June 20, 2001 – If certain restaurants are seeing an upsurge in business in the middle of the off-season, it may have to do with the fact that the 2001 Rotary East dine-around coupon books are in distribution.
This year's book offers 27 two-for-one deals at St. Thomas dining establishments and four on St. John.
Priced at $15, the books are all but guaranteed to pay for themselves in two seatings — maybe even one, depending on where you dine and what you and your companion order.
Rotary East produces and markets the coupon books to raise fund for its scholarship program. Each year, the club awards a University of the Virgin Islands full-tuition scholarship to a graduate of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.
It's a win-win-win-win-win situation. Coupon-book buyers get a lot of free food. Participating restaurants get a lot of customers who might not otherwise darken their doors. The Rotary club gets the proceeds for its scholarship fund. Deserving high school students get the means to attend college, which will benefit them as well as the community. And the college payments stay in the local community.
Here's who's offering what, all on the basis of "buy one, get a second one of the same or lesser value free." The deal in each case is for an entree, unless otherwise specified.
St. Thomas:
Frenchtown and West End — Chickie's Place, dinner; Epernay, dinner; The Grill, dinner; Hook, Line and Sinker, lunch; Island Beachcomber Hotel, dinner; The Pointe at Villa Olga, dinner.
In and above town — Marisol, lunch and dinner; Room With a View, late-night sandwich or dessert.
North Side — Tropicalia, dinner.
Mid-island — Bolongo Bay Beach House, dinner; Iggies, lunch; Polli's Mexican Restaurant, dinner; Sandra's Terrace, lunch and dinner; The Toad and Tart, dinner.
East End — Blue Moon Café, lunch; Bonnie's By the Sea, lunch and dinner; Dottie's Front Porch, dinner; East End Café, dinner; Frigate East, dinner; Grateful Deli, sandwich; Latitude 18, dinner; Molly Molones, lunch; Sopchoppy's Pub, dinner; XO, dinner.
St. John:
Cruz Bay– La Tapa, dinner; Mongoose Restaurant, dinner; Stone Terrace, dinner; Woody's Seafood Saloon, lunch.
You can buy as many coupon books as you like. They've available from any Rotary East member and at The Color of Joy in American Yacht Harbor. You also can order them by mail — for $16.50 including handling — by sending a check or money order to Rotary East, 6501 Red Hook Plaza, Ste. 201, STT 00802.
The rules for using the coupons are simple: A restaurant's coupon must be presented when placing an order. Coupons must be used by Dec. 15 and are not valid with any other offer. Courses other than the entree or other designated item are not covered, nor are beverages. And users are asked to tip based on the full menu price.
In addition to their appeal for person use, coupon books are popular for gift giving. They make a nice welcome to island newcomers and are an always-appreciated way of saying thanks for a job well done or congratulations on a special occasion.
