Caribbean Kitchen, Castara: Dinner with a View

A scenic spot for sunset cocktails, creative Caribbean plates, and cozy vibes in Castara, Tobago

After loving our breakfast at Caribbean Kitchen, we made a reservation to return for dinner — and I’m so glad we did. The view alone makes it worth the trip, but the cocktails and carefully crafted dishes elevate the experience even more. Just a heads-up: reservations are a must. If you try to walk in, especially around sunset, there’s a good chance they’ll be fully booked.

We arrived just before golden hour, and the sky lit up with soft pastels over Castara Bay, even after a rainy weekend. Add the sound of waves crashing below and the scent of herbs drifting from the kitchen, and you’ve got the start of something special.

Our Dinner Picks

The dinner menu changes every three days and is posted on a board near the bar. There’s no printed version, so if you’re seated in the lower dining area, your best bet is to snap a photo to review the options.

Cocktails

We started with cocktails, and all four we tried were excellent:

• Passion Fruit Mojito – Passion fruit, mint, rum, sugar. Fruity and refreshing.
• Mango Madness – Mango, lime, rum, and sugar. Sweet and tropical. Picture below.
• Margarita – Lime, sugar, triple sec, tequila. Classic and punchy.
• “CK” Iced Tea Rum Punch – A house creation with a hint of sorrel flavour. Picture below.

Appetizers

To start, we shared:

• Pumpkin & Aloo Choke with Housemade Flatbread ($60 TTD) – Creamy, comforting, and well-spiced. I only wish it came with more flatbread!
• Crispy Okra with Creamy Avocado Dip & Black Bean Salsa ($70 TTD) – A total standout. Neither of us had tried fried okra before, and this was a hit.

Entrees

For mains:

• Crispy Fried Catch of the Day (Tuna) with Fruit Chow and House Garlic Sauce ($150 TTD) – A textural delight. The fruit chow added a tangy kick that paired beautifully with the tuna.
• Roasted Cauliflower Steak with Fried Aubergine, Sweet Pepper Sauce, Brown Butter & Garlic Yogurt ($130 TTD) – Surprisingly hearty and packed with flavour.

Dessert

We finished with:

• Plantain Brownie with Ice Cream ($80 TTD) – Dense, rich, and not overly sweet. We added a side of passion fruit honey sauce, which balanced it beautifully.

Like breakfast, the food was delicious and very healthy — maybe too healthy for big appetites! We joked that we could’ve ordered more, but we were happy with everything we tried.

Special shout out to the two ladies in the kitchen putting out amazing dish after amazing dish.

The Vibe

There’s no denying the ambiance. You’re perched on a hill above Castara, watching the bay sparkle as the light fades. You’ll hear birdsong, ocean waves, and clinking glasses — everything you’d want from a dinner in Tobago.

But I want to be honest: our dinner service was noticeably affected by internal management issues. Shortly after we arrived, we saw two managers reprimanding our server right in front of the kitchen — visible and awkward for all the guests nearby. The energy of the restaurant shifted for the worse.

While our server was polite and got the job done, we weren’t wowed by the experience, and we felt for both servers on the floor. They were trying their best in a stressful setup lacking efficient systems.

Caribbean Kitchen could benefit from a few system upgrades to support the staff and improve the guest experience — especially given how great the food, drinks, and views are.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a scenic dinner spot with locally inspired dishes and excellent cocktails, Caribbean Kitchen is still one of the top choices in Castara. Just be patient with the pace, and make a reservation well in advance. Go for sunset, order a rum punch, and soak in the natural beauty of the island.

Despite a few bumps, we’ll be back.