St John villa pool faces west keeping the pool water nice and warm
St. John Information / Restaurant and DiningRestaurants and Dining on St. John
From Fresh Seafood to Uncle Joe's Ribs and Fine Dining
So many choices and so few days...
Restaurants are plentiful both in town (Cruz Bay) and throughout the island. Our favorites, using the `Guide Michelin' 3 stars-is-worth-the-trip as the highest rating adjusted, of course, for St. John are:
*** Uncle Joe's Barbecue (across from the Post Office)
if you are in town around 6 PM any night and downwind of "Uncle Joe's Tropical Delight", while you may not find the "restaurant" sign easily, you cannot miss the delicious smells of their barbecued ribs (the best), chicken (sometimes dry), and/or steak (a little fatty) which you can eat in (no ambiance, but great for watching Cap's Place, the open bar across the street – do NOT go there) or take out (recommended); this is THE place if you are not a vegetarian (the meal does come with rice & beans and coleslaw or corn); for takeout you can either place your order when in town and wait around or you can call in your order @ 693-8806. Read Reviews >
Candi’s Delight.
(downgraded from 3 stars when Reggie, the fabulous cook at Joe’s BBQ, left there for Candi’s - only to leave Candi’s too!).On the left driving out of town on the one-way street at the corner with the (right turn) stop sign about 100 yards before The Marketplace. Ribs, chicken, steak and new items including fish (Mahi-Mahi and Grouper when we were there last), barbecued (not fried) too! Cole slaw -- a favorite of ours at Joe’s -- is even better at Candi’s with raisins. Candi also has home-made desserts including carrot cake she was making which looked awfully good. Not as long a wait as Joe’s BBQ. Call in your order to go @ 779-1452!
*** Vie's Snack Shop
At the other (east) end of the island on the north road which runs out of Coral Bay is THE place to go for a West Indian lunch on St. John; while heavily-fried, Vie's Garlic Chicken (be advised you will get two drumsticks unless you request a thigh; she does not seem to offer white meat, but the dish does come with Johnnycakes) is terrific, her Conch Fritters are fun and just going there is part of the adventure (see pages 73-74 of The St. John Beach Guide, described below in the beaches section for more information). Be forewarned, there are often (live) chickens, cats and dogs that will be begging for food at your feet and in your lap (and plate)! Our advice is that bothers you too much to take your lunch across the road to Vie's private beach that is fenced in; the animals will leave you alone and you, usually, will have this million dollar spot to yourselves to enjoy. Vie told us she was thinking of only cooking her Garlic Chicken on Saturdays so best to call her at 693-5033 to reserve some before you go all the way out there if chicken is what you crave. Read Reviews>
** Asolare
(on the hillside overlooking the harbor in Cruz Bay on the way to the North Shore beaches): great sunsets, very good food -- almost gourmet with an Asian flavor -- and very expensive; reservations at 779-4747. Read Reviews>
** Zo Zo’s
serving fancy Northern Italian food (at fancy prices) at Gallows Point Resort with fabulous views of Pillsbury Sound and St. Thomas. Reportedly, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ate here while staying at Cannel Bay over New Years 2006-7. Reservations 693-9200.
** La Tapa
well-conceived, fresh-daily food ranging from paella for two to appetizer-sized servings of a variety of healthy, delicious food; located in town next to Woody's (across and up the street from the FirstBank/ATM). Michael J. Fox and Kevin Bacon were reportedly frequent guests during their vacations on St. John. Reservations: 693-7755. Read Reviews>
** Chateau de Bordeaux
On Centerline Road overlooking Coral Bay with great moonrises (no kidding); fabulous views; air-conditioned; would-be gourmet; moderately expensive; reservations 776-6611. Re-opened in January, 2010,under new ownership. Read Reviews>
** Caneel Bay
This world-famous resort built by Laurence Rockefeller in the 1950's 
on the North Shore road to the National Park beaches allows non-registered guests to use one of their restaurants; great for lunch (the weekday buffet is half the cost of their Sunday buffet brunch), or dinner and a walk around the resort and their beautiful beaches. Very expensive and you may need to `dress' for dinner (coat, but no tie); reservations 693-5434.
on the North Shore road to the National Park beaches allows non-registered guests to use one of their restaurants; great for lunch (the weekday buffet is half the cost of their Sunday buffet brunch), or dinner and a walk around the resort and their beautiful beaches. Very expensive and you may need to `dress' for dinner (coat, but no tie); reservations 693-5434.** The Westin Hotel
Formerly a Hyatt, this resort hotel that re-opened as a Westin in November 1997 after being severely damaged by Hurricane Marilyn in 1995, has an excellent steak house “Cruz Bay Prime”, Reservations Recommended” (693-8000). By the way, if they are not totally full, you can use (they hope you will buy lunch or drinks) the Westin’s enormous freshwater pool and their beach filled with water sports.
** The Lime Inn
In Cruz Bay with no ambiance but great Caesar salads with shrimp or chicken or whatever for lunch; excellent dinners (good fish dishes); famous for their Wednesday night "all-you-can-eat-barbecued-shrimp" (extremely popular, very crowded -- so go early -- and not cheap); reservations (except for Wednesday nights unless you are a large party) at 776-6425 or 779-4199. If you tell Rich, the owner, that you are staying at Great Expectations, they will (I hope) treat you extra nicely. Read Reviews>
* Paradisio:
“Innovative American Cuisine” (with sometimes not-so-great service according to some of our previous guests) in Mongoose Junction. 693-8899.
* Morgan's Mango
Frequented by Harrison Ford who came here for dinner when he was secretly ensconced at Caneel Bay on vacation in 1997; located in Cruz Bay between the Post Office and Mongoose Junction; this local favorite offers good food and two-for-the-price-of-one Margaritas on Thursday nights. 693-8141. Read Reviews>
From Frommers.com on-line review:
Family-Friendly Restaurants
Café Roma -- This informal place is a family favorite with the best pizza on the island.
Miss Lucy's -- There is no better place in St. John to introduce your child to West Indian cookery than this restaurant. It's fun, it's local, and families enjoy it, often ordering a big paella that all members can feast on. The fish is among the best on the island.
Rhumb Lines -- Children will love the South Seas ambience and the Caribbean/Pacific Rim cuisine at this restaurant with a designated kids' menu. The appetizer's are among the island's best.
Café Roma -- This informal place is a family favorite with the best pizza on the island.
Miss Lucy's -- There is no better place in St. John to introduce your child to West Indian cookery than this restaurant. It's fun, it's local, and families enjoy it, often ordering a big paella that all members can feast on. The fish is among the best on the island.
Rhumb Lines -- Children will love the South Seas ambience and the Caribbean/Pacific Rim cuisine at this restaurant with a designated kids' menu. The appetizer's are among the island's best.
Not rated by these reviewers (but recommended by previous guests) are:
- The Fish Trap (693-9994) in Cruz Bay for fresh fish
- a new (2010) Mexican restaurant called Cactus on the Blue (693-8515) in what used to the Stone Terrace
- another Mexican restaurant called Margarita's (693-8400) which is near Morgan's Mango
- Bamboo Grill (774-4112), also near Morgan’s Mango, claiming to offer Japanese, Chinese and Thai food
- La Pancha del Mar (777-7333) located on the 2nd floor of The Marketplace which has gotten phenomenal reviews on the USVI forum
- Hinds (775-9951) run by the former chef at Stone Terrace located where Tage used to be across from the new roundabout in Cruz Bay
- a vegetarian restaurant, Satyamuna, also located in The Marketplace
On the east end of the island south of Coral Bay (since it is a 45 minute drive each way these are excellent choices for a great daytime excursion for Sunday brunch) are
- Miss Lucy’s (693-5244) for West Indian cuisine (except, oddly, for their Sunday brunch)
- Sweet Plaintains (777-4653) a wonderful restaurant in Coral Bay.
Yes, there are places to get pizza on St. John:
- Ronnie’s Pizza and ‘Mo (779-4775 or 693-7700), in Boulon Center (sometimes) actually will deliver
- Café Roma (776-6524) upstairs across from FirstBank
- Mamma Mia’s Pizzeria (693-5227) reportedly open 24/7 (and delivery available) in Wharfside Village
- On the weekends, Richie’s (998-2932) at the Inn at Tamarind Court.
While most of the aforementioned restaurants will provide food-to-go in the omnipresent styrofoam containers, the best ‘take-out’ places on St. John are: Joe’s Barbecue (ribs, chicken and steak), the deli section (both for cold as well as hot food) at Starfish, and Satyamuna (health foods) . The best hamburgers on the island are way out in Coral Bay at Skinny Legs (779-4982) or Shipwreck Landing (693-5640) although Woody's (770-4625), the bar hangout in Cruz Bay next to La Tapa, is supposed to be very good.
Our favorite Restaurants on St John:
Uncle Joe's BBQ is hands down our favorite!
Each and every year on Chuck's birthday, I tell him I will treat him to any restaurant on the island (already knowing the answer!). His response - always - is to go to Uncle Joe's BBQ for ribs (ribs with no sauce and double cole slaw) for take out to eat at 'home' which for us is the top floor of the Guest House overlooking Rendezvous Bay. Sure doesn't get any sweeter than that on a mid-December night!
