U.S. Virgin Islands Family Restaurants

Asolare, a mix of Asian and international cuisines, offers a great view of the harbor and across the water, St. Thomas with its twinkling lights. That is if you get to sit on the open terrace. Although we reserved a table on the outdoor terrace with a nice view months in advance, we were seated inside. The server explained, even if the reservationist did not, that one is never guaranteed a view. Although the menu changes, popular items include the crab soufflé, the tempura shrimp and the chicken Kiev.

The food is good, but be forewarned that the tastes are sophisticated and the chef can be inflexible. Our friend, on a special, medical diet, requested a simple entrée substitution: hold the mahi mahi and instead just add more of the grilled shrimp that came with the dish. The chef refused. It also took much negotiation for the chef not to cook a fish with butter or cream to accommodate one of my children with a severe dairy allergy. Although the entrée proved tasty and the sauce creamy, we felt confident that the chef cooked the entrée as required -- until my daughter spent the night vomiting. This restaurant is best for families with teens and adult children who like good food but don't require any substitutions. The restaurant also doesn’t take American Express cards.

This casual, Cruz Bay eatery repeatedly wins awards as best seafood market and seafood restaurant on St. John. The menu features fresh fish and shrimp as well as chicken, burgers and tofu and vegetables.

This casual beach restaurant serves burgers, salads and wraps and hosts weekly Carnival shows and Karaoke nights.

This popular restaurant in the heart of Cruz Bay serves a mix of Caribbean cuisines as well as burgers. For appetizers, we really liked the Anegada crab and lobster cakes as well as the calamari. Our mahi mahi with rum sauce and mango garnish, a restaurant specialty, proved terrific. Thicker portions of grilled wahoo came out dry. Ask the server for recommendations. A children's menu is available.

Come here for the moderately priced West Indian specialties and the harbor views. If your kids won't try fried plantains or callaloo greens, they can order sandwiches and burgers. The restaurant's homemade soursop ice cream pie should convince kids that local items like this fruit may be delicious.

This off-the-beaten-path restaurant is located on a farm two miles south of Christiansted. Although the limited menu varies, dining here is rewarding. The family-style restaurant serves homemade bread, homemade pasta and homemade desserts, including black pepper ice cream.

From the second floor terrace of this restaurant, there’s a nice view of St. Thomas. The tasty fare and the friendly staff make the restaurant a must for those who love Italian fare. Signature entrees include the pistachio-encrusted mahi-mahi as well as the osso buco, a slow simmered veal shank that was delicious. The shrimp entree and the pasta Bolognese proved great choices too.

For those in my family who are lactose intolerant, the chef graciously substituted a corn risotto made without milk for a saffron risotto with cheese and created a special sauteed spinach appetizer as well as sorbet desserts. Based on the chef's accommodating attitude, we feel reassured that although Zozo's does not have a printed children's menu, the restaurant will be happy to cook a children's pasta to your child's specifications (priced around $13). Young kids may also be content with a smaller-sized appetizer as an entree.