what can we eat???

cath · #1 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2012, 05:48 PM

Hello, everyone. I am a chicken. As bad as I am, my husband and kids are worse!! Can we eat and drink at random places in the Bahamas??? Are the various restaurants okay?? I'm guessing that street food is a no-no. What about the delicious beach drinks, cool, refreshing with ICE

advice, please???

Mike M · #2 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2012, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cath

Hello, everyone. I am a chicken. As bad as I am, my husband and kids are worse!! Can we eat and drink at random places in the Bahamas??? Are the various restaurants okay?? I'm guessing that street food is a no-no. What about the delicious beach drinks, cool, refreshing with ICE

advice, please???

I've eaten and drank at various places all over the world and have only become sick once, non-cruise, in Mexico. I've had real food poisoning twice. Both times right here in the good old USA.

I love street food, hocker stalls and small out of the way places to eat. Things to look for are: Is the place busy? It's better to wait for a table or stand in a line than go across the street to the place that isn't busy. The busy place is busy for a reason.

If you are really leery use the rule above to pick a restaurant and then only drink something from a bottle or can.

Stay away from fresh salads and thin skinned fruits. Bananas and citrus are a good bet for safety because of their thick skins.

Resorts and larger restaurants will usually use filtered water for making ice so a mixed drink is usually OK.

BTW: Don't look in the ice machine of many US restaurants. You may be appalled at what you find.

Take care,
Mike

johnthed0g · #3 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2012, 06:20 PM

I reckon the Bahamas is OK, we ain't talking the third world here, even there hot fresh street food is usually fine.

snorklr45 · #4 (**permalink**) June 22nd, 2012, 01:24 AM

We ate all over in the Bahamas and never had any problems. Especially loved a place called "The Stoned Crab" on Grand Bahama (Freeport). Their stoned crabs are TO DIE FOR!!! Prices are a bit steep, but you can dress in a casual sundress and go in your sandals (not flip flops). There is no ac, but it is on the beach so you have a great view (plus ceiling fans) and wonderful ice cold umbrella drinks.

Jamman · #5 (**permalink**) June 22nd, 2012, 08:59 AM

Never had a problem in the Bahamas, Mexico is another story....

green_rd · #6 (**permalink**) June 22nd, 2012, 12:51 PM

I had the best conch in a little concrete block restaurant with no windows (or more specifically no glass or screens in the windows.)

Floatie · #7 (**permalink**) June 29th, 2012, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cath

Hello, everyone. I am a chicken. As bad as I am, my husband and kids are worse!! Can we eat and drink at random places in the Bahamas??? Are the various restaurants okay?? I'm guessing that street food is a no-no. What about the delicious beach drinks, cool, refreshing with ICE

advice, please???

Where in the Bahamas cath? In Nassau you can take a 10 minute cab ride to Arawok Cay (sp?), mainly known as the Fish Fry, for the best conch and various seafood dishes...it's about the three block area and there are multiple restaurants and bars and some street vendors. Fun, especially if you are there later in the afternoon!

Trip · #8 (**permalink**) June 29th, 2012, 11:32 PM

You may be thinking of Mexico as far as the ice cubes..you should have no issues in the Bahamas...Enjoy!

buttons16 · #9 (**permalink**) June 30th, 2012, 08:25 PM

No Problems ever in the Bahamas. The only place I got sick was in Mexico.

lhp · #10 (**permalink**) June 30th, 2012, 09:40 PM

Ports like Cozumel have restaurants and resorts that specifically use purified water (even to make their ice) so no worries.

We have eaten in Nassau, Freeport and dozens of other ports without an issue.

As long as you stick with a tourist place....you should be fine.

Now I would not recommend drinking from a public water fountain.... but then I don't do that here in the US either....

Capndinghy · #11 (**permalink**) July 1st, 2012, 03:08 PM

It is a lot cheaper to just eat on the ship! I think most places in the Bahamas are Okay. Personally I am not a big fan of Bahamian Food, but then that is just me. And if you see Conch Cerviche on the menu be sure to try it! That is food that I do like. Cerveche is raw fish cooked in Lime juice with seasoning such as bell pepper, onions, etc.

KiwiBird · #12 (**permalink**) July 2nd, 2012, 07:48 AM

I, too, will say that my port dining has not been a problem at all. In Nassau, even the ice cubes fared well. I had no problems in the small eateries and bars, and in the large hotel restaurant. You should not have to worry.

Don't be foolish and eat from a street vendor, unless you get sealed product that you open. Even bottled water can be refilled. Make sure you break the seal.

Enjoy Nassau. It's so lovely. The view from the fort is wonderful. The sun rise and sun set is beautiful. And that flea market is tight and crowded, but well worth the walk through. Stick to the culture and history and touring, it has a lot to offer.

Cruznut2 · #13 (**permalink**) July 2nd, 2012, 09:59 AM

The best tacos I ever ad were from a street vendor in Concordia Mexico. They caused no problems for me not anyone else in my group. I also spent a week in Mexico at the El Cid in Mazatlan. There were signs on the mirrors that the water was purified and was safe to drink. It was fine and I suffered no side effects from any of it.

Laura

zydecocruiser · #14 (**permalink**) July 3rd, 2012, 11:21 AM

That which doesn't kill us...

I even eat street food in Mexico. I would not recommend drinking from a garden hose there.

I think there is some great eats in the Bahamas - especially conch and fresh fish.

Some conch fritters in Nassau

and some amazing cracked conch at Freeport (and a Bahama Momma!) from Billy Joe's

krunch · #15 (**permalink**) July 3rd, 2012, 01:32 PM

I don't think it was mentioned above but a Hep A vaccine is also recommended when travelling in the Caribbean.

Krunch

zydecocruiser · #16 (**permalink**) July 3rd, 2012, 01:47 PM

I think these days Hep A and B vaccines are recommended for all children whether traveling or not.

lhp · #17 (**permalink**) July 3rd, 2012, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krunch

I don't think it was mentioned above but a Hep A vaccine is also recommended when travelling in the Caribbean.

Krunch

Yes our entire family got that years ago....

not only to protect us out of the country...but right here at home...

krunch · #18 (**permalink**) July 3rd, 2012, 02:14 PM

You may be right, with respect to kids today, I can not say as we have no kids....

I am a Canadian Health Care employee. When I entered into the work force in 1999 it was recommended I have a Hep B shot. In 2006 we took our first cruise and it was recommended that I get the Hep A shot. There is little to no incidence of Hep A in Canada. When my gf travelled with me on the cruise it was recommended that she get the "Twinrix" vaccine which is Hep A & B. Today (in Canada) the Twinrix vaccine is the same cost as Hep A or B by themselves, so overall if you have never had either, it's just as well to be vaccinated against both today.

Krunch

cath · #19 (**permalink**) July 3rd, 2012, 02:22 PM

! Love the food and drink pics