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La Villa
mahokid
4 hours ago
La Villa is the only restaurant that we have dined at since we started coming to the island although I believe they opened in our 3rd year of visiting.
While there has been a minor change of ownership and some new staff,
Christophe is always there to offer a friendly welcome.
The prix fix has risen from 47E to 62E but still fairly priced.
The night started with a complimentary round of drinks and the always wonderful carrot soup amuse.
Hard to imagine how good a carrot soup can be, but soooo good!!
My wife started off with her usual tuna tataki while I enjoyed the permanent chalk board special of "lobster Thermador ", puff pastry with bites of lobster topped with melted cheese and surrounded with a rich lobster bisque.
Happy to see it remains popular
A simple dish of shrimp and scallop duo was served with creamy potatoes and a basil sauce served on the side as requested.
La Villa usually uses maybe too much sauce for some while I enjoy alot of sauce.
My entree of lamb was cooked to temperature and very tasty although portion would have been a bit small if I had my normal appetite.
Still a good deal considering what an entree of lamb is back home.
With only one of us chosing the 3 course prix fix, we shared a ice cream trio.
All 3 flavors were delicious, rum raisin with nice rum flavor, salted caramel and coffee with espresso beans in it.
The usual pink rum was poured followed by a stronger house made vanilla vodka.
The gas can 3rd rum has been retired.
If you stay late enough you may see former popular server John Carlos stop over for a drink after his shift at Bistro Caribes.
Nice to know they are still friends and all for the best
The interior of La Villa has been redecorated and feels more welcoming.
We declined complimentary and paid 1-1 in cash.
While not our favorite for food, we still love La Villa for being so welcoming.
Grand Case was very quiet with street parking available only steps away.
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Pardon my French
mahokid
Yesterday at 11:04 PM
Friends in from Saba and chose Pardon my French for dinner.
No traffic from Orient to Simpson bay and we're lucky enough to find close by parking.
We dined on the first floor because of mobility issues.
Inside about 4-5 tables and more outside which we almost full when we left.
Service was professional, friendly and attentive.
They offer a three course prix fix with about 5 starter and 5 entrees to chose from as well as several desserts.
Wines by the glass were inexpensive.
Starters included a salmon tar tar which was replaced the smoked salmon from the menu and a lobster cassoulette.
The salmon was fresh but flavors just okay.
The lobster cassoulette was good.
Entrees included a rib eye with peppercorn sauce.
Cooked properly to temperature but a bit thin.
Not what you would expect from the same owners as Jax.
The frites were good.
The plentiful short ribs were served with a wonderful rich reduction and tasty mashed potatoes.
Love the sauce.
I ordered the hazelnut chocolate sphere which was good but did not benefit with the running chocolate sauce poured over tableside
The lemon dessert we took home was excellent.
A nice evening with friends but really no need to rush back to Pardon my French.
On a winning note, the Princess casino across the street will give you a voucher worth 10 percent of you meal cost.
We banked $36 with the complimentary voucher
A 15% gratuity was added to the bill and asked if we wished to leave additional in a no pressure manor.
Service was very good and deserved the additional gratuity.
Only pictures as others won't attach for unknown reason
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Anyone been recently to these places?
bran
Yesterday at 06:34 PM
Starting to put a list together and many will be new to me as not travelled to SXM for a while.
District 721. Restaurant food choices and nightclub on Welfare Rd. Simpson Bay. Eat first, drink and dance to various bands.
MaTi Beach Restaurant Nettle Bay. Lagoon side, looks cool.
Alize Marina Royal. Marigot.
Mezza-Luna. Nettle Bay Area. Went many years ago before hurricanes when first opened and had a good breakfast. Nice views. TIA.
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Our Arrival
BarbyandLeo
Yesterday at 11:23 AM
We had a pleasant flight from MIA, good arrival at SXM. We were very impressed with the new system, it was quick and easy.
Got our rental car and off we went to Orient for the beginning to our 5 week stay in our favorite island! We got to the studio we rented in Palm Court Residences with the intention of unpacking…after a bit we decided that could wait. Went off to grab a cold drink and dinner.
We decided to keep it casual and drove over to Lee’s Roadside Grill. After a couple of beers, we were ready for food. We shared a Coconut shrimp appetizer…it was meh. Leo ordered fish and chips and I got the grilled Mahi with fries and Cole slaw. The servings were adequate, sort of on the bigger side. My Mahi was good, fries and slaw were ok. Leo’s fish was soggy. Although the food wasn’t the best, we enjoyed the evening with the breeze in our hair and the cold Carib in our hand.
We drove back to Orient and stopped in the Petit Casino to get a bottle of Cointreau for a nightcap at our studio. We watched a little tv and went to bed about 10ish.
So went the beginning of our trip…today I will finish unpacking, go to Super U for some needed items (beer) and FINALLY get our toes in the sand!!!!
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Welcome Leo & Barby
mahokid
08/23/2026 07:26 PM
Welcome back
Hopefully good flight and arriving to a great day.
Tuesday invitation for light appetizers and pizza and wine and maybe something else from bona mamma depending on thier specials of the day
Touch base
We can chat or email
If already have plans we are flexible but trying to chill out after our first 3 big meals out
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Astrolab
mahokid
08/23/2026 12:50 PM
Running on a few hours of sleep, Astrolab has been our traditional first night of celebrating our anniversary.
Almost all the tables around the pool we're filled and we were shown to our table which had a small floral arrangement and flowers added to our silverware holder.
They continue to make our first night special.
It is always nice to see the same servers and I now prefer a night without the live entertainment which hasn't always been that good.
Service is attentive and at a preferred relaxed pace.
Astrolab offers a 66 euro 3 course prix fix as well as a la carte.
While I went prix fix, my ldc chose two courses knowing we can not eat like we used to.
Appertifs included a proper aperol spritz and a glass of sancere which showed its wonderful flavors once warmed up the glass in my hands.
The smoked salmon with "pearls" of something were served in a puff pastry.
A great start to awaken our palates.
My wife started out with a tuna tar tar in coconut milk.
My duo of excellent foie gras came pan seared and with a "pate"
I enjoyed a half bottle of sauterne to compliment this dish saving the remaining for dessert.
Portion size were just right.
Entrees included sea bass with saffron rice in a sancere cream sauce as well as a triggerfish with mashed and a basil sauce.
The portions were perfect for our diminishing appetites and wr still our finished half our dinners.
I enjoyed a glass of chablis with my fish.
B
It is so nice to be able to enjoy a nice glass of wine with each course and only 12 euros
Sucks getting crappie wine by the glass in the states at the cost of the whole bottle.
We shared the warm chocolate cake a la monde with an anniversary candle with the rest of the sauterne.
I respectfully asked for no complimentary champagne which they would have served after dessert.
One thing I noticed was how well all guests were dressed and relaxed at the pace of dinner
Working in a resort town back home, most guests are extremely casual and definitely don't understand a two hour dinner.
My boss would go crazy over a two hour turn of the table.
Astrolab really is a beautiful hidden gem and got our vacation off to a wonderful start.
Appologies as remaining pictures will not download
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Arrived
mahokid
08/22/2026 11:24 PM
Like most from northern east coast, start day with 2 am wake up for early flight out of Philadelphia
Plane delayed over an hour once we were aboard because of something about couldn't fill one side of plane with fuel.
With a tight connection American Airlines rebooked us on the later flight out of Miami
With a later arrival we breezed through the Airport only to have a new wait for the random customs scanning at the end just before exiting.
Something new yo us.
20 minutes from airport to Orient where we are renting Neptune for the third year. Our property manager Magali left us our key under the mat as requested and returned shortly later when we noticed our safe key was missing.
Her service is always appreciated.
Love the rental for the off season price.
4 cans of bug spray on the counter and fridge stock with some beers, bottle of rose and a large water to get started
Rental has everything else you could image in all the drawers and shelves
Unpacked and food shopping at Super U.
No fresh baked breads at all in the back.
800 pm reservations at Astrolab which we have made our first night tradition
Report to follow if not too sleepy or depending on how many glasses of wine on 3 hours sleep
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Le Taitu restaurant
RonDon
08/21/2026 02:06 PM
I'd heard a rumor that this restaurant sold. Can anyone confirm this? We love this place and wondered if sold is it the same.
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Dec Trip.
bran
08/21/2026 01:09 PM
Booked last night for 17 nights this December. Quite a few years since we have travelled to SXM as have been going there and Anguilla since the early 80's. Last time didn't have to form fill in advance but see plenty of threads on this here and hopefully not too complicated. Wife passed last year so it will be bitter-sweet(going down 40 plus year memory lane stuff which does concern me a bit) but a friend of hers has agreed to come along for part of the trip and basically make sure I'm ok as could not do this on my own plus nice to have company when eating. Always used to stay in the Terres Basses area and my usual villa not available so looking at Mirabelle, Giselle, Mongoose Run to Bamboo and even Jacaranda. First two/three are over the top with plenty of room and extra bedrooms that don't really need, down to more practical and certainly less pricey, but life is short and like my privacy and therefore at times have to pay for this if really worthwhile, so if some here know from experience any of these villas sure appreciate a heads-up. I don't much care for the old Caribbean dark brown furniture with bright tile bathroom look, more french and modern contemporary within Terrres Basses.
Do remember the kids steeplpan bands playing in 2019 I think in Maho around Dec 15th and so look forward to that again. Plus of course the restaurants and seeing all the changes including the airport, which perhaps has greatly improved. Note that over the years so many mention the Rendezvous Jazz on a Sunday and don't think I ever have been, so will give that a go plus any recs for where Soca, Ska, Carnival or Steel band might be played? First time in many years not going business class. Wow, the prices have sure jumped in 6 years and using Miles which I got for 20K return and 35K for my friend(due to different times)plus taxes and paid for better seating. Can't complain. Onwards. Cheers. 
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