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    Ideal Restaurant

    4.6 (57 reviews)
    ModerateIndian, Trinidadian
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Ideal Restaurant Photos

    IDEAL RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise

    Recommended Reviews - Ideal Restaurant

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    Spicy boneless chicken roti
    Sarah P.

    Awesome roti with boneless spicy chicken! So flavorful and tender. We paired it with a grilled veggie side that was seasoned wonderfully.

    Krishna P.

    This is one tummy full of Trinidadian goodness. Note: you'll need a nap after this :) I was staying at an airbnb in the area and stumbled upon this while looking for local/unique food options that I usually get to eat back home. I love goat and wanted to try the Goat Roti. It came in a burrito style wrap filled with goat curry, potato, garbanzo beans (chole) and a tonne of flavor. I asked for sauce on the side to be safe. The sauce is gentle and with a slight hint of tanginess. Something very unique. One word of caution. It looks like a burrito but the comparison stops there. Don't you ever try eating it with both hands like a burrito. If you are an OCD, you'll instantly regret. It is greasy. Your tongue and tummy will be thankful but your hands won't. The fact that they offer take out only makes it even more important to keep enough paper towels handy. In the 10mins of my wait time, I saw a lot of people walk by. This place is busy. Try to eat while it is still hot. Otherwise, the roti will soak up the sauces. The portions are huge. So if you are a couple and want to share one order, you can ask it to be cut before wrapping in the foil. I promise you wont be able to do it yourself on the go. I loved my roti and I will be coming at least a couple of times more before I leave the island. Can't wait to try their Curry chicken lunch option.

    Boneless Chicken Roti ($15)
    Ry M.

    If you are looking for authentic Indo-Caribbean cuisine, look no further than Ideal Restaurant in Charlotte Amalie. This restaurant specializes in roti (or wrapped roti), a popular Trinidad and Tobago street-food of South Asian origin. The roti wraps here are your choice of curry stewed protein (such as boneless chicken, bone-in chicken, beef, goat, shrimp, or conch), with chickpeas and potato filling tightly wrapped in a warm paratha roti flat bread. You can also get a veggie roti (no meat) with only chickpeas and potato for around $12. The boneless chicken roti was absolutely amazing and a local favorite! I would highly recommend calling ahead of time and placing your order for takeout. Make sure you bring cash with you, wraps range in price from USD $15 to $19. Parking is a bit tricky. If not, you will have to park down further and walk up. I would highly recommend this restaurant, if you travel to St. Thomas.

    Beef Roti

    This is a very small restaurant but the food is amazing. We wanted to try local cuisine and the Roti was spot on. We came here a couple times and tried the different Roti's the goat, beef, conch and chicken boneless. All of them were delicious. We took them to go and ate it at the Magens bay beach, couldn't ask for more.

    Boneless Chicken Roti. Just one bite and you'll fall in love.
    Riise C.

    Highly recommend for locals and visitors who've eaten Roti or trying it for the first time. Great experience as always. In and out fast and great service. Usually order the boneless chicken and it always hits the mark!

    Bone out chicken roti
    Raquel M.

    Hands down the Best roti in St.Thomas!!! This is a MUST stop every visit I make to the USVI!!

    Half of boneless chicken roti - $15
    Quoc K.

    Nice little family run restaurant. Fairly cheap eats. Got the boneless chicken roti - $15 with their hottest hot sauce. Wasn't too bad. Wish it was more spicy. Meat and potatoes had lots of flavor. Served hot. Large enough size to feed two people who aren't starving or enough for a very hungry person. Overall great experience. Fast service and would recommend to come here for a quick bite.

    Inside Ideal Restaurant....yummy food and beer!
    Berneta A.

    This is a solid 4.5 star experience. So the hubby's boss found this place, and when I was told it was Indian food, thoughts of bhindi masala, palak saag, tikka masala, and tandoori chicken popped up in mind. But alas, this is West Indian food or Trinidadian cuisine, which is quite different. This is a very cute, family feel type of restaurant and service is awesome. The counter guys seem to know the entire town. "Roti" here is actually a massive 3 lb. burrito stuffed with curried meat (Chicken, beef, goat, shrimp, or conch) and veggies of your choice. One "Roti" can feed two adults and a small child, and it should because meat Roti's range between $12-$15 each. You can also select your spice level, medium, hot or spicy. We stick with medium, and don't want to find out of what "hot" or "spicy" is. The counter guys will warn you that medium is a good degree of spicy. If you are on a day trip from one of the cruise ships, and will only be here once, try the Goat Roti ($15) or the Curry Goat Plate ($16). It is absolutely mouth watering delicious! A good runner up is the boneless chicken roti ($12) or curry chicken plate ($15). Of course you have to wash it down with the region's version of bud light and get a "Carib Lager". I love the Shandy Carib, which they carry, its a good but strange tasting flavor of a beer (Sorrel) that you keep on drinking, because the flavor is just so different. The bummer about this place is that they are popular, and when they are slamming busy there is no where to sit, as they only have 7 bar stools with a counter. But they do have wifi to help cut down on burning your data! Its also so blistering hot in this joint, that your metabolism will speed up to burn off those calories that you're packing on from eating roti here. No worries friends, this is an IDEAL place to eat and not get fat. As for the parking situation, you're going to have to put on your thinking cap. It's slim pickings, and there really are not that many explicit parking rules in St. Thomas, those that are posted and exist, are not followed. For example on the next street over from this restaurant it says "no parking on this side of the street" however, that side of the street was so full of cars, that no spots were left! Park at your own risk and keep in mind this territory has the most cops per capita than any state in the US. Try looking at Government Hill for free parking or across the street of Veterans park (although that is an 5 minute uphill hike to the restaurant and good excuse to eat more!). If heading out to this location isn't your thing, they deliver island wide! Woohoo, finally one restaurant on this island that does! I have yet to experience their delivery and if they are willing to make the trek up to my home that the USPS and waste management company of USVI won't I'd think about bumping my rating up to 5. They only lost half a star because its too hot to eat spicy food in there, and there are no areas around where they are located to sit and chow down.

    Beef Roti, Boneless Chicken Roti
    Heidi C.

    The first time I tried ROTI was in Trinidad a few years ago! The ROTI made to order at Ideal is top notch delicious!!! I cannot get enough. I have had the beef, chicken, goat, and conch! Full of flavor and filling!

    Boneless Chicken Roti
    Aimee G.

    Great Roti!! I always order the boneless chicken and it never disappoints. Friendly and fast service too!! Highly reccomend this small local shop.

    Plastic wrap from food.

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Purchased several Otis for dinner for the family and wasn't disappointed. Lots of food for the price.

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    12 years ago

    Such amazing food!! Owners were so nice and took the time to talk with us. The Roti is amazing!!!! You won't be disappointed.

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    11 years ago

    Never had a Roti before but I will be sure to have one again. Cooked fresh they were delicious. Perfect for a lunch time meal.

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    10 years ago

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    Page 2 of 2

    Review Highlights - Ideal Restaurant

    We came here a couple times and tried the different Roti's the goat, beef, conch and chicken boneless.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

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    868 Roti Hut - Goat and potato curry

    868 Roti Hut

    4.7(3 reviews)
    71.1 km

    I heard that there's a new Trinidadian restaurant that opened up and they specialize in roti!…read more So I went to give 868 Roti Hut a try! 868 Roti Hut is located mid-island, just off of centerline road, on the side-street across from Plaza Extra East & Falcon Gas Station. Once you turn down this side-road, you will see it on the left side. Look for their sign. There's limited parking in front, parking across from them is an option and there's also street parking. Their interior is VERY spacious and accommodates groups of people very well. There's menus outside and inside and you place your orders at the bar counter. Admittedly, the ambiance is rather plain and simple. I get the impression that it's rather quiet inside, because many people took their orders TO-GO. This leads me to my PRO-TIP. CALL YOUR ORDERS AHEAD! Their flavors like conch, goat and shrimp are very popular and tend to sell-out first. So it's best to CALL AHEAD and place your orders BEFORE going to pickup or even if dining -in. This way, you have a better chance at getting what you want. Their menu consists of : Roti Buss Up Shot Doubles and a few appetizers. I love the way their proteins cover for everyone's tastes including: fish, shrimp, chicken, goat, conch, tofu & veggie. Service was fast and friendly. Be warned, if you don't call your order ahead, you're probably going to have to wait at least 10+ minutes for your food; but it will all be worth it! I ordered their shrimp roti and gobbled it down! So flavorful and seasoned well! I also enjoyed their kurma, which is almost like a churro cinnamon stick. Overall, I'm completely loving what 868 Roti Hut has to offer the community and their roti is top-notch! Definitely worth going for lunch or dinner

    Small place, popular with the locals. I had the goat roti and it was delicious. Service was…read morefriendly and fast.

    Photos
    868 Roti Hut - Interior - Spacious seating

    Interior - Spacious seating

    868 Roti Hut - Interior - order at the bar

    Interior - order at the bar

    868 Roti Hut - Exterior - Storefront Entrance

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    Exterior - Storefront Entrance

    The Chicken Fry - My plate

    The Chicken Fry

    4.9(12 reviews)
    0.6 km

    Yes! $15 for a tasty dinner. One of the best dinners I had here…read more A dark street, I was the only white person there, I felt a little out of place but I was around locals eating good food so I know I was in the right place!!! I got 2 plates for $30 and it's so much quality food. Macaroni and cheese came out fresh and it was soooooo good. Major hit. The wings both were so good as well as the stewed chicken. The fungi was also so fun and delicious. Tastes like thicker grits.

    Small plate and big plate very affordable combos in Charlotte Amelie! But what's more important is…read morethat they serve good Caribbean and Latin comfort food to both locals and tourists. In a place where highly priced restaurant dot the island, The Chicken Fry is a great spot to pick up lunch and dinner (no tables) and fill your beach/work hunger. We had 3 big plate orders of stewed chicken, white rice, and yellow plantains, also comes with a side of beans. The chicken was moist and juicy especially with the savory sauce it was cooked with, the rice wasn't dry, the plantains ripe and well cooked, and the beans were seasoned and spiced just right. Service was friendly, fast even with the constant influx of people coming in. Fresh food was coming from the kitchen even by 745pm. The interior is simple, no frills, and well lit. We parked our car on the street and it took us less than 10 min to get our order. The road may seem sketchy to outsiders especially at nighttime but we had no problems finding the place. Would come back to try more of their food and would recommend! Small plates are around $8-9, and big plates start from around $12. Our big plate with the stewed chicken. Rice, plantains and a side of beans were $12 each. Oxtail big plate is $18 . Cash and credit cards accepted.

    Photos
    The Chicken Fry - Food counter

    Food counter

    The Chicken Fry - Oxtail, rice and plantains

    Oxtail, rice and plantains

    The Chicken Fry - Outside

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    Outside

    Fish Bar - Fish Sammy

    Fish Bar

    4.7(67 reviews)
    3.3 km
    $$$

    Amazing place with incredible view, and food! Don't let the exterior put you off, it's the…read moreislands, Mon! Wait in line if you have to or get there when they open at 4. Worth it! Especially for parking... Inside is a huge bar and "porch" with views of the islands from this lofty perch! Their fish is fresh and well prepared, and specials are inventive. Many go here for the raw fish with your chose of toppings. We had a wonderful fresh piece of Wahoo, a prized white sport fish not seen often on menus. It was a sandwich on a Japanese milk bun. The bun was soft with a hint of sweet, and with the grilled thick fish piece, was heaven. I wish I'd photographed it but alas, we ate it instead. Rounding out our meal was a cold noodle salad (different and also delicious), and their chocolate cake. The chocolate cake was more like a really dense cheese cake with a crunchy bottom cookie like layer and intense chocolate flavor. Get it!!!

    Was just ok for me...unless you like raw seafood you don't have a lot of options. The fish of the…read moreday was Wahoo and Tuna and I don't like those. I wound up getting the Lobster Mac which was tasty but too rich to eat as a main course. The prices are high and the service was just ok, service needs to match the prices you're asking for your food. My drink was delicious some green goddess type cocktail. My husband liked his tuna and our friend had the fish Sammy

    Photos
    Fish Bar - Porch sitting- get there somewhat early to be seated "outside"

    Porch sitting- get there somewhat early to be seated "outside"

    Fish Bar - Caribbean fish dinner with Tuna

    Caribbean fish dinner with Tuna

    Fish Bar - Muddy Water

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    Muddy Water

    Ideal Restaurant - indpak - Updated June 2026

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