My previous Dining in St. Thomas: Part 1 blog post was written for the thousands of folks who visit St. Thomas on cruise ships and are seeking a place to eat while shopping in downtown Charlotte Amalie.  For those who are lucky enough to stay on the island for extended periods of time, St. Thomas offers a large choice of restaurants from the laid-back waterside bars to some of the best fine dining available anywhere. 

Downtown Charlotte Amalie

Tavern on the Waterfront (Three Diamond restaurant): Polish food in the Caribbean?  You can bet your pierogies and golumpki on it! Tavern on the Waterfront also offers steaks, fresh seafood, Caribbean lobster, seafood stew and sweet Caribbean stir fry. The restaurant is located on the waterfront in the center of the shopping district on the second floor, which affords great views of the harbor. This is a great spot for Friday night, as jazz music is played from 7 to 10 p.m.

Frenchtown

Frenchtown is located midway between the Crown Bay docks and just west of downtown Charlotte Amalie. Two of my favorites in the area are:

Hook, Line, & Sinker Bar and Restaurant (Two Diamond restaurant): Hook, Line, & Sinker is a local favorite where many of the island professionals gather. At lunch you can enjoy a burger or sandwich. Or, wait for dinner and choose from steak, lobster and pasta dishes.  A brunch is served on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Oceana Restaurant and Wine Bar (Three Diamond restaurant): Consistently rated among the best in fine dining on the island, Oceana is located on the water with fabulous views of the sunset. Open for dinner only, reservations are strongly suggested especially during the busy season. Start your meal with marinated calamari or some steamed mussels paired with entrees like bouillabaisse with lobster, shrimp, mussels and clams or possibly a poached Caribbean lobster tail. If seafood is not your preference, you can choose from a veal porterhouse, duck, filet mignon or a rib eye as alternatives.

Up Island

Mafolie (Three Diamond restaurant): Mafolie is located halfway up the mountain from downtown Charlotte Amalie and commands some of the most spectacular views of sunsets and the harbor. Diners can relax in the open-air atmosphere of the coordinated island décor.  Open for dinner only, the restaurant offers fare like Black Angus steaks, creative pasta entrees, Caribbean specialties and fresh local seafood.  This is a “must stop and visit” every time I am in St. Thomas. 

Thirteen Restaurant (Three Diamond restaurant): I discovered this restaurant three years ago and have been pleasantly pleased with every meal I have had there. Located at the top of the central peak on the island, Thirteen can be difficult to find, as there are no street lights and the structure is painted black. The best thing I can suggest is to look for the convenience store located next door and park by the side of the road where there are other cars. Thirteen does not advertise and is a favorite of the local folks; it is always busy— a testimony to their success. Seasonal menus are creative and centered on selections like steak, rack of lamb, duck, Cornish game hen and fresh seafood. Reservations are suggested.

Old Stone Farmhouse (Four Diamond restaurant): Old Stone Farmhouse is located at the top St. Thomas with a northern view . The property boasts a fascinating history and physical make-up including a set of very old cut coral stairs that lead to the 200-year-old main building constructed of a ship ballast, local stone and coral. There are four dining rooms; the main dining room has a massive, open fireplace that was once used to process molasses and sugars into rum. The servers will review the menu selections then invite you to meet the chef in the kitchen, where special items may be ordered from his butcher block in any size or combination.  The Tasmanian rib eye steak was tremendous as was the Australian rack of lamb; the kangaroo or the rack of venison would have made for adventuresome choices.  Other parties at our table enjoyed the pan-seared jumbo sea scallops and the wok-seared West Indian pumpkin, paired with wahoo (a type of fish) as their personal selection from the butcher block.  Beautiful presentations, a chef’s amuse-bouche (chef-selected appetizers), an intermezzo and a liquid confection at the end of dinner made this evening-long dining event very special. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Havensight

For those who desire to stay a bit closer to their ship and participate in shopping along the dock, Havensight Shopping Mall provides this convenience. 

Shipwreck Tavern (One Diamond restaurant): Open from lunchtime until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 4 a.m. on weekends, Shipwreck Tavern offers specials every night of the week.  I always enjoy dining here on Friday nights when the three-quarter pound burgers are featured.  On Tuesday nights, the 12-ounce NY Strip steakis a great deal.

Red Hook/East End

The Red Hook/East End area has the most relaxed restaurants on the island and is the main terminus for ferries between St. Thomas and St. John.

Molly Malones (One Diamond restaurant): Molly Malones brings a touch of the Irish to the island with its décor and food offerings.  The lunch menu features deli-type sandwiches and burgers while dinner selections include shepherd’s pie, Irish stew, fresh catch of the day and steaks.

Fish Tails (Two Diamond restaurant): Fish Tails is an open-air, wharf-side restaurant that provides relaxed dining with seafood and sandwiches and just across the parking lot from the ferries.

Choices abound across the island for those able to stay for more than a day. Don’t forget to visit your concierge for specific directions and recommendations for any of the new restaurants that appear from time to time.