TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Mario’s Bistro

Decided to give it a try yesterday. We have been there last time probably 5 years ago, when they still were in Porto Cupecoy Marina. We did like it back then.
This time our experience was very different. The waiter was pretty ignorant bugger, especially after we didn’t order water or bottle of wine(there were 4 of us and we didn’t feel like drinking that night). I ordered a glass and wife did the same. Than The specials of the evening… There was a confusion between what the waiter told us and what his helper/waitress told us… one of them didn’t know exactly what it was…
Those were minor things…
The food…. Greatly over rated! Onion soup was just warm, with some clumps in it that were cold to the tongue… It felt like it was reheated in a microwave…
The daily special tuna with cheese …. Meh, tuna itself was good but the combination didn’t impress me… not my cup of tea.
Wife’s soup was good. Her main coarse was pretty bad. The Shepard pie was very bland, no salt or any spice at all. The rest of the meat was just ok, didn’t really wowed her like we expected. The other couple had a very similar experience with their food. We were very disappointed. Place is highly over rated.

Funny thing. I can’t quite say our last experience equaled your but I can say it was not up to our expectations based on previous dinners there. I will say our setting and view were lovely and the service was good but the food just wasn’t up to our previous experiences. I also felt it was somewhat over priced but not beyond the realm of expectations. I do agree that anyone can have a bad night and it was ironic that we thoroughly enjoyed the company and I would probably give it another try and hope for a better experience. 🙂🙂

Sorry, but our experiences there and the experience of thousands of others is the complete opposite of your report. As a travel writer working for major global travel organizations for a number of years, I can tell you Mario's is one of the finest restaurants I've ever had the pleasure of dining at. Its service, food quality, originality, and creativity are phenomenal. We go there several times during each visit to SXM and for us and many, many others, it is a very special place.

We also have enjoyed Marios in the past. Anyone can have an off night but your experience seems you hit the trifecta , poor service, not so great food, and expensive. Did you voice your concerns to Mario? Or was he not present? He would have greatly appreciated the criticism and would have rectified it on the spot.

Next visit we may replace Mario with a trip to Le Cigale after reading a great review here. Share the wealth.

Jeff--everyone is entitled to their opinion. Yours is no more valid than any other person. And I think there are an awful LOT of people who have an opposite opinion to yours. A pretty common complaint since he has gone to The Cliff is that the prices are too high. That restaurant is physically smaller than his previous restaurants, which to me explains why his prices are high.

We have know Mario way when he was in Sandy Ground firstly , top of the line with his Duck etc but when he went Porto Cupecoy the prices went up and the food okay but never went to his place at The Cliff and won't .

I share the OP's opinion. Food was mediocre at best and did not warrant the high prices being charged. There were two of us who ordered different entrees, and both had the same opinion. It will be awhile, if ever, before I go back.

I always respect someone's opinion and I have read enough food critics to be able to judge if maybe the persons reviews are warranted.

We have followed Mario since Sandy Ground where we only didn't like the area.
His two main servers have been with him for decades and have always provided us with first class service.
His food has always been imaginative incorporating more than just the standard main dish but a nice combination.
We love to try his dishes where you get to get to taste more than just one main thing
I would agree his pricing is on the high side but I have always enjoy quality ingredients, properly cooked food and portions on the larger side.

I doubt with the respect I have for Mario that he would ever microwave an onion soup.

I think when guests see high prices they are expecting more than received.
I know I am more critical of when prices are high and in the case of Mario's, I believe he delivers

Unfortunately most unhappy guests seem to voice their dislikes to others and not try to justify the problem when there
If I recall the gratuity may not be added so that is one way and pretty sure Mario is either in the kitchen or most likely at the bar

Jeff,
I don’t write for anyone but myself and I surely don’t get paid in any manner to do so.
Our first trips to Mario’s were at the Sandy Ground location and were excellent, all. We took friends to his Puerto Cupecoy place and it was good. Not great but still very good.
Our only experience at the current location was not good at all. Not bad mind you, but certainly not the high end dining op we were anticipating. There were seven of us and it just wasn’t what we expected.
I’m not a foodie by any means but all of us left disappointed with the experience.Like I said, I don’t get paid for my opinions and based upon this it’s probably a good thing. To each his own…….and sincerely hoping, should we choose to return, Mario’s will be as we remembered from our earliest experiences..

I wish I would have gone to Mario's when in Sandy Ground, but we did go to the location in Cupecoy and enjoyed it. I was invited to dine with the Queen and some island celebrities at The Cliff and it was a bit uninspired, not bad, just not great. We have since gone back at the request of an some island royalty, a princess no doubt, and it was much better. Both times it was more the people I was with that were important, being a peasant and all. It is always great to dine with royalty and celebrities, I feel very fortunate.

Probably one of the reasons the place does not draw me back is because it is a bit of a sterile environment, not warm Caribbean and to closely quote from a real TTOL Gem "I can eat in nice restaurants at home, but I can't go to beach bars". I think that all the time when on island, probably the reason we don't go to Jax as well.

Since we are dishing resumes, I am not a complete foodie like some of the people I know are but also I do know my way around the restaurant (and bar! ) scene. Just a common man that does not get paid to endorse places, a guy that obviously doesn't miss too many meals and loves to laugh with his friends. Long live the Queen, and the Princess and the Princess's Princess, and my celebrity friends.

"Oh what a lucky man I am" ELP

Nicely stated, Todd. I think I know that TTOL GEM 😊

I was actually waiting for you to shine in pal. Your paid advertising is where you are making money and it has nothing to do with the real world of people who are expressing their opinion and sharing their experiences. You didn’t even bother posting my experience on your Facebook page, all you do is pumping up your paid advertisers and don’t allow any negative comments. It’s your business and you can do whatever you want, I don’t really care.
Your constant pumping of Le Sucriea ( pardon the spelling) is ridiculous. We went there 3 times this past 10 days. The girls behind the counter are anything but friendly. Wife even asked them today if something happened and why are they so sad and didn’t even say hi to the customers… Anyway, whatever buddy.
Sorry for the rant.

I just noticed the b’day cake, Elizabeth. Sending you good wishes and hoping you had a very happy birthday celebrating the day in whatever manner you so chose.
🍷🎂🍷

Jeez, I quote you and didn't notice either! Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

We have been coming to the island since 2004 and also dined at his old location by the bridge and then at Porto Cupecoy. So it’s not our first rodeo also. His food was very good before and his service was great. That was our past experience. We didn’t worry about his prices back then. What was good deserves the credit. But we had a different experience now. When wife complained to the girl about her food, she said she will let the chief know. Nobody came to our table from the kitchen or even the tall bald guy who was there forever to talk to us and find out what was the problem. We asked the girl when she was coming by if chief said anything and she just shrugged her shoulders..
And yes, we did expect high standards from the place like this. That is why we went there.

And mind you Mario is one of our personal friends , but sa la vie .

Perhaps, as friends, you could mention to him what people are reporting about food/service.

When I do see him again.

KGB--I will agree that the gals from Le Suciere are often 'terse', but I do love their pastries. I don't go there for conversation.

Todd thanks for the good laugh. I miss seeing the Queen. She was a regular when there were ttol get together. As for the Princess,we spent some real quality time in November and hopefully will get back together next month. Love the royalty of St Maarten!

Thank you, Pat.

Thank you, Pat.

Thank you, Todd.