dinner prices

[starfish]

Hi, I've been to st john twice before, now going this june and renting a villa. We want to try some new restaurants (We've already been to Lime inn, fish trap, cafe roma, Morgan's mango) and want to try something new. There are several we want to try, however I need to narrow them down! We're going with our kids (18, 15, 12) who all appreciate fine food. One way I thought to narrow down our choices is to ask which of these would actually cost less (theoretically):

The balcony
Tage
Ocean Grill
Rhumblines
Zozo's

I need to pick three or four of these.
We are planning to eat adults only at asolare as a night out for us and get BBQ for the kids back at the villa (sapphire breeze). We also love the Beach bar and are going to eat there for sure for a dinner (maybe twice). Not sure about Sweet Plantains because I heard it was mainly curry and that might not go over well with the husband. Also- we prefer to eat outside, so I know Tage is inside (and probably the most expensive?) Any input is appreciated!

Thanks, cara

[AnyTing]

These links will help you with a few of them. They are links to the menus with prices.

http://www.tagestjohn.com/menu.html

http://www.rhumblinesstjohn.com/menu-dinner.html

http://www.zozos.net/menu.shtml

I don't have one for the Balcony (and haven't been) or Ocean Grill. We did stop by Ocean Grill to check out the menu on our last trip while shopping at Mongoose since it was new. The entrees were in the $20 - $30 range.

Hope this helps!

[pswlrw]

Zozos is my absolute favorite! The food is awesome, the upstairs bar is great for a pre-dinner drink at sunset and the open dining room has fabulous ambiance. We ate there with my then 15 year old daughter (who also is a fine diner) and she has declared it her favorite restaurant anywhere!

Pricewise, I would probably say that all the places on your list are probably in the same range.

[jcm]

We traveled with kids same ages as yours. I would
recommend Rhumblines. Sunday night I believe there is
live music. Our kids loved atmosphere and food there.
Ocean Grill was also delicious. Asolare you have to go
so early- didn't think it was good this year at all!
Our kids loved La Tapa and Lime Inn too. Have a great
trip.

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[mbw1024]

I don't recall seeing that Tage menu before, glad to take a look at it.
One thing I will never understand is wine pricing! For example I can get the Santa Margherita Pinot for $18-21 a bottle and I don't think $35 is an offensive mark up in comparison. But then I look at the Moet White Star which I can get for $27-32 and they are pricing it at $79!!!!!!!! Never makes sense to me.

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[mbw1024]

we found Veuve at Pine Peace for a very good price - only a few dollars over what we pay at home. But at Starfish it was $59 which I thought was way high.

I do a lot of my wine shopping here http://winelibrary.com/ and they ship if your state allows that. $29 for White Star right now.

ps-Veuve at my Shop Rite liquors is $31.99 right now. Not bad.

[canucknyc]

I do a lot of my wine shopping here http://winelibrary.com/ and they ship if your state allows that. $29 for White Star right now.

Oh man, Mary Beth - I LOVE the Wine Library. Been a while since I insisted on a trip down there.. should do that.

[Steve S]

As a qualifier Starfish, I consider your list here at least a half step up from your previous visited list. That said, Rhumblines is your best bet, It's our favorite on the island. Ocean grill has reasonable* prices and good food. I haven't been to the balcony, but the premium for service and presentation at ZOZO's and Tage may be lost on the kids. Regardless, enjoy!

* island reasonable.

[mbw1024]

They are also now carrying VI Pale Ale. Haven't been there myself since I read that on the On St. John site.

[RickG]

La Tapa also does small plates. Two small plates are roughly equivalent to an entree. This works well for my kids.

Cheers, RickG

[starfish]

Wow, I just posted this morning and I have 10 replies! That's fantastic. I thought Steve S, your reply about my list being a 1/2 step up was probably accurate. I know my 18 year old son would like Rhumblines because he loves spice. (And this trip is in honor of his high school graduation- his choice to return to st john!) I guess because I have heard positive things about Rhumblines ambience and that it is a little more reasonable, we'll go there for sure.

Last time we came, we took the kids to Virgilio's in STT and that was a great meal for them, so I know that Tage wouldn't be lost on them, just heard that it could be the most expensive, so tempted to leave Tage off anyway. My 12 year old (92 pounder) will probably share, so in effect we'll be buying meals for 4 adult eaters.

Now which is better for ambience, the balcony or Ocean grill? How about price? Any takers?

Thanks guys!
Cara

[MIke]

3 years ago we took our kids with us(ages 10,11,15)and the first nite we ate at Shipwreck Landing.Everything was great except for the slow service.The next nite we were going to Asolar and the kids asked if they could just cook a frozen pizza at the villa while my wife and I went out to dinner.
I was crushed. You mean you would rather sit home and eat a $9.00 pizza than go out with us and let me spend $90.00 on three meals you just pick at.