By Mauri
Elbel
St. John Tradewinds
Although several restaurants have come and gone with the
passing tide at what is unarguably the most desirable
location on St. John, there is some serious success brewing
from the balcony dangling over the waters of Cruz Bay.
And everyone should cross their fingers The Balcony
on Cruz Bay does not go anywhere because the cuisine,
ambiance and hospitality found in the new restaurant is
so delicious, one sample will undoubtedly leave you craving
many repeat visits.
Featuring Louisiana-style lunches, luscious weekend brunches
and an array of eclectic fine dining dishes for dinner
The Balcony on Cruz Bay offers some amazing food
to accompany its breathtaking ocean view
Fine Dining on Waterfront
"To me it is a magical location, it is the
only fine dining restaurant located on the waterfront,"
said Michael SanFilippo, co-owner of the restaurant
with his wife, Sonya.
"You can literally listen to the water lap onto the
beach while you are dining
and the sunset, the lights on St. Thomas and the boats
in the harbor make a truly romantic setting," said
SanFilippo.
With St. John as a favorite
vacation spot where the
SanFilippo's have been visiting several times a year for
the past decade, it is no surprise they decided to relocate
their culinary careers here.
RegularVisitors Relocate
"We've been coming here for many years and we know
the restaurants and I see a nice selection of fine dining
and casual restaurants on the island, and we felt there
was a niche for us to fill," said SanFilippo.
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"We
familiarized ourselves with the other local restaurants
and we got a feel for the place,"said SanFilippo.
"It took more than a year and a half of serious searching
to find the right location and put together the deal,"
said SanFilippo.
A restaurant offering fine dining cuisine in an upscale,
casual setting which caters to locals and tourists for
an evening out on the town, a special occasion or a casual
lunch or brunch was SanFilippo's vision he made into
a reality.
Two-YearPursuit
After an almost two year pursuit, the final result was
the June 1 opening of The Balcony on Cruz Bay.
Although the restaurant opened
during "slow season", there were waiting lists
throughout the summer.
SanFilippo credits the staff at the new restaurant for
its immediate success.
"I feel very blessed by the team of people we have
pulled together, it is a family of talent," said
SanFilippo.
Growing Up in the Business
But the culinary endeavor was not a new feat for SanFilippo.
As the grandson and son of devout restaurateurs, SanFilippo
worked in the industry his entire life.
"My grandmother came to the states from Italy alone
with two kids in 1920; she didn't speak any English, but
she opened up restaurants in Boston, New York City and
Florida," said
SanFilippo. "One of her restaurants still exists
today in Boston -- Ida's.
"I was raised in the business and grew up cooking,
waiting on tables and operating restaurants from the time
I was a young boy," said SanFilippo.
Once you experience the
restaurant for yourselves, it is
obvious SanFilippo's experience in the industry and his
executive chef's talent in the kitchen is paying off --
big time.
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