Casual Dining Options in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

Local Eateries Serve Up Comfort Food with a Side of Ambiance

Sometimes enjoying a meal is an experience that is not just about the food. Sometimes it is about the ambience transporting the diner to a different time and place.

Two casual dining restaurants on Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands do just that with one focusing on “time” and the other on “place”.

Time Travel

If it’s a time trip you prefer then ladies grab your poodle skirts and men slick back that hair! It’s 1950’s flavors and fun at Big Al’s Burgers, situated in the Salts Mills Plaza in Grace Bay, a quick 10-minute stroll from Villa del Mar.

Big Al’s Burgers celebrates the 50’s era with cherry red booth seating as well as black and white tables and chairs over a clean shiny checkerboard floor. Or patrons can pull up a comfy stool around a red trimmed wraparound bar. Big Al’s offers burger choices for every palate. There’s everything from the Stacker with American cheese to the spicy Mexi-Cal version and to the Californian Veggie using quinoa and chickpeas. The options are wonderful and the flavors don’t disappoint.

“The burgers here are unbelievable,” said one visitor “I’m drooling just thinking about it.”

Owner Doug Camozzi who opened the eatery in November 2013 is a well-known face around Providenciales. He owns Nautique Sports, a watersports charter operation and is also Commissioner and National Team Director for the Provo Hockey League. And if this wasn’t enough to keep busy, Camozzi also runs Caicos Catering, a full service catering business to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

But it is Big Al’s Burgers, his latest venture that is garnering the most attention.

“Great fun and a great burger!” and “This is the type of restaurant you want to eat often at,” are some of the comments by visitors.

Location, Location, Location…

But you might want to “jive” your way over to Bugaloo’s in Five Cays if what you seek is a dining experience that really emphasizes location.

Bugaloo’s offers visitors the local experience. Like its name, this is a place that celebrates the colors, vibrancy and fun of the Caribbean. Situated right on the water, Bugaloo’s offers a view of the turquoise Caicos waters.

Bugaloo’s is off the beaten track. It’s tucked away in a small cove, but it’s definitely a popular spot for the locals.

“It was a little hard to find but once we did the setting was beautiful” remarked one woman.

This is the place to seek out if you have a craving for Caribbean conch. There’s cracked conch, conch fritters, and conch salad. The conch is caught and collected right on site so that visitors can learn about the life of the conch as well as cleaning and cooking them. And customers are clamouring for the cuisine.

“The conch salad was excellent and the fish was amazing,” noted one customer while another guest added, “The food is fresh, authentic island fare”.

A 15-minute drive from Villa del Mar and Grace Bay Beach, Bugaloo’s is not only a popular place to eat, but it also invites diners to experience Turks and Caicos culture, both culinary and musical. For the latter there is a gazebo which often houses a live band. Tourists can mix with the locals and enjoy dancing and to the reggae and calypso beats.

So whether you’re wanting to jitterbug down to a tasty burger joint or boogie over to a remote spot on the beach, Providenciales has some restaurants that serve up an experience not to be missed. Big Al’s Burgers and Bugaloo’s both have a menu to please the palate and an atmosphere to please the soul.