North Caicos & Middle Caicos Restaurants & Dining
The islands of North Caicos and Middle Caicos, owing to their shared agricultural and fishing heritage, offer some of the best authentic Turks and Caicos food available. Due to their limited population, there isn't a wide selection of restaurants, especially when compared to Providenciales. Regardless of this fact, some excellent local dishes can be had during a trip to the twin islands.
Authentic Island Cuisine
The Turks and Caicos has had an interesting culinary past, and the dishes today reflect the bygone industries and hardships of the islands.
To eke out an existence on these small and dry tropical islands wasn’t easy, and fishing, farming, and imports had to be assembled to put meals on the table.
One of the favorite dishes in past and current times was and is pan-poached fish, peas and rice, and a side of green salad. Historically, local corn and maize were ground to make grits and rice (before the commonality of international trade allowed for rice imports) or cornbread journey cakes (known locally as johnny cake).
As in many cases throughout the world, dishes that formed through necessity have developed and become appreciated in their own right.
Fresh Seafood & Vegetables
As the Garden Islands of the Turks and Caicos, North Caicos and Middle Caicos serve some of the freshest food available in the country. The seafood is typically freshly caught and served the same day, and several vegetables, fruits, and greens are raised on local farm patches or at the Government Farm.
When the fishing seasons are open, there’s a wide selection of seafood to choose from, including Nassau grouper, red snapper, mutton snapper, pot snapper, yellowtail, spiny lobster, and of course conch.
On land, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, squash, beans, and maize are the vegetables raised, and papayas, key limes, sugar apples, and bananas sweeten the menu.
Reservations & Dining on Sunday
North and Middle Caicos tend to see quite a few day trip visitors, so most restaurants are open for lunch Monday through Saturday.
As the islands see far fewer overnight guests, breakfast and dinner options tend to be more limited. It's recommended to make reservations in advance if you plan to stay overnight, or choose accommodation with onsite dining. Both the Ocean Breeze Resort and Pelican Beach Hotel have onsite restaurants, with Ocean Breeze Resort's Cilantro's Bar & Grill serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Ice Cream
A convenient place to stop for ice cream if you're visiting North Caicos or en route to Middle Caicos is Parrotice Ice Cream & Sno. The shop is located on Kings Highway, the main road that runs through North Caicos, and serves ice cream, milkshakes, cold drinks, and snow cones.
North & Middle Caicos Restaurants
