The Barbados Food and Rum Festival is what brought me to the little island in the Caribbean and while the events were loaded with a taste of Bajan cuisine I had to explore Barbados on my own. Turns out I didn’t have to go far. In fact sometimes I didn’t even have to leave the hotel . . . .

The Vitals:
the spot: Savannah Beach Hotel Hastings Main Rd, Bridgetown, Barbados
the eats: all inclusive hotel
the bucks: n/a
the full nelson: for an all inclusive you’re in really good hands

I’ve stayed at a number of all inclusive hotels in Mexico where the food has ranged from decent to abysmal. At the end of the day one tires of the monotony of the same kitchen regardless of the variety. I had measured expectations when I ate at Savannah Beach club but as the week went on, I became more impressed.

The breakfast was OK, I tended to go light but the egg station was always a must. Most of the time I was out and about during lunch but one day I caught this decent little sushi and cold seafood spread. It hit the spot. I think it’s fair to say not every sushi has to be some coveted omakase experience to scratch the itch and this spread certainly did that. Not pictured sadly are the curries which were SPOT ON. Honestly some of the best curries I have had in years were at Savannah Beach Club.

The Vitals:
the spot: Blush Cafe Highway 7, Bridgetown, Barbados
the eats: a breakfast cafe and coffee bar
the bucks: $$$
the full nelson: in a word overpriced

Blush Cafe was clearly designed for the age of Instagram. I can’t argue that the barista artwork wasn’t impressive but this cafe is simply overpriced. Walking distance from the hotel I stayed at, I gave this place a go on my last day. I ordered the full English breakfast which was a first for me. Twitter chimed in to say I was missing the blood sausage but I was happy to at least attempt trying this breakfast icon. I think I dropped like $25 for this and the coffee. The food was merely OK and it took the kitchen 45 minutes to bring my food. At least it looks pretty.

The Vitals:
the spot: Chefette multiple locations in Barbados
the eats: a Barbados fast food chain
the bucks: $ Cheap Eats $
the full nelson: Rihanna’s fav restaurant? That’s the rumor

Sometimes ya gotta get down and dirty when it comes to late night eats and that means fast food. I don’t often eat fast food but I do make exceptions here and there. Chefette came highly recommended by my pals from the Caribbean and I had to give it a try, I mean when in Barbados right?

Fried chicken is what you want to focus on and it ain’t that bad given the hour I was eating. It was not unlike getting fried chicken from a Konbini store in Tokyo which people love BTW. Is it the greatest fried chicken ever? No, but I’d get it again and I did get it twice on my trip. I tried the burger too and it was OK but you’re here for the decent fast food fried chicken and under seasoned crinkle cut fries. Pro tip: ask for extra pepper sauce.

The Vitals:
the spot: Champers Skeetes Hill, Bridgetown, Barbados
the eats: a Barbados fine dining restaurant with a view to die for
the bucks: $$$ 
the full nelson: The waves crashing against the rocks are out of a novel. Now about the food . . . 

Atmosphere alone is what should guide you to Champers which was billed as the finest dining to be had on Barbados. The plating matched the view and I really enjoyed the cocktails. To be blunt, the food was fine, understandably pricey but a little too “safe”. Missing was the more exotic ambitious cooking I found being served by Bajan chefs at the festival where aromatic spices and pretty plating drove the experience. I guess you could say I hoped for more. The wine list gets ambitious by the bottle so if you are a wino . . .  I mean Oenophile get into that.

The Vitals:
the spot: Seafood Shack Worthing Beach, Bridgetown, Barbados
the eats: a delicious shack by the sea
the bucks: $$
the full nelson: This is why you come to Barbados . . . 

I was so glad to have made the time to check out a legit local’s spot like Seafood Shack. A literal shack at the beach there was also a cheap bar nearby which helped offset the pricey lobster fries we had. It’s not dirt cheap but the portions at Seafood Shack are huge(we got a half pound of lobster meat) and the view cannot be beat. In addition to the Lobster fries we got wings, and fried squid. I can honestly say I could eat at Seafood Shack every day I’m in Barbados but I might save lobster for the last day.