TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin La Villa Hibiscus

Spent day relaxing at nearly empty community pool
Did say hello to some locals who live year round and fun to see their children grow up year to year

A short drive from our rental in Orient is La Villa Hibiscus in the former Sol E Luna in Cul de Sac

A beautiful restaurant, maybe the prettiest with a glass enclosed kitchen where you can view a very focused chef and sous chef preparing all the courses

They offer 3 prix fixes ranging from 75 euro to someone like 225 euros

We had tried the grand prix fix a few years ago and while it was an experience, I would mostly call it tweerer food from the cover of a gourmet magazine

We chose the "simple" 5 course which the server described as bisto food
I translated this to mean simpler presented and it was exactly that

Service is comparable to that of a michelin restaurant where the chef has worked at several back in France

All food is carried out of the kitchen on large wooden trays which are gently placed on a serving table in the dinning room, all food is presented to the table under a glass dome

There are 3 choices for each course

A stunning amuse bouche offer a spherical sweet pea mousse topped with caviar along with a demitasse cup filled with something carrot

Our first course choices were a "meat pie" which resembled a thick chopped country pate as well as carribean style ceviche
Both were nicely presented although we prefer a more traditional ceviche

A pork dish similar to a gallotine showed very well on the plate as well as the palate
My wife's choice was vegetarian for something different and was 3 large rigatoni filled with a eggplant puree
A great choice since we have been enjoying much fish recently

I hopefully can add pictures when I have my computer back for visual highlights

The cheese course offered a ramekin of melted gooey cheese

Desserts included a weird combination of an floating island in a perfect ball with a turmeric sauce
This somehow really worked well together

My wife's dessert was similar to a peach parfait that I found refreshing

Thier 5 course menu changes monthly

Wine by the glass started at 15 euros and a glass of red burgundy topped out at 22 euros which is high for the island although better quality

While my wife did not enjoy the previous grand tasting menu, she really enjoyed this meal

Definitely a bit more expensive than most all other traditional French restaurants. but still a very enjoyable evening

They do post the monthly menu on their home Facebook page

Thanks for the report! Would love to see pictures!