Bermuda's oldest restaurant, built in 1652 as a private home, is on Walsingham Bay, near the Crystal Caves. The Irish romantic poet Thomas Moore visited in 1804 and wrote some of his verses here; he referred to a calabash tree that still stands some 200 yards from the tavern. The most famous dining room in Bermuda has gone through many incarnations. When Bologna-born Bruno Fiocca and his Venetian partner, Franco Bortoli, opened the present tavern in 1985, it quickly became one of the island's most popular upscale restaurants. With its four fireplaces and darkened cedar walls, this landmark establishment serves classic French and Italian cuisine.

Seafood is a specialty. During the summer, there's usually a tank of Bermuda lobsters outside. Local fish selections are likely to include rockfish and yellowtail, which may be your best bet. One reader wrote that he found the place "very expensive, but worth the price, as the service and atmosphere are both top-notch." He also noted that: "The cuisine is not light, however. Extremely well-prepared meals contain very rich sauces." He's right. But if you're in the mood for a rich dinner, we recommend the chef's specialty: quail filled with goose liver, morels, and truffles, then baked in puff pastry. Two other recommendations are sautéed sweetbreads in creamy basil sauce and Latino-style jambalaya. The setting, English silver, German crystal, Luxembourg china, and general ambience contribute to a memorable visit.