Bermuda Restaurants: Part 1

Bo and I weren’t sure what to expect of the Bermuda restaurant scene. Many of our friends who frequent the island warned us that it isn’t a foodie hotspot. It hasn’t been overtaken by expat chefs looking to start a new life on the island like we found in Anguilla. But, lucky for us, we were surprised by the restaurants we enjoyed while in the island.

While in Bermuda, Bo and I had the opportunity to try a number of different restaurants ranging from causal island grub to old, stuffy and fancy.

Barracuda Grill: Located in Hamilton, this is one of the top ranked restaurants on the island, known for their creative cuisine execution and wonderful service. While we hadn’t intended to spend our first evening in a formal restaurant it was conveniently located to the Harbour Nights festivities and their menu looked divine. The atmosphere was a bit dated and stuffy but the service and food made up for it. We started with a few appetizers including the famed Bermuda Fish Chowder and local scallops. The fish chowder, dressed with the island’s famed peppered sherry and a rum drizzle, was absolutely divine!

The catch of the day was local snapper, but unfortunately the sides didn’t match the fish and ruined the dish. The vegetables were drenched in oil and the risotto was under seasoned. The fish was cooked perfectly but unfortunately the blah sides took away from the experience.

 This smiling face would give the restaurant an 7.5 out of 10.  The Whitehorse Tavern & Grill: Located over the water in St. George Harbor, we didn’t expect much of this restaurant but heard it was the only restaurant option in St. George and from the outside we could tell it was packed. On the islands, this is always the sign of a good restaurant or bar. We started with their specialty, the conch fritters. In keeping with moderation, we made sure to try the local favorites at each restaurant and we were happily pleased with this choice. Filled with delicious conch, very little batter, and served warm they were exactly what we were craving; paired with a cold Corona Light.

We were both craving a fresh, casual fish sandwich free of batter which had been hard to find on the island. When we saw the Cajun wahoo sandwich on the menu we knew we had to try it. We were blown away by this sandwich. The roll was grilled yet still soft and doughy, there was a thin schmear of homemade tartar sauce, and the fish was grilled to perfection. Moist and succulent it wasn’t overdone or tough; which is hard to find.

   This relaxed patron gives The Whitehorse Tavern & Grill a 10 out of 10!

Elbow Beach Room Service: There weren’t many breakfast options on the resort, only room service or the enclosed portion of Sea Breeze, a white table cloth restaurant near the beach. Since room service was of equivalent price, we indulged on room service 3 of the 4 mornings, a mistake we regret in hindsight. Room service always comes with more than a few surcharges and the food is often cold by the time it arrives. Unfortunately, we were disappointed by the room service and price. The porridge was unpalatable and cold, the small box of cereal was $8, and the eggs were overcooked. We both agreed this morning that in hindsight we wish we had brought a few bags of oatmeal or gone to a local grocery store for cereal and fresh fruit.

Mickey’s Beach Bar & Grill: Located beachside at Elbow Beach Resort, this bar and grill serves lunch and dinner daily to both hotel guests and locals alike. The service was amazing, the food was fresh and exactly what you’d expect at a beachside grill with a twist. The prices were inline with other Bermuda restaurants and on par with most New York restaurants. Due to the sheer convenience, we enjoyed lunch here two times during our trip. Both times, we were able to soak up the sunshine and enjoy the crashing waves.

The views were incredible!

But it was their fresh, grilled seafood salad that stole the show!

We would rate this restaurant a 9 out of 10 due to a few of their prices but otherwise it was fantastic.

The Waterlot Inn: This restaurant was recommended by the concierge, the locals, and even Melissa’s friend who lived in Bermuda for two years. Unbeknownst to us, this Bermuda institution, is a steak house. While the outside was charming and rich in Bermuda colors, the inside left something to be desired.

In true old fashioned steak house fashion, the menu was a la carte and the restaurant was filled with many business men. While the views from their back deck were wonderful, the service was unfortunately horrible. It took us 30 minutes to order a drink and then another 30 for me to get more soda for the stiff drink. In addition, we weren’t seated for our 7:30 reservation until past 8.

 

The service was friendly but a bit confusing as we had three different waiters attend to us during the evening. We never knew who to signal when we were ready to order and they kept confusing our orders. We did however, take the recommendation of our first waiter, and start with some delicious appetizers.

Bo chose the Oysters Rockefeller, a steakhouse staple, which he thoroughly enjoyed. They were rich, garlic filled, and exactly what he wanted.

I went with a lighter, fresh steakhouse classic shrimp cocktail. The shrimp, or prawns as they should be called, were plump and fresh. The cocktail sauce was homemade and perfectly balanced with horseradish. Unfortunately, after the appetizers the dinner went downhill. Bo embraced the steakhouse atmosphere and ordered a Kansas City Strip while I went the fish route. His strip was filled with so much gristle that by the time he was six bites in he couldn’t stand it any longer. My fish arrived overcooked and freezing cold. The sauce overpowered the fish and it was salty to the taste. I immediately returned it in exchange for what I should have ordered originally, the petite 6oz filet. The filet arrived perfectly cooked and seasoned but by this point I was full and disappointed. Bo enjoyed a few bites of the filet before we both called it quits. However, the restaurant did delight and surprise us when the check arrived, having taken all three entrees off our bill.

We would rate this restaurant 6 out of 10 for wonderful atmosphere, wine list, and a few good appetizers.