The restaurant scene has been blossoming in Trinidad in recent years. You can come across some magnificent establishments tucked away from the hustle and bustle of major towns, but Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook (a suburb of Port of Spain) is considered the island’s restaurant mecca. Delicious Asian, Creole, European, Middle Eastern, Jamaican and American food is conjured up here by superb qualified chefs.

 

Trendy combination restaurant/sports bars are a fashionable choice for dining and liming, especially when big sporting events such as football and boxing are on.

Some of the best foods in Trinidad are bought from roadside vendors and eaten with your hands. Doubles is perhaps the leading roadside delight, a favourite of the breakfast and late evening crowds. Roasted corn, oysters, coconuts and souse can be found around the Queen’s Park Savannah at night. Local fruits, once in season, can be bought at supermarkets, on the sidewalks and even at traffic lights, where some vendors ply their trade at your car window.

 

Sometimes it’s as much about the where as the what. In St James, on the western edge of Port of Spain, nightfall brings out sidewalk vendors selling grilled fare, burgers, roti, corn soup, souse and ital food. People trek from all over the country to San Fernando to partake in Halal meats barbequed over coals and served with fries, salad and garlic rolls. In Debe village, just outside San Fernando, people throng to small wooden huts for sumptuous Indian delicacies. At Maracas Beach, bake-and-shark is a must.

 

The secret is in the sauce. Trinis love to douse their food with condiments such as pepper sauce, ketchup, garlic sauce, tamarind sauce, barbeque sauce, chutney and pickled fruits and veggies. Wash it all down with local juices, a cold local beer, freshly brewed coffee, fruit smoothies or some local rum.

 

·      Adam's Bagels (Maraval): casual dining – salads, baked goods, light soups and sandwiches. T: 622-2435

·      Angelo's (Woodbrook): restaurant offering authentic Italian fine dining, from Calabria-born owner and chef Angelo Cofone. T: 627-5551

·      Driftwood Restaurant & Bar (San Fernando): 652-9463, www.tradewindshotel.net

·      Flambeaux (Port of Spain): 627-5555, www.marriott.com

·      Hyatt Waterfront Restaurant (Port of Spain): 623-2222, www.trinidad.hyatt.com

·      Ithaki Restaurant (St Ann’s): 623-3511, www.cascadiahotel.com

·      J. Malone's Irish Pub & Restaurant(MovieTowne & Trincity Mall): Irish-style pub with food, drink and entertainment to match. T: 624-9828, 640-5080

·      Mt Plaisir Estate Restaurant (Grande Rivière): 670-8381, www.mtplaisir.com

·      Roustica: T: 640-5080

·      Snappers (Trincity Mall): casual restaurant where seafood is the specialty. T: 640-5080

·      Sweet Lime (Woodbrook & La Romaine): open-air bar and restaurant, with local and international dishes. T: 624-9983, W: www.sweetlime.co.tt

·      Subway (nationwide): international chain serving healthy soups, salads, sandwiches and snacks. T: 662-5716, W: www.subway.com

·      Tiki Village Restaurant and Bois Cano Bistro & Bar (Maraval): 622-5765, www.kapokhotel.com

·      Trader Jack's Island Grill & Bar (MovieTowne): seafood is the hook here. T: 222-2571

·      Veni Mange (Woodbrook): restaurant serving delicious creole food; featured by the New York Times. T: 628-5254, W: www.venimange.com

·      The Verandah (St Clair): restaurant serving Caribbean food, known for its executive lunch menus. T: 622-6287

·      Zanzibar (MovieTowne): restaurant serving a wide variety of food, with vibrant decor and entertainment. T: 627-0752