Taste of Class - Alfresco Restaurant

Sometimes the weekend days are as hectic as the rest. And it was on one such Saturday that I found myself, at the four way stop in West Bay, finally having finished all of my errands and made hungry by all that running about like a chicken.

Whenever I feel the need for food and peaceful respite, I will know there is such a place just up the road, called Alfresco Restaurant. I have passed this small roadside house many times and noticed the neon light flashing “open” and finally, today, I was going to make my way around the side.

Just out back under a canopy of sea grape trees, an idyllic Caribbean landscape drew me in. It is so handy and perfectly placed, I parked the car and headed to the deck to take a seat and relax, looking out over the azure blue waters.

Within a few short minutes we were presented with a fantastic menu full of wonderful fish and meat dishes, and for this salad lover some great fresh options. But on this day I could smell the barbeque was on and there is nothing that makes my taste buds water like the promise of barbequed meats.

Tamoy, our server, was very friendly and helped us to decide from so many choices by explaining the local favourites. We ordered some fruity cocktails and sat, mesmerised by the waves and the ocean breeze, its scent working its magic, and the drinks making their sweet entrance within minutes.

Alfresco provides a relaxed and casual lunch atmosphere but could fill up fast. Tamoy told us that sometimes people take their food and drinks down on the beach, where there are chairs available to rent.

I imagine at night this quaint restaurant could be either a very romantic spot or great for a lively group. It is not like one of those large touristy verandas, where it is hard to get a good atmosphere going. It has the pretty strings of lights and the trees to give it the real Caribbean vibe.

Now to say a bit about the food. It was excellent! Having been tantalised by the smells coming from the barbeque grill, I ordered a house burger with all the trimmings. It was freshly cooked and sweet and juicy. The fries crunchy and seasoned just so. My companion had fresh pasta topped with a large piece of Chicken Parmigiana (stuffed with ham and cheese, breaded and fried) and he really got stuck into it, and the accompanying garlic bread. He felt very satisfied.

However, I always like to try a sweet and I couldn’t choose between the key lime pie or the Bailey’s cheesecake, both of which are made fresh and very popular. So, I convinced my companion to try one while I had the other. Yummy, yummy, yummy! Please make sure you leave room for desert because it was delightful.

Alfresco Restaurant is certainly a place to come back to again and again and I will be bringing friends and relations to this local spot. The food is excellent and the prices are reasonable. The service is friendly and reservations are not necessary but if you do wish to book you can. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day and Miss. Millicent will welcome you to her fine establishment. You can always call ahead on 947-2525.