Get ready for a long read.

David and friends took the 3-hour Rhino Safari excursion while Mike and I had our yearly BSV lunch “date.”

David has done this excursion at least 7 times and I twice. It’s a fun adventure where you get to see the island from a unique view as you “tool” around on a sort of jet ski watercraft. A guide accompanies you as well as a photographer on his own watercraft if you’re a larger group who takes excellent photos. They are electronically available for a nominal fee. I’ve posted photos in years past showcasing the quality.They really are spectacular. The color and action shots he gets are so professional. Because you were only three of them this trip, the photographer wasn’t available.

Indigo Beach was still closed as they had not put back some of the tarps they use for shade, etc. We tried to go to Cupecoy but found no places opening for dining except one. We had a bad experience for dinner several years ago so that wasn’t an option.

We decided to check out the new Dinghy Dock Sailor Bar which was an excellent choice.

They offer a varied menu with options for casual and more substantial meals should you so desire. The atmosphere is very colorful and lively. There were more than several tables with diners when we arrived. The bartender suggested a few novelty drinks for us so how could we refuse.

We both got the Paddlewacker $13, Bushwacker, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Drizzle with Cinnamon Powder. A Bushwacker as a frozen cocktail created by a bartender in Saint Thomas in 1975 you can Google it. It’s a novelty drink we enjoyed.

The owner/ chef came over to our table to welcome us along with an introduction. She is originally from St. Thomas but lived in the states for a number of years before returning to St Thomas where they own another restaurant. She fell in love with St Maarten. A chef by trade she opened the restaurant about 3 months ago. She is a lovely woman who we enjoyed speaking with. Her staff was equally friendly.

Cash only OR Zelle, Venmo or Paypal. No gratituty or service charge is added. On Friday evenings they have Jazz night from 5-7 pm and Happy Hour is daily from 5-7 pm.

The catch of the day was mahi mahi. I ordered the mahi mahi grilled tacos. I asked for a hard shell when the waitress responded they are normally soft but I could get hard. The mahi mahi was grilled nicely with a pineapple salsa and a avocado crema. Very satisfying. Mike ate a Cubano served with fries.

Not only is the location convenient to where we are staying but the “digs” are nice and I saw a lot more on the menu I would return for. This may wind up our new Happy Hour spot.

Dinner at Sublime was ok, not our best experience compared to other previous visits.  Reservations were made through WhatsApp, they had our reservation down when we arrived.  When we arrived and through the course of our dinner, they were fairly empty.  Reservations weren’t necessary. 

I don’t know if Ladies Night (half price drinks) are still offered, thought they were but my drinks were not discounted.  Honestly forgot about this until I started writing the report.  I had two drinks, one at the bar and another for dinner and neither were discounted as I reviewed our bill I do recall I didn’t see a discount. I would have remembered that, too bad I didn’t remember to ask then about Ladies Night. 

There were at least 4 servers on the floor with only 3 tables outside and two inside seated with patrons.  Service should have been much better.  Because service wasn’t very good and my meal was just ok is the reason for it not being as pleasant a dining experience as in the past. 

Two in our party ordered the short ribs which both enjoyed with mashed potatoes and vegetables.  One ordered the stuffed chicken breast with a mushroom gravy and asked to substitute potatoes for risotto, they complied. David had the veal osso bucco with risotto.  He enjoyed his meal.  I ordered the shrimp in garlic sauce which came with two sides.  I opted for double salad.  Salad was very good.  The shrimp arrived in a rich creamy garlic sauce.  It was ok. Nothing wrong with it, shrimp were not overcooked, sauce was tasty just wasn’t “feeling it.”  All of our meals were ordered off the regular menu.  There was no special menu insert this evening. 

When the bill arrived the waitress overheard me tell our friends that 15% service charge was included. She quickly replied that 5% went to the servers, 5% to kitchen staff and 5% to the owner.   We left a cash tip and in hindsight I should not have left what I did given the noticeable lack of service. 

We  all made deposits to the Casino in Maho. There was a fair amount of people in the casino.

David treated me to a very pretty set of earrings, pendant and bracelet from  J.N. Jewlers in Maho.  He also treated himself to a watch. 

Louise--I'm confused. Are you talking about the place where El Zafiro used to be? I didn't think that was the name of it, although I can't think what the name is offhand.

Carol, I think it's just Dinghy's Bar if it's the one in the old El Zafiro, based on those webcams someone shared here recently. I've been doing a lot of viewing in preparation for January!

https://dinghysbeachbar.com/st-maarten-web-cam/

OK, thanks. Hopefully she will clarify. She said it was close to BSV, so that's why I thought that was what she meant.

Ignore photo posted I will ch today with them on exact name

Carol can you delete the third photo in my post. It appears the Dinghy bar on Airport Road has changed their name and sorry for the confusion that’s the Facebook page I was looking up.

"She quickly replied that 5% went to the servers, 5% to kitchen staff and 5% to the owner."
I find that tacky and unprofessional. If they add the 15% it's none of my business to where it goes. She should have kept her mouth shut and not try to hustle more.
Otherwise thanks for your informative report. Hope you continue to enjoy your stay.

OK, Louise, I deleted the picture.

If I'm paying it.....it is my business.

As I have posted here before, if they automatically add 15%, that's what they get, period. I don't care what the server says. I think I recall the server said something similar the last time we were at Sublime. Service was excellent on that occasion. Perhaps it is the self-fulfilling prophecy that I have stated before--it basically encourages bad service, as the servers know they are going to get the same amount, regardless of how they perform. And it's less than they get other places. Therefore, good servers vote with their feet and move on. It makes me think about whether to go back there again, as I have enjoyed it very much in the past.

I remember the last time we were at Sublime, they mentioned something about the tip.
I can't remember the exact words, but the waiter was asking for a tip. All we remember is we weren't too pleased with the way it was handled.

The service was okay to good and the food was very good!!

Sublime restaurant -

* Happy hour is 5-7pm and drinks and apps are 50% off, 7 days a week.

* Thursday Ladies Night - 20% off on all menu for ladies, with a DJ

There is both indoor and outdoor seating!


If you were there during happy hour than you should have gotten 50% off those drinks ordered during 5-7 and an additional 20% off your entree no matter what time ordered

The actual name is "Dinghy's Beach Bar & Grill".

location, old el Zafiro

No discount was on my check. We arrived after 7 so did not expect Happy Hour prices on drinks.

They have not had an DJ any of the 3 times we’ve been there over couple of years on a Thursday unless it’s after 10 pm.

I took a photo of Dinghy with the name too. Thanks for posting the clarification.

Hope you are both enjoying your trip. May you have sunny skies and fair winds the rest of your trip.

I totally agree with Louise about our experience at Sublime. We were part of her group having dinner there. I've been there 4 times previously and always had a great experience there. Service was always top notch. It was quite disappointing on Thursday night. The service was mediocre at best. My meal was very good, but when service is lacking, it takes away from the whole dining experience. The frosting on the cake was the waitress interjecting about the 15%. I can understand if we asked about it, but we did not. Hopefully they will see their service failing and correct it soon.

Mike I couldn’t have said it better.

Sorry to read this happened as Sublime has been one of my favorites ever since it opened.
And this is but one reason I hate to see any gratuity automatically added to the dinner check. Discourages the desire on the part of the servers to do a great job if tips are a given for any kind of service, good, bad or indifferent. Tips should be left to the discretion of the diners IMO,

My wife and I had a similar experience at Sublime regarding the tip last December. The service was good and the dinner was very good. When the bill arrived I noticed the 15% service charge was added in,
so I increased it slightly to bring it up to our regular 20% gratuity. When the waiter arrived to take payment he actually said "Is that all you are adding for a tip"!! I said you have already added 15% to the bill to which he said that 15% is a government tax to which I said that there is no government tax on food and then the waiter said that he gets 5%. That experience left a very bad impression on me and we haven't been back since and have no desire to return.

Pretty much the same conversation, i was trying to remember. Love the food, but not the asking for additional tips!
They have a little restaurant in Philipsburg, where I mentioned the incident to a manager there---she was very upset that this happened and promised that it would not happen again. .

Whale Tail--that is terrible. Someone should send a copy of these notes to the owner of Sublime, as their policy is costing them lots of money and customers.

"-she was very upset that this happened and promised that it would not happen again"
Looks like it wasn't.

First world problems..... if you love the food and the service is great....what's the problem with an additional 15%??

I somewhat agree but the service was mediocre at best. Having said this though I did leave a $20 cash tip though which a good tip on a $100 considering the service and already added charge. My family was in service industry so I’m a softee.

This tipping thing just gets out of hand. Everyone wants a tip. Even fast food workers. I just would like all tipping to stop. Have the establishment hire good help, pay them a living wage and put that cost in the menu or service prices. Put an end to this madness.

I would agree, yes, tipping is out of hand.

I agree tipping should die, but it’s been tried at a bunch of restaurants in the US and in the end customers simply can’t get over the psychological hurdle of higher menu prices, even when they know there is no tipping. And servers end up making less money. Overall it hurts business.

https://www.eater.com/21398973/restaurant-no-tipping-movement-living-wage-future

Now the self-checkout at the airport convenience shop prompting me for a tip is a whole different rant.

eight--yes, that is full of you-know-what.