TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Good Dining Spots for Groups

Appreciate any suggestions on either side of island for breakfast, lunch, dinner where groups (about 12) of people come away satisfied and happy with food, atmosphere and time spent. Expensive and inexpensive suggestions welcome.

Palapa Grill! They do a fantastic job!! Dinner

Green House & Pineapple Pete’s.

El Zafaro is a nice setting great food and plenty of parking.

Don't expect the greatest of service with a group of 12 no matter where you go.

Sale and Pepe ! Water side dining , great food and service. Italian by Owner and Chef Davide, personal friend way back at Maho when he was the personal Chef for Mr.Saro Spadoro , Owner of Maho.

If you haven't done groups on island before, it can be challenging. One of the secrets is to make sure you make reservations AT LEAST a day or two in advance and make sure that you consult early and often with staff at the restaurant. And do try to keep your expectations low, as it can be very difficult for most restaurants to serve that large a party well. In the past, we have had really good experiences with Pineapple Pete and the Greenhouse and Skipjacks, but of course Skipjacks is a whole new restaurant now. Best wishes. Large groups are fun, but a big challenge for the restaurant.

Thanks all. We might Disguise as two groups and split into two tables to alleviate the overwhelmed server.

We had at least 50 at Palapa Grill. They were fantastic. And they thought our group was just coming for drinks and apps. How they pulled it off I will never know. But they did!!! JD pretty sure you were with us as well! Great night we got dragged to but it was very enjoyable!!!! 😂😂

Thanks all, anymore suggestions?

Pelican--If you can split into two groups of six, I think you will find that you will received exponentially better treatment, all the way around. Large groups are really difficult for any restaurant to do well.

I'm not sure if this is still the rule on the French side, but in December they were limited, by Covid restrictions, to either four or six people at one table; I can't remember which it was.

We were also at the party at Palapa Grill and they did an awesome job. Great food and atmosphere plus very good service. it’s probably already your plan to do so but if not, I would strongly recommend if you’re going anywhere as a group of that size or close to it, you make advance reservations so they can be somewhat prepared for you.

Pat--yes, reservations with that size party are a MUST. We used to go with groups of 12 or so, many times during Heineken Regatta, and always had reservations. For that sized group, it is just common sense..

The op most likely was already planning on making reservations but we have, on a few different occasions, watched groups of that size or close to it arrive and be disappointed that the restaurant couldn’t accommodate them. Sometimes it becomes a matter of everyone thinking someone else made them and in the end, nobody does and they end up being disappointed. I threw it out there as a jic…….😊😊

We have had large groups at Mark's Place. They are used to fast meal prep. Reservations of course.

Oh, for sure, Mark's Place is quite experienced with large groups, as we have often seen large groups there.

Vesna's Taverna in Simpson Bay accommodated a larger group for me a couple of years ago...12-16 guests.

The suggestion of calling ahead is one to take!!! We are sometimes a party of 10-12 and we've had problems in the past. My number one vote for breakfast is the Yacht club!! Again word of good advise, stop by the day before or call. IMHO, Stopping by makes the difference. Splitting up in two groups, not a good idea. You are still 12 people all at once. As Carol said, it can over whelm the staff. And of course the best Bloody Mary on the island! Get the shrimp!!

David--splitting into two groups of six can help, because at least that way, they do not even have to attempt to bring all the drinks at the same time, and all the meals at the same time. And it can take a LONG time for the server to take orders from 12 people at the same time. People are more often interested in talking or whatever, and by the time the server gets to the next person, they have forgotten what they wanted to order. Been there..

I know from all the TTOL parties Louise and I hosted, it was much better to give the management a head count way in advance!!! Even now, when our BSVN group goes out for dinner together we're 10-12!! Last minute we went to Renaissance one night and they had to move us in the walk way tunnel!! It rained so hard that night! LOL!!!

David--what/where is Renaissance??

I'll bet he meant Rendezvous ??

Rendezvous, sorry!! Cupecoy Marina.

Arrrh Pirate.

I think you have received some very good suggestions. Personally, I have had very good outcomes with large parties, 8 - 15 people, at Pineapple Petes. Two caveats,,,,,I always reserve 2 or 3 days in advance with Pierre, and I always make sure that Pierre is going to be there the night we come. He is almost always there, so the second caveat might not be that important, but the one and only bad experience I had there, Pierre was on an infrequent night off.

Well, these places handled the group well.

Reaervations:
Marks Place:wide ranging menu, great food good prices good service
Bistrot Caraibes: what we always expect done well for the whole group $$$
No Reservations:
Karakter: great service, great food, great atmosphere + entertainment
— far and above anytime we had been there in the past
SM Yacht club - what we always expect done for the group
Rancho Del Sol - great view/breeze/food/drinks
Pineapple Petes: everyone happy
Cappucino Bar - everyone happy
Marys Boon Lunch - everyone happy
Yellow Sub lunch great, breakfast food qty ok
Good Morning Cafe - as expected enjoyed by group
Little Jerusalem - Everybody happy with “special”

Not so hot
Zee Best - no pastries, skimpy food on some plates for price, no credit cards
Marys Boon Breakfast - taste not so hot , much better value for $ elsewhere
Talk of the town Lunch - very busy - lots of flies - food not as good as past

Thanks for the update. Sounds pretty successful overall.

Most of the places that you mentioned doing well is what I would expect, at least from the one's I am familiar with. Mark's Place and Pineapple Pete have always seemed to do well with groups.

I have never been impressed with any of the lolo's, at least not for the last 20 years. Way too many flies and microwaves to warm the food.

I think and hope Zee Best got rid of the pastry basket as a side effect of Covid. I went there ONCE. never again once I saw the "recycling" or the pastry basket.

Never ever used their baskets , but like his place .