Montego Bay will be the hot spot of the Caribbean come July 17 as Sumfest rolls into town. But the Second City is also host to some top-notch eateries, including these five that are up for awards at this year’s Jamaica Observer Food Awards. Thursday Food brings you the best lunch spots (or night-out spots) to get your grub on while partying in MoBay.

The Pelican Restaurant

The Pelican Restaurant is up for two Food Awards this year — Best Lunch Spot and Longevity. And it’s no wonder; the restaurant first opened in 1964 (back then it was known as the Coffee Shop), and still gets praises for the quality of its food and its excellent customer service.

“It’s very good to be nominated,” says Elizabeth Dalley, manager for the restaurant. “We try to do our best to offer good service at a reasonable price. It’s good when you get some recognition.”

One of the draws of the restaurant, Dalley explains, is the efficiency of service during the busy lunch-hour periods.

“Business people like it. You can be in and out quickly — have a quality meal in a short amount of time.”

Patrons can dine on favourites like barbecued chicken or the restaurant’s very hardy sandwiches. Of course, they can also dine on classic Jamaican fare such as curried goat and stewed peas.

Scotchies

Since its inception, Scotchies has had the enviable honour of being considered one of the premiere “established” joints for authentic Jamaican jerk. And, of course, Scotchies has already been honoured with a nod from the Food Awards as such — a premiere jerk pit. This year, however, Scotchies in Montego Bay receives a nod from the Food Awards in the coolest watering hole category. This may come as a surprise to some, as Scotchies is not known for its cocktails but for its jerk.

“A lot of people think of it as that,” says Tony Rerrie, manager of the Scotchies in Montego Bay. “But a lot of people congregate here in the evenings from the golf clubs and the hotels. They come to have a beer and they sit for hours and have three more beers.”

So that’s another note Scotchies can add to its list of distinctions — aside from being a great place for jerk, it’s also a great place to lyme with friends over a cold one.

“It’s a great honour to be thought of as being the best,” Rerrie says.

Seahorse Grill

Nestled on the lovely Montego Bay Yacht Club and overlooking the marina by the Caribbean sea, the enchanting Seahorse Grill has been one of the best kept secrets in dining elegance. Which perhaps explains why the restaurant is a contender in the best kept secret category at this year’s Food Awards.

“It’s probably one of the best restaurants in Montego Bay,” says Claudia McGann, marketing manager at Seahorse. “It’s constantly good. The quality is constant. Good food. Good service. Great ambiance.”

Remarking on the restaurant’s nomination, McGann says: “We’re grateful for the recognition. It’s always good to know that people acknowledge your work and that you’re doing well.”

Seahorse Grill specialises in all types of food (and not just seafood) including local faves like curried goat. But be sure to try the lobster, which, McGann says, is popular amongst patrons.

“We offer it in different ways, like grilled, creole, curried and thermidor.”

Houseboat Grill

Dining at the Houseboat Grill is an experience like no other. For one, you’re dining on a house that’s also a boat and, secondly, you need a boat ride to get there. Once there, you have access to great seafood (patrons can choose their lobsters fresh from a holding tank) with the perk of an arresting view of the sea (if dining on the top deck).

“It’s all fresh air,” says the restaurant’s manager Ewan Heath, who paints us a picture. “You’re overlooking the water towards the hillside. And in the evenings, when the lights from the hills reflect on the water, it’s a very great scene.”

No wonder, then, the restaurant is nominated for Best Outdoor Dining Experience at this year’s Food Awards.

“We were nominated before for best romantic restaurant,” says Heath, “but to be nominated again, it is . . . words can’t explain it — it’s a great deal.”

Sugar Mill at the Half Moon Resort

Few restaurants have the ability to transport you to another time and place, but the Sugar Mill restaurant at the Half Moon Resort does just that with its luxurious setting and superior service — and it has been doing so for 48 years. Which explains why the legendary restaurant is up for a longevity award at this year’s Food Awards.

“It’s a great honour, of course,” says Sugar Mill’s food and beverage director Giorgio Rusconi. “The restaurant has been here for such a long time because of the staff’s ability to be innovative but to still offer traditional service.”

He’s not kidding about innovation. The restaurant’s chef de cuisine, Chef Ravi Anne (who is, by the way, also up for this year’s Chef of the Year Award) offers modern takes on Caribbean cuisine, infusing them with flavours from other cuisines such as Spanish and Indian. On a night out, try the restaurant’s exciting crab papaya cucumber timbale with grapefruit scotch bonnet vinaigrette.