The Cliff Barbados – this restaurant certainly has the “Wow factor”.
Make sure you get a rail side table, but you need to book early!
Location
Th Cliff Barbados is situated on the West Coast, otherwise known as the Platinum Coast.
You drive up to the entrance of the Cliff and your car is whisked away by the valet. You are then escorted to your table in the lounge for pre-dinner drinks. The decor and furnishings are beautiful, the lighting just right, and background music that just suits the place perfectly. The best is yet to come!
You are escorted down stairs to the restaurant itself, hopefully you will have bagged a table on the main restaurant floor. To do so you have to be a celebrity or have booked months in advance. To get a table in February you need to book by the end of December at the latest! If you don’t get a table on the main restaurant floor don’t worry you will still have a spectacular view from one of the tiered dining areas. You need a few minutes to take in the beauty of your surroundings, perched on a cliff (hence the name) above the Caribbean Sea which is floodlit so you can see the giant rays and tarpons swimming below you. Flaming torches are positioned around the restaurant, it truly is spectacular.
The serving staff are immaculately turned out, service is excellent, very attentive (overly so at times in my honest opinion). I know this may sound strange but if you are lucky you will have some rain and experience the restaurant turning from an open air venue to a covered venue in a matter of seconds! It’s definitely a place to get dressed up for, you will never feel over dressed!
Food
The menu hasn’t changed very much for years – a good selection of fish, meat and vegetarian dishes. There is a standard menu and then a list of specials which don’t seem to change a lot! You can either go for a 2 course or 3 course selection but I personally think the sweets are the best part of a meal at the Cliff. Some of the dishes featuring on the 2017 menu include; to start Moo Shu Pankakes with Chinese roast pork, spring onions, cucumber, hoisin sauce, Sautéed Scallops with truffle mash and creamed leeks: for mains; Chargrilled Swordfish with Thai yellow curry sauce, jasmine rice, coriander vinaigrette, grilled pineapple relish, 12 oz. Veal Rib Chop with Mustard & tarragon sauce, gratin potatoes, asparagus: and for desert; Fresh Raspberry Creme Brûlée Tart with crushed pistachios, Valrhona Chocolate Pudding with rum sauce and vanilla ice cream (amazing).
Drink
As you would expect for a restaurant of this standard the wine list is comprehensive covering all countries and all price points from expensive (a bottle of Brouilly BDS $95 (£37)) to very very expensive for a bottle of 1990 Ceval Blanc St Emilion for BDS $11000 or in sterling that’s £4,400! There is a good selection of premium spirits and cocktails available if you want to skip the wine.
Overall
The Cliff Barbados is an expensive restaurant there is no doubt about it. A cost of a meal for 2 will obviously depend on the wine you choose, but 2 courses is about £110 per head, 3 courses £127 per head, so a 3 course meal for 2 with an average bottle of wine, pre dinner drinks, coffee and service will set you back around £375. Not cheap to say the least! Is it worth it? Personally I think you’ve got to experience it once at least. I have friends who return every year when they are in Barbados, I have been a couple of times and may visit again one year when I am feeling flush.
Make sure you book early to secure a rail side table on the main floor of the restaurant for the spectacular sea views and make sure you arrive early to have pre dinner drinks in the beautiful lounge.