Best burgers in the USVI! And the cheapest meal to boot!
If you’re in St Thomas, St John, or Sint Maarten, we can’t recommend Tap & Still highly enough! Honestly, the atmosphere is great, the food is good, and as I said cheapest meal going!
The one we went to was in Red Hook, on the east side of St Thomas. We almost went to the one on St John but ended up passing. I do have to tell you, the first time we went, it was better, I don’t mean the food, that was spot on both times! the atmosphere, staff, and clientele have a lot to do with a dining experience.
This is definitely a local’s hangout, not to say that tourists don’t go there, once someone tells you about it, you understand why it’s so popular. First of all, the food in the USVI ain’t cheap, I’m sure you already knew that, but to give you an idea…at the airport, it’s not inexpensive, but not unreasonable, on the mainland, that is. When we were at the airport to leave, 2 burgers, fries, plantains, and 2 drinks…$52! That might tell you something. Back to why we’re here….Tap & Still.
It’s open, from front to back, which is on the water, looking at the boats docked, this is where several boat tours leave from, two of ours in fact. There is an open window that you can order food and drink, no worries about walking around with open container, it’s all good. When you walk in, there is a bar in the middle, everyone is just hanging out at the bar or the few tables against the wall. We love to sit at the bar, it’s usually an easy way to get a seat and you meet all sorts of people that way. We sat next to a guy who, when he sat down, a beer magically appeared, that kind of place.
The ceiling had dollar bills taped to it with people’s signatures, the cabinets were covered with stickers people had added, not sure if there was extra space to put another sticker! Posts were the same. It was also decked out for christmas with tinsel and lights, same with the bar tenders!
Ordering was simple, take an order slip and a pencil, mark off what you want: burger, hot dog, veggie burger, grilled cheese, chicken sandwich, wings, or a BLT, simple. Next, toppings, a bunch were no charge, a few cost a little extra. Do you want fries? Check the box. Do you want funnel cake? Check the box. Best part? Burgers: $9, Fries: $4, seriously? Hand in your slip, don’t forget to put your name on it!
Have a drink while you wait, talk to the bartenders, talk to the other patrons having some food, talk to each other, listen to the music, stare out at the water, whatever makes you happy. I even asked for them to cook mine on tinfoil, they said they did, I’m hopeful! When the food comes out, doesn’t matter if you’re eating in or taking out, it comes out in a paper bag, burger is wrapped in foil, fries are hanging out in their own bag. Grab some paper towels for napkins and you’re good to go!
When the food came out, we opened the bags and dug in. What good burgers, oh my! And the fries, fresh cut, the only problem for me is I found the pound of salt at the bottom of the bag! Oh my! but up until that point, y u m!! We ate, talked to the bartenders, talked to each other, talked to people hanging out at the bar.
Talk to anyone on the island, best place for burgers..Tap & Still. I love the concept and the food, would love to see something like that here on the mainland. oh, I know there are places like it, but not quite this and it just has that island vibe. So…if you’re in St Thomas, St John, or St Marteen, if you’re in the mood for a good burger, maybe even some fries at a great price…you know my recommendation! Man, I wish we had had the room to try their funnel cake! Next time!
