Asian Meets Southern Comfort

Today I visited Sea Salt Restaurant at Sapphire Beach Resort on the island of St. Thomas. The restaurant overlooks the beach with views of the neighboring island of St. John and the Southside of Coki Point Beach. Since it was brunch, I ordered the Asian Chicken and Waffles.

Hats off to the chef for making this cultural fusion of two worlds work. Black sesame seeds folded into the waffle batter do more than speckle it — they lend a faint nuttiness and a little grit that keeps each bite from going soft and one-note the way waffles often do. The chipotle syrup is where the dish really turns. You expect the usual maple sweetness, and it arrives, but a smoky heat follows a beat behind it, then a mild sour finish that pulls the whole plate east. It’s the kind of contrast that makes you slow down and take a second bite just to figure out what you tasted. The waffles came topped with crispy Asian buttermilk-battered chicken, sliced and fried to golden perfection — the crust holding up under the syrup instead of surrendering to it.

Nothing beats a good meal paired with a well-balanced drink. Today’s choice was the Mocktail Mule, a tasteful spin on the classic Moscow Mule: honey, turmeric, coconut water, lime, and ginger beer. The coconut water softens the ginger’s bite, and the turmeric adds an earthiness that keeps it from reading as merely sweet — a drink that holds its own next to a rich plate rather than getting lost behind it.

Overall, the experience at Sea Salt is always a pleasure. If you’re in need of a Saturday brunch spot, Sea Salt is definitely a must-try.