Carnival in Trinidad usually means cold hotdogs or greasy burgers from street vendors, their rusty metal food carts wedged in among the mayhem of Port of Spain…  Or, KFC.  Lucky for you, we came up with Plan C.

Grab a date and head for Prime Restaurant, Trinidad’s premier steakhouse pleasantly situated on the ground floor of the BHP Billiton building, by Invaders Bay.  Headed by Chef Andre Rocke (Trinidad’s answer to Robert Irvine), Prime is a steak lover’s mecca.  As you enter, you’ll notice the modern design:  plush dining booths enclosed by walls too elegant to be white, and imbued with a gold motif.  Reserve a booth to the back if you’re feeling fresh; or, instead, grab some buddies and book The Cellar – Prime’s private dining room.  Perfect for planning your next mob hit (or if you just want lofty conversation), The Cellar offers an intimate space for you, yourconsigliere and 19 of your closest anti-vegetarians to enjoy fine brandies and cigars.  Now get to work on that menu.

With over 200 wines, and the requisite cocktails, Prime might just turn into your new tipple master.  But, and this may be the first time we’re saying this, try to focus on the food.  We’re thinking the ‘Kobe’ Carpaccio for starters, followed by the Prime Wedge Salad.  And while Prime does serve other meats, we won’t waste your time:  we know you’ve been lusting after that beef.  Get the 22 ounce Porterhouse, or the Ribeye, or the New York Strip – they’re all cooked in up to 1800 degrees of juice-preserving, searing broiler madness.  Then get another one.  Prime also has five different specialty steaks if you were thinking about trying something new.

We know, we know… you’re old school.

Prime Restaurant | Ground floor, BHP Billiton Building, Invaders Bay, Port of Spain | 868-624-6328 | E-mail:  prime@trentrestaurants.com