TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Mary's Boon

I have had the best meal and the worst meal on the Island at Mary's Boon; we will be arriving in three weeks and traditionally had dinner there the first night. Any scouting reports of recent dinners there?

We would walk to Karakter instead if you didnt drive. Zero complaints from 11 people making varied selections over multiple dinners.

I would think Mark Cleveland would want to hear of your complaints.

Not recent, but last November we had a horrible meal there with horrible service. We won't go back.

Spent the day there last month and it was fantastic - beaching and eating.. Enjoyed it much better that Karakters. Crazy how things can fluctuate day by day.

Overall the food is very good but I think it just depends on what you are looking for. If its expensive high end Five Star experience then maybe no.....but we find it to be very good for our needs and taste and at good prices. The dining room is a amazing setting and is right on the water, Like about every restaurant, they have a few chefs depending if its breakfast , lunch or dinner and the day of the week. Can not image bad service, we have always had very friendly staff however depending on what you order it can be at typical island time since I doubt anything is pre made. We too don't care for Karaketers. Its under a tent basically , the kitchen doesn't seem to be a proper one, food so so, the music can be very loud not our type and the crowd at times a bit dicey. I would never give a biz one and done. Everyone can have a off day. I think Marys Boon has been there 50 years and always busy when you go so that tells a lot for us. But lots of options too in the area. We like the Palm, Toppers can be fun, Palapa Grill is nice even that Pollo Brothers chicken place in the area is good.

The day we went, we had eight people. We were all very friendly and polite, and none of us expect, or even want, to eat and run. Our server was downright surly, and no amount of smiling and friendly comments would change that. We certainly weren't expecting a gourmet meal, but the food was terrible. It looks like things may have improved, since Kim had a good experience recently. Still too many places on the island that appreciate our business to go back there. And this was not a one and done; have had the same experience more than once.

I think you made your point over and over. Seems odd. Certainly not the norm from what I have ever seen or heard. Is there a place you'd like to promote or like? Did you say anything to the management? I know most of that staff has worked there for decades and proud of their job. I can understand the food not being consistent sometimes but no excuse for rudeness. Who was the surly person? Man ,woman local person foreigner? I’ll be back on the island in November , i sure the manager would love to know and fire that person If they’re not already gone. Yes lots of great places including Marys Boon and the others I have said.

forever--OK, people like different things. For example, we went to Palapa Grill this past visit, and, while the steak was good, there were way too many issues with the place for me and we won't be back..

Too bad, Carol and we are among the many who have thoroughly enjoyed Palapa Grill each time we've been there.

But for the record, and in response to other posts on Marys Boon, we had always loved the restaurantthere right up to a horrible experience a couple of years back that somewhat echoed GaKaye's but without any rudeness. In fact, our waiter that night was about the only good thing about the evening. We swore we wouldn't go back but relented and it was once again the place we remembered it to be. And likewise, we had a similar experience with Marios having dined at each of his locations over the years and always enjoyed our meals in each location. I won't say our last visit was terrible - we were with great friends and their company made all else fall by the wayside - but it just wasn't up to our expectations.

It can and does happen.

Sounds like the server that used to be at La Vista. Maybe really related. Lol

I'm sorry; I didn't mean to belabor my point; just wanted to point out that we didn't have unreasonable expectations as you had suggested. The server was a female, and no, we didn't mention anything to management. Frankly, we were happy just to leave.

We far as places we recommend, The Palms is our favorite restaurant on the island. Greg and Jo run a top-notch restaurant, with delicious food and incredibly friendly service. Can't wait to visit them again next month.

GaKaye and Pat, I am just posting here to certify both of your post, like that means diddly but I thought it was funny.

The experience at Marys Boon was so below par, and they were not busy but there was not one good thing about that experience other than being with friends and the view. What upset me more than anything is we had good friends from Washington State there for a short stay with us that don't get that many trips to island and we ended up wasting a meal slot. The previous visit was so so, just doesn't make you want to go back. Although I have for cocktails at the beach bar.

As for Mario's, I would do it again with that group in a NY Second, and while it was in my very humble opinion not up to what I would normally expect from Mario it was not bad, just not inspiring like I have had before. Was just honored to be there with the celebs.

28 days until we contribute to the economic recovery of the island, tough work but it is needed and we are just the ones to do it!

Whooooop Whooooooop!

Ditto........terrible experience last January. Plenty of other places to spend my $$$$

So many restaurants on SXM. It’s a tough business I’m sure and Many come and go fast. We love get Palm too I will say to me Mary’s Boon mushroom chicken is about as good as the Palms. I think one of the issues as i remember Marys Boon until recently had leased out there restaurant to a third-party operator. So many restaurants we visit are inconsistent and things change for better and worse often. I’d be more concerned with recent visits rather in a year or two ago. I try not to get in the habit saying anything too good or bad unless it was recently because things change and last year is not really relevant anymore I remember 20 years ago Mary’s Boon used to be so popular you had to book your reservations weeks in advance to get in. Obviously competition and times to changed. Maybe it’s the evening meal more of the past problem also because they’re morning and beach lunch and bar business has always been very busy. How many times have I read you couldn’t find a place to park. I like the tuna tartare or the tuna steak. The shrimp tempura and their hamburgers are pretty good. I didn’t like the The pasta and lobster. I think sometimes some places try to be too gourmet when they should just stick to basic good. Not really a foodie , atmosphere is just as important. I can get Amazing food within two blocks of my house. Unfortunately I can’t sit and watch the ocean and have that year round climate or island feel at home.

Well Folks I have been in the Restaurant business and Car Rental for over thirty years , hence know where to go to eat and enjoy with various prices and budget at the same time. Lol.

Mary's Boon has a brand new chef about 2 months ago. Everything we have tried was delicious. IMHO far and above El Zaf or Karakter

Good to hear Elaine

Thank you for the info!

Not odd at all. My husband and I ate there and had the same experience. Food was ok--service not so much. it will be awhile before we eat there again. There are many places to eat on the island that always deliver. I understand a bad day, as well. The views there and the ambiance are hard to beat, but having said that, I expect a server to do their job. You response to GaKaye was not very nice.