Savant

Savant is not only one the most interesting eateries on St. Croix; it’s also an award-winning restaurant. It was voted in the Top 10 restaurants in the entire Caribbean by USA Today in 2017. In 2018, Savant made the list of the 10 “hottest tables in the Caribbean.” It’s also been highly reviewed by travel writers and food critics, with glowing remarks all round.

The first thing to know about Savant is that it’s incredibly popular. Plus, they are only open for four hours Monday through Saturday. Translation? Reservations are highly recommended. You can book your reservation by calling their reservation line.

History of Savant

The history of Savant is interesting. It was founded by Tom Miller, who owns it with his wife, Kate Miller (nee Bartoldus). Tom was raised in the Caribbean while his father worked in the hotel business. He opened the doors to Savant in 1998 after running a boutique clothing store on the island for 25 years. Now, Tom, Kate and their son Milo run this Caribbean bistro that has also been around for 25 years. Savant isn’t only popular with locals. Visiting celebrities regularly  dine here. Tom, a talented photographer, hangs portraits on the wall of celebrity guests such as Tim Robbins, who stopped by for a bite when he filmed parts of The Shawshank Redemption on St. Croix. Tom also makes a tradition of taking an annual staff portrait and hanging those in the dining area for viewing as well.

Tom’s wife and co-owner Kate Miller has an interesting background, too. Before Savant, Kate worked in the Art Department on numerous Hollywood films, designing sets for movies such as Chasing Amy, 12 Monkeys, Wide Awake, Unbreakable, and more. Her discerning eye has not been wasted. She personally designed the enchanting back Courtyard of the Savant, embellished with candlelit niches, carved cement walls and backed by a 350-year old above ground cistern. All of this lends and old world charm to Savant’s airy outdoor dining space called the Courtyard.

Our Experience at Savant

Savant is located at 4C Hospital Street  in Christiansted, just down the road from the historic Fort Christiansvaern in Gallows Bay. Because the restaurant is so near the water, it’s easy to make a day of it and enjoy a park and seaside stroll before popping in for a memorable meal. You can wander around Fort Christiansvaern, or nearby Gallows Bay Village until your reservation is ready.

Savant is in a turquoise blue, 2-story brick building with a modest shingle-style sign hanging street-side. Three stone arches line the facade. The front area of Savant is an indoor, New York-style room that’s fully air-conditioned. It, too, has a romantic charm, but in a more fun, trendy way. There are cozy booths with dim lighting, vintage black and white photos, all set in a black and white motif that’s both alluring and chic.

The Dining Environment: Tom’s wife and co-owner Kate Miller herself has an interesting background. Before Savant, Kate worked in the Art Department on numerous Hollywood films, designing sets for movies such as Chasing Amy, 12 Monkeys, Wide Awake, Unbreakable, and more. Her discerning eye has not been wasted. She personally designed the enchanting back Courtyard of the Savant, embellished with candlelit niches, carved cement walls and backed by a 350-year old above ground cistern. All of this lends and old world charm to Savant’s airy outdoor dining space called the Courtyard.

The front area of Savant is an indoor, New York-style room that’s fully air-conditioned. It, too, has a romantic charm, but in a more fun, trendy way. There are cozy booths with dim lighting, vintage black and white photos, all set in a black and white motif that’s both alluring and chic.

Parking: There’s ample, dedicated free parking in a side lot just outside of Savant. You’ll see the posted sign when you get there. You won’t have any trouble getting a spot.

What’s Good on the Menu

St. Croix has lots of good restaurants, but Savant wins hands down over all of them. They serve gourmet dishes that you would never expect to find in this unassuming bistro in downtown Christiansted. As a bonus, the menu varies with what’s available locally. One time you visit you might find char-grilled baby calamari, and the next, you might find a range of lobster dishes.

Tom and Kate support the local fishermen by buying fresh catchers daily. Then they serve that fresh catch three ways on their menu. They are committed to a farm-to-table menus, featuring local produce from farmers right there on St. Croix. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Examples of their creative fare include Grilled porcini mushrooms with thyme and cous cous, oven-roasted lobster with coconut rice, sweet potato gnocchi and sesame-encrusted mahi-mahi. Your mouth will water with the possibilities.