A Taste of St. Thomas Restaurants

• The Shack at The Hideaway
• Gladys’ Cafe
• The Easterly
• Blue 11
• Oceana Restaurant & Bistro
• Pangea
• Island View Steakhouse
• Pesce Italian
• French Quarter Bistro
• Old Stone Farmhouse

The Shack at the Hideaway

A hidden St. Thomas gem, The Shack at The Hideway is operated by The Hideaway at Hull Bay, a luxurious private estate. Visitors and locals alike are drawn to this welcoming beachside bistro. The simple menu showcases fresh-caught seafood and incorporates fruits, herbs and vegetables grown on the resort’s own sustainable Hideaway Farm. Try the mahi-mahi bites served with a side of passion fruit-citrus aioli or the grilled shrimp tacos. The Shackburger (topped with secret Shack sauce) and a black bean burger are also available. Entrees come with a choice of fries or coleslaw. Be sure to try a creative cocktail mixed with house-made infusions, like the Captain Rick (dark Cruzan Rum, homemade bush tea, fresh lime juice and rosemary-infused syrup). Live music is featured on Thursday and Saturday evenings.

Gladys’ Cafe

A beloved island favorite, Gladys’ Cafe has been serving up breakfast and lunch for over 30 years. Tucked in a hidden Charlotte Amalie alleyway, this charming eatery is known for its authentic Caribbean dishes and American diner favorites. Settle into a rattan chair in the stone-walled cafe festooned with colorful flowers and bowls of fresh fruit. Take time to peruse the extensive menu. Breakfast includes pancakes and omelets, as well as grits served with eggs and a choice of ham, sausage or bacon. For lunch, go for a daily special like the curry goat or chicken, or sample the conch in lemon-butter sauce, served with fungi and plantains. Burgers and sandwiches (try the pan-fried grouper) are also offered. Side your meal with a frozen tropical cocktail. And be sure to pick up a bottle of Gladys’ famous homemade hot sauce to bring back home.

The Easterly

Located in the seaside Red Hook neighborhood, The Easterly is a chic destination known for its wood-fired cuisine, unique craft cocktails and a breezy dining room framed by vibrant green palms. The ocean-focused menu includes pan-seared yellowfin tuna with local greens and mango-cilantro vinaigrette, as well as a seafood risotto tossed with shrimp, scallops and lobster. Landlubbers will appreciate the impressive selection of wood-fired steaks or the bone-in, double-cut hoison pork chop sided with agave-citrus Brussels sprouts and roasted sweet potatoes. Don’t miss the cocktails — the Drake’s Passage mixed with basil-infused tequila, guava, apricot liqueur, grapefruit and agave is a must. House-made refreshers like ginger beer and citrus shrub are also offered.

Blue 11

Executive chef Benji (as he is affectionately known locally) is the owner of upscale Blue 11, located at Yacht Haven Grande. The restaurant’s modern decor features coral hues and colorful artwork that evokes island life. Select from the seven, nine or 11-course chef’s tasting menu, with wine pairings offered. Dishes focus on fresh, local ingredients, such as the pan-seared wahoo sided with a pickled green mango-and-black bean salad or the braised wagyu short ribs served with sweet potato puree in a cinnamon-port reduction. The carefully curated wine list includes sparkling selections, as well as several nice red and white offerings by the glass.

Oceana Restaurant & Bistro

For fine dining in a historic setting, make reservations at Oceana Restaurant & Bistro, housed in a restored West Indian Great House located on the late-1600s estate of St. Thomas’ first Danish governor. Most of the tables in the open-air dining room offers unobstructed views of the stunning Baye de Grigri. The restaurant is helmed by French-born chef Patricia LaCorte, who sustainably sources locally caught seafood, as well as seasonal produce and meats from local farmers. Begin with the lemon-herb lump crab cake, then move on to main dishes like the Black Angus filet mignon or the pan-seared diver scallops served with cauliflower puree, roasted butternut squash and candied ginger gremolata. Don’t pass up the house-made desserts, like the blueberry-and-white chocolate bread pudding sided with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream.

Pangea

Pangea offers a twinkling tree house-like dining experience on the east end of St. Thomas. The restaurant works closely with local fishermen and farmers to produce its international menu, ensuring the freshest food possible. Start with the bruschetta of the day or an organic kale Caesar salad. Main dishes include the grass-fed flank steak prepared in a whiskey-Dijon marinade and wild white shrimp tossed with penne in a tomato cream sauce. There’s also an array of bowls — like the Asian version filled with stir-fried vegetables and jasmine quinoa in a miso-ginger sauce — as well as a choice of fajitas stuffed with brisket, fish, shrimp, chicken or vegetables. Cocktails include The Pangea, mixed with house-infused cucumber vodka, basil, fresh lime, simple syrup and soda.

Island View Steakhouse

You’ll find the Island View Steakhouse nestled on the serene grounds of the Island View Guesthouse. Take a seat on the terrace to soak in the stunning views of Charlotte Amalie and the harbor. Chef Marshall Bishop brings more than 20 years of Michelin-star restaurant experience to the weekly changing menu that features farm-to-table dishes made from scratch. Besides handmade pasta (like the pappardelle tossed with local lobster and wild mushrooms in a Meyer lemon-brown butter sauce) and wood-fired pizza, you’ll also find wagyu ribeye steak and fresh seafood. Island View Steakhouse features one of the Caribbean’s few remaining honor bars, where guests are welcome to mix their own drinks.

Pesce Italian

Pesce Italian is a rustic, romantic spot to take your sweetheart and enjoy regional Tuscan cuisine. Start with an antipasti like the fresh-pulled burrata served on bruschetta and drizzled with truffle honey, balsamic and basil oil. Pastas are handmade and include the bucatini cacio e pepe and fettuccine alfredo. Main dishes range from tender veal marsala with mushrooms and mashed potatoes to grilled swordfish in a lobster-beurre blanc sauce and ribeye steak topped with gorgonzola cheese. End your meal with an authentic, creamy tiramisu or a dessert cocktail like the Limoncello Kiss (Stoli Vodka, house-made limoncello and raspberry).

French Quarter Bistro

Experience the rich flavors of New Orleans at the French Quarter Bistro. You can’t miss the bright yellow-and-green restaurant located in the heart of Frenchtown. All of the traditional Cajun and Creole dishes here begin with a stock (poultry, beef or seafood), the trinity of onions, green bell peppers and celery, and a roux (blonde, brown or dark). Starters include garlicky escargot or a bowl of classic French onion soup. Try a popular entree like the local blackened snapper, braised short ribs and cheese grits or the pasta Creole with shrimp. For dessert, the traditional beignets dusted with powdered sugar are a must try.

Old Stone Farmhouse

The aptly named Old Stone Farmhouse is a restored, 200-year-old sugar plantation field house set in the lush hills of St. Thomas. The building’s majestic rafters, graceful arches and thick stone walls have been preserved, making the Old Stone Farmhouse one of the finest examples of West Indian architecture on the island. The restaurant’s seasonal seafood, steak and vegetarian dishes are inspired by local Caribbean ingredients. Start with the chilled gazpacho dotted with grilled shrimp or the beef tartare smeared with Creole aioli on toast. Main courses may include the butter-poached lobster tail skewers layered with grilled squash and roasted tomatoes or the filet mignon sided by a fingerling potato salad. Pair your meal with a glass of fine wine from the Old Stone Farmhouse’s award-winning wine list.

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