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Caribbean Journal Top 50 Restaurants for 2015

I've been to or know about all the SXM restaurants but hadn't heard about Le Soleil in Grand Case.
Anyone here been to this one?

We were there a few years ago. It's on the beach side, down toward Il Nettuno. Frankly, when we went, it was nice, but certainly nothing up to the caliber of MANY other places in GC. Those ratings may well be based on how much the individual restaurant PAID to be listed too. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Crazy.gif" alt="" />

Nice to see La Petite Auberge des Iles on the list.

Thanks, I should have known as I hadn't heard about this restaurant before. Of course, TTOL has the 411. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

LINK

We had lunch at Le Soleil recently, and I'd rate it high for the dishes we had, mahi-mahi tartare with coconut milk and beef carpaccio with a balsamic glaze. No, it's no Pressoir, but the day we ate there it was a perfect meal, sitting waterside in the restaurant with a couple of Ti Punches. The beach ambience certainly added to our enjoyment of the meal, sort of how Dreams' food "tastes" much better at their restaurant than it would elsewhere. Ambience does count for a lot.

We will be back.

I should add that this is the only restaurant I have seen on the French side who's English menu states that service charge is included.

We use to go to La Petite all the time when Francoise and Bruno owned it. Now with the problems in Marigot, we haven't been there in a long time. Very sad.
We also miss the Marano Glass gift shop. Also nice owners.

So many changes.....

Le Soliel is a lovely family run restaurant in Grand Case. The food is excellent and the view is fabulous. I don't believe they paid for the review, a rather cynical comment.

Vikki,

I honestly don't have a clue as to whether one 'pays' to make the top fifty restaurant list or not, but given the high prices the jewelry stores have to pay to be the 'preferred' jeweler on any given island, nothing would surprise me. And I would have questioned the veracity of this if I hadn't been in one of the shops on Front Street and witnessed the 'shake down' first hand. You just never know.......

I remember when they won last year and they were very surprised. They are very unassuming and didn't even advertise their win.

Then the chances sound pretty good the honor was won on merit alone and kudos to them not just for this year but for earning the honor not just once but two years in a row. Sounds like another good place to try next time the opportunity arises! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Yes, definitely try them out. Great food and beautiful sunset views.

Cynical can often be translated into factual with regard to any of these 'best of' whatever. And 'best of' is always in the eye of the beholder, and it depends on what their criteria are and what they want to focus on. To me, it looks like the author(s) of the list were going more for the setting, view, etc., than concentrating on the FOOD, per se. Which doesn't mean their list is wrong, just a much different list than what many other people would make. I would say that many or most of the restaurants that are widely considered the 'best' on SXM for FOOD are not on that list, possibly because they don't have a great view. Different perameters for determining 'best'. Such lists are fun reading and good for discussion though.

Well said, Carol and I would add that my experience with such lists favor the "incumbents" some times long after their prime which can be short in the Caribbean.

I would sum it up by saying that it is "the experience", food, service, atmosphere, etc..