Bettino's al Mare Italian Restaurant in Jamaica

Bettino’s al Mare Jamaica: Our Honest Review of This Seaside Restaurant Near Ocho Rios

As great as the food is at Mais Oui Villa, we always want to be sure that we are providing our guests with dining options.

We decided to check out the restaurant Bettino’s al Mare — Bettino’s for short — in Drax Hall, St. Ann.

Photo area at Bettino’s restaurant near Ocho Rios in Jamaica

It took us about 35 to 40 minutes from the Villa to get there.

The reviews on Google and Facebook as of April 2025 are mixed, with opinions at both ends of the spectrum. It does appear that the reviews have improved since they moved to the new location.

Here is our experience at Bettino’s al Mare in April 2025.

Dining terrace at Bettino’s al Mare restaurant in Jamaica near Ocho Rios

First Impressions of Bettino’s al Mare

The structure of the restaurant was impressive. It’s a beautifully designed, open, white building with large, dramatic windows framed in black. It definitely has a high-end look and feel.

Online reviews mention that there is no air-conditioning inside the building. We sat on the outdoor patio, so that wasn’t relevant to us.

From our table, we could hear the sea, but it was dark, so we weren’t able to see it. I can only imagine how beautiful it must be during the daytime — perhaps perfect for a leisurely lunch.

The tables were adorned with white tablecloths, and most featured a small orchid, adding to the elegant atmosphere.

QR code to scan the menu at Bettino’s Italian restaurant in Drax Hall Jamaica

Dining at Bettino’s Restaurant near Discovery Bay Jamaica: Menu and Service

The menu was available at our table via a QR code that we scanned.

Service was very prompt and efficient.

Bettino’s is definitely not your traditional Italian restaurant. The website describes the food as “Jam-Italian.” I’m not quite sure what that really means, but the menu had a mix of Jamaican and Italian dishes. It didn’t feel like fusion cuisine, and it’s definitely not strictly authentic Italian.

(See the menu for Bettino’s here.)

Calamari appetizer at Bettino’s restaurant between Ocho Rios and Discovery Bay

Our Meal at Bettino’s Restaurant

For our appetizer, we had the fried calamari with a sweet and sour sauce. It was perhaps the most delicious calamari we’ve had in a very long time. You could actually taste the calamari, as opposed to it being hidden under a heavy batter.

Darrian thought the sweet-and-sour sauce was a little too sweet, but Darrell and I loved it. (In general, Darrian isn’t a big fan of sauces, so others might not agree with his take.) The presentation was also very nice.

For the main course:

Darrell had the Chicken Alfredo.
Darrian had the Filetto di Salmon — a fillet of salmon pan-seared with mixed vegetables and a champagne sauce.
I had the Escoveitch Lobster.

Service continued to be very prompt. We were seated quickly, our orders were taken shortly thereafter, and the food arrived at the right temperature and without much wait. They even chilled our glasses for our sparkling cider — a very nice touch.

lobster for birthday dinner at Bettino’s Al Mare restaurant near Discovery Bay Jamaica

What We Thought About Bettino’s al Mare Restaurant

Our verdict:

Darrell: Enjoyable. High marks.
Darrian: Excellent.
Me: Excellent. I had never had lobster prepared escoveitch-style before, and it was quite delightful. The lobster was tender and not overdone, which was a welcome treat. It was authentic Jamaican spiny lobster, served with mashed potatoes and sautéed seasonal vegetables to round out the dish.

For the quality of the food served, the price was quite reasonable.

The lobster was surprisingly inexpensive at US $36. (Just the night before, we had tried the restaurant at Falmouth Mystic—a much more casual establishment—and the lobster there was US $50.)

A sweet touch: The server overheard me telling Darrell to order whatever he wanted because his birthday was coming up, and he surprised him with a slice of cake.

Birthday cake at Bettino’s Italian restaurant in Jamaica

Good to Know Before You Visit Bettino’s Restaurant

Bettino’s opens at noon every day except Mondays. They are closed on Mondays.
There is plenty of parking.
The restaurant is quite spacious. In addition to indoor seating, there is a covered terrace as well as outdoor seating areas.
It is located right near the sea. Although we couldn’t see it well because it was dark, we could definitely hear it, which was lovely.
Casual attire is fine, but flip-flops are not allowed.
Reservations are not required but are accepted and recommended, especially during the peak tourist season and holidays.
With Jamaica’s beautiful weather, the only reason we’d consider eating indoors would be if it were raining. If you’re reserving around sunset, request a table on the terrace for a beautiful ocean view.
Surprisingly, there was very little noise for a Jamaican restaurant. The loudest sound was the sea! (Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration—they did play “Happy Birthday” once — but overall, the music was soft and peaceful. Conversation was easy.)