Texan Jean Jewell brings the taste of the American Southwest to St. John at Texas Coast Café (Cruz Bay, 340/776-6908, 8 a.m.–9 p.m. daily). This is a popular choice for hearty breakfast, when you can choose from breakfast burritos, huevos rancheros, and biscuits and gravy. The rest of the day you can dine on equally filling entrées including chicken-fried steak, taco salad, and burritos. Seating is on a patio facing the ferry dock.

Polli’s Mexican Restaurant (North Shore Rd., 340/775-4550, 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat., $10–25) serves Mexican burritos and taco salads, as well as down-home cooking like barbecue, meatloaf, and fried chicken. There is a fish fry every Friday night.

On the waterfront across from the National Park Service headquarters, Margarita Phil’s (340/693-8400, noon–9:30 p.m. Tues.–Sat., $14–20) specializes in quesadillas, burritos, and sizzling fajitas, as well as fresh seafood. Chef Phil Hoffman also serves up some killer frozen drinks.