Ocean View Club, Harbour Island- Warm and Cool

In February, we spent 5 days on Eleuthera before heading over to my Happy Place, Harbour Island.  Yes, I am a creature of habit, and the trip was mostly things we'd done before, but if you are lucky enough to be doing what you want, why change?  After the boat ride from North Eleuthera, we dropped off our stuff at Runaway Hill, went for lunch at Queen Conch, and then off to Rock House so Fluffy the bartender could make me a slammin' Goombay Smash, (my first of many over the next 5 days). We watched the sunset, then strolled back to Runaway along the pink sand beach.  If that doesn't seem like something you would want to do more than once, I don't think we can be friends.  That being said, there was one place on Briland that I had somehow never been to, and wanted to add to my routine- the Ocean View Club.

Ocean View Club

I've walked past it for years, as it's situated on the lane between Sip Sip and the back entrance to Runaway.  I'd heard it was a place the fashion industry favoured, which I found intimidating.  Almost every year, you'd see a photo shoot on the beach in front of OVC, and it's where the models bunked.  I imagined a sign on the door like "No Body Fat Allowed", an updated version of "No Irish Need Apply" from a hundred years ago.  I figured, I'm on vacation, I don't need to seek out a place where emaciated women are going to make me feel bad about my thighs. But, since I felt quite thin this year, I actually had the nerve to barge in and see what all the fuss was about.  I was met by a super nice guy who told us we could come for dinner the next night, but after that, some VIPs were coming and taking over the whole place "They want privacy, so we won't have a dinner service," he said, apologetically.  No problem, I was flexible.

We had been on vacation for more than a week before heading to OVC.  The night of our reservation, I shimmied into a strapless dress that looked better before I had spent 8 days pigging out on fish tacos and drinking copious amounts of beer, but I sucked in my stomach, and we made the 60 second walk from Runaway to OVC.

The covered terrace.

I needn't have worried.  Charlie greeted us at the door and really could not have been nicer.  Here's an article from Conde Nast Traveler that tells you more.  She was as friendly and welcoming as an old friend.  We chilled in the bar area and I had a fantastic mojito.  The interior is eclectic but still warm and cosy.  As I sipped my drink, I perused some old island cookbooks they had on a shelf, then we took a look at the menu.

I could have eaten one of everything!

I ordered the Eleutheran corn salad, and the strawberry grouper.  Both were just wonderful, especially my entrée.  The broth was rich and intensely flavoured, the grouper light and flaky. I was in heaven, yet also feeling virtuous for skipping the fried chicken. With a nice bottle of red rounding out the meal and topping up my natural buzz with some alcoholic enhancement, the night just got better.  As I said, I am a creature of habit, and since I have had so many great meals on Briland, I was a little worried about skipping dinner at an old favourite to try a new place, but I'm really glad we did.  This ended up being my favourite meal on the trip, and the bar was high, let me tell you.

Poached grouper.  So good.

For dessert, we split a warm lemon tart.  "You're going to need another one," the guy at the next table said. On Briland, you tend to start conversations with strangers, especially when there aren't all that many people around, as was the case on this night. Somehow we resisted getting the second tart, but it took all my willpower, as it was so delicious.

We lingered for a while, chatted with people, and finished our wine.  On the way out, Charlie and Ben (who is also the chef) were having their own dinner at one of the tables, but they sprung up to say goodbye. I really did feel like I was visiting friends, and I can't wait to go back.  The moral of the story is, even if you have a routine you like, it never hurts to tweak it a bit.  And don't let a fear of models keep you from having fun!