Most Overrated / Most Underrated

[UF Prof]

There must be two Driftwood Dave's! And, we went to the one that does not have the outstanding burger. We both order burgers when in Cruz Bay in Nov based on the raves on this forum. Now, I know forumites can't be wrong so I have to assume we went to the wrong Driftwood Dave's. The burger was ok, but definitely nothing to text home about. The $1 extra for a slice of under ripe tomato seemed a bit excessive.
Best burger I have had on the island was at the Lyme (Lime?) Inn. Large and juicy on a fresh bun and nothing extra for the lettuce or tomato.

Re: Maho Bay, still one of my favorites! Spend some time one day at the extreme end of Cinnamon one day between the large black rocks. Definitely changed my view of it and I would include it in the under rated category.

[dreamshark]

OVERRATED
The food at Skinny Legs, Vie's and Tourist Trap. The ambiance is great (assuming you're in the mood for informal, outdoorsy dining) but the food is nothing special. All of them are well worth eating at if you're in the neighborhood, but not worth a drive across the island.

Salt Pond Bay. We've been there 3 times and the water has always been cloudy, the snorkeling mediocre, and the hike broilingly miserable. I admit that I haven't tried swimming out to the standing rocks in the middle, so I'll probably give it one more try...

UNDERRATED
Drunk Bay (almost makes the death march down to Salt Pond worth while)

Sunrises (agreeing with Loria). As a Coral Bay fangirl I get a little tired of people going on and on about sunsets. They both have their charms.

That beach on the east end that isn't Vie's. Maybe if it had a name...

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

Underrated: The food at the Beach Bar. The steak sandwich is a great value and the Tuna Down now is a winner (caveat...it has been awhile since we have been there...hope it hasn't changed too much.)

[RickG]

I love reading these threads, awesome responses!! I'll add a bit.

Under-rated
- Carefully selecting the right people to travel with
- Spending the day on the beach with imaginary friends from the interwebs that you've known for years, but not in person, with plenty of adult beverages
- $15 to spend the night at Leinster Bay/Waterlemon Cay on an NPS mooring
- Boat trips around STJ and outer cays
- VINP Visitor's Center
- VINP dinghy dock
- Villas without air conditioning that are properly sited to catch the breezes
- Villas sized to match their rain collection and cisterns
- Informal restaurants that don't mind large walk-in parties - High Tide, Banana Deck
- Cheap bar with cold beer and a view - Kite Bar never really replaced, like Rudy's Bar on Tortola
- Decent beer at the Tap Room
- Cruz Bay's ferry wharf - best impact and first impression of any of the USVIs or BVIs
- Long-term impact of VINP on land use on the North Shore
- Long-term impact of no air service to STJ
- Alcohol is legal on the VINP beaches
- Frank Bay, Gibney Beach, Denis Bay, Jumbie Bay
- Leinster Bay snorkel from Annaberg parking lot to the beach, South shore snorkeling from Hart Bay to Little Lameshur Bay
- Spending the day on a cobblestone beach
- The occasional trip as a single

Over-rated
- High season weather and water temperature
- Group trips that include whiners to help share the cost
- Itineraries and plans
- Day trips to the BVIs
- Mega villas with air conditioning that require a water truck every week
- Cruz Bay Beach dinghy dock
- Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay
- Lack of Adult-only clothing optional beaches in VIs

Cheers, RickG

[Lovermont]

Underrated, or really not rated at all... yet. Coral Bay Caribbean Oasis! We've eaten there (or should I say we got food to go and brought it home) three nights in a row. We haven't had the same thing twice, it's cost us less than $30 each night, all the food had been tasty, and we've had lots of leftovers. We only hope they can make a go of it and they'll still be around next year. AWESOME!

[jdjcmaso]

for us, Skinny Legs is underrated. The second day of our trip this month, we had lunch there, delicious Mahi sandwiches. Drink of the day was Banana-Guava Colada. During our 8 days there, we managed to drive back 4 times to enjoy the same!
Admittedly, avoid the bathrooms if possible, though.

[News of St. John]

Underrated, or really not rated at all... yet. Coral Bay Caribbean Oasis! We've eaten there (or should I say we got food to go and brought it home) three nights in a row. We haven't had the same thing twice, it's cost us less than $30 each night, all the food had been tasty, and we've had lots of leftovers. We only hope they can make a go of it and they'll still be around next year. AWESOME!

I could not agree more. Karen's food is delicious! And the best part is that each entree only costs $9. You can beat that!

-Jenn

[ArkieLovesSTJ]

I didn't care for Skinny Legs the first time we went there but found it quite enjoyable the 4 or 5 times we have been since. I don't think you can really evaluate any restaurant based on one visit.

For us over rated would be: Trunk Bay, Hawksnest, Jakes and Starfish Market

Under rated: Spyglass, Tamarind Court Italian Night, Haulover North, St. John Market, St. John Spice (even better than it's great reputation)

The most under rated thing on St. John though are the people, both locals and tourists. We have traveled to a lot of places but you typically don't find a large cross section of people as nice and genuine as you will meet on the island.

[Jumper]

The most under rated thing on St. John though are the people, both locals and tourists. We have traveled to a lot of places but you typically don't find a large cross section of people as nice and genuine as you will meet on the island.

I agree 100%!!!!!!

[iheartsj]

Smoking on Park beaches is now illegal.

[lprof]

Smoking on Park beaches is now illegal.

Illegal… yes. Signage to that effect… yes. Obeyed… no. Enforced… no.
I saw numerous smokers on the north shore beaches in November. I nicely mentioned the law to a few who "might not know"; glares, gestures, and grumbles were my responses. I looked around… signs were located in areas where visible.
I moved on.

[Bigcheeze]

+10 what RickG said....'May I have another"

Underrated; Having adventures with my kids and no cell phones
Seeing the island through ' Newbie' eyes
The Drive down the Mountain on Centerline back to the villa after a day at the beach

Overrated; It's STJ...having hard time with this one...coming up with something overrated.( Other than previous post(s) )

I try to downplay the island sometimes to newbies...less they wonder what all the hype is about. And let them find out for themselves.

[bebackinaminute]

Through the power of the Internet I just read this thread, Googled it for a few more online comments and then decided to try Sogo's which is right next door to Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel where we are staying. You can't judge the restaurant by the first impression you get when walking up to it. Great food (chicken roti, shrimp creole), quick and friendly service (like a family-owned local kitchen). Totally underrated, as I have been to St John a few times, read this forum quite religiously, have eaten at da Livio next door and Lime Inn across the street and didn't even notice Sogo's being there.

[iheartsj]

there was a group of smokers next us that generated clouds of smoke.

Don't know when the above happened, but it is now illegal to smoke on the beach.

[KathyMN]

Agree with bebackinaminute.... Sogos is one of our favorites-- a diamond in the rough.
Where is Coral Bay Caribbean Oasis??? Must be new since the last time I was there. It sounds perfect for our first week, when there will only be 2 of us, and I DON'T want to spend my time cooking. 5 days to go. Whoooohooooo!