Steve Simonsen

You can enjoy the best meal of your life on St. John, no matter what kind of dinner that means to you: a pig roast at a funky, rural, no-shoes kind of joint; an artistically presented fusion creation in a formal hotel dining room; or simply a great plate of just-caught fish done up with a homey cornmeal concoction called fungi .

The majority of island restaurants are in Cruz Bay, as close to an urban heart as St. John has. There you can choose from a host of beachside, curbside, cliffside, harborview, gardenview and courtyard restaurants. Menus feature continental, fusion, Mexican, Italian, nouvelle and blender-drink cuisines.

While most restaurants are on the casual side, a number of distinctive dining establishments are worth seeking out during your visit. Not only do they have white linens, candlelit tables and doting service, but they also serve exquisite meals. If you want to venture farther, Coral Bay, down the hill a bit, has a number of waterside restaurants and taverns.

Caribbean Casual

By Kathleen M. Mangan

Whether you're eating in a funky beach shack, a busy market café or an elegant gourmet restaurant, in these islands attire is light, comfortable and fun - what's known as Caribbean Casual. Here are some fashion tips for dining out:

Beachside bars and lunch shacks: bare feet and bathing suits. Why bother with more?

Outdoor cafés: T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops at lunch. In the evening, short-sleeved shirts and shorts for men, and sarongs with tank tops and sandals for women.

Happy hour: casual yet trendy clothing and footwear - plus a stylish pair of sunglasses.

Family restaurants for dinner: short-sleeved shirts and shorts or khakis for dads, skirts or cropped pants for moms, polo shirts and shorts for boys, and sundresses for girls.

Gourmet restaurants: A few formal restaurants require jackets for men. In most establishments, a nice short-sleeved shirt and slacks is acceptable attire. For women, sundresses, skirts or slacks with sandals, and an evening bag is très chic; throw on a wrap or sweater in case the trade winds, or air conditioning, pick up.