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Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
#184878
02/20/2019 07:44 PM
02/20/2019 07:44 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 223 Virginia Beach, VA USA
barryvabeach
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 223
Virginia Beach, VA USA
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We arrived back to SXM after our trip last year was changed due to IRMA. We are staying in Grand Case, and overall I think the recovery efforts have paid off, though of course, there is much more to do.
We ate the first night ate at the Lolo's - the scenery looking out over the beach was very nice. The second night we went to Piazza Pascal - I thought the Shrimp Scampi was perfect, not oozing in melted butter, or overpowering garlic, just everything seasoned exactly right. My wife agreed. She had the pork tenderloin with blueberries and described it as yummy.
Tuesday during the day we went to Orient - due to some not positive posts here, we went past Bikini, and went to Kontiki. Very impressed with the rebuild, and I had a burger which was pretty good, though the fries were excellent, my wife had the Kontiki bowl with mahi and sesame dressing, and she said it was quite good, for dessert, she had the key lime cheesecake with rasberry sherbet. I told her it was not a contest, but she won, I had a peach infused with jasmine tea and we both agreed it was not very flavorful. I thought the service was pretty good, we got there at 10 and were able to get chairs in the first row ( $30 for two chairs and an umbrella) but the chair guy said if we wanted to stay for lunch we should make reservations, which we did. Within a short time, all 3 rows of chairs were full, and they were pretty busy at lunch. Lunch came out pretty quickly, but there was a delay for dessert, in part because a 5 minute rain shower emptied the beach into the restaurant.
The next night was Capt Frenchy's. He is now operating out of a container, and normally serves lunch only, and rents chairs, but he said he would be open Tuesday night due to the Festival, and I wanted to support him so we went. It is a few picnic tables on the sand, and we were the only ones there around 6, but the chicken was great, and so was my wife's burger. We then went back down the street for the festival - much more crowded than the last time we were here Pre Irma - and not only crowded with visitors, they had some great offerings. In addition to artwork, jewelry, and food, they had 3 bands of live music, spread out enough so they didn't conflict, and my favorite was a children's sized mechanical bull - I watched two kids ride it and they had a blast.
Today we went to Friar's Bay. A little disappointed, the beach has lots of pebbles, and in my opinion, not as nice as Grand Case beach. The restaurant did not accept credit cards, and I may have misread it, but I think the sign said the exchange rate was $1.4 dollars to the euro. We didn't stay very long, and headed back the Grand Case beach. For dinner tonight we wanted something quick, and found a pizza stand Olympia Pizza, near the bridge. He only had 4 bar stools and a bar facing the street, and seems to have a fair amount of takeout traffic. He had a great pizza - a cross between a New York Style and a neapolitan . Not a cracker pizza like Orange Fever, and boy do I miss OF, but still very good.
All in all, the beach itself in Grand Case is in great condition. Capt Frenchy's and Rainbow offer chair rental, though I don't know where people park. While many of the restaurants on the water are still not open, and probably quite a long way from it, if you include the many hotel restaurants, there are still quite a few choices in walking up and down the street.
Sorry, no photos, I took some but have not figured how to upload them to the web from here.
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: barryvabeach]
#184916
02/21/2019 10:22 AM
02/21/2019 10:22 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,852 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,852
Central Florida!
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Hi. Hopefully this is just the first installment in your report? I hope you're staying longer than 3 days!! I may have to try that Olympia Pizza in June.
Carol Hill
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#184926
02/21/2019 11:25 AM
02/21/2019 11:25 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 423 Denver, Colorado
mdldgl
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 423
Denver, Colorado
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$1.40 exchange rate is highway robbery considering it's currently slightly below $1.14. With not accepting CC's you are at their mercy. I remember last May it was cash also with a high exchange rate that was nowhere near the actual rate. Just a quick clearification. We were at Friar’s Beach on Saturday. The exchange rate was $1.20 US TO 1 Euro. $1.40 CAN to 1 EURO
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#184935
02/21/2019 01:15 PM
02/21/2019 01:15 PM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 731
bran
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Posts: 731
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Or pay in US cash at 1.20 and leave no extra gratuity which would be built into the bill any way. Think most are marking it up to 1.20. Which is probably fair. I usually pay in cash anyway and if say Restaurants are paying between 2.50-3% on credit cards, even at 1.13 rate, for cash, very few would agree I would have thought, for a one on one arrangement. Suppose one can always ask. Stores might agree, not sure if higher end restaurants would though? Scuba, are you referring to places that add say 15% service charge regardless if one leaves a tip or not? I don't know many that do. Think for a good Restaurant with good service anything less than 10% is not the way to go. I usually leave 20%. Not sure what others do here but perhaps Tipping needs its own section.
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: bran]
#184936
02/21/2019 01:28 PM
02/21/2019 01:28 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649 Brookfield, CT.
pat
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649
Brookfield, CT.
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I could be mistaken but I think Scuba was referring to restaurants on the French side where, in most cases, our normal US habit of tipping 15 to 20% is not necessary since this is already built into the prices you see on the menu.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: barryvabeach]
#184955
02/21/2019 04:03 PM
02/21/2019 04:03 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 223 Virginia Beach, VA USA
barryvabeach
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 223
Virginia Beach, VA USA
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Ron and Carol thanks. Yes we are staying through Sunday. We are staying at L'Atlantide, it has 6 or so units, some owned by different owners, the one we rented from listed his unit on Homeaway. It is two buildings north of Rainbow Cafe , We stayed at the building next to Rainbow the last time we were here, and unfortunately, the music on Monday night was pretty bad , though right now Rainbow appears to be closed on Monday, at least it does not have Mojito Monday. I looked at a number of other places in Grand Case on the water, it was pretty easy to find studios, but I much prefer the extra space of getting a full bedroom. Many of the places on the water in Grand Case are still being worked on, so there may be more selection next year.
The real downside of staying in Grand Case on the water, it that it is hard to do much better. We went to Simpson Bay - Karakters today, since I have read so many posts. The drinks were quite good, and the food was okay, though again, I prefer the beach here, it is a little calmer.
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: barryvabeach]
#184958
02/21/2019 04:13 PM
02/21/2019 04:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,852 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,852
Central Florida!
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barry--If you get the chance to check, which restaurants are open on the water side in Grand Case now? I know that Rainbow, the lolos, and what used to be Il Nettuno are open (under another name). What other restaurants are open, if any, on the waterfront? Looking for dinner on the water, NOT land side. Is there any action going on to rebuild Ocean 82, for instance?
Carol Hill
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: jazzgal]
#184965
02/21/2019 05:02 PM
02/21/2019 05:02 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,852 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,852
Central Florida!
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I was thinking that was the place that used to be Il Nettuno?? Or not?
Carol Hill
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#184969
02/21/2019 05:48 PM
02/21/2019 05:48 PM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 731
bran
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Posts: 731
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"Scuba, are you referring to places that add say 15% service charge regardless if one leaves a tip or not? I don't know many that do. Think for a good Restaurant with good service anything less than 10% is not the way to go. I usually leave 20%. Not sure what others do here but perhaps Tipping needs its own sectio" No i'm referring to French restaurants that are supposed to have SC fixed in their menu price.
"I could be mistaken but I think Scuba was referring to restaurants on the French side where, in most cases, our normal US habit of tipping 15 to 20% is not necessary since this is already built into the prices you see on the menu." Correct
Confused. How do you know that the tip is built into the prices? I am probably missing something here. So are you saying that they wont be offended if no tips are left at all? L'Auberge, Le Pressoir, etc.... Or pay in US cash at 1.20 and leave no extra gratuity which would be built into the bill any way. Ah, the penny has dropped, just re-read what you said......Round it up to 1.20..so 20% on top of the Euro price?? But if lets say in 2 months its 1.15 for example. Won't that be on the low side with the tip?
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#184975
02/21/2019 06:19 PM
02/21/2019 06:19 PM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 731
bran
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 731
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French law states that SC has to be incorporated in the menu price unless otherwise noted on menu. And even that just a few euros is plenty enough if not noted. Wow, never knew that? So on lets say a €120.00 meal, (today's rate)what would be acceptable in Dollars including tip please? Thank you.
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: barryvabeach]
#184994
02/21/2019 09:29 PM
02/21/2019 09:29 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 223 Virginia Beach, VA USA
barryvabeach
OP
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 223
Virginia Beach, VA USA
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Carol, There are quite a few, I will try to make a list tomorrow. One option is Cerises, a k a Le temps des Cerises Restaurant, it is attached to the hotel next door , and they have a second floor balcony with dining tables and bar stools facing the water. I haven't eaten there, but if you look it up on trip advisor, you will see photo showing the dining area, and the bar stools facing the ocean. We have passed by Oceans 82 a half dozen times, and I haven't paid enough attention to see if they are working, yet another thing for me to do tomorrow.
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: bran]
#185001
02/21/2019 09:57 PM
02/21/2019 09:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,143 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
islandgem
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,143
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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There is a French law regarding tipping. It applies ONLY to restaurants on the FRENCH side of the island. Many restaurants on the DUTCH side add 15% to your bill. Look for it added before you pay. Still many restaurants on the DUTCH side leave the tip to your own descretion and do not add it . If not added, you can leave an appropriate amount for the tip.
ON the FRENCH side,keep in mind that the SERVICE and TAX are both included in the price you see on the menu (indicated by the words service compris, and it’s 15%). I repeat, the tip is already included. Keep that in mind when you’re considering tipping in France. The servers are paid a very good wage and do not depend on tips to supplement their salary.
If you leave additional money on the table, you’re tipping twice! Leaving a few euros for a particularly great meal/great service is always appreciated but never expected. If you decide to tip, just leave the coins in the plastic tray with the receipt on the table. It’s perfectly fine to round a bill up if you had good service like leaving 40euros if the bill was 37 euros. You can go a little higher at a particularly fancy restaurant where you had a wonderful meal. But it would be unusual to leave a 20%, USA style tip at a mediocre casual restaurant, so don’t do that unless you really feel compelled for some reason. The tip you leave is called a pourboire which is just the amount the server can use to purchase a drink for himself or herself. If you choose not to leave a tip that is perfectly OK too!
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: barryvabeach]
#185003
02/21/2019 10:27 PM
02/21/2019 10:27 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,852 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,852
Central Florida!
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Hi Barry. I probably should have made my question a separate thread. So if you don't mind, if you could post a separate note with the list of the restaurants on the water? I'd appreciate it!!!
Carol Hill
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: bran]
#185016
02/22/2019 12:52 AM
02/22/2019 12:52 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,143 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
islandgem
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,143
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Not sure why you quoted part of my post and replied to me, but hopefully it was because you understand the tipping law now. It really does make dining on the French side easier when you are aware of what is customary.
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Re: Trip Report Grand Case Feb 17 - 20
[Re: islandgem]
#185058
02/22/2019 02:26 PM
02/22/2019 02:26 PM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 731
bran
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 731
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Not sure why you quoted part of my post and replied to me, but hopefully it was because you understand the tipping law now. It really does make dining on the French side easier when you are aware of what is customary. Your not kidding. Many thanks.
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