8 Best Restaurants in Trinidad and Tobago

Executive chef and owner Johnny Aboud set a new benchmark for fine dining and attentive service in Trinidad when he opened Aioli. Deep earth tones and subtle lighting make the interior seem miles away from its location in an upscale suburban mall, and the Mediterranean-inspired menu features beautifully presented dishes—from straightforward risottos to extravagant favorites like roasted rack of lamb. While Caribbean spiny lobster is the norm in most restaurants in T&T, fans of Maine lobster will find their beloved crustacean on offer here. The three-course lunch, offered from Tuesday through Friday, is a prix-fixe menu.

Style meets substance at veteran chef Khalid Mohammed's restaurant. Famous for his obsession with freshness and his extravagance (he presents food that rises off the plate like a Manhattan skyscraper), expect a menu of classic European dishes reinterpreted and paired with distinctively Caribbean touches like cassava (manioc) hash. Although the prices are high, it's well worth it for a special romantic evening. Those on a budget might want to try a meal at its sister property, Chaud Café, located at 1 Woodbrook Place.

Recorded steel-band music plays gently in the background at this romantic, candlelit spot in the Kariwak Village complex. In a bamboo pavilion that resembles an Amerindian round hut, Cynthia Clovis orchestrates a very original menu. Whatever the dish, it will be full of herbs and vegetables picked from her organic garden, and there is always a vegetarian option. Be sure to try the delicious house-made ice cream and the reasonably priced but potent cocktails. Friday and Saturday buffets, with live jazz or calypso, are a Tobagonian highlight. Those really taken with the food can even purchase the restaurant's cookbook, Cooking Kariwak Style.

You'll find some of the island's most imaginative food at this elegant establishment, an institution on restaurant row for over a decade. Chef and owner Moses Ruben creates delightfully balanced dishes with unusual pairings like Chilean sea bass with toasted coconut; it's also worth leaving room for dessert.

On the ground floor of the BHP Billiton tower, this upscale establishment caters to businesspeople armed with large expense accounts and demanding tastes, though subtle lighting, understated decor, and an attentive staff also make it ideal for a romantic dinner. The menu is varied, but most people come for the excellent Angus steaks; a well-chosen vintage helps take the edge off the inevitably large bill. The restaurant is behind the Marriott and next door to the Movietowne complex.

Popular with locals and visiting businesspeople alike, Angelo's—opened by a Calabrian chef who married a Trinidadian—has an innovative Italian menu that changes regularly, and there's always a daily special. The restaurant is on Ariapita Avenue, which locals now refer to as the strip or simply "the avenue."

This upscale eatery is one of the few in Trinidad that features genuine Indian cuisine and not the local (though equally tasty) version. The name means "celestial dancer," and the food here is, indeed, heavenly, though ordering from the comprehensive menu is daunting; don't be afraid to ask for help (the husseini boti kebab—lamb marinated in poppy seeds and masala—is an excellent choice). Service can be a bit slow at times, and the prices are fairly high.

At the elegant Coco Reef Resort, you can select contemporary dishes with an island twist from a menu that changes seasonally (the fish dishes are always worth special attention, though). The peach walls and whitewashed wooden ceiling make the resort's restaurant feel airy and light, and island breezes waft through the palm-lined terrace. A dress code is enforced, but casual chic is fine, and men are not required to wear jackets for dinner.