St. John USVI · Restaurants

La Tapa, St. John

Coming from a peninsula surrounded by the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, the Spanish are known for their excellent cuisine specializing in seafood among other tasty delights. La Tapa restaurant has kept the Spanish tradition alive and well on St. John, combining it with the Caribbean flair that island vacationers never cease to enjoy. Try to make reservations in advance and nestle into the cozy ambience of a quaint, five-stool bar and a venue that also is used as an art gallery featuring of original paintings from local artists.

The Drinks

Start the night out right by diving into a large pitcher of the best sangria on the island. Enjoy this sweet red wine loaded with apples, pears, oranges, peaches, grapes and other delightful - and sometimes tropical - fruits. In addition you will also be able to sip a variety of delicious beers and authentic Spanish style wines.

The Atmosphere

Take a group of friends or family to dig in with gusto to the best Spanish cuisine to be gotten on the island. You'll have to fit into a tight space - small venue shared with an art gallery - but somehow this seems to add charm to the place.

The Food

Since the Spanish came to the Caribbean Islands hundreds of years ago, their rich gastronomic tradition has not been far behind. In addition to this, St. John Island is by no means the last in picking up on the international craze known as Tapas, a Spanish tradition based on small, authentic portions of food to be eaten while drinking or before a main course. Indeed, in my experience, St. John seems to consistently be at the forefront in the innovation of excellent food. This could be because it caters to an international class of sophisticated diners who know good food when they see it. The concept of tapas - one of the specialty features on the menu at La Tapa - comes from the festive region of Southern Spain where to this day patrons can hop from bar to bar and receive delicious morsels - gratis, in certain cities - while they drink. At St. John, these lavish items aren't free but they're still definitely worth it. Try, for instance, the mouth watering croquettes or your own Spanish tortilla in addition to a variety of sautéed sweet peppers and smoked hams.

For the main meal at La Tapa my personal recommendation would be the Gorgonzola fillet mignon or the grilled tuna dressed with a zesty combination of fried vegetables and screaming spices. Customers, however, should beware that many items on the menu are a bit hot. Be sure to ask the friendly staff before making a final decision on what to order for a main course. In addition to the above mentioned meals try out the great selection of pastas such as the shrimp linguini in a peanut sauce or the tortellini made with scintillating duck breast. Indeed, this fusion of European and Caribbean cuisine makes for quite a delectable experience for diners from all over the world.

La Tapa Restaurant Information

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See you on the Island, John "Big Hat" Walsh