usvi-on-line
Most Overrated / Most Underrated
Underrated - Tamarind Court Restaurant/Bar. We discovered Tamarind Court on our anniversary in 2004. We had just parked the car and were out and about without a plan (I love that!). Just then the sky opened up (actual thunder & lightning!). We ducked into Tamarind Court; ended up staying for dinner (it was Cajun night), and then for drinks. We met a few of the locals and ended up heading to Quiet Mon with them. It was one of the most enjoyable evenings we have had in Cruz Bay. From then on we've never failed to hit Tamarind for breakfast or dinner (the table next to the fountain is ours!), and/or drinks - there's just something about it.
Last edited by ccasebolt on Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I don't know if the Beach Bar is under rated, but it's a must stop on our list. Just hanging out, looking at the water; if I'm on vacation in the tropics, I need a bar with a water view, like Island Blues for the same reason.
Really feel that Salt Pond is overrated with the caveat that we're not snorkelers, so if you're there for the view/beach/terrain, there's better beaches. Course my initial enthusiasm for the place was immediately dampened the first time we went and put our towels down into the pricker patches that seemed to be everywhere on this beach. An hour spent pulling stickys out was no fun.
Thoroughly enjoy Vie's-outdoor eating with chickens (tomorrow's lunch?)
that's island life!
Really feel that Salt Pond is overrated with the caveat that we're not snorkelers, so if you're there for the view/beach/terrain, there's better beaches. Course my initial enthusiasm for the place was immediately dampened the first time we went and put our towels down into the pricker patches that seemed to be everywhere on this beach. An hour spent pulling stickys out was no fun.
Thoroughly enjoy Vie's-outdoor eating with chickens (tomorrow's lunch?)
that's island life!-
Teresa_Rae
- Posts: 2053
- Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:44 pm
- Location: Downstate IL
The smoothie shack/hut/truck (which ever you call it) can be hit or miss depending on who makes the smoothie. Last summer I went two days in a row and ordered a mango smoothie...it was the best smoothie I'd ever had the first time, and the second time it was just ok, definitely not worth the price.
The people working there have varied over the years, but if you get the right person, you're really in for a treat
The people working there have varied over the years, but if you get the right person, you're really in for a treat
I have to say…
Underrated: Rhumb Line
When we ate there last June, there was hardly anybody there. They had live music that night, which we didn’t know until a woman with a guitar appeared on the stage and began preparing for her show. We then realized that we had been seated right in front of the stage. She started playing just as we were finishing our meal. We hated leaving right then so we stuck around and listened for a while. As we were leaving the restaurant (she was still playing and only a couple of people at the bar were there), I thought, “This place should be doing better business than this”. Maybe it was a quiet night for them, but still. Overall, I think they are underrated.
Underrated??: Canvas Factory in Mongoose Junction
I don’t know if it’s underrated or overrated since I don’t hear a word about the shop. Well, no mention of it qualifies the shop as “underrated” I suppose… We love their bags. They are casual and comfortable… sturdy and well made. My husband and I use them everyday.
Underrated: Rhumb Line
When we ate there last June, there was hardly anybody there. They had live music that night, which we didn’t know until a woman with a guitar appeared on the stage and began preparing for her show. We then realized that we had been seated right in front of the stage. She started playing just as we were finishing our meal. We hated leaving right then so we stuck around and listened for a while. As we were leaving the restaurant (she was still playing and only a couple of people at the bar were there), I thought, “This place should be doing better business than this”. Maybe it was a quiet night for them, but still. Overall, I think they are underrated.
Underrated??: Canvas Factory in Mongoose Junction
I don’t know if it’s underrated or overrated since I don’t hear a word about the shop. Well, no mention of it qualifies the shop as “underrated” I suppose… We love their bags. They are casual and comfortable… sturdy and well made. My husband and I use them everyday.
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Tom In Mi.
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:03 pm
- Location: Livonia, Mi.
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Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
- Posts: 1576
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:40 pm
- Location: Madison Area, Wisconsin
Overrated:
Sweet Plantains
Uncle Joes
Skinny's
Salt Pond
Lamshur
Asolare
Rum punch off the airplane, maybe that's the start of my arrival migrane (I still always drink one though)
Paved roads
Underrated:
Beach Bar food
Banana Deck
Balcony, appetizers/sunset
Liquor store by Hurcules
Sosa's
Joe's diner for a pate and people (hen) watching
A full day at your villa with nothin but a good book and a pool float
The few gravel/dirt roads that remain...the sound of the gravel popping on the tires as you drive
Marcia
Sweet Plantains
Uncle Joes
Skinny's
Salt Pond
Lamshur
Asolare
Rum punch off the airplane, maybe that's the start of my arrival migrane (I still always drink one though)
Paved roads
Underrated:
Beach Bar food
Banana Deck
Balcony, appetizers/sunset
Liquor store by Hurcules
Sosa's
Joe's diner for a pate and people (hen) watching
A full day at your villa with nothin but a good book and a pool float
The few gravel/dirt roads that remain...the sound of the gravel popping on the tires as you drive
Marcia
Ya, our party gang takes a villa day to lounge about and work on the tan lines. In 2005 we forgot we got mid-week maid service. I think we shocked her when she showed up and there was all that pale flesh draped around the pool. We double check maid service days now!Marcia (Mrs. Pete) wrote:
...
Underrated:
A full day at your villa with nothin but a good book and a pool float
...
Marcia
One thing about a villa lounge day is that there is always at least one nervous chihuahua persona that can't sit still and needs to be taken out and exercised. I usually take this opportunity to hit an obscure snorkel spot - Hart Bay, Devers Bay, Monte Bay - something fast. When we stayed at Jazz Villa we hit Chocolate Hole to the left towards Devers Bay. We could see our crew lounging on the pool deck up on the hill.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
Carmen is WAY underrated...totally agree.
Let's see...
Booked the car for 10 days. Then decided no 14 days. Then NO 12 days. Each time all it took was an email to Carmen and we promptly got an updated confirmation.
Arrived almost 1 hour after their quittin time, no the car wasn't waiting with keys and a request for me to return the next day for paperwork ... CARMEN was waiting to take care of us. A godsend for us as we had the kiddo with us. Once I am on island time I don't like having to return to do paperwork. A small hassle but a hassle nonetheless.
For the next trip (the one cancelled due to baby drama), first booked 1 car, then decided no we want 2, then no just 1 then no we NEED TO CANCEL the entire deal and don't know when we'll rebook. She was so nice to me! I would hate me at this point!
UPcoming trip this November ... so far, booked the car, she confirmed me via emails ... no changes I am trying to go easy on her this time.
Let's see...
Booked the car for 10 days. Then decided no 14 days. Then NO 12 days. Each time all it took was an email to Carmen and we promptly got an updated confirmation.
Arrived almost 1 hour after their quittin time, no the car wasn't waiting with keys and a request for me to return the next day for paperwork ... CARMEN was waiting to take care of us. A godsend for us as we had the kiddo with us. Once I am on island time I don't like having to return to do paperwork. A small hassle but a hassle nonetheless.
For the next trip (the one cancelled due to baby drama), first booked 1 car, then decided no we want 2, then no just 1 then no we NEED TO CANCEL the entire deal and don't know when we'll rebook. She was so nice to me! I would hate me at this point!
UPcoming trip this November ... so far, booked the car, she confirmed me via emails ... no changes
I am trying to go easy on her this time.
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Pete (Mr. Marcia)
- Posts: 1471
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:48 pm
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
I love the shout out for the Suttons. In the bad old board days, they used to get some negative feedback. In my opinion, that was totally undeserved. They are good people and always have been nice to us...and helpful.
Funny sidelight: I'm 47, and a somewhat successful professional, but I take great delight in parking perfectly in their lot, such that Mr. Sutton has no complaints.
Working with the Suttons is one of the highlights of our trips. Good people.
Funny sidelight: I'm 47, and a somewhat successful professional, but I take great delight in parking perfectly in their lot, such that Mr. Sutton has no complaints.
Working with the Suttons is one of the highlights of our trips. Good people.
Wisconsin, smell the dairy air
ratings, a bit tardy
here's our scoop for underrated:
**china shack**, above starfish market. Good, fresh chinese food; reasonably priced; fast and easy; no msg; they deliver within proximity to cruz bay; know chinese sounds funny in the v.i., but it tasted awfully good to us twice when we were too tired to shop for food/cook.
**Linda at Every Ting**, formerly gift shop at Gallows Point. Not only is Linda friendly, knowledgable, and willing and able to arrange everything from car, dinghy, and snorkal rental to day trips, but the shop has essentials priced cheap: i'm talking bottled water, juice, beer, rum, ice, bagels & pastries, cheese, deli meat, ice cream, and great t-shirts. Mind you, the ambiance and quantity of items offered by Every Ting as it was in it's prior locale down the hill in town is not the same due to lack of space at Gallows. But Linda is fantastic. She can also do provisioning for your villa.
**Deli Grotto** Absolutely wonderful food for breakfast and lunch. Take home for dinner works too.
here's our scoop for overrated:
**Cafe Roma's** pizza, and only the pizza. Crust way too thick, toppings way too big, skimpy on sauce and cheese. Everything else we've had here, however, we've loved. We'll likely eat here in June, just not pizza.
**Fishtrap**. Know the menu has been modified recently(new chefs/owners?),so perhaps has improved, but we were put off twice, in 2005-06, as much by the attitude of the staff as by the mediocre food and high prices.
**Rooms/Food at Caneel Bay**. As gorgeous as the property is, why would one spend $550-925 per night for a taudry beachfront room w/ 1 bed/1 bath/no phone/slow service, when one can provide one's own slow service at a villa for equal or less cost and get 2-4 bedrooms, at least 2 baths, and a full kitchen. Plus, you can access the properties beaches by foot or by dinghy. Our two lunches there were merely adequate and pricey. Can't compare to Deli Grotto.
dave
**china shack**, above starfish market. Good, fresh chinese food; reasonably priced; fast and easy; no msg; they deliver within proximity to cruz bay; know chinese sounds funny in the v.i., but it tasted awfully good to us twice when we were too tired to shop for food/cook.
**Linda at Every Ting**, formerly gift shop at Gallows Point. Not only is Linda friendly, knowledgable, and willing and able to arrange everything from car, dinghy, and snorkal rental to day trips, but the shop has essentials priced cheap: i'm talking bottled water, juice, beer, rum, ice, bagels & pastries, cheese, deli meat, ice cream, and great t-shirts. Mind you, the ambiance and quantity of items offered by Every Ting as it was in it's prior locale down the hill in town is not the same due to lack of space at Gallows. But Linda is fantastic. She can also do provisioning for your villa.
**Deli Grotto** Absolutely wonderful food for breakfast and lunch. Take home for dinner works too.
here's our scoop for overrated:
**Cafe Roma's** pizza, and only the pizza. Crust way too thick, toppings way too big, skimpy on sauce and cheese. Everything else we've had here, however, we've loved. We'll likely eat here in June, just not pizza.
**Fishtrap**. Know the menu has been modified recently(new chefs/owners?),so perhaps has improved, but we were put off twice, in 2005-06, as much by the attitude of the staff as by the mediocre food and high prices.
**Rooms/Food at Caneel Bay**. As gorgeous as the property is, why would one spend $550-925 per night for a taudry beachfront room w/ 1 bed/1 bath/no phone/slow service, when one can provide one's own slow service at a villa for equal or less cost and get 2-4 bedrooms, at least 2 baths, and a full kitchen. Plus, you can access the properties beaches by foot or by dinghy. Our two lunches there were merely adequate and pricey. Can't compare to Deli Grotto.
dave