Anguilla Dinner

This may be the wrong forum, but everyone here is so helpful I figured I'd take a shot. We're going to go to Anguilla for a 2 day vacation from our vacation in SXM. We'll be there for one night.

So, if you could have only one dinner on Anguilla, where would it be? Blanchards? Veya? Barrel Stay? Other?

Roy's Bayside Grill in Sandy Ground We just got back and ate there 7 out of 9 nights <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

What type of food?
Veya gets rave reviews but is not on the beach.
Barrel Stay is one of my favs, it is always outstanding, wonderful food, service and setting.
Other favs Straw Hat, Jacala, Mangos, Dolce Vita, Trattoria Tramento, and Pimms for a real splurge.
Ellen

Thanks for the suggestions so far. We're game for just about anything... we just want a great meal. I certainly would never complain about eating on the beach either!

Veya is my favorite of those mentioned. It is not by the water but is in a beautiful,peaceful, setting, surrounded by trees. The Straw Hat is great for beachside dining. We enjoyed dining on the patio and looking at the water. It is larger with a livelier atmosphere so it depends on what you are looking for.

Veya was our favorite place for dinner. It was reminiscent to Sol E Luna, in terms of ambience and quality of food; one of our more expensive dinners during our stay but well worth it.

I agree with Veya's, fantastic! Also Straw Hat and Mangos. To the poster that ate at Roy's 7 out of 9 nights, I cannot comprehend with all the great restaurants on Anguilla that this is where you ate 7 times. Roys is okay but all those nights? I'm sorry I had to open my big mouth. JMO.

Yes, it truly does depend on what your requirements are. Romantic? Fun? On the beach? Upscale? Casual? Entertainment/show?

I love, love, love Jacala. Da'Vida was a memorable meal too. But even when I pop over for one afternoon, I make sure to hit Jacala for a lunch. And when we stay on Anguilla, it's Jacala for dinner.

Ripples is always fun!
Cheers
irina

I love Jacala too--but you do have your share of wonderful French food in St. Martin. Mangos is on the beach with great seafood, both are open for lunch. Veya gets rave reviews and it is in what is referred to as a beautiful tree house---it can be nosiy but check out the menu it might interest you. Trattoria Tramonto stands alone on Shoal Bay West, and is a nice romantic setting. If you are on the east end--Hibernia is great.

If Sunday happens to be your night, (or Sat), you can't beat the crayfish special at On da Rocks, $5.00 large crayfish and sides $5.00, Sunday nights British Dependency plays, really a lot of fun.

We just got back and Mangos was our favorite.

Veya.

Barrel Stay - photo on left was b'day party there!

Do not miss Jacala, on the beach, memorable food - we never miss - I would say there are only two really top restaurants in Anguilla, Veya and Jacala, and everyone else falls below, not far below, but a bit, for us, Jacala has it all, on the beach, a fabulous chef and a creative menu, we love it and highly recommend, you need res in advance, do not walk in and think you will be seated.

We are less than three weeks away from enjoying some of this threads recommendations.

I am surprised that no one has said Blanchards. Being a foodie wannabe - I have always heard so many good things about it?!? I have used their cookbook and the recipes are great?

I counted 13 restaurants in the recommendations and no Blanchards. That is not a good omen and I really wanted to go there.

Why has Blanchards not made the list of recommendations for a dinner?

Blanchard's first gain popularity about 12 years ago after the owner's wrote a book ("A Trip to the Beach") about how they decide to move to the island and set up a restaurant. When it was first published the book (and the owners) made the rounds of all the TV Talk shows. The book, of course, made for very interesting reading and a reputation was born.

Over the years, patrons gave the restaurant mixed reviews - raves seem to come at times when the owners were there and the restaurant got less than stellar reviews when owners were off-island. As time went by the owners spent lees and less time actually running the restaurant while they pursued other interests adding to the mixed reviews.

Like many people we read the book and felt a desire to eat there but the meal just didn't live up to the hype. It was such a disappoint for us that we've never gone back - there's simply too many other restaurants on the island where the food is consistently very good so we'd rather not take the chance of a mediocre meal because the Blanchard's may or may not be on-island the day we dine.

Well stated Fletch. We have the same feelings about the place. Over rated and so much better dining elsewhere on the island!

Thanks so much...

I hate to be disappointed when in comes to food.
You guys must be on target because NO ONE came to defend the restaurant.

I wonder if the Blanchards realize the buzz has died.
(It was a fun book <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> )

Thank you, Fletch.

We only ate there once a couple of years ago and were very let down in what we had expected to be one of those 'meals of a lifetime' but because of its strong reputation and the fact we're not at all in the 'foodie' class I hesitated to say this. Due to the book and the hype we expected more and would have to say, it just didn't live up to the preconception we had.

One and done for us.
If you want a memorable meal go to Jacala, outstanding in every way. You must have a reservation.

Confirmed reservations for Veya in 8 days <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the heads up that reservations are a must!

Excellent choice - they are terrific. Have a great trip!

I will echo the sentiment about Blanchards - - good, but not great. And very expensive. There are any number of AXA restaurants that we would gladly visit ahead of Blanchards.

Having said that, the Blanchards are very nice people and are true ambassadors for AXA. And their "Beach Shack" next door is wonderful and reasonably priced.