Eating out is a favorite island pastime, and many residents, particularly those who work in Hamilton, and especially young expatriates, frequent local bars and restaurants several evenings a week. With Bermuda’s steep tabs, that could bankrupt you pretty easily. Like everyone else, restaurants have to import the majority of their ingredients, a reality reflected in menu prices. On top of that, almost all charge an automatic 15 percent gratuity included on the bill. If you really enjoyed the food and service, you can leave an extra 10 percent, but otherwise the built-in surcharge will suffice. Check your tab to make sure it’s included.

All-day breakfasts, once rare, are now more common, though many restaurants curiously refuse to make pancakes or eggs after 11 a.m., and even Hamilton-based eateries sometimes have inconsistent opening hours—for instance, closing their doors after lunch at 2:30 p.m. and reopening in the early evening. Late-afternoon diners often find themselves out of luck.

Bermudians would admit the quality of fare, even at the priciest restaurants, is inconsistent, and food and service do not always compare with the offerings of similarly priced establishments in urban centers such as New York or London. But generally, the standard is high, with menus created by award-winning Bermudian and foreign-born chefs.