Little did we know in January of 2020 that it would be a while before we could travel again. Luckily, we had the opportunity to travel to Anguilla, try some new restaurants and savor some of our favorites. This list is of the restaurants we return to year after year. They have proven to have the best food and service on the island. So we may be home for a bit, but we can plan our next trip, making certain we visit these places again in the future.
Blanchards & Blanchard’s Beach Shack
When I crave a cheeseburger, Blanchard’s Beach Shack is my place. It’s a great place to stop for lunch or for a cool drink while on Meads Bay. The menu is posted above the windows where you order, and includes tacos, bowls, salads, and sandwiches, along with an extensive drink menu, including my favorite mango smoothie. The Beach Shack is the offshoot of the famous Blanchard’s restaurant, which never disappoints with its great food and service. I’ve enjoyed the crayfish ceviche, Thai red curry mussels, and grouper Nicoise. Try one of the fabulous desserts. I have great memories of a dark chocolate terrine with orange creme anglaise. Other customers have loved the cracked coconut and order it every visit.
Picante
We have never made a trip to Anguilla without at least one dinner at Picante. It’s a perfect spot for upscale Mexican food. My favorite dish is the Picante fish tacos (with a hard shell inside and a soft tortilla outside). Be sure to order a margarita or two to accompany your meal. If they have them when you visit, order the special guava margarita!
Jacala
We were slow to discover Jacala, but were glad we did. Jacques Borderon and Alain Laurent opened Jacala in 2010, and it has been a favorite among travelers for years. Everything we’ve ordered there has been amazing. Our favorites include the tuna carpaccio, lobster risotto, and the Spanish tortilla. Customer favorites include the crayfish and the steak tartare. Once you’ve decided on your meal, ask Jacques to pick the wine for the perfect pairing.
Straw Hat
We remember Straw Hat from the days when it was located in Forest Bay. It has been in its current location in Frangipani Beach Resort on Meads Bay since 2008. As a guest at Frangipani, you are treated to breakfast at Straw Hat, and you can order room service from one of the best restaurants on the island. We have loved all the seafood dishes, and love the lobster benedict for breakfast. Add to that the views of Meads Bay, and you have a perfect dining experience.
Dolce Vita
One more restaurant needs to be mentioned. It was our first visit to Dolce Vita in Sandy Ground, but as soon as I tasted the lasagne, I felt like I was back on our first trip to Anguilla in 2007. In 2007, we visited this awesome Italian restaurant on the west end, but when we returned in 2009, it was gone. When I tasted the lasagne at Dolce Vita, it was so familiar that I asked if there was any connection to the place we visited so many years before. It turns out that Abbi Ibrahim of Dolce Vita used to own Caprice which was where you turned off the main road to go to Cap Juluca. Small world! The meal was fantastic, and we’ll be back on our next trip!
Enjoy planning your trip to Anguilla!
Note: Travel to Anguilla is currently permitted with restrictions. For more information, check out the Anguilla Tourism Board website.