12 Best Restaurants in Trinidad and Tobago

Executive chef and owner Johnny Aboud set a new benchmark for fine dining and attentive service in Trinidad when he opened Aioli. Deep earth tones and subtle lighting make the interior seem miles away from its location in an upscale suburban mall, and the Mediterranean-inspired menu features beautifully presented dishes—from straightforward risottos to extravagant favorites like roasted rack of lamb. While Caribbean spiny lobster is the norm in most restaurants in T&T, fans of Maine lobster will find their beloved crustacean on offer here. The three-course lunch, offered from Tuesday through Friday, is a prix-fixe menu.

The Sardinha family has been serving the best local lunches at their home since the 1980s. The ebullient Alison entertains and hugs diners while her husband, Ken, does the cooking. The only bad news is that the restaurant is primarily a lunch spot; the good news is that you may not have room for dinner afterward.

This chic spot is tucked away on a side street in the Newtown area of uptown Port of Spain, but every taxi driver knows where it is. Chef Cristian Grini always serves classic Italian favorites—the authentic, surprisingly affordable pizza is probably the island's best—and the bar attracts young professionals and hipsters who come for the excellent cocktails and late-night desserts. This restaurant is associated with the even more upscale Prime Restaurant, so the service is impeccable.

Style meets substance at veteran chef Khalid Mohammed's restaurant. Famous for his obsession with freshness and his extravagance (he presents food that rises off the plate like a Manhattan skyscraper), expect a menu of classic European dishes reinterpreted and paired with distinctively Caribbean touches like cassava (manioc) hash. Although the prices are high, it's well worth it for a special romantic evening. Those on a budget might want to try a meal at its sister property, Chaud Café, located at 1 Woodbrook Place.

Lebanese-born chef Joseph Habr has been serving fine cuisine at his Maraval location for over a decade and has more than 25 years of experience. There's an Arabic element in even seemingly conventional dishes, and the restaurant is a lovely open affair, with a dining room that looks out on a lush garden, complete with the sound of flowing water and chirping crickets. Joseph visits every table and is always happy to offer recommendations. If in doubt, it's impossible to go wrong with any of the lamb offerings. The truly adventurous may special order Joseph's renowned kibbeh nayeh—a generous portion of Lebanese lamb tartare.

Recorded steel-band music plays gently in the background at this romantic, candlelit spot in the Kariwak Village complex. In a bamboo pavilion that resembles an Amerindian round hut, Cynthia Clovis orchestrates a very original menu. Whatever the dish, it will be full of herbs and vegetables picked from her organic garden, and there is always a vegetarian option. Be sure to try the delicious house-made ice cream and the reasonably priced but potent cocktails. Friday and Saturday buffets, with live jazz or calypso, are a Tobagonian highlight. Those really taken with the food can even purchase the restaurant's cookbook, Cooking Kariwak Style.

Milanese owner Gabriele de Gaetano has created the island's most prominent Italian eatery, serving everything from basic but tasty pizzas to elaborate northern Italian pasta dishes to carpaccio with a delicious Tuscan sauce. Sitting on the large patio surrounded by lush foliage with Gabriele rushing from table to table chatting in Italian-laced English is all the entertainment you'll need.

You'll find some of the island's most imaginative food at this elegant establishment, an institution on restaurant row for over a decade. Chef and owner Moses Ruben creates delightfully balanced dishes with unusual pairings like Chilean sea bass with toasted coconut; it's also worth leaving room for dessert.

On the ground floor of the BHP Billiton tower, this upscale establishment caters to businesspeople armed with large expense accounts and demanding tastes, though subtle lighting, understated decor, and an attentive staff also make it ideal for a romantic dinner. The menu is varied, but most people come for the excellent Angus steaks; a well-chosen vintage helps take the edge off the inevitably large bill. The restaurant is behind the Marriott and next door to the Movietowne complex.

With a dramatic setting over the ocean on the Milford Road between Crown Point and Scarborough, this is a good spot to stop for lunch or a coffee break. Survey the view from the deck tables while sipping a variety of freshly prepared juices (the tamarind is particularly refreshing) and nibbling on excellent sandwiches or enjoying a hearty callaloo soup. The whole-wheat pizza is great, and owner Giselle Beaubrun takes special pride in her indulgent desserts. The menu also has a good selection of vegetarian and vegan choices. While waiting for your meal, you can shop for local crafts in the lovely and comprehensive gift shop.

Beautifully presented dishes made with the freshest of fish is the big draw at this cozy eatery. The surf and turf, featuring Caribbean spiny lobster, is excellent, and the bar is usually lively and populated with regulars who consider this an essential Tobago dining experience.

Set in a traditional West Indian house filled to the brim with Caribbean art, this restaurant is the creation of Rosemary (Roses) Hezekiah and her late sister, Allyson Hennessy, a Cordon Bleu–trained chef who was a local television celebrity. The creative creole menu changes regularly, but there's always an unusual vegetarian entrée; the callaloo is considered one of the island’s best; and the chip chip cocktail, a restaurant rarity, is deliciously piquant. If it's available, be sure to try the signature stewed oxtail with dumplings.