Tavern 1844 still the tops

JulieKay, your meal sounds so good! I have not yet been, where are they? I really need to give them a try!

Tavern 1844 is in downtown Christiansted, on Company Street, across from Luncheria.

Tavern 1844 used to be one of our favorites, but when they served Mako shark several months ago we stopped going. (td)

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=309343970853&story_fbid=10151447728755854

Awesome burgers and great Belgian beers!

Jill, did you tell them your opinion on serving shark and why you wouldn't return? Most local restaurants are quite receptive to feedback and complaints. They may not have even realized they upset people.

Julie, yes I did comment on their facebook page and received rude responses from them before they deleted my comments and those of others that shared my opinion.

Shark meat is widely available, caught and processed legally. Is a shark any different than Mahi? Both are fish.

Please explain your issue with shark meat so I can be enlighten to your POV.

Sharks should not be killed for any reason! They are threatened worldwide.

From http://www.livescience.com/37180-worlds-largest-mako-shark-endangered-sharks.html

Sharks threatened worldwide

Not everyone is enthralled, however, by the recent California mako shark catch, which was filmed for an Outdoor Channel reality television series.

"People should be viewing these sharks as wonderful animals that are important to the ocean and admiring how beautiful they are, McGuire said, not "spilling their blood and guts."

Another article: http://oceana.org/en/our-work/protect-marine-wildlife/sharks/species-at-risk/shortfin-mako-shark

Shortfin mako sharks are also a popular game fish since they will often leap out of the water when hooked. They are currently considered “Critically Endangered” on IUCN’s regional Mediterranean Red List and “Vulnerable” globally.

Another website: http://www.saveoursharks.com.au/Save_Our_Sharks_-_Endangered_List.html

People need to stop killing sharks!

I can't find any evidence that mahi mahi is endangered yet.

Here is a good website for consumers that has a chart showing a simple colour-coded guide for seafood. Many species are endangered or are in decline, others have high levels of contaminants, and should be avoided - these are in RED. Those species which are currently farmed or whose numbers are in abundance are in GREEN.
http://www.thechefalliance.com/Article-Endangered-Sustainable-Fish-Guide

I'll say it again: sharks should not be killed, for any reason! Even if they kill a human.

I noticed in Tavern's original post that they said they may add the shark to the menu. I did not see it there last night on the menu or the specials so maybe they finally understood why people were upset. I actually saw very little seafood at all! My husband wanted to add some fish to his salad and there wasn't any, so he went for the fried oysters instead, which he really enjoyed.

Next time we go in I'll ask what their current stance is on the shark and will report back. Sometimes restaurant people just don't know and don't really have ill intent, and who knows what was in the person's thoughts representing Tavern on FB that day. they may just have not been able to deal with the complaints. A lot of businesses worldwide get themselves in trouble with social media when they don't have the ability to respond properly to their customers, unfortunately. I personally don't see it as something to condemn them for forever, especially if they have not continued.

i do agree that sharks should not be killed for a food source. I don't eat them, I actually eat very little seafood period. My degree is in fisheries biology and I just can't bring myself to do it. So yep, if I see it on the menu again I'll say something. 🙂

Thanks for the discussion!

To educate yourself further about the "issue of shark meat" and the plight of sharks in the world today:

http://www.sharkwater.com/

Thanks for these informative posts. I really had no idea sharks were endangered.

YW sunshinefun.

People really need to learn about how endangered sharks are. They are such wonderful creatures, and so important to the ocean's ecosystem, yet they are still so maligned and feared. It broke my heart when the tiger shark was killed last year off of Frederiksted.

Well like the Bluewater thread, I think our local restaurants deserve more than one chance, and it's so easy to put a great one out of business with the Coconut Wire. For Tavern 1844, I think anyone concerned about the shark service should talk with them! Ask them if they pulled them from the menu or if they are planning on serving it again. Communication is key. There's no way we'll all make it together if we put up walls at every turn.

I will be mentioning the shark question myself next time I'm in there, and see what they say. It sounds to me just a PR opportunity handled poorly. Not a condemning event, in my assessment.

Btw, IslandJoan, you may be interested in working with the new "Reef Responsible" program for restaurants that the Nature Conservancy is starting here. It's a program supplied to all restaurants where they obtain a list of sustainable fish to serve (as well as non-sustainable) and they obtain a designation for the restaurant to use on their menus. If you hadn't heard of it yet and you're interested, PM me, and I can put you in touch with the coordinator.

Bringing this thread back to the original topic...I went to Tavern 1844 for the first time. Last time I was in that place was over 5 years ago when it was Bongos. Can't believe I've waited so long to go there. The burgers really are the bomb. The menu looked fantastic (no shark), but we were in a burger & beer mood so stuck with that and they did not disappoint. Service was fantastic, but that could have been because we nearly had the place to ourselves. Will definitely go back!

Went for first time Friday night with some folks from work. Will be going back for sure.

I went there three days in a row, the food was amazing, the beer selection was good and the service excellent.

I'd mark that place at the top of the resturant list for amazing food at a value price.

There's not a single dish there over $25 dollars & I found my self describing it as Gourmet bar food, the appetizers are fantastic and offerings I have personally never seen before.

I have some of their food in a togo box in my fridge right now 😉