First Night Restaurant??

[RVBama]

Hey everyone. My family of 4 (14 year old & 10 year old) is traveling down in a few weeks. We are staying in a villa near the Westin..
I know when we have visited other islands, we have a usual, easy "first night restaurant". You know, something not too fancy, but someplace that will let you know you have arrived without a hassle. Just something good, casual, and convenient..

Would love to hear some of your first night specialties!!!!

Thanks in advance!!

[Xislandgirl]

For years we always had dinner at Cafe Roma. Huge portions, enough to bring home for leftovers later in the week.
The past 2 years we have been going to Banana Deck, super convenient and very good.

[BillVT]

Our first day or night stop is usually the Banana Deck. It is casual, al fresco and friendly. It is up a set of stone stairs across from the Beach Bar and looks over the trees to Cruz Bay. The food is good. It has become a family tradition and when arriving at separate times we usually meet up there heading to the villa.

[adsjayhawk]

Skinny Legs first night everytime! I try to be on Island Time when I get on the plane to STT, but I never quite make it until we've put the bags in the villa and made it to Skinny's for a burger and Presidente. I'm on Island Time on the first bite

I know it's a bit of a drive from the Westin area, but the beauty of the North Shore road helps too!

Enjoy

[pipanale]

I like reading perspectives on topics like this. The first night for us is as simple as it gets. We'll have the obligatory stop at JJ's once we all arrive and unpack.

Otherwise, first night dinner is quite simple: I roll up cold cuts (that we brought) and slice up cheeses (that we brought) and plop them down on a platter with some bread and crackers. then, I grab a large ice-filled glass, a bottle of Cruzan, and head to the pool for the evening.

The thought of going out gives us the willies, especially after a loooong travel day. We just want to gawk at the view and snack.

[tjwgrr]

Since you may be tired from traveling, if your family likes BBQ, I'd place an order at Joe's BBQ or Candi's BBQ and head back to your villa to eat.

... or grab a pizza at Ronnie's for the villa.

[mbw1024]

if you want to go out I'd say Banana Deck

[augie]

For me it's highly dependent on where we're staying, what time we get there, and how trying the travel day was to get there.

First couple of trips we did the cheese, cracker, grapes thing.

Last time we warmed up some precooked meat that was vacu-sealed and frozen.

We'll be early and close enough this next time that Skinny Legs, Shipwreck, Aqua Bistro, etc. will be an option.

[grandpainin]

We go to Joe's order their GREAT Ribs and start our slow down to island time.

[SOonthebeach]

Great ideas from everyone- we've done a little bit of all of it- including take out pizza from Cafe Roma. I agree- depends on how tired you (and your kids) are! But this year we may do Banana Deck....

What about G Spot? Do the burgers travel well? Been wanting to try them....

[Pianogrl]

Usually its grab BBQ ribs from Candi's (AWESOME) & either eat there or take them back to the villa & chill.....yummmmmm BBQ ribs, french fries & cole slaw, homemade....SO GOOD!!!

[liamsaunt]

I am usually too tired to go out on our first night. We usually just eat some crackers and cheese or I will cook a very simple pasta dish. Last trip we had groceries delivered to our villa in advance of our arrival, and that made a huge difference--not to have to go out and stock up on water, wine, soda, breakfast stuff, etc. I need to set that up today for next week, now that I think about it!

The times we have gone out on our first night we have kept it very simple--Beach Bar or Banana Deck. My stomach doesn't want anything fancy after a long day of travel.

[kklay]

Although we have never had children on our trips, our first stop (which includes something to eat) is Woody's. We started out years ago with getting off the "people ferry" and dragging our suitcases up the alley to find a resting spot at Woody's (or beside it, or across the street - depending on the time and how busy it was!) We always had to have a few "cold ones" and then eventually ordered some food. That's when we knew we had begun to be on "Island Time." I've seen parents with children the same age as you mention and they were enjoying themselves. We usually got our car the next day however this last trip we rented on St. Thomas, took the car barge and still stopped at Woody's before proceeding to our villa.

[BeAsUR]

Here is a tip for flights that are delayed and through your plans out the window. We were scheduled to get to STT at the usual 3pm ish time. HOWEVER- our flight was delayed 3 hours,going to Miami making us miss our connecting flight from Miami to STT and then the Miami to STT flight had mechanical failure causing us a 2 hour delay getting to STT. which caused everything from getting the rental car to dinner to getting groceries to backfire. Our greeter for the villa was so kind and offered to pick up BBQ from Candie's before they closed at 6pm and take it to the villa and put it in our fridge. Good thing she did- as our flight out of Miami was also screwed up and we arrived in STT in time for the 11pm ferry which put us at the villa 10 minutes til midnight. We were tired and so hungry and so grateful that we had something at the villa to eat.

[cool breeze]

I like reading perspectives on topics like this. The first night for us is as simple as it gets. We'll have the obligatory stop at JJ's once we all arrive and unpack.

Otherwise, first night dinner is quite simple: I roll up cold cuts (that we brought) and slice up cheeses (that we brought) and plop them down on a platter with some bread and crackers. then, I grab a large ice-filled glass, a bottle of Cruzan, and head to the pool for the evening.

The thought of going out gives us the willies, especially after a loooong travel day. We just want to gawk at the view and snack.

pipanale, with you all the way!