TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Takeaway Food

Last January (2018) we found that quite a few places were not yet fully up and running after Irma/Maria, some for example were just serving lunch and a limited menu. Almost every one of these however were more than happy for us to takeaway food in the early evening to eat aboard our boat.

...we came to rather like this as our evening routine. After all what better view is there than sitting in the cockpit on a mooring ball watching the sun go down!

2018 (first hand experience)
*Pirates Bight - Norman Island - More than happy for us to do this, we ordered early afternoon and then went ashore in the dinghy to collect just before sunset.
*Oil Nut Bay - we would have lunch at their beach club and spend the afternoon swimming with the turtles and then take a few pizzas back in the dinghy with us to North Sound.
*Trellis Bay - Place next to the market.
*Great Harbour - Jost Van Dyke - quite limited at the time so ended up getting stuff from about three different places, all of which was good and all the places were very happy for us to do so.

2019 (confirmed by Facebook messages from the restaurants)
*B-Line - Little Jost - We didn't go last year but I messaged them on FB a few weeks ago and they said that we can takeaway food this year, just order in the afternoon.
*Corsairs and Foxy's - GH Jost - As above, they actually both just responded to my FB to say they are happy to do takeaway this year, friendly responses in both cases).
*Leverick Bay - Very friendly response to my FB and happy to do takeaway this year. Even offered to email me the menu!
*Pirates Bight - Norman Island - Very friendly response to my FB and happy to do takeaway this year.
*Hendo's Hideaway - White Bay JVD - Super friendly and yes takeaway is always available.
*Marina Cay - yes but let them know earlier in the day.

I'm wondering if this was a post-hurricane attitude or whether places are still happy to do this (apart from B-Line, Corsairs, Foxy's, Hendo's, Marina Cay, Pirates & Leverick which are now all in the 'yes' column!). Does anyone have any first hand experience?

Just to add, this isn't a case of us trying to save $$$. We eat and drink ashore at lunchtime and during afternoons every day and put plenty of $ into the local economy! But come the evening...we found we much preferred eating aboard but didnt want the hassle of having to actually cook ourselves. Also no bugs and in the case of Pirates Bight we can actually converse over dinner rather than being hammered by that full-volume music!

From the restaurants perspective, ok they get less $ from us as we aren't ordering drinks in the evening but they do get an extra table to fill with other people. We also always order to collect before service starts, so it doesnt put extra pressure on them. AND we always tipped well even though we were taking the food away in recognition of them allowing us to in the first place!

***Edit*** - I seem to be slowly answering my own question here with all the friendly FB responses I am receiving. Hopefully this info will be helpful to others so I will keep updating the list above!

I like this idea a lot! Plan on doing this very thing at several stops in November!

Takeaway is a great idea, no apologies needed! You’re buying local and supporting the economy and jobs. Call me an ogre, but in my book tipping is for service, and not required for takeaway, unless they go above and beyond.

great help Christo...thanks

One thing we did this year for the first time was pack a collapsible cooler and then fill it with waters and ice and take it ashore wherever we went...

We were at dinner in Anegada, after a few days of rain. The mosquitos were incredible! We asked if we could take our food to go so we could eat on the boat. Well, they didn't have any take out boxes, so they told us to just take the dishes and bring them back in the morning. So that is what we did, big trays of food on the dinghy and back to the boat. That was a first! Almost lost one of the trays in the water!

Cooper Island beach club are in the 'maybe' column! Very friendly response, I think if you let them know what you want at lunchtime / early afternoon then it's fine but they just didn't want to guarantee it in advance.

Several times in the Tobago Cays in the Grenadines, we have actually had fully cooked lobster dinners with sides delivered directly to the boat at anchor. Some of it was in foil baking pans, some in plastic containers with lids. The next morning, the delivery person came back to pick up his dishes. Including a generous tip, the cost was less than that for a lobster dinner in the VI.

Corsairs delivered a pizza to our beached dinghy in White Bay last summer.

We had the same experience down there quite a few years ago. It was a very cool thing to do and delicious. He also took our laundry and brought it back the next day, along with ice. The "boat boys" get a bad rap sometimes, but if you get the right one it can be a real bonus.

Often as the captain I prefer to remain aboard if the crew and guests go ashore for dinner. If they ask to bring me takeaway food I just say 'something simple' is fine.
Over the Xmas holidays recently in Vieques - El Quenepo sent them back with one of the best fish dinners with fresh vegetables, quinoa and a spectacular sauce ever!
My crew said the kitchen could not have been more gracious and accommodating, preparing dinner for me as the group was preparing to leave so it would be served hot and tasty.

Some of us may remember the time when on Anegada in the late afternoon, Pam would come a round in her dinghy with cinnamon rolls, cookies, and various breads. When there, we kept a vigilant lookout to make sure we stocked up.