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Latest trip April 19- May 1
#96544
05/03/2016 06:59 PM
05/03/2016 06:59 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 397 Boston, Ma
lobstaroll123
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 397
Boston, Ma
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We had another wonderful trip to SXM. It was our 20th time.
We stayed in a villa in Jardin d'Orient which was new to us. it was a perfectly good villa however the management company left much to be desired. LAN line didn't work and we had given the number to our family in case of emergency, it didn't have an oven, maid service was iffy, practically had to beg for loo paper, etc. Enough griping about that.
The beginning of our time there had iffy weather, some rain/ some clouds, some sun, but we made it to the beach during those days. Starting on April 24, we had glorious weather, nice breeze, warm water and the seaweed was gone.
We tried some new restaurants as well as some old favorites, however, we ended up being disappointed with many. Last year, we loved Little Italie and Le Piment in Orient Village. This year, Little Italie changed its menu, the service was spotty and we didn't return. The pizza was fine at Le PIment on a night we didn't feel like eating much, but we returned for pasta carbonara and it was just okay.
We tried our much loved Le Tastevin and we will never go back again. They have changed owners/ management and the food is sub par. Don't ever try the cioppino. Tasteless and fishy. Someone complained at another table and then they acted surprised when we complained at our table. I just had French onion soup and a salad but my friend has mahi mahi that looked like it had been run over by a truck. We didn't even drink the complimentary homemade rum. They screwed that up as well.
We tried a new restaurant to us and really loved it, L'effet Mer. Food was excellent, prices not exorbitant, we could watch the chef and sous chef create magic. The amuse bouche was excellent. I cannot figure out why such a good restaurant was literally empty and Tastevin was full. Both are on the water side in Grand Case.
We went to Spiga twice and weren't disappointed. We tried the rack of lamb, filet of beef, short ribs, seafood risotto, cioppino, the duo of pasta, the tomato mozzarella salad and can't say enough about all of them. The service is wonderful and the ambience is great. Just don't go on Monday and Tuesday. It is mobbed.
We tried Jam Rock in the FRench Cul de Sac based upon recommendation on this site. We truly didn't mind the wait however the food was almost unedible. l ordered stuffed crab back which I love and it was watery and tasteless. We ordered stuffed christophine for an app and it was like having warm chicken salad stuffed into it. Even though I don't like the lolos, I have to admit their christophine is much better. I dumped all of my food in the dumpster across the street. My husband had jerk chicken. Who knew chicken had that many bones. My friend was a fish combo. They were out so she it was suggested that she have the hard snout. Just the name should have been the giveaway. It was claimed to be a cross between mahi and tuna. Nope. She moved her food around and finally covered it with a napkin. Her husband has the jamaica medley. It looks like much. Cross Jam Rock off our list.
We had great breakfasts at Good Morning in Orient Village and Paradise View above Orient Bay. We went to Aloha once. It was fine, nothing outstanding but we had a lovely server from Liverpool.
As for Papagayo, they have really stepped up their game. Expanded menu, quality and consistency. Waitstaff is great. Loved talking with Christine, Ronald and Karine. Lots of fun.
Despite some blips with the food the vacation was wonderful. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />
Last edited by Carol_Hill; 05/04/2016 08:25 AM.
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Re: Latest trip April 19- May 1
[Re: lobstaroll123]
#96545
05/04/2016 05:22 AM
05/04/2016 05:22 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,564 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,564
Ohio
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Thanks for the report. Sounds like several of your dining experiences left a lot to be desired. Glad you made the best of it and had a good time overall.
J.D.
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Re: Latest trip April 19- May 1
[Re: lobstaroll123]
#96548
05/04/2016 07:49 AM
05/04/2016 07:49 AM
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132 St Louis, MO
SXMNorm
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
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Thanks for time to post your report. Informative.
Next SXM visit -November 2023. Also January 2024.
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Re: Latest trip April 19- May 1
[Re: lobstaroll123]
#96549
05/04/2016 08:26 AM
05/04/2016 08:26 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,001 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,001
Central Florida!
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Hi. Thanks for the report. I added some extra spacing between paragraphs to make it a bit easier to read.
Sorry the vacation wasn't perfect, but sounds like you still got lots of 'sunshine' between the clouds.
Carol Hill
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Re: Latest trip April 19- May 1
[Re: lobstaroll123]
#96552
05/04/2016 08:57 AM
05/04/2016 08:57 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 391 San Antonio
sumbeach
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 391
San Antonio
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Interesting read on your less than desirable experiences. We were there a couple of weeks before you - I reported earlier on our trip to Little Italie - won't be back as long long as the current owner is runnng it, and agree that the Lolos quality(?) has gone down. Good Morning (Bread & Cake) has always been our favorite for breakfast, but we have switched to the Sub - there is more breeze to blow away the cigarette smoke, and their omelets are super. Thankfully there are so many other good places that more than make up for the occasional glitches.
Dan
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Re: Latest trip April 19- May 1
[Re: lobstaroll123]
#96553
05/04/2016 09:23 AM
05/04/2016 09:23 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,001 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,001
Central Florida!
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No problem. I know that some formatting does not translate over to TTOL when you copy and paste here.
Carol Hill
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