The tropical vibes of Caroline’s won’t let you forget that you’re on St. Croix. Relax in the pink and green bedecked dining room, or dine on the pretty patio with archways framing views of Christiansted Harbor beyond. Enjoy French/American all-day breakfast and weekend brunch, with savory dishes like eggs benedict or build-your-own omelets. If your tastes run sweet, try decadent brioche French toast or crêpes filled with fresh fruit or rich caramel sauce.

“La reine” is French for “the queen,” and chicken is certainly the queen at La Reine Chicken Shack. The menu at this open-air restaurant changes daily. But roasted chicken is the star here, cooked low-and-slow on a homemade contraption that uses old dryer motors to turn the spits. The resulting birds are tender and juicy inside, with perfectly crispy skin on the outside. If you’re not in the mood for chicken, look for fall-off-the-bone BBQ ribs and stew saltfish, a Caribbean specialty. Most dis

Early risers in Frederiksted start their day with breakfast at Polly’s at the Pier. This cheerful neighborhood diner right on the waterfront specializes in gourmet coffee and hearty grub. For breakfast, build your own scramble or burrito with your choice of veggies and protein. Or try their answer to the McMuffin, made with veggie sausage instead of pork sausage. For lunch, the menu includes wraps, salads, and a “Gourmet Grilled Cheese."

Seasoned travelers know that the best food can sometimes be found in the least likely places. Local favorite Ziggy’s Island Market on St. Croix’s East End is a testament to that, serving up tantalizing to-go food out of a gas station/convenience store. The daily rotating menu can range from local favorites like Cruzan BBQ and conch fritters to Cajun cuisine to southwestern burritos. It all depends on the mood of Chef Aaron.

Tiny and eclectic Toast Diner is a Venezuelan-inspired breakfast and lunch spot located just off the Christiansted Boardwalk. Their 20-ish seats fill up fast, but locals know it’s worth the wait. Toast is best known for its arepas—fried Venezuelan corn cakes stuffed with various fillings. Try the Platano, packed with sweet plantains, honey, guacamole, and sprouts. For a sweeter option, the Elvis is full of peanut butter, banana, and powdered sugar.

In the yard of a modest family home in Frederiksted Southeast, a small shack has been delighting the St. Croix community for over 50 years. It’s Rosa’s Booth, a family-operated to-go stand that has mastered two area favorites—piping hot Crucian pates and frozen ice pops. The pates (pronounced pah-tay) at Rosa’s Booth are made fresh and sell out daily. Savory fillings like conch, saltfish, beef, and snapper are wrapped in dough and fried to a perfect golden.

No-frills cuisine is the name of the game at Two Plus Two, but the flavor more than makes up for the minimal aesthetic. Located in Christiansted, this restaurant and nightclub serves up classic local favorites such as butter shrimp, oxtail and stew goat. After the sun goes down, grab a drink at the bar and enjoy the live music.