Barbados - Lone Star
Frank's view 
'When in Barbados I virtually live here'
When in Barbados we virtually live at Lone Star. It is the best restaurant on Barbados.
A 5 minute walk via the road, or a 2 minute walk down the beach from the Royal Pavilion, takes you to Lone Star, a converted garage. Drive along the road and you may miss it as the façade of the restaurant still resembles a garage.
This Camel favours the short walk across the sand, watching the crabs scarper into their tiny holes as my feet sink into the sea rinsed beach. The Royal Pavilion will tell you it’s dangerous on the beach after dark but we haven’t seen anyone other than fellow hotel residents meandering between the two establishments.
Having washed the sand of our hooves on the restaurant decking tap, it’s straight to the bar at the back for a cocktail. The best tables are across the front to the right as you look at the sea. Both guests look out whereas to the left, one looks out and the other in towards the bar. Booking for both lunch and dinner is recommended, especially in high season.
The restaurant is open on three sides and sits a few feet from the water. The strip of beach directly in front of the restaurant is so narrow there cannot be many opportunities to eat as close as this to lapping waves without risk of wet feet.
A full length dressing room mirror stands propped up against a coconut tree, just outside, on the beach, to the delight of passing photographers.
The ambience is totally tropical. At lunch, sip chardonnay, nibble a salad and gaze far out into the Caribbean Sea. At dinner, listen to the sound of the waves through the palms, coconut trees and flaming candles which light the edge of the restaurant.
The food is simple but excellent. Check out the detailed menus on the Lone Star web site.
The Lone Star also has four suites and a beach house. We haven’t stayed at Lone Star. It seems to us to be a restaurant with a few rooms, which may be very well done, but are pricey at up to US$850 per night. There is no pool and little privacy on the beach for sun bathing.
But as a restaurant it is one of the best anywhere.
Lone Star
Mount Standfast
St James
Barbados
+1 246 419 0599
www.thelonestar.com
Be Frank: agree or disagree? What do you think?
