Restaurants in Tortola
Before really getting into any detail about restaurants in Tortola, let me
firstly say this. One of the great things about going on vacation is when you
can stumble on a little out of the way place, which you’ve never read about in
any of your guide books, but which serves up the best food you have during your
whole stay. Make sure to check out our casual reviews at the bottom of the
page!
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It becomes your ‘regular’ for two weeks and you go home with
a photo of you and the owner with your arms round each other which serves as
a real heartwarming memory when the snow is falling or the wind whistling
outside the front door. Things like that make holidays precious. |
What I’m trying to say, I guess, is that any reviews of restaurants in
Tortola are going to concentrate on places that are already very popular and
which we can be sure won’t let readers down or disappoint them in any way. And
there are lots of those in Tortola.
A variety of restaurants in Tortola
As the largest of the British Virgin Islands, restaurants in Tortola are also
the most varied, with every palate being catered for in a delightful assortment
of everything from friendly beachside shacks to little hideaways in the hills to
the more gourmet restaurants offering an elegant dining experience.
Bear in mind that Tortola didn’t have its first set of traffic lights until
2001, and you’ll begin to appreciate perhaps that the standard of cuisine here
has developed enormously in the last few years. More chefs trained overseas are
working in Tortola; the ability to import top quality ingredients on a regular
basis has improved; the demand created by more tourists who expect good quality
food – all of these things have contributed to the raising of standards of
restaurants on the island.
As befits an island, most of the restaurants in Tortola rely heavily upon fish and sea
food, usually locally caught in the Caribbean’s abundant waters. But, apart from
this, what can you expect?
Well, this is a Caribbean island, so you can expect restaurants to mingle plenty
of different spices and herbs – the famous jerk chicken, for example is popular
as is other highly flavored barbecue food.
Also, you’ll come across lots of Roti – a kind of equivalent of tortilla, a
flat bread filled with meat or vegetables; they’re great for a lunch time snack.
Then there is paté, which shouldn’t be confused with the usual use of the term –
West Indian paté is a baked/grilled style pita bread, again filled with spiced
meat, seafood or even just vegetables. Another word which might confuse is Fungi
– because it has nothing to do with mushrooms. Fungi is made from cornmeal and
okra, similar to Italian polenta, and customarily served with seafood dishes.
Restaurants in Tortola and Lobster!
As far as seafood goes, your usual favorites will be found here but watch out
especially for Anegada lobster – reputed to be the best in the Caribbean; conch
– another delicacy that is delicious in fritters, paté, soup or salad; and, if
you like escargot, then try the local equivalent, whelks.
You can also take the opportunity of trying out some of the fresh local fruits
here such as soursop, papaya, sugar apple, guava and tamarind as well as the
more widely known mangos, pineapples and passion fruits.
And the restaurants themselves? Well, there’s a few individual reviews of
some of the very best restaurants in Tortola
in the following pages – places such as The Sugar Mill and
Brandywine Bay, which offer romantic, stylish international cuisine as well as
local favorites. And more homely, almost out of the way places such as C & Fs,
which is often tricky to find but, believe me, well worth the effort. And, of
course, many places with sea views that enhance the whole dining experience.
But there are others not necessarily reviewed here – Skyworld, for example;
one of the few Tortola restaurants able to serve food on top of a mountain. And
the Virgin Queen, a favorite haunt of the local sporting set. The Capriccio de
Mare, one of a number of places serving really fine Italian food. I could go on.
But, to go back to what I was saying at the beginning. You can try these
restaurants – I hope you do – and enjoy some of the finest food Tortola can
offer. But don’t forget to keep your eye open for that undiscovered gem
somewhere; and when you get back home, please tell us about it too!
Check below for some casual reviews:
Have A Great Story About a Favorite BVI Restaurant?
Have you had a Great BVI Dining experience?
Everyone knows that finding great restaurants in the BVI can really make your vacation! Do you have a great dining adventure story that just made your trip? Share it! We want to know where you went, what you had to eat and what made your dining experience so special! Include a great picture with your story!
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Roti Palace
Not rated yet
Roti Palace, Every time I go there in the afternoon I have to wake up the cook Mrs.Leanord to make my Chicken Roti. Best in the Caribbean.
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