TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Vesna Taverna

Went for dinner there yesterday. What a treat! The food was amazing, all 3 meals that we had were simply amazing! We were stealing food from each other trying to decide who gets better meal, lol!
Service was fast, efficient and super friendly. We also noticed that they do not include “service charge” on a bill. Vesna said she refuses to do that and told her wait staff that if they want tip- they have to work for it hard! And they sure did! We left a very nice tip for the team.
Highly recommend this place.

She does a fine job at her restaurant. And that is the way tipping should be.

We have a friend who used to work on the wait staff. She told us Verna keeps the tips that are added to the bill that are paid by credit card and gives the staff what she thinks they deserve at the of the month. Best to give the tip in cash directly to the server.

Been there three times since Jan. everything was great each time, didn't see a place for tip on credit card slip and as usual tipped in cash.

I've never eaten there. What type of cuisine there?

been there several times over the years and always enjoyed the food and service.

Where is Vesna Tavern located?

I would think that would be hard to prove how much would go to wait staff out of what was collected in a months time. Perhaps a disgruntled employees theory?

It's actually Vesna TAVERNA. I corrected the original post. Never eaten there myself.

The food is good as is the service.

Re the tips - I personally resent the addition of the s/c to the bill and would rather personally decide the amount to my waitperson. However, doing it this way is one way to assure that all staff who contribute to the experience - cooks, runners, dishwashers, hostesses, etc. receive something for their efforts.

For those who take exception, feel free to offer a little something extra to the server if merited.

I personally doubt that ‘the house’ keeps the tips as has been suggested all too often by different servers to posters. They’d be hard pressed to keep wait-staff if that was the case. But that’s purely my opinion ……. I think I’d go more with the suggestion of disgruntled staff who don’t want to share!

Hello,
I would take issues about tips with a grain of salt. Many think the tip only goes to the server. But in many places tips are to be shared with bartenders, bussers and the like who make the server look good with a clean table and good drinks. Sometimes an owner/manager has to make sure those distributions happen. Unfortunately, sometimes they don't happen.
Liliana

Vesna Taverna is located on Airport Road in Simpson Bay on the lagoon side between the airport and the draw bridge.

We love Vesna Taverna!!

The owner and staff couldn't be any nicer.

The food is wonderful and Vesna is very helpful with suggestions for both food and drink.

I totally agree! The tip is for the wait and kitchen staff. It usually gets divided among all the team members.
Vesna (the owner )has balls(pardon my French), she runs the tight crew and it is very noticeable. We had a few talks with her during the last few years and got to know her a little bit…

Had dinner there tonight. Very good and it was my first time ever eating there. No SC and tip left in cash.

OK, glad it was good!!

What did you have?

Mahi and my friend had the fish pot, a bottle of wine, 2 desserts and a couple of after dinner shots of rum. Excellent food and service.

I have “heard” that Vesna is trying to quietly sell the restaurant. Any truth to that rumor? .

Who knows??? Pretty much any restaurant on SXM is for sale for the right price. Means nothing.

First I've heard but anything is for sale for the right price.

Vesna Taverna is for sale.


Vesna Taverna - listing

Marks has been for sale for years and no movement. Same with many others for sale.

Wow! That is a surprise!