Julian's culinary notes

Your questions and comment on restaurants and dining out
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Julian
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Julian's culinary notes

Post by Julian »

Some notes on the meals enjoyed in Tobago this January.

CoCo Reef. Food not too bad and prices OK with a good selection of wines without exorbitant prices. A little bland perhaps and my scallop dish was almost certainly frozen rather than fresh. Black mark for credit card payment – this was signed for in TT$ - yet was presented in US$ to my credit card company resulting in an increase from £75 to £86 – suffice to say it’s being disputed.

Blue Waters. A couple of dinners here and unfortunately a so so rating. Firstly it’s expensive and the food, though Ok, doesn’t have either a Tobagan authenticity or a western style – just somewhere between – fish was well overcooked despite two attempts. Quite a few wines on the list but you can ignore most of them as the reality is what’s available behind the bar - which were a fair selection, OK value and in good condition. So alright if you are too tired to leave the hotel but not really worth the journey except perhaps to see the beautiful bay it overlooks.

Sharon and Pheb’s unlike Paul’s report an excellent meal here, authentic Creole cuisine – yes Fish, Chicken or Goat but really well prepared and preceded by a lovely soup. Cost for 2 with a couple of drinks each? TT$160.

Also in Charlotteville and pretty much matching Sharon’s in quality and price was Gails (on the front by the path to Pirates Bay) Wonderful pea soup followed by well cooked fish with fresh vegetables and rice. Probably a tiny bit spicier than Sharon’s but not over the top by any means.

Two meals at Bird Watchers in Speyside the first fresh prawns (why do our American cousins call them shrimp!!) prices perhaps 10-20% higher than Sharon’s but again good tasty local food. Then a return for a culinary highlight of the most magnificent Lobster. Absolutely huge – beautifully cooked and TT$ 200 for the dish – with lovely spiced rice and fresh vegetables (5 star rating for this alone).

Tartaruga – possibly the best cuisine on the island beautifully cooked dishes pizzas good value, other entrees a little pricier, a lovely selection of tasty amuse bouche. For the quality good value with added entertainment from the owner!

Vast selection of wines just remember to add the 15% tax and 10% service befor ordering the TT$ 8,700 Barolo!

Kings Bay café – quick pit-stop lunch of Tuna – really well cooked – more towards the tail meat than the pinker fleshy mid cuts of Tuna served rare in Europe so a little more rustic nut nevertheless very tasty. Excellent value and service with a smile.

Finally Castara Retreats, more western cuisine than Tobago but a high standard using fresh ingredients (except the steaks which are frozen but non the worst for it as one of the best I’ve eaten) Prices higher than the local restaurants but lower than the resort hotels but food better than both – highly recommended.

Julian
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Steve Wooler
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Re: Julian's culinary notes

Post by Steve Wooler »

Hi Julian

Thanks for that excellent critique of restaurants. Please don't forget to share your votes for all the restaurants you visited in our RSR polls (menu: Welcome > Reader Satisfaction Polls > Restaurants). Your votes are important, good or bad. :)
Steve Wooler
myTobago.info - the definitive Visitor Guide to Tobago
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