Craig and Sally's 9 $$$$

Craig and Sally's is a nice family owned restaurant in the Heart of French Town in St. Thomas. Set back from the trendy waterfront Craig and Sally's doesn't look like much from the outside. But what they lack in exterior charm they make up for in execution, presentation and taste. Craig and Sally's boasts a different menu every day depending on the catch of the day the season and the freshness of the produce. When you ask the locals they tell you to visit Craig and Sally's.

My husband ordered Sea Scallops with pollinate in a spinach black bean sauce. The scallops were cooked to perfection, just the right amount of grey in the middle and a surprisingly large serving. The black bean sauce was a little over powering and I would have preferred something a little lighter to compliment the fresh buttery taste of scallops but it was a nice dish.

I had two smaller dishes, a deep fried soft-shell crab on top of a apple and turnip salad with a sweet chili sauce and hush puppies. And then the Sally's signature dish; the eggplant cheesecake in a corn crust with fresh tomato salsa and basil. The soft-shell crab was cooked whole and breaded along with fresh spices. The crab was moist and fresh, though not locally caught and had to by flown down from Main. Still it was days younger than the soft-shell crab you get in California. The Cheese cake was a dream. It comes out as a thick slab and piping hot. The cheese melts in your mouth with delicate notes of tomato, basil, eggplant, oregano and rosemary. The texture is rich but it tastes so light and fluffy, like whipped cream. Though this dish was exceptional, the taste diminishes rapidly as it cools to something still extraordinary but extravagant so enjoy quickly.

For taste I give Craig and Sally’s a 9. They gave me a few surprises and a few disappointments but it was still delicious.

For atmosphere, I rate them at a 8; Romantic or more casual seating inside and an alley way outside. Considering the usual state of the streets in St. Thomas though, all the streets are alleys. There are nice murals inside to give the illusion of a beautiful view of the ocean front and tented ceilings but some more routine cleaning and dusting is needed. (I could complain about this in every restaurant though, they always forget to dust fan blades and light fixtures)

Amenities: I briefly mentioned the alleyway street in front of Craig and Sally’s which is not unusual in St. Thomas but just was a word of caution, there are two one ways streets here, no thing but street parking and if there is a ball game going on it the field adjacent to the restaurant you may have to park in the neighborhood somewhere.

The cost of two people eating there with a glass of wine and bead was $$$$.

Overall I rate Craig and Sally’s at 9. I was wonderfully surprised, they came highly recommended and the best of what is on the island. Everything tasted fresh and was cooked well. The service was prompt and the meal was prepared in record time.

Cuzzin's St. Thomas 6 $$$

Cuzzin’s
This Restaurant is supposed to epitomize the local cuisine of the Caribbean. But located in busy down town it looked more like a tourist trap than a favorite of the locals. Here the food is made as authentically as possibly while still being palatable to tourists. What that meant to me was that it was non of the dishes had any of the spice, kick or flavor the Caribbean is known for.
I ordered the Cuzzin Nemo, a conch, shrimp muscle and lobster stew over angle hair pasta with a side of fried plantain and provisions. Provisions being mashed sweet potatoes. The provisions and plantain were the best part. Anytime I had ever had plantain it was bitter and crispy like a chip, in St. Thomas, plantains are fresh and ripe before they are battered and fried. They come out hot, sticky and sweet on the inside with just the right taste of banana while being crunchy on the outside. The provisions were sweet and were kicked up with large dashes of cinnamon. Really it tasted more like dessert than a vegetable side dish. In contrast the stew tasted more like seafood stroganoff. The creamy sauce was just that, creamy and flavorless. The seafood may have been fresh and juicy and tender but drown in all that cream who knows what it really tasted like.
Kris’ conch stew with sweet chili sauce and pineapple was similarly disappointing and tasted like sweet and sour conch from the local hot wok express. Sweet and otherwise flavorless.
For taste I give Cuzzin’s a 6 their side dishes having saved them from a even worse ratting.
Price is $$$ for two people. Entrees are more than enough food including a salad course.
The atmosphere was actually cute. Old brick building in down town, Cuzzin’s is picturesque in that Caribbean way.
Overall I give Cuzzin’s a 7.