TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin seafood restaurant recommendation

Need a good place for a birthday dinner for my Son-in-Law, who likes seafood. I have read mixed reviews for Ocean 82 and Bluefin. Are there any other good restaurants that are slanted toward a seafood menu or other cuisine but with a "killer" seafood dish on the menu?

Really surprised at mixed reviews for Ocean 82, because I think they are one of the best on island. If it's not limited to french side, could recommend Skipjacks for most anything in the fish line, or Pineapple Pete has a large menu, but an awesome lobster thermidore. Antoine's in P'burg supposedly also has a great lobster thermidore, although I haven't personally eaten there.

Ocean 82 was one of the best meals we had on the island. The service was equally as good.

I ate there twice and as a former French Chef it was so bad I couldn't believe it! They also ignored us on top of the poor food so not a great experience. Went the year before and also not very good. Would never go back for free with all the great places on the same street. To each his own.

I'm really surprised, but everyone's taste is different.

Where would YOU recommend to the original poster?

Robert2:
Maybe that's why you are a former chef. Only kidding but I couldn't pass that one up.

We have been to Ocean 82 several times and it was wonderful. Service great & food delicious.

I was actually underwhelmed with dinner at Ocean 82 this past January.... I was really looking forward to my dinner there and it was ......well, just OK. Next year I'll be at Bistro Caribes which has been a pleasure to dine at for many years. There are just too many really outstanding restaurants to try and we fit in a few new ones each year.

I want to say it was La Villa that we went to with long time visitors to St. Maarten and Leslie had called early in the week and they arranged for Dover Sole to be brought in. It was an awesome dinner and evening.

We just got back 2 weeks ago & loved Ocean 82. Also, Sol e Luna was fantastic, as is Bistrot Caraibes. The last two are not necessarily seafood restaurants, but they do have seafood on the menu & that was what we chose each time!!

You really can't go wrong with Skipjack. Ate there last week and going again this week. Fantastic yellow fin tuna.

+1 for Ocean 82 and Sol e Luna, 2 of our favorites restaurants on the French side along with Claude Mini Club in Marigot for their amazing all you can eat and drink buffet with lobster Wed and Sat nights.
Pineapple Pete's lobster thermidor is excellent too.

I have only good words for Bluefin !! The owner is a local fishman so fish and lobster are very fresh ! The service is very great and the place is beautiful!I just can't wait to go back ! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

We had a really good dinner our first time at Ocean82. However, the 2nd time we were there, with a reservation for 4 people, a BUSLOAD of people came in for dinner and promptly drowned out any chance we could have of conversation. We were in GC another night that week and another bus was dropping off a huge group there for dinner. If we make reservations in the future there, I will specifically ask if they have a large group reservation there that night. They may have some arrangement with one of the resorts in the area that books large parties.

Huh. That's weird.

I had a similar experience at Ocean 82 at Robert. I'm also a former chef, and there was nothing special about it, and we waited 20 minutes for our check while all the staff ignored us. There are too many great restaurants in Grand Case to go there again. Our best meal on our last visit was L'Effet Mer. It's on the beach side in GC, and the meal was truly spectacular. La Villa was also great with an emphasis on seafood.

The restaurant was totally full the night we went, but our experience at laVilla in December was totally missable--very average food and service was very slow. Everyone's experiences are different.

where is Bluefin?

Barbara,

I believe Bluefin is at the Starz Casino complex. We didn't eat there - you know how I feel about indoor restaurants - but I seem to recall seeing the sign on a window there as we drove by. So little time and so many great choices......

You gotta' come over that hill more, My Friend!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Depends on if you are willing to travel, and how far. We like Skipjack's in Simpson Bay. We also like Pineapple Pete's in the Simpson Bay as they have good daily fish specials. We also liked Big Fish in the Oyster Bay area.

That's right ! It is right next to Basilico ! http://www.bluefinsxm.com/
But you can eat outside on the terrace !

Go to Le Taitu, on the Mt. Vernon Road. Order the grilled tuna steak, with soy sauce. It is so good !

We also had a "just okay" meal at Ocean 82 in April. We had a wonderful corner table right on the water on what was a beautiful night weather wise. The service was very good so overall an enjoyable evening but the food was nothing special. If we had not been able to enjoy the breeze and the view of Anguilla I would have been very disappointed in the evening.

I'm not a fan of Skipjack's. Their side dishes were too unappealing for me. I know I'm picky!

We ate at Ocean's 82. Sister had grilled lobster, brother-in-law had tuna, my husband and I shared the whole Turbot deboned table side. The food was all very good and the atmosphere was great. Waiter, bartender and hostess were great. They parked the car for us which was a nice thing as parking is a bit crazy in Grand Case. The only downside was the price... $400 for 4 of us although that included a couple of drinks a nice bottle of wine, a couple of appetizers and one dessert. maybe not horrible but we obviously could not afford to that every night. We got fish from Skip Jacks to take to the condo to grill one night and it was very good. We have not eaten at Skip Jacks but the fish quality was good. I agree everyone has different tastes and sometimes the atmosphere makes a difference. Whatever restaurant you end up at I hope you just enjoy it.