Dining - speyside

Lucy Knight · Post by **Lucy Knight** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 8:11 pm

We are travelling to Tobago on Friday ( 16 January) and staying at Manta Lodge - we like to eat in small local restaurants/shacks and are travelling with our 4 month old daughter. Does anyone have any recommendations? We are big Fish fans.

Thanks
Lucy, Derren and Grace Knight

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 8:37 pm

Hi Lucy

Anybody who doesn't like fish will be missing a lot when visiting Tobago. It's the one product available, fresh and cheap, around the island. I somehow imagine that even the Pizza Boys (the only specialist pizza house) have invented a fish pizza.

You haven't got a lot of choice in Speyside I'm afraid. Jemma's Treehouse is, in some respects, the most famous restaurant on the island, but it won't appear on my "must do" list. Kathy Priest recently posted a message praising Redman Simple, a similar restaurant next door to Jemma's. Both are Creole restaurants. If you fancy something more 'international', then the Speyside Inn is probably the best choice, followed by the Blue Waters Inn. Reports indicate that you might wish to avoid the Manta Inn.

Lucy Knight · Post by **Lucy Knight** » Sun Feb 01, 2004 12:46 pm

i can now reply to my own email for the benefit of anyone heading to Speyside.

We got back yesterday and had a great time. Our favourate restaurant was Birdwatchers which did exceptionally good shrimp and fish. Really fresh tasting, and has an alchol license. We also enjoyed Jemmas, Redmans (good lentels) and Manta Lodge for a change if you fancy chicken or Steak.

We also had the best roti for lunch at a little white wooden shack next to the playing fields halfway up the hill. Fantastic Channa Roti (chickpea, curry wrap) for 7 tt which is about £0.70p. Can't go far wrong for that!

We also travelled the island and had fantastic pasta at La Terrazza on Shirvan road, and great lobster for my birthday at Pantinos(?).

All in all a great trip

Debby Park · Post by **Debby Park** » Fri May 14, 2004 6:29 am

Hi folks,

I have not visited myTobago for a while nor the restaurants in Speyside since our first trip to Tobago 3, or was it 4, years ago. Tempus fugit I guess.

Any way Debby and I tried the Blue Waters, Jemma's, Manta and the Speyside Inn - in all cases except the Blue Waters - more than once while staying at the Manta Lodge.

Jemma's is fun but the food is slightly better at the Speyside Inn and the experience is more like casual patio dining whereas Jemma's pace is almost hectic and the seating is tight. Service is good at both but more laid back yet attentive at the Inn.

My advice is not to bother with the restaurant at the Manta and as for the Blue Water's, the bar is fine but the restaurant experience is a combination of mediocre food, pretentious ambiance and lackadasical service. If it wern't for the superb steel band playing the night we dined there the experience would have been entirely fogettable.

There is something special about the dining experience at the Speyside Inn that transcends the food which is very good, though not fantastic. It has the feeling of a cozy country inn with a staff that seems to want you to enjoy a lovely evening for as long as you like. Couple this with the pleasant view toward Little Tobago across the water and a gentle breeze coming across the lawn and the sum of the parts adds up to a delightful dining experience, certainly our best in Speyside.

Dave Park

Roger Wyatt · Post by **Roger Wyatt** » Tue May 18, 2004 7:36 am

It would be interesting to hear how Lucy (who started this string) made out for dining in the Speyside area. We ate at both the Birdwatchers and Speyside Inn in January this year. The food was fine at Birdwatchers. It was excellent with very friendly staff at the Speyside Inn.