Food has a unique power to evoke memories. The smells and tastes connect to some of our most deeply held emotions, including comfort, nostalgia, excitement, and love. Food is also one of the most easily accessible ways to get to know a place when traveling. Equity Estates invites you to immerse yourself in the unique flavors of your vacation, one destination at a time.
- Destination: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
- Number of restaurants: 60+
- Famous for: Conch dishes, fresh seafood, Johnny cakes, peas & rice
An idyllic destination for beach lovers, families, and foodies, Turks & Caicos boasts some of the most brilliant blue ocean water and stunning, white-sand beaches in the world. That, along with its relaxed, friendly vibe and impressive dining options, makes it an excellent choice for an unforgettable vacation.
The third-largest island of the Turks and Caicos archipelago, Providenciales (or Provo), sees the most visitors each year, yet still manages to maintain its easy-going, laid-back feel. It’s home to Grace Bay Beach (consistently ranked one of the best beaches in the world), hidden cays, and quiet mangrove wetlands alongside luxury resorts, retail districts, and a vibrant restaurant scene. In fact, the island boasts over 60 fantastic restaurants, ranging from small, locally owned beachside bars and grills to high-end, fine-dining establishments.
A getaway to Turks and Caicos means an exploration of fresh seafood, traditional Caribbean comfort foods, and creative global influences. Natural, simply prepared meals with seasonal ingredients and local flavors provide an authentic taste of the islands.
Three island favorites
Fresh-caught seafood, traditional spices, and the influence of other Caribbean islands are all key to Turks and Caicos’ delicious cuisine and are showcased in some of the island’s most iconic dishes.
When vacationing on Providenciales, these are a few of the not-to-be-missed specialties that are worth seeking out, as well as some of the best places to find them:
If there’s one ingredient that takes center stage in Turks and Caicos cuisine, it’s conch, or more precisely, queen conch. This giant marine gastropod mollusk is one of the island’s most popular ingredients, typically offered as fritters or in stews and found at just about every restaurant on Providenciales.
One of the best places to get it though is da Conch Shack. This colorful, on-the-beach restaurant and bar serves it up as starters and as four different entrées. With the conch salad, you can try it marinated in fresh lime juice with tomatoes, onions, and peppers. Or have it slow-simmered in a tomato-based chowder with carrots and potatoes. You can also opt for curried conch with white rice or in a coconut-based stew. There’s really no wrong way to eat it.
If you can, visit da Conch Shack on a Wednesday night to enjoy live music and a friendly beach party with your dinner.
Lunch reservations are not needed, but dinner reservations are required.
Lobster is another favorite ingredient of the islands, but it’s not the traditional lobster you might expect. These are Caribbean spiny lobsters — no claws, but with meaty tails packed with flavor. Because lobster is seasonal in Turks and Caicos (typically the beginning of August through the end of March), you’ll definitely want to order it if you have the chance.
You can find spiny lobster perfectly grilled or poached at any number of places on the island. But one of our favorites is Hemingway’s on the Beach. Located next to the water at The Sands, this longstanding, beach-club-type space (with tall palms and umbrellaed patio tables) serves their lobster four ways: simmered in a coconut curry sauce; sauteed in garlic oil; the full tail accompanied by garlic butter; and mixed into a rich penne pasta with garlic cream sauce — all of them decadent and delicious. Reservations are not required but are suggested for dinner.
For a simple, but truly authentic taste of Providenciales, dig into the traditional peas and rice dish. Though it’s always been difficult to raise crops in Turks and Caicos due to the terrain and the limited fresh water, a few drought-resistant plants thrive there, including pigeon peas. Simmered with long grain rice, coconut milk, fresh thyme, and other seasonings, the end result is a hearty, flavorful side dish that could easily work as an entrée as well.
Popular eatery, Mr. Grouper’s Restaurant (in the Bight community near Grace Bay) serves up a beautiful peas and rice along with the ubiquitous conch fritters, blackened and grilled grouper, and a dozen other fresh-seafood entrees. To make the peas and rice your main course, consider adding a side of the restaurant’s fresh, tangy slaw and the sweet fried plantains, and you’ll have a complete meal.
Fine Dining in TURKS AND CAICOS
Though the fine dining scene in Turks and Caicos may not get the attention and accolades that other islands, such as St. Martin, St. Barts, and Anguilla enjoy, it holds its own. And the upscale restaurants on Providenciales are particularly notable. Most are located in the bustling Grace Bay area, with renowned chefs offering a variety of creative local, fusion, and global options to choose from.
One of the premier restaurants in Grace Bay is Terra-Mar, a global-fusion concept featuring a Chef’s Table experience for every meal. Led by Chef Clayton Julien, guests enjoy a five-course, carefully composed seasonal dinner prepared and presented as they watch. The setting is chic and intimate, with a limited number of seats available and only one seating time (at 6:30 p.m.) per day. Dinner begins with a welcome glass of champagne, and the menu (which changes daily based on what’s in season, as well as what the restaurant has locally and globally sourced) may be accompanied by a perfectly matched wine pairing for an additional cost. Crab tartlets, braised wagyu beef, and wild mushroom risotto with a savory bacon pangrattato are just a few of the dishes that can be expected.
The contemporary, Caribbean-inspired Indigo from award-winning chef, Andrew Mirosch, is a gorgeous spot for dinner and drinks. Located at the Wymera Resort, the restaurant’s indoor/outdoor dining spaces feature light, elegant décor that serves as the perfect backdrop for the beautifully plated dishes. As an avid fisherman, Chef Andrew specializes in fresh-catch entrees creatively prepared with local cooking techniques and international influences. His Caribbean marinated mahi-mahi and the char-grilled barbecue octopus are top-notch, but the decidedly decadent black angus tenderloin with sustainably harvested, gilled lobster tail is a must-try dish if you have the chance. Follow that with one of their house-made desserts (our pick: the caramel swirl ice cream with coconut macadamia praline and spun-sugar nest) for a sweet end to an incredible meal.
Casa Nonna at the Ritz Carlton is an elegantly casual spot overlooking the water and featuring traditional Roman and Tuscan cuisine, Italian wines, and house-made pastas. The ingredients are fresh and seasonal, and the pastas are handcrafted daily (and unbelievably delicious). Though the menu changes depending on the season, there is always a great selection of antipasti, seafood, and meats. The beef carpaccio with truffle aioli and crispy capers makes an excellent starter. The lobster tail tortellini with lemon butter sauce is melt-in-your-mouth amazing. And the pan-seared grouper with tomatoes or the braised short ribs served with creamy polenta make for perfect entrees. Accompany your meal with a glass of wine or a refreshing craft cocktail from the bar for a luxurious beachside dinner.
Private chef experiences
With so many excellent restaurants to choose from near your Equity Estates villa, it may be hard to pass up the opportunity to visit as many of them as you can during your Providenciales vacation. But for Investors who’d like to enjoy a relaxing (or celebratory) meal at home, our team is happy to arrange a private chef to come in and cook for you.
Every stay in an Equity Estates home comes with access to unforgettable chef experiences and a fully stocked kitchen with your choice of food and beverages (including local specialties).
In Turks & Caicos, Chef Clive and the team at The Kissing Fish are available for family-style dinners, brunch, cocktail parties, and special occasions. They’ve been one of the top catering companies on the island for over 30 years and have created memorable meals for Equity Estates investors for the last 5+ years.
Known for his warm and friendly personality and attention to detail, Chef Clive (and everyone at Kissing Fish) is focused on providing excellent service and making each investor’s trip memorable. He specializes in fresh seafood dishes, island favorites, and menus personalized to individual tastes and preferences — including catering for those with Celiac and other special dietary needs.
Some of the most popular dishes on the menu include sushi rolls, conch fritters, and seafood entrees such as seared yellow fin with a lemon caper sauce and grilled lobster with drawn garlic butter and mashed potatoes. For dessert, their key lime pie, rum cake, and flourless chocolate torte can’t be beat.
Chef Clive also offers special BBQ menus, served family-style with starters, grilled selections, sides, and dessert included.
We’ll handle all communications with the chef on your behalf, providing menus for you to look through and sharing your requests directly with the Kissing Fish team.
Before, during, and after the meal you can sit back and relax with drinks and appetizers while your private chef preps, cooks, serves, and cleans up.
Investors rave about the in-home private meals in their Equity Estates residences, with many recommending starting the trip with a private chef dinner so that you can enjoy the leftovers during the rest of your stay.
About the Equity Estates home:
Equity Estates’ four-bedroom Turks & Caicos penthouse residence is located at the Regent Grand, on Grace Bay Beach. With more than 1,000 square feet of covered terrace, indoor and outdoor living space, expansive ocean views, a private elevator that leads you directly to the sand, and access to resort amenities, it’s a luxurious home-away-from-home on the island of Providenciales.
Travel with Equity Estates for a unique and memorable experience. If you would like more information about investing with Equity Estates, please reach out to our Investor Relations team at 404.445.8501 or click to schedule a call.
