This year's Dining Out coupon booklet published by St. Thomas Rotary-East is off the presses. It contains 34 coupons for 29 eating establishments on St. Thomas and St. John and is good through Dec. 15, except for a black-out period over the long Thanksgiving weekend.
The books sell for $15 and are available from Rotary-East members. They can also be picked up at the Color of Joy in American Yacht Harbor. Most of the coupons allow for one free entrée when you purchase another of equal or greater value, and you can easily cover the purchase price at one sitting. Some deals are for dinner; others are for lunch.
Rotary-East and the participating restaurants collaborate in raising funds that go toward Rotary's scholarship program, among other things. The civic group has adopted Eudora Kean High School, and each year it awards a University of the Virgin Islands full-tuition scholarship to an EKHS graduate.
A couple of protocol points the restaurants would like you to know: Coupon holders should present their whole booklet (not the torn-out coupon for that particular establishment) to their wait person when placing their orders. Anything not specified on the coupon is not covered, and diners are expected to tip according to the total value of the bill before the discount.
For anyone who is not averse to eating, this is a win-win-win opportunity, which explains why the annual coupon book project has become so successful. Two enjoy main courses (or whatever) for the price of one, you have an incentive to try an array of different eating establishments, and you are helping a deserving Virgin Islander get started on a quality education.
Here's which restaurant is offering what:
St Thomas
Dinner — Big Kahuna, Bonnie's By the Sea, Caribbean Steakhouse & Saloon, Dottie's Front Porch, Epernay, Frigate East, Hemingway's, Island Beachcomber, Lord Rumbottom's, Raffles, Petra's Schnitzel Haus, Sandra's Terrace, Toad and Tart, XO Bistro and The Zone at Cabrita Point.
Lunch – Blue Moon Café (Secret Harbour), Bonnie's By the Sea (Elysian Beach Resort), Caribbean Steakhouse & Saloon, Grateful Deli, Hemingway's, Hook Line & Sinker, Iggie's (Bolongo Bay Beach Club), Island Beachcomber, Jerry's Beachfront, Molly Molone's, Polli's Mexican Restaurant, Sandra's Terrace and Sushi By Sato.
Late-night menu — Room With a View.
St. John
Dinner – Mongoose Restaurant, Papa Bull's, La Tapa and The Stone Terrace.
Lunch – Woody's Seafood Saloon.