Aug. 15, 2002 – They are here, they are expanded, and they are hot. The Rotary East 2002 Dining Out coupon books are now being sold and are selling fast.
This year’s book has 37 coupons from 35 restaurants — 19 for dinner on St. Thomas, 5 for dinner on St. John, 9 for lunch on St. Thomas, 2 for lunch on St. John, 1 for a late-night sandwich on St. Thomas and 1 for Sunday brunch on St. John — plus two for St. Thomas deli fare.
These are establishments looking to serve residents and tourists alike, and they are making their donation of meals to benefit the St. Thomas Rotary East scholarship program, which is what the $20 you pay for a coupon book also does.
The coupons not only will save you money but also will probably entice you to eat out at establishments you might not otherwise try. Each year, my spouse and I purchase a couple of books for ourselves — then invite friends to accompany us, often for Source restaurant reviewing purposes — and get a few more books to give as gifts.
Where coupons will get you the goodies
– On St. Thomas, two-for-one dinner entrees are offered by:
Epernay, The Grill and The Pointe at Villa Olga in Frenchtown
Bryan's Bar on the North Side
Island Beachcomber at Lindbergh Bay
Offshore Bar at Havensight
The Beach House/Iggie's at Bolongo Bay
JKay's in Tillett Gardens
Toad & Tart and Sandra's Terrace in Smith Bay
Bottoms Up at Independent Boat Yard
XO Bistro, Frigate East, East End Café and Sopchoppy's in Red Hook
The Seafood Jungle at Cabrita Point
Bonnie's By the Sea at Cowpet Bay
Dottie's Front Porch and Raffles at Compass Point
And for late-night sandwiches, there's Room With a View at Bluebeard's Castle Hotel.
– The St. Thomas two-for-one lunch entree offers are at:
Hook, Line and Sinker in Frenchtown
Glenda's Caribbean Spot in Smith Bay
Molly Malones in Red Hook
Arthur's Café at The Anchorage
Bonnie's by the Sea at Cowpet Bay
Blue Moon at Secret Harbor
Bottoms Up at Independent Boat Yard
Plus, your choice of sandwiches at the Grateful Deli or bodacious burritos at Burrito Bay Deli, both in Red Hook.
– On St. John, there are two-for-one dinner entrees for:
Mongoose Restaurant, Stone Terrace, Bamboo Grill and La Tapa in Cruz Bay
Chloe and Bernard's at the Westin Resort
– St. John two-for-one lunch entrees are available at Island Blues and Woody's Seafood Saloon in Cruz Bay.
– And then there's two-for-one Sunday brunch, at Voyages de St. Jan in Coral Bay — and yes, you can take the dollar bus from the Cruz Bay ferry dock to get there.
Each year, with proceeds from the coupon book sales, Rotary East awards a full-tuition University of the Virgin Islands scholarship to a graduating senior at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. This is a win, win, win and win proposition. Coupon holders get free food. Restaurants get more customers. A young person gets rewarded for doing well in high school and is encouraged to pursue a college degree, which benefits both the individual and the community. And UVI gets the scholarship money as payment for educating this individual.
The rules for using the coupons are simple: Present the appropriate coupon when you place your order, and you pay for one entree and get a second one of equal of lesser value free. Other courses and beverages are not included, and you are expected to tip based on the menu price. The coupons are not valid with any other offers, and they expire Dec. 15.
At $20, the books easily pay for themselves in two seatings. They're being sold by Rotary East members and at The Color of Joy gallery and boutique at its new location across from the entrance to the Cowpet Bay condominiums
Aside from personal use, the books are a great way for employers to say "thanks" to employees and welcome new staff, or for anyone to welcome new neighbors.
Whatever your reason, this is the season to obtain your Rotary East 2002 Dining Out coupon book(s) and begin soothing your wallet along with your taste buds.
Editor's note: The Tottering Taster is a senior citizen dedicated to enjoying good food who dines anonymously in local establishments from time to time to bring Source readers unsolicited assessments biased in favor of an ultimate eating-out experience. The individual unabashedly admits to be influenced by Rotary coupon books in electing where to eat.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
