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First Look: New restaurant in Cruz Bay

Stoneterrace There's new life in an old restaurant in Cruz Bay.  The beautiful Stone Terrace space has been transformed into Cactus on the Blue, a Mexican restaurant with lots of energy, taste, and color. 

Nile and Courtney Wright leased the space after it had been dark for at least a year.  Before that, it had been for sale for months.  Stone Terrace, a high-end restaurant, was a victim of a softening economy and a trend that is seeing villa renters stay at home as they refuse to fight for downtown parking and save money.

While the Wrights are out in the front of the house, Nile certainly knows his way around a kitchen. According to a story in the St. John Sun Times, he earned his whisks the old fashioned way.  At home, in his family's restaurant, Jacala, the oldest eatery in San Antonio.

There's a Texas connection between the Wrights and their own chef, Gabriel Orozco.  His experience includes work as chef at the Balcony at Wharfside and his most recent position, sous chef at a steak house in San Antonio.

The Sun Times says Cactus on the Blue doesn't aspire to be the cheapest place in town or the most expensive. "A happy medium" is the target, Wright told the newspaper.  That means large portions at reasonable prices.

According to powerboat charter Capt. Josh of Lion in da Sun "reasonable prices" means low.  He posted a review of his visit to the restaurant on Trip Advisor and said the food
was wonderful.  His friends' dinner was also great, "and the portions
were enormous."  He said the appetizer sampler had four types of salsa and the chips were cut and baked at the restaurant. He wrote. "And here is the kicker $5!!!! Enough said, get it – get two."

The Wrights are not only starting a business, they're also starting a life together.  They're newlyweds of about eight months.  And so far, things seem to be going well.Their restaurant just got a telephone line this week, and any local can tell you how tough that can be to do.  The number is 340-693-8515.

14 thoughts on “First Look: New restaurant in Cruz Bay”

  1. Lack of parking HAS to be negatively effecting businesses in Cruz Bay. We stayed in St. John for almost a month and only ate out three times…once at Wharfside, once at Mongoose, and once in Coral Bay. We had intended to eat out much more often – I’m not much of a cook – but the lack of parking in Cruz Bay is ridiculous! What few spaces there were in years past now have “reserved” signs. One day we gave up when even Slimmo’s Parking Lot was closed! Maybe next year will be better.

  3. My wife and I had dinner at Cactus on the Blue when we were on St. John in mid December. We thought the food was quite good . . . nicely served and well priced. Not a bad view, either!

  5. THE FISH TRAP IS NOT A GOOD RESTAURANT FOR FAMILIES;1) A SIDE DISH OF PASTA FOR ONE OF THE CHILDREN COST $10.00, 2)SIX PEOPLE THE TOTAL COST +$160.00, 3)NEW NAME FOR FISH TRAP= TOURIST TRAP.
    FORGET CRUZ BAY, BUY MOST SUPPLIES AT PUBELO’S IN ST. THOMAS!

  6. DEAR CURLEY.DEAD WRONG ABOUT THE FISH TRAP.THE QUALITY IS SECOND TO NONE.A FAMILY ON VACATION IS EXPENSIVE.KEEP THE “FAMILY” VACATION TO DISNEYLAND.THAT’S WHERE YOU BELONG….”STAY AWAY FROM CRUZ BAY”.WE LIKE IT BETTER WITHOUT YOU.THE FISH TRAP ROCKS!!!KEEP THE KIDDIES AT HOME DUDE.

  7. Cactus on the Blue has good food. The restaurant is lacking only a Frozen Margarita machine. Then it would be perfect. We have eaten there twice in the last month – more than we have eaten out at any one restaurant in the 4 years we have lived here.We came here from Texas and we love our Mexican food. Please be sure that The Sun Times has your phone number for the February issue. It needs to be in the restaurant guide so that all the tourists can call fro reservations which they will need for a place this good.

  8. Amen for the Fish Trap=Tourist Trap. Our family coined that name also and we will not be back. In years past the Fish Trap was good but now… By the way mike and bon we don’t like Disney either. My children have better manners and attitudes than most adults.

  10. HEY LISA AND CURLEY WE HAVE BEEN COMMING TO ST.JOHN EVERY YEAR SINCE 1985.TIMES HAVE CHANGED.BUT TO BASH A “FINE”RESTURANT LIKE THE FISH TRAP IS WRONG.ARON CHEF/OWNER TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN SERVING FRESH LOCAL SEAFOOD.HE HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR WHAT 30 YEARS NOW. MAYBE THE QUALITY IS TO GOOD FOR YOU BOTH TO ENJOY.CURLEY AND LISA GET SOME SNACKS AND EAT YOUR SUPPER ON THE BEACH.GREAT VACATIONS ARE SOMETIMES EXPENSIVE. HEY. HERE IS A THOUGHT,LEAVE THE KIDS AT HOME AND GO HAVE A REAL VACATION.TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF AND ENJOY WHAT YOU ARE BOTH OBVIOUSLY MISSING .THE GOOD LIFE THAT ST.JOHN HAS TO OFFER.

  11. I agree with most of you. The Fish Trap serves a great meal and obviously Curly hasn’t eaten at Asolare or Hinds. St John is not your bargain vacation spot. If you are looking for a bargain go to Mexico or take a Cruise! Parking is definitely a problem in Cruz Bay you have to be crafty, I am not telling my secret parking spots!

  12. Glad to see new life in the old Stone Terrace digs, and we will be looking forward to trying it out in February. Parking is not the only issue in Cruz Bay, however. Tourists are put off/intimidated by the groups of loitering young men, most of whom are up to no harm, who hang out downtown. We have friends who own a Weston timeshare who are afraid of Cruz Bay at night. (We are there most nights). I think a friendly, and that is key, police foot patrol would help. The local police are rarely out and about, and when on the scene are anything but warm and friendly.

  14. I love those kinds of restaurants that offers generous portions of food at a reasonable price, since not only it lets the eater savor the food, it also leaves a good impression that they want you to dine there again with your whole family.

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