I presume that most all the restaurants on the French side are charging in Euros.

Frankly, we think the food & atmosphere to be better in Grand Case or Marigot- just a personal choice over the last 12 years.

With the dollar tanking its' quite a hit to do anything in Euros or British pounds nowadays.

Are there any establishments giving the tourists a break??

T&D

There are few of them I belive in Grand Case, but for us , living in Dawn Beach/Oyster Pond Area we only and highly recommend TABBA KHADY ... They do 1 euro = $1 and not service charge added to your bill. Plus their prices are REALLY reasonable. Check their website : www.tabba-khady.com . You will enjoy this place.

Nice job Kevin B. @ caribserve.net...I couldn't advertise any better than that if I tried.

California; Great restaurant and 1 for 1 if yhou pay cash

I guess I'm alone in my opinion buy I personally dont believe the restraunts offering even exchange for Euro to dollars in cash haven't inflated the heck out of the menu prices. It just doesn't make sense for them to lose that money without making it up somewhere else. Please tell me how this is done?

I just responded to a question the original poster asked : " Are there any establishments giving the tourists a break?? " ...Any response with a restaurant name will be advertizing then!!!Also, I live in Dawn Beach so I beleive that's normal I am using caribserve, and I know that, this particular restaurant is giving a break to tourists... it is up to you to go or not! trying to bring up a polemic here ???...

They shop for supplies in the dutch side paying their products in US $... That's that simple.

Kevin B.

Not trying to pick a fight here, but I have a question in case you know the answer.

If they buy their supplies on the Dutch side, why are their prices (for the most part) so much higher? I just have never been able to get my mind around this.

Any BTW - we also enjoyed Tabba Khady!!! Excellent recommendation.

Thats a great answer. The French shop on the Dutch side with US dollars so they can afford to offer 1 to 1 for all the us patrons. Okay. I got it now. And I guess that would mean they shop on the French side for the things they charge French customers for in EUs? Yeah. Right. Got it. Thanks.

I guess I'm slow. I still don't get it, though I really have tried. Why wouldn't any business shop for their supplies where they could get them at the lowest price? So what difference does it make where a restaurant shops for its supplies? The profit margin is still there, and whether it is charged in euros or dollars, it is still the same percentage of the total. Are you saying that the restaurant calculates its prices, knowing that the greatest majority of its patrons are Americans? Therefore, counting on $ for Euro, they have an adequate profit to remain in business. However, if their patrons pay with credit cards, in Euros, then their margin in greater. If that is the case, then the price is elevated to compensate for the dollar patrons. So for an American, the price is actually higher in the places that advertise $ for Euro.

When restaurants offer equal dollar-euro, they don't expect to do much euro business. Why would a a tourist from Europe spend more? Anyone familiar with food business will tell you the food costs are not the largest costs in running a restaurant. In some cases they are minimal. Much food is shipped in from Miami so costs are in dollars for a large number of items. There are specialty items that do come from Europe, but since these are often not the main ingredient on a plate, the cost difference is minimal. Go out eat and enjoy. Places are making the profit they expect.

But, where on the thread was it established that Tabba Khady inflated the prices to compensate for the $1=1 Euro pricing?

Until it can be demonstrated that this restaurant has higher prices than similar restaurants without the 1 for 1 feature, it's more logical that Tabba Kahdy offers the 1 for 1 deal to attract customers.

Tabba Khady's not putting a service charge on the bill would tend to reinforce the idea that they're trying to be different in a way that attracts American customers.


The above poster stated that Tabba Kahdy's prices were reasonable. This, he would be sure to know. so, we can assume that any price comparisons with other similar restaurants would be inconclusive at best.

However, the above explanation of buying supplies on the Dutch side in order to afford to offer the 1 for 1 exchange, didn't quite pass the smell test. I suspect that the poster doesn't know the answer but wanted to give an answer, anyway; he just picked the wrong answer.

Ed

If anyone is familiar with Tabba Kahdy's, can you advise whether I should make reservations even before my trip or can I make them a day or 2 in advance while on SXM? Thanks, Rick

Disregarding the restaurant side of the issue, a US patron using a credit card for a Euro purchase will end up paying the exchange difference and maybe a fee to boot. We were glad to pay in US cash at the Sunset Cafe at Grand Case Beach Club to get the 1 for 1 deal they were offering. (Food was as spectacular as the view of Anguilla)

I tried to get this posted several days ago. the important point is that you need to pay cash on the French side. Otherwise figure up to a rough 36-38% charge over cash.So,whereever you eat use cash to avoid exchange rates or credit charge fees.