In your opinion which all inclusive has the best food. And what was you favorite dish?

I am a true blue WORLD CLASS foodie and IMO the terms "best food" and "All Inclusive" are an oxymoron. In my experience the food at any AI is average at best.

If you are seeking very good food there are plenty of upscale Caribbean resorts that serve excellent food and can provide what you are seeking - I'm assuming you probably don't want to venture "off resort" for your dining pleasure. Some may even offer meal plans but they are usually not All Inclusive. If this is what you want check ut places like Little Dix Bay or Biras Creek on Virgin Gorda, Peter Island (BVI's), Four Seasons on Nevis and Sandy Lane on Barbados

If you are a true foodie you are better off selecting a destination like Anguilla, St. Barths or St. Martin. These islands are noted for having some of the finest restaurants in the Caribbean. A visit to one of these islands can be a gastronomic treat for those with even the most sophisticated pallettes.

I went to Anguilla last spring and all I can say is WOW! I've been to quite a few caribbean islands and I have to say for food, Anguilla wins, hands down! The absolute best I've ever had! Great people, great water, and great beaches!

As much as we really enjoy AI resorts, I kinda have to agree with A_Traveller regarding "best food" and "All Inclusive" are an oxymoron."

We tend to stay at 3* AI hotels, so the food there really is more quanity than quality. However, we have stayed at 2 Sandals Resorts. We liked the food at the Royal Bahamain in Nassau, but didn't care for the food at Sandals Grand St. Lucia.

The buffet at the Wyndam Sugar Bay in St. Thomas was good, but thier ala cart resturant was not.

Some of the best AI food we have had was at the Holiday Inn in Grand Cayman. Their 2 resturants were for-profit/open to the public so it had to be good. However, that hotel no longer exists, so it doesn't help you.

We liked the food well in Aruba. Not necessarily at our AI hotel, but in the local resturants. We stayed at the Holiday Inn. The AI food may have been better at the nicer AI resorts on the Island.

We just returned from a cruise on the Star Princess. I have to say in all of our travels, AI, non-AI Caribbean, local Caribbean resturants, Las Vegas, etc., we had the best, most tasty food on that cruise. We couldn't believe it. Too bad the drinks weren't included. However, we didn't care for the overall cruise type vacation and even if the food was really good, we wouldn't do another cruise.

We are staying at the Royal Playa del Carmen in September. The reviews on Trip Advisor are very good regarding food at that resort. We've really had good food in the resturants in Mexico. However, not that great in the resorts we chose. We stayed in low budget resorts, so it seems you get what you pay for there.

Fortuntely for my budget, DH is more of a quanity guy than a quality guy. However, after our cruise that may be a problem. He really enjoyed the food there and going back to a low budget AI may pose a issue.

Not really "all-inclusive" as in Sandals, etc. (I've never done the more popular ones) but food at Biras Creek was outstanding as was Peter Island's. Thinking back where meals were included (euro plan), I don't recall if Maroma included dinner - don't think so since the food was so so and we trekked into Playa to a wonderful biestro and some other great spots. We ran into a bad spell at Jumby a few years back before Rosewood so we ventured off on the economy and had two fabulous dinners on Antigua - both French and fabulous! Go figure! Am sure that it is great now tho with Rosewood! Petit St. Vincent's food was medicore at best. I did enjoy Meridan Club's dining but that was a few years ago and knew the chef from the Ritz on another island. They were extremely accomodating with a special diet at that time.
But that aside, as a foodie, I do find the best "local" spots too - usually recommended and preferred by the locals and that's why going to Caribbean (or anywhere for that matter) and doing AI is not always the best choice but it sure is convenient! Anse Chastanet reportedly has good dining as well but I've not been there.
BTW, the Wyndham on STT is discontinuing the all-inclusive option as most people prefer the many good restaurants on island (and nearby St. John) to choose from!

We have done AIs a number of times and have enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere of not having to bring cash around (and not having to think about $ once the vacation is paid), but we don't always do AI vacations as the food is simply not something to rave about. We have even stayed at the Royal Hideaway in Playacar, which is supposed to be one of the best ones for food, and I can tell you that the food was good, but nowhere in the "foodie" category. The ceviche at the resort was good, but the ceviche that I got at a shack on the beach in Cozumel was absolutely HEAVENLY!

If you're a true foodie, stay at a nice resort and go out to lunch at local spots and dinner at the top spots and you'll do much better. If you want a vacation in which you don't have to think about money for the trip, read the reports on Trip Advisor and pay attention to the descriptions. Some reports will just say the food was great (but won't give a lot of detail). That does not help! Others will tell you specifically what they had and how it was prepared. You can gain a lot more insight that way.

I really appreciate all your information. I live in New York and I love dining out. With that being said I am going with my best friend for a moms weekend away and I really did not want to run around (I just want to lay on the beach relax). The only exercise I want to experience is if I swim in the ocean or walk to the restaurant. This is why I thought an all inclusive would work. I think we are going to end up in Cancun. Any suggestions on where to stay and where to EAT in Cancun.

We stayed at the Moon Palace and it was really nice. Great pool, just ok beach, staff was excellent. Not too far from the airport either. There are other Palace resorts if you are looking for an fantastic beach. WE had not one complaint when we left!

I agree all inclusive and foodie do not go hand and hand! Honestly you should really know where you are where you are when eating dinner, not ANYTOWN, USA or Mexico in this case. I am in fact in Puerto Rico right now and am stuped at the fact that people are filling up the Ruth Chris Steakhouse here at the hotel (can't you just eat there when you back to your suburban hometown mainland?) when local eats ie Conch monfongo are right down the street for 1/3 the price.

I think if you really feel like relaxing then do your breakfast and maybe lunch in the hotel. There is something to be said for a grilled fish sandwich or burger poolside and not have to plan for or get dressed for every meal. I could not handle every meal of the day made by the same place. In fact even on the better cruiselines I am eager to jump ship, skip the free meals and find the best plate of fish, beans, rice and plantians or what have you (washed down with a local brew of course)to tell my palete and my heart where the heck I am. I would check chowhound.com forums (mexico) for ideas where are staying and good luck and have fun!

We stayed at the Caves in Jamaica in March. It is all inclusive, but a very small boutique style. The food was great. Many meals were in the foodie category and the other meals were very good. In Jamaica, you aren't going to find lots of meals in the foodie category. They always offered 2-3 choices for each meal (including jamaican dishes) and they would bring you a little of everything if you wished. It was really a great place. I like to try different resorts and we are already planning to return next year. It was really a different/beautiful place. I am headed to the Royal Playa del carmen next month with a friend. It has great reviews, so we will see.