TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Simpson Bay restaurants

We will be back in St. Martin in March, can't wait. We always stay on the French side and mostly go to restaurants in Orient and Grand Case, on trip advisor I noticed the S.B. restaurants get very good reviews, with little Jerusalem and Avantika getting the best, we've never been to any. Can anyone give me info. on there favorites, and how easy they are to find as welll as how safe the area is? Thanks

The road that Little Jerusalem and Advantika are on is shared with several dozen eating establishments and well trafficked, making it safer. Advantika is upstairs across from Topper's. We feel that the quality has slipped a little and the price is no longer worth it. Have not tried Little Jerusalem.

The vast majority of restaurants in the Simpson Bay area are located right along the main road and can easily be seen during a drive through there.

Our favorites in this immediate area include - but are not limited to - The Yacht Club, Luna Rosa, and Skipjacks. If you want to veer a bit off the main road, the Hideaway near LaVista and SBR is also very good. So many restaurants - so little time and these places just skim the top of the list.

This area is as safe as any other area of the island, IMHO. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

So many to choose from and so little time <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Little Jerusalem - very reasonably priced and VERY casual outdoor restaurant/take out. Good food if you like schwarma, which we do. More of a locals place and easy to find, on the McDonalds side of the road.

Lee's Roadside Grill - Best snapper on the island. Other side of the bridge and near the Simpson Bay Yacht Club.

Sint Maarten Yacht Club - Good casual outdoor food and best place to watch the boats entering and exiting the lagoon during bridge openings.

Pizza Galley - Best thin pizza on the Dutch side. Next to Simpson Bay Yacht Club.

Pineapple Pete's - Best lamb on the Dutch side. Further away from the bridge and near the Carousel ice cream place (Don't miss that either!). A regular casual restaurant.

All of these restaurants, with the exception of Lee's and Pineapple Pete's are extremely casual and cater to sailors, locals and tourists on a budget. Lee's and Pineapple Petes are still casual but a little more expensive and good regular restaurants.

Have fun!

Avantika is fabulous in our opinion. The service is excellent and the Thai food great. We love Pizza Italy also next to Simpson Bay Marina.

We always try to eat at Skipjacks and Pineapple Pete when we visit the island. If you are interested in burgers, we really like the Buccaneer Beach Bar, on Billy Foley Road, as the best burgers on the island.

Many good options in Simpson Bay.

Another favorite of many, although not in Simpson Bay, is Mark's Place near The Grand Marche on Bush Road near Philipsburg.

We thought it was odd at Pineapple Petes that they do not carry bread for sandwiches. everything was a wrap

LINK

For more information on restaurants....map locations, reviews, coupons, etc.

In addition to those mentioned, The Palms (best local food winner for several years), Lal's (Indian), Byblos (Lebanese), Bavaria (German). Marty's (Marty of Dream pool bar fame) has an eclectic menu and the food is excellent. All of the above are casual.

Thanks every one for the info. and recommendations, I'll definatly give S.B. restaurants a try!

Don't forget the Greenhouse. We love their Bang Bang Shrimp Wrap!! Good 2 for 1 happy hour too.

Even though Pineapple Pete does not have sandwiches on the menu, any of the wraps could be made into a sandwich as we always have french bread in the kitchen. Just have to ask your waiter and they would be more than happy to accommodate.

Right next Little Jerusalem is The Palm's. very friendly, good food. I love their Lasagna, Drunken Ribs.

Then you should inform your server, not what we were told. We were told the french bread was small and hard served as a side for bread. He specifically stated it was not meant for sandwiches. as a restaurant owner I don't understand why you would sell a Philly as a wrap, but not on a proper hoagie roll. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> we enjoyed your food, but would not return for lunch, I love bread <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I have never been a fan of Pineapple Pete and only go there when others want to try it out. I'm with you that a Philly needs to be on a hoagie roll. Makes no sense to not have it that way.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />Can you imagine Pat's or Gino's offering a wrap option.

But you're not at Pat's or Gino's, you're at Pineapple Pete on an island in the Caribbean. I will never understand traveling and expecting, or even wanting, food like you get at home.

Don't misunderstand; I don't have a problem in the world if that's what you want to do.....it's just not what I do when I travel.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Anyone know if The Palms is on vacation, or are they just closed on Mondays? I sure missed those drunken ribs last night, but still have 2 more days to get them.

The Palms is closed on Mondays until high season. Go back tonight!!

Thank you! I didn't see Monday closings on their web site, so I started to get concerned. Maybe I'll stop by to pre-order my drunken ribs.

Pierre has one of the most successful restaurants on SXM. He really does not have to defend himself to you. If everything on SXM is the same as at home, why leave home?

Little Jerusalem did not disappoint! New item is the Roti- chicken, lamb and potatoes. Highly recommend!! Lamb, as always for the hubby. Friendly people and great food. Two new tries for us this trip: Harry's- Smoked Rib Eye and grouper. Of course we have missed Uncle Harry's. Very good and nice place. located behind White Swan Chinese. Also had lunch at Dinghy Dock. Philly was very good and fish & chips. NFL and craft beer for those who miss it!
Can't wait to visit some old favorites and try new ones suggested here! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

So, I guess I missed this before. Is "Harry's" run by Uncle Harry?

I agree with GaKaye. Part of the adventure & vacation for us is not having the same old same old food like at home.But to each their own. I can get excellent burgers right here in Canada. Great French food is our treat for our 3 weeks there!
Mind you the burger at the Sunset Bar & Grill with the blue cheese sauce is very different. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Yes.

That's all fine and we love trying all kinds of food. Why call it a Philly and not serve bread, surely not a caribbean name. He does not have to defend himself at all, he can serve what he wants. I just thought it was odd, when I asked for the wrap on bread,I was told no. The menu is very good

Perhaps due to the actual ingredients of the wrap/sandwich. You are not in Philly, you are in the Caribbean and in a restaurant run by a very successful French Canadian.

Kind of like the term "BBQ". Many different meanings, meats, preparation styles, sauces, etc. I would not expect the same "BBQ" in the Caribbean I would get in Texas or North Caroline or the midwest. It is a very regional thing and means different things to different people.

Damn, almost as much emotion expressed here as in some of the discussions about the best rental car company. Keep it flowing like a thick BBQ sauce.

Rural carrier, don't know why your so angry. We are foodies and love eating all origins of food. We eat out almost every meal, sometimes breakfast in the room or on the boat. This by no means is a Caribbean thing. I won't go to Topper's because they refuse to serve water. I now know if I go to P.P that they do not serve sandwiches. Your line of logic with the BBQ analogies falls short on what my comment was about.

Carol, yes

Exactly, call it a sint marteen beef wrap. If you are unaware of your surroundings ( cruise ship travelers) and you want something familiar it doesn't deliver. BTW as a restaurant guy as well, the answer is always yes, the question is "how". Get out the bread and make it happen.
I get the sponsorship thing but we need to be objective

I am not nor was I angry in any fashion. Just trying to make a point and a comparison.

I was in a restaurant the other day and they had a "Philly cheesesteak" pizza on the menu, should that have been on a proper hoagie roll also?

If a menu states a "wrap", then I expect a wrap with the listed ingredients. If a sandwich, then the same between some sort of bread and if a pizza then something on baked dough.

I am all for reviews and opinions, good, bad and indifferent and everyone has different tastes. Not everything is going to be the same as one experiences at home or in the states or in other parts of the world.

Hear, Hear! I sayith that the angry man makes a very good argument.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/chef.gif" alt="" /> There I am baking bread for all the wrap haters.

In my opinion this conversation has gotten silly. Started as discussion about Simpson Bay restaurants and turned into "Philly" style vs "Pineapple" style cheese steak. I know sometimes conversations go sideways, but this is a bit much.

Have to agree. This thread is done.