At the far edge of downtown Frederiksted, at the very end of King Street, lies the Tail End Bar, Restaurant, and Courtyard, where owner Christopher Samuel opened it three years ago in the former Harbor Lights.
In April 2018 he began featuring Crucian style cuisine.
Known as “Naddy” to family and friends, the self-proclaimed “unknown chef of Frederiksted,” prides himself on offering hot, freshly prepared food from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday to Saturday.
A wide variety of local favorites adorn the menu, including barbecue, stewed or curried chicken, baked and stewed turkey, stewed goat and locally caught fish including fried snapper, king and pot fish and more. All meals include mixed vegetables, a choice of white or seasoned rice, and local ground provisions like yam, yucca and tania. Chicken, lentil, and bull foot soups are popular items on the menu, and to wash it all down tamarind, passion fruit, and lemonade drinks are also available.
One regular patron puts it this way:
“I eat here every day, sometimes twice a day. I just love the food, especially the salt fish and dumplings and the bull foot soup, too. This is my second home.”
A native of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Samuel says he first learned to cook under the watchful eye of his mother, Doris Samuel.
“My mom was a great cook and she passed her skills on to me. I take great pride in being a good cook. I prepare a lot of the food on the menu each day and I have trained my staff accordingly.”
Samuel says the busiest times of the week are the after-church crowd on Sunday afternoons and the after-work crowd on karaoke night, which often keeps the bar open way past midnight. Held each Wednesday evening at 7 p.m., this event evolved into the first annual karaoke competition, a virtual playoff season, complete with semi-final and final contests.
The Tail End Bar also hosted a “Sing for Your Life: Fight Against Cancer” karaoke event that was spearheaded by the late Annette O. Kent, former head chef at The Tail End and cancer patient who passed away earlier this month.
Samuel maintains a consistent presence on social media, posting the daily menu on Facebook for the convenience of his regular customers who live and work in the area, as well as news of entertainment and upcoming events.
An experienced entrepreneur, Samuel has owned and operated other successful businesses since emigrating to St. Croix 29 years ago, including a fabric store, grocery/deli business and fast food restaurant. He also continues to work as a licensed contractor.
Last but not least, is The Tail End Courtyard, a garden venue, behind the bar and restaurant. The lush setting seats 150 people and has become a popular venue for private parties, wedding receptions, and corporate events. Catering service is also available.
Plans for The Tail End Bar and Restaurant include additions to the menu – honey coconut broccoli and red pea soup on Saturdays – and the return of live music performances in the Courtyard.
The Tail End Bar, Restaurant and Courtyard is located at No. 3 King Street, directly across the street from Buddhoe Park and Fort Frederik. Information is available by calling 340-277-5086 or 340-643-9281.
