Food & Drink

Seafood Safari

On the hunt for some savory island cuisine? From grouper sandwiches to fire roasted snapper, nearly all of St. John’s 50 plus restaurants offer some form of seafood to tempt your palate. Allow us to whet your appetite as we as we highlight a few of our favorites:

 

Aqua Bistro

Scene
• Courtyard setting with an ocean view

Cuisine
• Traditional and diverse

Peek at the Menu
• Macadamia grouper with plantains, mushroom risotto, vegetables, mango salsa
• Seafood pasta with shrimp, scallops and lobster tossed in pesto cream sauce
• Mimosa rinsed mahi and shrimp ceviche tacos with baja slaw

What We Love
• Steel pan music every Wednesday
• Catch of the Day prepared 4 ways
• Loyal Coral Bay crowd

 

La Tapa

Scene
• Candlelit sidewalk and covered porch tables in an old West Indian building in the heart of Cruz Bay

Cuisine
• Contemporary with a Mediterranean flair

Peek at the Menu
• Linguine with shrimp, lobster, mushrooms, eggplant, garlic, olive oil
• Grilled local yellowtail snapper basquaise with squid ink orzo
• Seared yellowfin tuna, shaved fennel, beets, white beans, arugula, lemon truffle vinaigrette

What We Love
• Live jazz on Tuesdays
• Chef Alexandra Ewald often trains interns attending culinary institutes

 

Lime Inn

Scene
• Open air eatery dressed up in bold Caribbean color

Cuisine
• Fresh local seafood in a casual environment

Peek at the Menu
• Blackened Mahi Sandwich with lettuce, tomato and mango mayo
• Baked sea scallops in fresh tarragon white wine cream sauce
• Fresh grilled Caribbean lobster

What We Love
• Early happy hour from 11 to 3, Monday thru Friday
• Weekly oyster and all-you-can-eat shrimp nights
• Refreshing mint iced tea

 

Ocean Grill

Scene
• Casual by day, tropical chic by night within a stone walled courtyard

Cuisine
• Contemporary with casually elegant tropical flair

Peek at the Menu
• Crab stuffed shrimp with lemon caper wine sauce
• Lobster ravioli with basil and parmesan lobster sauce
• Ginger sesame grilled tuna with citrus chili soy reduction

What We Love
• Romantic outdoor setting
• Mahogany bar with affordable small bites menu
• Wine Club evenings paired with appetizers

 

The Fish Trap

Scene
• Laid back covered terrace one block from the ferry dock

Cuisine
• Traditional with a hint of Asian influence

Peek at the Menu
• Wahoo grilled with lobster au poivre cream on garlic mashed potatoes
• Jambalaya with fish, mussels and chicken sausage in spicy creole and rice
• Whole Fish of the Day, fried or steamed with stir fried Chinese vegetables

What We Love
• On-site seafood market
• Coconut Cake worthy of national attention
• Big screen TVs showing all the big games

 

Woody’s Seafood Saloon

Scene
• Hole in the wall that spills into the street

Cuisine
• Simply prepared and served on a paper plate

Peek at the Menu
• Mussels, crawfish, shrimp and scallops steamed in spicy beer broth
• Shark Bites, mahi pieces sprinkled with cajun seasoning
• Crab pasta salad with peppers, onion, crab meat and topped with parmesan

What We Love
• Cheapest Happy Hour on island starting at $1.00
• To Go Window, an island drive-thru
• Best place to people watch