Bars and Restaurants

Walter Hinds, the award-winning executive chef who made Stone Terrace  the talk of the island, has opened his own place in the former Tage space, along the street across from the Sprauve School.  Lousy location.   All the traffic noise and thumping audio shrieking out of passing SUVs you could want, and more.

The menu, courtesy of On-StJohn.com, looks very artsy and skillful.  And expensive.  Appetizers average $15; entrees (including Ahi Tuna, Maine Scallops, and Lobster Polenta) are near $40.  Start with a beer, share a bottle of wine with dinner, and you’ve got a bill for $170, plus tip.

The self-titled Hinds Restaurant is sure to come in for heat about those prices – especially since the place is also “temporarily” cash only. 

But no one, and no business, is immune form the rising cost of living on St. John.  Food costs, at the supermarket and in the restaurants, are soaring thanks to rising utility and transportation costs from sea to shining sea.

Hinds’ restaurant is opening in the slow time on St. John, a good idea – so long as he has a lot of operating capital to carry him to December.  No reviews on the place yet – you’ll know when we know.

(Since this was posted, several satisfied diners have posted reviews.  Click here to see them and add your two cents.)

Hinds photo, courtesy of Virgin Voice, which also wrote an item about him when he was at the Stone Terrace.

TheStreet.com has just published a story listing bars and restaurants around the country boasting great vistas to be seen from their tables.  Got me to wondering, which eatery has the best view on St. John?

Asolare … the Balcony … Compass Rose … Chateau Bordeaux … Zozo’s (that’s where the picture was taken) … whatever restaurant opens at Grande Bay … all pretty waterside panoramas. But, maybe you’re into people-watching.  That would suggest, maybe, JJ’s in the Park, Aqua Bistro or Skinny Legs.

So, I’m wondering, what’s your favorite view with a restaurant?  Name it here.

After years of being for sale, Cafe Roma, a new owner for the Italian restaurant is on the way.  John Hiebert is the guy, according to a posting on Virgin Islands On-Line by a friend of ours, Xislandgirl, who passed along what she got from a friend of hers. 

Hiebert is originally from Trinidad, is married and has two children. "He is a chef, a great manager, and (a) very nice man," Xisland girl wrote.  Her source also said Cafe Roma will not change its menu for a while, until the fall when he’ll add some of his own recipes.

Chilly Billy’s is gone from the Lumberyard in Cruz Bay but it has been replaced by a breakfast spot called Jake’s.  The St. John Sun Times says “Jake’s is Jake.” 

In a review, written after three visits, the newspaper’s staff applauded quick in-and-out service (less than an hour), generous portions, and “above-average marks for the food.”  The menu is simple, unlike so many newly-opened restaurants on island.  Eliminating complexity is a good thing. 

“Eggs come out looking like eggs, omelets don’t have truffle oil, and the coffee is decent but not awesome (but then again, it doesn’t cost $4 either),” the review explained.  Among the best items on the breakfast menu, served 7am to 1 pm, is an over sized flour tortilla with eggs, tomato, onion and cheese, accompanied by home fries and “an outrageously fresh and lively salsa.”  At $10, the newspaper calls it a steal.

In other restaurant news, there’s a report that one of the best chefs on the island, Walter Hinds, has taken an option on the old Tage restaurant space, across from the Winston Wells Ballfield.  (Hinds, an award winner, formerly worked at the Stone Terrace.) The location is simply awful, lots of traffic and noise, but former owner/chef Ted Robinson showed that negative can be overcome with skill and talent.

Speaking of Tage, Ted is ramping up his efforts at Starfish Market.  In a posting at the St. John Sun Times Web site, Lvnlife said, “Ted’s Robinson’s dinner food is AWESOME and reasonably priced – finally – affordable food on St. John! I had got a HUGE piece of roasted veggie focaccia for $5, and added some very tasty asparagus and mushrooms as side dishes, and had a meal fit for a queen."

An afternoon of face painting, a pig roast, food and and games at Skinny Legs in Coral Bay helped raise about $15,000 to help the bar’s manager pay the expenses of fighting his second bout of cancer. 

Doug Bean is undergoing chemotherapy in California. The “Beanafit” brought out that island spirit which is so often seen when someone needs help.

One highlight of the day was Skinny’s owner, Moe Chabuz, getting a Mohawk haircut, courtesy of Bean’s wife, Jaime Elliott.

If you couldn’t be there, there’s a link to many photos from the event on the Skinny Legs Web site at http://www.skinnylegs.com/Beanafit.htm. 

A comprehensive collection of comments posted online about the island’s restaurants has become a hobby/part-time job/labor of love(?) for Robin Chalkley of Kernersville, North Carolina. 

Just before his first trip to the island, about two years ago, he cruised Internet forums including Virgin-Islands-On-Line, Trip Advisor , Virgin Islands Now, looking for previous posts about restaurants. 

“As a result of the research all our meals were very good, and we loved the island. So I decided to keep it updated and share it with others.“ Chalkley freshens the dining blog around the first of each month. He’s just finished the May update.

His collection of comments includes almost 40 restaurants, from older spots like China Shack to the newest kid on the block, Waterfront Bistro. 

The lone comment made about the China Shack, the island’s only Chinese restaurant, may have foretold its fate.  The place has been for sale for months, and has now reportedly closed its doors at the Marketplace. That also explains why the restaurant’s Web site has disappeared.

The dining blog’s Web site: http://diningstjohn.blogspot.com/

With the winter tourist season ending, the Stone Terrace and Fish Trap restaurants have closed. While the Trap will reopen in June with a new owner and new menu, the Terrace space will be empty unless the business is sold. 

News of plans for the Stone Terrace to halt operations sent AppState3 into a panic,.  She explained on the Virgin Islands-On-Line forum. “My fiance and I were supposed to have our dinner reception at Stone Terrace after our wedding on May 4th, but we were just informed that they are closing,” she wrote.  “We need to find an upscale restaurant that can host 15 people for Dinner in Cruz Bay on a Sunday nigh.”

What’s the girl supposed to do now?  Here’s a roundup of suggestions offered to solve the problem.

St. John Ruth: “You could also try The Balcony. 340-774-8470. Ask for Nathan.”

St. John Julie: “My two best recommendations are La Tapa and Waterfront Bistro. Waterfront Bistro is right on the beach, so that makes it a lovely setting. La Tapa is in Cruz Bay, next to Woody’s, and they have been a long time favorite of mine.” She added, “I’m not sure why Stone Terrace is closing, but I can tell you that a lot of businesses here are struggling this year. Season has been very off…. there are still plenty of people visiting, they just aren’t spending much money.”

Jigzmlom: “Another place to try is Ocean Grill in Mongoose Junction.

Pia: “Personally I would choose Waterfront Bistro as the setting is (imho) much nicer for a wedding reception – right on beach 🙂 La Tapa’s food is excellent (as is Waterfront Bistro’s) but some of the tables are in the street right next to Woody’s which is THE party bar on STJ and it can get a little rowdy (in a fun way).”

JoJoBigCanoe: “LaTapa is one of the best restaurants on the island….we hosted my son’s rehearsal dinner there last summer. Alex (the owner) went out of her way to prepare a special menu for the event and all was delish!”

And the ‘winner’: APPState3 reported, “In the end, we have decided to go with La Tapa. As stated, Alex has been great to work with! We can’t wait to eat there!"

One of the island’s landmark restaurants, the Fish Trap, will close in two weeks. 

Last fall, in an effort to stay competitive in what’s become a more upscale market for eateries on island, the Fish Trap built a new kitchen and and hired a new chef to give its menu a more Asian/fusion taste. Now, Lonnie and Albert Willis, who own it have decided to close April 13. 

They also own the Raintree Court where the Fish Trap is located.  They have other business interests on island, including the Stone Terrace.  They listed that fine dining restaurant’s lease and kitchen equipment for sale earlier this year at $575,000.  The price has been cut to $350,000. "It’s a terrific opportunity for someone who wants a great restaurant for a lot less than it would take to build one," said Lonnie Willis.

As philosophers say, when one door close, another opens.

The Willis’ son, Aaron, is an accomplished chef and was the brains and energy behind the Stone Terrace when it opened in 1998.  A few years ago, he left St. John to become a key executive and chef at the multi-million dollar Yacht Haven Grande marina (http://www.yachthavengrande.com/index.php). He has been overseeing its three restaurants. 

Aaron is, now, coming back to St. John.  “He has given his notice to Yacht Haven Grande  and will be reopening the (Fish Trap space) restaurant sometime in June,” said Lonnie Willis.  And if Aaron’s background and experience is a guide, it would seem likely St. John is going to get another fine dining restaurant in time for next season.