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Sun Dog Cafe

4.5 (247 reviews)
Closed • 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

Sun Dog Cafe Photos

SUN DOG CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Happy hour specials
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Sun Dog Cafe

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Key lime pie
Lauren N.

We had a fantastic, memorable time here! Great food, exceptional service, gorgeous ambiance, and live music!

Caesar salad with jerk chicken
Greg M.

Healthier than most delicious spot a short walk from the ferry dock. What we loved: * cool seating amidst a shopping complex * commitment to fresh ingredients and healthy eating (well, at least it's an option ) * chickens that visited the table while we ate * friendly service I had the Caesar salad with jerk chicken - ample and delicious! My wife had the seafood tacos.

Crab cake Benedict
Christopher T.

This place is great at Mongoose Junction in St John. Has a great bar and cafe! We did the cafe for brunch/breakfast! All the food was great! The Benedict's were on point! The classic breakfast was enjoyed by my daughter! Has a nice outdoor sitting setup. Staff were attentive and nice! They do a lot for a small space! See you all again next December!

Camille M.

We had an extremely disappointing customer service experience. Our group consisted of 20 people and was seated across four separate tables. Orders were taken per table, yet the staff appeared confused and incorrectly accused us of moving around. The situation was simple--orders should have been delivered per table as taken--but instead, their confusion led to unfair blame placed on our group. One person in our group never received their order, and another order was mistakenly mixed in with a to-go order. On top of that, a staff member complained that they didn't have any menus to give to other customers, implying that we were taking them all. This was completely untrue--we only had three menus shared among 20 guests, while about a dozen menus were sitting in a bin right next to us (see photo). We also asked if we could add a sausage for my daughter. While we would have understood if the kitchen was already closed for lunch, the staff member responded rudely instead of communicating this politely. To make matters worse, a 20% gratuity was automatically charged per table, even though the staff clearly could not handle a group of our size. Instead of being appreciative of a full house, the staff made us feel like an annoyance the entire time. The level of service we received did not come close to justifying that gratuity. If you're a large group, don't even bother--this place clearly does not welcome or know how to handle your business. Overall, the lack of organization and the staff's accusatory and dismissive attitude made the entire experience very unpleasant. Update on the owners comments: I feel it's important to clarify several points, as our experience differed significantly from how it was described by the Owner. When the first half of our group arrived, the hostess was immediately informed that our full party would total 21 guests. This information was communicated upfront. The remaining guests arrived approximately 30 minutes later, which we believed was a reasonable amount of time for any restaurant to prepare, particularly if walk-in business is accepted. If your establishment strictly requires reservations for large parties, that policy should be clearly posted or communicated at the time of arrival. There was no indication given to us that accommodating our group would be an issue until the staff expressed that our large party wasn't accepted by giving us attitude and voicing that they are confused out loud. Regarding your statement that our group was dismissive or disrespectful, I must respectfully disagree. Our group remained calm, polite, and cooperative throughout, despite what we perceived as dismissive attitudes and visible frustration from the serving staff. Guests moving seats or arriving at staggered times is not uncommon for larger parties and does not inherently equate to disrespect. At no point did our group raise voices, behave aggressively, or act in a manner intended to make service difficult. Rather than acknowledging the challenges on both sides, your response places sole blame on the guests, which is disappointing, especially given your extensive experience in the restaurant industry. Shame on you pointing fingers and blaming your patrons; I hope everyone who reads this comments understands what level of experience and customer service you really have. You definitely showed everyone reading this your true colors. As for the gratuity, while we understand that an automatic service charge for large parties is common, the lack of clarity and service expectations, the confusion and frustration of the experience we feel is very much not deserving. We respect your right to share your perspective, just as we expect our experience as patrons to be acknowledged without assumptions about our intent or character. Our feedback was never meant to be hurtful, but rather an honest reflection of what occurred.

Pina colada
Alexis M.

The server was in a rush, he could probably use extra help. Food was decent, drink was great.

The outdoor bar
Stephanie W.

This was such a cute but clutch little find. We came here while waiting for our car ferry on a Sunday after leaving the national park. There's an indoor part of the restaurant and an outdoor bar area; we sat at the bar. There one was girl working and she was working suuuuper hard - shout out to her! She was making all drinks and serving food, it was also happy hour (discounts on some drinks) so it was rather busy. Nonetheless she was working with a smile and got our orders/drinks made pretty quick. And I loved my drink, it was a vanilla painkiller (they use vanilla vodka) and it was only like $5 for the happy hour. It was sooo good! I would love to have that drink any time - wish I could find it easier here in Texas! I didn't try the food, but the folks next to me got some kind of fancy quesadilla, it looked delicious actually. Would def rec coming here esp if you're on your way out of or into the national park. It's inside the mongoose junction shopping center which is right at the entrance/exit to the national park so it's fantastic to stop at! Would absolutely recommend!

Kathleen L.

Perfectly located in the center of a little shopping area. This outdoor cafe had what we needed good food shade a nice waiter and break from the day .

Rosie L.

Our first stop when we arrived to St. John. It was a 5 to 7 minute walk from the dock. Good food, decent prices.

Double bacon Benedict
Courtney E.

Overall a good breakfast here. We had breakfast drinks and 2 meals and everything was good. The poached eggs on the Benedict weren't runny which was disappointing. The quesadilla was a standout item and huge, we could have shared this.

Kimberly K.

Pretty yummy with their simmered chicken roti and collection of hot sauces. Was glad to see all their different array of hot sauces. There was one that the bartender that works there made and it was my 2nd top choice - Down South. My top choice out of the 5 was the Blind Betty - it was thicker and had a little bit more flavor that complimented my dish nicely. With only a few tables and a small kitchen, they sure do know how to make food well and give attentive service

Outside
Elaina M.

Overall not a bad experience and food was good. I would give it a 3.5 but can only give rounded numbers on here. Our waiter was working hard until he got one of the orders messed up and we never saw him again. Food was good but it came to the table staggered. Our waiter also told us several things were not available because the fryer was out. They only have outside seating but it was a good vibe and the bar section was hopping!! They have a happy hour and drinks were good.

Ahi tuna tacos
Sharon D.

We spent most of the day at gorgeous Trunk Bay, and stopped at Sun Dog Café for a bite to eat before hitting the ferry back to St. Thomas. Seating is outside in a little sidewalk area between shops. The service was quick and friendly. We opted for the Ahi tuna tacos - delicious! and coconut shrimp tacos - meh.

Breakfast burrito
Mark D.

The food is great, the wait staff is awesome. This is outdoor seating at it's best,so with the Caribbean breeze it was perfect.pppp0

Blue claw eggs Benedict

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13 hours ago

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5 months ago

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9 days ago

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4 months ago

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1 year ago

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10 months ago

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9 months ago

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4 months ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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8 months ago

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1 year ago

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9 months ago

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2 months ago

Service was wonderful, great food, will definitely come back here when I'm on the island

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6 months ago

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2 years ago

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6 months ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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7 months ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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9 months ago

Everything was delicious! Our waiter KJ was great! So friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is very inviting!

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4 months ago

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9 months ago

Food was good. Ambiance was great but the service sucked. Staff seemed overwhelmed and undertrained. Not worth the stop

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2 years ago

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10 months ago

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10 months ago

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10 months ago

Ciera was great and attentive! Great smoothie and quesadilla. Tacos were delicious as well. Music playing on the open air porch.

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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4 years ago

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Page 1 of 7

Review Highlights - Sun Dog Cafe

“We happened t see the sign for the Sun Dog Café while walking around Mongoose Junction and decided to try it.”

Mentioned in 43 reviews

Read more highlights

Heading East Bar and Grille - Sautéed fish with red beans, seasoned rice, and plantains.

Heading East Bar and Grille

4.6(19 reviews)
2.4 km

We really, really, really loved our time here. We have been here before for a quick drink and a…read moreshot of mamawana - ask for it, trust - but tonight was our first night enjoying dinner. The menu is big. It's local. They sell out as the night goes on. All of the servers do not speak English really well. But, honestly, if you have a question that can't be answered, there's someone around you can talk to. We ordered sautéed fish and the stewed chicken. Each entree comes with three sides - my favorites were the plantains, red beans, and Cole slaw. Rice was also good. The cook was also grilling pork that smelled AMAZING and when I asked my server if I could have whatever he was making, she literally snuck me over a side plate of smoked and grilled pork. So freaking good. This is not your typical Cruz bay restaurant. This is local. It's delicious. There is live music. Appreciate what you are getting. If you want cute fish tacos, this place isn't for you. We had a cocktail at the Windmill Bar during sunset and then popped over here (practically next door), to order some food. Tables are picnic style tables. All outside. Service is great but food is cooked to order so it might be slow. Enjoy it! We had multiple beers and a couple mamawana shots and two entrees and our total was about $75. Definitely our least expensive meal on St. John ever.

Authentic cuisine. Not as good as the places I am used to in the Bronx or New York City. My friends…read morecomplained the entire time. Seating available at picnic tables outdoors. Restroom available on property. Kitchen is open air style. 2 stars because I got a tummy ache & everyone was mad I brought them here. Small parking lot, right before truck yard for parking.

Photos
Heading East Bar and Grille
Heading East Bar and Grille - Stewed chicken with stewed okra, green bananas, and Cole slaw.

Stewed chicken with stewed okra, green bananas, and Cole slaw.

Heading East Bar and Grille

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The Island Refinery STJ - Johnny cake with chicken thighs and hot honey

The Island Refinery STJ

4.3(63 reviews)
0.3 km

The food was all excellent the service was grossly inattentive. When we first got in they waited…read moreon us quick and then after 15 minutes we just sat there with empty drinks and food orders waiting to be taken. If the waiter just came to the table our bill would have doubled for them. Therefore? It was very over priced for the full package. Dinner entrees are all $40-$60 for moderate portions. I know St. John is expensive and there are several other restaurants charging the same prices but those have full staff checking on you and a much more refined interior. This place is good but prices should be 30% less or they should up their interior & service. All that said, the food was all great.

Great place for dinner - date night or family…read more - - - - - - - - June, 2025 Visit My wonderful wife planned a relaxing trip for us to St. John's, US Virgin Islands (just east of Puerto Rico), in June, 2025; we had a great time... such a beautiful island! For our date night we went out to The Refinery... the food and service were great. The drink menu has many options, and we selected the non-Caribbean, the Hawaiian-themed humuhumunukuapua'a (humumu) drinks... they are poured from dry gin, lemon/lime, orgeat (also in mai tai), and pineapple - very good! We made surf n turf from two menu items: - Mango mahi mahi - Churrasco Steak and fries - Both served with yucca fries - similar to potato french fries but a bit lighter and really good The Refinery is located a block from the street with several other restaurants in downtown St. John, and is right next door to a building that is home to The Legislature, the St. John Annex of the US Virgin Island's law-making branch of government. Thank you, The Refinery! ----- ----- -----

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The Island Refinery STJ - Apps anyone?

Apps anyone?

The Island Refinery STJ - Popcorn chicken

Popcorn chicken

The Island Refinery STJ - Delicious cocktails!

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Delicious cocktails!

Hillside Terrace - The chicken wings are the best you've ever had and this house made hot sauce is

Hillside Terrace

5.0(10 reviews)
0.2 km

Really cool spot. Very friendly staff. Food was AMAZING! It was fairly empty when we were there but…read moremusic was on, nice breeze, great place to sit and have a meal and a drink. Highly recommend.

I ate at Hillside Terrace twice during my stay, and that alone says everything. Both visits were…read moreabsolutely phenomenal. This is one of those rare restaurants that offers dishes you simply won't find anywhere else in the area. The menu is creative, locally grounded, and clearly built with intention rather than shortcuts. Every plate felt thoughtful, fresh, and confidently executed -- the kind of food that makes you slow down and actually pay attention to what you're eating. The value for the price is exceptional, especially considering the quality of ingredients and the care put into each dish. In a place where dining can sometimes feel overpriced for what you get, Hillside Terrace stands out as genuinely fair and refreshingly honest. Service was kind, welcoming, and unpretentious -- good vibes from the moment you arrive. You can tell this is a place run by people who care, not just about the food, but about the experience. Relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff, and a sense that you're exactly where you're supposed to be for a great meal. If you're looking for excellent local food, unique menu items, great service, and outstanding value, Hillside Terrace is a must-visit. I wouldn't hesitate to return again -- in fact, I already did. Highly recommended.

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Hillside Terrace - Front entrance to the terrace.

Front entrance to the terrace.

Hillside Terrace - Stew chicken, plantains, green banana and fungi

Stew chicken, plantains, green banana and fungi

Hillside Terrace

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Sun Dog Cafe - caribbean - Updated October 2026

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