauces con pan (the mango is still my favorite, and I still wish they had better bread). We then had the giant langoustines in mango sauce (yum, especially the heads!), and then a salad of house made mozzarella with jamon Serrano, greens, and grape tomatoes. That was delicious too, but I would have liked a little more tomato. They gave us two. GRAPE tomatoes. Come on, you could have at least spring for that third tomato, La Tapa! Entrees were good, but not quite as good as the other night. I had mahi with a coconut champagne sauce and then John ordered the same pasta I had enjoyed a few nights back. The pasta sauce did not taste as full as it had the other night. I think it had less roasted garlic. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Lime Inn
(Cruz Bay – 779.4199. Open Mon-Fri 11:30-3, Mon-Fri 5:30-till, closed Sat-Sun) http://www.thelimeinn.com/
My Review
That night we decided to go to the Lime Inn. It’s one of those places that just has a great feeling to it. The tables are close together, but the clientele was very interesting. Lots of good looking couples and families, we hated to spoil the view. The food was very good. Not great, but certainly tasty and well worth the money. Jeannie had grilled mahi, and I had mahi blackened. We were both pleased, though we’ve had better. Gary had the chicken special and Pam enjoyed a quiche, and we were all pleased. G&P treated us to the meal for all the work I’d done in planning the trip, which was a nice surprise. But I can’t tell you the total spent, because I never saw the check.
Frommer’s Review
This lively open-air restaurant is located at the Lemon Tree Mall in the heart of Cruz Bay. It's known for its fresh grilled Caribbean-style lobster. Other grilled seafood choices range from shrimp to the fresh catch of the day. The seared whole snapper, when served, is a delight. If you're not in the mood for seafood, try one of the daily chicken and pasta specials or one of the grilled steaks. There's also a tender grilled filet mignon stuffed with crabmeat. A beautifully prepared chicken Wellington is one of the chef's specialties. The most popular night of the week here is Wednesday when the Lime Inn offers an all-you-can-eat, peel-and-eat shrimp feast for $19.
1/20/08 Forum Post
I had shrimp dijon and Mrs. Salad had the shrimp pasta special. Both were very good. Our waiter was a very genial, hardworking fellow. I forgot his name, but he told us he was a native of Mexico. There was a lot of pasta left over which we took home. For dessert we split a key lime pie which was outstanding. I like it on the tart side and found it perfect for my taste. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/27/08 Forum Post
We had dinner reservations at the Lime Inn that night. It was a good thing, too, as it was so jammed that they were turning people away who didn't have reservations. We were seated right away, but had to wait almost 30 minutes for our first round of drinks. Bummer. The wait staff was overwhelmed due to the sheer number of customers, they were really hustling. I think our food suffered as a result of the crowds, our meals were just so-so. Overall, rather disappointed with the Lime Inn this time. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/21/08 Forum Post
On Wednesday, most of the crew (sans college girls) went to Lime Inn. It was all-you-can-eat shrimp night. They made money on Janie but lost it all on the high school boys we brought along--those guys took the all you can eat thing pretty seriously. Great dinner and Rich is an incredible host--he was really friendly to our whole group. The key lime pie was terrific--just the right amount of tartness. We kept talking about going back another night just for the pie but never made it. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/25/08 Forum Post
We had...tuna rare with wasabi, brie filet rare, and DD had pasta with butter...bottle of great chardonnay, and dessert for DD was brownie to die for. And for mom and dad – last island painkillers. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/2/08 Forum Post
The owner was super nice and brought us a round of drinks. We all loved our dinners. I had filet mignon stuffed with brie. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/5/08 Forum Post
Lime Inn for dinner – outrageous whole snapper – best dinner followed by yummy key lime pie! Read more at Tripadvisor.com…
6/10/08 Forum Post
We all went to Lime Inn for dinner and as usual it was incredible. My crab stuffed filet could not have been more tender. Jean had a chicken special that was great. Again, the drinks were great too! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/24/08 Forum Post
Lime Inn for dinner tonight. We walk right in! Again...wow...couldn’t do that at spring break. What’s the owners name? He greets us like we are long lost family. We parked at Slimmans because in spite of no crowds, it is STILL hard to find a place to park! Grouper for me and Twin #1. Sea Reef for Dear Husband and twin #2. Plates clean once again ! Service was terrific. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/6/08 Forum Post
Dinner at Lime Inn with the family. Had the mussels special & DH & I split the seafood pasta special. Great, as usual. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
7/9/08 Forum Post
Back at the villa, we cleaned up and high tailed it over to The Lime Inn for AYCE spicy, garlicky, peel and eat shrimp night and a coupla Lime & Coconuts. I like the ambience here and the owner, Rich, is great! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/28/08 Forum Post
Next back to the villa and get ready for dinner at the Lime Inn. Super meal. pj had the pasta special, bayer had mahi with mango glaze and hlayer had Caribbean lobster. You just can't go wrong at the Lime Inn. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/31/08 Forum Post
Dinner was at Lime Inn. Get there early for happy hour at the bar before the restaurant opens. Then it was all you can eat Shrimp night – yum! Lime Inn was awesome. From the host to your server and food, it was all great!
1/26/09 Forum Post
Dinner was at the Lime Inn, our only disappointing meal of the trip. Derek's tuna was grainy and tough -- he actually sent it back -- and my shrimp and scallop scampi was very bland. The people there were very nice, though, and it could have been an off night for the restaurant. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/3/09 Forum Post
Our best meal was at Lime Inn – the food was better than I recalled and the whole evening was just really nice there. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
3/18/09 Forum Post
Restaurants you mut go to: 1. Lime Inn - nothing beats it. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
3/27/09 Forum Post
Hubby had the Caribbean lobster. In all of our travels, we had never tried it! It was delicious...much prefer it to Maine lobster. And I got the red snapper special. It was an entire snapper from gills to tail. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/25/09 Forum Post
Hopped in the car and headed to Cruz Bay for shrimp night at the Lime Inn. This is one of our MUST Dos when we are on island. $19.95 all you can eat steamed shrimp in Old Bay with your choice of veg or potato. This meal does not disappoint, I just love the Lime Inn!! Since this was our only meal out, and it was my birthday trip, we did Happy Birthday with an amazing chocolate mousse for dessert! YUMMY! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/9/09 Forum Post
We hit mongoose junction and decided to grab dinner at the Lime Inn, one of my favorites. We hadn't been there in a couple of trips so we decided to give it a try. Gram had the ribeye (I think she was a little jealous of my ribeye the night prior at ZoZo's) and I had the shrimp and scallops and we shared. Maybe we were just really thirsty but the iced tea was AMAZING, freshly brewed with mint. YUM. Very refreshing. We finished our meal with a slice of key lime pie! Perfection. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/14/09 Forum Post
We decided to head into town for dinner, and decided on the Lime Inn. Yum. Oh very, very yum! The appetizers were nothing special, but I had this outstanding whole blackened yellowtail snapper for my main course. It was SO delicious. The rub was just spicy enough, and the flesh was sweet and tender. I ate the whole thing! John had a grilled Caribbean lobster that he was very happy with. Plus, it was cheap! Yay for Lime Inn! I highly recommend this place. The host (owner, I think?) is really friendly too. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Margarita Phil's
(Cruz Bay – 693.8400) 5/22/08 Forum Post
We ended up at Margarita Phil's. We split some nachos and blackened chicken fajitas. Dinner was good. Just enough, not too much. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/15/08 Forum Post
I had planned on lunch at Morgan's Mango, but they weren't open so we tried Margarita Phil's. BIG MISTAKE! There was a family and another couple seated outside and a couple being seated inside just as we walked up. I asked the guy seating the inside group if we should just sit anywhere. He actually rolled his eyes at me and said, "Yea-aah". Okay. . . we chose a table outside. I should have known from the look the family next to us gave us that things would only get worse. The outside couple went inside and got two menus off the bar. We picked up two off the table next to us. We spent some time looking over the menu, and then we sat. Mr. Eye Roller walked past us twice, once down the steps to make a phone call, without a word. Outside couple left. After 20 minutes, I walked into the bar and asked the bartender if they were short on servers today. He looked directly at me and said nothing! Mr. Eye Roller walked by grumbling, so I asked him if we should get our drinks from the bar. He stopped, rolled his eyes yet again, put his hands on his hips and said, "Look, we'll get to you EVENTUALLY!" I get island time, but rude is rude. As we got up to leave, the family next to us said that they'd placed their drink order 30 minutes prior and were leaving also. The one and only time on island we had bad service! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/6/09 Forum Post
So we hit "Margarita Phil's Tex-Mex". While we got the hole-in-the-wall we were looking for, it wasn't bad. The "naked nachos" were actually pretty tasty. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
Miss Lucy's
(Coral Bay – 692.5354) Fodor’s Review
Sitting seaside at remote Friis Bay, Miss Lucy's dishes up Caribbean food with a contemporary flair. Dishes like tender conch fritters, a spicy West Indian stew called callaloo, and fried fish make up most of the menu, but you also find a generous pot of seafood, sausage, and chicken paella on the menu. Sunday brunches are legendary, and if you're around on the full moon, stop by for the monthly full-moon party. The handful of small tables near the water are the nicest, but if they're taken or the mosquitoes are bad, the indoor tables do nicely.
Frommer’s Review
For the broadest array of island cookery, nobody does it better than Miss Lucy. Her food is the way it used to taste in the Caribbean long before anyone ever heard of high-rise resorts. Her paella is the most scrumptious on the island, a kettle brimming with hot Italian sausage, deep-fried chicken, shrimp, and mussels over perfectly cooked saffron rice. Traditional conch fritters appear with a picante sauce, and you can gobble them down with Miss Lucy's callaloo soup. She has a magic touch with this soup. Her fish is pulled from Caribbean waters, and does she ever know how to cook it! When a local fisherman catches a wahoo, he is often likely to bring it here for Miss Lucy to cook. Main dishes come with fungi, a cornmeal-and-okra side dish. At one of her "full moon parties," she'll cook a roast suckling pig. Before becoming the island's most famous woman chef, Miss Lucy was a big hit with tourists as St. John's first female taxi driver. For dessert, try her banana pancakes.
2/14/08 Forum Post
Here, too, I knew we were in good shape...this place is clean. Sitting overlooking the bay, beautiful views, with the jazz guitar and flute, sometimes soprano sax softly playing, and food was fine...my oldest son gave his stuffed waffles a 10, the pina colada pancakes were excellent and the other entrees and beverages were right up there. Even the two boys got into the spirit of this place. Say hi to Eddie and Guy for us and definitely check out the Sunday brunch. Read more at Tripadvisor.com…
3/23/08 Forum Post
We were a little disappointed. Last time we loved Lucy's. This time we all thought the food was only mediocre. It's always been pricey and the service slow but the food was excellent in the past. None of us thought so this time. We did not repeat it. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/27/08 Forum Post
The day was overcast so we decided to skip the beach and headed out to Miss Lucy's for crunchy fish, marauding chickens, and beautiful ocean views. YUM! The fish came with fungi, sweet potato stuffing, rice and pigeon peas, plantains, and squash. Everything was delicious and there was way too much, so we brought the leftovers back to the house. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/29/08 Forum Post
Day 3: We enjoyed the outdoor seating as long as we could, the bugs finally won. The conch soup was wonderful! The rest was ok, but not as good as we expected from other reviews. Day 5: This time the food was not as good as on day 3. The conch chowder was noticeably thinner and not as tasty. The entrees were not very good. The waitress was mad that someone would dare sit outside with the bugs and cussed them out every time she came inside. That was not pleasant and we decided to not return to Miss Lucy’s this trip. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/30/08 Forum Post
Diana ordered kalaloo and a house salad. Both were good. I chose the crab cakes. Those were the largest crab cakes I have ever seen. They were pretty good. Sitting there in the dark listening to the waves on the shore and watching the lights and lightning off in the distance was a good nightcap to a busy day. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/31/08 Forum Post
It was Mother’s Day so we were worried it would be crowded but we got there at the perfect time (about 11:30) and scored a spot under the tree. We had mimosas and rum punch and all loved our brunch listening to the jazz and enjoying the beautiful view of Friis Bay. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/3/08 Forum Post
We again had a great breakfast – banana pancakes for me and a couple of Mimosas – breakfast of champions! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
8/1/08 Forum Post
Before we left I read a lot about how it’s an island icon and you have to go, etc.—but we were stunned when we got there (for Sunday brunch, after a morning of hiking) and found the view to be spectacular (and the food and music was fabulous too). I highly recommend a stop there for a meal. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
1/22/09 Forum Post
The 8 oz. Caribbean lobster tail was huge & pretty sweet... for a Caribbean lobster tail . Hubby's spiced rubbed pork tenderloin was salty, sweet & a touch spiced and really tender. Also had the Haitian beef stew and m'belly said yumma. We love Miss Lucy's. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
3/15/09 Forum Post
It's Sunday so we head to Miss Lucy's for brunch. No better way to start a day. Great food, drinks, jazz, and a gorgeous view. Plus, we love the short trip from Coral Bay v. Cruz Bay. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
3/18/09 Forum Post
Miss Lucy's has quite possibly the best food on the Island but the utilitarian / diner style decor didn't do it for me. The outside dining is VERY nice with a great, great view but we came in late and couldn't do the outside. If you go here, make sure to do it in the daylight hours and it may be the best dining experience you will have on the island. Next year we will certainly do it it in the day...Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
4/6/09 Forum Post
We decided to stop at Miss Lucy’s for dinner. Such a wonderful place. We enjoyed pork tenderloin, teriyaki tuna, and something else (probably chicken tenders and fries) for the boys. Miss Lucy’s is such a lovely setting. The boys loved watching the goats, especially the little ones. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
Mojo Cafe
(Wharfside Landing, Cruz Bay – 776.8399. Open 5-10 Daily)
5/4/08 Blog Post
Anonymous said... The food at Mojo is great and reasonably priced. Great spot right off the dock! Guy that owns it is cool. His name is Bill, so say hi if you get a chance.
6/23/08 Forum Post
Had read about Mojo for breakfast but let me tell you, we LOVED our dinner there! And it's so inexpensive, about $75 for one appetizer, 4 dinners which come with two side orders, and a couple of beers. Food was super fresh and tasty. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
2/22/09 Forum Post
We grabbed breakfast at Mojo Cafe on our way to the ferry. Great breakfast and relatively quick service. Both my husband and I had the breakfast burrito. The burrito was a wonderful combination of eggs, cheese, spicy sausage, peppers, salsa and cream cheese. My boys each got the scrambled eggs with bacon and home fries and toast. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. We wanted to try some of the other items but never made it to Mojo Cafe for lunch or dinner. We hope to do so next trip. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
2/22/09 Forum Post
We grabbed breakfast at Mojo Cafe on our way to the ferry. Great breakfast and relatively quick service. Both my husband and I had the breakfast burrito. The burrito was a wonderful combination of eggs, cheese, spicy sausage, peppers, salsa and cream cheese. My boys each got the scrambled eggs with bacon and home fries and toast. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. We wanted to try some of the other items but never made it to Mojo Cafe for lunch or dinner. We hope to do so next trip. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
Morgan's Mango
(Cruz Bay – 693.8141)
http://www.morgansmango.com/
Frommer’s Review
The chefs here roam the Caribbean for tantalizing flavors, which they adapt for their ever-changing menu. The restaurant is easy to spot, with its big canopy, the only protection from the elements. The bar wraps around the main dining room and offers some 30 frozen drinks. Thursday is Margarita Night, when soft music plays. Some think the kitchen tries to do too much with the nightly menu, but it does produce some zesty fare -- everything from Anegada lobster cakes to a spicy Jamaican pickapepper steak. Try flying fish served as an appetizer, followed by Haitian voodoo snapper pressed in Cajun spices, then grilled and served with fresh fruit salsa. Equally delectable is mahi mahi in a Cruzan rum and mango sauce. The knockout dessert is the mango-banana pie.
2/7/08 Forum Post
We ordered a bunch of appetizers and no entrees...loved it! We liked the atmosphere...fun and funky, open air, Caribbean casual. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/8/08 Forum Post
Sat at the Bar at Morgan's Mango until they opened for dinner, talking to a group from Boston, then had dinner. They've got good food there. I had a filet, and Eric had a seafood dish. Was really good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/21/08 Forum Post
Friday night we had our "last supper" at Morgan's Mango. I've had mixed results here on past trips, but I always come back because I like the atmosphere. We all had a great dinner here this trip. When we arrived with our small group of 20 I about died when, for a second night in a row, there was a mistake in our reservation and there was no open table in sight. I should have re-confirmed the reservation that day, but I had seriously slipped into island mode and never got that done. I had talked to them twice previously about the reservation though, once earlier in the week. The owner came over and he could not have been nicer – he said the reservation clearly showed "20" but someone had misread it and had set aside a table for "2." He was very apologetic – he offered us all a round of drinks on the house, then said he'd get us seated at Morgan's Mango or at another restaurant if we preferred. We wanted to stay, and we were seated in not too long. The drinks were enjoyed by all. Voodoo snapper for dinner was awesome, perfectly cooked snapper with a spicy crust, rice, black beans and mango salsa. Key lime pie, with purees of mango and raspberry, was almost as good as Lime Inn. The owner came over again after dinner and offered us another round of drinks on the house – we said another round for all really wasn't necessary – but we did take him up on two bushwackers since a few folks had not yet tried this island delicacy. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/22/08 Forum Post
For dinner I had the snapper and Tam had the (of course) lobster. Dinner was delicious. Tam ordered some mango crème brulee for dessert. I had a taste or two. Pretty good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/27/08 Forum Post
We drove into town and ended up at Morgan's Mango for dinner. I had my first frozen frou-frou drink of the trip – a Lime & Coconut. It was delish, but when I found out it was half price margarita nite, I switched to the Mango one, on the rocks. Also, quite good. I loved my dinner. I had the house salad - greens, candied pecans, goat cheese and a mango vinaigrette dressing - and the jerk chicken and brie quesadillas. Husband had the mahi mahi. He really liked all the sides, but said that the fish was slightly overcooked. Daughter had a grilled cheese samich and Son had a cheeseburger. I know, they are not very adventurous eaters. It drives me crazy, but it's vaycay, so if it's cheeseburgers and grilled cheese they want, then that's what they'll get! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/6/08 Forum Post
Rehearsal dinner at Morgan's Mango. Enjoyed this restaurant last stay so were looking forward to dinner. Didn't disappoint, even though there were about 30 of us and we pretty much took over the place after 8 p.m. Had conch fritters, the voodoo rub mahi mahi and key lime pie for dessert & it was great. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
10/23/08 Forum Post
That night we went to Morgan's Mango for dinner. I think we each had 2 bushwackers as they are good there, I had the voodoo snapper as usual.Very good. Only problem was we had a bald headed waitress with big earrings who had an attitude. I think she was trying to rush us and we all know that is not the way things are done when on island time. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
10/28/08 Forum Post
The one night we chose to eat in Cruz Bay we went to Morgan's Mango. I'm sorry to say that this was pretty disappointing. I had the mahi mahi and it tasted "weird"...almost like it (or the sauce) may not have been fresh...But that's just my opinion...I'm not a big foodie, so who knows. Although I know the couple behind us was disappointed since they wanted lobster and they were out. It wasn't the Tuesday night lobster night, but the sign out front (or somewhere) still touted that lobster was available which apparently upset them...Always good to ask first before you commit...Cuz when we were there 2 years ago (?) on the Tuesday night lobster night, they didn't have any either! I think we'll pass on Morgan's when we go back. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
2/12/09 Forum Post
Our favorite restaurant for dinner was Morgan's Mango. Ate there on Sunday and returned on Tues. Very good food. Back on Tues for lobster night (no lobsters cause the boat broke down) so I ordered the lamb special. When they brought the bill it showed $64 for the special! I asked, and the waiter said oops, that's for the prime rib special and changed it to $48. I thought that was still very high, even for St John. Remember to always ask the price on the specials there, as they are much higher than anything else on the menu and they dont tell you. We learned our lesson! Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
2/22/09 Forum Post
Today was Feb 14th and Valentine's Day, so we made reservations at Morgan's Mango for 7:30pm. We were seated just after 7:30 and we had a really great dinner. I had the island bowl seafood dish with large chunks of fish, large shrimp, and mussels all cooked in a tomato stock base. Very tasty and very filling. Key lime pie was served on an Oreo cookie crust, but was still just "okay". Overall - it was an excellent dinner at one of our favorite places. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/10/09 Forum Post
Dinner at Morgan's Mango. Husband had tuna and I had Mahi Mahi. Good, not great! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/6/09 Forum Post
He decided on Morgan’s Mango for dinner. A great choice! We had seared tuna and coconut shrimp. The boys had a cheeseburger, chicken and fries, and mango smoothies. Very good food and a wonderful atmosphere. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/14/09 Forum Post
This is a real shame. We were really excited about going back as we had a good meal there for Thanksgiving. (We had OK meals in the past and were not big fans.) But Thanksgiving was so great, we thought we were in for a great night. WRONG. We had table after table after table (that came after us) get served while we waited for our meal. Finally after a LONG time (maybe an hour or more after our appetizer) we asked and our food was “coming out any second”. It didn’t show up for at least a half hour after that. By then my daughter was almost asleep and I was really mad. We would have left, but we we were at that point of no return. The sorriest thing was that when the food came apologies were not offered. And even sorrier was that the food was really quite good, because we WILL NOT go back….there was no apology or offer to even comp a drink or appetizer. Just a bad customer service move. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Ocean Grill
(Mongoose Junction – 693.3304. Open Mon-Sat 11-2:30 and 5-10:30) http://www.oceangrillstjohn.net/
5/27/08 Forum Post
We ordered the fish tacos--mahi for me, and lobster for John. They were very good but the portions have exploded since the last time we ate here! We were each only able to eat half of what we had on our plates. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/6/08 Blog Post
Anonymous said... My wife and I visited St. John for a week. We stayed at Caneel Bay. After trying a few places in town, we tried Ocean Grill. It was wonderful. We decided to eat every meal there. John, the owner, was extremely friendly, and Mark the executive chef created the most amazing dishes! The service of Mike, Diane, and Sarah was five star! I could not recommend eating any other place on the island but the Ocean Grill! Thank you to all that made our dining experience one of a kind! We can't wait to return to St. John, mainly because of our new friends at the Ocean Grill!
4/6/09 Forum Post
We had a great lunch at Ocean Grill – mahi sandwiches and quesadillas for the kids. I love the architecture and environment at Mongoose Jct. It was a fun, relaxing lunch. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Paradiso
(Mongoose Junction – 693.8899; Open 5:30-9:30 Daily. See 360° Virtual tour at http://usviwedding.com/virtual_tours_restaurants_paradiso.html)
http://www.stjohn-restaurants.com/
Frommer’s Review
This is the most talked-about restaurant on St. John, other than Asolare, and one of the few that's air-conditioned. The interior has lots of brass, glowing hardwoods, and nautical antiques, not to mention the most beautiful bar on the island, crafted from mahogany, purpleheart, and angelique. Try such appetizers as grilled chicken spring rolls with roasted sweet peppers. Roasted garlic Caesar salad with sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan grissini is a new twist on this classic dish. But the main dishes truly shine, especially a pan-seared local yellowfin tuna with baby arugula, fennel, pear, and radicchio, and a grilled Kansas City sirloin marinated in garlic and fresh herbs. Another enticing choice is oven-roasted free-range chicken breast with roasted potatoes, carrots, and butternut squash.
This is the most talked-about restaurant on St. John, other than Asolare, and one of the few that's air-conditioned. The interior has lots of brass, glowing hardwoods, and nautical antiques, not to mention the most beautiful bar on the island, crafted from mahogany, purpleheart, and angelique. Try such appetizers as grilled chicken spring rolls with roasted sweet peppers. Roasted garlic Caesar salad with sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan grissini is a new twist on this classic dish. But the main dishes truly shine, especially a pan-seared local yellowfin tuna with baby arugula, fennel, pear, and radicchio, and a grilled Kansas City sirloin marinated in garlic and fresh herbs. Another enticing choice is oven-roasted free-range chicken breast with roasted potatoes, carrots, and butternut squash.
2/7/08 Forum Post
We were good till the entrees...appetizers were good, entrees of mahi were poor, tasteless, dry and disappointing. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com… 2/27/08 Forum Post We ate dinner at Paradiso on our last night. It was pricey, but did not disappoint. Two of the girls had kid-sized filet mignon which looked yummy, and the others had personal-sized pizza, which looked awesome too. Our meals were delicious as well. I mentioned pricey...a glass of nondescript California chardonnay was $14, yikes! 28 bucks for two glasses of wine...yowie. Worse than NYC. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/1/08 Blog Post
pear8head said... We had the pleasure of dining at Paradiso twice while on St. John this year. Both nights the service was very good and the food excellent. The second nights' dining was the "3 courses for $30" - wow, what a deal! Cabrese salad, the most delectable lamb shanks with polenta (would love to have the chef's recipe for the sauce...yum) and a chocolate martini for dessert. Truly a bargain for fine dining. We can hardly wait to return in 2009 - hope the chef is still there.
8/7/08 Forum Post
We ate at Paradiso just last Friday, and it is as good as it was last year. I had the free-range chicken and shared the seafood ravioli and ceasar salad with calamari with my daughter. Can't remember what hubby had, but I know he liked it. Very good service, and a/c felt real good. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
10/9/08 Forum Post
For our anniversary, we ate at Paradiso. This meal cost us the same as the previous 3 dinners put together. It was a great meal. Really worth the $$$$. I had the chicken stuffed w/ bleu cheese and spinach over risotto and a spinach walnut salad. My husband had the steak and potatoes (no surprise there). They had a chocolate chip bread pudding that sounded really good, but I was too full. We had fast friendly service at every place we went. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
2/12/09 Forum Post
We also hit Lime Inn, Banana Deck, ZoZo's, and Paradiso. Actually, our dinner at Paradiso was probably the best, with great atmostphere, and delicious food...and prices in line with the others. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
2/18/09 Forum Post
Located on the second floor of Mongoose Junction, Paradiso bills itself as an upscale Northern Italian eatery. There’s indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor has AC, but we prefer to sit outside on the railing. Our dinner got off to a bit of a rough start with the appetizers. The “pizza margharita” was a piece of grilled pita bread with light tomato-cheese-basil topping. The toppings were fine but the taste and texture of the “crust” left a lot to be desired. We also ordered a bocconcino salad. This was extremely disappointing—a huge pile of salad greens (not even Josephine’s delicious tender greens, but just standard salad mix, heavy on the radicchio), with, I kid you not, TWO cherry tomatoes, and four teeny cubes of cheese—maybe ½” cubes. I actually took a picture of this “tomato-bocconcino” salad because I could not believe it! But, I have to confess that the entrees redeemed the entire experience. They were excellent! I had the seared tuna—accompanied by a HUGE seared scallop, cooked medium rare, and four butter poached shrimp. The fish was spectacular, all of it perfectly cooked, and perfectly seasoned. John’s grilled mahi mahi was equally delicious. We were too full to try dessert. Another quibble: we’ve eaten here three times. On each occasion, they’ve been out of the wine we selected. That does happen, but instead of bringing the wine list back, the waitstaff simply recommended a different wine—which would be fine if the recommendation was in the same price range as the original selection. In our experience, it has not been. That is annoying. Make them go get the list and choose another wine yourself—we do. The entrees were delicious enough that I would be open to giving Paradiso another try on a future trip, but in my opinion there are many other places in this price range that I think provide a better experience—both in terms of food and service. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/5/09 Forum Post
After much debate on where to go for dinner, I decided to go to Paradiso. The half-priced appetizers sounded really appealing and I knew their food is good. I was not disappointed. The sauce for the lobster ravioli should be illegal. So good! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/5/09 Forum Post
After much debate on where to go for dinner, I decided to go to Paradiso. The half-priced appetizers sounded really appealing and I knew their food is good. I was not disappointed. The sauce for the lobster ravioli should be illegal. So good! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Rhumb Lines
(Meada’s Plaza, Cruz Bay – 776.0303, closed Tue) http://www.rhumblinesstjohn.com/
1/14/08 Forum Post
Later it was dinner at Rhumb Lines (first time to eat there). Had an amazing tuna appetizer and a mango mohito. For dinner, I decided to mix and match a few of the pu-pu items: cilantro-lime corn crusted shrimp, fried quesadillas, and spicy Szechuan noodles. Pu-Pu never tasted so good.
2/10/08 Forum Post
Later we had a fabulous dinner at Rhumb Lines. Our waitress, Tereasa, was wonderful. The food is really good there, but when they say spicy, they mean spicy. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/19/08 Forum Post
Last night dinner at Rhumb Lines was wonderful as usual. We thoroughly enjoyed a complete pu-pu experience and ordered various items from the pu-pu menu and appetizer list until we were full. Each and every one was delicious. The breast of duck app, bbq shrimp and spring rolls were the favorites but it was all so good and the sauces are fantastic. Service was charming and superb as always. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/21/08 Forum Post
On Sunday, 3/16, our first full day on the island, the entire cast of 20 had dinner at Rhumb Lines (after the Beach Bar Forum gathering). They were very accommodating and had all the tables – right next to one another – set up when we arrived. They have music on Sunday nights, which is nice. Janie and I ordered a lot of the pu-pu – cilantro lime corn crusted shrimp, potstickers, peanut chicken sate, plus some pepper-crusted ahi tuna – great dinner. One of our friends ordered the scallops and they told him it would be very spicy. I'm not sure he believed them but he should have – they do mean it at Rhumb Lines when they say it will be spicy. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/6/08 Forum Post
Wonderful atmosphere, excellent food (although every dish is extremely spicy, so order accordingly). The tuna dish was our favorite. Read more at Tripadvisor.com…
5/7/08 Forum Post
We head over to Rhumb Lines, where we order a sampler pupu platter for the table. Now, I am not a fan of spicy food at all (I am actually quite a wimp) but I loved the potstickers, the ribs and the spring rolls so for those who are afraid of the heat, you can find something to eat here! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/19/08 Forum Post
Enjoyed our 35th anniversary dinner at Rhumb Lines, which is Thai food. For some reason they had Tom Petty (no, not in person) playing all evening which was great for us. Found one of our favorite white wines “Evolution” on the menu, so had to get that. The Caribbean lobster appetizer was quite good. Our server recommended less “hot” for the entrees and glad he did. It was still hot, but very good. We thought this restaurant was an outstanding choice for the atmosphere, which is garden style seating, and the reasonably priced food. Service was fast and professional. Read more at Tripadvisor.com…
5/22/08 Forum Post
For dinner we both got one of the specials – I got the ever changing chicken, which tonight had some sweet barbecue sauce on it with mashed potatoes and veggies. Tam had the ultimate pad thai. Both were delicious! I ate mine up rather quickly and since Tam only ate part of hers, I decided to finish it. Both were hot and spicy, so we got a mint ice cream pie to cool off our mouths. Also very good! With tip everything came to $92. Not too bad considering the beautiful ambiance, service and food. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/2/08 Forum Post
Dinner was at Rhumb Lines. I know many of you find their food too spicy but apparently, I like spicy! Michele ordered the pad thai and she asked for it less spicy but she was dying! I had the ever changing chicken and loved it – Ron tried it and told me it was hotter than the pad thai – who knew? Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/21/08 Forum Post
I love their pupu platter and we got all shrimp. They were all very good but my favorite was "spicy cilantro-lime" and my husband's was "spicy peanut sate skewer". I had Thai arugula & steak salad for my entree and he had the mahi entree. They were good also but for me the highlight of this meal was the pupu. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/23/08 Forum Post
We decided that we would go to Rhumb Lines for dinner and it did not disappoint. It was very spicy, but we like spicy food so we were very happy. I might possibly put this in my STJ Top 5, it was that good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
8/15/08 Forum Post
In a word, it was FANTABULOUS!! If you like spicy Asian fare, this is the place for you! It was very, very good. Five stars at least. I met the owners, chefs and workers....they are all the same guys. I had the pork and I also had a yummy mojito, Barb had the scallops, and The Newbie had the Pad Thai. We were full, happy campers Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
12/21/08 Forum Post
After The BB, we went to dinner at Rhumb Lines. This place is now on my must go to. We all had great food and I love the Pu-Pu Platter. Great atmosphere too. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
1/26/09 Forum Post
We thought about trying La Tapa for dinner but didn't make reservations and it looked really crowded so we went back to Rhumb Lines and had our exact same meal over again (tuna and pad thai) and it was just as good the second time around. We've sworn to get different entrees next time! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/10/09 Forum Post
Romantic plant-filled courtyard setting with sparkling lights in the trees and flickering candles on the tables makes for a charming atmosphere. Service is very friendly and efficient. Extensive mixed drinks list and a small but reasonable wine list are available. Dishes sampled:From the pupu platter list: cornmeal-cilantro crusted shrimp, mango-barbeque shrimp with extra bbq sauce for dipping, chicken satay, asian spring rolls, and tempura shrimp. Each pupu item comes with its own flavor of dipping sauce. All were very tasty but our favorites were the cilantro-cornmeal shrimp and the chicken satay. The pupu options are really fun to share, and prices are low—around $2-3 each.Main dishes: shrimp pad thai served with fried wonton crisps on the side was a little oversauced for my taste, but nicely spicy (without being overwhelming), and featured perfectly cooked shrimp. Tuna with spicy sauce and dan dan noodles was extremely fresh and the tuna was cooked exactly rare as requested. The sauce was both sweet and spicy—very delicious, though perhaps, again, there was a little more sauce than necessary. Drinks: a raspberry mojito was too sweet for my taste (though the woman at the table next to me had the same drink and declared it “the best drink EVER!” so obviously this is subjective). Margarita was nicely made. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. You could make a meal from the pupu offerings if you wanted to. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
2/22/09 Forum Post
Rhumb Lines is a wonderful oasis tucked away in the middle of a busy Cruz Bay. Until you get inside, you wouldn't know it was there. The evening we dined there, live music was playing across the courtyard. We agreed it would be a fun spot for an evening out. We started out with some items from the pupu menu. Ribs, fried quesadillas and chicken satay. All were wonderful in their own right with delicious dipping sauces matched to each item. We also ordered the duck appetizer and the pistachio crusted goatcheese over greens. Everything was very fresh and delicious. For entrees we shared the plum glazed chicken and 2 specials. One was a steak dish and the other was a lightly blackened mahi mahi with pineapple mango salsa and lump crabmeat. The steak dish was drenched in sauce- more than an enjoyable amount. The spices and sauce had permeated the meat and the flavor was very strong. It was a split decision at our table on that entree. The mahi was a disappointment. The fish was to be lightly blackened but it seemed to be steamed. The pineapple mango salsa was fresh and delicious but the combination of hot fish, cool salsa and mushy room temp crabmeat did not jibe. It was disappointing. The plum sauced chicken was a hit across the board. A very bright point was the Rhumb Lines margarita. It is made with homemade simple syrup and fresh squeezed lime juice. The best margarita I've ever tasted. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/3/09 Forum Post
We also had a great time at Rhumb Lines – good food (a bit spicy, but we like it that way), great drinks, and a fun atmosphere. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
3/11/09 Forum Post
We had dinner @ Rhumb Lines and that was VERY tasty!! We had the cutest lil' waitress from Maine and the service was outstanding. We had a rez for 7:00 and it was kinda quiet then, so that may have played a part in the attentiveness, or maybe that's how it always is. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/15/09 Forum Post
We shared a pu pu platter and then we had our entrees. This is one of our favorite restaurants on island and it didn't disappoint. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/19/09 Forum Post
Good, SPICEY food but IMO a 1/2 step down from the the top two (Lime Inn and Sweet Plantains). Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
3/27/09 Forum Post
Dinner was fabulous. The ambience was wonderful, service impeccable and food outstanding. We started with the lobster bisque special and I had the shrimp pad Thai (word of warning...it is spicy! I love spicy so it was all good but it wasn't just the usual little kick). Hubby had the Cuban pork...he about licked his platter clean. The mashed potatoes were outstanding too. My favorite! Everything about this restaurant was outstanding...the ambience, service and food. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
3/29/09 Forum Post
As far as our dining experiences, Zozos and Rhumb Lines were our favorites. Rhumb Lines is great because you can eat there with the family for a relatively decent price. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
4/23/09 Forum Post
Rhumb Lines for dinner and we're all giddy tired. We ordered a couple of Perfect Margaritas and a selection of the small plates and a couple of apps which were as tasty as all get out. Pepper crusted tuna with wasabi and a duck something or other were the standouts. I know I've said it many times before but I love everything about Rhumb Lines.....the tablewear, the food, the drinks, the service, the music, the twinkly lights on the palm trees, the swing at the bar, need I go on? You get the picture. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/30/09 Forum Post
Our absolute favorite restaurant on the island is Rhumb Lines, we had dinner there twice. The food is a little spicy, but not too much and we love the atmosphere – the fire of the tikis, the comfortable pillows and even the swings at the bar. I would recommend ordering from the PuPu menu to start and definitely the pistachio encrusted goat cheese salad and any of the entrees are absolutely delicious. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/5/09 Forum Post
We had a great meal. I had Pad Thai which is so darn good, some of the best that I have had.Everyone else enjoyed their meals and we even shared 2 desserts. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/11/09 Forum Post
Only higher end place we ate was Rhumb Lines. I can't say enough good things about this. Service was excellent, pad thai was top notch, and soy glazed salmon was perfect. This is not your standard tourist restaurant. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/12/09 Forum Post
Dinner is fabulous, as usual! We share a pistachio-crusted goat cheese salad with baby greens tossed in balsamic vinaigrette, and some creamy Thai-curried coconut chicken soup. I order salmon with stonefruit-ginger glaze and Paul has grilled tenderloin with spicy Jamaican demi-glaze! Everything is fabulous, as usual, and we are so full, we pass on dessert. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/15/09 Forum Post
We ate lunch pretty late and then had nachos at Tourist Trap, so we wanted something small for dinner. We decided on Rhumb Lines for a pu pu platter. The atmosphere alone is enough to draw me into Rhumb Lines. I love the flickering candles and tropical plants, the colorful pillows strewn on benches behind tables and the swings at the bar. The food just adds to it. We got a great assortment: cold sesame noodles and spicy Thai noodles, spring rolls, gingered chicken wrapped in bok choy, blackened shrimp, coconut shrimp, and corn crusted lime-cilantro shrimp. I think it was around $30 and it was more than we could eat. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/29/09 Forum Post
We got the pupu platter on a tip from VickiH’s trip report…it was plenty of food to split between the two of us, though a word of warning the Thai noodles are HOT!...good…but HOT. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/1/09 Forum Post
They are hopping that night with a wedding party and 2 really big groups of walk-ins after we got there. Waitress apologized for delay getting us the check and comped us dessert of flourless 3-layer chocolate cake. Before that we had great mix of salads, small plates and apps: crab cake salad, goat cheese salad, sesame noodles, corn crusted lime shrimp, and margarita grilled shrimp. Disappointed that their Patron Silver margarita was not available as they had run out of the syrup they make that is used in that. 2 yrs ago that was the best (and most expensive) drink I ever had. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/13/09 Forum Post
Sitting couples-style (hip to hip) at Rhumb Lines downing sparkling mojitos like Capri Suns after scarfing some grimace pupu platter proportions. They’re really tasty but a tip for those of you who are considering the Szechuan noodles, when they say, “spicy,” they mean “better coat your tongue in candle wax” spicy. My eyes started watering and I singed my napkin trying to blow my nose. Regardless, we really enjoyed Rhumb Lines and will go there again…also recommend the shrimp & corn Fritters and Mrs. 54b swears by Scott’s sesame-encrusted tuna. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/14/09 Forum Post
Back to the villa for pool time and then in to town for dinner at Rhumb Lines. We were seated on the patio area in the front of the restaurant. It started to rain again while we were there and I got completely soaked! Just water, it was OK. We had some of the pupu items: chicken satay, chicken cabbage parcels, cornmeal cilantro shrimp (our favorite), bbq shrimp, spring rolls. John had the tuna and I had the BBQ prawns. The tuna was excellent (spicy), the sauce on the prawns was a little thick but otherwise pretty good. It was a nice meal. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Ronnie's Pizza
(Boulon Center, Cruz Bay – 693.7700)
My Review
Their cute little delivery car was still crumpled, sitting out front of the restaurant. The guys were really nice, I told them I’d read about their misfortune online, and they weren’t surprised at all. They made some good pizzas, though they were a bit pricey by our hometown standards. We had two 18” pizzas, one with everything and one with pepperoni and cheese, and the tab was $48. They were good, not spectacular, but solid.
2/14/08 Forum Post
Dinner delivered by Ronnie's pizza, the calzone was very good, as well as pizza. Read more at Tripadvisor.com…
7/28/08 Forum Post
We were hoping for pizza delivery that night, but their driver didn't come in and we picked up from Ronnie's Pizza. More sticker shock (3 larges for $55), but we were getting used to it. It was our first time eating Ronnie's and it was fine, nothing exciting. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Satyamuna
(The Market Place – 774.3663)http://www.satyamuna.com/
8/9/08 Forum Post
My wife, one of my nieces and I went to Satyamuna to eat before they dropped me off at Annaberg to start the Johnny Horn trail hike. I'm telling you, if you're a vegetarian, or a vegan like myself... this amazing little vegetarian/vegan deli rocks! ... and the owners are really nice people, This was my second lunch here so far.
Shipwreck Landing
(Coral Bay – 693.5640. Open 11-10 Daily)
Frommer’s Review
Eight miles east of Cruz Bay on the road to Salt Pond Beach, Shipwreck Landing offers palms and tropical plants on a veranda overlooking the sea. The intimate bar specializes in tropical frozen drinks. Lunch isn't ignored here, and there's a lot more than sandwiches, salads, and burgers -- try pan-seared blackened snapper in Cajun spices, or conch fritters, or different vegetarian dishes to get you going. The chef shines brighter at night, though, offering a pasta of the day along with such specialties as a rather tantalizing Caribbean blackened shrimp. A lot of the fare is routine, including New York strip steak and fish and chips, but the grilled mahi mahi in lime butter is worth the trip. Entertainment, including jazz and rock, is featured Wednesday night, with no cover.
2/17/08 Forum Post
We ended up in Coral Bay and had a late lunch at Shipwreck. As usual, the food was as fresh as can be. The boys had the gazpacho and blackened shrimp app with the dill sauce. The grouper with curry and mango salsa was as delicious as we remembered and the grilled mahi sandwich with citrus butter was good, too. The only suggestion I have is that the gazpacho doesn't seem to have that spicy kick that made us fall in love with it. It was super fresh and nicely chilled but something was missing besides those great pewter crocks it used to be served in. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/21/08 Forum Post
Once again Shipwreck Landing for lunch, which we never get tired of. We all shared the deviled crab app and I had blackened grouper so fresh you'd swear that it just jumped onto the plate. Instead of the dill sauce they usually serve it with they let me have the mango chutney that is normally served on the curried grouper. The sweet and spicy was so good. 86 ordered the special salmon with lime butter...excellent, #2 the curried grouper, ditto, and #! thoroughly enjoyed his hot dog. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/27/08 Forum Post
What a great place! Cool atmosphere, our server was phenomenal, she paid special attention to our kids and truly made our experience there wonderful, not to mention the food, which was amazing. Loved, loved, loved that place! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/12/08 Forum Post
We then topped off the day with two more of my favorite things: First a visit to the Smoothie Stand and then a trip to Shipwreck Landing. I love everything about Shipwreck: the food, the view, the drinks, the people. It's always a 'must do' more than once on my trips. I had the conch fritters with the amazing Valley Doll hot sauce that is made by a woman who works at Shipwreck. If you like hot stuff, try the habanero flavor- I believe they call it 151. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/29/08 Forum Post
Tonight we wanted to try Shipwreck since Pia highly recommended them. I ordered the ribeye. Whoa, that is a big steak! How can they serve that big of a steak for so much less than the other places? We loved it so much that you can skip my review of dinner for the rest of the week. We went there every night for the rest of the trip. What a great place. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/23/08 Forum Post
We started with conch fritters (yum), then we all had the mahi. It was fabulous as always! Shipwreck is definitely one of my favorite places. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/24/08 Forum Post
I ordered the strip steak this time. I ordered it medium-rare and it was cooked perfectly. It was huge too, but I managed to eat it all. Others ordered mahi, grouper, and fish and chips. Everyone enjoyed their meals there. It may be my favorite place to eat on St. John. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/11/08 Forum Post
Menu selections were the fish & chips, New York strip, chicken caesar and what do ya know, another cheeseburger! I was really looking forward to eating here since we had not done so before but I have to say that even though I know I’ll get flamed for this, I was a little disappointed. The fish & chips were not cooked properly and my salad was terrible. The lettuce was brown and wilty way beyond what ever should have been on a plate. I’m sure the cheeseburger was fine the way Nick inhaled it and I will say that the steak was excellent but it really was hit & miss. Since it gets such great reviews though, I’m willing to give it another shot next trip. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/15/08 Forum Post
We headed to Shipwreck Landing for dinner not realizing that they had live music that night and we should have made a reservation. We sat at the bar and had a great time. Bartenders, Sharon and Brian, provided some of the best service we had anywhere on island. Layne and I had shrimp and Greg the Surf and Turf. All three of us shared a huge piece of Key Lime pie for dessert. The music was good, and we did an O-H-I-O shout out with some fellow Buckeyes. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
8/1/08
Forum Post Stopped at Shipwreck Landing to eat on our way back to Cruz Bay. Another first and it was great. I had beer-battered snapper soft tacos and they were delicious. M. had fish & chips. Someone on the forum suggested the peanut butter pie so we tried it. It was wonderful! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
11/17/08 Forum Post
I was disappointed that the ahi tuna special on the board was 86'ed just before we ordered, but the curry nut crusted chicken breast I had, and Leslie's fish & chips were both outstanding! Despite taking some of the entrees home for leftovers we still managed to find room to have dessert before we left - we told ourselves that we had earned it on our longer than anticipated hike! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
11/25/08 Forum Post
Around 1:30 we left the beach and headed over to Shipwreck Landing for lunch and shopping. The service was great and so was the food and drink. I like this place! The view is really nice and the shops right next door have some good stuff. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
12/1/08 Forum Post
My huband and grandson got the fish and chips and were wowed by it. Lots of it and delicious. Helene and I got the coconut shrimp, and it was also delicious.I can't recall what my son John had, but I remember he liked it, too. We went on our way back to the villa, full and happy. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
12/23/08 Forum Post
We headed over to Shipwreck for dinner and just after we arrived, LMG rolled in. After a mini-reunion, we got some drinks and conch fritters. It was so nice to finally be with someone else that photographed their food. I felt like so much less of a freak. I got the fish n'chips and, after photographing it, found that it was excellent as always. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
1/8/09 Forum Post
We decided to have dinner at Shipwreck. The food was great and a band was playing. We lucked out because it was very busy and should have made a reservation. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
1/22/09 Forum Post
Lunch: Drooling thinking about the pulled pork sandwich w/ cole slaw that I slathered in curry sauce. Goodness it was good! Hubby's burger looked okay and he said it was all right. Pretty fresh kiwi/strawberry drink. Dinner: Steak was okay, but not good for the price. Taco salad was a good portion & I had it with chix. The blender drinks here are like drinkable art with all the colors & fresh fruit. We had a kitty cat friend join us too... one of the reasons why I love STJ so much. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/17/09 Forum Post
Located out in Coral Bay, Shipwreck Landing has excellent food at reasonable prices. We tend to go for lunch after a long morning snorkeling, and everything we have tried has truly hit the spot. This time we both tried the grilled mahi sandwich. We ended up voting it our favorite mahi sandwich of the trip. Perfectly cooked, tender mahi is topped with a delicious herbed butter and served with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and tartar (on the side) on a Kaiser bun. The herb sauce made the sandwich a little messy, but the flavor made it completely worth it! I highly recommend you try this sandwich. You get a choice of fries, cole slaw, or pasta salad with your meal. They are all good. For drinks, I had a lime in the coconut, which was very refreshing, with small chunks of lime scattered through the drink. John hit the jackpot with his choice though—the Shipwreck Shake. YUM!! It was delicious! Definitely get the Shipwreck Shake! Top lunch recommendations for this fun and charming restaurant. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/18/09 Forum Post
Very good food, nice atmosphere, great service. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
4/21/09 Forum Post
The only way to make that more perfect is to go have lunch at Shipwreck Landing. Gazpachos all around, deviled crab and blackened shrimp all as delicious as we remember. 86 ordered the special Ono dish that we all coveted and each got a bite. We almost ordered a second one. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/5/09 Forum Post
After the snorkel, head to Shipwreck for an early lunch – a “must do” for us. BBQ chicken sandwich, beer battered grouper platter and sandwich with good tartar and Cajun sauces. The grouper was quite good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/6/09 Forum Post
Now normally I love to eat at Shipwreck at least one or two times per trip. Sometimes more, depending on how I feel and what’s available. But our experience this night was seriously lacking. We were a very easy table. Everyone ordered a full meal but we only drank iced tea or water. NONE of our drinks was refilled ONCE while we were there. The waitress never even asked. The only interaction we had with her was to order the food and drinks, she brought us our drinks and brought us our food. That was it. She never checked back with us, never asked how anything was, never bothered to refill our drinks. She also refused to split our checks so it was a pain in the ass to figure out who owed what. So imagine my surprise when she brought the bill and she had attached an 18% tip to it. I have eaten there several times with larger groups and NO ONE has ever added in the tip for me. Moreover we have ALWAYS taken care of the server with a 20% tip. Flip and I tip generously and in cash.
At this point I was annoyed for the following reasons:
1) she assumed that I was too cheap to leave a decent tip;
2) she didn’t do a good job; and
3) the meal itself was mediocre at best.
Overall it was the worst meal we had on the entire trip. IMHO If you’re going to charge an automatic tip based on my parties size you better damn well earn it. EVERYWHERE else our servers were attentive and took really good care of us and we didn’t bat an eyelash when they added in the gratuity based on party size. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/14/09 Forum Post
It was not very good , poor value, and really impersonal service. We also got the "unasked for" tip (party of FOUR) already on the bill. We almost missed it and tipped again. I guess the service was so bad she assumed she wouldn’t do well. I was really offended as we still would have tipped a standard tip. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Skinny Legs
(Coral Bay – 779.4982. Open 11-8 daily)
Fodor’s Review
Sailors who live aboard boats anchored just offshore and an eclectic coterie of residents gather for lunch and dinner at this funky spot in the middle of a boatyard-cum-shopping complex. If owner Moe Chabuz is around, take a gander at his gams; you'll see where the restaurant got its name. It's a great place for burgers, fish sandwiches, and whatever sports event is on the satellite TV.
2/29/08 Forum Post
We ate supper and he had a drink. Food was awesome- my 14 year old said it was the best hamburger he's ever had!!! Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
4/21/08 Forum Post
The place is a dive, but if you want local people & good casual food, this is great! The best chili dog I've ever had – it has to be eaten with a fork, it’s so big & messy! Read more at Fodors.com…
5/13/08 Forum Post
Skinny Legs in Coral Bay was, without question, our favorite. Yes, folks, I can assure you, the burgers at Skinny's, ARE the best you'll get on the island, and the locals at the bar kept us in stitches all week. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/29/08 Forum Post
Skinny Legs for lunch. The mahi was tasty, and John enjoyed his burger. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/11/08 Forum Post
Last trip we stopped in it was so crowded we decided not to eat there. Ordered the special burger of the day (bacon, cheese, garlic, all the fixins) and a round of Presedentes. Well our food came out really quick and you should have seen the size of this thing I had to smash it down just to get a bite. We were all a bunch of happy campers. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/15/08 Forum Post
Love that place!! Lots of Boston pride being displayed on the walls. And when our waitress told us the special was a "gahlic mushroom burgah," we felt like we were home. We both had burgers and Presidentes with a dessert of key lime pie. It hit the spot. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/15/08 Forum Post
3 trips to Skinny Legs and had the same blue cheese burger, medium, each time. Wanted to try the mahi mahi but just couldn't pull the trigger. Great friendly service, sturdy cocktails and ice cold Presidentes. Love this place and the bathrooms were nice. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/25/08 Forum Post
Since we stayed in Coral Bay we went there I believe 4 times and ALL 4 times it was BAD. The first 2 visits were night time for dinner and both times the STENCH was horrible. I mean putrid, yucky, barfy...you get the idea. Okay, I get that there was some sort of sewer problem, but on top of that the service was absolutely the worst ever. We get island time, hey we’re on vacation, but this was so over the top. I don't know if it was because there was just the 2 of us that we were being ignored, and I mean totally ignored, because several large parties seemed to be getting service. The first night we just sat there till finally we did get waited on (at least we were sitting down!!). And we did leave a 20% tip because, well I'm not sure why. But our next experience was more of the same only this time in addition to the STINKY smell, the lllooonnngg wait, we got shorted $50 bucks when Kathy (I remember her name cause we had her 3 times) gave us our change. I then had to go track her down and before I could even explain what had happened, she said to me, I shorted you $50 didn’t I? Yes you did. So I am wondering why she didn't come track me down cause we were still sitting in the same place for the past 2 hours. Oh well, mistakes happen, I get that but the same exact thing happened on our next visit! I am not making this up. I could not believe it...very sad. So, if you are paying in cash always count your change, which I always do but my husband would have been out of luck. Let me just end by saying, we will still go back to Skinny's next year and pray there has been a big improvement. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/27/08 Forum Post
So off we go to Skinny Legs! Yeah, I finally get my painkiller! I needed that. We order burgers and one cheese sandwich for lunch. We told our son that he really should be able to judge if Skinny’s has the best burgers on island, because he has probably tried nearly all of them by now. Have we had a day without a burger yet? I don’t think so. The burgers were quite good and so was our service, but it wasn’t that busy. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/30/08 Forum Post
Then off to Skinny Legs for lunch. Skinnys was fine...not sure I agree that these burgers are so great but what-ever...service was good food was good beers were cold...$80 for 5 of us. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/4/08 Forum Post
Loved, loved, loved the atmosphere and music at Skinny Legs. I got the Mahi sandwich and really wish I'd gotten a burger. I had a wonderful drink there - my new favorite - a Cruzan Coconut Swizzler. I carried it with me everywhere in my collapsible cooler! Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
7/23/08 Forum Post
Decided to show the guys Skinny Legs for lunch...WOW! Fabulous raspberrry drinks, beers, painkillers, and sandwiches. Service was fabulous! They LOVED it (as we always do!). Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
8/12/08 Forum Post
EXACTLY what I expected and what a great place. Great burger, better drinks . My type of bar to hang out with a bunch of friends. You will not be disappointed going here. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
8/27/08 Forum Post
We were driving through Coral Bay and happened along Skinny Legs and decided to give it a try. We were so glad we did, the burgers were fantastic and the service was outstanding. Very friendly and right there when you needed something. I can't say that for over half of the restaurants we visited, even the very expensive ones. Read more at Fodors.com...
9/8/08 Forum Post
I had the burger of the day, a cheddar burger. Mr. Flip-Flop had the mahi sandwich which he said was better than the mahi at the Banana Deck and the kiddos split a hot dog and chips. They had already snacked a bit on the beach as well. I don't care what anyone says, these are the best tasting damn burgers on the island, possibly in the world. Sure it's probaby the dehydration and sun talking, but absolutely delicious! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
10/23/08 Forum Post
We then went over to Skinny Legs for lunch. Bleu cheese burgers and mahi sandwiches were very good. The drink special was key lime colada and it was fair. The key lime pie was very good. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
12/1/08 Forum Post
This is the best bar/grill in the Caribbean. (I'd hasten to say the world, but it really is a tropical-type place.) It's all about the ambiance...and the best burger around. none of the BVI places hold a candle to Skinny's. I even chose the place to celebrate making it to the half century mark. You gotta try it. Read more at Fodors.com...
12/23/08 Forum Post
We headed over to Skinny's and passed several lazy donkeys, lots of goats, sheep, and one extremely large goose. I know new things are fun and exciting, but there is such a comfort and ease in the familiar. Skinny's is like that. I love the smelly bathroom. I love the crazy critters running around on the floor. I love the sheer sloppiness of it. And I love, love, love the burgers. It was a coconut swizzle (or three) and a cheeseburger for me, my favorite. There was one new thing I hadn't seen before. We noticed there were all these gallon sized zip log bags hanging from the ceiling and they were filled with water. We asked the waitress what was up. She said they are supposed to keep the flies away, something about not liking their reflection? Yeah, I was wondering if she had one too many sips behind the bar because I had at least 4 flies buzzing around. Um, okay. I think sometimes, it's better to just not ask. The food came and it was hot and fabulous. The drinks were cold and delicious. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
1/7/09 Forum Post
After basking in the sun (shade for me) we decided to head off to Skinny Legs. We’d been here on a previous trip, but we enjoyed it a ton this time (maybe because the girls were older). I had the best hamburger of the trip (and easily my top ten ever), my daughter tried the GTO and the other had a chicken sandwich. We were all pleased. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
1/22/09 Forum Post
The American cheeseburger w/ the works is soooo messy & messy means good to this girl! The anti-blender Bushwackers here wackz the shit outta ya. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/12/09 Forum Post
For lunch, Skinny Legs was our favorite, in part due to the casual nature and friendly people, and proximity to Eastern beaches. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
2/22/09 Forum Post
Got back from JVD and went to Skinny Legs for dinner. Got there just in time as the band was playing (bluegrass with an island flair - is that possible?) and it filled up quickly. Had a great meal, good drinks, poor service, and left with no real desire to do it again - at least not on a Friday night. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/10/09 Forum Post
Ate at Skinny Legs. Good hamburgers, great vibe. Have to say, after reading the posts, I was happily surprised by the bathrooms. Better than I expected! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/11/09 Forum Post
After our hearty hike to Rams Head we all headed to Skinny's for libations and burgers. I had the bleu cheese burger and after that hike, 2 Red Stripe and 2 Painkillers, it was the yummiest burger ever. 
Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/18/09 Forum Post
Fun, fun, fun. They had a great band there when we were there (Spiritual Rez) that played kind of a funky reggae style type music. They were from the Boston area and put on a great show. The food is just ok and IMO the burgers are WAY overrated. I would still recommend going just on the fun factor alone. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
3/27/09 Forum Post
For lunch we were off to Skinny legs. Our burgers were good but the service was absolutely horrific. I am not talking island time here, I am talking the nastiest waitress I have ever had. She ignored us and was flat out rude. All the people in her section were complaining to one another. One couple just up and left. Aside from her though we had a very nice lunch! Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
3/29/09 Forum Post
We also enjoyed the famous burgers at Skinny Legs on several days and the fun atmosphere. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
3/30/09 Forum Post
We skip lunch and have “linner” at Skinny’s. My burger and Painkiller are great – Remora’s hotdog is fine but we’d pass on hubby’s steak sandwich the next time. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/17/09 Forum Post
Skinny’s had great burgers and my wife, a hot dog expert, thought one of the finest chili cheese dogs she ever tasted. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
6/1/09 Forum Post
Skinny Legs is still my favorite place to eat. I don't think I've ever had a more satisfying hamburger! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/8/09 Forum Post
The burgers were great and the service was prompt. No problems. Burgers are always good here. I think they put crack or weed in them but I can’t be sure. All I know is they are yummy and hit the spot. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Sun Dog Cafe
(Mongoose Junction, Cruz Bay – 693.8340. Open 11-5 daily)
www.mongoosejunctionstjohn.com/sun_dog_cafe.htm
Frommer’s Review
This little eatery is hidden away on the upper floors of the Mongoose Shopping Center. It's known to locals and the occasional visitor who stumbles upon it. The food is very good and fresh tasting, as the cooks here believe in offering flavor-filled offerings, including a Jamaican jerk chicken sandwich. The white artichoke pizza is our favorite, its flavor enhanced by roasted garlic and such additions as artichoke hearts and capers. The black-bean quesadilla is another local favorite, and you can order sandwiches throughout the day -- perhaps a marinated mahimahi concoction. You can not only eat at this outdoor cafe but enjoy drinks at the Gecko Gazebo Bar.
5/13/08 Forum Post
The Sundog Cafe in Mongoose Junction also had very fresh and interesting dishes. Very casual though. Nice lunch spot and happy, personable wait staff. Read more at Tripadvisor.com…
5/19/08 Forum Post
Enjoyed the chicken/artichoke pizza and smoothies at Mongoose Shopping Center’s Sun Dog Café. Sun Dog is just a couple umbrella tables between shops, but it is very popular with locals, has great food and fast service. Read more at Tripadvisor.com…
6/15/08 Forum Post
Tried Sun Dog – indifferent service and a dry fish sandwich. And to think that Deli Grotto was so close! Live and learn. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/11/08 Forum Post
We grabbed a table at the Sun Dog Café and had a lovely server who took our orders of chicken artichoke pizza with white sauce and capers, turkey bacon on texas toast and shocker, a cheeseburger. YUM, YUM, YUM! Everything was delicious but damn if I wasn’t totally coveting the turkey bacon after a bite of Drama Girl's. OMG! Can I just say YUM again?! YUM! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/15/08 Forum Post
We walked back to Mongoose Junction and got a table at Sun Dog Cafe. Wonderful! Just six tables in a courtyard between shops, but good food and service. Mahi sandwich and potato salad for me, quesadillas for Greg and Layne. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
11/13/08 Forum Post
I'd heard pretty good things about the Sun Dog Cafe, but we'd never eaten there before, so we gave it a try - and were glad we did. Leslie had the BBQ chicken pizza (she said it was very good, and after scarfing up her leftovers the next day I'd have to agree) and a margarita, I had Puff Pastry Pesto Chicken (delicious!) and a beer. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
www.mongoosejunctionstjohn.com/sun_dog_cafe.htm
Frommer’s Review
This little eatery is hidden away on the upper floors of the Mongoose Shopping Center. It's known to locals and the occasional visitor who stumbles upon it. The food is very good and fresh tasting, as the cooks here believe in offering flavor-filled offerings, including a Jamaican jerk chicken sandwich. The white artichoke pizza is our favorite, its flavor enhanced by roasted garlic and such additions as artichoke hearts and capers. The black-bean quesadilla is another local favorite, and you can order sandwiches throughout the day -- perhaps a marinated mahimahi concoction. You can not only eat at this outdoor cafe but enjoy drinks at the Gecko Gazebo Bar.
5/13/08 Forum Post
The Sundog Cafe in Mongoose Junction also had very fresh and interesting dishes. Very casual though. Nice lunch spot and happy, personable wait staff. Read more at Tripadvisor.com…
5/19/08 Forum Post
Enjoyed the chicken/artichoke pizza and smoothies at Mongoose Shopping Center’s Sun Dog Café. Sun Dog is just a couple umbrella tables between shops, but it is very popular with locals, has great food and fast service. Read more at Tripadvisor.com…
6/15/08 Forum Post
Tried Sun Dog – indifferent service and a dry fish sandwich. And to think that Deli Grotto was so close! Live and learn. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/11/08 Forum Post
We grabbed a table at the Sun Dog Café and had a lovely server who took our orders of chicken artichoke pizza with white sauce and capers, turkey bacon on texas toast and shocker, a cheeseburger. YUM, YUM, YUM! Everything was delicious but damn if I wasn’t totally coveting the turkey bacon after a bite of Drama Girl's. OMG! Can I just say YUM again?! YUM! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/15/08 Forum Post
We walked back to Mongoose Junction and got a table at Sun Dog Cafe. Wonderful! Just six tables in a courtyard between shops, but good food and service. Mahi sandwich and potato salad for me, quesadillas for Greg and Layne. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
11/13/08 Forum Post
I'd heard pretty good things about the Sun Dog Cafe, but we'd never eaten there before, so we gave it a try - and were glad we did. Leslie had the BBQ chicken pizza (she said it was very good, and after scarfing up her leftovers the next day I'd have to agree) and a margarita, I had Puff Pastry Pesto Chicken (delicious!) and a beer. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
1/25/09 New York Times Article
In Cruz Bay, the main port of St. John, look for the green umbrellas of the Sun Dog Cafe in the Mongoose Junction shopping area (Mongoose Junction; 340-693-8340; www.sundogcafe.com). The menu is impressive for a kitchen the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. The thick 10-inch white artichoke pizza ($10) is a satisfying meal, especially when paired with a refreshing half carafe of lemonade. Specials change daily. Read more at http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/travel/25us-virginislands.html
7/5/09 Forum Post
We are always amazed that they serve such great food out of that tiny kitchen. We love their quesadillas and often try their daily specials. We have never ever been disappointed, and drinks from Gecko Gazebo make us even happier. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Surly Cantina
(Wharfside Village. Open 11-3, 6:30-11 Monday-Saturday. 779-4810.)
12/22/08 Forum Post
One of my favorite places to grab a breakfast sandwich in Wharfside Landing is no longer Paradise Cafe. There isn't a new sign yet, but it will soon be called The Surly Cantina. We got a couple of tacos. They weren't bad and relatively cheap. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
1/5/09 Forum Post
Surly Cantina in warfside does an awesome taco, my fav is the bean and cheese @ $2 per taco. Price does go up if you add meat, but still a great deal (plus they have some very inexpensive drinks) Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
12/22/08 Forum Post
One of my favorite places to grab a breakfast sandwich in Wharfside Landing is no longer Paradise Cafe. There isn't a new sign yet, but it will soon be called The Surly Cantina. We got a couple of tacos. They weren't bad and relatively cheap. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
1/5/09 Forum Post
Surly Cantina in warfside does an awesome taco, my fav is the bean and cheese @ $2 per taco. Price does go up if you add meat, but still a great deal (plus they have some very inexpensive drinks) Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
5/18/09 Forum Post
The steak burrito at The Surly Cantina will set you back $12...it will also haunt your dreams. They make the best burrito I've ever had in my life....and I've had a lot of them. Theirs is packed with incredibly delicious marinated meat and it'll have you planning your next visit before you've finished your meal. They also have great steak tacos, fish tacos, and amazing enchiladas (my wife was guarding her enchilada like a mother bear). Take heed, their hours are from 11 am - 11 pm, but they close for a siesta from 3 - 7 pm. You can find them in a walk-up kitchen at the Wharfside Village. Look for the tables, chairs, and umbrellas next to the main road. You can also call ahead for orders to go. Seriously, it's great stuff! And to top it off, it's served up by some very nice folks.... Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/31/09 Forum Post
And the best new find of the trip - The Surly Cantina in Cruz Bay. Fun, fresh tacos and you must have the Surly Corona. It's a cold cold Corona topped with green chiles, salt and lime. Delicious! Have been dreaming about these ever since. Need to try it at home. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
Sweet Plantains
(Coral Bay – 777.4653, Open 5:30, Closed Tue)
http://www.sweetplantains-stjohn.com/
2/11/08 Forum Post
We did go out one night, to Sweet Plantains, because I'd been absolutely craving it since we were first there when it opened 3 years ago. Rose's tostones with crab spread were as good as I remembered. And the mahi with red curry sauce was incredibly savory and delicious. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/29/08 Forum Post
Finally, dinner at Sweet Plantains, and it turned out to be worth the wait. This was my favorite meal of the whole trip! We started with awesome martinis made from local guavaberries: and a sampler plate of saltfish cake with mango sauce, tilapia seveche with tostones, and Jamaican jerked chicken wings. YUM! For dinner we both had mahi—mine in a golden curry and John’s in a red curry. Both came with plantains and rice, and it was soooooooo good! You should really try this restaurant! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/29/08 Forum Post
We ate at Sweet Plantains that night. I ate the ribs and they were great. My wife had the Creole dish, but didn’t like it as well as I did mine. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/18/08 Forum Post
We really enjoyed our dinner at Sweet Plantains – very tangy. I didn't particularly care for the grits I had with my scallops so I ate my husband's rice and he ate my grits. We had seafood creole and swordfish with curry sauce. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
9/1/08 Forum Post
http://www.sweetplantains-stjohn.com/
2/11/08 Forum Post
We did go out one night, to Sweet Plantains, because I'd been absolutely craving it since we were first there when it opened 3 years ago. Rose's tostones with crab spread were as good as I remembered. And the mahi with red curry sauce was incredibly savory and delicious. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/29/08 Forum Post
Finally, dinner at Sweet Plantains, and it turned out to be worth the wait. This was my favorite meal of the whole trip! We started with awesome martinis made from local guavaberries: and a sampler plate of saltfish cake with mango sauce, tilapia seveche with tostones, and Jamaican jerked chicken wings. YUM! For dinner we both had mahi—mine in a golden curry and John’s in a red curry. Both came with plantains and rice, and it was soooooooo good! You should really try this restaurant! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/29/08 Forum Post
We ate at Sweet Plantains that night. I ate the ribs and they were great. My wife had the Creole dish, but didn’t like it as well as I did mine. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/18/08 Forum Post
We really enjoyed our dinner at Sweet Plantains – very tangy. I didn't particularly care for the grits I had with my scallops so I ate my husband's rice and he ate my grits. We had seafood creole and swordfish with curry sauce. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
9/1/08 Forum Post
Again, the most amazing meal: pork tenderloin, scallops ceviche', fresh pumpkin gratinee soup, West Indian chicken curry with basmati rice, plaintains and the most amazing martinis - Myers, Capt. Morgan's, vanilla rum with spices and cinnamon stick stirrer. GHM had another martini for dessert while everyone else indulged in coconut flan with caramalized ginger. If you have never experienced Sweet Plaintains, please, please make a point to go. The most amazing outside atmosphere and food. Owner, Prince, paused to talk and his wife, the chef, is extraordinary. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/9/09 Forum Post
We just got home from Sweet Plantains (a restaurant in Coral Bay for the "newbies" here that might not know ) and wanted to let everyone know we had a fantastic meal -- one of the best ever. If you are looking for a great meal and beautiful atmosphere do try them -- wonderful. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/15/09 Forum Post
This is our first visit. We love it! So much so that we book a return reservation for Friday night. Our waitress is super sweet and Prince is a great bartender. Dinner was pricey for us because we had cocktails, apps, dinner, good wine and dessert. Oh, and dessert rum - yum! We sat outside and it was breezy but we loved it. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/18/09 Forum Post
Sweet Plantains -- Just as good as Lime Inn but different type of food and atmosphere -- they compliment each other well. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
3/29/09 Forum Post
We were quite disappointed with Sweet Plantains out in Coral Bay. The portions are very small and definitely not inexpensive. We ordered an appetizer for all of us and then three meals for all of us to share. My ten year old doesn't eat much so the idea or spending $40 on a meal that we would leave on the table didn't sound too appealing. Anyhow, they hit us with a "share" charge of $8. I was especially insulted by this since our waitress was obviously very busy and kept apologizing for being so slow. We really didn't care and were fine, but you would think they wouldn't hit you with that charge. Anyhow, the food was tasty but we wouldn't go back. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
4/16/09 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Review
Perhaps our best meal of the trip was dinner at Sweet Plantains, led by Chef Rose Adams. She and her husband, Prince, opened the restaurant in 2005. "We lived in Brooklyn, but Rose got a job at a resort down here," he explained. "I got tired of flying back and forth, so when this opportunity came up to open our own place, we jumped on it."
The couple share a West Indian heritage and have tied this into their foods. Prince also prides himself on his rum and wine knowledge.
I tried the Erotic Spiced Martini, an amazing concoction of rum and spices. Paul had Drunk Bay, a locally brewed beer whose name is a takeoff on the famous Trunk Bay of St. John. "It reminds me of Newcastle," he said.
Prince sent an Island Roadside Sampler for two -- saltfish cakes, honey-jerked drumettes, tostones, and the daily special, samosas -- vegetable pastries that were fried and complemented with a mint-cilantro-garlic dip. The saltfish cakes reminded us of crab cakes. While the drumettes were delicious, I bartered with Paul so I could have more of the samosas. The pastry was crisp, hot and spicy -- perfect with the cold, mild dip.
For dinner, I chose the pork tenderloin cooked in jerk spices (what they call "jerked") and served with pickled green papaya slaw. Paul was adventurous with the Masala Spiced Red Curry with chicken, a highly spiced dish with onions, ginger, tomatoes and a cilantro-garlic sauce.
Dessert was a mango cheesecake coupled with mango-flavored rum for me and Paul had the chocolate du jour, a dish as rich as it sounds. We also tried the cardamom-spiced tapioca. "A lot of people compare it to tiramisu. It is our specialty," said Prince. It was laced with Jamaican blue mountain coffee liqueur and topped with cinnamon sugar and French Caribbean bittersweet cocoa. It was heaven.
Rose is the only chef in the kitchen and starts early in the day, working on sauces and bases for her dishes. In a small garden off the back of the restaurant overlooking the bay,they grow bananas, plantains, papayas, passion fruit, mangos, sugarcane, hot peppers, okra, herbs and exotic flowers for the restaurant. They also obtain local foods whenever possible.
5/11/09 Forum Post
At Sweet Plantains, which was delish, we start with a salad that turns out to be super, extra, intensely, SPICY. Holy cow. Didn’t expect that one. Good thing the Tums was working. My chicken and coconut curry was amazing. Husband’s grouper (again with the grouper, he’s going to have a worm belly!) he said was wonderful. We had cold pinot and were in food and wine heaven at that place! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/5/09 Forum Post
This has been on our must-do list and it will rightfully remain so. We went there without reservations on Friday night. When they asked us if we wanted to sit inside or outside, we told them we preferred inside - we like their decor. They informed us about a party of 8 coming in soon, sitting inside. They gave us a table right by the window (our favorite table) farthest from the large group - very considerate. All the food we had there was wonderful: saltfish cakes, house Caesar (a bit spicy, and we liked it), red curry with scallops, and coconut curry with swordfish (at least I think it was swordfish). Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Tourist Trap
(photo by Loria) Route 107 South, toward Salt Pond. Open 11am - dark (or later), closed Sunday and Monday. (340) 776.0623.
http://www.wedontneednostinkingwebsite.com/
12/2/08 Forum Post
We headed off up the road and soon found the Tourist Trap we had read so much about was open. We had no need to say anything, John pulled in and parked. We all tumbled out of the car, eager to find what this notorious place had to offer us. All the seating was at tables out on the lawn. Every table had a game of some sort on it. We looked over the menu and ordered. Jim and John both got the Lobster Rolls. The owner actually catches his own lobster to make these, and he doesn't make them unless he has caught some. Helene and I had the meatball sub. He makes his own meatballs and sauce from scratch, and he isn't stingy with the meat! It was delicious, and very satisfying. The talk was friendly and fun, everyone in good spirits. A pickup truck drove by and the driver waved to everyone. A young fellow pulled up, got out and fetched a beer for himself from the cooler (all the bottled beer is kept buried in ice in a cooler) and sat down to chat. He was hysterically funny, and we were having so much fun, we stayed longer than we needed to to finish our dinners. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
12/23/08 Forum Post
The Tourist Trap is one of the island's latest additions and based on our experience we hope it is here to stay. Larry runs a fine little establishment that consists of a tent and a trailer. A mish mash of plastic tables and chairs dot the yard. The crowd is a healthy mix of locals and visitors. It's a place like no other and there's no other place it could be, but right where it is. Larry has something going here. He has a haphazard selection of items on the menu including BBQ wings, tacos, lobster rolls and whatever suits him for the day. He also has a specialty drink that he has trademarked called the "Drink Right, Keep Left." It's a lethal mix of rums and god knows what else. Lethal, because you can't really taste the liquor in it until it hits you. The BBQ wings were good. But not as good as Island Blues. Larry's claim to fame - and rightly so - is his lobster rolls. As he will tell you proudly, he's from "New Hampsha" and the man KNOWS his lobster rolls. Not heavily laden with mayo, he leaves the tender lobster tail meat to stand on its own. It virtually melts in your mouth. They are $11 of yummy goodness and if I wasn't afraid of looking like a glutton I would have ordered three more and skipped dinner later that night. FIL and I had the lobster rolls and hubby and MIL ordered the tacos. Larry says that he makes the taco meat spices from scratch and boils the meat for hours. These too looked very good. But since I wasn't about to share my lobster roll with anyone I wasn't exactly going to ask to taste theirs. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
12/23/08 Forum Post
To someone "who doesn't get it," it is basically a shack with a bunch of junk, some liquor bottles set up on an outside stand, and some tables under a tarp. To the rest of us, it's pretty cool. Lots of neatness going on, good food (the lobstah roll...mmmmm......), and great drinks. I opted for the signature drink, Larry's Drink Right, Keep Left. I probably should have Drank None, Kept Sober, but it was already too late for that. I Drank More, Kept Drunk. That was some good stuff. So good that I didn't even mind using the Crap Shack, which, no matter how adorable and clever the sign is, is still a port-a-potty with no hand soap. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
1/9/09 Forum Post
This place is AWESOME!!! You literally have to force yourself to leave before you have too many and can't drive home. The vibe is great -- great storytelling, food, and cold beers. The lobster roll is to die for and the guys that own the place are great. I was only disappointed in the fact that we went there on our last full day in STJ. Can't wait to go back. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
1/16/09 Forum Post
Just got back from our first visit to the Tourist Trap out near Salt Pond. Fantastic lobster rolls and the "Keep Left, Drink Right" rum drink is - intoxicating... But the real treasure here is the characters. From Larry the owner to Carl the self-professed "oldest guy on the rock", they kept us entertained the entire time. Don't miss it...Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
2/17/09 Forum Post
Located just before Salt Pond Bay, the Tourist Trap is a small food van surrounded by tables with a tarp for shade. It’s very casual and eclectic. The owner is extremely friendly and chatty, and is obviously having a terrific time running his business. The menu is small, and features lobster rolls, hot dogs, nachos, mahi sandwiches, and a couple of other items as available. There is a limited mixed drink menu, as well as beer and wine. FYI since I know some people complain about this at Skinny Legs--there’s no fryer, so sandwiches come with chips.The grilled mahi sandwiches here were decent, with good sturdy rolls and fresh lettuce-tomato-tartar. Though well cooked, I thought the fish was a little less fresh than what I’m used to eating--and not nearly as good as Shipwreck Landing’s. The signature drink is called a “Drink Right, Keep Left,” a mix of six rums and various fruit juices. It had too strong a flavor of passion fruit juice for me, but it was nice to sample. The unique setting and friendly owner will have us stopping by again when we are in the Salt Pond area. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
5/21/09 Forum Post
We went to The Tourist Trap today. It's now on our must do list. Food and atmosphere was great. I had the lobster roll and Gary had the special for today. It was a BBQ pork loin sandwich with red onion. I'll post food porn later. Both were excellent!! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
7/6/09 Forum Post
If you haven’t been to the TT this is a MUST DO. Ordered a couple of Drink Right Keep Lefts and Cousin Gromit and I had the Lobster Roll. Mr. Gromit had the meatball sandwich which he pronounced as awesome. The TT IMHO is one of STJ’s newest little gems. Larry must have magic wand in that little shack of his because what he produces from inside that shack is nothing short of yummy goodness. Over the past two trips we have eaten there four times and tried the wings, tacos, nachos, lobster rolls, meatball sandwich, chicken parm sandwich and have never had a bad meal. The prices are reasonable and I truly believe that Larry’s secret ingredient is a little bit of love. Even if you aren’t going to Salt Pond, it’s worth the drive out to Larry’s Tourist Trap. Hang out with some locals, talk to other visitors and enjoy a good meal at a very fair price. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
7/14/09 Forum Post
Then my kid’s new favorite, The Tourist Trap. It was right around the corner from our villa, so we went twice for appetizers. It was great to show up all grubby and just hang out and have a cold one (or two, or three…). We loved the nachos especially. Enjoyed the lobster roll and meatball sandwich also. And just loved the people and service in general. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com...
Uncle Joe's BBQ
(Across from the Post Office, Cruz Bay – 693.8806)
My Review
Everyone raves about Uncle Joe’s barbecue, so my friends were ready to give it a shot. Now, barbecue is a personal choice. Memphis has its proponents, Kansas City has its, and even here in my home state, some people like Eastern and some like Western North Carolina barbecue. So here’s the, well, I was going to say “skinny”, but that’s not exactly appropriate in this context. Here’s the lowdown on Uncle Joe’s. It’s g-o-o-o-o-d. Two of us got ribs (my choice), two got chicken. All four of us got stuffed. You get two sides, and the choices are slaw, rice and beans, pasta salad, and corn. They were okay, but the meat is the draw. The sauce is slightly sweet, but not cloyingly so. More like Sandra Bullock than Meg Ryan. Anyway, four terrific and filling meals, and the tab for the whole group was $42.
1/20/08 Forum Post
We bade our new friend adieu and went over to Uncle Joe’s for dinner. I had the ribs again but Mrs. Salad had the combo this time. The ribs there are great, but the chicken, sad to say, was on the dry side. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/22/08 Forum Post
We were tired one night and got a couple of combo plates to go; very good BBQ. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
6/8/08 Forum Post
Our other dinner off of Caneel was Uncle Joe's. Man, the ribs were spectacular, you really shouldn't skip this place. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
My Review
Everyone raves about Uncle Joe’s barbecue, so my friends were ready to give it a shot. Now, barbecue is a personal choice. Memphis has its proponents, Kansas City has its, and even here in my home state, some people like Eastern and some like Western North Carolina barbecue. So here’s the, well, I was going to say “skinny”, but that’s not exactly appropriate in this context. Here’s the lowdown on Uncle Joe’s. It’s g-o-o-o-o-d. Two of us got ribs (my choice), two got chicken. All four of us got stuffed. You get two sides, and the choices are slaw, rice and beans, pasta salad, and corn. They were okay, but the meat is the draw. The sauce is slightly sweet, but not cloyingly so. More like Sandra Bullock than Meg Ryan. Anyway, four terrific and filling meals, and the tab for the whole group was $42.
1/20/08 Forum Post
We bade our new friend adieu and went over to Uncle Joe’s for dinner. I had the ribs again but Mrs. Salad had the combo this time. The ribs there are great, but the chicken, sad to say, was on the dry side. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/22/08 Forum Post
We were tired one night and got a couple of combo plates to go; very good BBQ. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
6/8/08 Forum Post
Our other dinner off of Caneel was Uncle Joe's. Man, the ribs were spectacular, you really shouldn't skip this place. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
7/3/08 Forum Post
Joe's BBQ was scrumptious. It's a tiny, yellow shack across the road from the Post Office. The food took 45 minutes so give yourselves plenty of time, but it's definitely worth the wait. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
9/10/08 Forum Post
Uncle Joe's BBQ is the ONE place he insists on each trip. I have my quirks, he has his. Though this one I totally get! Great ribs and chicken and yummy sides. This bag had 2 orders of ribs, 1 order of chicken and 6 sides. $28. Best deal on the island! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
11/24/08 Forum Post
We ate at Uncle Joe's BBQ and walked around town and Mongoose Junction. We LOVED the food at Uncle Joe's and couldn't believe the GREAT prices. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
Waterfront Bistro
New York Times Review
On St. John, stop in for a bite at the new St. John Waterfront Bistro on Cruz Bay beach. Opened last February, this French-Caribbean hybrid offers items like poached Caribbean lobster tail with tomato-fennel broth, roasted sweet corn, leeks, crispy garlic and creamy white corn polenta.
On St. John, stop in for a bite at the new St. John Waterfront Bistro on Cruz Bay beach. Opened last February, this French-Caribbean hybrid offers items like poached Caribbean lobster tail with tomato-fennel broth, roasted sweet corn, leeks, crispy garlic and creamy white corn polenta.
St. John Sun Times Review
I had a special occasion recently, an anniversary with my boyfriend that we felt warranted some celebrating in the form of a night out and a nice dinner. Where, was the question. We talked about all the old standbys, tried and true. There are a lot of good restaurants on-island that would be perfect for a romantic dinner for two, and we were feeling ambivalent. Thankfully, a couple of girlfriends had wrangled me into a much-needed night out earlier that week, and they were excited to try the new restaurant that recently opened in Wharfside Village. Waterfront Bistro now occupies the same space previously inhabited by Panini Beach, and its construction was overseen with anticipation by anyone traversing that section of Wharfside in the past few months. Although it was difficult to ascertain how it would all turn out though all of the plastic and dust, I'm happy to say that the finished product is a very fine space indeed, and one that bears scant resemblance to its predecessor.
A lot of restaurants open on-island to much fanfare, only to fold within a season or to take a quick dive in concept and/or food quality. I sincerely hope that this isn't the case with Waterfront Bistro, because I really love this place. That night, my friends and I had a fabulous dinner, accompanied with a well-chosen bottle of wine from the restaurant's ample and varied selection. Conversation flowed easily and intimately, which is also a nod to the Bistro's décor. Despite the fact that there's plenty of seating to be had within the eatery's spacious interior, the tables are spaced apart just enough to afford privacy. Even though we were seated next to a family with two toddlers and an infant, I completely forgot they were there and I certainly never felt as though we were all one giant table. Often, restaurants on St. John pack too many tables into a dining area in an effort to accommodate as many covers as possible. For an upscale restaurant like Waterfront Bistro, the experience of dining should be about the food but also about the ambience. So far, they've got it right. The décor is simple and clean; white linen and umber create a minimalist canvas where the food is allowed to take center stage. The food, in addition to being presented beautifully, is some of the best I've ever had on St. John. Meat dishes take the spotlight on the menu, and I would recommend opting for a non-vegetarian option when visiting Waterfront Bistro. On my first visit, my friend settled on the lamb loin, which was cooked to perfection and presented a bold, smoky flavor that was new and different. I opted for the duck, which was also cooked superbly and is the best duck I've ever had in a St. John restaurant, by far. And I loves me some duck. You know how irritating it is when you order something medium rare and it comes out well done? You won't have that experience at Waterfront Bistro.
In addition to the scrumptiousness of the main event, the plates were well-balanced and inventively paired with sides: the lamb with a smoked bacon potato salad and pattypan squash, and the duck with lentils, papaya and an amazing confit ragout, served pulled and on the side in a non-traditional twist. My third friend chose the veggie risotto, and, while it was both flavorful and beautifully presented, the rice was just a tad mushy and this dish paled in comparison to our carnivorous feast. Like I said: go to Waterfront Bistro for the meat dishes. That evening, we also sampled a trio of great appetizers, readying our palates with the amazing foie gras, oysters on the half shell, and a wonderfully simple salad with oranges, hazelnuts, and a splash of crème fraiche vinaigrette.
I had such a great experience at Waterfront Bistro with my friends that I thought it would be just the place to celebrate an anniversary. My man agreed and we made a reservation the next week.
I was a bit worried that, Murphy's Law being what it is, my first experience might have been a fluke and I would have dragged my boyfriend to a restaurant still working out its opening glitches. Not so, I'm happy to report. If possible, my second experience at Waterfront Bistro topped the first, and I can't wait to go again (my wallet might disagree but, hey, what's life if you don't eat well?). My one small complaint about the restaurant from my first visit, which would have been that I felt we were over-served (which is really more of a critique of upscale American restaurants in general, which, unlike European establishments, seem to feel that fine dining means being bombarded with a flurry of waitstaff before one even has a chance to settle in and get a look at the menu), was not a problem on the second trip, and our service was prompt without being overdone. This may seem like a small thing, but it's important when you're trying to have a nice, intimate dinner with someone. Good service can make the difference between a good restaurant and a great one.
As far as the food went on the second excursion, I think I'm still drooling. My companion had the duck, which he insisted was just as fabulous as I'd described, while I chose the Black Angus filet minion. At the price you pay for filet, it should be cooked perfectly, and it definitely was this night. A heavy entrée, they kept the sides light and the small amount of celery root and potato puree and green beans (haricot verts) were ideal compliments to the steak, topped with a delicious mushroom sauce. We began our meal with a nice bottle of Italian red and sampled the foie gras, about which I'd been raving since my first trip. Served in a star anise glaze with marinated figs and a roasted shallot, the foie gras was fabulous on each of my visits. We also sampled the lobster bisque, which was very good but an offering that didn't stand out above the rest. While there are a lot of restaurants on-island that do a good lobster bisque, there are few that cook meat to perfection, and this is where Waterfront Bistro distinguishes itself. I also love the shallot butter they serve with warm, crusty rolls. Yum!
For dessert, our server informed us that, should we wish to try the special chocolate soufflé, we should enter our order 20 minutes in advance. We quickly signed ourselves up, and had ample time to sip our wine and digest a bit before the third course was served. The soufflé was divine, and came accompanied by a duo of sauces that were each amazing. One was a raspberry coulis and the other a passionfruit englaze.
Fancy but accessible, the dishes of Waterfront Bistro are full of interesting flavor pairings without being overwrought. They know how to let the food shine and it does speak for itself. The dishes are innovative twists on classic plates without trying too hard to be avante garde. Head chef, Erica Miner, formerly of La Tapa fame, is doing great things at Waterfront Bistro, and if you come by you can see for yourself. With a view into the kitchen from the dining area, it's nice to look over and see the kitchen staff in their white coats, hard at work. Although patrons can see into the kitchen, however, it is not the focal point, which is a nice nod to this trend of the open kitchen without going overboard and making it a glorified floorshow. That's what I like about Waterfront Bistro: nothing's overdone, overblown, over-the-top. It's just right. The view you really want to take in is the water, anyway, as Waterfront Bistro is definitely maximizing its prime location, nestled in the mangroves of Cruz Bay beach. I know I'll be back, as soon as my disposable income recovers, to sample more of the wonderful fare at St. John's best new restaurant. Keep up the good work!
3/11/08 Forum Post
Bill and I were there last Sunday. The food was incredible. We had stopped in expecting to do some appetizers, but once I saw the menu - I told Bill this would be my birthday dinner. We both had oysters with a champagne and blood orange mignonette sauce (although I was tempted by the seared foie gras) and then I had Caribbean lobster done in a tomato and saffron broth with a polenta. The lobster was done perfectly. Bill had a seared tuna dish (he took pics and as soon as they're uploaded I'm sure he'll pass them along). The cocktails were a good size and the champagne was wonderful. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/20/08 Forum Post
The Waterfront Bistro was very good. The location is great and the food was also great. It is totally high end with most apps in the $10 - 20 range and entrees in the $30 - 40 range. Wine by the glass was in the $8 - 15 range and it looked like they had a nice selection of bottled wine also. Ate at the bar and had very good service, and the owner came by and introduced himself. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/13/08 Forum Post
Our best, most romantic meal? HANDS DOWN, Waterfront Bistro. Yes, it's really expensive, but worth every single penny. Ask for John to wait on you, and you will NOT go away disappointed. The food was EXQUISITELY prepared, the atmosphere could not have been better, and the view worth a million bucks!!! We kinda discovered the place by accident one day, so we stopped at the bar for a few, and John was tending bar that day, so we struck up a conversation, and he guaranteed us a delightful meal, if we would come on Friday night. This place is a CAN'T MISS, for couples. (Not a kids place, sorry.) Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/13/08 Forum Post
The food was better at Waterfront and the portions a bit bigger. It was honestly (and surprisingly) one of the best meals I've had in a while and I'm a foodie who lives in LA! The mahi special was excellent, firm yet melted in your mouth. The grilled pineapple crepe dessert was divine. Also try the Painkiller with vanilla Cruzan vodka! Located on the waterfront restaurant/bar strip. Exceptional wait staff. Couldn't wait for the next dish to come an am thinking of having them cater my wedding!! Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/26/08 Forum Post
We were pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food. John had a mahi dish which came with edamame, pinto beans, corn, grape tomatoes, etc., and I had a toasted tomato sandwich with cheese fondue soup. That soup was soooo good. The prices are kind of high, but the view is good! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/1/08 Blog Post
pear8head said... Stopped in for lunch one day. The place wasn't busy but only had one person for wait staff. It took an easy hour for our meals to arrive! Turns out it was the first day they had downsized their staff as it was the beginning of "low season." The food was good but not memorable. The prices were in line with most places in Cruz Bay. The location is ideal for lunch or dinner. We'll probably give them another try next trip.
6/6/08 Forum Post
We had a lovely table overlooking the water. The dinner was great. Sue and I both had the filet mignon and it was just so tender...melted in your mouth. Ken had the lamb and John had the salmon, and everyone thought it was the best food they had so far. Joe is the owner and a very nice enterprising young man...our taxi driver filled us in on him on the ride back. The restaurant overlooks the lights of St. John and it was cool and not buggy...two things that make me happy when dining essentially outdoors. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
6/23/08 Blog Post
Anonymous said... Husband and I are foodies and loved Waterfront Bistro during our early May visit. Was told that the Chef used to work at LaTapa.
7/24/08 Forum Post
That night..what a treat. We went to Waterfront Bistro for dinner. The food, the atmosphere, the service was the absolute perfect ending to a perfect trip! Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
9/8/08 Forum Post
We had planned to go to ZoZo's, but the desire to try something new won us over. The evening before, while walking with the kids along the waterfront at Wharfside, the Waterfront Bistro had caught our eye. It is very nicely decorated and has a great view of Cruz Bay harbor. So we decided to give it a shot. The food, while very good, did not compare to ZoZo's but I was happy that we tried something new. We started by sharing the grilled scallops with candied mango. Very good. Followed by the filet with mashed potatoes and green beans for me, and the Caribbean (not to be confused with Maine) lobster tail, risotto and other stuff for Mr. Flip-Flop. The entire meal was very good, just not FANTASTIC. The service was great and the staff was very friendly. The dessert was hands down the best part of the meal. Amazing dark chocolate torte with milk chocolate ice cream and raspberry sauce. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
1/25/09 New York Times Article
Just a few feet from the ferry terminal in Cruz Bay is the open-air Waterfront Bistro (Wharfside Village, Cruz Bay, St. John; 340-777-7755), which opened last February. To save money, eat early; lunch is about three times cheaper than dinner, despite similar dishes like rigatoni with grilled squash and roasted tomatoes ($11), and fresh mahi-mahi tacos ($13). Read more at
2/10/09 Forum Post
The restaurant is blessed with a terrific location right on Cruz Bay with wonderful views out to the water and the boats. The interior has a pleasantly upscale design with some unique touches—I especially love the giant tree that grows up through the middle of the restaurant.Classic mojito was well done—nicely muddled, with lots of lime, a very refreshing drink for a hot day. Mahi tacos were delicious—well seasoned grilled mahi with a spicy fruit salsa in three small soft flour tacos. Portion sizes were perfect for lunch, and the setting cannot be beat. I will comment that we had problems with the service here. Our waitperson was distracted and gone for long periods at a stretch. It took our waiter 35 minutes to bring us our drinks (yes, I timed it…how could you not when it took that long?? I get the concept of island time but that’s ridiculous!). In fact, we ended up getting our food delivered before the drinks, which is one of my all-time pet peeves. I’m sure this is not a regular problem, but it did cut into the enjoyment of our meal. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/15/09 Forum Post
Our dinner reservation was at Waterfront Bistro. One word: fabulous. What an enjoyable meal we had there. The atmosphere was comfortable, the waiter was great, and the food was delicious. My husband had the lump crab tartine and I had the caramelized onion and chevre tartlett for appetizers. He said his crab tartine was outstanding. Following that, my husband ordered the special, some sort of pork loin, which was the highlight of the night for him. I had the filet mignon and too many glasses of wine, and as such, have no clue what our friends ordered for dinner. I do know that we all enjoyed our meal at Waterfront Bistro. One thing I remember is every time our waiter brought another drink to our table, he always said “cheers” before he walked away. Very endearing, after hearing it countless times that evening. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/3/09 Forum Post
For dinners, we went to Waterfront Bistro first. It was probably a notch too nice to take little kids to. They were great with us and made a nice dish for the kids to eat but it just felt like we were a little out of place there. My husband had the lobster & loved it. I had a special (wahoo) which was ok – not great but nothing to write home about. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
3/3/09 Forum Post
For dinners, we went to Waterfront Bistro first. It was probably a notch too nice to take little kids to. They were great with us and made a nice dish for the kids to eat but it just felt like we were a little out of place there. My husband had the lobster & loved it. I had a special (wahoo) which was ok – not great but nothing to write home about. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
3/10/09 Forum Post
Great!! Tuna for hubby! He prides himself on being a tuna aficionado and he thought it was terrific. I had lamb 2 ways and it was very good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/27/09 Forum Post
Last night we made reservations at the Waterfront Bistro after we spent some time at the forum gathering. It was fantastic. I had the roasted chicken, 86 the filet, #1 the seared scallops and #2 the mussels. Every dish, every side, every bite was scrumptious. The table was beautiful. The location on the beach just can't be beat. 8 thumbs up from here. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/5/09 Forum Post
It was Saturday around noon and we were one of only a few customers there. We got a beach side table so had great views of the Cruz Bay waterfront. We watched ferries come and go with folks arriving and leaving. Very relaxing...and the food was excellent. Really, I'm not a burger person, but even I loved their juicy, very well seasoned burger. My husband really enjoyed the fish taco but he tasted my burger and said he wanted to order that next time. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
ZoZo's
(Gallows Point Resort, Cruz Bay – 693.9200. Open 5:30 nightly, closed Sun 5/1-10/31. See 360° Virtual tour at http://usviweddings.com/virtual_tours_restaurants_zozos.html
www.zozos.net/
Fodor’s Review
Creative takes on old standards coupled with lovely presentation draw the crowds to this restaurant at Gallows Point Resort. Start with crispy fried calamari served with a pesto mayonnaise. The chef dresses up roasted grouper with a pistachio crust and serves it with a warm goat cheese and arugula salad. The grilled veal chop comes with a pancetta and spinach gratin and crisp fried potatoes. The sunset views will take your breath away.
Frommer’s Review
An in-the-know crowd of locals and visitors flocks to this delightful Italian restaurant with an open-air terrace. If you don't want to hear street noise, head inside this cool enclave. First-rate ingredients, style, and flavorful dishes make for a winning combination. Our party recently ordered an array of appetizers, sampling such delights as an eggplant tower (layers of eggplant, Fontina, and mozzarella topped with marinara) or black mussels in white wine, garlic, and plum tomatoes, and lump crab cakes with a roasted pepper aioli. The pastas are the island's best, especially the lobster ravioli with wild mushrooms and toasted pine nuts or the basil-infused linguine with swordfish stuffed with lump crab. Tuck into such fish dishes as a grilled sea bass with an eggplant tapenade in a roasted garlic shrimp sauce or pan-seared black grouper with a sauce flavored with orange and fresh basil. Their veal shank (osso buco) is slowly simmered in red wine, tomato, and veal stock and is a tasty main course.
2/7/08 Forum Post
This was our 3rd attempt to like this place as we have had good food in the past but some strange experiences. SO...we ate at the upstairs bar and found this was "our" way to like it here. Food was fantastic and bartender/server was perfect. In our opinion this is a great way to enjoy ZoZo's. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/16/08 Forum Post
Just returned from St John. One of our best meals was at ZoZo's. The calamari was great, but the entrees were fabulous. The prawn/angel hair pasta with peas, mushrooms and pancetta was amazing. The osso bucco was the best I've ever had. Not something I would normally order on an island, but it’s their specialty, and now that we've had it, we know why! Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
4/18/08 Forum Post
It just doesn't get much better than this. Delightful servers, fabulous ambiance, incredible view, terrific food, beautiful presentation. What more can I say. Read more at Fodors.com…
4/21/08 Forum Post
On Tuesday the adults had a wonderful dinner at ZoZo's. We had cocktails upstairs first, then dinner downstairs. Good bruschetta and salads to start. I had osso buco, primarily because I've made it at home but rarely order it out and thought I should see what good osso buco tastes like to test how I'm doing. It was good but a little heavy for what I normally eat in the islands and shouldn't have ordered it. Fortunately, Janie is a light eater and had barely touched her pistachio-crusted mahi, so I was the beneficiary of that delicious plate. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/22/08 Forum Post
All I can say is WOW! Outstanding ambiance, and fantastic food. Yum! Best meal we had. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/6/08 Forum Post
We head down to our table and all enjoy the bruschetta of the day (sausage, spinach, cheese – yummy). I apologize for the lack of food porn photos; we were all just too busy eating!! Cousin Laurie had the calamari appetizer with garlic aioli and everyone LOVED it. As is our tradition, most of our group had the osso bucco, while my brother had the veal chop (which I tasted, it was out of this world tender), his fiancé had the rack of lamb which I also tasted (yummmmy) and several people had the fish. Since I don’t eat seafood I can’t tell you what it was, I can only say that EVERYONE was a member of the clean plate club. It was my cousin Lisa’s birthday in a few days, so I asked the waitress to bring a molten lava cake for her. Unbeknownst to me, my brother had ordered a “round robin” of desserts. So after the candle and the Happy Birthday singing, the waiters brought over 9 more desserts and we all had spoons ready. Yup, take a bite and pass it on. We were in dessert HEAVEN. Tiramisu, chocolate mousse, some sort of berry parfait and several molten lava cakes later, we were all happy as larks. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/29/08 Forum Post
We had our favorite waitress (Phoebe), and the food was terrific. We started with the antipasto plate, and then I had the mahi, which was the same preparation as before—polenta croutons and an arugula goat cheese salad, and John had the lobster, which came with crab and some kind of orzo. We even ordered a dessert, which was zabaglione with blackberries. Everything was top notch. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/6/08 Forum Post
The taxis from the Westin will take you into town for $4 each person ($5 with tip). I had the Caribbean lobster which was great, but the lobster fettuccini appetizer was even better. Done in saffron cream with corn and pine nuts...just wonderful. Don't remember what the other 3 had, but everyone was quite happy with their food. ZoZo's overlooks Cruz Bay...perfect for the sunset that wasn't. The waiter was very helpful, very friendly and very cute. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
6/15/08 Forum Post
We were extremely pleased. We requested a seat at the bar which had a breathtaking view. We had the calamari to start, which melted in our mouths... so delicious. I ordered the mahi-mahi and my husband ordered the osso buco. Both were great. We were happy with our choices all around. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/29/08 Forum Post
We had always enjoyed our meals at ZoZo's and that night was no exception though we both thought the quality of the dishes we got that night were slightly below ZoZo's norm. Well, you can't always get perfect meals. Their mussel appetizer was excellent. For an entree, my husband got swordfish and I got lobster tail with crabmeat. He was happy with his fish but I wasn't quite so with my dish. The lobster was okay but the crabmeat didn't taste particularly fresh or seasoned well to me. I gave most of the crabmeat to my husband and there was a lot of crabmeat in the dish! Oh well... We split the chocolate tart with ice cream for dessert and it was good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
8/24/08 Forum Post
The one I will NOT recommend is ZoZo's. Food was well below average and overpriced to a ridiculous level. View is nice, but not enough to overcome everything else. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
10/16/08 Forum Post
Dinner that night was at ZoZo's. We split three bottles of wine (oopsie), appetizers, had yummy entrees (I had the mahi), and then dessert. It was filling, it was good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
10/21/08 Forum Post
We ate there during our recent trip (Oct 3rd - 11th). ZoZo's was the only restaurant that seemed busy on the island. We had a solid experience. The wines on the wine list were 50% off, so we ended ordering several bottles. The service was attentive without being annoying and the food was good. I've been to ZoZo's twice, and I never left saying "wow," but I always think the food is very good. Same this time - I had the mahi and my husband had some beef special. Our dessert was really good. I personally prefer Asoloare to ZoZo's (if I were to splurge on one big meal), just because Italian food on an island never seems right to me. Too heavy or something. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
12/20/08 Forum Post
We were at ZoZo's a week ago and were not impressed; found it mediocre. The mussels were among the worst we've ever had (we love mussels and order them just about wherever we go). The osso buco was so-so: meat was tender, but sauce was too heavy for our taste. Accompanying rosotto was good. Service was ok. View was lovely. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
www.zozos.net/
Fodor’s Review
Creative takes on old standards coupled with lovely presentation draw the crowds to this restaurant at Gallows Point Resort. Start with crispy fried calamari served with a pesto mayonnaise. The chef dresses up roasted grouper with a pistachio crust and serves it with a warm goat cheese and arugula salad. The grilled veal chop comes with a pancetta and spinach gratin and crisp fried potatoes. The sunset views will take your breath away.
Frommer’s Review
An in-the-know crowd of locals and visitors flocks to this delightful Italian restaurant with an open-air terrace. If you don't want to hear street noise, head inside this cool enclave. First-rate ingredients, style, and flavorful dishes make for a winning combination. Our party recently ordered an array of appetizers, sampling such delights as an eggplant tower (layers of eggplant, Fontina, and mozzarella topped with marinara) or black mussels in white wine, garlic, and plum tomatoes, and lump crab cakes with a roasted pepper aioli. The pastas are the island's best, especially the lobster ravioli with wild mushrooms and toasted pine nuts or the basil-infused linguine with swordfish stuffed with lump crab. Tuck into such fish dishes as a grilled sea bass with an eggplant tapenade in a roasted garlic shrimp sauce or pan-seared black grouper with a sauce flavored with orange and fresh basil. Their veal shank (osso buco) is slowly simmered in red wine, tomato, and veal stock and is a tasty main course.
2/7/08 Forum Post
This was our 3rd attempt to like this place as we have had good food in the past but some strange experiences. SO...we ate at the upstairs bar and found this was "our" way to like it here. Food was fantastic and bartender/server was perfect. In our opinion this is a great way to enjoy ZoZo's. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/16/08 Forum Post
Just returned from St John. One of our best meals was at ZoZo's. The calamari was great, but the entrees were fabulous. The prawn/angel hair pasta with peas, mushrooms and pancetta was amazing. The osso bucco was the best I've ever had. Not something I would normally order on an island, but it’s their specialty, and now that we've had it, we know why! Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
4/18/08 Forum Post
It just doesn't get much better than this. Delightful servers, fabulous ambiance, incredible view, terrific food, beautiful presentation. What more can I say. Read more at Fodors.com…
4/21/08 Forum Post
On Tuesday the adults had a wonderful dinner at ZoZo's. We had cocktails upstairs first, then dinner downstairs. Good bruschetta and salads to start. I had osso buco, primarily because I've made it at home but rarely order it out and thought I should see what good osso buco tastes like to test how I'm doing. It was good but a little heavy for what I normally eat in the islands and shouldn't have ordered it. Fortunately, Janie is a light eater and had barely touched her pistachio-crusted mahi, so I was the beneficiary of that delicious plate. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
4/22/08 Forum Post
All I can say is WOW! Outstanding ambiance, and fantastic food. Yum! Best meal we had. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/6/08 Forum Post
We head down to our table and all enjoy the bruschetta of the day (sausage, spinach, cheese – yummy). I apologize for the lack of food porn photos; we were all just too busy eating!! Cousin Laurie had the calamari appetizer with garlic aioli and everyone LOVED it. As is our tradition, most of our group had the osso bucco, while my brother had the veal chop (which I tasted, it was out of this world tender), his fiancé had the rack of lamb which I also tasted (yummmmy) and several people had the fish. Since I don’t eat seafood I can’t tell you what it was, I can only say that EVERYONE was a member of the clean plate club. It was my cousin Lisa’s birthday in a few days, so I asked the waitress to bring a molten lava cake for her. Unbeknownst to me, my brother had ordered a “round robin” of desserts. So after the candle and the Happy Birthday singing, the waiters brought over 9 more desserts and we all had spoons ready. Yup, take a bite and pass it on. We were in dessert HEAVEN. Tiramisu, chocolate mousse, some sort of berry parfait and several molten lava cakes later, we were all happy as larks. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/29/08 Forum Post
We had our favorite waitress (Phoebe), and the food was terrific. We started with the antipasto plate, and then I had the mahi, which was the same preparation as before—polenta croutons and an arugula goat cheese salad, and John had the lobster, which came with crab and some kind of orzo. We even ordered a dessert, which was zabaglione with blackberries. Everything was top notch. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/6/08 Forum Post
The taxis from the Westin will take you into town for $4 each person ($5 with tip). I had the Caribbean lobster which was great, but the lobster fettuccini appetizer was even better. Done in saffron cream with corn and pine nuts...just wonderful. Don't remember what the other 3 had, but everyone was quite happy with their food. ZoZo's overlooks Cruz Bay...perfect for the sunset that wasn't. The waiter was very helpful, very friendly and very cute. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
6/15/08 Forum Post
We were extremely pleased. We requested a seat at the bar which had a breathtaking view. We had the calamari to start, which melted in our mouths... so delicious. I ordered the mahi-mahi and my husband ordered the osso buco. Both were great. We were happy with our choices all around. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/29/08 Forum Post
We had always enjoyed our meals at ZoZo's and that night was no exception though we both thought the quality of the dishes we got that night were slightly below ZoZo's norm. Well, you can't always get perfect meals. Their mussel appetizer was excellent. For an entree, my husband got swordfish and I got lobster tail with crabmeat. He was happy with his fish but I wasn't quite so with my dish. The lobster was okay but the crabmeat didn't taste particularly fresh or seasoned well to me. I gave most of the crabmeat to my husband and there was a lot of crabmeat in the dish! Oh well... We split the chocolate tart with ice cream for dessert and it was good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
8/24/08 Forum Post
The one I will NOT recommend is ZoZo's. Food was well below average and overpriced to a ridiculous level. View is nice, but not enough to overcome everything else. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
10/16/08 Forum Post
Dinner that night was at ZoZo's. We split three bottles of wine (oopsie), appetizers, had yummy entrees (I had the mahi), and then dessert. It was filling, it was good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
10/21/08 Forum Post
We ate there during our recent trip (Oct 3rd - 11th). ZoZo's was the only restaurant that seemed busy on the island. We had a solid experience. The wines on the wine list were 50% off, so we ended ordering several bottles. The service was attentive without being annoying and the food was good. I've been to ZoZo's twice, and I never left saying "wow," but I always think the food is very good. Same this time - I had the mahi and my husband had some beef special. Our dessert was really good. I personally prefer Asoloare to ZoZo's (if I were to splurge on one big meal), just because Italian food on an island never seems right to me. Too heavy or something. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
12/20/08 Forum Post
We were at ZoZo's a week ago and were not impressed; found it mediocre. The mussels were among the worst we've ever had (we love mussels and order them just about wherever we go). The osso buco was so-so: meat was tender, but sauce was too heavy for our taste. Accompanying rosotto was good. Service was ok. View was lovely. Read more at TripAdvisor.com...
2/2/09 Forum Post
Back to the villa, shower, get dressed and head out to ZoZo's for dinner. Awesome. We sat upstairs in the lounge and had some champagne (Veuve Cliquot) (sp?) . Dinner was delicious. We sat at a cute little table for two at the rail. Started with lobster ravioli and parma prosciutto crostini. I had shrimp over sweet corn risotto and mrdndw/l had rack of lamb with creamy polenta. Chocolate chip brownie semi-freddo for dessert. Oh boy! Quite delicious. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/15/09 Forum Post
We decided on ZoZo’s for the next dinner. Again, we were not disappointed. We got a table by the railing overlooking Cruz Bay. What a lovely view. Our food and service were wonderful. No apps for us, but we all got the filet mignon, and our friends shared a lobster tail as well. The salad with gorgonzola cheese and mandarin oranges was superb. We totally loved Zozo’s. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
2/17/09 Forum Post
We had dinner here twice. Both times were excellent. The service is always so courteous and attentive, and the quality of the food served is outstanding. Meal one: started with the bruschetta of the day (salami, artichoke hearts, provolone), decadently cheesy and rich. We also tried the spinach salad with roasted beets, romano cheese, pancetta and truffle oil. This was a great flavor combination! Mains were roasted colossal shrimp on a truffled corn risotto with fried sweet potato shavings—this was delicious. The shrimp were HUGE, one would have been enough for my dinner. John had the veal porterhouse with white beans and balsamic reduction. The veal was very tender and the beans were packed with flavor. Dessert was a light tiramisu, just the thing to end the dinner. For our second meal, we started with a house made tortelloni in a tomato-olive oil-herb sauce. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the sauce was intense with the herbal flavors. It was delicious. For entrees, I had the pistachio-crusted mahi on a bed of greens with goat cheese and polenta croutons. I get this almost every time and it is fantastic. John had the Caribbean lobster tail with barley, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Dessert was a bread pudding which was fine but not as enjoyable as the tiramisu we had earlier in the week.ZoZo's gets my vote as one of the most enjoyable upscale restaurants in Cruz Bay. I suggest you try it. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/10/09 Forum Post
Dinner at ZoZo's. Sat at bar for beautiful views of St Thomas. Dinner was just good--not close to Waterfront Bistro. Had the osso bucco and the shrimp. Bruschetta appetizer we didn't like and another we did which I can't remember. Maybe we just didn't order the right things, because others we met raved about it. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
3/29/09 Forum Post
As far as our dining experiences, ZoZo’s and Rhumb Lines were our favorites. The view at ZoZo’s from the bar is our favorite spot and the food was wonderful too. Read more at TripAdvisor.com…
5/13/09 Forum Post
Made to ZoZo's right on time and got a table by the rail. It was a wonderful meal and night. I had the mahi and husband had the shrimp, we also split a lobster tail. Needless to say we were stuffed. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
5/19/09 Forum Post
A couple of years ago I had a very disappointing dinner at ZoZo's that I reported on the forum and I was flamed for it Tonight we revisited ZoZo's for the first time and I can say is we were totally WOWED. I have no food porn and I am not a food critic like Liamsaunt but we appreciate good food, good flavors and excellent service! ZoZo's totally delivered, my husband and I shared the crab cappellini first course and my husband had the giant grilled garlic shrimp with garlic risotto and I had the osso bucco. Both were so flavorful and cooked to perfection! ZoZo's has an excellent wine list and is one of the few restaurants in St John to serve lemoncello. It was our best meal so far this trip. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/11/09 Forum Post
Oh yeah this is eating right. Man, I am fried. Had a great steak and Jody had fish. It was crazy good food and the view was really nice at sunset. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
6/12/09 Forum Post
We ate at the rail watching the sunset in some of the best weather since our arrival. The calamari appetizer was up there with the best we have ever tasted. My ribeye was without a doubt the best steak I have ever eaten, and Julie’s veal was phenomenal as well. All in all, the most I have ever spent on a meal was well worth it in the end. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/2/09 Forum Post
Reservations that night for ZoZo’s. We had some kind of goat cheese app; giant shrimp with sweet corn and white truffle oil risotto and herbed butter topped with parmesan crisps; pine nut crusted mahi on goat cheese salad with polenta; and a halibut special topped with olive tapenade on tomato orzo. Dessert was a shared blueberry semifreddo with fresh cream and sliced almonds. Everything was awesome and we all agreed it was one of the top 5 meals of all time for us. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/7/09 Forum Post
We retrieve the Jeep, head to the villa to clean up and I suggest ZoZo's for a nice slow dinner at sunset. I didn't have reservations, so we couldn't get a table on the 3rd level lounge, but we did get a nice table on the railing in the main dining room. Probably the most expensive meal we had all week, but the food was very good and the service excellent. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/8/09 Forum Post
ZoZo's ... Ah ZoZo's. While not cheap, this is always consistently the best meal we have in St. John. Not sure who said it, maybe JMQ, but it is in the top 5 restaurant experiences for us, anywhere, not just on St. John. The atmosphere, the service and the food are on point. We arrived in time for sunset though the Sahara Dust was coming in and we didn't get much of one. It was a bit warm at first but soon it became a comfortable temperature. We started with the bruschetta of the day, mozzarella, roasted peppers and some form of Italian meat. YUM. Gram had the lobster. Mr. Flip-Flop had the shrimp with risotto And I had the ribeye. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/14/09 Forum Post
We had a giant round table in the middle of the restaurant. The fan above was moving at half the speed of the others around us and the air was pretty still that night. Not much of a breeze. I asked if they could change the fan speed but they said that was as high as it went. UGH! The setting at ZoZo’s is lovely and the food is very good. This was my first visit there and I am glad that I went but in all honesty I don’t know that I would return. Mind you that this is not a reflection on ZoZo’s. It’s just that there used to be a time when I got excited about getting dressed up and going out and having a fantastic meal on island. However, these days my tastes on STJ are running more basic and quite frankly I would have been just as happy hanging out at Skinny Legs or Island Blues. Don’t get me wrong. I love a great meal and I appreciate the finer things in life. But I think that from now on I will skip the fancy meals on STJ and just opt for a more casual dining experience that affords me the opportunity to just hang out with folks and chat. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
7/15/09 Forum Post
Tonight we went in to town for dinner at Zozos. Yum, oh so very yum! I loved my starter – it was a housemade pasta stuffed with goat cheese, served with asparagus in a vegetable broth. Oh it was so delicious! John had the bruschetta of the day, which had various Italian meats with some greens and a balsamic reduction, which he liked very much also. For mains, I went with the fish special, sauteed corvina topped with a kalamata olive pesto served on a couscous salad. John had a ribeye with wild mushroom saute, served with shoestring potatoes and arugula. Dessert was fabulous: the special of the day, a white chocolate mousse with blueberry compote and assorted berries. So, so good. Read more at Virgin-Islands-On-Line.com…
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Welcome!
Welcome to my blog about the restaurants of St. John. Frankly, I've thought about doing a blog before, but it always seemed like...well, like work. However, I had assembled a restaurant review document for my own use, and I thought other travelers to the island might be able to benefit if it's more widely available. So, the blog. It's not a traditional blog, because most of the entries won't be my opinions, or news, but will be posts others have made about their STJ restaurant experiences. I always appreciate any comments, whether this is helpful as it is, or how it might be more useful. So, let's get started. For me, it's just over 6 months till my next trip to paradise!
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