Eating on St Thomas
 

OK, after perusing the boards for some time now, here is the general consensus I have heard. <BR>Places not to eat on StTom (poor service, average product, no ambience, too much like home):<BR>JJ' Tex Mex<BR>Uncle Joe's Ribs (serves ribs with Open Pit sauce)<BR>Sogo's Rest.<BR>Paradiso<BR>Fish Trap<BR>Sea Grape at Sapphire<BR>Lindy's Cafe<BR>-Any place with a Seafood buffet<BR>-some Irish pub on East side<BR>Caribbean Saloon<BR><BR>Places to eat (for exactly the opposite reasons as above):<BR>Toad & Tart (Sat. prime rib)<BR>Raffles<BR>Chef Patrick's<BR>Romano's<BR>Cuzzins (conch fritters)<BR>The Agave Terrace<BR>Virgilio's Rest.<BR><BR>Most of the above were repeated by several poster's. Also several friends who visit yearly and/or lived there for several years, confirmed many of these. <BR>Any other additions? Subtractions? Suggestions?<BR>Thanks, I leave Monday morning to catch New Year's there.

Enjoy the fireworks! Or hop a ferry to Foxy's. Have fun!<BR>Most of the NOT's you list were on St. John ... other than SeaGrape and Lindy's (and both are definite NOTS!). The "Irish Pub" is Molly Malone's in American Yacht Harbour and is casual fare and I do hear that Carib Saloon has great ribs (but I don't eat meat, so don't know!). <BR>I would add Alexader's and right around the corner Epernay with dancing later upstairs (in FrenchTown), Off the Hook in Red Hook and the "branch" Cafe Wahoo on St. John. Would also not miss Blue Moon Cafe at Secret Harbour. Another of my favs, Ol' STone Farm House out by the golf course isn't listed either. On St. John, a trip doesn't go by without a stop at Morgan's Mango by Mongoose and Stone Terrace. I enjoy Chateau Bordeaux on St. John and others enjoy Asolare for the fusion fare and wonderful sunsets! All your "to's" were on STT. For sandwiches and breakfast fare head to Grateful Deli in Red Hook (in the mall with Duffy's in Red Hook). <BR>Happy New Year and enjoy a Bushwacker as 2002 rolls in!

Thanks Karen! Any suggestions on where/when to view the fireworks?<BR>In reading others postings, it gets confusing on where and when people actually mean.<BR>Just checking, the places you mentioned, are they more enjoyed by the vegetarian type, or just more seafood?

Quick response! "Chef Patrick's" isn't a restaurant. Patrick is the chef at Raffles Restaurant at Compass Point Marina. He was voted Best V.I. Chef for 2001 and the restaurant has recently reopened under new ownership - beautifully cleaned up and the food as always is excellent. Wouldn't put too much stock in Agave Terrace - it attracts a lot of visitors because of the view but it's very expensive and the food is, although OK, not super impressive as far as value is concerned. Also have to disagree with Karen about Epernay - I always remembered it as being a good place but it's been under new ownership for a while and a meal I had there a couple of months ago wasn't very good at all. Also had a truly bad meal at XO Bistro in Red Hook. Actually brought it home for the animals but decided the next day that even they wouldn't like it so tossed it out! Definitely Toad and Tart, always great food and a real value. Enjoy your trip!

Ohhhhh! I was curious about the "Chef Patrick" and didn't comment 'cause I wasn't sure - am hearing good things about Raffles again and glad that you confirmed it. Did he leave the tree "down?" Sure will miss Sandy tho! With you on Agave since I've had a couple of misses there - great setting tho on the rail - and haven't been back. As far as XO's, went only once after Furgi left a few years back and would not go back. <BR>The restaurants are very accomodating and most will do veggie entrees with ingredients that they have on hand = pastas, etc. Another casual spot on Hull Bay is Bryan's. Toad and Tart is always on the list but haven't tried it yet but do hear good things. Anon, what's the new place at the end of Main Street (starts with an "s," I think)? Any reports? <BR>Be sure to pick up a copy of hte Restaurant Guide on arrival - good little maps to the restaurants and you get a "feel" of them from the descriptions! There are just sooo many restaurants!

Karen, don't recall a new restaurant on Main Street but will keep my ears open. The tree at Raffles is not there but the new owners have kept a portion of it which they plan on framing. Sandy passed away in Australia early this month.

It's Sinclair's. Yes, very sad about Sandy. She will be missed.

Sorry. Any other suggestions to the original post?

Hey Anon This is Patrick you are so right about the agave terrace They change Chefs every 5 minutes. Haven't heard any good things about it besides the view/.D&K another great restaurant is the old stone farmhouse. I would recommend it to anyone.If anyone wants to email me when they are coming to St. Thomas Let me know and when you come to the restarant I'll buy you a bushwacker or something <BR>(Patrick from Raffles)

Hi, Patrick! Got a question for you. Is Ed still with working with you? Put the vole a vin back on the menu? Really missed it when Sandy stopped but someone fixed it for me a couple of times after anyway! :-)

Any suggestions for St. Thomas restaurants that will make my kids happy, too? (ages 5,7,11) I will be visiting for the first time in April.

We were in St. Thomas in Nov. and really liked Herve too. It did live up to the hype for us - <BR>Glady's Cafe is great for local food and has selections for kids. The Grateful Deli has a good selection of salads for takeout too. And though it really isn't a restaurant, check out Grandma Sandy's for big cookies and cake.

Patrick, Sorry, I must have missed you at Raffles. We went and enjoyed it. Personally i always love the food presentation. We were in a large family group of 12. Unfortunately, 2 things worked against the ambiance. We were sitting right next to the band (we all like soft music we can still talk over), and some of our group was bothered by their own stereotyping of sexual orientation. My wife and I would have gladly stayed for dessert, but the others just couldn't deal with it. <BR>Tried to get in at Old Stone Farm House, but they were booked the night we tried to go. <BR>I was bothered by Fungi's, but the group I was with enjoyed it. Caribb Saloon was fair. Ritz was excellent, get a souffle for dessert...to die for! Virgilio's was great, truly an Italian experience!! Although I'm not sure if I believe he is 70.

posting to the top for teresa's enjoyment. Hope the wedding goes well!

Responses to address Karen and D&K. "Ed" is NOT at Raffles now. No comment, no nothing, except to say that the new staff members are excellent. Completely understand about the sexual orientation comment and that one is also gone. And, no, this is not Patrick writing anonymously, just someone who knows what's going on!

We just got back from a lovely holiday in St Thomas where we stayed at the Renaissance with our two children, ages 10 and 12. One lovely place we found to eat was the Toad and Tart Pub which was right up the street from the hotel. We're not the kind of travellers who seek out our own kind but decided to give it a try and were really delighted. We'd heard about it on this site too. Anna really is a super cook and she made sure that we were taken care of. I cook at home but her Yorkshire Pudding with the roast beef was marvellous and so was the curry we had. She was just fine with the children even though she made a couple of comments about children being seen and not heard. They really enjoyed sharing a Shepherds Pie which she recommended and also enjoyed chicken fingers. The apple pie with cinammon ice cream was lovely and so was the suicidal chocolate. Both Anna and the bartender, Simon, made us feel very welcome and made sure to introduce us to other people so we felt very welcome and very much at home. We do get to travel quite a bit and would recommend the Toad and Tart in St. Thomas as being a very good place for good food, good prices and friendliness. Cheers.

emily, I forgot to mention Toad and Tart in this thread. You are totally correct. It was great food, although the shephard's pie reminded me too much of my college days. The prime rib au jius was perfect, the waitress was saucy, Anna talked with us very shortly because it was busy. Overall it was great!