THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS - Virgin Islands - page 211

Round-A-Bout, Road Town. & 284/494-6165. Main courses breakfast $8-$12, lunch and dinner $10-
$18. AE, MC, V. Daily 7am-10pm.
Rôti Palace CARIBBEAN The best rotis in the British Virgin Islands are served
here, right on the old main street of the island's capital—they're just as good as those
in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. This is primarily a lunch stop, although it's also a good
choice for an affordable dinner or a standard breakfast. Choices (other than the
famed rotis) include a wide selection of tasty vegetable, local conch, lobster, beef, and
chicken dishes, many of which are spicy. Sea snails are a specialty; they're mixed with
onions, garlic, and celery, spiced with curry, and served in a butter sauce. Ginger beer,
juices, and wines serve as accompaniments to your meal.
Main St. & 284/494-4196. Main courses $8-$25. No credit cards. Mon-Sat 10am-6pm.
Virgin Queen CARIBBEAN/ENGLISH This restaurant offers casual dining in a
modest cinder-block building decorated with nautical pictures. The menu includes a
wide spectrum of dishes ranging from local fare, such as curried chicken, to more
international offerings of barbecued chicken, baby back ribs, and pastas. Included
among the British specialties are shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, and a steak-and-
ale pie. The portions are substantial, so wear your elastic-banded pants.
Fleming St. & 284/494-2310. Reservations recommended. Main courses lunch $7-$12, dinner $8-$23.
MC, V. Mon-Fri 11am-10pm; Sat 6-10pm.
AROUND THE ISLAND
Expensive
Brandywine Bay Restaurant ITALIAN Set on a cobblestone garden ter-
race along the south shore, overlooking Sir Francis Drake Channel, this is one of
Tortola's most elegant and romantic restaurants. Davide Pugliese, the chef, and his
wife, Cele, have earned a reputation for their outstanding Florentine fare. The skillful
cooking produces dishes that range from classic to inspired. Davide changes his
menu daily, based on the availability of fresh produce. The best dishes include beef
carpaccio, roast duck, homemade pasta, his own special calf-liver dish (the recipe is
a secret), and homemade mozzarella with fresh basil and tomatoes.
Brandywine Estate, Sir Francis Drake Hwy. & 284/495-2301. www.brandywinebay.com. Reservations
and appropriate dress required. Main courses $25-$29. AE, MC, V. Mon-Sat 6:30-9:30pm. Closed Aug-
Oct. Drive 5km (3 miles) east of Road Town (toward the airport) on South Shore Rd.
Mrs. Scatliffe's Restaurant WEST INDIAN This Tortola mama offers
home-cooked meals on the deck of her island home. Some of the vegetables come
right from her garden, although others might be from a can. You'll enjoy excellent
authentic West Indian dishes: perhaps spicy conch soup followed by curried goat,
“old wife” fish (triggerfish, in this case filleted, boiled, and served with onion sauce),
or chicken in a coconut shell. Service, usually from an inexperienced teenager, is not
exactly efficient. Decide early in the evening if you want to enjoy dinner here, as there
is only one seating and reservations must be made before 5pm. Note: You may be
exposed to Mrs. Scatliffe's gentle preaching of her Christian faith. A Bible reading
and a heartfelt rendition of a gospel song sometimes accompany a soft custard dessert.
Carrot Bay. & 284/495-4556. Fixed-price meal $35-$38. No credit cards. 1 seating daily begins
7-8pm.
Round Hill Vacation Villa CARIBBEAN One of your most memorable
meals in Tortola is likely to be eaten with Joycelyn and Allan Rhymer, who will dazzle

6

211