St.Maarten/St.Martin Restaurants

Web-surfers' Favorites

• Great Places To Eat On St. Martin by Raymond Mattes [December 29, 1998]
  "My wife and I visited here in June of l998. We especially liked the breath-taking view and buffet at Capt. Oliver's. The ambience is quite unique. We have seen nothing else like it! Of course, the food was great and bountiful! For a real feel of island life, try Konga's (Konga Cafe.) I can highly recommend the peanut soup! The Papagayo Restaurant at Beach Orient had very good food and I can't wait to go back (Jan&Feb99 Lord willing) and try their pork chops . . . not for the faint hearted. Orient Beach is our very own favorite place. We also plan to return in June 99 to meet with some great friends we me here last June."
• Our Favorites for each time of day by Raymond Mann [December 28, 1998]
  "My wife, two daughters, a friend of theirs and I returned from SXM on 12/13 after spending 16 wonderful (although rainier than usual) days on St. Maarten/St. Martin. This was our third year in a row. Following are our unanimous picks for best place for each time of day:
  Zee Best on Rue de la Liberte in Marigot (near the Marina) for breakfast. Opens every morning at 7 a.m. If you love croissants, then this is the place for you. The chocolate filled croissants are out of this world and cost only US-$1.00 or 5.00 FF each. Get there early because they go fast. Danny, the owner, who is originally from Canada makes them himself. He gets up at an ungodly 3 a.m. to start baking. Croissants w/o any filling are only $0.75 or 4.00 FF. Try one of the omelets if you are really hungry. The ham & cheese or mushroom omelet is just $4.00 or 22.00 FF. I personally liked the "loaded" St. Martin for $4.50 or 25.00 FF. A cappuccino will set you back $2.50 or 13.00 FF. A special treat is the freshly squeezed OJ. We made it to Zee Best 5 times for breakfast. It's a tie for lunch.
  Everyt'ing Cool on Frontstreet in Philipsburg for a lunch-break. If you want to cool off from all that shopping on Front Street, then this is still the place for you. Here you can always get an ice cold can of beer for a buck. EC faces the beach. Look at any cruise ships in port (take some pictures) while you sip on your suds and wait for your burger or whatever. Great pork sandwiches and ribs.
  Pedro's at Orient Beach/Baie Orientale just before the nudist section of the beach. They have the best ribs on the island. We had them for lunch 8 times during our 16 days on SXM. Skip the fries and you'll get more ribs. An order for $8.00 will feed two. One day we got 23 ribs. Burgers are just $3.00 and cheeseburgers a buck more. Please don't stare at any of the topless women or let the occasional nudist spoil your lunch. Don't order any ribs after 2 p.m. because you may wind up with some warmed up, leftover ribs. Most days there is live musical entertainment from noon to about 4 p.m.
  Boulangerie Parisienne across from the post office in Marigot. Great cafe to watch people and write some postcards in the afternoon while sitting outside with a cappuccino and a croissant. Pick up a fresh baguette to go.
  La Petite Auberge Des Isles at Marina Port La Royale in Marigot (tel: 87 56 31) This is still our favorite dinner restaurant on the island. Great French and Creole cooking. My wife and I enjoyed two romantic and delicious 3-course dinners there. Each time for $47.00 with drinks and tip included. Our two daughters and their friend joined us for a third one. Fixed menu 3-course meals are available nightly for just $19.00 or 106.00 FF. Here is what I got for my money one night: a cup of pistachios, a bottle of chilled water (flat or with gas), a basket of baguette slices (refilled as often as necessary), a bowl of hot and delicious French onion soup as the appetizer, medallion of pork (filet mignon de porc) with pineapple slices and vegetables, and to top it all off..a pastry with ice cream for dessert. Of course, I shared the pistachios, water and bread with my wife. My 25 CL Heineken bottle was only $2.00. The French couple who owns La Petite Auberge provides great, friendly service. Although this petite restaurant is right on the marina it is a bit away from the hustle and bustle of the marina's head."
• Restaurants by Betty and Steve S [December 27, 1998]
  "We were in St. Martin Dec. 2 thru 16. This time, which was probably our 20th visit, we ate at Le Piccolo cafe we which rated as best over all. The prices are reasonable the food interesting and flavorful. The service charming and attentive. The dining area is a porch and if the weather and mosquitoes cooperate it is most charming. We ate there twice and enjoyed the experience.
  Yvette's is always a great place for an inexpensive island style meal.
  Bistro Nu was wonderful as always. We were a party of 21. The place seats 30!
  The food at Tou bagaille was as nice as the view. The dining room is a deck over looking the sea in Grand Case.
  Bistro Caribes was enjoyable as ever, to bad it is on the wrong side of the road.
  The only disappointment was L' Aurberge Gourmand, The service was excellent the food was less than expected.
  But the most fun is eating a plate of ribs and drinking a beer in the buff at Pedro's."
• A La Cabane Bambou, Grand Case recommended by Cathy and Steve from Jersey City [December 20, 1998]
  "We just returned from St. Martin and enthusiastically endorse A La Cabane Bambou in Grand Case (like everyone else who has visited). Gilles and Valerie were warm and entertaining. The food is good, quite reasonable ($60 for two), and beautifully presented. They gave us free shots of "mystery rum" at the end, it was easily the most fun and economical restaurant of the trip. We would have returned if we had another spare evening on the French side. Gilles had unadvertised Cohiba Robustos for $10 at the bar ($14 in Phillipsburg). The lobster special on Wednesday nights at Turtle Pier (by the Dutch airport) is also a bargain.
  We got a flat tire at night without a lug wrench in the rental car. Fortunately the police were right behind us and procured a wrench. It seems like a safe island."
• Favorites by Jim & Maria DeSantis [December 4, 1998]
  "Our sixth family{of 7} vacation to the island was in August. Our current favorite restaurants are: Chesterfield's at Bobby's Marina; Turtle Pier near the Airport and our current all-time favorite, which we discovered at this website, A La Cabane Bambou."
• St.Maarten Food Reviews by Joyce Vorbach [November 17, 1998]
  "Here's a sampling of recent food experiences sampled during the week of November 7:
  Bikini Beach at Orient Beach - My husband and I had a great lunch here. The Caesar salad with fresh plantains was great. His ceviche was the best he's ever had.
  La Cabane Bamboo - Very fun restaurant. It's helpful to know some French, because Valerie the waitress does not speak English well. But as Gilles the chef explained she's certainly prettier than him and he would like her to practice her English. Gilles was quite charming and took the time to explain the entire menu. The plate of three fishes looked and tasted wonderful. Ditto for the calamari steak. For dessert I had a sublime coconut cake with was encrusted with a thin layer of semisweet chocolate and served with whipped cream. My husband raved about his citron meringue. Altogether less expensive than the other Grand Case restaurants since it's located a little away from the main restaurant row.
  Le Chanteclair - Wonderful restaurant located on Port Royale Marina in Marigot. The service was excellent. The Thai mahi mahi was served on a bed of slivered scallions in a slightly spicy cream sauce and served with coconut rice. The dessert special here is called "The Unnameable Dessert". For true chocolate lovers it consists of deep fried pastry filled with semi sweet chocolate served on top of vanilla ice cream in a pastry shell resting on vanilla sauce. You are instructed to take a spoonful of all the ingredients at the same time.
  Mario's Bistro: Wonderful ambience, location, service and food. Very popular restaurant so it's necessary to have a reservation. We were seated at a table next to the canal. Since the restaurant has a spotlight on the water, it was like watching a living aquarium as we were eating dinner. My salad with goat cheese croutons was excellent. My husband and I both had the mahi mahi which was served in a sundried tomato sauce on a shrimp boullabaisse with oven roasted potatoes. For dessert I had strawberries gratinee over chocolate which was served with a side of strawberry sorbet. Excellent meal.
  Two things worth noting.
  It's easy to order some excellent inexpensive French wines at most restaurants on the island. I wish this were the case at home. The French love children. We were travelling with friends who brought their six month old baby girl. Everywhere we went for dinner we were enthusiastically welcomed by the restaurant servers and other French vacationers. It was a welcome difference from the cold reception you usually get in American restaurants. Bon appetit!"
• Unknown bar/restaraunt recommended by Pnklr@aol.com [November 29, 1998]
  "I was recently in St. Martin, and wandering around one night my companion and I found, to our surprise, a "country and western bar"! I do not know the name, but it is located on the French side of the island. A set of steer horns marks the entrance, and the night we were there, a live band was playing country music. Although we did not eat, the atmosphere was great- upbeat and a bit loud sometimes with the band calling for audience participation. The bartender was very friendly and bought us several drinks. All in all, it was my favorite experience in St. Martin, and I was just wondering if anybody knows the name of the place and if anyone possibly likes it as much as we did. This is very special to me, for not only did I have a wonderful time there, when my boyfriend gave me a rose at the bar, I also realized I was in love. If anybody knows this place, please let me know. Thank-you."
  I think it's Portofino in Grand Case, but am not sure... Anyone else? -AJ
• Restaurant Reviews by OC Jones & MR Trovato [November 25, 1998]
  "For the second year in a row we used your restaurant guide and the ratings. These are very helpful. Wish other places would do the same. Here's our take after two weeks on the island at the end of October this year.
  Ren and Stimpy's. Looked for them but were informed they were out of business. Too bad.
  **** Don Camillo, Marina Port la Royal in Marigot. Our favorite of the trip, even better than last years experience. Fancesca welcomed us as if we were long lost relatives. When asked, they embraced the opportunity to make an antipasto for the table (Mary, son Doug and his wife Pearl and the two kids Ryan and Erika). Out came a fiesta of tastes, smells and colors with stuffed red bell peppers, stuffed mussles, marinated fresh swordfish and pulpo, mortadella, procuito and mellon, eggplant parmesana, mozzarella and tomatos, provolone. Magnifico! The Rollatini a la Bob, veal stuffed with mozarella and prosuito, was superb, the best veal dish I have ever had. The rigatoni scaliano (eggplant) was excellent but salty. The linguini with shrimp and spinach and asparagus in lite tomato sauce was both light and flavorful. I was ecstatic over my rissoto ala pesche. The tartufo was good, the affogato alla vaniglia o ciocolate was heavenly, chocolate on frangelica with a dash of whipped cream, the most creamy chocolate desert I have ever had. And to top it all off, they served complimentary sambuca all around (except the kids). $250 for four + two kids.
  *** Cloud 10, Simpson Bay, on a side-street next to Lynette's just east of the airport. Out first meal on the island this year. Basically just a bar with a few tables. The garlic bread was lightly spiced garlic baguette slices done to perfection. The Fr. onion soup was 6/10 and the Caesar salad 5/10. But OH DEM RIBS! They have unlimited jerk baby back ribs for $12.95. Oh My God. Doug and I ate 7 racks between us which seemed to get progressively dryer but still tasty at the end. The drinks were honest too and they squeezed the limes into the Cuba Libras rather than just droping them in. Rice wqas bland and mediocre and the chicken BBQ a 3 out of 10. On the other hand, the snapper was very good and the other chicken tender and moist but lacking in pizaz. Corn on the cob was terrible. They topped it off with complimentary banana rum all around. Cost for six about $125 included a bunch of drinks, mostly for Doug and me who had not seen each other for quite some time.
  *** La Belle Epoque, Marina Port la Royal in Marigot. Friendly but veeerrry slow. Lunch took from 1:10 to 3:25. Great pina Colada, wonderful salad with heart of palm, avacado, ersatz crab, pineapple (alas canned not fresh, or so it seemed), great salmon tartar, delightfully light and exquisitely-thin-crusted pizza. Creme broule good too and banana rum to end it all. $53 for two.
  *** Vince's Konga Cafe, Fr. Cul du Sac. Island cuisene with complimentary cocktails of your choice for starters. The Crab, avacado & tomato salad was tasty with a basil dressing. Seared tuna with capers, herbs, lemon 7 olive oil was wonderful but was cooked through rather than tataki-style as advertised. Mary's curry spinach with diced chiken in a cream sause was done to taste, hot or mild, served with a thin, crusty bread covered with a seasoned oil which was excellent...sort of like a big, wrinkled potato chip. Also served with banana fritter which was out of this world. The saffron rice was a little on the underdone side but tasty. Meal for two with three drinks was $39. Went back with our kids and grandkids and did it all over again. Everything was enjoyable!
  *** Da Livio, 159 Front St., Phillipsburg. Sat at a nice table immediately overlooking the beach and bay. The Pasta Faziole was tasty but not outstanding. Mary felt the flavor was slightly off and she should know! Definitely not standard. The manicotti was nicely done but sauce was a slightly creamed and light in flavor, smooth marinara sauce rather than the pork-based special tomato sauce which is my favorite. (Of course, nobody makes sauce like Mary.) Nevertheless, it was wonderful. The tartufo was traditional, the cappucino had milk and cream mixed for a richer and slightly sweet taste. Perfect with Sambuca added. About $70 for two for a light dinner meal w/o drinks.
  *** Indiana Jones Cafe, at the Atrium in Simpson Bay. Now for you guys who hate what the food police have done to the hamburger, you can still get a good one here. They are a great respite from the low fat, well done, sawdust-like, zero-taste things they call hamburgers in the good ole U S of A. Big, fat, juicy and sublimely tasty hamburgers make the taste buds sing like an hamburger should, served with nice ripe tomato, onions and lettus with freshly-fried French fries good enough to make Ronald cry. Other excellent fare tried included a steak done to perfection but with mediocre veggies and potatoes. Had a great avacado, plantain, tomato, cucumber and small lettus leaf salad with a super-tasting creamy dressing. The bartender did not know how to make a classic Marqurita standing up with salt. Price for two for dinner about $75 with drinks. Price for lunch for two, about $20.
  ** The Merengue, Simpson Bay diagonally across from the Lightening Casino. This is a local pub plus dancing. BBQ ribs okay. Special whole snapper Cajun style was great...fresh that day. Get price before ordering, however. Our unitemized bill was $50 for five beers (mine), the $4.95 rib appetizer and the fish in this place where the entre prices were typically $8-15. I think they thought I would not notice after all the beer.
  ** Le Croissanterie, Marina Port la Royal in Marigot. Zee Best was closed for renovation while we were there so we could not try them out. However, the plain croissants here were cooked in their kitchen and stupendous - four star! We keept going back and back for lunch or brunch on successive days. (Interesting that the chocolate croissants were mushy, doughy and lacking in flavor with little chocolate inside.) Their crepe dishes were also very good but the "traditional" American breakfast left something to be desired and their decaf coffee is very black and bitter.
  ** Le Grand Case open air market. Add an extra star just for the food. For a different experience, shop and pick different dishes from the several open-air vendors. Variations include black fried rice, fried flyihng fish which were excellent and reminiscant of some of the wonderful fish we have had in Japan. Wonderful spicy conch stew, ribs done to perfection, grilled, spiced chicken, red snapper filet grilled firm with red sauce, very spicy conch-stuffed crab and many others we didn't try. $46 bought us dinner for six...could be a great finger-food experience and departure from the restaurant circuit. Watch out for the traffic returning to Marigot near 5:00 P.M. Did it last year too and enjoyed it just as much.
  *1/2 Le Chanteclair, Marina Port la Royal in Marigot. We went there expecting the best dinner of our trip based on the reviews we read and were vastly disappointed. Pleasant wait staff but very uncomfortable chairs. We sat in the north corner by the dock and the walkway and everything seemed to slope downward. I felt as thought I was constantly going down hill. The French onion soup was very good as were the mushrooms stuffed with snails and roquefort cheese sause but that is where things stopped. My $38 bouillebaisse had exactly one small shrimp, one small tough piece of "lobster" (probably langousta), one sea scollop, two small pieces of fish, and 38 pieces of potato! The gravy was only fair. Mary's filet mignon was very tender and done to perfection and tender as it could be with some brie on top. However, a big spoonfull of mashed potatoes were simply slopped/plopped down half on and half off the filet and were, well, just mashed potatoes. We were so disappointed in the meal we did not even try the unmentionable desert! We did enjoy the fashion show on the dock nearby (Thursday night) but the music was dum-de-de-dum, dum-de-de-dum, over and over done by one guy with electronic sound system. We were not happy campers at this place. Definitely NOT a repeat.
  * The Boathouse in Simpson Bay. Service terrible! Peel-n-eat shrimp freezer burned and mushy. Fish & chips passable but seafood sampler poor (blah, little variety with shrimp, calamari and fish only). Drinks watered (even the gingerale! Scampi okay but VERRRY over priced. Conch soup good."
• Le Taitu, Cul de Sac, recommended by Vlad and Marie K. [November 23, 1998]
  "In the last several years of vacationing on this nice island we have been dining in a great number of the island's restaurants. In our visits we never forget to have a dinner in our favorite place, LE TAITU, in Cul De Sac, in the area of Mont Vernon - close to the Orient beach. During our visits to this restaurant we were always pleased. Le Taitu is a real French - Creole restaurant. The place itself is simple, but interesting in design. The service is excellent, friendly and prompt. The food is very good and prices are very reasonable. We were always pleased with nice salads, excellent seafood, very tasty chicken and a selection of tasty and sometimes ( if you want ) spicy sauces. They have a good selection of French wines, but even the house wine is good. For the food, service and price this is one of the best deals on the island."
• Favorite Drinks by Sabine Mauclère & Sandra Kojic (sabine@rafaelhotels.mc) [November 12, 1998]
  "A la Cabane Bambou, Grand Case. Addition to comments of Sabine Mauclère & Sandra Kojic.
  Stay October 11-25, 1998.
  After talking about dining, let's talk about drinking....
  With all descriptions made before on the restaurant, the excellent food, and the charm of the Chef Gilles, we would like now to talk about the fabulous Rhum prepared each day differently, that you will never forget...
  You have a large choice depending on your tastes, Rhum Banana, Rhum Vanilla, or Coco, or even Ginger etc. Our favourite was the Coco !!!! and Ginger!!!
  Take it on the Bar before your dinner, you will appreciate the ambience there, the music, and the nice smile of Valérie who works there and helps Gilles in the restaurant since April 98.
  After your dinner, you will have the right to taste the fabulous and magical drink prepared by Gilles. After drinking it you will never be the same again!!!! That what Gilles says you with a natural charm, looking at you with such a nice blue eyes !!! This magic drink will bring you in a mood where the music and dance brings your senses to the top!!!
  Also, we tried the Tatoo restaurant opposite Le Flamboyant Resort, a Baie Nettle, here the cocktails are also fabulous!!!! Ask the super sexy "Jimmy" and he will make you taste all the Rhums homely made, with natural fruits in it such as strawberies, Coco, and also Cacao-Banana....
  Also, for the St. Tropez lovers, we tried Cocktails in the afternoon at The Bikini, situated on the beach "Oriental Bay". Here you can have a wonderful lunch with grilled chicken, or a Lobster Salad, then relax just in front of the restaurant on the blue long-chairs (free after a lunch there), do Jetski at the Bikini watersports (try it, it is great fun, and experience new sensations....) and fater all that wonderful afternoon try the Planteur, local drink, which makes your senses crazy!!!

  A la Cabane Bambou, Grand Case: Supplément aux recommendations de Sabine Mauclère & Sandra Kojic.
  Séjour du 11 au 25 octobre 98.
  Après avoir parlé des endroits où diner, parlons des Boissons... Avec toutes les descriptions faites auparavant sur le restaurant, la nourriture excellente, et le charme du chef Gilles, nous aimerions parler maintenant du fabuleux Rhum préparé chaque jour différemment, et que vous n'oublierez jamais...
  Un large choix de saveurs différentes selon vos goûts; Rhum banane, Rhum vanille ou même coco et gingembre!!!
  Savourez le au Bar, juste avant votre dnner, où vous apprécierez la musique, l'ambience, sans manquer le joli sourire de Valérie, qui travaille au restaurant et aide Gilles depuis Avril 98.
  Après votre diner, vous avez le droit d'essayer le cocktail magique préparé directement par Gilles. Comme il le dit avec son charme naturel, et son profond regard bleu: "Vous ne serez jamais plus les même après celà..."
  Celà vous transportera dans une humeur où la musique et la danse transporteront tous vos sens...Effet garanti!!!
  Nous avons également essayé le restaurant "Tatoo", situé près du Flamboyant Resort à Baie Nettlé. Là les cocktails sont aussi fabuleux!!! Demandez le super sexy "Jimmy" et il vous fera goûter tous les Rhum préparés maison avec des fruits frais, aux saveurs de Fraises, Coco, mais aussi Cacao-Banane...
  Aussi, pour les amoureux de St. Tropez, nous recommandons les cocktails l'aprés-midi au Bikini, que nous avons essayé, et qui est situé sur la plage de Baie Orientale.
  Ici, vous pouvez avoir un superbe déjeuner avec du poulet grillé par exemple, ou la fabuleuse salade de langouste, ensuite allez vous relaxer sur les matelas bleus en face du restaurant (gratuit si vous déjeunez sur place), et, pour les amateurs de sensations fortes, faites du Jetski au centre de Sports du Bikini situé sur la plage (essayez, vous ne le regretterez pas, et expérimentez des sensations nouvelles...). Après cet aprés-midi merveilleux savourez un "Planteur", Cocktail local, qui endiablera vos Sens !!!!"

• La Cabane Bambou, Grand Case recommended by Sabine Mauclère & Sandra Kojic (sabine@rafaelhotels.mc) [November 12, 1998]
  ""La Cabane Bambou", Bd grand Case, Grand Case.Tel: 0590 87 94 57. Recommended by Sabine Mauclère & Sandra Kojic. (October 11-25, 1998)
  This is such a nice place to go...First the restaurant looks really exotic, with birds everywhere, local music (for the lovers of Gloria Estefan that is the best place to hear her songs) and fabulous location in Grand Case (on the main boulevard just between The Pavillon Beach hotel & the Sebastiano). After meeting Gilles the Chef, you will never forget this experience!!! really friendly, and a very good nice cook (try his fish salads, or scampis salads; then you can have a delicious "duo de poissons" which is diffrents sorts of fishes marinated and cooked in spicy & mild sauces; and keep the best for the end a chocolate & coconut cake with plenty of cream...)
  This is the best place I have experienced during my trip for the food, the hot atmosphere, the price, and THE PEOPLE there...
  You have to go, DO NOT LEAVE GRAND CASE OR THE ISLAND BEFORE SEEING GILLES...he will also give you plenty of idea to make your trip better....

  Recommandation de Sabine Mauclère & Sandra Kojic (Séjour du 11 au 25 octobre 98):Tel: 0590.87 94 57.
  C'est un endroit fabuleux où aller....Premièrement, le décor du restaurant est très exotique, avec des oiseaux (perroquets) partout, une musique locale incroyable (les fans de Gloria Estefan vont adorer), et une situation exceptionnelle à Grand Case sur le boulevard principal entre le Pavillon Beach Hotel et le Sebastiano.
  Après avoir rencontré Gilles, le Chef, vous n'oublierez jamais cette expérience...très sympa et un merveilleux cuisinier (essayez sa salade de poissons ou scampis, avec ensuite un "duo de poissons": assortiment de poissons marinés à des sauces épicées ou plus douces, et, le meilleur pour la fin, le gâteau au chocolat et coco avec plein de chantilly...) C'est le meilleur endroit que j'ai connu pendant mon séjour, autant pour la nourriture, que la chaude ambiance, les prix et bien sûr LES GENS LA BAS!!!
  Vous devez y aller, NE QUITTEZ PAS GRAND CASE OU L'ILE SANS AVOIR VU GILLES...il vous donnera aussi pleins de tuyaux pour faire que votre séjour soit inoubliable!!!!"

• Restaurant Review by Mitze Allen [November 11, 1998]
  "I enjoyed reading your reviews as I was planning my trip to St. Martin. I took several of the suggestions and 'ventured out on my own some too'. We were there from Oct. 30-Nov. 6. Our favorite place for breakfast, lunch, and dessert was Boulangerie Parisienne, a little patisserie, sandwich shop in Marigot. They had the best ham and cheese croissants, the best pizza and quiche we had on the island, and a sinful chocolate layered dessert. For dinner, our favorite was Don Carlos, at Simpson Bay. The nachos were the best I've had anywhere. Their homemade salsa is wonderful. My husband's steak was also delicious. The service was excellent as well. We also enjoyed La Main a' la Pate, Marina Port La Royale, Marigot. It sits right on the water along with several other restaurants. We ate at two of them, but had excellent service and food here. The calzone and pizza were very good. The host is quite a lively French character and keeps you entertained. They bring you after dinner shots. When we didn't finish ours, he asked us if there was something wrong with them. We told him we didn't care for it, so he drank the rest of our drinks himself!
  Because of all the great reviews, we went to Don Camillo's. I had the raviolli stuffed with ricotta, in cream sauce. It was wonderful, but I received 6 small raviolli. My husbands pasta dish was also a very small portion, but was very bland. Each dish was $21.00. The Tirra Misu was excellent, but the coffee was terrible, and everything was over-priced. It was the worst service we had on the island. When we left, we went to a grocery store and got something else to eat!
  Thanks for the suggestions. We loved the island, and will definately be back!"
• Favorite places to go by Michèle & Olivier Bouche [November 4, 1998]
  "Trip: October 14 - November 2, 1998
  - Sunset Beach Bar (Maho Beach) : for late after-beach apéro, very good atmosphere
  - Leyla's (Baie Nettle) : excellent beach bar with very good quality food & kind service
  - Portofino (Grand Case) : good italian restorante (delicious pizza's and pasta)
  - Le Cottage (Grand Case) : fine french gastronomic restaurant. Owned by 2 frenchies (one from brittania, the other one from Burgundy !). Excellent wines (good choice, fair prices. Possibility to buy different wine at the glass !)
  - Green Cay (Orient Bay) : Beach Bar with good pizzas
  - Peanuts (Orient Beach) : excellent french-fries and special belgian beers
  - Bikini & Kontiki (Orient Beach) : 2 other excellent lunch spots on Orient Beach
  - Bar Rock Café le Cristal (Grand Case) : open-air grill (formidable schrimps), and nice pizza's. Very fair prices. Later in the night, good music and a lot of "ambiance".
  - Boo Boo Jam (Orient Bay) : the best grilled langouste I ever ate in St Martin !
  - Oliver's Tavern (Oyster Pond) : average food, but very nice sightseeing on the Marina. Interesting site for kids (special swimming pool & exotic animals : sharks, parrots, monkeys ...)
  - la Samanna (Terres Basses) : pricy, but excellent service & meals. Wonderful view ( Unforgetable sunset !)"
• CLOUD 10 Restaurant recommended by Marlou and Paul Vizee [October 27, 1998]
  "My wife and I have visited St. Maarten twice a year for about eight years. We are in love with the island because of it's natural beauty and friendly people. Especially the food is great. Last summer we visited Cloud 10 Restaurant which is located behind the airport (next to Lynette's Restaurant). It's a very cosy and romantic restaurant with a devine cuisine. They serve a wide variety of meals. For instance, they have local food as well as a mexican dish and of course the catch of the day (fish). The price of an average meal is very reasonable. What makes this restaurant stand out from other restaurants is the fact that it's run by this great couple by the names of Paul and Eveline. They are dutch locals and have been living on the island since their childhood. They can tell you all the great things about the island and they make you feel right at home. I told them that I got to know about Cloud 10 via the Internet and they gave me and my wife complementary rumshots!! We have visited Cloud 10 five times and everytime it was a great night out."
• Le Charolais, Airport Road, Simpson Bay recommended by David Yohay, Age 10 [October 24, 1998]
  "We went to Le Charolais October 19, and 20. We just absolutely loved it. Le Charolais is on Airport Road, Simpson Bay and diagonally across from the Lightning Casino. I started out with a strawberry virgin daiquiri. Then I ordered ribs. My dad ordered roast beef, flank steak for my sister, and salmon for my mom. The first night we went we loved it so much that we postponed going to another restaurant to go back to Le Charolais. This time we went I had the same strawberry virgin daiquiri and ribs, salmon for my mom, my sister changed to having sirloin steak, and this time my dad had flank steak. Le Charolais isn't all that fancy on the exterior but the food inside is spectacular. And there are one waitor and one waitress working there. The first night we went a woman sitting across from us said that the chef at this Le Charolais location was the best French chef on the island. So you shouldn't hesitate to order something new. The service there is pretty quick, so you won't be there waiting very long. When you arrive it is not usually crowded so you'll have no trouble getting in. If I could give it a rating from 1 to 10 I would give it 10 and higher. A+!"
• Michel Royer, Orient Bay recommended by Joe & Susan O'Hara Barack [October 9, 1998]
  "My wife and I have been visiting St. Martin for the past five years, both on and off season. Although I agree with many of the reviews, I'm shocked that no one has mentioned MICHEL ROYER. He is a recognised chef from France with all the medals to prove it. More importantly his restaurant serves the finest food on the Island. He is out of the way in a villa at the Plantations, Parc de la Baie Orientale. DON'T visit St. Martin without dining with Michel. He has been talking about returning to France which would be a great loss the Island. We are returning this December for several weeks and plan to call to make reservations for several evenings."
• L'Auberge Gourmande, Grand Case recommended by Bruce Thompson [September 19, 1998]
  "I had a wonderful dinner at L'Auberge Gourmande in Grand Case on St. Martin.
  As I was there in early September, it was quiet and I was seated immediately. I was immediately offered the complimentary house appetizer cocktail of Champagne with Apricot Liqueur and a maraschino cherry in a classic martini glass...brisk, refreshing and beautiful to look at! I was then served an appetizer of pate chou puffs with cheese, hot from the oven and delicious. I started with a house salad of mixed greens tossed with a subtle vinaigrette, garnished with broccoli flowerettes and thin slices of carrot (both blanched) and diced tomatoes... superb. My entree was a "bon-bon" of phyllo filled with perfectly cooked veal sweetbreads, surrounded by julienne of root vegetables scented with saffron in a delicious brown sauce. With a glass of Beaujolais, butter from France and fresh thin slices of baguette and dinner was done! I followed that delightful dinner with an excellent Creme Brulee and was very pleased my fortune of selecting L'Auberge Gourmande. The Chef is creative and experienced, the service was attentive without being intrusive and the atmosphere was warm and pleasing to the eye."
• Mario's Bistro & Don Camillo's recommended by Timothy Neville [September 8, 1998]
  "Just got back from St. Martin and we loved it. Do not eat in your hotel restaurant went you can go to Mario's Bistro and Don Camillo. At Mario's, I started with the three cheese gnocchi that was sinfully good and then for an entrée I had the grilled tuna steak covered with blue cheese (again sinful). My fiancée started with the Escargot breaded and baked in garlic and herb that was out of this world and finished with a whole sautéed snapper that was incredible. Don Camillo was also great. Both had great service and I more than suggest them to everyone. Michael's Cafe was great for breakfast."
• Ren and Stimpy's, Simpson Bay recommended by J. Tuttle, Shelter Island, NY [September 7, 1998]
  "My favorite St Maarten restaurant is Ren and Stimpy's which is in Simpson Bay area...around the corner from Pizza Hut and the Rib Place. The food is always well prepared..the veal is to die for and the red snapper is wonderful no matter how it is prepared...and even better the price is right. Servings are large...one serving of pasta would easily serve two. The owners are Luka and Addie...he cooks and she serves the tables...a great couple who work very hard to have a first class restaurant. We have traveling to St. Maarten annually since 1969 so have tried all the restaurants!"
• Favorite restaurants of Marie Price [September 2, 1998]
  "Went to Sint Marteen august 22-29 1998, my favorite restaurant was "LA CABANE BAMBOO" what a neat little place in Grand Case, the owner/chef Gilles was the nicest and friendliest of all, will never forget it. His prices are almost half of every one else.
  I also tried the "Turtle Pier" they had a great lobster dinner special on Wednesday Night at a wonderful Price.
  I also ate twice at the "Boathouse" where they have excellent price and great food.
  I stayed at the Flamingo Beach resort, and the little "Pelideli" restaurent have the greatest lunch specials."
• Le Perroquet by MGuiles [August 24, 1998]
  "La Paraquette was truly a disappointment in July. Though the view was still exquisite the owner was not helpful nor congenial during our meal. It seems too much of an effort to ask him a question. What a pity! The cat that meandered around our legs also was a bother. I don't plan on returning."
• Review by Jennifer Redman [August 10, 1998]
  "Just returned (August 7) from St. Martin and a wonderful stay at L'Esplanade Caraibe in Grand Case. Our favorite meal was had at Le Chanteclair on Marina Port la Royale in Marigot. The food was outstanding, especially the shallots & shrimp wrapped in duck breast on a bed of barley & morel risotto. One of the many reasons we returned the very next night was for "the unnameable" dessert, which is a highly original confection created by the chef. Your mouth will thank you. The restaurant is owned by two young women, one of whom is the chef, and the entire staff is female as well. The staff is charming, as is the decor of the restaurant and the setting on the marina.
  As did a couple of other reviewers, we thoroughly enjoyed A la Cabane Bambou in Grand Case. The owner-chef-waiter was as welcoming as promised and the best surprise was that items merely described as "cod", "scampi" and "snapper" on the blackboard menu were absoutely delicious and well presented.
  Il Nettuno had attentive service, a great location on the water in Grand Case and some of the best gnocci this italian girl has ever had.
  As for beach shacks, we loved having many lunches at Chez Raymond on Baie Rouge. At 3:00 daily, the conch shell is blown and a festive happy hour begins. The ribs and grilled mahi mahi were tasty."
• Favorites of Shirley Hagen [August 4, 1998]
  "We have owned a time share at Flamingo since 1993, spend two weeks at a time there and eat out all the time, so we have tried quite a few restaurants. Since we are at Simpson Bay we frquently eat in that area though our two favorite lunch spots are not in the area and are quite different from each other. They are Kontiki at Orient and Ric's Bar and Grill in Phillipsburg. You can't beat the sunrise breakfast at the Boat House or their enormous lobster dinner. We also like the Bavarian for authentic tasting German food although I was disappointed last December when the waitress told me the cook was Haitian. I expected the food was being cooked by some frau from Deutchland. Since we are from California, we get hungry for Mexican food and find Don Carlos to make us feel right at home. Cheri's is a great place for food and fun. I have had much better food on the Island but the fun is hard to beat. There is also a little obscure restaurant called the Hideaway which is above the Pelican Resort. The food has always been good and Dee Dee the waitress has a laugh that makes you know why this is called the Friendly Island."
• St. Martin restaurants by MDoyle1034 [August 3, 1998]
  "The food was excellent. Some of our favorites included:
  1) Mario's Bistro- The duck special with the garlic mashed is unbelievable. Creamed french onion soup was the best. Also, a tuna appetizer with tuna prepared three ways (tartar, sashimi, and sushi) was interesting. Service is superior. Great martine up and a nice wine list.
  2) Tango- a South American steak grill house was very good. Nice atmospehere in the center of town and the T- bone was very good. Attentive and fun service. They made cosmopolitans for us. Also, the sangria was refreshing. This is a fun and realxing place with good food.
  3) Turtle Inn- Good lobster, fresh fish prepared in a simple way. If your party is interested in a simple meal without heavy sauces, and you have lobster lovers in the crowd, this place will work nicely. I would pass on this one the next time though, since there are so many great choices on St. Martin.
  4) Le Bistro Nu- Good food. Our service was very slow, but I think that we caught it at the wrong time. There are very interesting, and not often eaten dishes on the menu. This is not the place for the person looking for food that is popular. I had the wild boar, which was excellent but extremely rich. Four bites into it and I was ready for a nap. Half of our party loved their meal and half did not like it at all. I don't think there is a middle opinion here. It's worth the try though.
  5) Zee Best- Some morning, go into Marigot and have a good eating experience. The fresh squeezed Orange juice is excellent. The omelette was good, and coffee was nice.
  6) I read about the NJ Steakhouse place. We went there and they have a modified menu in which they don't serve steaks in the low season. The menu is not very compelling now, though the bar seemed fun enough.
  7) If I had another week, I would spend a little more time in the restaurants in Grand Case. It seemed like such a nice little town with some excellent restaurants choices."
• Sint Maarten/St. Martin food reviews by Hatcher Graham [August 2, 1998]
  "Visited 25 July to 1 August, 1998; favorites were:
  Turtle Pier: In Simpson Nay area across from the airport. Twice for dinner and once for lunch. All excellent meals. I prefer my lobster steamed. They were not familiar with this but after I explained it was prepared perfectly. Chefs Vital Leeisson and Luis Dros and owner Al Wathey were very friendly and willing to discuss the meals and the preparation. Great atmosphere on the water. Reasonable prices.
  Zee Best: Marigot. Has the best pastries. Owner Danny is very friendly and entertaining. Recommend for breakfast or something light if you are shopping in Marigot.
  Cheri's Cafe: Restaurant and nightclub in MaHo. Food is adequate but the entertainment is great. A lot of fun for a reasonable price.
  Boathouse: Good food, good price. Try to get a table on the water.
  Mario's Bistro: Sandy Ground. Absolutely the best dinner we had on the island. I had the duck and it was probably the best I have ever had. We had a party of four and everyone raved. Also recommend the Spring Rolls. The price was also very good. Dinner with appetizers, two drinks and a bottle of wine for $108.
  Le Peroquet: The biggest disappointment of the trip. The owner/chief was pushy and did not explain the dishes. The service was average and the food was sub-par. I again had the duck and it was probably the worse I have ever had. Very dry and practically inedible. It was also the most expensive meal we had. I DO NOT recommend.
  Not a food review but I do not recommend that anyone take the trouble to bring their golf clubs. The only course is at Mullet Bay which is still closed after the 1995 hurricane. The course is supposed to be "championship" but looks and plays like a cow pasture. They do not keep the course up and still charge $104 for 18 holes."
• New and old critiques from St. Maarten by Ellen Phillips [August 2, 1998]
  "We just returned from a two week vacation and specifically wished to mention four restaurants.
  Le Perroquet has good ambience, good food (although pricey and overrrated) and is close to the airport. However, the chef/owner is rude and argumentative. This restaurant is a "must" IF one's idea of French charm is being abused and paying for it!
  Lee's across from The Royal Palm on Airport Road has the best ribs and potato salad we've ever eaten. The food is inexpensive and overlooks the lagoon and the fishing boats. What a great breeze to dry the sauce from one's fingers!
  The Boathouse, also on Airport Road, is one of the few that opens before 6 P.M. and has a delicious variety of fresh seafood. My favorite was the grilled lobster which is humongous. Some of the nicest servers on the island work here.
  The Fishpot in Grand Case is truly a delight for French food. It overlooks the ocean and, although certainly not cheap, is well worth the money."
• Our picks 10 day trip 7/22/98 by P & S-NYC [August 2, 1998]
  "Just returned from 10 day trip to St Martin, with side trip to St Barths and Anguilla.
  Number 1 pick for dining on SM is as usual La Samanna, excellent food, setting service, pricey but the view for lunch is worth all, as well as for early dinner to see sunset.
  Remaining picks are in Grand Case where we found as usually the best restaurants.
  Our No 2 pick was Fish Pot, excellent service food .....Compared to ny restaurants these 2 are equal to the best here.
  Other restaurants dined at in order of preferance were La Marine, and Rainbow, both in Grand Case
  We had dinner at the Sunset Cafe at Grand Case Beach Club with a wonderful setting and great food (very casual) This was our hotel also and we rate it no one on the island after La Samanne (both different prices). GCBC sits directly on 2 of the most beautiful beaches facing Anguilla and has great sunset views.
  For a nice casual american lunch or breakfast go to Michaels. Michael and his wife originally from Boston are wonderful and the setting is great.
  We would recommend that you stay away from Hotel ALizea Le Mango restaurant not great food."
• A La Cabane Bambou, Grand Case recommended by Sandra Carter [July 19, 1998]
  "After a 10 night stay in Grand Case, St. Martin, We have to agree with G. Lane, A La Cabane Bambou was our absolute favorite restaurant. The fancier, more expensive restaurants, like the Fish Pot, were very nice but lacked the graciousness and abundant charm of chef/owner/bartender/waiter "Gilles" of A La Cabane Bambou. Not only were our dinners sensational, but beautifully presented! They got more beautiful each time we went back (3 times). Maybe the extras were because Gilles knew how impressed we were. The last night we just had to have our picture taken with him. Now that's never even crossed our minds before in any restaurant on any vacation! If you want incredible food served by a very gracious host at less than half the price of the better known restaurants in Grand Case, go to A La Cabane Bambou at 236 Bd. de Grand Case. On our first night there, I rather clumsily broke a wine glass and Gilles acted delighted and insisted that it would bring all of us good luck! Be sure to sample his very own after dinner drink. He calls it Magic and it truly is!"
• Sint Maarten restaurants, 6-27 through 7-12,1998 reviewed by 'Runs with Scissors' [July 19, 1998]
  "Yes, you don't have to spend a fortune on meals. We went to Sambuca twice for Calabrese pizza (why is the pepperoni and sausage down here so good?), to Don Carlos four times for appetizers (taquitos, ribs, taco salads, Mexican pizza) and the size of the portion is enough for an entire meal, Michael's Cafe in Grand Case--he had recently undergone an appendectomy, so they are just serving breakfast, lunch, and happy hour, but intend to start up with dinners again soon. Michael is a wizard with fish and sauteed veggies. Our swordfish en sauce basile and the tuna steak in lemon/caper sauce were excellent. Plus his vegetables (broccoli and sweet red peppers) come with lots of garlic! He's also pretty darned good with home fries. Highly recommended. We went to the Greenhouse twice for escargot, ribs, and surf 'n' turf. I know it sounds like a nightmare-inducing combo, but the food is good and reasonable. Chez Raymond at Baie Rouge is fun and good. Great ribs and conch fritters. We tried out a new place in Royal Village. Gyro Express is a nice place for a light lunch. You can get either fish, steak and cheese, or lamb gyros and their garlic sauce is to die for. Kind of off topic here, but there's also a nice shop in the mall, Margie Magic, which carries a nice of line of clothing, jewelry and accessories for men, women, and kids. Cheri's Cafe continues to please--both times we went! First, the surf 'n' turf and scallops en brochette over Ceasar salad were very satisfying; also the honey Dijon chicken is very good. Turtle Pier has a Wednesday special: for $26, you get a one-pound lobster, your choice of appetizer, dessert, and drink. I can absolutely recommend the beef satay with a honey mustard dipping sauce. The London broil with bearnaise is truly excellent. They marinate the meat for two days in olive oil, garlic, and a vanilla bean. Great flavor. The mango pie is good, and the live music was great. Rancho Argentine has good beef, but we both feel the menu is overpriced and the service is indifferent at best. The Boathouse had good surf 'n' turf and the stuffed crab backs were delicious. We also went to Mr. Busby's. Three times. The mahi-mahi is excellent, and they have that nice live lobster tank where the only question the staff asks is, "How big?" We really enjoyed it. Also went to Pedro's at Orient Beach on Sunday. They have live music and the beach bar/restaurant is a lot of fun. BTW, we stayed at Hotel La Chatelaine for our fourth time. Walton and Maryanne and staff are wonderful. Where else do you find a bottle of French brut in your refrigerator, French cheesecake and a tray of six assorted cheeses? Seeing how it was low season, a lot of places were closed, but we'll definitely be back."
• Restaurants - June 1998 reviewed by Steven & Deborah Ammann [July 17, 1998]
  "Our favorites: for breakfast, definitely the Patisserie, a little bakery next to Portofino in Grand Case - Ham & Cheese croissants and almond croissants were great! Don't miss this "hole in the wall." The buffet at Le Meridien Hotel was good, too, and it was worth going to just to see the hotel. For lunch, the we ate at several of the cafe's along the beach at Orient Bay. Kontiki, Bikini Beach, Pedro's, and Kakao. We tried all these, and all were very good. Our evening dinner experiences were varied. Most of time we ate along "Restaurant Row" in Grand Case. Our best meal was at Le Brazziere De Isles. The shrimp and beef shis kabobs were both fine. And we enjoyed watching them cook over the grill in front of the open air restaurant. Dinner at Rainbow was highlighted by mushy, mushy rice, onion soup with overcooked cheese on top, and service that was so-so. Le California was better, with a great view of the bay. The mussels and calimari there were good. The lobster was not up to the other dishes, though. Portofino had good pizza, and a very enjoyable Country and Western band, although they were not the Country songs that we were used to. We both ate redfish at L'Alabama, and it was excellent. Venturing out of Grand Case, the results were mixed. La Bar De la Mar in Marigot had very slow service, and my fish (a whole red snapper,) was not very good. (Interestingly enough, the waiter when removing our plates asked me what was wrong with the fish. I told him I didn't like it. When he brought the check, he said that he had tasted it, and there was nothing wrong with it!) Yvette's in Orleans was a little cafe that was obviously Yvette's house. We ate Johnny cakes and conch there. We also had very good chicken and barbequed ribs at Rancho's, near the Airport. All in all, the food and the sand made for an excellent vacation!"
• Lynette's and Yvette's recommended by Liz H. aka CARIBBEANGIRL1 [July 15, 1998]
  "Two of my favorite restaurants on St. Martin are Lynnetts near the airport and Yvettes in the Quartier de Orleans. Wonderful food and wonderful people. I love the island of St. Martin and it's people. I would love to live there!
  Make it happen!"
• Favorites of Ron and Jackie Kaminer [July 13, 1998]
  "our favorites are LE CHANTECLAIR BISTRO CARIBE across from the fish pot."
• Papagayo, Club Orient by Donn [July 13, 1998]
  "For many years my wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed eating dinner at Papagayo at Club Orient. The ambiance is like no where else we have ever been. The waiters are very pleasant and the other diners are usually very entertaining. Getting to the main point, we have not had better onion soup anywhere on the island. We also highly recommend the filet mignon with peppercorn sauce and the lamb chops. Prices are maybe a little less than Grand Case. Try it, you may like it."
• A la Cabane Bambou, Grand Case by G. Lane [July 13, 1998]
  "After dining in some of the islands most famous and beautiful places, I want to recommend to everyone my favorite place: A la Cabane Bambou at 236 Blvd. de Grand Case which is the main road from Marigot. It is located right after L'Apostrophe on the left. Look for the Faye Dunaway Mannequin in the hammock.
  Bambou serves a blackboard menu of fresh fish, scampi, a couple of beef dishes, and whatever else the chef finds fresh at the market. It is not fancy, but the place is charming and the food is first class. The Chef/Owner is named Gilles, and if he is not strapped to the stove, he will be a friendly host. You can tell that he knows his stuff; in fact, he's a former QE2 Maitre d.
  Our meal consisted of Accras (salt-cod fritters) with a great "Dog Sauce." Don't worry, the sauce is just a vinaigrette with a strange name. Accras are a local dish, and I tasted none better while I was there. We bypassed other appetizers in favor of a sampling of entrees the chef recommended. Since we were his only table that evening, he chose to spoil us with food. Our entrees consisted of Giant Scampi which were sublime; Fresh Mahi-Mahi with Americane Sauce, and Red Snapper Sautéed with Pernod. Everything we tasted was perfectly prepared and subtly seasoned. I am seldom a fan of Pernod, a French licorice apéritif, but the Snapper dish was perfectly done and enhanced by it. The Mahi was absolutely fresh and its sauce was delicious. Dessert was a Crème Brulée with Banana flavor which was almost enough to bring a grown man to tears.
  The wine list is very reasonable. And the food is first class. We had a bottle of French Muscadet which was wonderful and cheap by island standards. Everything included (except tip), the tab was about $60 which is about half of what we paid elsewhere for a similar meal for two."
• Restaurant Picks by Jerry [July 13, 1998]
  "Here are some of my picks cheap to moderate but good.
  Konga, French cul-de-sac eat right in the living room, local dishes very good
  Mr. Busbee, Oyster Pond beach bar fun place very good
  Portofino, Grand Case some very interesting dishes
  Stop & Shop, across from Julian Airport, dining on the water front terrace homemade specials relax while for flight
  Pedro's at Orient beach famous for ribs
  Mary's Boon great place great sun set check what's cooking
  Rib Co., Front street, Philipsburg"
• Chesterfield's, Philipsburg by Mike Psomos [July 12, 1998]
  "While it may not be my favorite, it is one we frequent at least once a week. Chesterfield's is moderately priced, and the food is good."
• Honeymoon Favorites by Krista Rogari [July 10, 1998]
  "We recently returned from a 7 day trip to Saint Martin and found it to be absolutely perfect, especially the food [except for a few places in which is was just OK]. Following are the restaurants we visited and our comments:
  La Louisiane, Anse Marcel - Was middle of the road and had the absolute worst Pina Coladas I have ever had. My one favorite there was the chocolate mousse.
  La Veranda, Anse Marcel - In a very nice location with great views of the water. The waiters were extremely friendly. They had exceptional filet mignon. They end dinner with complimentary pineapple rum shots which knocked us off of our chairs. We had both lunch and dinner here.
  Le Piccolo, French Cul De Sac - Wonderful service and nestled in a scenic landscape, though not near water. Reservations are a must. The food is superb and the waiters were highly knowledgeable about which wines would best compliment the food. The carrot, tomato, shallot and cream soup was to die for. The seafood was another favorite, scallops and mahi mahi. We ended with some flan that we shared and it was done to perfection. Definitely a thumbs up.
  Boo Boo Jam, On Orient Beach - An OK place for lunch. The wait staff and bartenders are friendly and they had the best french fries we had on the island. Drinks were strong and not expensive. Atmosphere was lacking however, couldn't put my finger exactly on why.
  Kontiki, Orient Beach - This we voted as THE BEST PLACE FOR LUNCH by far. The grilled chicken with mango salsa was incredible. Their potatoes on the side are sensational as are the other sides. The tomato and mozzarella was what we had to start and again was top notch. The ingredients were fresh and it was seasoned perfectly. My husband had the gnocchi with gorgonzola and thought it to be great as well. Incredible Pina Coladas. The only thing wrong was that the service was not all that. I do think our waitress was overworked so this may not be something that is consistently a problem. Highly recommended.
  Rainbow, Grand Case - The escargot was good but I don't see what all the hype is about. Since we live in Philadelphia I have tasted much better. Everything was very oily. Other than that, the owners were very nice and the waitstaff was very friendly.
  La Belle Epoque, Marigot - A great place to people watch with some of the best drinks. We didn't have anything to eat but the atmosphere was well worth the stop. The waitstaff wasn't too friendly but it didn't matter. A good place to take a break from shopping.
  Don Camillo, Marigot - This wins the award for absolute BEST place for dinner. Francesca the owners daughter was so friendly and hospitable as was the maitre'de. I am Italian myself and this was the best Italian food I ever had in my whole life [no joke!]. The restaurant doesn't have the best view but who cares????????? The food was so good, we could have been sitting in a junkyard and we wouldn't have minded. The place was decorated nice and they sell Italian pottery and other items imported directly from Sicily which they use as decoration [you have to ask, most of the items hanging on the wall are for sale]. the linens on the table are from Milan and are so fine I can't believe they use them for tablecloths. Everyone was very pleasant and extremely attentive. The artichoke stuffed with breadcrumbs, cheese and peas was so good, just thinking about it now makes me hungry. The eggplant appetizer was another four star winner. I had spiedini for the main course and my husband had the gnocchi which were so delicate and done so well. I also couldn't resist and had a side of penne w/marinara. I am very particular about pasta sauce and found this to be perfect. Dinner ended with tiramisu and coffee which couldn't have been any better. If you don't try this restaurant you are really missing out. Tell Francesca Krista and Scott said hello!
  Chez Raymond, Baie Rouge - A wonderful place for lunch with great character. The hot dogs are great! The beach is beautiful though the access walkway is very steep. They have happy hour every day at 3:00 where you can get two drinks for the price of one. Everyone is very friendly and makes you feel very welcome. Locals walk around and sell coverups, jewelry, beach bags and you can truly get this stuff for a great price....bargaining is welcome.
  La Privilège Resort and Spa, Anse Marcel - This is where we stayed during the duration of our stay and I would highly recommend it. The staff was extremely attentive and very cordial. The Junior suites are built into a side of the cliff overlooking Anse Marcel and are outfitted beautifully [with fresh flowers, comfortable robes, Hermes soaps, shampoos, etc]. A private pool is shared by a few of the suites and also provides a great scenic view. This is where we had breakfast every morning [it is included with the price of the room]. Sylvi was our attendant and made us anything we wanted for breakfast every morning. Her omelettes are THE best, as are the croissants and bread they serve with everything. The fresh fruit was displayed so uniquely and was the freshest I have ever had..especially the mango. If going back to St. Martin, you should definitely consider this resort. The spa services offered are wonderful. My husband and I both had massages and they were the best we have ever had as well. We have had many in the US at top salons and none compare.
  We checked out La Samanna and it was a little more expensive and the suites were not as big. The ocean was very rough [Long Beach] and there were many rocks in the ocean. The pool and view were not as nice either. We looked at many of the resorts and none compare to La Privilège."
• Our Favorite Restaurants on St. Martin by Jerry Miller [July 2, 1998]
  "On June 24, we returned from a ten day stay on St. Martin. We have visited St. Martin every year since 1991. There are many great restaurants on the Island, and finding a good place to eat is not a difficult task. The last couple of years we made a great attempt to try and dine at restaurants that we have not visited in previous years. Several that we tried we had discovered through the Internet.
  Bistro Nu was a great find. It has excellent French cusine in a very traditional French atmosphere. A bit expensive, but well worth it. Tutta Pasta was another. The food is very good, and although sometimes everything on the menu is not available, they wil come up with a combination of dishes that make you forget what you had ordered in the first place. To tell you the truth, the wait staff are a great deal of fun and very accomodating even for large parties. One other restaurant that was particularly satisfying and fun was the Bye Bar Brazil. The pork loin was wonderful, and the owner-waiter was very charming and made the food ordering very interesting. A great place to have lunch or dinner is at Guana Bay. While it is not the most manicured beach on St. Martin, it is the beach with the best body surfing waves we have found."
• More favorites of Maureen Barber [July 2, 1998]
  "I already submitted the Saratoga and you posted it [January 2, 1998]. I would like to elaborate also on the Rainbow. The atmosphere is perfect. The food and presentation are also great, and Fleur and Dave are always friendly.If you dont mind spending the money it's a must.
  Surf Club South for all around FUN, good service and all american food. I would not leave the island without stopping there. If your not hungry you can sip Pina Coladas at poolside. A nice added attraction."
• St. Martin restaurant reviews by Ron and Carol Bailey [July 2, 1998]
  "Here is a report of some St. Martin restaurants, some old favorites and some new, that we visited in mid June - in no particular order. All are quite reasonable in price.
  Mark's - Bush Road near Philipsburg. Quite a different atmosphere than his old place in Cul de Sac, but the food and prices are just as good. Try the octopus stew and christophine farcie. There is entertainment some nights.
  Tou'Bagaille - a new place on the Marigot side of Grand Case, with a highly varied menu including some Japanese yakitory style dishes that are very good. The miso soup and seaweed salad that come with them are exceptional.
  Arhawak - on the port in Marigot - would have overlooked the harbor if they hadn't filled it in to make room for the T-shirt stands - but a pleasant sidewalk restaurant. The blaff (a special) was outstanding; otherwise food was pretty good but nothing special.
  Portofino - Grand Case. We tried this partly because someone said they have the best pizzas in St. Martin. We can't dispute this, as we haven't had any other pizza in St. Martin. They are thin crust and very good, but not quite the best we've ever had in the Caribbean. There is also entertainment several nights a week. A fun place but loud!
  La Diva - Rue Hollande in Marigot. We liked this Italian place quite a lot years ago, but for one reason or another haven't been there for a while. Food is very good, generous portions, reasonable price. The one drawback was very slow service - not that we felt ignored; just that, though gracious, it took forever!!
  Wajang Doll - Philipsburg. An Indonesian restaurant that we have been going to for years. Continues to be a favorite of ours, with an excellent rijsttafel, and mango or papaya desserts that my wife says are "to die for" (she who almost never eats dessert!).. A little more expensive than the others, but worth it.
  Yvette's - Orleans. St. Martin style Creole - even better than on our last visit a couple of years ago. Excellent salt fish cakes, johnny cakes and stewed conch.
  Shiv Sagar - Philipsburg. A favorite Indian restaurant with a good menu selection. The nan is delectable, the condiments great, and the paneer tikka a favorite.
  Le Bistro Nu - Marigot. Another old favorite that gets better. Many unusual dishes, mostly French/Creole. Small, even off-season it can be busy.
  La Belle Epoque - Marigot marina. Very good onion soup, but we didn't go there for a full meal. Good, friendly service even so. Nice place for a drink or snack, and worth trying for a meal."
• St.Martin Restaurants reviewed by Terry Fleegle [July 1, 1998]
  "Just returned this week (June 29th) from our second visit to wonderful St Martin. Our favorite restaurant on this trip was certainly L'Alabama. Fantastic menu, presentation and staff. Off-season allowed us to get a walk-in, no reservation table at 7:30. Owner Pascal treated us wonderfully and even had a high-chair for our 3 year old daughter, Christina. We will definitely go back. This restaurant is worth every penny, which was only $97US for 3 appetizers, 2 salads, 2 entrees, 2 desserts and a couple glasses of house wine.
  More dissappointing was Le Parraquet. I don't understand the fuss over this restaurant. Average meal, sub-average presentation (for the price, $156US). Not a complete loser, but seeming way over-rated, to me.
  A return trip to Le Bec Fin in Phillipsburg was again a fine meal. Everything is first class about this place and should not be missed. Our four-course meals for two plus an appetizer for our daughter check-out at $162.00US, tip included. It is quite possible to enjoy a fine meal there more cheaply, if you prefer. Currently they were offering $25 and $35 fix-priced selections.
  Le Pressoir, in Grand Case, didn't do it for us. They forgot to bring us an appetizer, the waitress then said she didn't hear us order even though she repeated the item when we ordered. The meal was very nicely presented but no more than average in flavor. Would probably give them a second chance, if it weren't for so many choices on the island. Just over $100.00US, without desserts.
  The Mini-club in Maragot is indeed a good value. At $40.00 per person including tip, you are offered a fine buffet and unlimited French wine. Enjoyed this meal, for a buffet."
• Other reviews:
  • Most recent
  • January 1 - June 30, 1999
  • January 1 - June 30, 1998
  • 1997

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