Bars and Restaurants

It’s not tough to make Risotto, wrote the St. John Sun Times restaurant reviewer, "but making it sublime is difficult."  The island’s new Italian restaurant, DaLivio, does it, according to Eloise Anderson.

This was the newspaper’s second visit to the eatery which is located, roughly, across the street from the Lime Inn and next to Fred’s.  The first, soon after Livio Leoni opened for business was good, but then the summer came and the place closed for vacation.  Leoni and his Italian-speaking chef, Marco Bandini, are back – and in great form, the Sun Times said. 

Best bets: an orange salad with olives, anything Risotto, and pasta with bottarga (pasta, caviar, and olive oil).  Entrees average $25.  Best seats in the house are on the front porch (see and be seen) and … you must visit the bathroom, Anderson said:  "Most stylist and beautiful on St. John."

St. Johnians and visitors celebrated Thanksgiving in traditional as well as local ways last week. 

Amy Farris, visiting from Springfield, Va. had what she called the "traditional meal at the Banana Deck which, for others in her party, also served more casual and even West Indian dishes.  Many island eateries had holiday specials, including Island Blues in Coral Bay.  As for cook-at-homes, there were plenty of choices at the island’s markets.  Among the luckiest who wanted to celebrate in the old holiday way were staffers at villa rental agency Catered To.  They received turkeys as gifts from the Boss, Eileen.

Farris (aka "FlipFlop" on a Virgin Islands On Line forum) was also on island the previous week, when she and her husband ponied for $100 tickets to attend Rotary Club’s tasty fund raiser, Flavors.  Zozo’s was her favorite among the almost two-dozen restaurants and caterers which offered a smörgåsbord of samples.  She gave a second place nod to a dish from Ted Robinson, now running his in-villa dinner business, Ted’s Supper Club.  Rotary raised a reported $20,000 for its scholarship fund and other island projects.

You can listen to the interview with Smith.
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You can also download or hear the conversation by clicking here.

A new restaurant in an unlikely location has recently opened.  It’s called the Windy Level Bar Restaurant. 

It is the pride and joy – and full-time job – of Carryn Powell.  Located About 1 1/2 mile up Centerline Road from Cruz Bay, the place opened about two months ago and has been doing a good "steady" lunch and dinner business, according to Crystal Bray and Lora Verkouille who wrote about it in the latest issue of the St. John Sun-Times.

St. John Julie, who posts about the island at TripAdvisor.com, also likes the spot. "Some of her offerings in the past have been, stewed chicken, conch, stewed fish, baked chicken, pork chops, to name a few. If you are curious to try West Indian fare, this would be a great place to start. The plates are loaded up with lots of local favorites." (Read the full post here.)  Julie said she and three friends had dinner, two drinks, desert and the bill was $78. "That is a crazy cheap price for here!," she said.

Carryn cooks what’s fresh and what inspires her, the Sun Times story said.  So the menu is ever changing.  The phone is 340-715-2000 (for reservations or take out).  No credit cards.

This sounds like a winner!  In all my years, I’ve been wary of the Cruz Bay park food wagons and Sogo’s, but a sit down place like Windy Level sounds very attractive.  If you go, send me an e-mail … we can talk about it for a podcast.

The high-end restaurant across from the Winston Wells ball field is closed. 

Some folks expected, yay hoped, that Tage was just taking a summer vacation.  But folks at Virgin-Islands-On-Line have read the layoff is permanent.  Details are here: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4840

The owner, Karrl Foster, who took the place over from chef Ted Robinson, wanted to have it both ways.  He kept the founder in the kitchen while, out front, Foster tried to add some sophistication.  It’s always bad news when an owner decides to stay out of the kitchen. Just ask Gordan Ramsay or Rocco DeSpirito.

Meanwhile, costs were rising, with the rising price of oil meaning utility bills took an even bigger bite … like $5,000 a month. That’s what happens when you air condition a dining room which has one side open to the street. 

Chef Robinson is now in to business for himself with KatiLady Catering. 

It’s uncertain what’s to become of the former Tage location.

Make no mistake, the cost of doing business on St. John is rising.  There are five restaurants for sale, and those are just the ones that are listed with real estate brokers.  Help is hard to find, of course (Hey, anyone know of an advertising sales person looking for work for a newspaper on St. John?  A friend needs some help.  E-mail me, [email protected].)

Formerly one of the island’s best restaurants – but then unexpectedly closed for business – Tage may be coming back. 

Eric, posting on Anthony Finta’s Virgin-Islands-On-Line forum, says he read in the Tradewinds that Tage will re-open in November.  The Web site is still online, at least.