TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Your favorite restaurants on the French Side

We will be going to SXM in 10 days. It will be our 19th time. We basically eat on the stay and eat on the French side except for our annual trips to Mark's at the roundabout for the great ribs. We also have ventured to OBBR. It appears that there are many some new restaurants on the French side. Would love to hear your opinions of the new ones as well as your recommendations for some of the mainstays. Many thanks. Just trying to branch out from some of our old favorites. I am appreciate your suggestions.

Since we stay on Orient, it is easiest for us just to head into Orient Village for our evening meal. Our favorite is Le Piment. Crystal has made Le Piment into such a great place to visit. The meals her chef prepares are amazing and now that the euro has been reduced to almost the same as the dollar, it is a bit easier on the wallet.

Two must try restaurants in Grand Case are Spiga and Piazza Pascal.

Bistrot Carraibes, L'Auberge Gourmand,Ocean 82, L'Estaminute,Le Taitu, Ti Bouchon, Ti Coin Creole

Le Cottage, PiazzaPascal, L'Ardoise, Ti Bouchon, L'Astrolabe, BZH, Quai Ouest, and Yvette's.

For years our favorites in Grand Case are :
Le cottage
L'Estaminet
Piazza Pascal

In orient Bay :

La Plantation
La Table d'Antoine
La Voile Blanche
Le Piment

L'Auberge Gourmand
Bistrot Carraibes
Ocean 82
L'Estaminute
Le Pressior

Boy, all of our favorites are covered here.
Le Piment,
Le Cottage
Piazza Pascal
Bistro Caribes
Spiga.

Piazza Pascal in Grand Case. Cafe de Paris in Marigot Marina. BZH Creperie and Canoa in Oyster Pond.

LeVilla, Grand Case
Piazza Pascal, Grand Case
and for lunch.....Talk of the Town. Grand Case

Yvette's
It is our destination place after finding it nearly 25 years ago.

In March when we went, it was a real treat to have 3 generations in the room with us, Felix sat with us to chat, his son waited on us and I discovered the other waitress was Felix's granddaughter. Besides the excellent real SXM food at more than reasonable prices, I like seeing where my money goes.
I ran into Felix at the Grande Marche next to Mark's Place on Sunday as I was making my stock up purchases and told him I'd see him on Tuesday. He laughed and said he'd have a nice red snapper for me since that is what I always order.
Not sure how many know this, but Felix was a chef at the old Mullet Bay Resort before the big hurricane leveled it.

I know many on this site like to go to "upscale" places and spend more money and that's fine. To each there own.

Though these are on the Dutch side, I always make at least one visit to Mo's Snack Shop for good and cheap Dutch food and the upscale Antonine's for my upscale French meal.

Just one man's thoughts.

Thanks all. You have mentioned some of our favorites but also mentioned ones we have never heard about. Can't wait to try them. Many thanks. 10 days and counting.

Mo's is a hidden gem of a place. Good, authentic Dutch treats that are completely different than our American palates are use to. This along with a friendly staff that will explain everything to you because the names of the dishes will make no sense. Cheep beer and locals to talk to will cap off your experience. Try it.

Where is Mo's snack shop located.

Ti Bouchon and Piazza Pascal

It's in Madame Estate, Rembrantsplein 16.

http://mosnackcorner.com/contact-me.htm

They haven't updated the first page of the website, they are indeed back from vacation and are open.

Doug, where is Mo's snack shop?

Gracie105

This should help it's from their website:

http://mosnackcorner.com/user/cimage/location.jpg

PM me for details, it's hard to find the first time, at least for me <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

L'Astrolabe at the Esmeralda resort on Friday nights a must. We were there this past week. Lobster night they had prefixed price for three course included our cocktail or the forgot to charge. Make reservation through your hotel if you can it gets very busy.. Had wonderful all week but that was our favorite.

For breakfast, a tie between Paradise View and La Croissanterie. For lunch, La Belle Epoque. For dinner, Tropicana.

Tropicana in the Marigot Marina, especially the mussels on Friday.

Here is our usual week.

Le Piment (Love this place)(Salmon with goat cheese, yum)
Spiga (Always good)
Il Nettuno
Café La Plantation
Lolos
Actually you can't go wrong with any Grand Case restraunts.

Le Piment. Ocean 82. Rainbow Cafe. Le Tastiven.

Piazza Pascal in Grand Case
Yvette's in Orleans
Dinghy Dock in Oyster Pond (I know that it is technically on the Dutch side!!)

I'm surprised no one mentioned Sol E Luna

Sol e Luna is a wonderful restaurant. It actually is considered the most romantic restaurant in St. Martin! However it seems that many people on this forum have not experienced it yet. We have had lovely meals there, but it is probably one of the more expensive restaurants on the French side, so perhaps that is the reason.

I think that is a misconception. We have found the dinners a Sol e Luna comparable to many other restaurants in Grand Case. Here is a link to their menu.

I also think with the exchange rate as it is, the cost of a dinner there is comparable with any fine dining experience on the island.

The restaurant's web site is here.

Just compared on line menus (main entrees) SPIGA, L'Auberge Gourmande, Sol E Luna, le Cottage. All average the same, about 30 Euros

We have never eaten there, just never made the time, I guess, as these days we usually eat in Grand Case on the French side. I agree the prices are very comparable to most Grand Case restaurants. I do wonder whether they routinely have several specials? I thought the offerings on the menu were pretty sparse, whenever the whole menu other than desserts fits on one page..

I noted with interest a 3 course lunch for 20 Euro. With the current exchange rate, sounds interesting. Anyone know what the lunch offering is?

We had lunch there less than 2 weeks ago and it was the best meal of our trip. We first tried it in early December just after the new owners took over. Excellent both times. I believe there were 4 choices per course.

Do you remember at all what you had for lunch? That certainly sounds intruiging.

I am also surprised that no one mentions Sol e Luna. Amazing atmosphere, delicious food and wonderful service. Literally breathtaking as you walk in. I am also surprised no one talks about Le Pavillon in Oyster Pond. Had an amazing meal there as well and very much enjoyed the company of the owners, Christian and Elaine. Everything else could have been mediocre (it was not) and they still would have made the experience amazing. A must try. Also loved Spiga (was a favorite of our whole group) and L'Astrolabe at the Esmerelda Resort. Each one had great food and an amazing atmosphere, unique in it's own way. Highly recommend each one...