Bajan Blue at Sandy Lane, Barbados
Dining with the stars, under the stars, in Barbados - it doesn't get better than this
Dining with the stars, under the stars, in Barbados - it doesn't get better than this
Where? Bajan Blue, Sandy Lane, St James, Barbados (+1 (246) 444 2000, www.sandylane.com)
Sandy Lane! Do they let normal people through the front gates? Amazingly, yes. Simon Cowell and his X Factor protégées might fill the $3,000-a-night rooms, but call and book a table at the beachfront Bajan Blue restaurant and you can dine alongside them overlooking the ocean.
Will I have to dress up? I'd spotted two pairs of Louboutins and a Missoni maxidress just on the way to my table, but, refreshingly, there were plenty of flip-flops and linen shirts, too. Maybe leave your Havaianas and denim cut-offs back at your own hotel though.
If I can tear myself away from the star spotting, what's to eat? The concept here is the open kitchen (officially the cleanest one I've ever seen, if it weren't for the fact you genuinely could see the chefs at work, I'd have sworn it was just for show), with the freshest produce used to whip up five-star food for discerning diners. Menus are themed on a nightly basis, although – thankfully – not in your average holiday-resort kind of way. Think 'Mediterranean' or 'West Indies' night, rather than Mexican or Italian.
And the actual food? Delicious. For those wanting to keep it simple, there are great salads and even pizza on the menu, but richer dishes like lobster linguine or bacon-wrapped king prawns should not be missed.
And to drink? This is Sandy Lane, so expect the same kind of extensive wine selection (and prices) that you'd find in a Michelin-starred restaurant in London. And whether you like your tipple from France, Australia, Spain, Argentina, Chilie, even Germany or the USA, there will be a large selection to choose from.
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