usvi-on-line
Fine Dining
Fine Dining
We arrive on Thursday of this week...we're not counting days, we're counting hours! I'm interested in your assessment and review of Turtle Bay Estate House, Equator (both at Caneel Bay) and Chateaux Bordeaux, as a choice for a special dinner. We were last on the island in 2004, so there may be new choices as well. Thanks!
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
Are you staying at Caneel? The reason I ask is that I don't think that you can eat at Turtle Bay unless you are a guest of the resort.
It has been years since I have been to the Equator but I was not all that impressed.
There are so many fine dining restaurants on island that it is hard to choose. What are you looking for? we have quite a few foodies on this board and I am sure that we can give some great suggestions depending on what you want.
It has been years since I have been to the Equator but I was not all that impressed.
There are so many fine dining restaurants on island that it is hard to choose. What are you looking for? we have quite a few foodies on this board and I am sure that we can give some great suggestions depending on what you want.
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Marcia (Mrs. Pete)
- Posts: 1576
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:40 pm
- Location: Madison Area, Wisconsin
dookster,
I know Chateau Bordeaux was closed for a while, but has now reopened....not sure if it is under new management....I would guess that it is.
I agree with Marcia; Stone Terrace is wonderful. Tage, LaTapa and Rhumblines are a few of my other favorites. Have a great time on St. John....mia
I know Chateau Bordeaux was closed for a while, but has now reopened....not sure if it is under new management....I would guess that it is.
I agree with Marcia; Stone Terrace is wonderful. Tage, LaTapa and Rhumblines are a few of my other favorites. Have a great time on St. John....mia
It takes both the sun and the rain to make a beautiful rainbow. --Unknown
Fine dining
When we were ther in Decemeber, our best meals were at "Ten Tables" and "Asolare"......Asolare can't be beat for great food and with proper timing a great sunset!
Bonnie
Peoria, IL
Bonnie
Peoria, IL
It is true that you need to be staying at Caneel to eat at Turtle Estate House. Also, as of last year, they had installed a dress code for the Equator--closed toe shoes only for men, slacks or dress shorts, and a collared shirt. Men need a jacket to eat at Turtle.
I would choose Tage, Stone Terrace, or Zozos over the Caneel places.
I would choose Tage, Stone Terrace, or Zozos over the Caneel places.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
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nothintolose
- Posts: 1960
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:36 pm
- Location: New Orleans, LA
I am hoping Chateau Bordeaux is under the same management as when we were there last because I am looking forward to eating there again.
It was our favorite "fine dining" (so wierd being that we were in shorts and Tevas) last time we were there. The staff was great and the food was delicious. I loved the smallness of the restaurant and the view of the lights of Coral Bay.
Personally, I think that many of the restaurants have the equivalent of the food you would get "fine dining" in other cities but aren't considered that because you don't have to be dressed up
Enjoy, wherever you choose!
nothintolose
It was our favorite "fine dining" (so wierd being that we were in shorts and Tevas) last time we were there. The staff was great and the food was delicious. I loved the smallness of the restaurant and the view of the lights of Coral Bay.
Personally, I think that many of the restaurants have the equivalent of the food you would get "fine dining" in other cities but aren't considered that because you don't have to be dressed up
Enjoy, wherever you choose!
nothintolose
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Teresa_Rae
- Posts: 2053
- Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:44 pm
- Location: Downstate IL
I was very unimpressed with Equator, and I won’t be going back.
I am unfortunately extremely allergic to shellfish, so dining out can sometimes be a challenge. Most restaurants understand the concept of cross-contamination and are happy to accommodate me, but Equator, or at least our waiter there, wasn’t.
A microscopic amount of shellfish can send me into anaphylactic shock, and possibly death, so I have to be really careful about it. The person who prepares my food can’t have used utensils or anything else that touched shellfish. The one time I did go into anaphylactic shock was at a wedding when I ate chicken satay that had somehow come in contact with some cocktail shrimp (or something that touched the shrimp) in the kitchen. That was a year and a half ago, and I’ve yet to have another episode, and we eat out on average twice a week (0 reactions in 150 dinners out is a pretty good record).
All the other restaurants in St. John are wonderfully accommodating when it comes to dealing with my situation, but at Equator, when I explained my shellfish allergy, the waiter burst out laughing, looked at me like I had two heads, and said “but you didn’t order any shellfish!” I tried to explain that even a microscopic amount of shellfish can make me very sick, but he dismissed me, laughed, and waved me off like I was an idiot. If it had been just my husband and me, we would have left, but we were there with another couple and didn’t want to ruin their evening, so we stayed.
Thankfully I didn’t get sick that night, but the rudeness of the waiter was ridiculous, and even our laid back friends were pretty angry at the situation.
I would have gotten over the whole incicent, but when I sent a letter to Caneel explaining what happened, they ignored me. I never heard anything back from them, which just added insult to injury. A simple apology would have been sufficient. Needless to say, my husband and I won’t be dropping $100 for a meal there any time soon…we’d rather spend our money at any of the other numerous restaurants in STJ that employ kind waiters and waitresses who are happy to accommodate me.
I realize that most people don’t have shellfish allergies, so obviously this situation most likely won’t happen to you. It was the rude waiter and Caneel’s lack of response regarding the situation that made we swear off Equator…and that could happen to anyone.
I am unfortunately extremely allergic to shellfish, so dining out can sometimes be a challenge. Most restaurants understand the concept of cross-contamination and are happy to accommodate me, but Equator, or at least our waiter there, wasn’t.
A microscopic amount of shellfish can send me into anaphylactic shock, and possibly death, so I have to be really careful about it. The person who prepares my food can’t have used utensils or anything else that touched shellfish. The one time I did go into anaphylactic shock was at a wedding when I ate chicken satay that had somehow come in contact with some cocktail shrimp (or something that touched the shrimp) in the kitchen. That was a year and a half ago, and I’ve yet to have another episode, and we eat out on average twice a week (0 reactions in 150 dinners out is a pretty good record).
All the other restaurants in St. John are wonderfully accommodating when it comes to dealing with my situation, but at Equator, when I explained my shellfish allergy, the waiter burst out laughing, looked at me like I had two heads, and said “but you didn’t order any shellfish!” I tried to explain that even a microscopic amount of shellfish can make me very sick, but he dismissed me, laughed, and waved me off like I was an idiot. If it had been just my husband and me, we would have left, but we were there with another couple and didn’t want to ruin their evening, so we stayed.
Thankfully I didn’t get sick that night, but the rudeness of the waiter was ridiculous, and even our laid back friends were pretty angry at the situation.
I would have gotten over the whole incicent, but when I sent a letter to Caneel explaining what happened, they ignored me. I never heard anything back from them, which just added insult to injury. A simple apology would have been sufficient. Needless to say, my husband and I won’t be dropping $100 for a meal there any time soon…we’d rather spend our money at any of the other numerous restaurants in STJ that employ kind waiters and waitresses who are happy to accommodate me.
I realize that most people don’t have shellfish allergies, so obviously this situation most likely won’t happen to you. It was the rude waiter and Caneel’s lack of response regarding the situation that made we swear off Equator…and that could happen to anyone.
We returned from St. John late Sunday night and I owe the Board a trip report, which will be coming soon. Our favorite spot, which we visit every trip, is Zozo's. We had drinks upstairs in the bar with dinner following---a great night and all the food was delicious. I loved my veal chop---several others had lobster and mahi-mahi---all said it was great.
I'll be the contrarian and tell you my second favorite meal was at Equator at Caneel. Our food was excellent, plus I love the classic Caribbean setting in a sugar mill. A wonderful evening.
We also ate at Tage, which had outstanding food. However, we ate inside, in the air conditioning, and even though the food was great, it was not my favorite evening. Honestly, I prefer La Tapa, which we missed this trip. More detailed report later.
I'll be the contrarian and tell you my second favorite meal was at Equator at Caneel. Our food was excellent, plus I love the classic Caribbean setting in a sugar mill. A wonderful evening.
We also ate at Tage, which had outstanding food. However, we ate inside, in the air conditioning, and even though the food was great, it was not my favorite evening. Honestly, I prefer La Tapa, which we missed this trip. More detailed report later.
---Jim
Hi Keksie
The one restaurant at Caneel is the only restaurant with a dress code, in all others you will be fine in a sundress (or skirt and top) and shorts and polo type shirt for hubby - if he wants to "dress up" a collared shirt that is not a polo is dressy Most of the time I wear a tank and denim mini for places like Shipwreck, Island Blues, Skinny's etc and wear capri's and a tank for the others
Pia
Pia
The one restaurant at Caneel is the only restaurant with a dress code, in all others you will be fine in a sundress (or skirt and top) and shorts and polo type shirt for hubby - if he wants to "dress up" a collared shirt that is not a polo is dressy
Most of the time I wear a tank and denim mini for places like Shipwreck, Island Blues, Skinny's etc and wear capri's and a tank for the others Pia
Pia
Hi Pia, in addition to the dress code at Turtle Estate, last year we were told we could not eat at Equator because John only had sandals with him. I thought it was weird--it was off season and we were guests of Caneel. It was fine because we ended up going to La Tapa instead (yum!), but I think they changed their policy at Equator, because other times we ate there John was definitely in sandals. Maybe they knew we would like our dinner at La Tapa better, so made up the closed toe shoe rule just for us!Pia wrote:Hi Keksie
The one restaurant at Caneel is the only restaurant with a dress code
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.