No trip to St. Thomas is complete without a visit to Gladys’ Café in Charlotte Amalie’s Royal Dane Mall. Tucked away on a narrow side street, the café is famous for its kallaloo soup and melt-in-your-mouth conch fritters. The menu also features stewed oxtail, curry goat and exotic pan-fried triggerfish. For the early bird, this place is a top breakfast spot for the locals with classic dishes such as eggs, bacon and French toast.

For good eats without the fuss, your first stop should be Side Street Pub. Located down a side passage of Bjerge Gade in Charlotte Amalie’s shopping district, this uber-casual joint serves up pulled pork and fish tacos bursting with flavor. Owned by transplants from Arizona, the restaurant serves an extensive drink menu featuring iconic Caribbean cocktails such as the Bushwalker.

Just north of the Charlotte Amalie Historic District, Ideal Restaurant serves street food favorites with a spicy twist. Specializing in Roti, you’ll find a variety of flavors on the menu, from hot shrimp or goat to vegetarian options with potato and beans drenched in a mouthwatering curry sauce. Order from the counter, where a whiteboard displays the flavors for the day, then enjoy your meal on a stool with street views of the Charlotte Amalie and the surrounding hills.

In Charlotte Amalie West, Caribbean flavors paired with traditional fried chicken is a match made in island heaven at T-Restaurant and Chicken Fry. Served cafeteria style, other items include rice, chicken curry, BBQ ribs, oxtail stew, conch fritters, steamed fish, mutton, and fresh veggies. The restaurant is easy to spot – look for the bright turquoise building.

For delicious Puerto Rican eats, Rancho Latino, located on the east side of the bay in Charlotte Amalie’s Vitraco Mall, serves fresh seafood and generous portions of mofongo. Dine on stewed goat, oxtails and conch, or if you’re feeling adventurous, order the whole-fried fish!

Overlooking the Mahogany Run golf course on the island’s North Shore, The Old Stone Farmhouse features elegant brunch and dinner menus with dishes made from locally sourced ingredients, such as curry tofu scramble with fresh arugula and fennel-rubbed duck breast. Located in a 200-year-old restored plantation field house, you’ll dine under the soft glow of warm lights surrounded by rustic stone walls.

The ambiance of Mim’s Seaside Bistro promises a casual yet romantic dining experience nestled between the Sea Cliff Villas and Bolongo Bay Beach Resort. Enjoy spectacular views of Bolongo Bay as you dine on an award-winning menu of fresh fish and other island delicacies such as coconut curry lobster and island-style wahoo – a tender fish that’s similar to tuna. Be sure to leave room for their house specialty – handmade butterscotch walnut bread pudding.

Take a detour for a taste of Tuscany at Pesce Italian. Located in American Yacht Harbor on the island’s east end, homemade pasta and fresh seafood will transport you across the Atlantic. The pasta is handmade daily, and diners can watch the magic happen at the pasta station. With a dimly-lit dining room, low wood-beamed ceilings, and stained-glass windows featuring island imagery, the restaurant is a unique blend of Caribbean meets Italian.