TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Best steak in/near Simpson Bay

I'm always up for a good steak. We haven't been to Jax or Palapa Grill before. Anyone who has been to either one care to give their impressions of one or both? Or do you have a better suggestion for a great steak in or near Simpson Bay?

Carol,

We ate at the Palapa Grill on our last trip and my DH, a true steak lover, said his grilled rib-eye steak was one of the best steaks he’s ever had anywhere. Beyond the fact it wasn’t a steak, I don’t recall what I had for dinner, but I do know at the time I thought it one of my best meals of the trip, too.

Pat--thanks. I did remember you had a good experience there.

We have not been to either one of those, but i did get a very tender ribeye from the Green house, and you can chose the size you want. Price wasn't bad either!

Been to both although I don't believe I had a steak at Palapa. Steak at JAX was excellent (have been twice). As an overall dining experience, I prefer JAX over Palapa.

CL,

We haven’t been to Jax yet having read so many complaints about the airco and ventilation there, but we thought the setting and what their ingenuity had allowed them to create at Palapa Grill was excellent. Once again, vanilla or chocolate? Or perhaps, next trip - BOTH!

CaribLee--So, what exactly about the dining experience at Jax was better? Better service? More menu options? Talking about ventilation, etc., I thought one could dine outside at Jax? Or at least you could at Bajatzu?

Jax Steak House is the top of the line also Roxxy has very good Steaks also.
Both are our favorites.

Ok, thanks Lesley. I wondered about Roxxy and steaks.

Although not a Steak House, The Palms always have a great steak. I believe he has a NY Strip on the menu but I know he usually runs a special like the ribeye. BTW, the Drunken Ribs are good too.

Sorry, I've never cared for the Palms, as I do not like the location.

Carol.......we went to Jax twice on our trip in March. The Filet Mignon I had was absolutely delicious......that's why I insisted we go a second time....LOL. They were very busy both nights we went. The atmosphere is very similar as it was when it was Bajatzu.....just a couple little changes. I've seen complaints about the air condition, but it was working fine at the times we went. You can dine outside, although we didn't, so I don't know what is on or if the menu is different. The service was excellent sand all staff were super friendly. We also went back one night with a group - mix of island friends and friends from the US just for cocktails and music...again the service was excellent and friendly. Hope this helps.

OK, thanks much!

If you really likes Steak , there is a very big one for two persons for $ 65.00 , plus they have Fish and Chicken. But Steak House is only for Steak for us.

Yes, when I go to a steak house, I order steak!

Carol--I thought the food was better at JAX (don't even remember what I had at Palapa which tells me it wasn't outstanding). I also thought the service was better at JAX......and Palapa seemed to be trying to appeal to a younger crowd. Wife later said several times that she was not impressed. The setting was lovely but everything else was just O.K.

When we ate at JAX in mid July the air conditioning was working fine. Didn't even think about it while dining there and my wife would have said something if she was not comfortable as she likes it very cool. Prefer to eat inside as I don't want to risk sitting next to smokers while enjoying a meal.

CaribLee--thanks. I had kind of decided we would go to Jax, but this cemented it, for now anyway!! Heck, when I get there, probably will not make time to go!

Choose the lounge area right of the inside Bar and ask for Kevin. That's my Wife Nephew . Mention our name . Enjoy.

Lesley--will make a note of it. Thanks!!!

Thanks and he has a pony tail and mixed Indian descent .

Ok, thanks!

When we were there in April, we went to both Palapa and JAX. Loved both. The steaks at JAX were superb, the best on the island. The rib eye at Palapa was excellent. Like Pat, I found the atmosphere at Palapa very interesting and quite quaint. The service was excellent there. Went to JAX twice, sat outside, then went in to the bar for night caps.

Lesley, didn't realize Kevin was our nephew. He's been there for years and always enjoyed his company. He makes the best espresso martinis.

My Wife's Nephew , Wingman.

Yet you love Mark's, which is in a parking lot.

But you don't smell EXHAUST and watch cars whizz by (or sit parked because of the traffic) sitting five feet away at Mark's, like you do at the Palms. And there is basically zero parking at the Palms. At Mark's, you don't even see the parking lot

Sitting inside The Palms, you don't even know the road is there. I've never smelled exhaust in there.

OK, if you say so.

I have to again disagree with you on this Carol, and especially after they rebuilt after Irma you can sit inside and there is enough of a wall the traffic going by is not an issue but then again I don't have an issue with it when I sit out on the deck there. I also have never had an issue finding parking either up by the back or across the road near Rancho. You really should give it a try again, not sure the last time that you did and if was since Greg and Jo took it over, two of the nicest people on island.
Cheers,
Todd

Todd--it was definitely pre-Irma that I was there but Greg was there. I didn't care for the location and I didn't care for the food and thought it was overpiced. Too many other places I haven't been to yet, to return to a place that I was not impressed with.

I will preface my thoughts and comments re The Palms and Marks by owning up to the fact I’m definitely NOT a foodie; I’ve only been to The Palms 2-3 or maybe four times; all my visits were pre-Irma while we found Marks way back in the day, long before it moved to the parking lot.

Re the Palms, i was not too impressed, but primarily because we have experienced the automobile exhaust fumes on a couple of our visits. Again, pre-Irma and according to Todd, changes and improvements may have alleviated this problem. I thought the food was fine but nothing to get totally excited over. The management, Greg and all, were very nice and the service was fine. We did have issues with finding parking but I think it was the time we were there. Later, beyond the evening rush hour, - no problem.

I’ve also enjoyed Marks on many occasions, and again, no foodie here, but they have the best mussels et frites, good enough to draw us back time and time again, and their reasonable pricing doesn’t hurt either. The service can be a little iffy, particularly when they get slammed with their local take-out clientele as they often do. Parking has never been a problem there for us.

It might be safe to say, both places have their strengths and weaknesses but in the end, it boils down to personal choice. Many who prefer one over the other do so because of the food but also because of the personal friendships and alliances they’ve formed. Me? The mussels definitely dictate my personal preference.

I am a foodie, and enjoy all types of food, not just gourmet style dining. While I love a great dinner at the fine dining locations in Grand Case, I'm a big fan of both Mark's and The Palms as well. We usually get Mark's meals to go after we grocery shop on our arrival day and have found the service iffy when we eat in, but the food is consistently good. I was initially put off by The Palms location but find the traffic doesn't bother me and their food and friendly service far out weigh the downside of location, especially if we reserve a table inside. One of my favorite meals last trip was the whole grilled red snapper at The Palms. It was moist, flavorful and reasonably priced. And as a customer, I always feel welcomed and appreciated at The Palms and enjoy the friendly service. I wouldn't return if the food wasn't great, but since it is, I'm glad to give them my dining dollars.

We ate at JAX last month and thought the Steaks were great. I can’t comment on Palapa as we have never been there.

Used to love the mussels also ribs 😋 at Mark's.
Ribs at Lees were also great.
We have never tried the Palms, stopped once walked in and left did not feel comfortable, maybe we were too quick to leave.
Also Dany on Cupecoy does some great ribs.
I don't really fancy steak.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Moulin Fou. Had a lovely filet in June, with your choice of sauce. It was excellent.

Had a good meal at Jax, but yes, it was marred by being seated next to the grill because of a large party of 27 taking up the tables. They kept the front door open which allowed air to leave as well. Would I return? Yes, if I can be seated in a comfortable area. They did not have the eliminator installed in the kitchen. It was oppressively hot. AND they knocked over my bottled water, shattering glass everywhere. Not a good night. Was the filet the best I've ever had? No. It didn't curl my toes.

Sorry to hear about your hassle there Leona . But didn't they give you a credit for the water splashing ?

(Was the filet the best I've ever had? No. It didn't curl my toes.)


You have to order the Braciole for toe curling.😀

Had a great filet at The Palms on this past Monday. No issues with parking, parked at the Mailbox and walked over. Had the 40.00 filet special, came with a side and Included a glass of wine and 4 shrimp. We ate outside and enjoyed the people watching. Yes cars go by, but didn’t deal with any fumes. But we also enjoy the people watching at Rusty Rockets right on the road

Lesley, all they did was replace the bottle and chiller. After cleaning up the glass which went EVERYWHERE, including in my shoe.
It was just one of those bad nights.
We did not stay for dessert or after dinner drinks as we usually would have.

I have had a lot of great steaks on SXM. Yes..I am a meat lover....and do shellfish...but not regular fishes. Jax was ''discovered'' on our last visit . It was very good. We tried Palapa....and honestly...was far from impressed. Not planning a return visit. Had a very good steak at Nowhere Special. For some unknown reason, except we may have run out of time, we haven't been back to the Palms for a few years. I agree with the comment about Moulin Fou. EXCELLENT steaks there....always.....but in my opinion, the BEST steak on the island is La Villa in Grand Case. The filet there has been continuously the best and most consistent for years!!! I know it's not Simpson Bay....but i feel it is worth the drive. I am now getting hungry.