TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Boy, how things change

How about a place called Fan Dangos on front st

Can't remember the name ,but how about the restaurant behind Casino Royal they had a pool in the middle lots of fun parking sucked

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I needed some "Island shirts" and ordered from their on-line store - beautifully colored shirts delivered by FedEx in a few days plus a bonus shirt...too bad the store on the island closed but at least one can still order on line.

Dick,

I believe you're speaking of Paradise Cafe. I mentioned it earlier referencing the exquisite throne-like chairs that made you feel like royalty when seated in them - great food and great atmosphere and when it got a little later and the dinner crowd thinned out, the music and the waiters could really rock that place. They made a seafood app served in/on a seashell shaped tortilla that was out of this world. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water to this day! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Oh how could I fail to mention West Indies Tavern on Front St.! The .99 happy hour gin and I guess gin because I never tasted tonic. And sitting on the porch there getting a lecture from a reverend about the ills of drink! That was great. And the corned beef & cabbage dinner served there on St Pat's Day.

Their stuff for women online sucks. Nothing like the selection that they had in the store.

I agree, Carol. I used to buy one of the little sundresses every year, and they had such a great selection in the store. Now the selection is greatly reduced, and the price is 50% higher!

Im surprised that L'alabama wasnt mentioned. We thought that was one of our faves for years.

All the beach vendors and the market stalls still sell the sun dresses from Rima for a decent price so they are still available. I bought several in Nov/Dec.

We loved L'Alabama as well! Sadly it closed after only a couple of trips to the island. I believe La Villa is now where they were?

Yes, but their prices are still higher and there is much less choice than was in the store.

We have been going since 1985 , I was just looking through some old stuff and found a decal from the Paridise Cafe .We have seen many changes over the years . We will be on the Island Oct 28 thru November 12 , last year the fig was closed we hope they will be open this time

They always appear as if they're closed during the day, and while I don't know their summer vacation schedule, it would seem that most places do return and reopen by early November at the latest. Just make sure you don't get there before 6:00 as they open their doors promptly at that time and generally not before. '73 for us.... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

What I miss is rising early at the Atrium and walking down the street for breakfast and coffee.


(Photo taken in 2000)

William and Philippe's Village Baker was always my favorite.

I only paid $1 more and you can bargain! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Have to agree about La Vie en Rose and California. The Fish Pot was one of our early favorites, as well (late 90's).

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Here's a great restaurant long forgotten by me that I do not think was mentioned earlier.

The Wajang Doll

Oh, how I miss the old Burger King bus. Now that was fine dining at 2 AM!

Le Charolais on Welfare Rd. Never the same after they
moved to Maho.
cheers
irina

I miss Le Bar de La Mer not what is there now but the old one. When you could pick out your fish that was sitting on crushed ice. Or if you ordered them You got a big pile of langostinos along with my first introduction to creole sauce.

I am with you JohnB, I would guess that the last time it was great would be 1999, 2000? It was damn memorable.

it was 2000 for the first time we went there. We went back in 2002 and 2003 and it was good. but it was at its best in 2000. People were not afraid to go to Marigot at night then.

Ditto on Bar-de-le-mer. Ran by retired French gendarmes who ran an efficient operation. Loved to sit at the bar and people watch - great pizza also.

Was that the place that featured the huge grilled Oisseau (sp?) and if yes, it was a great place. We had friends with us one year and we stumbled on it quite by accident and absolutely loved it. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Ah, Bar de la Mer!!! Loved that place. It used to be our traditional First Night Dinner spot!

Ahhh. . .times gone by
Spent many nights in the 90's at Bye Bar Brasil, Surf Club South, and Jimbololo. Great memories, friends, and fun!

Pat
Oiseau means bird in French and does not refer to any specific type.

Perhaps Pat was referring to Ouassous, those delicious giant shrimp from (I believe) Guadeloupe?

Pretty sure that is what pat was referring to. That place was really nice at one time but went downhill and was not good the last time I ate there many years ago.

January,

TY - and clearly French is not my tongue. I was referring to the extremely large shrimp Alaskan and ruralcarrier referenced. It was a long time ago, possibly the very early nineties, and those shrimp still linger in my mind. It was a fun place and setting and extremely popular in its time.

Some of the places mentioned most, la Vie en Rose and Bar de la Mar, practically next door to each other...Marigot seems a shadow of its own self. Love Tropicana but only for lunch.

Thank you!! It was driving me crazy for the name of this amazing restaurant!!Le Bar de La Mer We loved it!! Sometimes when we drive past it, I think why?? Great location, Why did it close. The menu was great food was fresh and fun people watching place!! Sadly missed.

And on another note, can anyone recall the name of the current RIU Resort before it became the Radisson? I'm having a total brain freeze this morning? It's right there on the tip of my tongue........ but that's as close as it seems to want to come!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

It was Le Meridien, Pat. The first place we ever stayed on the island.

Our first visit we took a cab to a restaurant that was where Pelican Resort was built later. Can't remember name. Had snapper cooked in a paper bag.

We stayed at Great Bay Hotel and desk clerk told us to NOT pay cab driver until he returned to get us or he'd never return because the road was so bad. When he came to get us he had his wife, rollers in her hair, and a child under 1 year old with him. I felt badly that we'd gotten the whole family out of their comfortable place.

TY..... I was all over and around it - LeMer, LeMans and others but couldn't quite come up with the right name.

In the very late eighties (Perhap 1990?) friends of ours, a professional wedding photographer and his wife, joined us for a week in St. Maarten. The Saturday before we headed down he shot a wedding and during the day discovered the couple was honeymooning at LeMeridian and would be on island at the same time as us. He agreed to meet them there and shoot a few photos on the beach to add an interesting footnote to their wedding album.

That was the first time we ever made it inside the resort proper - to that point we'd only lunched at the top of the hill by the pool which was pretty cool because we got to watch the helicopter land and take off a few times taking guests and sight-seers wherever. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Very cool! They didn't have a helicopter when we stayed there. Or if they did, they didn't offer us a ride anywhere, lol.

One of our all-time favorites was DaLivio . Great Italian food and impeccible service.

GaKaye,

I think the helicopter may have been a private chartering company that may (or may not?) have worked with LeMeridian on occasion. The landing pad for it was at the very top of the hill fairly near the restaurant and pool area.

We wandered up there the first time quite by mistake, basically trying to see where the road went, and ended up staying for lunch as the pool area was lovely and the view was incredible. John particularly enjoyed the view around the pool (of the bikini clad topless young women bathers) until he saw the menu prices, in Francs at the time and realized how much he was paying for same, but it was well worth it and another page in our book of island memories and experiences.

We later found a flyer somewhere from the company offering sight-seeing tours and near island trips from there via helicopter. And trust me, it wasn't inexpensive..... so I doubt it was a resort freebie, for sure. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />