Where to Eat

RESTAURANTS ON THE BEACH & CLIFFS

Dining

Dining in a foreign country is always a new experience with new smells and new tastes to try. All Jamaicans are great chefs offering mouth-watering fresh foods and succulent tropical fruits. They have their own spicy Jerk sauces, a real adventure for your palate. They have many places to eat, from small shops and Jerk chicken stands to elegant open air dining all with a distinct Caribbean flavour. A typical Jamaican breakfast consisting of the National Dish of Ackee and Salt-fish, Fried dumpling, Calaloo and Plantain.

Ackee is considered a Jamaican delicacy and can be seen growing in large red pods on the Ackee tree. Other Jamaican specialities include: Calaloo, which is spinach like and usually steamed with onion, sweet peppers and seasoned to taste. Rastafarians use it and other fresh vegetables a lot in their Ital cooking which uses all natural products with no added salt or other seasoning. Also favoured are pumpkin, beans and yam. There are a couple of places in Negril where you can sample this type of cooking. Plantain is a larger member of the banana family and is often fried and used as a side dish. Green bananas are also widely used and maybe boiled with yam or breadfruit as a substitute for potatoes or rice.

RESTAURANTS

Although there are many places on the beach and on the cliffs to eat, we have listed just a few restaurants where we have enjoyed dinning during our stay in Negril, along with our personal comments.

Ray & Nicole

ON THE BEACH:

Alfred's Ocean Palace - (Jamaican & Inexpensive to Moderate). Excellent fish & chips. Fruit crepe' should not be missed. Plentiful and enjoyable.

Angela's Italian (Above Bar-B-Barns) - (Jamaican/Italian & Inexpensive to Moderate). Authentic pasta, pizza as you like it! Reasonably priced, plentiful and very delicious. Reservations recommended.

Bar-B-Barn - (Jamaican & Inexpensive to Moderate). Casual dinning adjacent to the sea, featuring all types of Jamacian cuisine. The best ackee and saltfish on the beach.

Bourbon Beach (Rocky's) - (Jamaican & Inexpensive to Moderate). The very best jerk chicken and jerk pork on the beach. Reggae shows are also held at least twice a week. Hot, Hot, Hot.

Cosmos Seafood - (Jamaican/ International & Moderate). The best conch soups on the beach. It's worth the walk. Specialty is seafood.

Kuyaba - (Jamaican & Moderate). A varied menu of pastas, seafood & chicken. Fantastic salads. Traditional Jamaican cuisine.

Le Vendome (Charela Inn) - (Jamaican/ French & Moderate to Expensive). An acclaimed gourmet cuisine combined with Jamacian spices with a pinch of original French flair, no preservatives, colorings or Msg. A good selection of french wines. Reservations required.

Mr Slice - (Jamaican & Moderate). Pizzeria. Pepperoni, deluxe, vegetarian and cheese. Calzones and lasagna is made to order. Delivery service.

Risky Business - (Jamaican & Moderate). Shrimp scampy, snapper, king fish steak, hot & sour wings, chicken medley and the best beef burgers on the beach.

Rondel Village - (Jamaican & Moderate). Specializing in lobster and fish dinners. Special Saturday night barbecue dinner features sucking pig, lobster and chicken.

Shirley's (Known as Fatties) - (Jamaican & Inexpensive). Fantastic place for genuine Jamacian cuisine. Located across the road a short distance from the Negril Beach Club where we stay. It's not a five star restaurant, but the food and the prices are terrific.

ON THE CLIFFS:

Lighthouse Inn - (Jamaican/International & Moderate to Expensive). The lobster haven of Negril. Also serving sirloin and t-bone steaks, chicken and a vegetarian plate. Wonderful coconut pie with miles of meringue.

LTU - (Jamaican/ German & Moderate to Expensive). Specializing in pasta, seafood, schnitzel, steaks, crab and quesadilla. Plentiful and reasonable.

Rock House - (Jamaican/ International & Moderate to Expensive). Delicious home cooked meals by candlelight specialties to the finest in seafood and international cuisine. Plentiful and reasonable.

Xtabi - (Jamaican/ International & Moderate to Expensive). Restaurant features lobster dishes, prime meats, chicken and pork. All available on char-grill or any way you like it. Seafood is their speciality and the fish is caught daily.

When making a reservation at one of the above restaurants enquire whether they have a free pick-up and return policy. This service will save you a considerable amount of time and money.