StX Restaurant Ratings

Neil, I gotta agree with Sean re: you have had bad luck at Eats.
Had a perfect burger yesterday...eggs benedict with truffle hollandaise last time...all 5 or 6 times I've been there the food has been perfect.
All this while they had no electricity (good thing they use gas).
Not doubting you.....just wanted to let you know my experiences.

Wow Neil, you've had bad luck at Eat. I've been 3 times so far and had great meals. 2 burgers that were perfectly cook and a Lobster's Benedict that was wonderful for brunch one morning. Did they fix the burger for you at least?

Sean

I hear you Sean. Variablity is a typical problem with many restaurants here.

But these days, there's no excuse for undercooked hamburgers.
And if you're cooking fries, it takes no time to try one to be sure they're done.
(or as Chef Ramsey often yells "Taste the f***ing food!")

I've also done the brunch there twice, it's okay. Nothing fabulous, but the view and price is right.
I'll be back, but probably not as often as they would like.
When I go out to spend my hard-earned money, I don't like playing restaurant roulette.

I'm in total agreement Neil in regards to variability. Some of it is excusable (inconsistent ingredeient availability, non chain so non standardized preparation practices, labor is difficult here etc.) but restaraunts here really should do a better job on the consistency front. The 3 strike rule is a must here otherwise you will run out of places to eat. Fortunately when many of our restaraunts are "on" they are fantastic.

Sean

Eat is the only restaurant that has gotten 3 strikes against itself by me, my problems with that restaurant are well documented on this topic. Interestingly, all my complaints are food based, not service.

I had a really good experience at WENDYs yesterday! It was my first positive Fast-food meal since I've been on Island... i really don't go to Fast food very often.
got lots of smiles and quick/responsive workers!
So impressed.

I'd like to tip my hat to Phil at the Deck Bar.

I rarely make it downtown anymore, with the rare exception of a late shift postprandial Guiness at the "new-old bongos" location, I just don't find much ado about the food on the boardwalk. I walked on to the Deck Bar yesterday and was pleased to see that while Rumrunners still wasn't open for food service, I could still get a sandwich at the bar with Phil.

He is such a pleasure behind the bar, constantly moving, surveying and keeping banter through a myriad of topics of different conversations throughout the small area with several separated groups of people. Phils got that "It" The man is full of jovial wit and a dash of self deprecating humor that is so easy to fall for.

So, as a good 16 hungry and thirsty people crowded his little bar yesterday, I watched him bang out a half dozen panini sandwiches of varying order, dispense beers and drinks like they were flowing through his fingers, all the while holding court and keeping things lively like a good bartender should. Great job Phil, you are an exception to the typical myopic recalcitrant beer-tenders that sometimes infest the local barscene.

For all the smoldering flames left from the departed "ownership" of Parrots Cove and Mahi's that still burn in the disgruntled former employees and unpaid bills left scattered across the island, I reckon we should thank them at least for introducing Phil to STX and letting him kick ass the way he has.

Bravo, buddy...

Oh, and by the way, I had the Hawaiian Hottie Panini and it was damn tasty. Prosciutto, pineapple and sriracha on a pressed baguette.

I know this was posted about a month ago, but I'd also like to voice my appreciation for Phil. The guy is a consummate pro. Everytime I'm at the Deck Bar, he always puts a smile on my face. He's quick, attentive, genuine and just plain fun to talk to. A hell of a guy and a damn fine bartender/server.

I had a really good experience at WENDYs yesterday! It was my first positive Fast-food meal since I've been on Island... i really don't go to Fast food very often.
got lots of smiles and quick/responsive workers!
So impressed.

It can be a bit slow at times but you are right, the service is very friendly. The older ladies that work the register are really nice, I used to work out that way and stop in regularly but now I'm in town so I don't. When I went in one weekend the cashier was like "where have you been, we thought you left or something." Its times like those that you enjoy the small town feel of the island.

Also their drive through is usually pretty decent.

Sean

I tried out the new Flat Iron Grill (where Vinnie's used to be) with my sister - we were craving pasta something fierce and didn't want to cook it. i really wish we did! We got it to go - I got the chicken parm and she got chicken alfredo. they were both really gross. There was literally a pound of pasta in the box, but no sauce - most of the noodles with totally bare. The piece of chicken i got was huge, but tasteless. and the alfredo (which she added chicken to) was definitely not alfredo and barely had chicken. it all tasted cheap. the garlic bread was the best part of it, thankfully they gave us a lot of it. The guy behind the counter taking our order was really nice - the staff seemed great, just the food. yuck. $18.00 each (plus .50 each for to go charge). i would rather have a MUCH smaller portion of food and have it be good than get an overwhelming amount and have it be terrible. I'm not sure how their other stuff is, but i can't fathom spending that much money again to be disappointed.

nforbes,
We went to the Flat Iron grill last week. It was horrible. The sauce tasted like it they opened a cheap brand of tomato sauce and dumped it on our pasta. I asked for some garlic salt to try to spice it up. The garlic bread was the highlight of our meal. The waitress was so sweet and very attentive. After our meal was over she asked us how everything was and I said the sauce was very bland she looked at me and said she knew exactly what I was talking about. Apparently the chef has been informed about this but has done nothing. She gave us a comment card so I filled it out.
Great service, horrible chef.
We will not go back until that chef changes the sauce.

Has anyone been to 2 plus 2 restaurant?

went to 2 plus 2 about 5 years ago, thought it was good. we go to flat iron for the pizza and i love their pizza. the garlic bread is great too.

Phil is the best! He is a show and a half. And his panini's are awesome. I go to him for all the good gossip, so if you don't want it repeated do tell Phil! 😉

Is it my imagination, or have there been almost no restaurant robberyt/hold-ups in the past few months on StX?

Which place would you go on StX for a good brunch, no expensive but has some atmosphere.

Where is 2 plus 2?

2+2 is next door to Princess hardware across from Hendriks Honda on North Shore Road

StCroix.
Now you have put the goat mouth on us. :>))

I thought it was a night club.

Putting the final touches on things here. ABOVE THE CLIFF,SOON COME.

Downstairs nightclub, upstairs restaurant. I've never been but reviews have been favorable.

linda, when did they move the restaurant upstairs?

Am I wrong? I thought the restaurant was on the new balcony. I've never been in it.

Putting the final touches on things here. ABOVE THE CLIFF,SOON COME.

I'll be there the first tuesday you are open, review wednesday morning.

linda it has been 4+ years since i was in it. thinks do change lol

I like Rum Runner's for brunch. Their lobster benedict with asparagus is really yummy. Plus on Sundays, they have $2 bloody mary's and mimosas. I just read that H2O is having a brunch buffet for like $12, but i don't need to eat that much food in the morning. I definitely wanna try Cultured Pelican's brunch, just haven't made it out there. Breezez has a pretty good brunch, too, it fills up fast. The Golden Rail has great benedicts and pancakes, too.

OK, I've driven by it for a few months but in the past month we really finally discovered La (Le?) Petite Rotisserie (LPR). The owners came to the island about 6 months ago from Atlanta and I've got to say after having eaten there 3 times in the past month - IT'S THE BEST CASUAL FOOD ON THE ISLAND!!!

We still like old stand-bys like Eat (although I don't think their burger mix is as exquisite as it was when they first opened) but LPR is so much better than our other old reliable stand-by of the La Reine Chicken Shack. LRP has much of the same fare (in fact they both get their chicken from the same source) but LPR tastes even better and has great sides. Their whole chicken comes with great seasoned yellow rice and cole slaw for about $12 as I recall (more $ than the Chicken Shack I think but significantly better taste with GREAT service from Gus.) We've had the rib tips which were also great.

Gus has been back and forth on his buffalo chicken wings. He started off with the traditional U.S. fare which are the traditional small wings/legs that I prefer over full-sized offerings. Apparently a lot of locals complained so he added more chicken, 14 pieces, to the orders but still got complaints. Seems locals prefer the full-size wing so he's recently switched over unfortunately for me.

If you stop by LPR ask Gus for a taste of his homemade secret barbeque sauce - I still can't put my tongue on what's in it but it's different and very very good.

GoodToGo,
Great review, but where is it?