It's Thursday, I think.......

Yesterday was a lovely day to be on St. Maarten.

Sunshine with strong breezes - a great combination but a day to remind oneself to keep applying the sunscreen.

We started with breakfast in the room and eventually headed to the lobby to meet our friends and hit the beach and the beach of the day was my favorite of 40 plus years - Mullet, of course.

Beach conditions weren't absolutely perfect but they were close and much more than just doable and totally pleasant for us. Chairs and umbrellas all squared away, we settled in for a wonderful day.

There was a small and easily walkable slant down to the water but no sand cliffs and once in the water, perhaps 10 - 15 feet out, there was a small drop down in the sand but it was easily doable, even for short-legged people with achey knees and the like. The water was delightful with slow rollers but no huge crashing waves - the kind of day where you could bob in the water for hours if so inclined. To me, that aspect in itself was near perfect.

Around noon, John's inner tradesman's alarm went off so we headed up and claimed a table at Rosie's stand. Four cold drinks and four plates of ribs and fries later - it just couldn't get any better. So lunch done and another dip in the water and we settled back under our umbrellas and watched the antics of the day. Boat excursions came and went all day - we dubbed them the 'noodle crews' with no disrespect intended - we saw Mirabella, Heineken, Golden Eagle and a few private boats along with my personal favorite, the Random Wind with the mate doing her usual trapeze stunts and the guests trying to emulate her prowess. A few came close but no major successes in that department.

Around three-ish we headed back to our rooms to nap and get ready for the evening plan. Dinner at Mario's Bistro at Cupecoy.

Reservations are almost mandatory if you want to be assured of a table even at this slower time so anyone planning on going there 'in season' I strongly recommend you make them.

We started with their carmelized onion soup and it hasn't changed one iota from what I remember, and it's still almost a meal in itself and very filling. As our soup is being enjoyed the place is really filling up. Out come our entrees, one seared tuna plate to accommodate one of our friends with gluten free diet requirements, two shrimp and scallop plates with a lobster risotto and of course, my rack of lamb with baby roasted potatoes and brocolli and dressed with a whole roasted garlic and a fig 'something' whose name I've forgotten. So it's no secret, I'm not a major gourmand and I'm often just as happy with Rosie's ribs as I am a great epicurean delight, but our dinners were ALL out of this world. You could literally cut the lamb with the side of your fork, and I know this because I did. It was deliciously flavored with garlic and herbs I wouldn't attempt to guess at and name. Yummy, all of it.

And now the down side - sad but true, there is one.

I'm sure the rents are astronomical at Porto Cepecoy and to help with this, they have tabled every nook and corner (10 to 12 tables, I'm guessing,) and the bar has become a focal point, too. When the place fills up, and it does quickly, the acoustics are horrendous. This is not the dinner spot for a romantic intimate evening as the old one was, and if you want to actually talk to your companions while dining, you almost need to shout to be heard by them. As we were leaving, our waiter - a very pleasant young man - thanked us for coming and apologized for the acoustics. That's sad.

I think our dinners averaged $140.00 per couple and included mixed drinks, apps and entrees but no desserts. And they are still not accepting credit cards. All things in consideration, I'm doubtful we'll return, but who's to say what might happen down the road. The food was absolutely delicious and perhaps we might get lucky and hit a low reservation night.

We wandered around the courtyard enjoying the solo entertainer and his music along with the Christmas decorations - a little tacky but still adding to the over-all enjoyment of the evening and the place.

Home and to lalaland with another terrific SXM day under our belts.

Thanks for the report. Wish I had been there to share that Mullet kind of day with you. That's too bad about the acoustics at Marios. I wonder if they can install something on the ceiling to help with that?? That's odd to me that they are not accepting credit cards, considering they have been open for, what, a month? Had not heard anyone mention that before. I hope they mentioned that when you made the reservation, as one would not expect that from them.

Not sure about installing anything to counter the noise factor but it would be nice if they could. I know they have ceiling fans on order so perhaps, that too will happen.

And yes, they did tell us about no credit cards being accepted. I'm thinking it will last as long as they can get away with it. Just sayin'............

The food and service was still Marios, but the noise factor was something we had never experienced there under other names. There will always be the occasional loud table, and I'm sure on occasion we've probably BEEN. That table, too, but that was not the case last nice. Friends were there another full house night and had the same experience. I guess we'll see what, if anything, happens down the road.

I'm not an engineer at all, but I think there is something that they can put on ceilings to dampen noise. And a restaurant of that caliber HAS to accept credit cards.

Pat, Are you planning on getting over to Alegria and see "what's shaking?" Enjoy your well documented trip reporting...

Thanks for another great update.

Mario's Bistro is on my list as I have never been there.

There is sound baffling/absorbing material out there and sounds like this would be a good place to use some.

Pat,

Thanks for another great installment. We were very anxious to hear what you thought of the new Mario's. I am thrilled to hear that the food is as good as ever, less than thrilled to hear about the loudness issues. We still plan on visiting them during our April trip at least once and are hoping for a great dining experience. It wouldn't be a SXM trip for us without a visit (usually two) to Mario's. We stay at the Cliff so it is more convenient than ever although we would gladly drive anywhere on the island for his food.

Thanks for the report of your days activity. We had a similar day at Mullet last month and it was glorious to float around in the calm water.

Some day I hope to experience one of your Mullet days. Every time I've been there, there has been a huge cliff which was difficult to climb.

Having never been to the old Mario's, I'm looking forward to visiting this new location. In June, I'm hopeful the noise factor won't be as bad as it was for you.

Pat,
I believe Mario's used to take credit cards. In fact, I am sure that we have used them for several years in the old location. Did they explain why they weren't using them. Have the prices increased considerably. I also wondered why Didier is no longer there. When we bought the Mario's cookbook, he was featured as an important part of the team. We even had him sign our books. I keep asking but never get an answer. We really like him and hope he is well. I was salivating at your description on the onion soup, always my favorite and you are right, a meal in itself. Enjoy the rest of your stay and keep posting so I can live vicariously through you until April.

I was told that Mario bought Didier out more than a year ago. As to the credit card issue: The new Mario Bistrot is operating in a different country, and if you've ever dealt with a bank here in SXM, you know how long things can take. I was going to have to wait 2 months for an appointment to close an account with RBC last year, until someone with clout in Canada intervened on my behalf.

Linda,

For years I never knew Mullet could take on the sand cliff aspect and the crashing waves since through most of our earliest visits we only experienced a wide and almost flat beach right down to the water's edge. It wasn't at all unusual to drag the chairs right up to the water's edge and let the occasional small wave kiss your toes. The Mullet Resort beach concession stand rented rubber floats and you could drift in the water for what seemed like hours without fear of being dragged out too far or getting hurled onto the beach. Today, I'm thinking if you did that on any but the most perfect 'Mullet Kinda Day' you would either end up in Saba or tossed up onto the golf course.

And I'm thinking, with regard to Marios, you will thoroughly enjoy a dinner there as the food, presentation and service are all delightful and I'm sure they will do something to try to alleviate the acoustics issues, though in talking to another friend who'd also just been there, but on an evening when it was only about fifty percent occupied, he didn't find the noise issue to be bad at all. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Lobstahroll,

I don't know the ins and outs of the personalities and the ownership of either Marios but the meals we all enjoyed were excellent and for the food and service, I'd go back in a heartbeat but I would pray first for an off night in reservations their reservations. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I figured that was the issue with credit cards, but I would think that would be a priority.

Carol, you among all of us, should know that the word PRIORITY has a totally different meaning at home than it does here, for sure. And in the meantime, for as long as the change-over from French to Dutch takes, they're saving a hefty percentage on every cash transaction. What? Why hurry it up? It is what it is, IMHO!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

But let's think about this, if they are packed every night, and their customers are aware it's cash only, why bother with credit cards, why pay the bank 3-5% for credit card transactions when they really don't need to?

Well, yeah, but if you tick off a bunch of your long time customers and they don't come back, then you lose overall. And a restaurant of that caliber just HAS to take credit cards. There is a lot of initial demand, from people who didn't want to travel to their old location, but that demand will dry up eventually..

It probably is a priority for Mario, Carol, but not necessarily for the bank - LOL! Incidentally, I had lunch at Dino's new place, The Grill, at Starz casino yesterday, and no credit cards there yet, either.

How did you like The Grill? I understand it's Dino's food, but casual and fairly inexpensive?

There is a well know local steakhouse in Dayton that is either CASH ONLY or their own house charge account. Nationally known and a wait every night for dinner and no thoughts of taking plastic.

The fact Mario's did take credit cards would indicate they will again but hey, if you can save the credit card fee and get by with taking cash.....why not?

Exactly. We are in a service business, and can't justify accepting credit cards or our bottom line would get eaten away. If it's the only way to get paid, then we will, we have even tried to say we will accept, but the customer pays the 4%, they end up paying by check. I'm sure once it's out that Marios is cash only, it really won't be an issue, we try not to use credit cards on the island unless we have to, and usually only on the French side for a better rate.

They are indicating it is cash only for now until they get everything worked out with the bank on the Dutch side. Since they had no problems accepting credit cards in the past, I'm sure they will do that again as a service to their customers. As Wendy stated banking is a whole different situation on the island.

It was very good, and yes, fairly inexpensive. Most lunch entrees were around $12;burgers $14. A glass of rose was $7 and refillable unsweetened iced tea $3.

Here in Florida, we can't charge more to accept a credit card. Regardless, I know that some people just flat won't retain me unless they can do it with a credit card. If you're paying 4%, that's BS, no way you should be paying 4%. I accept credit cards, have zero monthly expense for it and pay about 2.7%. I guess you are in the enviable position that people will use your service regardless of how they pay. For me, if I didn't accept credit cards, a lot of people would just go somewhere else.