Admittedly, you don't come to Bermuda for grand cuisine. That said, there are quite a few places to enjoy a memorable meal.

Aqua (Devonshire Parish; tel. 441/236-1010): In the Ariel Sands Hotel, this is a new restaurant, owned in part by actor Michael Douglas. It's quickly become one of the island's best, with its savory blend of Bermudian and international recipes. Expect everything from Cajun cookery to Indian-style tandoori dishes.

The Norwood Room (Hamilton Parish; tel. 441/236-5416): The students may be the chefs at this restaurant located in a hotel training school, but the cuisine served here is among the finest in Bermuda; each dish is prepared with care. Of course, a master chef of the Caribbean oversees the action, and the service from the in-training staff is the island's finest.

Black Horse Tavern (St. George Parish; tel. 441/297-1991): When you crave good, hearty food served in a casual atmosphere, this is the place to come. Islanders fill most of the tables at night, ordering shark hash or curried conch.

La Coquille (Pembroke Parish; tel. 441/292-6122): This is one of the island's most sophisticated French restaurants and it enjoys a faithful following. Right in the heart of Bermuda, the international staff serves delectable French-inspired Mediterranean cuisine.

Lobster Pot & Boat House Bar (City of Hamilton, Pembroke Parish; tel. 441/292-6898): If you don't find the local foodies at the restaurants we discuss above, they'll surely be at this local favorite, enjoying some of the island's best regional dishes. Black rum and sherry peppers are the secret ingredients in the fish chowder, and baked fish and lobster are sure to tempt you.

Newport Room (at The Fairmont Southampton, Southampton Parish; tel. 441/238-8000): Part of the resort complex, this nautically decorated restaurant attracts an upscale crowd, especially yachters. The glistening teak decor makes it the most expensively furnished restaurant in Bermuda, and the French cuisine is worthy of the decor. The rack of lamb with mixed-nut crust is the stuff of which memories are made.

Tamarisk Dining Room (at Cambridge Beaches, Sandys Parish; tel. 441/234-0331): This is an elegant enclave at the western tip of Bermuda. Housed in one of the island's premier accommodations, it offers excellent service and a frequently changing menu of impeccably prepared international cuisine. For your main course, you can't do better than juicy tenderloin of beef with grain mustard and blanched garlic sauce. The wine cellar is up to the high standards of the menu.

Tom Moore's Tavern (Hamilton Parish; tel. 441/293-8020): The Irish poet Tom Moore reportedly was a frequent visitor to this restaurant, which dates from 1652 and overlooks Walsingham Bay. The menu, however, is no relic -- it's quite innovative. Duck is a specialty, as is Bermuda lobster; but who can forget the quail in puff pastry stuffed with foie gras?

Waterlot Inn (at The Fairmont Southampton Princess, Southampton Parish; tel. 441/238-8000): In a historic inn and warehouse, this restaurant serves the island's most famous Sunday brunch, but it's also an ideal choice for dinner. Everybody from Eleanor Roosevelt to Mark Twain has praised the Mediterranean cuisine.