One cannot answer this query in a single post, so like our beach survey, Grande Bay will offer our best dining advice restaurant by restaurant...beginning with a St John favorite...Zozo's Ristorante.
Zozo's is currently in it's 13th year of operation, one of the handful of restaurants that you might call an "institution" on St John. Zozo's reputation and culinary offerings have secured their position in the ever-changing St John restaurant scene. With a foundation of Italian cuisine combined with local ingredients, Zozo's offers a finer dining experience with a relaxed island attitude.
As the self-proclaimed unofficial Grande Bay Restaurant Critic, I took the liberty of dining at Zozo's yesterday evening with a group of ten raucous vacationers. Always gracious hosts, John and Ben were able to accommodate our group without hesitation, at a lovely round table in the center of the dining room. The dining area is a long narrow space, allowing for a spectacular view of the ocean from any table in the room. It is open-air, with tables lining the railing that over looks Pillsbury Sound. Our knowledgeable server led us through the menu and the wine list. I placed my fate in his hands and ordered as per his suggestions only. From appetizer to aperitif, the experience lived up the reputation. Though many dishes were passed, a few of them stood out from the rest. Do not miss their fresh house-made papardelle with wild mushrooms, pecorino and white truffle cream. Perhaps skip the bruschetta and instead, indulge in the decadent potato gnocchi with Caribbean lobster, sweet corn and shellfish butter. Entree features included a fresh caught grouper, "pulled in around 1:30 that afternoon", and their signature dish, pistachio crusted local mahi with warm goat cheese, sweet peppers and arugula salad. For the very carnivorous, there are porterhouses and New York strip steaks to suit your palette as well.
As the last drops of our white Burgundy fell from the bottles, the group decided to celebrate their last night on-island with some prosecco and too many chocolate tortes. The kitchen sent out a platter of chocolate covered strawberries for the ladies of the table, as if we could accommodate another morsel. A hush fell over the room as the last tables of the evening retired to their guest rooms. Our chatter evolved into scattered whispers as we sipped port and watched as mast lights bobbed in the swell, St Thomas glittering orange across the sound.
If you could not gather from my verbose review, the point at hand is that Zozo's should not be missed. Ideal for couples looking for a romantic evening with a spectacular view, or a group of adult vacationers looking to invest in fine fare and cocktails. Feel free to don your resort finery as Zozo's boasts a less casual atmosphere than some other St John spots. Do arrive around 5:45pm and enjoy a drink upstairs at Jack's Lounge for a phenomenal view of the sunset.
Tips to consider:
~Large parties are offered two seatings; a 5:30 sunset seating and an 8:30 moonlight seating.
~Vegetarian dishes can be created upon request.
~Children under the age of 5 are not permitted.
~Reservations are strongly encouraged.
~Full menu available for viewing on Zozo's website ~ http://www.zozos.net/
Many more posts to follow as we tour St John with our tastebuds,
Catherine
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