We are leaving for St. John Saturday and would like some recommendations on restaurants, particularly with seafood. Also, while we will have jeeps and will do a lot of snorkeling, can someone recommend a day or half-day boat trip which might offer some variety? I was thinking of Virgin Gorda (can you leave from the east end of St. John?) or Jost van Dyke or just some other snorkeing locations. If you have some specific names of companies, I'd appreciate it! Thanks!

hi g, a trip to virgin gorda to the baths is pretty much a must do. lots of good snorkeling on vg.
re dining: here a few things posted recently:
>larry: Restaurants. Favorite without a doubt was Lime Inn (the fish was great, as was the portobello sandwich—don’t skip dessert). Morgan Mango’s is next on the list (great frozen drinks and great food). The Fish Trap was ok and I thought the pizza at Café Roma was overrated. The one place we went that was not recommended by other posters was Ellington’s, which was ok, but not worth the price. Also, we picked up a boxed lunch which was fantastic from the place that is Andre’s at night, I think it's Billy something (sorry—also next door to the place we rented the snorkeling gear and across the street from the gas station).

> http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...++where+to+eat

>from debra: Author: debra
Date: 06/09/1999, 11:02 am
My husband and I just returned from a week at Caneel Bay on St. John. Feel free to ask any questions...



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Author: Rachel
Date: 06/09/1999, 05:09 pm
Debra,
Thanks for sharing information about your trip. Did you use one of Caneel's meal plans or eat outside of the resort? If you did go outside the resort for meals, where do you recommend? Also, how was the humidity during your stay? Thanks again.




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Author: debra
Date: 06/10/1999, 06:49 pm
We did not use the meal plan. We considered it, but decided to get to the resort first and then decide based on the menus (you can change your meal plan preference only once during your stay). I'm glad we didn't go on the meal plan--there are plenty of GREAT restaurants--specifically Paradiso in Mongoose Junction in Cruz Bay; Morgan's Mango in Cruz Bay; Fish Trap in Cruz Bay; and Chateau Bordeaux on Bordeaux Mountain. They were all excellent--Fish Trap and Morgan's Mango being a little less "gourmet" than the other two. Our meals at Paradiso and Chateau Bordeaux were two of the best we've had in a long time. Fish Trap was the least expensive--about $40 for the two of us with beer. The others ran from $80-110 with all courses (app., salad, entree, dessert and drinks). Oddly enough, the most dissappointing meal of all was a Turtle Bay at Caneel. The service was poor and the entrees were mediocre. We've heard great things about it--so maybe we caught them on a bad night. E-mail me with specific questions about the restaurants.
Humidity was not too bad, except after the intermittant showers. Keep in mind, I'm from Atlanta, so
live in high humidity anyways...

> Author: Pat VandenHeuvel
Date: 03/13/1999, 06:21 pm
Great dinner spot in St. John is Asolare, perched cliffside overlooking the harbor. You can dine inside this old estate or better yet, arrive early and get an open air table overlooking the harbor below. Food is some of the best we have had. Much better than what you get at the pricey resorts.
Enjoy!

> and here's part of a thread discussing snorkeling and food:
Author: joel
Date: 03/14/1999, 08:30 pm
Hello Marianna,
I know you'll enjoy your vacation. St. John is a lovely island. My wife and I became engaged in St. Thomas, were later married there, and have been to the British Virgin Islands (part of the same chain) 5 times.
As to your equipment, most hotels/resorts provide what you'll need gratis. You might give them a call before shelling out $$.
Now this is a really good suggestion I'm going to give you, if I say so myself, a real jewel and I hope you take me up on it. It will involve one day of your time there and I guarantee it will be one of your most memorable. Catch the ferry from Cruz Bay, St. John to Road Town, British Virgin Islands. It's about 30 min and probably costs $30 each. Within walking distance of the ferry in Road Town is the catamaran Patouche II run by an American lady (a nurse) and a French Canadian. Frenchie is the captain and Claudia is the guide, entertainer, chef, barwoman, and all-around nautical expert. They will take you out on your choice of a full-day or half-day cruise to quiet bays on uninhabited islands (the BVI islands are mainly small and uninhabited) where the snorkling is way, way better than Trunk Bay which has been touristed to death. You'll get good on board food and 2-3 snorkling sites. You'll sail from site to site. We've been out with them 4 times. Claudia is very lovable and I've seen her help non-swimmers have a great time. Runs something like $60/person. Do it! Write if I can give you more info.




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Author: joel
Date: 03/14/1999, 08:34 pm
Forgot to mention. You'll need at least a driver's license to get into the BVI. It's a foreign country! Very friendly. In fact, a heck of a lot friendlier than anywhere in the USA. A passport will work best. Write me if you have questions. Have a great vacation. We'll be on Virgin Gorda (part of the BVI) in May, also.




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Author: jim
Date: 03/14/1999, 10:00 pm
we will be making our 4th trip to St John. this June you can rent equiptment at Cruz Bay water sports in Cruz Bay. any of the bays from hawks nest around to salt pond have goog snorkeling ,although I agree Trunk Bay is less enjoylable. Be sure and check out Watermelon Cay.
Good food always at Morgans Mango and the Fishtrap and the Lime Inn. Also if you can check out the caves at Norman Island BVI we rented a boat for the day to get there. E-mail if you have any questions.




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Author: Patrick
Date: 03/15/1999, 05:34 pm
I thought all the previous suggestions were excelent but I would add Cafe Roma for Italian and Joe's Barbecue for great barbecue at rock bottom prices.Honeymoon Beach at Caneel(public) has the most angelfish I have ever seen- on the left side facing the water.

if you read some st. john trip reports you'll find more info. hope this gets you started.

http://diningstjohn.blogspot.com/

This a really good website for reviews of restaurants on St John. Most of the restaurants have at least some seafood. Morgan's Mango has lobster night on Tuesdays. Lime Inn had good lobster and Wednesdays they have all you can eat peel and eat shrimp. The Fish Trap has just re-opened with a new manager. The restaurants on ST John really change like the weather. There have been a lot of recent closings. As for upscale dining, I can't help much there as we have a few solid favorites that we go to time and time again. We had really good fish and chips at The Balcony for lunch last trip and most places have a decent Mahi Mahi sandwich. I read a lot of recommendations for the Mahi sandwich at Woody's Seafood Saloon and it is relatively cheap.

Virgin Gorda cannot be done in 1/2 day. It is quite a distance and requires a full day. We did New Horizons II once and it stops at Virgin Gorda, Marina Cay for lunch at Pusser's, a snorkel spot and a stop on Jost Van Dyke's famous White Bay Beach, home of The Soggy Dollar Bar. The stops are about an hour each so it is basically an overview of The BVI's. Breakaway is their larger sister boat. You can also do a private charter with Lion in Da Sun or Palmtree Charters. More expensive, but you choose what you want to do. I don't really think Jost Van Dyke is know for snorkeling, mainly "limin". Lion in da Sun also has sign ups for a VG through Maho Bay campgrounds to possibly help you share the cost. Ther are others, but I don't have personal experience with them. I don't know of any that leave from the East End but there may be one or two. I believe there was a sailing trip that left from there but the name escapes me. Have a great time. I'm sure you will love St John.

We used Ocean Runners for a day trip to JVD, which I totally recommend. The snorkeling is not as great as at the Baths, but the island is magical. There's a good little pizza place behind Joe's Rum Hut in Cruz Bay that we ate at twice that I'd recommend.

You've made me go back and read my St. John trip report, gwizz. We also enjoyed burgers at the High Tide. Sorry it's not a seafood recommendation, just good food. Hopefully this is all still current - my trip was about a year and a half ago.

Gwizz, Lime Inn is good for seafood. Chateau Bourdeaux & Zozo's also have great seafood dishes though they are not "seafood restaurants". Try Uncle Joe's for some great Bar B Q, Cafe Roma for pasta & Woody's for burgers and bar food. We have used Pirates Penny/Stormy Petrel for all our day trips to Virgin Gorda. They do a great job and I think you would really be pleased with them.

Use your jeep to your advantage. There is great snorkeling all around St. John. Go to both North Shore & South Shore beaches. Have fun.

seasweetie,
If you are talking about Senorita Pizza by Joe's Rum Hut, it is currently closed. The owner of Mojo Cafe and the new Waterfront Bistro has taken it over and it is being renovated and will have a new and improved menu. It is supposed to re-open in 30 days, but with island time, who knows .

Thanks to you all for the great information. I'm printing it all out and will take with me. I know it will make our trip a great one!

http://www.on-stjohn.com/2008/06/10/...0%a6/#comments

Hope this link works. Here is the latest on Senorita Pizza. Love the names some of the folks picked in the comments section.

I don't know if it's still there, but there is a restaurant in Cruz Bay called Rhumb Lines, which is open air in a courtyard, and served a lot of small plates - casual, and pretty good.