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Hello all, next month will be my 10th trip to St Thomas, a place I dearly love. This time I really want to experience the island more as the local people do vs. a tourist. I'm well aqquainted with the usual restaurants on the island, Cuzzin's, Glady's, the Greenhouse, Banana Tree Grill, Rm with a View, Mim's. Loved Craig and Sally's - now sadly gone. Too many more to mention.....This year I'm hoping to try food truck fare and locally owned storefront cafes to sample Spicy Meat Pates, Doubles, Daube, Roti, Ribs seeped in local fruit sauces. So far I've learned of "Eileen's Roti Shop" in Smith Bay and "Ideal" hot roti restaurant near the museum in downtown Charlotte Amelia. The food truck by the airport has collected favorable reviews. I would really appreciate any other recommendations from folks here. Thanks!
The new restaurant at the Point Pleasant Resort...Panga...serves a delicious Roti. Both the chicken and the shrimp rotis are very good. They also have a fish and vege roti....will try them next....
For good very reasonably priced grub, very casual, try Hull Bay Hideaway on the North side. Great atmosphere, right on Hull Bay beach and live music on the weekends. Open for lunch and dinner.
On Mafolie Hill Rd. there is a place/building called Pilgrims Terrace. The building itself is closed, there is a food van on one side however and they have really good pates.
And then at the same place, around the back there is an open air vegetarian restaurant called "Love Livin"or something like that. They have really good vegetarian dishes and local drinks. The items they offer vary, some days more options then others likely based on whats growing. A lot of the ingredients they use are from their farm on the west end of St. Thomas (in Bordeaux).
The Bordeaux farmers have a farmers market once a month, I think on the last Sunday of the month. Its a small market, and off the beaten path, a bit of a drive - but the local farmers cook up vegetarian dishes and have local drinks, and you can pick up hot sauces and other food items they make.
You mentioned coming next month... if you happen to be coming the last week of the month... it will be Carnival time... and Food Fair would be worth your visit.
April 24th, 2013:Emancipation Garden, St. Thomas @ 8:00am
Event: VI Carnival - Cultural Fair. This culture, food & crafts fair is another very popular event. It involves many booths selling tasty Caribbean dishes, drinks, candies, pastries and other goodies which are not always available year round. Plants, produce and local arts and crafts are also on sale. Live music during some parts of the fair.
My favorite for good local food is the Petite Pump Room above the downtown ferry office, next to the seaplane. Always great conch in butter sauce with fungi, sweet potatoes and plantains - my favorite! They have good local fish. Sometimes they have soursop ice cream.
For spanish food I enjoy the Rancho Latino in Vitraco Park Mall across from Sugar Estate Pueblo entrance if you are coming from Yacht Haven Grande. Stewed Pork is sooo tender, rice n beans, salad and plaintains. Great Flan! Very reasonable prices.
If you will be here for the food fair which starts Carnival, you should try whelks and rice.
Good sweet potato stuffing (orangish color with raisins and a tiny bit of hot pepper) is to die for when done right. There are all kinds of wonderful local foods, drinks, desserts and preserves like our local stewed cherries and I love goood guava shells or guava paste.
Gee, now I am really hungry and must find something to cook/eat!
Where is "Eileen's Roti Shop" exactly located in Smith Bay? Thanks!
Eileen's is no longer in business.
STT Resident wrote:
Eileen's is no longer in business.
That's what I thought. Thanks for confirming and updating that information, STT Resident.
Thanks for all the great info. We arrive the last Sat. of the Carnival but have enjoyed the food fair in the past. Week 17 is the week we come and sometimes we get lucky and the carnival is in full swing during that week, usually not. Will definately check out the Petite Pump Room and the place across from Pueblo. We stay at Bluebeard's Castle so both are very close and I know the area well. Sorry to hear about Eileen's but excited to find and try the places mentioned on Mafolie Rd. Again, thank you for the info. One
of the things I love about STT is the helpful, friendly people we've met over the years. This message board is a good example of that attitude.
Mama's Shack, at the northern end of Yacht Haven Grande (far end from the pier) serves a variety of local foods and drinks. Open 7 days, for breakfast and lunch (not sure about supper, but don't think so).
Do you have a contact number for the owner....every time we visit the island, we try to stop by and eat...I'm thinking of using her for catering an upcoming event, but I no longer live on the island...any help you can provide would be great!
Do you mean the owner of Moma's Shack? I don't think she has a phone in her kiosk, so try calling Yacht Haven Grande at 340.774.9500 and ask them to get a message to her. Her name is Carmen.
Momma's Shack phone number is 340.677.0335. I'm here now.
