BJ's Big Spring restaurant, Anguilla - Good Taste is the Worst Vice

During our trip, D and I made a new restaurant discovery that I’ve been dying to share – an under-the-radar spot that’s truly local, but just as gourmet as any “high end” touristy staple.

BJ’s Big Spring is tucked on the side of the road out on the east end of the island, near Island Harbor. It’s tiny – though the vibrant aqua and coral colors make it easier to spot – and very low-key, with just a handful of tables on a porch overlooking a gravel parking lot and another brightly painted building across the way.

We stopped by for lunch and met the chef, Ben, who showed us a brief menu (pizza, pasta, burgers) and a chalkboard with specials like boeuf bourguignon, pork with apples and curry, and chicken with mushroom sauce.

I chose shrimp Provençal from the chalkboard, while D decided on the boeuf bourguignon (perhaps more suited to cold-weather, but he does love hearty meat dishes).

We relaxed on the porch and sipped icy rosé wine while Ben cooked.

The dishes that he brought out were beautifully composed and garnished, reminding me of something Jacques Pépin might have created. My shrimp were perfectly cooked, with plenty of butter, garlic, onions, and peppers, and I appreciated the addition of carrots and green beans on one side, and ratatouille on the other – so wholesome!

D’s beef was dark and richly flavored, and he had the same vegetable sides along with a tidy swirl of mashed potato decorated with thyme and a bit of crisp potato lattice.

We returned a couple of days later for dinner, since we both had a yen for pizza and had a feeling Ben would make a good one.

It was a very different scene from lunch – now there was a young man acting as waiter, the tables were filled with patrons, and there was a stream of folks picking up carry-out.

It was also a very different scene from any other restaurant we visited during our stay, since everyone else at Big Spring were islanders – mostly expats, but locals nonetheless, and rather interesting ones at that, like an effusive Italian who used to import truffles to the US.

Also holding court on the patio that evening was Cyril Fitzsimons, the eccentric restauranteur who lives part-time in Anguilla and also owns Cyril’s Fish House in the Hamptons (here’s a fun blog that includes a visit there). Throughout the evening he made periodic proclamations about the new restaurant he had just bought in Anguilla – intriguing.

The pizza was just what we wanted, a cracker-crisp crust topped with tomato sauce, cheese, pepperoni, and generous tangles of sliced onion. Along with a bottle of Chianti, it made for an easy and relaxing dinner.

And did I mention that BJ’s Big Spring is the only restaurant we’ve visited on Anguilla that doesn’t charge a mandatory 15% service fee? Definitely off the tourist track.

It was fun to feel like locals for a night!

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