TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Tortuga Beach Cafe

I don't see many posts on this restaurant? We had breakfast once and thought the menu was limited but that was at least 5 years ago. Has anyone been there recently for breakfast or lunch who can comment?

Since we are staying in the area it may be a place I consider walking to for breakfast or lunch as we will be in the Beacon Hill area.

Louise,

We had breakfast there once or twice last April and thought it was fine. Nothing real fancy but still good, well served and reasonably priced but certainly not a destination breakfast. Not a busy place either time we were there but open early which works for us. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Our thoughts too, Pat. I was hoping the menu had changed up. We may as well cook in or go to as you so eloquently put it "destination" breakfasts which is definitely the Yacht Club for us. there are other places on the French side we enjoy but probably won't take the ride once in Beacon Hill (at least not for breakfast).

Thanks for the insight.

We enjoy the Yacht Club, too - yummy Eggs Benedict and your choice of libations to go with it. I like a mimosa myself, but many prefer their Bloody Mary's.

We don't seem to go out for breakfast that much anymore, but when we do it's either SBYC or if we're actually out and about early doing 'stuff' we now enjoy Tortuga among a few other places; if heading to P'berg we might stop there or at the Hideaway at LaVista or Either Barefoot Terrace or Chesterfields in town - which is a favorite of ours. We heard that Dreams Beach is now serving breakfast and if so, we will definitely try that next trip, too. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I would echo SBYC for breakfast and bloody marys, and we also do not go out to breakfast much. We have enjoyed Ernest and Fidels at Porto Cupecoy, the place at The Ocean Club had a reasonable breakfast with the previous owners but not sure with the new owners. It is my understanding that Karakter has breakfast, nice setting. I have not had breakfast at Sunset Bar and Grill but that is right in your area.

Lots of options, all sound good right now.

Cheers,
Todd

Another good breakfast spot is Bon Appetit. Unfortunately for me, David's not a breakfast eater, so I don't get to go out for it as often as I'd like.

My David loves breakfast, I'm ok with a yogurt or some cheese and a piece of baguette although I don't typically eat breakfast. When I do eggs benedict is a favorite of mine or a crepe.

We have had breakfast at the Yacht Club as well as lunch so it's on the "must do" list for breakfast. It's difficult to get David off the beach for lunch. I'm the lunch person and he's the breakfast one. We definitely compromise day to day.

Eric is not normally much of a breakfast person, but we enjoy the Yacht Club and the Hideaway. Lovely view at the Hideaway..

And the view in P'berg is what draws us to those particular places, just as the boats coming and going from the lagoon draw us to SBYC. Well, that and the lure of getting into town early and easily securing parking convenient to where are errands need to be done.

I love watching P'berg come to life from a Barefoot Terrace PORCHSIDE TABLE.... Some mornings the school children come down to the sand and take off their sneakers, neatly aligning them on the edge of the Boardwalk before they do their morning Phys Ed activities(or perhaps a wise teacher brings them there to let them burn off some energy before classes begin?) and if that doesn't do it for you, you can always watch the cruise ship escapees getting their shopping agendas under way in town before settling in on the beach there.

Often at Chesterfields we watch the cruise passengers and day-trippers alike boarding the various and assorted types of boat trips people enjoy doing as they prepare for their days adventures ahead. It's fun to watch the activities of the boat Captains readying their boats for the day, and you never know who you might run into there, for sure. If we're actually going all the way into town, they are my favorite stops, and such a great way to get the day under way.

And we, too, are divided on which is the better meal to enjoy out - DH favoring lunch while I definitely would opt for breakfast, but with such a lovely balcony vantage point where we stay, it's an easy concession to make and we both end up happy. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

La croissanterie at marina Royale the other side of Tropicana is awesome for breakfast or lunch. Their croissants, quiche,crepes,pizza fresh squeezed orange juice I think unrivalled anywhere on the island. Our opinion of course. Anybody eaten there?

Yes. It has been great for years.

Agree Jeepers they are a favorite of mine as is Paradise View but we hadn't been to Marigot unless to drive through to Orient and stop at Sarafina's the last 3 or 4 years we were on the island. Haven't been since 2012.

We are trying to fit in Paradise View for breakfast but I highly doubt it as we'd be over by Orient to go to the beach and DH wants to get to the beach early.

Carol,
We've had dinner/drinks a "The Hideaway'. Loved it!! But what I'm/we're trying to find is a new place to try on this side of the airport without traveling into that Billy Folly road area and back again. As you know that traffic can ruin a well thought out plan!!! Now if we're were headed to Orient, (I would never take that route) that would be a different story. There are some amazing places to eat in that area. Just doesn't seem to be to many places on the south/west coast of the island???

We have been here for lunch and just love the place! But like you said haven't heard much about it although people have mentioned that it is still open. (Last couple visits we weren't sure as the sign is gone and entrance appears to be blocked off.) Will definitely get there again in April with friends! Usually eat breakfast in at Beachside. I am not really into breakfast either but hubby cooks it and I get to enjoy it on the beach so all is good!!

Where is it located we never go out for breakfast , the pastries are just to good

We also like breakfast at Sunset Beach Bar, SMYC, Tortuga and the restaurant @ Royal Palm, it's always pleasant to view the water in the morning. Sunset is nice and quiet before the cruisers get there.

Dick,

Like you, we usually do breakfast in - pastries and coffee on our balcony is the best - but breakfast is the meal I least enjoy cooking (and most definitely the cleaning up from.....) so breakfasts out now and then are a real treat for me.

Probably my two most favorite breakfast spots are SBYC to watch the bridge openings and the boats coming and going and Chesterfields in town but when we want to eat out and don't want to have to go too far, Tortuga is a good choice as would be the Green Monkey at the Ocean Club but they do tend to open later than we prefer since on island time, we tend to be morning people.

Tortuga is at the Royal Islander, Le Plage side. If you walk more or less past/through/behind the Boat Bar it's back there and it does overlook the beach area at RI. If you're an early bird, you can often snag one of the parking spaces by the Boat Bar which is much more convenient than parking in either of the carparks. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Best chocolate croissant on the island!

PatT
There is no such thing as a chocolate croissant. What you wrote about is called "pain au chocolate". I am telling you this because there are places that will not know what you are talking about if you say "chocolate croissant".

While you are technically correct, I kind of doubt anyone on SXM would not know what she wanted.

carol
I have been to small cafes on the French side with American friends, and when they asked for a "chocolate croissant", all they got was a puzzled look.

Ok, I have to ask, if she wanted a threesome could she ask for a threesome or would she have to ask for a "m�nage � trois" in order for for people to know what she wanted?

OK, if you say so.

Anyone who stays at Club O knows that chocolate croissants are one of the wonderful pastries you can pre order at la botique and enjoy every morning.

January is just being argumentative for the sake of argument IMHO...

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And for what it's worth, I went to Jeannie's Shop and Drop site where she definitely lists chocolate croissants from Serafinas but alas, no pain au chocolat but I'm inclined to believe the latter is the correct name for any wise and knowing Frenchman. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> but either way, I think the point will be understood. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I have been to places on the island and they DO advertise Chocolate croissants....right, wrong , whatever. Neil serves them as such on The Celine Too. Semantics....

Tomatoe......Tomaaaahhhhhhhtoe......same thing....delicious

I couldn't agree more.

Where can you go for that? We will be there in a week can't wait . We have been spending two weeks in this time slot for the past 27 years and still love it even with all the changes

We are breakfast eaters! Our favorites are Bon Appetit, SMYC, Ocean Club (yes new owners are wonderful!) Ernest and Fidel is upscale and pricey but quite yummy! That is more a brunch place for us.
For take out croissants, Zee Best on Airport Road or Cafe Atlantico in Simpson Bay.

bdeeley
Sorry if I offended you. I agree that if you go where Americans go often they will know what you mean by chocolate croissant but if will not be the case if you stop at one of the little cafes in the center of Marigot or Spring or Concordia other such areas. I don't know about the bakeries in those areas but my guess is that the results will be the same.

La croissanterie at Marina Royale in marigot has pain au chocolat. Delicious.

I have never been in a business on the French side where they didn't speak English and those businesses that want to make it difficult or want to act arrogant because I don't speak French just end up losing my business. The majority of businesses on the island are there to support tourism and if they want my money than they can be accommodating. It is just like the tipping on the French side, it's included in the bill and yet many of the restaurants will try and take advantage of American tourists by adding it as a separate line item or not announcing it at all.

Truer words were never spoken. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

bdeeley
What you are saying is true up to a point. When I first started going to St. Martin, English was spoken in few places. That is the reason that I learned French. There are still some out of the way places that are still that way. I named a few. Off subject but relevant. I was on St. Barths. once and I asked someone at the tourist office at the dock for the names and places where locals ate. I was give a short list of places in communities scattered over the Island. Armed with my list and trusty map we toured the island and when we got hungry found on off the main road called Chez Genette. No one spoke English but we got by and had a delicious meal of pork chops, mashed potatoes and creamed peas for five dollars each. Yes that was the price on St. Barth. Had a great time. It pays to get off the beaten path.

bdeeley
I forgot that I had two glasses of pretty good wine too.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, off the beaten path is the way to go. I love the little dives or the roadside grills. Good eats, friendly faces and usually wonderful stories are shared.

If I'm out and about on the island, I have no problem stopping at one of the bus stops and offering the few locals that are standing there if they need a ride to the other side of the island. For example, I usually stay around Maho or Cupecoy but if I am heading to philipsburg than I might give a few locals a lift. They most often are heading home from work and they appreciate sitting in the air conditioned car and saving the bus money. I end up making new friends and always learn interesting facts about them and the island.

The Green Monkey has big, awesome American/Canadian breakfasts. Just before the Cupecoy Beach entrance. It's at the Ocean Club resort.They're open at 8am.