St. John VI restaurants

[KennethT]

14 minutes ago, liamsaunt said:

 

That's an interesting perspective.  The island is trying to bury the power lines in areas that are deemed to be at very high risk during storms, such as right next to the shore, but it is a very slow moving process, and the island's power system is really unstable for other reasons that underground lines won't help with.   I won't get into that here.

 

We spent the day at Cinnamon beach

 

 

It was really windy, so we could not snorkel, but it was fine for swimming.  I stopped for the obligatory scenic overlook picture of Trunk Bay

 

 

and then we headed back to the house, because we were planning on just hanging out and cooking dinner there. I like the way the house is almost hidden down a lush path 

 

 

short after we arrived to the pool, it started raining again.  We did get a rainbow

 

 

Cooking dinner was a bit of a challenge.  The kitchen is really under equipped for such an upscale house.  I'll be leaving some feedback for sure, since we are already booked to come back here.  Nephew grilled some chicken we had marinated in advance, I struggled to make flatbread in the only large skillet available on one of the two working burners on the stove, and my sister made a salad from delicious local greens.  Viola, chicken shawarma of sorts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you premake the reddish sauce at home and bring as part of the frozen food?  What is the white sauce?  Did that come from home as well?

[liamsaunt]

4 hours ago, KennethT said:

Did you premake the reddish sauce at home and bring as part of the frozen food?  What is the white sauce?  Did that come from home as well?

The red sauce is a local hot sauce that I love  mixed with sriracha that I brought from home. The white sauce is just yogurt mixed with a little mayonnaise, vinegar, and sugar, all purchased at the grocery here.  

Here’s the local hot sauce. It’s mildly spicy with curry in it. Delicious. Not traditional for shawarma, but you use what you have 😀

 

 

[liamsaunt]

4 hours ago, lindag said:

What a gorgeous beach!  And the house is quite picturesque.

it is beautiful. It is also a National Park beach, and it offers camping, everything from bare sites to newly refurbished cottages. I think it’s pretty great, but camping of any kind is a hard no for my husband. 

[KennethT]

27 minutes ago, liamsaunt said:

 camping of any kind is a hard no for my husband. 

A man after my own heart... I mean, I love the idea of it - sleeping under the stars, peace and quiet but the reality is often quite different - hot and humid, bugs, no bathroom, bugs and did I mention bugs?

[lindag]

I would dearly love to see some photos of and around that beautiful house.

[haresfur]

Nice thread, even though when I read the title I keep thinking you are talking about St John the sixth

[rotuts]

I actually checked

 

a long time ago

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_VI

[liamsaunt]

18 hours ago, KennethT said:

A man after my own heart... I mean, I love the idea of it - sleeping under the stars, peace and quiet but the reality is often quite different - hot and humid, bugs, no bathroom, bugs and did I mention bugs?

 

Bugs, no bathroom, and sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag sum up the terrors of camping to him.  One of the St. John cays is now offering glamping in the on season, and he is considering my request to try that out.  The "tents" have real beds, ac, wifi, and indoor bathrooms!  It's like a hotel, but up in a tree.  Sounds pretty great to me.

 

Lovongo Cay

 

17 hours ago, lindag said:

I would dearly love to see some photos of and around that beautiful house.

 

Sure.  We've been in here for over a week, so sorry for anything messy or out of place.  This is the great room leading to the kitchen.  We hang out in here at night 

 

 

Here's a fun feature of the primary bedroom.  The shower is outdoors.  You have a great view of the bay while getting cleaned up.  I think the other bedrooms have indoor showers, but I have not really looked.

 

 

This is the lower covered terrace area.  The path to the beach is off here.  There are kayaks and SUPs behind this area.

 

 

The upper pool deck area.  My husband and I sit in those green chairs to look at the stars every night

 

 

The outdoor dining area

 

 

And my favorite outdoor spot, the gazebo where I read every morning while waiting for everyone else to wake up.

 

 

Here are some more garden photos too.  The view from the front door heading towards the driveway, which is out of sight

 

 

Heading into the gardens.  There are fruit trees back here. 

 

 

Yesterday morning we went in to town looking for caffeine.  Two stops, St. John Scoops Caffeination Station for drinks

 

 

and Downtown Sips for baked goods.  I forgot to take pictures of everything.

 

 

We spent the day at Maho beach

 

 

We did snorkel and saw some turtles, rays, and various fish, but overall visibility was not great because we have been having rain showers, which is stirring things up.  It was still nice to get out there.

 

Nobody wanted anything fancy for dinner so we just went to the Beach Bar (logo: home of some of the greatest times you'll never remember)

 

 

View from our picnic table on the beach.  The sunset is obscured not by clouds, but by Sahara dust.  Bad for asthma, good because it suppresses development of tropical weather.  This is the dustiest I have ever seen it here.

 

 

Margaritas for the drinkers

 

 

 

Conch fritters!

 

 

Blackened tuna with wasabi sauce

 

 

tuna down now (wrapped in nori and flash fried with soy dipping sauce)

 

 

My niece wanted these pasta balls.  They are cheese stuffed mac and cheese deep fried.  I did not know that anything like this existed.  If I never try it again, that will be ok with me.  

 

 

Sister's second drink was the local IPA

 

 

Goodbye sun

 

 

And, of course, ice cream for dessert.  Nephew's two scoops (guava and strawberry) in a waffle cone

 

 

 

Today, more snorkeling, hopefully a trip to a bar I have wanted to visit for a while, (not for the drinks, for the views.  If we get there, you will see), and another home cooked dinner.  

[lindag]

Thank you for the shots of the house...what a wonderful private paradise!

[KennethT]

1 hour ago, liamsaunt said:

 

Bugs, no bathroom, and sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag sum up the terrors of camping to him.  One of the St. John cays is now offering glamping in the on season, and he is considering my request to try that out.  The "tents" have real beds, ac, wifi, and indoor bathrooms!  It's like a hotel, but up in a tree.  Sounds pretty great to me.

 

Lovongo Cay

 

OK - that is definitely NOT camping.  That's a hotel for sure.  I would definitely be into that.

[liamsaunt]

Not too many pictures from yesterday.  We drove all the way out to the east end of the island to hit up one of my favorite snorkeling spots.  It has a very healthy reef, and we've seen all kinds of great stuff here, like spotted eagle rays, octopus, sharks, and turtles.  We knew there was a chance that we might not be able to get in because of sargassum.  Luckily, most of the island is not affected by sargassum, but there are a few places that face in the right direction to be impacted, and this is one of them.  We hiked in and.....

 

 

 

Booo!!!   It's OK. I am coming back in November and the sargassum will be gone by then.  Plus, there was lots of wildlife around on the shore and I got four new birds for my life list 😀

 

We went to the south facing side of the same bay to find crystal clear waters.

 

 

The snorkeling here is not as good as the north side, but we did see some decent stuff.

 

Time for "lunch"

 

 

 

 

 

I got overruled on my scenic bar visit in favor of coming back to the house for pool time.  I've been promised we will go later this week.  We'll see...  

 

Dinner was the most basic at the house.  Nephew and husband had burgers and hot dogs, niece, sister and I had chicken sausages with peppers, plus a salad.  My nephew's plate

 

 

Today was supposed to be a wash out weather wise, but it's looking pretty sunny out there so we might get to the beach after all.  In any event, we have a fancy dinner out reserved for this evening.

[liamsaunt]

So despite the prediction of bad weather for yesterday, it turned out to be a pretty nice day.  The storms were around, but they all passed to the side and went over to neighboring St. Thomas.  We spent the day at Hawsknest beach

 

 

Dinner that night was at Morgan's Mango

 

 

The restaurant.  We were in the first seating, and I took this picture as soon as we got to our table.  The whole place was full about five minutes after I took this.  You need to call about six weeks in advance for a reservation on their lobster nights.

 

 

 

Menus.  Drinks

 

 

 

Appetizers

 

 

Mains

 

 

Drinks.  One is a gimlet, and the other is the no way jose

 

 

We ordered some appetizers to share.  Tuna tostones

 

 

Snapper seveche, with tuna tartare in the back ground

 

 

 

Nephew wanted a house salad.  He declared it "the best salad he had ever eaten in his life."  I do not know if that was actually true or if he was just starving 

 

 

For entrees, my sister, nephew and I all got the same thing, the catch of the day (wahoo) served voodoo style with island salsa.  Nephew had to pass on the salsa since it has pineapple in it and he has a sensitivity to that, but he just dipped his fish in the bean sauce and enjoyed it that way

 

 

My niece got the pork tenderloin

 

 

and husband had the lobster

 

 

 

Desserts

 

 

We shared a piece of their famous key lime pie (unfortunately the picture came out blurry), and a piece of the pineapple caramel bread pudding

 

 

Today is our rescheduled visit to the floating taco bar, if the weather holds.  It's pretty windy right now, so we will see what the day brings.

 

Edited August 9, 2023 by liamsaunt (log)

[TdeV]

Amazing. Again. Thank you!

[liamsaunt]

So we did get to the floating taco bar yesterday.  We went around 3 so we could make it our main meal of the day, and that turned out to be a good idea.  Normally it is packed out there, but we almost had the place to ourselves.  The fact that it's August also has something to do with that.  The island is really starting to empty of tourists.  

 

You have to charter a boat to take you out to the bar and then swim in for lunch.  There are a couple of shuttle companies also, but since we had five people, it was only a few dollars more to just charter a boat, which is more convenient because you can then leave all your stuff on the boat.  If you take the shuttle you have to bring everything with you to Lime Out.  Lime Out floating taco bar

 

 

The menu.  Between us we tried the seveche, the tuna, the cauliflower, the rum rib, and the short rib.  I only got a picture of my plate, so no pictures of the meaty ones.  We each ordered three tacos.  My nephew commented that he thought he should have ordered seven, and my niece thought five would have been a more appropriate serving size.  I thought they were just being silly, but when we got back to the house, they grilled more food.  😂

 

 

 

After Lime Out, we stopped by Trunk Bay for a swim.  I love going at the end of the day when the beach is basically empty.  

 

 

 

Dusty sunset

 

[curls]

What flavor of ice cream was this? Do you know how they make the design on the cone? Is the cone flavored too? It looks intriguing and delicious!

 

[liamsaunt]

21 hours ago, curls said:

What flavor of ice cream was this? Do you know how they make the design on the cone? Is the cone flavored too? It looks intriguing and delicious!

 

 

The ice cream is a chocolate and vanilla soft serve twist.  Everything that Irie Pops makes is vegan.  I believe the ice cream is a coconut base, but I can ask when I go back there today.  The cone is a blue corn flavor.  My niece and nephew thought it was a little salty.  I thought it was very good with the ice cream, but they prefer the pink cone, which is a vanilla flavor.  There's also an orange cone which we have not tried yet (but I am getting one today).

 

Yesterday we spent the day at tranquil Francis Bay.

 

 

For lunch/dinner, I wanted to go to Coral Bay to try out a BBQ place and then go to the Windmill Bar for drinks and pictures, and then to town for ice cream, but I was overruled (again, a theme of this trip) in favor of just eating at the Windmill Bar and then possibly going to town for ice cream.  I was skeptical about this choice, but majority rules.

 

As I expected, the view from the bar was stunning.  Those white roofs you see are part of the ruins of the Caneel Bay resort.  Beyond it, Henley Cay, then the big one is Lovongo Cay, with Congo Cay behind it.  Then, right to left, Grass, Mingo, and Thatch Cays.  All but Lovongo are uninhabited, and Thatch Cay is currently for sale, for, I think, $15 million if you want to own your own private island 😂

 

 

 

The bar.   It's called the windmill bar because it is on the grounds of an old sugar plantation, and the ruins of the windmill and sugaring house are still there.

 

The food is not really the draw here, it is all about the view.  Buffalo dip ordered by my nephew

 

 

Fish tacos (cheese, sigh)

 

 

burger

 

 

 

Chocolate sea salt Irie Pop from the stash behind the bar, purchased when it became obvious that we were not gong to town for ice cream after all. My niece had a pina colada one, which she enjoyed.

 

 

and one more of the view

 

[Shelby]

Ok, it's time that YOU get to pick where to eat!  Don't make me come over there and yell at everyone!

[TicTac]

Stunning photos, as usual!

 

$9-12 - is that per taco?? - Assuming so, they sure put a mark-up on having to lug the food out to the floating boat/restaurant....crikey.  And I thought $6-7/taco in Kensington market a few weeks back was robbery!

 

 

[Duvel]

1 hour ago, TicTac said:

Stunning photos, as usual!

 

$9-12 - is that per taco?? - Assuming so, they sure put a mark-up on having to lug the food out to the floating boat/restaurant....crikey.  And I thought $6-7/taco in Kensington market a few weeks back was robbery!

 

 

Ups … and I assumed that’s for the three of them and thought: pretty decent for the location 😉

[liamsaunt]

On 8/11/2023 at 10:10 AM, Shelby said:

Ok, it's time that YOU get to pick where to eat!  Don't make me come over there and yell at everyone!

 

I am coming back with just my husband in November, so I will get to do whatever I want then.  😀

 

On 8/11/2023 at 10:21 AM, TicTac said:

Stunning photos, as usual!

 

$9-12 - is that per taco?? - Assuming so, they sure put a mark-up on having to lug the food out to the floating boat/restaurant....crikey.  And I thought $6-7/taco in Kensington market a few weeks back was robbery!

 

 

 

It was per taco, but that's a pretty typical price for down here.  Everything is pretty expensive.  The most common advice to new tourists considering a visit is "bring half the clothes and twice the money you were planning."   

 

We are home now.  We had some very island time delays getting back.  First, the plane had too much fuel to take off from St. Thomas, so we had to sit on the jetway and burn off enough to be able to clear the mountain at the end of the runway.  Then, they burned off too much fuel, so we had to refuel.  Then we had to wait for a crew change in San Juan, where we had to stop to refuel again (because you cannot put enough fuel in the plane in St. Thomas to fly direct to Boston, because of the whole mountain thing).  It took 14 hours door to door, which was definitely not our record (26 hours).  

 

We stopped by Irie Pops one last time, to try the orange cone

 

 

None of us picked it as our favorite, but it was still good.

 

We spent the day at Trunk Bay, and then went to town for another dinner at La Tapa.  Menu for Friday night

 

 

Drinks.  Husband had a martini, I had a very exciting club soda, sister had a gimlet, and my nephew got some strange drink with pepper vodka and coffee.  He was not a huge fan, but it's his fault for ordering a drink with pepper vodka and coffee in it.

 

 

La Tapa oil and bread 

 

 

Sister and husband shared a special appetizer of scallops in a lobster broth

 

 

Tuna tartare for the table

 

 

Nephew had the lamb meatballs, but the picture came out blurry.  I chose the salad of grilled eggplant, roasted beets, arugula, mozzarella, and pine nuts.  This was delicious.  I am going to try and replicate it for dinner one night this week.

 

 

My sister, niece and I all ordered the mahi mahi with green curry sauce.  It was delicious

 

 

Husband got the tuna again.  He said it was even better than the last time he ordered it.

 

 

and nephew got the veal schnitzel special, which he very much enjoyed

 

 

We ordered some desserts this time.  Niece chose the bread pudding with raspberries and saffron ice cream. She loved this

 

 

Husband and I shared the flan.  Everyone else stole some of it, but I got three bites and it was delicious

 

 

Nephew chose the apple tarte tatin, which he devoured

 

 

And that's it until next time.  Here's the obligatory photo of the parting view of downtown from the ferry back to St. Thomas.  See you on the dinner! thread.

 

 

[TdeV]

Liamsaunt, I'm really looking forward to more details about that eggplant, beetroot salad.
And, thanks again for all your efforts to keep us entertained!

[KennethT]

2 hours ago, liamsaunt said:

We are home now.  We had some very island time delays getting back.  First, the plane had too much fuel to take off from St. Thomas, so we had to sit on the jetway and burn off enough to be able to clear the mountain at the end of the runway.  Then, they burned off too much fuel, so we had to refuel.  Then we had to wait for a crew change in San Juan, where we had to stop to refuel again (because you cannot put enough fuel in the plane in St. Thomas to fly direct to Boston, because of the whole mountain thing).  It took 14 hours door to door, which was definitely not our record (26 hours).  

 

 

 

As usual, my thanks for bringing us along again - I always enjoy your trips.  I'm sorry to say that I actually cracked up laughing at that plane situation although I'm sure it wasn't funny while you're sitting there.  And 26 hours?!? That's insane....

[rotuts]

@liamsaunt 

 

Im not much of a mixed drink person 

 

but they are interesting to see .   why not just an ice cold , young but amusing Chablis ?  

 

so when I noted your drinks line=up , I was very intrigued by the short Guiness , in the wrong glass .

 

''''  my nephew got some strange drink with pepper vodka and coffee ''

 

was that on the menu ?  it would be impossible to guess that  at first ( or many ) glance(s)

 

wonder how many they sell .

 

nice menu , thank you for sharing .

 

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by rotuts (log)

[liamsaunt]

21 hours ago, KennethT said:

 

As usual, my thanks for bringing us along again - I always enjoy your trips.  I'm sorry to say that I actually cracked up laughing at that plane situation although I'm sure it wasn't funny while you're sitting there.  And 26 hours?!? That's insane....

 

It was crazy.  I think the trip was supposed to be 9 hours door to door, but absolutely everything went wrong.  Crazy weather, mechanical malfunctions, etc.  I remember crying at the ferry dock when we finally got to St. John and saying we were never coming back.  Then we stayed for three weeks and had a fabulous time.  That was in 2006 😂

 

 

20 hours ago, rotuts said:

@liamsaunt 

 

Im not much of a mixed drink person 

 

but they are interesting to see .   why not just an ice cold , young but amusing Chablis ?  

 

so when I noted your drinks line=up , I was very intrigued by the short Guiness , in the wrong glass .

 

''''  my nephew got some strange drink with pepper vodka and coffee ''

 

was that on the menu ?  it would be impossible to guess that  at first ( or many ) glance(s)

 

wonder how many they sell .

 

nice menu , thank you for sharing .

 

 

 

Yes, it was on the permanent cocktail menu.  I did not see that particular menu because they only brought one for the table to share, and since I don't drink alcohol anymore, it never made its way to me.  But he definitely ordered from the menu. I can say that I did not notice anyone else in the restaurant drinking it, and can also say with confidence that he would never, ever order it again 😂

[rotuts]

 thank you for including us 

 

on so many of your trips.