food

The Green Parrot

If this bar/restaurant were smack on a sandy beach it would not be out of place.  It is a classic beach bar with a laid back island feel.  Prior to the building of the new upscale marina the Green Parrot East (on the Nassau side, there’s another Green Parrot on the Paradise Island side) sat directly on the bay overlooking Atlantis directly in front of you and the cruise ship port and downtown on your left.  They had a rickety old dock that used to serve as the landing point for all of the dinghies for the moored boats.  The boaters would stop for a quick drink and then move on to Harbour Bay to do their shopping.  Mark and I loved that dock and had a habit of carrying our wine out to the edge and dangling our feet into the water to watch the sunset.  Alas, progress happens.  Not only did the addition of the upscale marina place a promenade and a bunch of boats in front of the view but they also put in a pool where there used to be an inlet and sandy beach where Emily spent hours playing with the children of friends while we chowed down on burgers, quesadillas and classic Bahamian dishes.  However, The Green Parrot still has massive appeal and we still love it there - most people probably prefer the new “cleaned up” surroundings.

This is the place to come if you want affordable food and drink not too far from Water’s Edge (the house and the actual edge of the water).  The view is still lovely and you get the added bonus of being outside enjoying the Bahamian breezes.  The food is classic pub food with a Bahamian twist.  I enjoy the Caeser salad with grilled mahi-mahi, Emily loves the wide array of quesadillas, Mark is always game for a nice fat juicy burger (and they have sweet potato fries to die for).  Earlier in the evening tends to attract families with a good mix of local and tourist trade, later in the evening it is definitely more of a party place with live music every weekend and a fresh conch salad stand right on the waterfront.  Be prepared for island patience around service and remember to breathe and enjoy the view.

Green Parrot owns multiple properties throughout Nassau, the newest being the chain restaurant (with a definite Bahamian twist), Margaritaville over on Paradise Island.  

The Poop Deck

This harbor front bar/restaurant is very popular with locals and tourists alike.  The star attraction is the freshly caught daily catch.  As you are seated the hostess will walk you past a bed of ice and show you what is available that day.  There is usually a mix of lobster, red snapper and the juicy, meaty hog snapper.  You can select your own fish and have it prepared any way you’d like (grilled, fried, blackened) along with a choice of an array of yummy sides.  Keep in mind that the fresh catch is priced by the pound and isn’t cheap but usually the fish are big enough to share.  Mark and I have often selected a hog snapper that is tough to finish between the two of us.  Fish features strongly on the rest of the menu, including conch specials that they are famous for - Mark says that they have the best conch fritters on the island. There are also a few non-fish options. The Poop Deck also has a popular happy hour and the bar area is always cozy and inviting (it kind of feels like being on a boat).  They also have a lot of unique cocktails if you are a tropical cocktail fan.

The best seats in the house are the tables directly against the exterior wall overlooking the harbor.  Mark and I always head to The Poop Deck and grab one of these tables soon after we arrive in Nassau as it always reminds us of why we love Nassau so much.  The view of the Paradise island bridge in the sunset and watching the steady flow of boats in and out of the harbor while the sea breeze cools you is what island life is about. It does get very busy though so it is highly recommended that you may a reservation and request a harbourfront table.  If you have a large group request a harbourfront corner - they will push the tables together and everyone gets some kind of view.