Stay in Antigua - A Guide to Eating Out

When looking to eat out in Antigua, you'll find menus and choices to suit all tastes and desires. You'll also find something to suit all budgets. This is Stay-in-Antigua's mini-guide to our favourite restaurants and eateries on this beautiful Caribbean island. ______________________ Restaurants and eateries in Antigua offer a wide range of cuisine to suit most palates. Those located in tourist areas or hotels offer mainly European, American and fusion options, with a few local and traditional dishes thrown in for good measure. Dishes are made largely from local ingredients. As with all of the Caribbean islands, seafood choices are plentiful, with Antigua being renowned for its Red Snapper, Lobster and Mahi-Mahi. Outside resorts and tourist areas, restaurants are generally low-key and laid back. Service is friendly, but can be exceedingly slow. On the upside, you'll have lots of time to sample island life and mix with the charming locals while waiting for your meal to arrive. Although variety is somewhat limited for vegetarians, the choices are growing and most menus will carry one or two vegetarian dishes, made from ingredients such as Okra, Breadfruit and Pumpkin. Just to be careful, it is advisable to ring ahead, or even stop in at your chosen eatery to check out the vegetarian options. If you're staying in a hotel or resort and want to try something truly different, why not ask the hotel staff where you can go to sample some local 'Ital dishes' - the traditional fare of the Rastafarians. Ital food is natural and vital, and very delicious. It is free from chemicals and contains no animal products. Ital dishes can contain rice, peas and beans, vegetables, sweet potatoes, coconut milk, soups, cabbage, cornmeal, pumpkin, cinnamon, bananas, okra and a multitude of other natural ingredients. They are ideal for vegetarians and vegans. Most restaurants in Antigua open for lunch from noon, with dinner menus becoming available from 6pm-7pm. Many smaller restaurants operate based on how busy they are, and may close early if business is slow, so do bear this in mind. It is advisable to make reservations at restaurants, up to 2 days in advance. In restaurants, you should tip between 10% - 15%. Service charges are not included on your bill. Here is Stay in Antigua's personal recommendations for places to eat in Antigua. Vyviens - The Blue Waters Hotel For a wide choice of Caribbean and International dishes, try Vyviens restaurant, upstairs in the Blue Waters Hotel, St Johns. Offering an al a Carte menu, and some of the friendliest staff we've met, Vyvien's offers a truly elegant evening. The d