5 Best Restaurants in South Shore, St. Thomas

In the old Russian consulate house at the tip of the Frenchtown peninsula, this restaurant offers superb views along with an eclectic array of dishes expertly prepared by longtime Virgin Islands chef Patricia LaCorte and her staff. Choose from the more casual bistro-style menu, which features taste-and-share charcuterie and artisanal cheese plates and entrées like flatbreads and burgers, or splurge on the more formal dinner selections like butter-poached local lobster and filet mignon. After dinner, take a five-minute stroll to nearby Frenchtown, where several bars offer live music on the weekends.

Edible art is an apt description of the sushi and sashimi feast that draws visitors and locals alike. The favorite here is steamed mussels in a house-made creamy sesame dressing dubbed "iguana sauce," which is, happily, not made from the spiny reptile that roams the island's hillsides and roadways. There are nearly 30 vegetarian and seafood rolls to choose from, including avocado, spicy crab, and red snapper. The 5-foot-tall reef tank will definitely put you in the mood for seafood.

Graze on local lobster, burgers, and salads, as well as pizza baked in a stone-floored oven while gazing at the million-dollar megayachts docked right next to this hip seaside eatery. Even if you aren't hungry, stop here on Friday nights for the DJ Dance Party and Laser Light Show that starts at 10 pm.

With its colorful maritime flags, blue-and-white decor, and million-dollar views of megayachts docked just yards away, this open-air eatery has a seafood-centric menu to match its nautical theme. Small plates include tuna crudo, lump crab cakes, and shrimp ceviche, while entrée-size offerings feature soy-glazed red snapper and island-spiced blackened mahimahi. Add burgers, steaks, and pasta, and there's something for everyone. Sunday brunch, with standard eggs and pancake fare, is popular with locals. Yacht Haven Grande's cannon-studded lawn adjoins the property, where live music, themed events, and holiday celebrations happen throughout the year, giving diners a front-row view.

House-smoked, hand-rubbed meats with a side of rum are the specialty here. Order the sampler platter for a taste of everything: choice of two meats like pulled pork and beef brisket, two sides such as potato mac salad (a mishmash of two favorites with a flavor all its own) and brisket beans, plus pickled veggies and Texas toast. There's smoked tofu, too, for vegetarians, and more than 70 choices of rum from throughout the Caribbean.