Food question for the Islander???

[airlink diva]

Good morning!

I'm sailing very soon and one of my stops is St. Thomas. What is a must try local food to try?

[The Flying Pirate]

Tamara, I don't live there but as a flgiht crew we overnight in St Thomas once in a while and all the rampers at the airport told us to try the burgers at the Shipwreck Tavern. They are awesome! The Shipwreck is right across the street from the Haventsignt dock so it is an easy walk. If you or anyone in your group is a beer drinker the local brew called Blackbeard Ale is very good. It is actually brewed on St Croix, but it is the "local" USVI beer. You'll love St Thomas.

[The Islander]

For a quick bite you could try a pate, usually the food vans on the road sides carry those. They are a pastry filled with beef, conch or salt fish usually. Johnny Cake is another bread type product, usually eaten with a piece of fried chicken. Again something the food vans usually have.

 

For actual dishes in restaurants you could try some fish dishes... fried or stewed. I don't know that restaurants serve boiled fish so much but that is another way of cooking it. Usually served with fungi (pronounced "fun-g"; its a corn meal side dish, the consistency of mashed potatoes sort of, usually has okra in it too). Rice is a popular side dish with fish, also plantains and ground provisions.

 

You could try some whelk dishes. Because of overfishing there is a protected season. Whelk season is happening now so there may be some restaurants carrying it. Usually stewed with rice. Some folks put green papaya in the dish. Conch is something else you could try.

 

Callaloo soup is popular. It is made with various meats or sea foods.

 

Cuzzins is a popular local food restaurant downtown, on Back Street. Gladys is another, its also downtown. If docking in Crown Bay and heading to Emerald Beach, then there is a local food restaurant there - Walkers by the Sea. Another close by is Victor's; would need to take a taxi there if at Emerald Beach. And by the airport entance, very close to Emerald, is another local food place - can't think of the name right now, but its right at the corner by the entrance to the airport, on the left side.

 

You can also try some local drinks if available or offered at the restaurant you go to; bush tea, soursop punch, passion fruit juice, sorrel.

 

--Islander

[Ms411]

For local food close to the Havensight dock, there's a tiny restaurant behind Paradise Gate (across from the Butterfly Farm) that caters to the taxi drivers. I forgot what the specifics of the menu, but there's probably a chicken and fish dish regularly. You can order from "the local menu" at Paradise Gate, and you have to ask for it.

 

Havensight Cafe also serves local specials in addition to continental specials. Service can be slow at both places.

 

In town, you'll find a local food van near Vendors' Plaza and the Grand Hotel. The problem with food vans is there's no place to eat your food.

 

Cuzzin's, also in town, makes a delicious callaloo (a spinach soup with seafood, okra, and fungi), and also serves conch creoled, curried, and in butter sauce. They have another fish (snapper?) that's regularly on the menu.

 

Gladys' serves ol' wife fish in butter sauce, and that's a popular local dish. This restaurant is also in town.

[airlink diva]

Thanks for all of the replies!! One of the things that I love to do when traveling is enjoy the local food! I have a friend when he travels out of the country only wants burgers and fries. You can get that at home.

Thanks!!

[Scooter-n-GB]

If you or anyone in your group is a beer drinker the local brew called Blackbeard Ale is very good. It is actually brewed on St Croix, but it is the "local" USVI beer. You'll love St Thomas.

 

Thanks for the tip about Blackbeard Ale! Is it a light, summer type ale?

[chubbycheeks]

I vote for Gladys' or Cuzzins'. They're both great restaurants. Gladys' has a great staff there and I've not been disappointed by anything I've ordered there.