Like other Caribbean islands, Barbados restaurant fare is more expensive than what you’ll find in the United States because virtually all ingredients must be imported. Fortunately, the most important ingredient is readily available and plentiful: fish, freshly caught in Barbados, is still moving around fresh. Local fishermen catch snapper, mahi mahi (which the locals call dolphin), barracuda, and other wonderful options, as well as flying fish. (So proud of this local favorite that Barbados calls itself “the land of the flying fish.”) And he doesn’t need to spend his kids’ college money to afford a fabulous fish meal.
Before I tell you where, let me tempt you with a Bajan-style preparation: fresh fish battered with local spices (a combination of scallions, thyme, garlic, black pepper, marjoram, and salt), then lightly fried. Delicious!Another Bajan favorite is steamed fish in a light onion and tomato sauce over coo-coo, which is something like polenta. The local yellow pepper sauce enhances almost every meal in Barbados and is available to order at any restaurant (warning: this is addictive).
If you know where to look, you can find seafood to die for that will leave some of your vacation budget available for something really special, like a catamaran cruise. By the way, the following restaurants are located along the southern coast of Barbados, where prices are generally lower than in other areas of the island.
* silver tip: Off the beaten path, this is a stylish open-air restaurant and bar located in the boutique Silverpoint Villa Hotel. Eat with a view of the wild and daring windsurfers at Silver Sands Beach.
* South Palms: Very casual outdoor dining and bar on Dover Beach and part of the casual Southern Palms Resort in St. Lawrence Gap.
* Caribbean: Soak up the sun at Sandy Beach, then work up an appetite by snorkeling. Carib is so casual that she can wear her bathing suit (with a cover up) at this nice outdoor restaurant/bar.
* Oistins: A must-see delight are Friday nights in the small town of Oistins, where you buy freshly caught and cooked fish from the street. The music, the people and a lively atmosphere make the meal unforgettable.
* Surfer’s Cafe and Obskewer’s Bar: Also in Oistins, this casual eatery offers espresso and milkshakes and wi-fi, as well as simple local fare such as fish fillets (sandwiches).
*Live Lobster: Probably the least cheap of all the places on this list, but the portions are huge. Located in beautiful Carlisle Bay, this place is basically a shack with a lobster tank and a bar that hosts a lobster orgy.
* San Lorenzo Gap: Go to the famous area along the south coast of Barbados called the St Lawrence Gap and follow your nose; this cheap dinner is cooking in the street. It’s great fun to go to one of the outdoor grills along the famous “Gap” and watch dinner being prepared in front of you. Don’t forget to fill up on local favorite sides like macaroni pie and plantains. Grab a beer at the Gap Convenience store, find a spot on the beach, and enjoy the cheapest feast of all with a view as fantastic as the island’s fanciest restaurants.
