Dinner at Ivan's, I might pass on it

For the money you pay I would pass on having dinner here. The food was ok but for the price you can rack up a good bill. 2 crab cake appetizers $8.00 ea, Snappy snapper $19.00 a copy of LTU's chicken Lola $19.00. 4 red stripes $4.00 ea 2 rum drinks $8.00 each and $8.00 for a shared piece of cheese cake and you have $100.00 plus tip.

Being in the fishing business I also know what snapper is and dinner was not snapper for sure, not what I would call bad fish but not snapper, and had some fishy taste..

Lastly from the time we sat down until they took a drink order was 20 minutes and from the time they took the drink order until the time we ordered dinner was 45 minutes. To sum up we were there a hour before we got to order food. Then another hour to brink out food. The food prep time was not that bad but just trying to order another round of drinks just did not happen. Very very very slow even by Jamaica standards. Oh yeah. Had to go find the waitress 3 times to ask for a bill. Ordering desert was just as time consuming.

If our dinner would have been half the price the wait times would not have been bad but at $100 pluss tip you expect better service.

Timm

For less money and better for with greatly larger portions go to Presley's, Murphy's or Caio Jamaica

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Originally Posted by Living_the_Dream

For less money and better for with greatly larger portions go to Presley's, Murphy's or Caio Jamaica

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or for even less money have a good tasting box meal from Fatties, Collettas or SeaView......lol

Cool Runnings, Marko

Much of what passes for snapper in Negril is in fact, frozen boxed tilapia. Think about it. Every restaurant on the beach and cliffs offers it including the All Inclusives. (not saying that's what the original poster had; just an observation)

I agree..

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Originally Posted by Big_frank

....., frozen boxed tilapia. ......

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:-(

oh my.!!..

so,
please tell me::>> how does this *work*...??...

the fish is served WITHOUT the head, tail etc. ..??.. (e.g., '..fillet..')

There are fish farms that raise tilapia just outside Negril. They fillet it and box it. It "works" just like it does in North America...

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Originally Posted by Big_frank

Much of what passes for snapper in Negril is in fact, frozen boxed tilapia. Think about it. Every restaurant on the beach and cliffs offers it including the All Inclusives.

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mi buy mi fish directly from the Fishermon who walks by my place with his wheelbarrow full of fish on ice......
usually baracuda, tuna/bonita and snapper.....half decent prices....and the fish was caught dat morning
mi eat it dat day or next day........mi don't like freezing mi fish.......
cause mi can taste da difference....that is what mi get for being raised in New England as a fishermon.....lol
down by the river in da mornings.....you can always buy your fish der too......
and many places in Negril will cook your fish for you if you ask dem nicely.......

Cool Runnings, Marko

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Originally Posted by Rob

There are fish farms that raise tilapia just outside Negril. They fillet it and box it. It "works" just like it does in North America...

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opps..!!..
:-(
MY bad..!!..

i wasn't *clear*
with my query

me sorry

let me try again:::>>> question for boardie-Living_the_Dream:::>>> was the *snapper* you ordered, served WITH or WITHOUT the head-ON...???... or was it fillet...??..

and,
Rob, THANK-YOU for the info 'bout the tilapia fish farm(S).

WHERE are they...??..
Do you think I can go-visit, get a tour, etc....???..
if so,
how does THAT *work*..??..


____ _____ ____ ____ ___

an aside:::>>> Ever-since my first-trip to Jamaica, and eating that fresh-fresh jus'-out-of-the-boat fish, I no longer purchase (to cook) those frozen, in-box, fillet fish thing-ys they sell here in USofA.

in fact,
it was just the last-week,
i purchased a whole snapper from WholeFoods, and told the fish-man:::>> "...clean it, scale it, and LEAVE the HEAD ON...!!!..."

cost..??... ---- US $12.00
:-(
Ja$1,200

* sigh *

i can't wait to get-BACK to Jamaica,
where the cost-of-living is less expensive

One of the American news shows had an investigation into fish served at restaurants in the US and many misrepresented the fish, the origin, and the freshness. The better sushi chefs in the world acknowledge that previously frozen fish make the best Sushi. As for fish tasting "fishy" !????!

There are two "fish pans" over by our spring but they're not in use any more

When they were first farmed the Rasta called them "ferti-fish"

Living, if I had your experience I wouldn't return either. I have had only excellent service at Ivan's and don't necessarily need huge portions. I agree with your Ciao Jamaica recommend!

So...the moral of the story is to buy a fish with the head on so you know what you are buying? Either way, snapper tastes like snapper like bacon taste like bacon and not carrots (comparing apples to oranges...or so). IF someone is pulling a fast one it is rightful to call them out....providing you are 100% sure.

I'm just saying a couple dozen fishing boats in Negril can't catch thousands of pounds of 'Red Snapper' to serve all those all inclusives; plus every other accommodation and restaurant in the town. There has to be some big supplier such as the Tilapia farm or, like Jamaica Broilers grows the chickens. They don't just peck around in someone's yard. (generally speaking)

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Originally Posted by Eco

So...the moral of the story is to buy a fish with the head on so you know what you are buying?.

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Yep..!!..
that's what i was *taught* in Jamaica

quick-story....short-version:::>>> ONCE upon a time,
i took a Ja-lady to dinner at a *popular* Negril beachfront tourist-eatery.

you should have seen her face scrunch-up when the fish was delivered with NO-head.

she-SAY::>> "..WHAT's THIS...!!! ??? !!! ???!!! !??!?!?!?!?!?!?.."

she was NOT a happy-camper

Living so sorry to hear this, eaten there a number of times and have never experienced this, food was top notch and service was even better!

Real snapper, tuna, lionfish, kingfish and mahi mahi, carribean lobster and shrimp. MSG and Additive free, all locally sourced produce at Canoe!!!

I like Ivan's. It is a bit spendy, particularly when you compare lobster prices at tensing ($10 cheaper), but they have a wider variety of dishes that my picky wife will eat, so we tend to go there 3-4 times a visit.

Their frozen cheesecake is guaranteed to make my wife happy for at least one meal of the day.

I agree with Canoe love to eat there....one of the Best! When we order Snapper though it has to come as the whole fish. And if our Jamaican friend is there he will eat the eye's and everyting.
Cheers
Can't wait to have my bloody ceasar and tuna at Canoe.:)

Fatties..... my favourite authentic food, very hungry now thinking about it :cool:

WOW- I was shocked when I read this post. We went to Ivan's last night and it was superb!. We had the 100 candles dinner and I was blown away by everything. I was even in "happy" tears when we were shown to our secluded table minutes before sunset.
I seriously cannot fault anything about this place. The only personal downside for me was that the portions were so big and it was 5 courses, after the second course I was full. However, our waitress Jadia was a wonderful girl and was smiley and happy and highly attentive. Yes, it cost us nearly $200 but how often do you get to eat there in that location, with all that romance the night before you get married? I will treasure that experience until I die. I genuinely loved it. Oh and I got a few brownie points for making the reservation (hubby to be wasn't expecting it at all).
So, in a nutshell, thanks all for the recommendations and I know exactly where to come if I need to know ANYTHING about Negril.
Thank you everyone - must dash, got to get down that aisle and say, "I do".

Lots of love everyone and thank you x

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Originally Posted by patty_k

Real snapper, tuna, lionfish, kingfish and mahi mahi, carribean lobster and shrimp. MSG and Additive free, all locally sourced produce at Canoe!!!

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That's great to hear Patty_k. See you in February!

[ must dash, got to get down that aisle and say, "I do".

[/QUOTE]
Congrats Suz. Post pics please

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Originally Posted by SazO

Thank you everyone - must dash, got to get down that aisle and say, "I do".

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Now THAT's a dedicated boardie. Checking out the board and posting on her wedding day!

Best wishes SazO.

There is one defense of tilapia:
It's abundant and not in danger of being over fished.
Lionfish should be fished into extinction in the Carribean!

I've dined at Pressly's and had snapper with the head on.
It wasn't the 100 candle dinner but by making a prior reservation (don't remember the cost but can't forget the night) we had the place and Pressly all to ourselves.

Bon appetit!

I'm glad I'm not a Talapia fish,,,,,They get no respect,,,no respect I say,,,,they get speared,,fried,,eaten and then they say they didn't want to eat you anyway.....Respect the Talapia I say....

You're right Fred Stripe!

Eating tilapia is one we we can preserve the oceans (and they don't taste terrible - how's that for a ringing endorsement).
Eating lionfish is a great way to help the Caribbean Eco-system.

Nothing wrong with Tilapia for sure.
Anyone ever had the Goggle-eye fish.
Little fishes with great big bulging eyes.
They are harvested only during a certain time in either Jan or Feb and I remember seeing several small fishing boats with nets in an ever decreasing circle, 'trapping' them in the cove across from Sexy Rexy's.
Seems they are a local treat as they were being sold all along the west end by the bucketful after the harvesting . Rexy had a fire going near the road and was cooking them and a crowd of people were there to get their taste.
While staying at Seastar the goggle-eye were being prepared for a special staff meal and we managed to score a plateful. They were steamed and served with pieces of lime and were quite delicious. (we didn't eat the eyes though).

Yeah,Frank,we don't eat the eyes,,,but when I fish dies in the ocean the first thing the others eat are the eyes? Kinda like that green stuff in the lobster,the rue?

We just got back from our 5 night stay at Catcha,we ate there a few times,snacks and meals and lots of cocktails and beers.We thought the price we paid at the end of our stay was very reasonable,actually under what we expected.We were there to party and laugh and dance and just break free from life so i guess it's all in what you are looking for.Definately enough good places to eat in Negril so we change it up every year.The bar tenders,Bradley and Kevin looked out for us big time,never had an empty glass or bottle.Cheers!

Anyone can have an 'off' night. I've heard nothing but good things about Catcha.

We have had a few very nice meals at Ivans. Both romantic, and with friends. Is it a little bit more expensive than what you can get for something similar elsewhere? Sure. But the dining area, the vibe and the atmosphere is great. We try and eat there at least once per visit.

Sazo so glad to hear the dinner went well, I'm still scoring brownie points after 14 months removed from the 100 candle dinner! Enjoy your wedding day, while we were there last year I actually performed a renewal of vows for our good friends, I became a licensed Minister online. It was so much fun to be a part of it, I know you will make your special day memorable!

So, besides Canoe, which restaurants have fresh caught fish? When you go to a Caribbean destination it's nice to eat it :) We enjoyed our meal at Ivan's last year, but felt that it was a bit over rated. We love Canoe and Chill Awhile, Rockhouse, Hungry Lion, Tony's Jerk, Best in West, Kuyaba for pepper shrimp. This year I would like to try LTU and maybe Pushcart, Presley's possibly. May go back to Ivan's as well.

Country Country has fresh fish on their menu the nights they have fish (not sure if they serve fish everyday). I have often seen the fisherman come to shore and clean his catch on their beach and then make a deal with the chef.

Sorry it did not live up to the hype. I'm here now and things are as great as they usually are. Jerk Penne Pasta soon come.

Awwww Booger!!!! Jerk Penne Pasta ... OMG so good!!!! Whether it's frozen or not!!!! Give the girls a hug for me! Miss you guys, and have a blast ..... as if you wouldn't!!!!

LOVE IVANS .... LOVE CATCHA!

I like Catcha and my friends love it there and like the vibe at the resort. My Friends have stayed there several times. It is just the restaurant is not for me especially at dinner time. Next time we are in Negril we will give them another chance to change my mind. It just does not have the local feel, more commercialized, reminds me of just any beach restaurant here in the states. It is pretty and you can get some nice pictures there.

Don't beat yourself up Living. There are a couple of places that people rave about here that i find really ordinary or less but I would be burned at a stake if I mentioned their names. To each their own. You seem to have found your favourites. Enjoy

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Originally Posted by dash

Don't beat yourself up Living. There are a couple of places that people rave about here that i find really ordinary or less but I would be burned at a stake if I mentioned their names. To each their own. You seem to have found your favourites. Enjoy

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I agree totally! Everyone has their own personal favorite foods and vibes. If everyone loved the same place....there would be few choices. Freedom of choice is what life is all about. On one night, I might want low key, which is generally my favorite vibe!! But, occasionally, an upscale venue fills the bill. So don't worry yourself...all is good when in Negril. Plenty of choices to be had!! Quite frankly, I can't wait to have all those choices in front of me.

hey booger, is Nicolette still a server at Catcha? She is a good server. I've been to Ivans for dinner about twenty times through the year, always thoroughly enjoyed it. Last time, the lobster was 32 USD and 22 USD at Seastar Inn. I think the average is about 25 on the hill.