The St. Peter Greathouse has always been a top tourist attraction on St. Thomas: the restored 18th-century plantation house, botanical gardens and aviary offer history, beauty and spectacular views rolled into one.

And now there's even more reason to go: the excellent new restaurant Blue Orchid recently opened at the site, literally right inside the house itself.

The dining room at Blue Orchid — Photo courtesy of Karen ElowittThe menu is a classic "surf and turf" combination with creative appetizers, fresh salads, and hearty steak and seafood concoctions.

Those who don't want a full entree can choose from the "starters and small plates" menu, which includes items like lobster pizza, chickpea croquettes, and crab and avocado cakes, the latter of which has been a big hit with guests. There is also an array of salads, the most delectable being the signature Blue Orchid salad, featuring duck confit, candied walnuts, sauteed mushrooms, red onions, dried cherries and baby greens with raspberry viniagrette.

Avocado and crab cakes at Blue Orchid — Photo courtesy of Karen ElowittEntrees include bacon-wrapped filet mignon, tortilla-crusted yellowtail snapper, mango-glazed jerk chicken breast, creamy duck confit papardelle, and lobster basil pesto fettucine. The wine list is superb too, as are the desserts, which vary nightly. One of the regularly-featured desserts, the bread pudding with chocolate chunks, is to die for.

The restaurant takes advantage of its excellent location high up on St. Peter mountain by offering guests the option to have their pre-dinner cocktails served on the upstairs observation deck, which boasts excellent views toward the British Virgin Islands. To take advantage of the view, book an early dinner and arrive an hour or so before your reservation, so you can catch the view before the sun goes down.

Reservations are recommended at Blue Orchid, as it is very popular and fills up fast. The bar opens at 4pm, and dining starts at 5pm. The restaurant is open every day but Sunday.