Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fresco's Restaurant & Wine Bar
MEDITERRANEAN Nestled in an early-
1900s building with a vaulted ceiling and thick stone walls, this cozy spot feels very
much like a European wine cellar. We find dining and drinking wine here to be less
boisterous and more satisfying than at the
Hog Penny
(p. 112) or the
Pickled
Onion
(p. 106). A trellis-covered courtyard in back holds a handful of tables for
alfresco dining. Oenophiles will appreciate the selection of more than 160 different
wines from around the world. The dress code is casual, and the atmosphere is
relaxed.
The menu changes monthly. The specialty is the fresh catch of the day—perhaps
mahi-mahi, tuna, or wahoo—which can be seared, grilled, or pan-fried. Another
delectable option is sea scallops framed with potato and basil dumplings. Whenever
possible, local flavors such as papaya, cassava, and loquats are used. One of the best
desserts on Bermuda is Fresco's chocolate mousse cake, freshly baked and served
with roasted almonds, toffee, marshmallow ice cream, and pistachio crème.
Chancery Lane (btw. Reid and Front sts.).
&
441/295-5058.
www.bermudasbestrestaurants.com.
Reservations recommended (required for wine cellar). Lunch main courses $10-$23; dinner main
courses $17-$37. AE, MC, V. Mon-Fri noon-2:30pm; Mon-Sat 6-10pm; wine cellar opens at 5pm. Bus: 1,
2, 10, or 11.
Harley's
MEDITERRANEAN The food at this popular hotel restaurant exhibits
some flair, making it a worthwhile choice even if you aren't a Fairmont Hamilton
Princess hotel guest. In warm weather, you can dine alfresco near the pool.
People who are shopping in the City of Hamilton for the day often drop by for
lunch, when there's a large selection of salads. Our favorite is the classic Caesar with
grilled
goujons
(slices) of grouper. The catch of the day is available grilled, and there
are burgers galore. They also have pizzas and a kids' menu. The dinner menu is sig-
nificantly better, with a choice of pastas—the best is grilled salmon filets on linguine.
We also recommend the prime rib, tuna, salmon, and rockfish. Many of the main
dishes conjure up thoughts of sunny Italy. Also delicious are the beef tenderloin with
shrimp, stuffed chicken breast served with shiitake mushrooms, and rack of lamb.
In the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, 76 Pitts Bay Rd.
&
441/295-3000.
Reservations recommended.
Lunch main courses $17-$30; dinner main courses $30-$52. AE, MC, V. Daily 7-10:30am; Mon-Sat
noon-10pm; Sun 12:30-3:30pm and 6-10pm. Bus: 7 or 8.
5
Heritage Court
AMERICAN/BERMUDIAN Inside the Fairmount Hamilton
Princess, this is a safe choice for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It gets rather festive in
the evening, when live piano music is featured (daily 4:30-6:30pm) and the skilled
bartender cranks out rum punches. There's also an excellent selection of single-malt
whiskies along with both wine and champagne sold by the glass.
Most people come here for the food, however, which includes such specialties as
charbroiled filet of beef with a sweet butter and chipotle glaze with arugula-stuffed
potatoes. Perhaps you'll opt for the chef 's daily pasta special, or else pan-roasted
salmon with a tomato mushroom ragout with a lobster and brandy reduction. Appetiz-
ers are tangy and tasty, especially the bloody mary prawn cocktail or the sweet chile-
and garlic-flavored pork ribs. Every day a different special is featured at lunch,
perhaps tandoori rockfish with saffron Basmati rice and banana chutney. At lunch you
can also enjoy Bermuda fish chowder, delicious club sandwiches, and even spiny
lobster burgers. If you venture inside between May and October on any Friday night
between 5:30 and 10pm, there might not be room to sit thanks to the hordes of sin-
gles who gather at the bar and on the nearby verandas of the hotel that contains it.
