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Sogo's Restaurant
West Indian Delights
This small spot, with tablecloths, plastic chairs and a view of the street, is one of the best places to try West Indian cuisine in St. John. Mr. Augustine is a wonderful chef with stints at some of the island's best restaurants under his hat. While you can get pasta, chicken breasts and the like, go for dishes like steamed, grilled or fried fish swimming in a pepper-and-onion-laced Creole sauce. More adventurous types might try traditional dishes like curried goat.
5-BB Estate Cruz Bay VI 00831
Phone: +1 340 779 4404
Café Wahoo
Seaside Seafood
Seafood stars at this alfresco spot that fronts on Cruz Bay Beach. Cool breezes make it the perfect place for lunch, and it's a great spot to watch the ferries arrive and depart while you enjoy a sundowner. Segue into dinner, which always features something fresh from the ocean. Wahoo, mahi mahi, mussels, bouillabaisse top the menu, but folks with a bent for terrestrial fare will enjoy the beef tenderloin.
6300 Estate Smith Bay Piccola Marina, Red Hook Cruz Bay VI 00802
Phone: +1 340 775 6350
Miss Lucy's Restaurant
Local Restaurant with Lovely Setting
This cozy eatery sits seaside at Friis Bay about a 10-minute drive southeast of Coral Bay. The few small tables tucked under the sea grape trees near the water's edge are the primo spots, but the others inside also provide nice views. The food is excellent, with such West Indian delights as conch fritters, kallaloo, roti, and fried fish on the menu. Miss Lucy's Paella is the best bet. The pot full of seafood, sausage and chicken as well as saffron rice serves several people. The Sunday brunch brings people from all over the island.
Salt Pond Road near Estate Concordia, Coral Bay Coral Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 693 5244
T'ree Lizards Restaurant
Campground Eatery
Located in the heart of Virgin Islands National Park at Cinnamon Bay Campground, this very casual open-air eatery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu is simple with French toast and bacon and eggs the breakfast headliners. Lunch runs to burgers and sandwiches, and dinner sees chicken, steak, fish, and pork chops come off the grill. While this restaurant serves mainly campers, local residents and savvy vacationers with an eye on their wallets often eat here.
Cinnamon Bay Campground Route 20 Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 776 6330
Morgan's Mango
Small but Sweet
Morgan's Mango features fish, fish and more fish, all with a Caribbean flair. Dishes like voodoo snapper topped with a fruit salsa tempt diners. Vegetarians might prefer the platter of fried plantains, black beans, rice, salad, and an ear of corn. The ambience is typical Caribbean – open to the breezes with a long bar that attracts locals – but it's perched like a tree house up a long flight of stairs. It's worth the trip.
Cruz Bay Cruz Bay VI 00831
Phone: +1 340 693 8141
Chilly Billy's
Chill Out
Chilly Billy's is a surprise. While it has an unassuming location on the street side of a rather ramshackle shopping complex, the food is excellent. Try the monkey bread French toast made with slices of apple raisin bread and Bailey's Irish Cream liqueur. At lunch, the St. John reuben made with turkey breast, jalapeno peppers and sauerkraut headlines the menu. There are also more traditional favorites like ham and swiss on rye.
Lumberyard Shopping Complex Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 693 8708
Fred's Patio
Local Hot Spot Serves West Indian Cuisine
Fred's Restaurant and Bar is a local institution. It looks more than a tad on the shabby side and the décor is just about non-existent, but do not let that deter you from stopping by for a tasty West Indian lunch or dinner. The menu changes daily, with fried or boiled fish a big favorite with visitors. Adventurous eaters might try the mutton, pork chops or conch. On Wednesday and Friday nights, Fred's turns into a local dance spot with ear-splitting reggae blasting from the loud speakers.
Across from Lemon Tree Mall Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 776 6363
Paradiso
Delicious Cuisine
Paradiso, sitting street-side on the second floor of an attractive shopping center, offers a surprisingly nice ambience for its location. Unless you want to watch the cars drive by on the street below, opt for the plant-filled air-conditioned interior seating rather than the terrace. The food is excellent, with fish, pasta, beef and vegetable dishes highlighting the menu. Try the Herb and Garlic Grilled Local Yellowfin Tuna or the Roulade of Grilled Eggplant. The ever-changing dessert menu always features decadent selections.
North Shore Road Mongoose Junction Shopping Center Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 693 8899
Chateau Bordeaux
Haute Cuisine, Views of the Sea
White lace tablecloths, candlelight, exquisite Coral Bay and sea views, as well as excellent cuisine, hallmark Chateau Bordeaux. The menu changes seasonally, but always features beef, lamb, port, fish and chicken dishes prepared and presented in delicious ways. Try the salmon crusted with coriander and served with polenta and an arugula, green bean and tomato salad splashed with mango vinaigrette. When it comes to dessert, the fruit-filled chocolate cups get five stars.
Centerline Road Bordeaux Mountain Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 776 6611
Chloe and Bernard's
Delicious Hotel Fare
The cuisine at Chloe and Bernard's draws from an international base. It changes seasonally, but you might find Rio Grande Tenderloin seasoned with pepper and coriander and served with corn and black bean salad and mashed plantains. Try the Tuna Panang crusted with sesame seeds and served with shrimp stewed with fresh vegetables and mungbean noodles. The décor sports airy white curtains blowing in the tropical breeze and brass accents. Located upstairs at the Westin Resort, St. John's reception area, the restaurant has nice views from the front tables.
Atrium Westin Resort Cruz Bay VI 00831
Phone: +1 340 693 8000
Mongoose Restaurant and Deli
Local Favorite
A big favorite with the ex-pat crowd, Mongoose Restaurant and Deli serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner. The day starts with items like croissant sandwiches filled with eggs and cheese. Lunch features salads, burgers and sandwiches along with Caribbean favorites such as roti, a flat bread rolled around a curry filling. Dinner runs to seafood and steak dishes like the filet mignon marinated in orange, banana, pineapple, coconut, and plain rums with a hot sauce kick. Lunchmeat, bread and other deli items come fresh at a take-out counter.
Mongoose Junction Shopping Center Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 693 8677
Lime Inn (The)
Airy Spot with Good Food
The Lime Inn, set in an open garden with a towering tree over the bar and lots of hanging plants, is one of the town's more popular spots. The lunch menu runs to burgers, quiche, fresh fish, and pasta dishes. At dinner, you will always find seafood, beef, lobster, and pasta. Come Wednesday nights for the outrageously popular all-you-can-eat shrimp night. Save room for the hot fudge brownie, a warm chocolate confection topped with ice cream.
Lemon Tree Mall, Konges Gade Cruz Bay Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 776 6425
Equator
Around the World
While Equator restaurant, located at the tony Caneel Bay Resort, offers excellent food, it is also one of the most romantic dining spots in St. John. Sitting on top of an old stone mill that was used to grind sugar cane during plantation days, it offers stellar sunset views. The restaurant serves continental contemporary cuisine that often takes its cue from the islands. Try the snapper sauced with banana mango chutney or tomato lobster relish. Desserts run to the sublime. The passion fruit tart with sweet and sour seasonal fruits is excellent.
Caneel Bay Resort Cruz Bay VI 00831
Phone: +1 340 776 6111
Vie's Snack Shack
Best Conch Fritters
It is worth the drive all the way out to Hansen Bay to sample the West Indian delights at this side-of-the-road spot. While you can take out your lunch, your best bet is to sit down at one of the outdoor tables next to owner Vie Mahabir's kitchen. She conjures up the lightest, fluffiest conch fritters, the garlickiest chicken, delicious patés, and more at this tiny spot. For a small fee, Vie lets you swim at her lovely pristine and private beach, located across the road. No credit cards accepted.
East End Road Route 10 Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 693 5033
Hercules Paté Delight
Tasty Local Cuisine
Located just across the street from the Lumberyard Shopping Complex, Hercules Paté dishes up delightful local fare as well as its namesake dish, a fried turnover like pastry filled with spicy conch, seafood or beef, called meat in this neck of the woods. The small menu changes daily, but it runs mostly to fish dishes. This is a good choice if you want to sample local cuisine. There are only a few small tables, so take-out may be a better bet. No credit cards accepted.
300-1 Enighed Island Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 776 6352
Shipwreck Landing
Casual Eatery With An Ocean View
Located just across from the water along Route 107, this island spot is often packed with people. The lunch menu runs to sandwiches, fish and burgers, but at dinner the chef gets a tad more creative with items like Chicken Santorini, a marinated chicken breast topped with calamata olives, pepperoncini and feta cheese. The ever-changing pasta of the day is always a good bet. Portions are plentiful. Shipwreck Landing often has music on Wednesdays and Sundays nights during the winter season.
34 Freemans Ground, Route 107 Coral Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 693 5640
Asolare
Room With A View
The elegant Asolare specializes in a fusion of Asian specialties with continental favorites. The menu changes seasonally, but look for dishes like Phad Thai Noodle Cake with Shrimp, a spicy dish with its heart in Thailand. The Chocolate Pyramid Cake is the perfect end to your meal. Located hillside in what was formally a gracious family home, the restaurant features classy service and breathtaking views of Cruz Bay and its harbor. Come early for sunset views with your pre-dinner drinks.
North Shore Road Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 779 4747
Panini Beach Trattoria
Beachside Bistro
The ambience is as delightful as the Northern Italian food at this cozy beachside bistro. Sitting right on Cruz Bay Beach, the bistro offers a choice of outside or indoor airconditioned seating. The restaurant takes its name from a pressed Italian sandwich, called a panini, found only on the lunch menu. Other offerings include pizza, soup and salad. Dinner sees such delights as pasta, pork chops and chicken cooked with herbs and spices. Do not neglect dessert. The chocolate panini is wonderful.
On the beach in Cruz Bay Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 693 9119
Pavillion Restaurant at Maho Bay Camps
Casual Eatery with Glorious Views
This very casual restaurant at Maho Bay Camps faces the ocean and some of the best sunsets on the island. It is also one of the best buys with prices far lower that its in-town counterparts. Place your order for breakfast or dinner at the counter and the staff will call you when your meal is ready. A salad buffet, iced tea and a roll come with dinners. The menu is small, with vegetarian and chicken entrees predominating, and it changes daily.
Route 20 at Maho Bay Camps Coral Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 776 6226
Colombo Café
Roadside Fare
Smoothies in tropical flavors like tamarind, soursop, mango, and more are Colombo Café's claim to fame. Folks also love to stop at this food stand for fresh lobster roll and light fare like veggie burgers and pineapple chicken sandwiches. Ice cream by the scoop or bar and lemonade round out the menu. While you can take your lunch or drink to go, sit a spell at the roadside tables to watch the traffic go by.
Wharfside Village Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 779 4810
JJ's Texas Coast Cafe
Taco City
JJ's is the place for Tex-Mex. Located on the fringes of busy Cruz Bay Park, this cozy restaurant dishes up burritos, tacos and other Mexico-inspired items as well as Caribbean favorites like conch fritters. Salads, burgers, fresh grilled fish, and steaks also grace the menu. For breakfast, try the burrito made with scrambled eggs and more topped with salsa. The restaurant has two seating areas, inside or outside on the terrace under umbrella tables, a perfect spot for people watching.
close to Ferry Dock Cruz Bay Park Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 776 6908
Zozo's Ristorante
Contemporary Italian Cuisine
This elegant restaurant, located at Gallows Point Resort, serves contemporary Italian cuisine including dishes like monk fish picatta served over watercress salad. The lobster ravioli comes smothered in a tomato cream sauce with toasted pine nuts. An artichoke and crabmeat tapanade graces the jumbo shrimp. Dine inside or al fresco on the terrace overlooking the resort and the sea. The upstairs bar sports wonderful sunset views, a perfect spot to enjoy your before-dinner drink.
Gallows Point Resort Cruz Bay VI 00831
Phone: +1 340 693 9200
Quiet Mon Pub
Busy Bar With Lunchtime Crowd
A big local hangout, the Quiet Mon Pub dishes up very casual lunches that run to Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches as well as ham, turkey and roast beef submarines. Soups and specials like lasagna and an occasional Irish dish round out the menu. When the sun sets, a crowd gathers to mix and mingle, beers in hand, on the front porch or at the bar. Quiet Mon Pub's cyber center has a couple of computers available so you can keep up with your e-mail. No credit cards accepted.
Centerline Road Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 779 4799
Woody's Seafood Saloon
Popular spot for food and socializing
When you see a youthful crowd gathered on the street, you know you have found Woody's Seafood Saloon. This popular bar and restaurant, across the street from Scotia Bank, draws people to its daily happy hours and late night socializing. The food is pretty good too. Try a snack like the shark bites or conch fritters, or go for lunch and dinner when the crowds are gone. The menu runs to fish, chicken and salad dishes. The beer batter shrimp deserves a special mention.
Centerline Road Route 10 Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 779 4625
Stone Terrace Restaurant
Contemporary Cuisine with a Flair
White linen tablecloths, candlelight and a lovely seaside view set the stage for delicious dinners. Chef Aaron Willis adds touches like hoisin sauce to his salmon. It comes on sticky rice served with a taco filled with Asian vegetables and crabmeat. Look for more dishes along the same lines. The filet mignon is drizzled with cabernet sauce and comes with a carmelized shallot and potato au gratin. The macadamia-nut encrusted pork tenderloin is served with sweet potatoes.
Cruz Bay Cruz Bay VI 00831
Phone: +1 340 693 9370
Joe's Diner
Town Landmark
Short on ambience, Joe's Diner sits street side in the heart of busy Cruz Bay. No tropical frou-frous here. Picnic tables, paper plates and the aroma of frying chicken make up the décor, but the place gets four stars for people watching. It looks like all of St. John stops by for the newspaper, for a johnnycake wrapped in wax paper or to exchange good mornings with folks camped out at the tables. Give your order for lobster rolls, burgers, and beers at the counter.
Downtown Cruz Bay Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 776 6888
Fish Trap (The)
Family favorite
Fresh fish tops the menu at this venerable Cruz Bay restaurant. Casual and open-air, it is a good choice for families. Adults can opt for something more sophisticated and children a basic burger and fries. The menu runs from peel and eat shrimp steamed with spices to a fishermen's platter with shrimp, scallops and the fish of the day. It comes grilled, sautéed or blackened. The conch fritters are some of the best around.
P.O Box 566 In Raintree Court Shopping Plaza Cruz Bay VI 00831
Phone: +1 340 693 9994
Paradise Café
Smoothies, Sandwiches and More
Stop by this small spot, tucked away near the street at Wharfside Village Shopping Center, for smoothies, milkshakes, frozen yogurt, coffee, soup, quiche, and simple wrap sandwiches. The chicken wrap is particularly tasty and the homemade cookies cannot be beat. This is a great place to take a break while shopping till you drop at Cruz Bay's many stores. Its location less than a minute walk from the ferry dock makes it a great place to while away a half-hour waiting for the boat to leave. No credit cards accepted.
Wharfside Village Shopping Center Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 304 779 4810
Uncle Joe's Barbecue
Smokin' Barbecue!
Uncle Joe's Barbecue is the best deal in town. Juicy ribs and tender chicken, both slathered with generous helpings of the house barbecue sauce, tempt diners. Your order comes with side dishes like corn on the cob and potato salad. This very casual spots sits adjacent to the sidewalk and the street in the heart of Cruz Bay. The few tables fill fast and the grill smoke can irritate your eyes. A better option is take along to the beach or your vacation villa.
North Shore Road Across from the Post Office, Cruz Bay Cruz Bay VI 00831
Phone: +1 340 693 8806
Skinny Legs Bar and Restaurant
Burgers and Beer
Skinny Legs Bar and Restaurant sits right near the water in Coral Bay proper. A popular hangout for the boaters who live aboard in Coral Bay Harbor as well as an eclectic collection of locals, tourists love it for the salty atmosphere, burgers and beer. Sporting events, including replays of the latest yacht race, often play on the big-screen television sets. The décor is something to write home about. A sail serves as an awning and flip-flops and other flotsam and jetsam do double duty as wall art.
Route 10 Coral Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 779 4982
Tapa (La)
A Bit Of This and That
While tapas, those savory little bites of this and that, are a draw here, La Tapa also has a menu of dishes like pan-seared striped bass with a passion fruit buerre blanc. Start with the freshly-made buffalo mozzarella and roasted tomato salad, or maybe a small serving of duck breast tortellini. The menu changes daily, but you will usually find the apple tatin for dessert. While the al fresco tables may tempt you, their roadside location can be noisy. A table inside may be a better bet.
Centerline Road, across from Scotia Bank Downtown Cruz Bay Cruz Bay VI 00830
Phone: +1 340 693 7755
Tamarind Court Restaurant
Casual Courtyard Dining
This casual courtyard restaurant has different island chef take to the kitchen six nights a week. While all the food is good, Monday's Greek night is a best bet with dishes like spanakopita and gyro headlining the menu. Tuesday is oriental night. Wednesday sees sushi on the menu. Southern cooking happens on Thursdays. Prime rib is served Fridays and Sundays. The restaurant also opens for breakfast everyday with simple fare like eggs, pancakes and waffles on the menu.
Courtyard Inn at Tamarind Court Cruz Bay VI 00831
Phone: +1 340 776 6378
