St. Barth's

In a word: formal. Dining room overlooks swimming pool, which overlooks the sea, so your primary background music is waves crashing. Classic French with some Creole touches. — BlackBook

Famed for leisurely lunches that last a bit too long. — BlackBook

Tucked inside a vintage Creole house in downtown Gustavia, this très elegant, dimly lit spot is a celebratory place to be, as much for the romantic ambience as for consistently excellent food. — Frommer's

Phenomenal lunch at privileged Eden Rock locale. — BlackBook

It's simply a gorgeous spot: high up over the glittering Gustavia harbor with creamy white banquettes nestled into the curve of the open-air deck. — Frommer's

The setting is casual, but it's tough to land a table at this popular Hotel Baie des Anges eatery. — Concierge

For an elegant lunch, nothing beats the seaside restaurant at the Cheval Blanc hotel, with its white tablecloths, wooden floors, campaign chairs, and rose-colored glasses. — Travel + Leisure

Vietnamese-style crispy snapper, caramel sautéed chicken, vegetable tempura, and fish of the day. — Concierge

The view makes for enchanted evenings. — BlackBook

By local standards, dinner in the pretty, open-air, tropical garden here is reasonably priced. — Fodor's

The limited, constantly changing market menu is built around the freshest ingredients available, much of its produce shipped in daily from the loamy soil of Guadeloupe. — Frommer's

Depending on the winds, the water can be rough. For lunch, head to the open-air restaurant Le Grain de Sel, a five-minute drive away. — Travel + Leisure

Specializes in freshly baked breads and pastries including French baguettes, croissants, and pain au chocolat (a croissant-like pastry with chocolate). — Travel + Leisure

Look for homemade pastas and light, unfussy variations on grilled fish and meats, including the chef's signature Lobster Linguine, made with fresh Caribbean spiny lobster.   — Frommer's

Dinner at Bartoloméo never fails to feel like a special occasion, and at these prices you'll want to make it one. — Frommer's

Passion-fruit martinis are a must, as are the fresh-caught grilled spiny lobsters and roasted beet "carpaccio." — Fodor's

Situated on the Gustavia waterfront and run by a husband and wife team since 1984, Maya's Restaurant cooks up Creole tastes from seafood ingredients that vary daily. — Travel + Leisure

Lobster salad with mango marmalade, house- made french fries, and vivaneau (red snapper) a la plancha are standouts at this hotel restaurant, where white canvas awnings add a nautical touch to open-air dining. — Travel + Leisure

Filled with glossy timber furniture and lush plants and lit by oversized lamps, this split-level space is a seductive spot for spicy Thai flavors. — Lonely Planet

From the menu of inexpensive burgers, the house specialty is the double-bacon cheeseburger—also known as the Marius Special after the establishment's founder. — Travel + Leisure