TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin TRIP REPORT, Nov. 14-Dec. 4, 2024 - Part 3

This is the third of five parts for the period November 14 – December 4.

FOOD, continued

Vesna
For a couple of weeks, the duck at Vesna was the best of the trip until I experienced an even better version elsewhere. So tender, so tasty. The vegetables are really good as well. They are very accommodating with my Keto requests. For dessert, they gave me a chunk of blue cheese that was to die for.



On another visit, I had the lobster with veggies. Excellent!


Le Moulin Fou
Had a lovely dinner with friends. Food was quite good, but the company was even better. Had their goat cheese salad, which I just love, along with a very good shrimp and scallop entrée. Their presentations are a work of art.



Sale & Pepe
Went with some friends who frequent this place and are well known to the owner, who personally took our orders. Food was very good, but I thought service was a little lax. I had Italian sausage with vegetables that was tasty.



Oasis at Maho
Apparently I didn’t get any pictures but went to Oasis, the bar between Roma and Mr. Chow, for appetizers. It was pretty crowded (didn’t have a reservation) but finally got seats at the bar. When sitting at the bar or hightops, you are able to order from either Mr. Chow’s or Roma’s menus. There is also an Oasis happy hour menu, which is what I ordered from. I ordered the highly recommended Korean BBQ ribs, a chicken satay with peanut sauce, and a third item I don’t recall. The ribs were fantastic, and the chicken was my third favorite. Wish I could recall the other item but can’t, probably prawns of some sort. I fully intended to return here but ran out of time.

Jax
When I was here last year, I remember thinking the service was almost over-attentive. Not this time! They were participating in the Flavors of Sint Maarten program, which I selected. The coconut shrimp were very good, as was the surf and turf. In lieu of a sugary dessert, I asked if I could have coffee; no problem. I had two cups, and they charged me for the second one (a routine occurrence on SXM, I learned). I would have thought two cups of coffee would be the equivalent of a sugary dessert, but apparently not. The server asked if he could check with a superior on the charge for the second cup, but I told him to forget it. Not their best customer service moment.


Joa
Met friends for lunch at Joa, a newer beach bar between Aloha and Orange Fever recommended by my island foodie friend. Definitely NOT disappointed! I had specials of crusted shrimp with almonds and grouper filet; both were outstanding. The owner and personnel were friendly and accommodating. I fell in love with this place.



Dasha
The former Sublime in Maho is no more and that space is now La Folie, which bills itself as “a vibrant, immersive dining experience where madness meets creativity . . . live entertainment ranging from magicians to flash mobs.” I walked by (it was dead) but did not go in. I have read good reviews about the food on FB, however.

The former chef/owner from Sublime, Surendra Lal Das, is now at Dasha located in the Starz casino next to Thai Savanh. (I am not clear on ownership vs. chef.) I ordered an app of prawns and a white-fish entrée, which came with two sides; I chose brussels sprouts and spinach. The day I went to Dasha I had had lunch at Joa and was blown away there so perhaps Dasha suffered in comparison. While the food was good, I think I was expecting more based on online comments. I wanted to go back to give it another try but ran out of time.


Seafood Vibes
This is a relatively new place in the “strip” above the former Cheri’s, next to LaRosa. The atmosphere is . . . nonexistent, but the food is quite good. I had perhaps the best Caesar salad of my trip here, and a quite tasty fish fillet with veggies and more salad; it was more than I could eat. I had wanted lobster but they were out.


Le Bistro Nu
This is a hidden gem. I was there once a few years ago and understand there is now new ownership/management (not sure which). It’s down an alley across from the stadium in Marigot, and I met friends for lunch. I had a very good Caesar salad and . . . the best duck of the trip. Apparently I didn’t take a picture of the duck, but it was crispy, which gave it a bit of an edge over Vesna’s duck, which was also very good. Not tough and cooked to perfection. I would go back in a heartbeat just for the duck.


Bar Code
Usually I go here a lot but made it only once this trip. Based on Leagle49’s recommendation in this forum, I finally had the brie fritters. What took me so long? They are wonderful! I also had the tuna tartare special, which was very good. My experience here has been that the specials are usually the best choices. Service was pretty slow; only one person, and she was also doing bar duty; language barrier was also an issue. I understand the owner has opened a pizza place in Jordan Village, and I think he’s spending a good bit of time there. Neglected to get any pictures.

Balls and Wine
Friends and I went for their opening night in their new location, which is the former Mailbox space. Mailbox is now next door at the end of the building. There are about eight tables inside and they had one large table outside under an umbrella. I had the churrasco tataki and baked avocado, which was excellent. The menu is pretty much the same as it was at their prior location. As the tables started filling up, it became VERY noisy, which put a damper on the evening. I read a day or two later that they had installed decorative wall acoustic panels, which were very much needed and, I hope, effective.



This is the third of five parts for the period November 14 – December 4.

I am so enjoying your reports, Linda!

Vesna's duck does look good. Was it a special or on regular menu?

Special, but I'm told if you call ahead a day or two, they can make it available.

Thanks. Will do that.