Places to eat in Nassau

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OK, I didn't get a chance to eat here - I went to the Rock Shop before the restaurant opened for the day, and we didn't make it back after our shore excursion (Nassau was a port on a recent cruise). That said, it's a Hard Rock Cafe, so you pretty much know what you are going to get. I happen to like the Hard Rock, and would have liked to explore the memorabilia collection. Guess I will have to do that *next time*, however, I still came away with several cool pins and a t-shirt! :-)

Anthony's Grill is one of the most affordable restaurants on Paradise Island, perhaps because it is a few minutes away from the Atlantis complex.

We were there for lunch on a hot scorching day and skipped the terrace to eat inside, where the air conditioning was much appreciated. The place reminded of us of T. G. I. Friday's and offered a mix of American and Bahamian dishes.

Both our Nassau club salad and barbecue pizza were excellent, and the service was both friendly and efficient. As we left the owner enthusiastically told us of his specials for breakfast the following morning, thinking we were staying on the island.

I would definitely recommend this restaurant, especially to families with children, as tabs can go up in a hurry on overpriced Paradise Island.

Many locals recommend going to the "Fish Fry," a restaurant strip 1-2 miles west of downtown. Among the many options is the Twin Brothers restaurant, whose daiquiris are said to have been featured on CBS and written about in the New York Times.

I don't like seafood, but I had promised myself I would try Bahamian conch during my stay in Nassau, and this is where I had a conch burger. It wasn't great -- too much frying to my liking -- but I could not say if it is prepared the same way elsewhere. That being said, my better half's Bahamian baked chicken, served with peas'n'rice, was very good. And the daiquiris truly are excellent.

I wish we had room for dessert, but we were stuffed from our generous servings. Prices were quite reasonable, considering the other similar eateries in Nassau, and the service was very friendly.

This is certainly one of the best restaurants on New Providence Island, I can't believe they weren't on the restaurants list in the menu for creating this travel tip.

What probably hurts it, though, is location -- in Gambier Village, on the west side of New Providence Island, a half-hour away on bus from downtown Nassau. However, those who do make the trip are rewarded with excellent food and, if they eat on the terrace, wonderful view of the beach.

If you take your meal as an entree instead of as an appetizer, you get peas'n'rice as well as the choice of two side dishes from coleslaw, plantains, corn and salad. The first time there we ate there, my girlfriend took fish fingers as an appetizer while I had curried chicken as an entree and shared my side dishes with her, but we ended up fighting over my peas'n'rice and plantains!

We went back a few days later and this time both had our meals as entrees, avoiding anymore fights over the delicious food. :)

Prices here are comparable to other restaurants we tried around Nassau. While the adjacent Seagrape Gift Shop seemed expensive, the products were clearly of better quality than those sold, say, at the Straw Market. Credit cards are accepted.

When traveling to new islands or new countries, we always like to sample the local food. However, there are times when we crave food that we are familiar with, and the food at Hard Rock is generally good no matter what part of the world you find yourself traveling in. A good cheeseburger and a Diet Coke are pure comfort food for me and I'm not afraid to admit it. Thanks, but no fried grasshoppers, or jellied eel or any of that stuff for me!!

Hard Rock Cafe markets itself as an American institution and that's just what it is---a lot of talking, American music and American food. It's full of all kinds of people, young & old. I like the food choices, but not so much the amount of noise. Choose a good salad, a hamburger and fries, or an entree of almost any kind and you will most probably be pleased. The service is generally very good. American Automobile Association (AAA) members get a 10% discount I believe on food as well as in the Hard Rock Store. Coupons may be found in many of the free tourist magazines and brochures you will find at Festival Place.

Although I enjoy Hard Rock Cafe's food from time to time, I really like to pick up their collectible pins. There are many different styles and each one is designed for the specific Hard Rock location such as Grand Cayman, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Cozumel, New Orleans, Beijing, etc., etc. It's amazing how popular they are with travelers, and collectors and the pins can actually appreciate in value. Other people like to collect their t-shirts from Hard Rock Cafes to show off where they've been.

Favorite Dish: I'll take a good old American cheeseburger and Diet Coke any time, but I also like their salads and desserts. And oh, I'll have a few of those Hard Rock pins too!

It was a fortunate day when we found Murray's Delicatessen near the Atlantis Marina. We had come to see the Atlantis and have lunch when we found this 1950's New York deli style restaurant on one of our first visits to Nassau. Now it has become our favorite place to have lunch when we are lucky enough to visit Nassau.

The decor is colorful, light, airy and has a definite summer feel as Murray's looks out over the huge Marina at Atlantis. While Atlantis has several other upscale dining choices, Murray's is very casual and not nearly as pricey as some. They serve those mile-high deli sandwiches which New York is famous for. They also have other deli-style food such as salads, smoked fish, bagels, etc., but we come here for their fantastic HAMBURGERS!! They serve probably the best burger I have ever had! The portions are huge which reminds me of the Zabar's legend (if you're from New York or New Jersey you'll know this name) so you definitely will not go away hungry.

There is also a small grocery area in the restaurant from which you can buy sodas, snacks, small salads, sandwiches or desserts to take out and sit at the outside tables by the marina or to take back to your room or the beach. Service here is friendly and attentive; we've had the same waiter twice -- we remembered him-- he didn't remember us of course. Murray's is popular although we never have trouble getting a table. After Murray's, try Jimmie's Soda Fountain next door for a cool dessert.

Murray's is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 7am to 11 pm.

Favorite Dish: You can get almost any deli type food at Murray's but their burgers are THE BEST! The fries are good too. Even though you must try the Caribbean food while in Nassau, if you have a taste for a great burger, you must try Murray's.

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Right next door to Murray's Delicatessen you'll find a really delightful place--Jimmie's Soda Fountain. Also done up in the 1950's soda fountain decor (which I love), this is a really cute place with some great milkshakes, ice creams, ice cream sundays, novelties, etc. Unlike Murray's, this place is ALWAYS CROWDED! The line is usually out the door so you know it must be good!! If you have any room left for dessert after Murray's, Jimmie's is the place!

I hate to say it, but I think they should definitely have counter seating and service to make the 50's theme really come alive. There are a few tables inside and outside seating overlooking the marina which are nice too.

Expect to spend $5 and up per person but it's worth the splurge sometimes to experience the place itself!

Favorite Dish: Why, the ice cream of course!

Nassau is an expensive place to dine thats for sure and when you are looking for lunch at an affordable price it can be a difficult task. So imagine my surprise when I found Olives in the Nassau International Bazaar. It is locally owned Greek themed restaurant with out side dining but with cover should you experience one of those Bahamas Summer showers. Hidden half way down a little alleyway called a Bazzar it is friendly, helpful and a great place to meet locals and tourists alike. Whilst I enjoyed my simple lunch and a couple of drinks (the Mojito's are excellent) I talked with the staff and the locals who told where to go and what to see, the tips they gave me were very valuable as the cruise ship I was on were only really telling us about the places they get a cut in profits from (well I think so as those places kept asking us what ship we were from whilst typing it in there till). The food was great freshly made and tasty and I didn't feel as if I needed to get a second mortgage to pay. I had the Olives House Burger with Seasoned Fries and a local beer to start and then a cocktail before we moved on to do some more shopping. My wife had a salad and she was very impressed and I can assure you that is not the case all the while. The refreshing thing was that it has an open kitchen so you can see your food being made and that it is clean and tidy.

Favorite Dish: Olives House Burger was a Fresh Homemade burger from what seemed to be quality ingredients accompanied by Seasoned fries. It was fresh quick and delivered with a smile.