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Day 7 #216114
01/30/2020 03:52 PM
01/30/2020 03:52 PM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
SXMNorm Offline OP
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SXMNorm  Offline OP
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Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
Just an early morning shower before we got up, so it was off to the elZafiro beach on Simpson Bay. With boats in we knew it would be crowded, but needed to drop off a little glass dish to assistant manager, Roan, for all her help on previous visits there. Chairs are free with food and drink purchase. Started with a Miami Vice drink which mixes Pinacolada and strawberry smoothie. This is Anna(Annie) delivering it. Lunch was their Chicken Caesar salad. A little more beach and back for our usual afternoon nap. We made reservations (highly recommended) for dinner at Palapa Grill on Airport Rd. Our table was waiting when we arrived. We ordered a 9oz Tenderloin. OMG!!!!!!! what a tender piece of meat. We both agreed that it was the best steak we had ever had!!!!!!!!!! It comes with fries and you can order different sauces. Save your money, this steak doesn't need anything. Dessert was their Lemon Grass Creme Brulee. Also outstanding!!! A stop down the street at Ultimate Casino. Norm up, Betty down.

Attached Files DSCN1603.JPGDSCN1604.JPGDSCN1605.JPGDSCN1606.JPGDSCN1607.JPGDSCN1608.JPGDSCN1609.JPG

Next SXM visit -November 2023. Also January 2024.
SXM Sponsors
Re: Day 7 [Re: SXMNorm] #216116
01/30/2020 04:07 PM
01/30/2020 04:07 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 65
E
EveVer Offline
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EveVer  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 65
Nice! Have fun! I am jealous! smile

Re: Day 7 [Re: SXMNorm] #216131
01/30/2020 05:39 PM
01/30/2020 05:39 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,565
Auburn, WA
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Auburn, WA
9oz Tenderloin is a generous piece of meat. May I ask how much for that cut?

Re: Day 7 [Re: SXMScubaman] #216133
01/30/2020 05:43 PM
01/30/2020 05:43 PM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
SXMNorm Offline OP
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SXMNorm  Offline OP
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Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
The 9 oz tenderloin was $41.00 . They had a 6 oz which was $30something and a 11 oz which was $49. But the 9 oz split satisfing portion for each of us.


Next SXM visit -November 2023. Also January 2024.
Re: Day 7 [Re: SXMNorm] #216135
01/30/2020 05:54 PM
01/30/2020 05:54 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,565
Auburn, WA
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SXMScubaman  Online Content
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Auburn, WA
Thanks. Prices seem reasonable for the quality you shared.

Re: Day 7 [Re: SXMNorm] #216136
01/30/2020 06:02 PM
01/30/2020 06:02 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,470
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
Norm--did that come with a salad or just fries?


Carol Hill
Re: Day 7 [Re: SXMNorm] #216165
01/31/2020 02:29 AM
01/31/2020 02:29 AM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
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SXMBND Offline
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SXMBND  Offline
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South Coast of MA
Just fries along with a 10% sales tax and 5% service charge......

Re: Day 7 [Re: SXMBND] #216171
01/31/2020 06:11 AM
01/31/2020 06:11 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Posts: 17,476
Ohio
Originally Posted by SXMBND
Just fries along with a 10% sales tax and 5% service charge......

Odd, as there is no sales tax in SXM. Looks like a good way to disguise an additional service charge if they are in fact doing this.


J.D.
Re: Day 7 [Re: ruralcarrier] #216173
01/31/2020 07:05 AM
01/31/2020 07:05 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,040
falmouth,MA
wendyk Offline
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wendyk  Offline
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falmouth,MA
Some friends ate there last week and said there is also a $1 "box' fee, if you bring food home!

Re: Day 7 [Re: wendyk] #216177
01/31/2020 08:08 AM
01/31/2020 08:08 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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Ohio
We ate there in Nov. and had a decent meal. I thought there was a 15% (service) charge of some sort so I paid the bill and left a couple of $$ extra. My biggest disappointment was the extremely short pour of cheap (US/CA brand) house Cabernet at a high price. I honestly thought the pour was a tasting. The place has been getting decent reviews but I don't get a $1 box fee for what is probably a styrofoam box that costs pennies.


J.D.
Re: Day 7 [Re: SXMNorm] #216178
01/31/2020 08:27 AM
01/31/2020 08:27 AM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,580
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MotownTim Offline
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I’ll probably hit El Zafio today. Anna (her name is longer but I can’t remember) and her friend are always great on the beach. The weather is really nice now. Finally.

Re: Day 7 [Re: MotownTim] #216179
01/31/2020 08:35 AM
01/31/2020 08:35 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
SXMNorm Offline OP
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SXMNorm  Offline OP
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Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
It's Annalee, although that might not be the proper spelling. She goes by Annie, a lot.


Next SXM visit -November 2023. Also January 2024.
Re: Day 7 [Re: ruralcarrier] #216182
01/31/2020 08:59 AM
01/31/2020 08:59 AM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
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SXMBND Offline
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SXMBND  Offline
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South Coast of MA
Originally Posted by ruralcarrier
Originally Posted by SXMBND
Just fries along with a 10% sales tax and 5% service charge......

Odd, as there is no sales tax in SXM. Looks like a good way to disguise an additional service charge if they are in fact doing this.


Indeed they are.........but you don't find out til the end. Decent meal but ruined the experience for me by slipping that in.

Re: Day 7 [Re: ruralcarrier] #216184
01/31/2020 09:01 AM
01/31/2020 09:01 AM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
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SXMBND Offline
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SXMBND  Offline
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South Coast of MA
They got me once.....never again.

Re: Day 7 [Re: SXMBND] #216187
01/31/2020 09:08 AM
01/31/2020 09:08 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Posts: 17,476
Ohio
Originally Posted by SXMBND
They got me once.....never again.

Regardless of how it is stated on the bill, I would view the sum total of both add-ons as their service charge and be done with it unless one wanted to leave something extra for the server.

Some places on the island have been known to show the TOT (turnover tax of 5%) on the bill or verbally state it is part of the service charge, which is supposedly not how it is to be done. When they do this I factor it in as part of the total service charge. Once anything resembling 15% is added to the bill on Dutch SXM, it IS a service charge.


J.D.
Re: Day 7 [Re: ruralcarrier] #216188
01/31/2020 09:14 AM
01/31/2020 09:14 AM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,580
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MotownTim Offline
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El Zafiro adds 15% to the bill.

Re: Day 7 [Re: ruralcarrier] #216191
01/31/2020 09:23 AM
01/31/2020 09:23 AM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
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SXMBND Offline
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
Originally Posted by ruralcarrier
Originally Posted by SXMBND
They got me once.....never again.

Regardless of how it is stated on the bill, I would view the sum total of both add-ons as their service charge and be done with it unless one wanted to leave something extra for the server.

Some places on the island have been known to show the TOT (turnover tax of 5%) on the bill or verbally state it is part of the service charge, which is supposedly not how it is to be done. When they do this I factor it in as part of the total service charge. Once anything resembling 15% is added to the bill on Dutch SXM, it IS a service charge.


Agreed.......... but NOT when they specifically refer to it as a "Sales Tax".

Re: Day 7 [Re: MotownTim] #216192
01/31/2020 09:24 AM
01/31/2020 09:24 AM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
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SXMBND Offline
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SXMBND  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
Originally Posted by MotownTim
El Zafiro adds 15% to the bill.


Fine by me as long as it's called a "Service" charge and not a non-existent "Sales Tax"

Re: Day 7 [Re: SXMBND] #216202
01/31/2020 09:51 AM
01/31/2020 09:51 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Posts: 17,476
Ohio
Originally Posted by SXMBND
Originally Posted by ruralcarrier
Originally Posted by SXMBND
They got me once.....never again.

Regardless of how it is stated on the bill, I would view the sum total of both add-ons as their service charge and be done with it unless one wanted to leave something extra for the server.

Some places on the island have been known to show the TOT (turnover tax of 5%) on the bill or verbally state it is part of the service charge, which is supposedly not how it is to be done. When they do this I factor it in as part of the total service charge. Once anything resembling 15% is added to the bill on Dutch SXM, it IS a service charge.


Agreed.......... but NOT when they specifically refer to it as a "Sales Tax".

Any chance the receipt/bill is not "island friendly" and the only line to show the additional 10% service charge was on a tax line? Confusion at best and deceptive at worse. Not sure why they wouldn't just lump the two together for a total of 15% but I guess if you are trying to confuse people, you do it as they are.


J.D.
Re: Day 7 [Re: ruralcarrier] #216205
01/31/2020 10:03 AM
01/31/2020 10:03 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,470
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,470
Central Florida!
Agreed, JD, that is disappointing and deceptive, with the 15%. Just call it a 15% service charge, which it seems half the places on the Dutch side are doing now, and be done with it. As far as the 'box' fee, have never heard of that before, at ANY restaurant. I wonder if they have bought some type of environmentally friendly box that is fairly expensive and are trying to recoup the cost for that? That wine situation would be a big disappointment for me also. The markup on wine is ridiculous already, without them doing that kind of stuff. I would have asked about the wine situation.


Carol Hill
Re: Day 7 [Re: Carol_Hill] #216214
01/31/2020 10:21 AM
01/31/2020 10:21 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Posts: 17,476
Ohio
Another person at our table had a white wine and it was the same very small pour. A typical pour is around 5oz. I doubt I had 3oz of Josh Cabernet and it was in the $8-$10 range if not more. The server poured what I thought was for me to tastes and approve, she then walked away and what was poured was what I got.

The 15% service charge, however they want to disguise it) is akin to the service charge being built in on the French side. Best to not ask, take it as any added charge IS the service charge and add any reasonable amount for the service it it is deserved.


J.D.
Re: Day 7 [Re: ruralcarrier] #216215
01/31/2020 10:24 AM
01/31/2020 10:24 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,470
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,470
Central Florida!
Huh. Guess if we go there, a bottle is the way to go. I generally don't order US wine in SXM, as it is over-priced there, versus other wines.


Carol Hill
Re: Day 7 [Re: Carol_Hill] #216216
01/31/2020 10:25 AM
01/31/2020 10:25 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Posts: 17,476
Ohio
I would usually go that route but I was the only one drinking red wine. I would have been ok with the price had it been a reasonable pour.


J.D.
Re: Day 7 [Re: SXMNorm] #216226
01/31/2020 11:33 AM
01/31/2020 11:33 AM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
Norm,

Just curiosity on my part but but when you and Betty share entries do you typically get charged a plating fee in most island restaurants? I know many places here at home do this but not sure about on the island. I’ve contemplated sharing meals many times but we usually end up ordering individual meals and doing carry out with any substantial uneaten portions.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Day 7 [Re: ruralcarrier] #216231
01/31/2020 12:05 PM
01/31/2020 12:05 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,565
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,565
Auburn, WA
Originally Posted by ruralcarrier
Originally Posted by SXMBND
Originally Posted by ruralcarrier
Originally Posted by SXMBND
They got me once.....never again.

Regardless of how it is stated on the bill, I would view the sum total of both add-ons as their service charge and be done with it unless one wanted to leave something extra for the server.

Some places on the island have been known to show the TOT (turnover tax of 5%) on the bill or verbally state it is part of the service charge, which is supposedly not how it is to be done. When they do this I factor it in as part of the total service charge. Once anything resembling 15% is added to the bill on Dutch SXM, it IS a service charge.


Agreed.......... but NOT when they specifically refer to it as a "Sales Tax".

Any chance the receipt/bill is not "island friendly" and the only line to show the additional 10% service charge was on a tax line? Confusion at best and deceptive at worse. Not sure why they wouldn't just lump the two together for a total of 15% but I guess if you are trying to confuse people, you do it as they are.

I doubt if it is a receipt/bill problem as the bill showed a separate 5% SC add on. Jimbo's is one that shows a separate line for TOT. which is illegal, and 15% SC along with Pineapple Pete breaking down the 15% as part TOT.

Re: Day 7 [Re: pat] #216243
01/31/2020 04:55 PM
01/31/2020 04:55 PM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
SXMNorm Offline OP
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SXMNorm  Offline OP
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Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
Pat, Think we have only been charged a plating fee once on SXM. Can't remember where it was. Palapa Grill did not charge for extra plate.


Next SXM visit -November 2023. Also January 2024.
Re: Day 7 [Re: SXMNorm] #216386
02/02/2020 12:10 AM
02/02/2020 12:10 AM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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Thank you, Norm.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."

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