This was a great date night choice. Romantic, delicious, the service was SUPERB! Heart eyes on this place. One of those places that just put you in the MOOD. read more

La Tapa Plage - Delish! Service was magnificent! Happy, happy night. - Spanish Near Me - Saint John, Virgin Islands

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Unbelievably delicious. Fresh, beautifully prepared and presentation was ideal. Mussels, pork belly and escargot were perfectly cooked. Highly recommend La Tapa for true foodies. read more

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I wish I was there right now! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the chef is creative, and the food is outstanding!! When we're on St John we have dinner at La Tapa no fewer than two times per trip. Whether you're sitting at the bar or at a table the service is always fantastic. Start your meal with some olives and La Tapa oil while checking out the wine list. If you like seafood, their paella (for two) is fantastic! And be sure to save room for dessert- the chef makes incredible homemade ice cream- last time we were there they offered lavender ice cream and some kind of spicy ice cream- they were so good! read more

Chef Alex Ewald has been on island 23 years delighting local residents and travelers alike with her creative menu that changes frequently. If you are adventuresome and love spanish-inspired creations with local ingredients, definitely make a reservation as she is booked most nights due to popularity. Enjoy! read more

A fun tapas restaurant with outdoor seating right in the heart of Cruz Bay. It seems like La Tapa is having fun experimenting with new foods since they change their menu nightly. My wife and I ate here our first night in St. John. We split the bread with three sauces, their mango pico de gallo and green peppercorn sauces were the best. I don't care for sun-dried tomato so that one would never win me over. I think the bread could've been better, but then I'm coming from New York where most restaurants elevate bread to an art form. We then shared the squid ink pasta, queso/beet/eggplant salad and bacalao cakes. The bacalao cakes were the best, a nice saltiness and they were served with a great sauce. Service was great, very attentive. Plus, when you add that you are dining in paradise and sipping on a cool refreshing glass of wine, how could anything be too bad? read more

World class food! My husband and I ate their 3 times in one week. Chef's Alex and Patrick truly care about every dish that is prepared. Thursday night they have a pottery family style dinner for $45 for 3 courses, which of course is optional. AMAZING! Warm, cozy environment with excellent service. GO! You won't regret it! Try the mussels!!! read more

I'm sorry y'all but I've been to Spain and I've been to other Tapas restaurants but for a place to be called La Tapa, I need more variety in my small plates. And I understand the theme for St Johns is everything is over priced but we had a normal amount of food, 5 beers and 1 cocktail for 6 and spent $250 with tip... that's high read more

My husband and I were guided here by the folks at the Westin. Having been on St. John for many years, we don't really expect haute cuisine.....we just hope to not be robbed blind for a slider that is suppose to pass as a burger for $25. La Tapa isn't much to look at, and, as all restaurants in the center of town, good luck parking. Its located next door to the way over-hyped KENNY CHESNEY hangout Woody's. And, well, we weren't looking to run into Kenny. He never returns our calls and frankly I don't think he looks good on the tractor. (BTW, be sure you go there, because there's probably no chance in hell you'll actually find him there). La Tapa is an adventure in eating - taking some bold risks in combining flavors and placing patrons dangerously close to traffic. Literally, on their patio, you can put your arm out and get smacked by traffic. Needless to say, we opted for their small dining room. And yes, we had (and needed reservations). The place is teeny tiny and walk ups were being turned away graciously. Several things set this place apart from others on the island. First is the amazing down to earth and super informed staff. The hostess was gracious and made sure our kids knew the kitchen would prepare them something they'd like - they just needed to say what it was. For my delightfully lactose tolerant daughter, it was a plate of cheese. My son went bold with penne and chicken and sauce on the side (just in case it tasted like crap - it didn't). Our waiter was attentive, funny and not looking to have our meal revolve around him. They had a great scallop dish with 3 diver scallops and a mousse on top with bacon that was fresh and a palate pleaser. I also got a great homemade mozzarella salad which also was really impressive. While our waiter was a great mix of all things you could hope for, but he was sadly misinformed about dessert. He was a self proclaimed 'non-chocoholic' - egads! - and totally missed the boat suggesting chocolate mousse over chocolate torte. My kids both got the torte and, realizing my mistake in getting the mousse, I ate a 1/3 of each of theirs discussing how dragging them around for 9 months as they destroyed by abs entitled me to their dessert. Make no mistake, this is not the best food you will have in your life. I've eaten at truly visionary restaurants that you would want for your last meal, but La Tapa gets its 5 stars for solid food, great service and a good wine selection on an island that really needs someone to raise the bar. They have achieved all these things and here's hoping it's contagious. read more

La Tapa is amazing. The food is so delicious, and it is by far the best restaurant if you're vacationing on St. Thomas or St. John. My brother had his wedding reception there and they did a really great job with the food, drinks, and setting up the decorations. Some of my favorite dishes include the: - Ceviche - Foie Gras - Sangria - Calamari in squid ink - Mussels ( a must! ) La Tapa would be considered a good restaurant anywhere. I'm just sad it's so far from where I live! read more

Very good food. However, they pack you in like sardines, which is annoying for me personally, but still worth going.

Based on yelp reviews we picked our dinner spot on St John. Sat outside which added a different feel to the experience. Staff is very friendly and prompt service. Ravioli seemed to be freshly made and full of flavor. Con pan with 3 sauces was delicious, we cleaned the plate completely of the sauces. Split the veal dish, capers added a nice pop of flavor. Maybe could have been less greasy but still amazing dinner. Menu changes daily, so this review may not be any help. All you really need to know is the chef is good and the selections will make sure you find something you like. read more

$5 for bread is ridiculous, really good way to make money for the restaurant. Mussels and scallops tapas were good and fairly priced. Service was good but food was very slow to arrive. Pappardelle main course was big miss. Really overpriced with minimal and overcooked lobster and 4 shrimp. Very small portion. Drinks were good. Wine list extensive. read more

We ate dinner here twice. The first time it was great - the service was spectacular and everything from the bread to the entree was great. The second time - no more then three days later - the service was lacking and the food was a bit bland. perhaps it was the dulling of our senses from too much rum the days before but it feels that they have a consistency problem. read more

Compared with everything else we had on the island (including zozo and waterfront bistro) the food here was a cut above. You won't get the views here, but you will get exceptional tapas (loved the languistinis, homemade mozzarella, ridiculously good tuna tartare, and escargot with capellini). Salmon with Brussels sprouts for entree was a great choice. We decided to sit outside which basically has you sitting on the street. I liked this since it's some of the best people-watching you can get (a lot of people may not like this). Exceptional service makes this a no brainer. read more

I took my then girlfriend to St. Thomas to propose to her. On the recommendation of a family friend we decided to take the Ferry to St. John and try out La Tapa. I am really glad we did and want to go back soon. Hands down they are the best mussels I have ever had. We had to keep requesting more bread to sop up the sauce it was that good. It is a short walk from the ferry under the Quiet Mon bar. This family friend always eats at La Tapa anytime he goes to St. John which is usually annually. read more

i've had two of the best meals of my life at la tapa. this restaurant alone is reason enough to visit st john. read more

La Tapa is excellent. The food and service are terrific. We have eaten there 3 times, and it's been great every time. Very fresh seafood, always interesting specials. Love the gazpacho. Outdoor seating is right next to the main road which gets a little loud and dusty, but it's sort of part of the charm and we didn't mind. read more

Great place. Just went for wine and apps. Yes, we went for wine in the carribbean! Great wine and tasty apps. The bartender was great and let us try some great wines. Would definitely go back. read more

We have been coming here for years, and the quality continues to be excellent! One of the St. John top 3...

Had dinner here two years ago and remember it as being fabulous...the memory was better than reality. Bottom line is that the food didn't match the price. Isn't to say food isn't good, just not $36 per main course good. Came here with the family for early dinner. Menu changes daily so just keep that in mind. Wife had homemade mozzarella which was stiff and bland. My crispy carribean flying fist app was fine but the roumalade was overpowered by lemon juice. For mains the wife had seared yellowfin which again was good but not exquisite as the price demanded. Seared tuna at Rhumb Line a few nights before was better. My mahi however was excellent. Moist yet flaky and the tomato and olive coulis with cous cous was really good. $12/ea for kids pasta with butter was a bit much. read more

The staff and ambiance of La Tapa are clearly winners, we found the place romantic, the staff friendly and the menu intriguing. We were however disappointed with the food itself, and so made a hasty exit. At La Tapa you'll find beautiful presentation, but in our case we found the flavor lacking. We ordered the white bread with dipping sauces for $5, expecting to find an item which wowed us for $5 which is normally free. The bread was simple and uninspired white bread, nothing more. The dipping sauces didn't actually pair well with bread, we found them slightly gross with bread. The cauliflower soup was very bad, brought out the worst flavor of cauliflower with a nice creaminess but again no dynamic flavor or depth. Lastly we finished with a lamb meatball small plate. The meatballs were on the dry side, the curry purée which accompanied the lamb had a nice flavor but nothing remarkable. We cut our losses and grabbed the check. I feel, if you're charging $5 for white bread, it better be amazing, or it's offensive. I've had some amazing simple items from places which care about their food and it shows. We didn't see this level of execution from La Tapa to match their service, ambience or their prices. Maybe we caught them on a bad night or maybe La Tapa is a high priced tourist trap. We believe it's the latter and wouldn't recommend it. read more

We came in for dinner, sensational food, great sangria! Love the ambiance as well as the excellent service! As a table, we shared the Con Pan La Tapa Oil (delicious hot fresh bread), Mozzarella salad, Scallops with an amazing mushroom gravy-like sauce, Braised Pork Belly and the Paella. Hands down the best Paella any of us four had ever had! Delicious food all around! read more

We had a wonderful experience here. The restaurant was accommodating (they took us in before our reservation time) and food was very good. I loved the cheese platter and the portion sizes were perfect. They have a very good wine list also, very impressive. The service was attentive but not overbearing. It was one of their last nights before they were going to be closed for the season, but it did not negatively impact the experience. It was a place for foodies like my husband and I. Of course it wasn't Michelin Star quality but it was as good as it gets on the island. read more

First, the service was awesome and we drank delicious wine by the glass including a rose from France and a Chardonnay from France as well. Then the food was great: if the gaspacho was just OK/good, the gambas with garlic were amazing and the pork belly is a clear winner. The Mahi Mahi main course was as well good without achieving the same level as the pork belly. Now you will miss out if you don't try out the desserts were great: try the Panna cotta or the sorbet selection. read more

Really good restaurant with very friendly staff. The mussels are worth mentioning. They were absolutely delicious and we wanted to drink the broth! We ordered like 2 extra sides of bread just so we could soak up that broth! We also had a very delicious pasta dish. read more

Highly recommended. We had the bread with three sauces, house made mozzarella, grilled langostines, steamed mussels, and duck - it was all phenomenal. Attentive service. Wine list was a bit lacking (they were out of the bottle we wanted and recommended another that was not that good), but I guess that's what you get on an island. I would definitely return. read more

One of our favorite dinner stops on our recent St. John trip. Staff was great, really kind and working together to make sure everyone was taken care of. We will go back for sure next visit to St. John. read more

I can personally vouch for both the food and the staff of La Tapa. We had a delicious meal that felt like special comfort food in a lovely, casual environment. The staff of La Tapa is really what makes dining there a wonderful experience. Our wait staff and hostess gave us incredible tips that led us to have a memorable and rewarding hike the next day. And when I left our bag of presents and souvenirs at our table and didn't realize it until 2 days later, I called the restaurant (from the airport) to see if they still had our bag. Not only did they have it, they offered to send it to me via priority mail. I was skeptical, but 4 days later my package arrived - with all of our items. I think this experience says a lot about the restaurant and its management. Good, decent people work there to provide a warm, friendly dining experience - and their actions show that this isn't just a superficial display. If you go there, you'll be treated to delicious comfort food, a relaxing and fun atmosphere, and legitimately warm service from kind people. Highly recommended! read more

50th Anniversary Celebration Disappointment Weeks ahead of my parents 50th wedding anniversary, I made reservations by calling LaTapa. I explained the significance of the dinner and that we chose the establishment above great restaurants in Cruz Bay, St. John. The gentleman who took the reservation assured me the best table in the house would be set aside for us. Although the reservation was in the book when we arrived a few minutes early, there was no note regarding the table or celebration. In fact, we were told by the matter-of-fact hostess that the restaurant was hosting three other anniversaries that night, a somewhat indelicate way of saying that my parents' 50th was nothing extra special. We were given a very pedestrian table (one of the few without a white table cloth) along a wall. The server, while polite, needed to be flagged down three times due to lack of attention. Although not spectacular or memorable by any stretch, our meals were fine. No complimentary dessert or cocktail or even "Happy 50th Anniversary" greeting was offered despite the occasion, which would have been a nice touch. Bottom line, we were left disappointed and remorseful that we selected LaTapa for such a special anniversary read more

Really had a wonderful time and the food was some of the best we had on the island during our stay. I am in love with the artichoke tapa there. My mouth waters as I write about it. We also tried the homemade mozzarella and tomato app and the langostinos, both were delicious. Oh and the tuna tartar was delicious as well. The desserts were not as impressive unfortunately. I tried the bread pudding which I would not get again and the hubby had sorbets which were yummy and much more of a better choice and great palate cleanser. Great wines, great food, great time. Would definitely go back. read more

Amazing restaurant. My husband is still raving about their Tuna and he grew up by the sea! We loved it so much we went back there twice in one week! We had everything from the Tuna, Duck Confit, Seafood Payaya, Seafood Pasta, and some special dishes which included Mahi Ceviche that were all to die for. Every person on the island recommended this restaurant and we sure understand why. Has a very charming, cozy feel right in the center of town. read more

Oh my gosh, chef Alex did a wonderful job, every detail. Steamed artichokes, fresh homemade mozzerla salad with roasted eggplant, seared scallops, chocolate ganache and homemade lemon ginger ice cream. Menu changes everyday. Wonderful treat, jazz trio played tonight. Perfect. read more

Went here on our first night in St. John. We had the roasted artichoke and wahoo ceviche as small plates, and the yellowfin tuna as a heavy plate. Everything was prepared perfectly, and the service from Andrew was amazing! The wine list was also very good and not overpriced. Highly recommend La Tapa! read more

Perfect meal from start to finish. Our server recommended the la tapa oil, which did not disappoint. The house made mozzarella was the perfect compliment to the wine followed by the pork belly and paella. Phenomenal service and beautiful atmosphere. read more

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Everyone told us to go there and we wish we had not. Tiny portions for big $$$. The octopus was almost non existent, mostly potatoes tasted pretty good but I've had much better for less. They charged $5 for a basket of par baked baguette that they just warmed and didn't actually bake. The waiter didn't know anything about anything and I know they were short staffed but he was just clueless, pleasant but clueless. I would not go there again. Most of the food was seasoned well wenough but all in all we were disappointed. The selection was tiny compared to many other Tapas type places. read more

always love the food and ambience of this restaurant. but tonight was amazing. ordered the octopus with baby potatoes and tomatoes, didnt sound like much but it was one of the best things ive ever ordered from here. followed it up with the duck confit, which was basically the drumstick and thigh of the duck, with a beautiful farro side and sauce. both dishes were to die for. amazing. friend got the lentil soup and I cant believe im saying this AMAZING!!!!. do yourself a favor and go. thanks Rachel for being such a fun bartender and the wine you recommended (Spanish?) was beautiful read more

We ate at Tapa twice on a recent trip to St John and both times were lovely. We only had tapas so I cannot comment on main courses but we enjoyed all the appetizers. Escargot, greens with goat cheese, duck, and soup were among the items we sampled and enjoyed. The waiter also recccomened a very nice red wine. The second time the service was a little slow or my rating would have been higher. read more

Nice menu and food, nice music and vibe, nice wine. Definitely one of the best restaurants on the island!

We came to St.John for the day & we really enjoyed the hiking. We finished the day w/a fantastic dinner everything was excellent! We had the bread w/3 dipping sauces,green salad w/cashew crusted goat cheese, key lime pie & the Mahi entree. The best meal we've had since we've been here. read more

Amazing Dinner!!! My wife and I were on island celebrating our 10 year anniversary and wanted a nice place to get dinner and did we ever find one. Very quite and cozy interior with an excellent staff. We had the cheese board which with the help of the staff on choosing which cheese was an excellent selection. The mussels were wonderful and be sure to ask for more bread to soak up the sauce. As our main course we had the pork belly and I can't say enough about it. Absolutely wonderful experience. read more