Must-Order Island Desserts
Tropical island ingredients, from locally grown fruits to heady spirits, are hallmarks of the signature desserts whipped up by USVI restaurants. After dinner, save room for a spiked rum cake or sweet banana cheesecake. Better yet, order a few desserts to share with the table!
ST. CROIX
It’s no surprise that Christiansted’s Rum Runners offers plenty of cocktails featuring St. Croix’s beloved spirit, including its namesake Rum Runner mixed with coconut and banana rums. But drinks aren’t the only menu items that get a kick (literally!) from rum. For its popular rum cake, traditional yellow cake is soaked in Cruzan Rum and topped with walnuts and whipped cream, creating a deliciously boozy treat. Paired with stellar oceanfront views and tasty food, it’s no wonder Rum Runners is a favorite of locals and visitors alike.
Named after a ginger-like ingredient popular in Asian cooking, Galangal is an elegant Christiansted restaurant featuring Indo-Colonial architecture and food that’s a harmonious blend of Thai and French cuisines. Fresh, bold and ingredient-driven describe the dishes here, many of which include produce grown in the restaurant’s own garden. For dessert, don’t miss the coconut creme brulee. The traditional French dessert gets an island makeover with a hint of coconut, offering the best of both worlds.
Beach Side Cafe at Sand Castle on the Beach is located mere steps from a soft sandy beach, adjoining an equally charming boutique hotel. While it’s hard to beat the views at this open-air seaside restaurant, Beach Side Cafe’s bread pudding has earned a devoted following all its own. Served with a gooey caramel glaze, the white chocolate bread pudding is an award winner. It earned first place at the Taste of St. Croix, an annual food lover’s festival featuring the island’s most celebrated restaurants and chefs.
ST. JOHN
From a terrace perch overlooking the blue waters below, ZoZo’s at Caneel Bay makes an impression even before you’ve taken a bite of their gourmet Italian food. And after dinner? Well, that’s when things get really interesting. With four seatings a night, dinner at ZoZo’s is always an experience. And that goes for its hibiscus-lime posset dessert, too. Made with strawberry compote and mango gel topped with a white chocolate graham cracker crumble, this tropical take on the classic British dessert is light, refreshing and unforgettable.
Since 1992, Morgan’s Mango in Cruz Bay has honored the diverse cultures that have shaped the Caribbean cuisine served in this fine dining establishment. Creole, Bahamian, Cuban, Jamaican, Haitian, Puerto Rican and Argentinian influences can be seen throughout the menu. Regional ingredients have also found a welcome home at this romantic spot, including its famous Key lime pie. Crowned with white chocolate mousse, the dessert perfectly balances the tartness of Key limes, which are grown in the U.S. Virgin Islands, with subtle sweetness.
With a locavore mindset, La Tapa spotlights the best ingredients the islands have to offer. Featuring contemporary Mediterranean cuisine, as interpreted by chef-owner Alexandra Ewald, this charming Cruz Bay restaurant is best enjoyed by sampling a mix of large and small plates. For dessert, order the house-made sorbets, featuring a variety of fruit-forward flavors such as mango-passion fruit, raspberry-blood orange and dragon fruit.
ST. THOMAS
Don’t let the takeout style of Island Flavor fool you. Located in the Crown Bay Center, this no-frills restaurant from Chef John offers some of the islands’ best traditional dishes. The daily changing menu might include Caribbean curry chicken, roast pork tenderloin and sweet fried plantains. But no matter the day, rum cake slices are a given. Varieties range from banana and coconut to walnut. Can’t decide? They’re all winners!
With its abundance of palm trees and lush greenery, The Easterly embraces a boho-chic aesthetic. The kitchen specializes in wood-fired dishes, such as whole Caribbean lobster and rib eye steak. Island flavors come through in their desserts, especially the tropical fruit crisp — house-made vanilla ice cream layered with caramelized bananas, pineapple and granola made with macadamia nuts.
Located on an alfresco terrace in Charlotte Amalie’s historic Palm Passage shopping district, Amalia Café is known for its Spanish-inspired tapas. Sharing small plates allows diners to try more dishes, including fried calamari, Galician-style octopus and refreshing gazpacho. Smaller portions also mean more room for dessert, which at Amalia Café is often their banana cheesecake. The island fruit adds a lovely tropical twist to the iconic confection.
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