Bahamas Food and Drink

The Bahamas has a wealth of good restaurants and bars, from local beach-side food joints to upscale diners. Unsurprisingly fish dominates the menu: with boiled whitefish a favourite for breakfast through to dinner-time seafood and steaks. The latter are served with plantain, rice, fries or potatoes. Another popular side-dish is the Johnny Cake (pan-cooked bread made with butter and milk). Fresh fruit from the fertile Out Islands includes sweet pineapple, mango, breadfruit and papaya.

Specialities

• Conch is on every menu, from creamy chowders and fritters to stews and salads. Order it 'scorched' for a ceviche-style dish served with lime juice, hot pepper, chopped tomato and onion, or 'cracked' for deep fried.
• Rock lobster (typically broiled, minced or used in salads).
• Land crabs (usually boiled or baked).
• Souse (a soup consisting purely of onions, water, lime juice, celery, peppers and meat).
• Guava duff (a dessert made with sieved guava pulp and served with Switcha a sauce made with lemon, sugar and water/rum, or, equally, a chilled beer.

Tipping

Budget for a 15% gratuity as standard, but check the bill as some hotels and restaurants include a service charge. Tip porters B$1 per bag and allow 10-15% for taxi drivers.

Drinking age

18.

Regional drinks

The local liqueur is Nassau Royal, a rum served neat or in coffee.
A refreshing alcoholic drink is coconut water, sweet milk and gin.
Kalik is the beer of the Bahamas.
Rum punch.