TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Sol E Luna and any other recommendations

Hi!
Any reviews on Sol E Luna or any other restaurants on the French side (besides Grand Case) that are your favorite? Looking to try some new restaurants we haven't tried before during our upcoming trip in May !

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Several in Orient Village, Al Dente near the round about to Mt. Vernon / Cul de Sac, Rancho Del Sol on the hill to your R after you leave Orient Bay toward Grand Case.

Le Taitu on the Rd to mont Vernon right before sol e luna very good food & service. Also le piment in orient village, Crystal never disappoints!!

Sol e Luna has a wonderful 20 euro 3 course lunch that I love; choices from 4 appetizers, 4 main courses, and 4 desserts.

We used to eat most dinners in Grand Case but lately seem to eat half our evening meals in Orient Village. Many good options. Our favorite is Le Piment.

We had dinner at Sol E Luna this past January, it was a wonderful dinner with great atmosphere and host. It is on the pricey side compared to even the better Grand Case restaurants. I would highly recommend you try Ti Bouchon, I night with MoMo is a cant miss for us.

Bistro Nu in Marigot is good. For local/Caribbean dishes I really enjoy Jam Rock and Hercules in Mont Vernon, but my favorite is Yvette's in The French Quarter.

My wife and I ate at Jam Rock our last trip and it was one the best meals we have had on the island.

Jam Rock is on the road to Cul de Sac where the ferry is to go over to Pinel.

Look them up on trip advisor as they have excellent reviews.

We ate at Jam Rock last December and I agree that it's a great restaurant. Fresh fish (caught that day) and great service. The prices are easy on the wallet as well. Just don't go there during weeks 50 or 51. Why you ask? Well those are the weeks we're there and I want to make sure there's a table for us, lol.

Different Choices at Different Levels

Reasonably Priced
Le Taitu
Yvettes
Bistro Nu

Expensive but worth every dime
L'Astrolabe
Dreams

We also loved Al Dente. Villa Pizza, in Cul de Sac, besides their pizza has excellent, reasonably priced entrees.

Forgot about Villa Pizza.

Ditto that recommendation. Ate there twice last vacation. It is very good.

We really enjoyed La Main Plate in the marina and on Sunday nights they have a great singer. I think she ends around 930.

Is Ti Bouchon still in the little house along the road--French Cul de Sac??? I thought it was closed. We went many years ago.

Just had dinner at Villa Pizza.My wife had mahi and I the duck breast.With drinks only $50 plus tip.The food was as good as always and great service.

Yes still there, food is still some of the best on the island and MoMo is always entertaining.

Has anyone been to Big Fish recently? If so, with what result. We were there two years ago and enjoyed it very much.

You left a tip in a restaurant on the French side? Was it just a few dollars or was it in the 15%-20% range?

Ti Bouchon and Dreams for sure.

Where did you park? We were there in March and there was road construction and no parking so hubby chose to not return in the evening. I want so badly to go there too.

Love Sol e Luna and the price fixed lunch menu, great food, atmosphere and good value at lunch.

We went to Ti buchon last week...it was very good ...though it was crowded...I am happy for momo...though rumor has it he is selling.....I don't know if this is true or not....I would appreciate knowing as we always visit momo.

we skipped sol e luna this year...it has always been our favorite even though it is the most expensive

last year they seated us next to the kitchen on our anniversary even though we ALWAYS make reservations. Unfortunately i saw the cook drop food on the floor and put it on the plate for the woman next to us.I watched them serve the steak with foie gras to her...knowing her foie gras had been on the floor.I did not say anything...but vowed I would never return... We skipped dessert, paid the bill and left the building.

It felt strange not going this year...but there are just too many choices to go to a restaurant that dropped food on the floor and served it anyway. It was just over my line.

I realize it probably happens all the time....but it was unfortunate that I saw it. I should have told management...but I didn't. I generally keep my mouth shut...

I am surprised i am disclosing it now.....it is not how I roll.

They lost a good customer...every April 8....but not anymore

You really should have told management about that incident. They deserve to have the opportunity of doing something about it. Now you have told several customers here who may decide not to return. We have seen things in restaurant kitchens which were not to our liking in SXM too and always tried to bring it to their attention. Usually management appreciates having an extra pair of eyes as they are not often aware of everything that is going on especially in the kitchen. I realize it is easier to say nothing and just not go back and most people probably do just that.

You are right...I should have told them. Instead...I left and won't go back.

I am sure stuff happens in MOST restaurants no matter where they are located....enough to probably scare most of us into not eating out anymore.

If I go to a restaurant and something displeases me....food, service etc.....I don't complain....I just don't go back.

We tried Le Piment for the first time last year. It was excellent and it is very nice to sit outside in the courtyard with live music in the Gazebo. They have a flea market set up in the square and children playing in the square. It is a very French atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Sol e Luna has always been a big favorite of ours going back many years, but on our March trip it was quite disappointing.

Sophie, from Spicy was there and it was good to see her again. Her son was on island and he came by to visit her and that was nice.

However, we were offered two champagnes to start our meal and we said sure. Only to find out later that we were charged 12 euros for each glass! The food was fairly good but not up to Sol E Luna standards. The service was marginal at best even though the restaurant was not busy.

The ambiance was beautiful, but we ate at a number of other high end restaurants on this trip and Sol E Luna was the most expensive meal of the trip.

Just not worth it. Off our list for a while.

I add my voice to those who recommend stopping at Le Taitu, just before you get to Sol e Luna. Always a great meal, for a good price. We have only eaten once at Sol e Luna. The food was good, but it was very expensive.

Ok,this year we want to Martinique, thanks to the Air Norwegian flight deals. But I get back, and find a email in my spam folder from Martin(spelling?) and Chareen, from Jam Rock."You not coming it's March?"
Last year we ate there 3 nights out of 7, and brought people with us, including our hosts from France. We all had a great time, Martin and Chareen are great, and really try hard. I would go back right now if I could, and order whatever is her special.
Also, on a personal note, Martin asked me about my fish hook necklace, ( $5.00) on the boardwalk in Wildwood, NJ. I gave it to him, and his wife comes out as we were leaving, with a hand painted piece of pottery, as a parting gift, and thanks me for introducing fellow TTOL people P&P(from Canada) who we met on that trip, as well as our hosts from France, that we rent from at Mont Vernon. The restaurant closes at ten, but that night the outdoor patio was hopping until 12:00, with cognac and local rum.
To make a very long story short, they are a great young couple that do a great job! Last we went, service took a while, but if you are OK on island time,you will have a great meal, for half of what you pay at Ti Buchon, my 2nd favorite, or 30% less than at Auberge or LA Villa in Grand Case,y next faves.