Dining on Pure Grenada

CASUAL DINING For a real taste of the islands’ traditional dishes, dining at one of the casual eateries is not to be missed. Grenada’s national dish, oil-down—a one-pot stew made with salted meat, breadfruit, dumplings, turmeric, and callaloo all steamed in coconut milk, can be found at most of the restaurants. Tasty vegan “Oil-down” is also enjoyed as a part of authentic Grenadian culinary experiences. Other favorites such as cou cou, a pudding-like dish made of corn meal mixed with a variety of vegetables served as a side with stewed meats and lambi, or conch cooked in various herbs and spices are some of the many home-grown delights to be enjoyed. Traditional foodie celebrations like the annual River Sallee Saraka held the first Friday following Good Friday, is considered the best and biggest with local foods, dances and drumming, all stemming from and connected to Grenada’s African roots.

Seafood lovers also can enjoy fresh catch-of-the-day meals infused with local ingredients set against magical sunsets at any one of the islands’ water-front restaurants. One such locale, Dodgy Dock Restaurant and Lounge Bar hosts one of the destination’s ultimate casual dining experiences, Street Food Wednesdays, a themed night dedicated to showcasing a wide selection of traditional and international cuisine prepared by local vendors in an energetic atmosphere fueled by live music. The island’s signature spices are ever present in the diverse offerings. Additional hot-spots to visit while on island include BB’s Crabback, Belmont Estate, Coconut Beach, Umbrellas Beach Bar, 61 West Grenada and Beach Cabana. All of these restaurants will be Pure Safe Travel Approved as they would have been inspected by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

FINE DINING With Caribbean food rapidly growing in global popularity, one of the islands’ most exciting movements is the emergence of haute cuisine – where traditional Grenadian dishes are prepared in a trendy gourmet style. In Grenada’s bourgeoning restaurant scene, patrons will find a variety of fine dining restaurants from international to local cuisine. The Spice Island Beach Resort’s Oliver’s Restaurant in particular has given traditional dishes a gourmet makeover by serving local favorites in an epicurean tasting style. Other fine dining favorites include: Rhode’s at Calabash, The Aquarium Restaurant, La Belle Creole Restaurant, Bogles Roundhouse, Petit Anse Restaurant and Savvy’s at Mount Cinnamon. Check the reopening date for these establishments as they may vary from place to place.

Recently opened restaurants on the destination, such as Sails, Spice Affair Grenada, Island Fever Tropical Tavern and Secret Harbour Restaurant are also ideal for those looking to mingle with Grenadians while indulging in a taste of Grenada.

Bespoke dining at Dexter’s Restaurant offers one of the most special meals on the island at the home of Dexter Burris, a former chef at the Calabash Luxury resort. On arrival guests are led upstairs to an intimate, open-air room fitted with a few tables, where his sons play host for the evening. The chef will run through the evening’s five-course menu tailored to each guest’s dietary restrictions. (Reservations are required, and the prixfixe menu includes wine.)

SWEET TREATS Make the dining experience even more special with nutmeg ice cream, a popular and must-have dessert option. Additionally, with cocoa production playing an integral part of Grenadian culture and culinary lifestyle, the island’s organic dark chocolate is a can’t-miss treat. Visitors with a sweet tooth will have the chance to savor and enjoy bean-tobar tours and sample decadent chocolatey treats from any one of the island’s five chocolate factories, with some offering infused options with the island’s nutmeg, ginger and cocoa. HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS To build consumer confidence and in readiness for welcoming visitors to the destination, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and the Grenada Tourism Authority created a new way of doing business. Together they have developed and implemented standardized hygiene and health protocols across Pure Grenada’s six key tourism sub sectors that include food and beverage (F&B), accommodation, transportation, attractions, watersports and tourism services. As part of this process, more than 1,800 tourism industry stakeholders have been trained and certified in these procedures and can be easily identified by the prominently displayed Grenada Tourism Authority’s ‘Pure. Safe. Travel’ Seal of Approval. For a complete list of health and safety procedures, visit https://covid19.gov.gd/ and for general destination information and advisories, www.puregrenada.com.