Bahamian Cuisine: A Guide

Not dramatically different, Bahamian cuisine is tasty, though rich. Seafood dominates all the menus; a veritable paradise for the seafood lover! Conch, cooked in a variety of ways – conch fritters; cracked conch, battered and fried; conch salad – is the staple diet of the Bahamians. Interestingly enough, conch is considered as a source of virility especially the small end part of the conch, which according to custom should be bitten off and eaten from a live conch.

You’ll find plenty of fish – grilled swordfish, boiled crawfish and salmon  – on the menu.  

Treat your sweet tooth with a guava duff, a popular sweet. For something different, take a sip of the internationally acclaimed local beer, brewed in Nassau and Kalik. The local bars of the area also serve a number of special cocktails, many of which are their own innovations.  

There are a number of elite restaurants that pamper the palate with their fantastic cooking. A meal in one of these exclusive restaurants would be about US$ 25 and above. Recommended jackets and formal wear. A budget meal can be anywhere from US$ 5 – 10.

Tipping: Expected, with the sum being around 10% - 15% of the bill, depending on the service you received. Certain places automatically add a gratuity of 10% - 15% - in that case you needn’t tip.

Caution: Be careful of what you eat and where as there have cases of food-poisoning especially after conch.