TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Les Oliviers (Grand Case)

We returned from SXM on Wednesday and the two meals we had at Les Oliviers in Grand Case were a highlight of the visit this time. The restaurant is where Il Patio used to be and has recently opened. Food (described as Provençal cuisine), service and ambience were all very enjoyable, amazingly so for a new business. The couple running the place have an interesting tale to tell and are very hospitable.
Interested to hear other diners experiences.
Les Oliviers
Dave.

PS the airport is still truly third world on the departures side (no a/c, no ventilation even, water fountain delivering hot water - really!) although it was great to see all the empty, unmanned EHAS booths gathering dust in arrivals.

Don't have any input on that restaurant, but surprised about the airport STILL not having a/c. No one else has mentioned that. I wonder if it was a one day thing?

I guess you didn’t travel through after Irma. It was a shed!! It is under construction and each phase causes something else to go down. There was air and water in September. Curious about the restaurant. Is there where Piazza Pascal was? Never visited the Patio but I heard a new fantastic restaurant opened where Piazza Pascal was?

I mentioned it. It was miserable in the luggage area. Had to wait half an hour for luggage to start coming out in a room with neither seating nor A/C. Not a fun way to start one's trip.

Yes, it's the new fantastic restaurant you heard about in Piazza Pascal where Il Patio was.
We have travelled through PJIA more than once since Irma and the lack of progress in rebuilding is disappointing. I appreciate it is a large project and COVID can probably legitimately be blamed for some delay but hot water from the water fountain and no a/c or ventilation in the departure gate area seem like problems that could have been addressed over the last five years. I guess it was just a couple of hours at the end of an otherwise great trip though.
Dave.

We agree about both Les Oliviers and the airport. The food was delicious and the hosts very hospitable and gracious. We will definitely return!
The airport was very hot, but then discovered too late that there is a bar area near departure gate 2 that is very nice AND air-conditioned.

Linda--sorry, are you talking about arrival? I think the original poster is talking about departure.

pony--yes, the bar area has been comfortable when we were there.

Maybe PJIA figures you're acclimated to heat after being on island for awhile and don't need AC. 😁