I recently returned from St. Maarten with plenty of food tales to tell. It was interesting to find a news release from St. Maarten among the hundreds of e-mails waiting in my inbox when I was back at work. I’d never before received anything promoting the Caribbean island, so this took me by surprise.
“Travelers can experience our culture and relax on one of our 37 beaches, but the heart of St. Maarten lies in the enormous selection of dining options, giving visitors a chance to explore the tastes of the world while visiting our island,” said the news release from Regina LaBega, director of tourism for the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau.
Just as on our previous trip to St. Maarten, we enjoyed many meals at Lee’s Grill across the street from the condo, Royal Palm, a timeshare owned by friends Paul and Paula Skurecki of Orlando.
If you’re at Lee’s, try the amazing coconut shrimp. We also had a nice dinner at Skipjacks, which is next to Lee’s in Simpson Bay. The lobster was $25 per pound, and the smallest one was 2 pounds, but Paula told me it was sweet, delicious and worth every cent.
No trip to St. Maarten is complete, at least for us, without a trip to Philipsburg to watch the cruise ships come in and do some dining and shopping. This year, we had lunch at Taloula Mango’s with new friend Trevor Da Costa, who works for St. Maarten Cable TV. He said the company is installing fiber optics that will bring video on demand, high-speed Internet and more enhanced services to its thousands of customers. I was impressed with the advances being made in this area. They may have their fiber-optic network up and running before I do on my little dead-end street in Soddy-Daisy.
Breakfast at Zee Best is a must. You’re guaranteed incredible pastries and outrageous omelets and crepes. There are two locations on the island, one in Simpson Bay and another in Port-de-Plaisance. Take cash. Credit cards are not accepted here, a policy I found at a few other places on the island.
From the incredible ribs at Lee’s to fresh seafood selections to even a few Chinese restaurants thrown in for good measure, you won’t be lacking in dining choices when visiting St. Maarten. It’s become a major hub for cruise ships, and hundreds of planes fly in daily. Speaking of which, from Chattanooga, take U.S. Airways through Charlotte, then nonstop to the island. Going through customs in Charlotte was a piece of cake compared to Atlanta.
Here are some other restaurants LeBega suggested.
Philipsburg Sheer: An eclectic mix of European and Asian influences with a touch of Caribbean flavor.
Rare (Atlantis Casino, Cupecoy Beach): Traditional steakhouse dining.
La Gondola (in Cupecoy Beach): A romantic atmosphere with homemade pasta and other classic Italian dishes filled with the finest ingredients on the menu.
Shivsagar in Philipsburg: Authentic Indian fare.
Bamboo Bernie’s (at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort): New York-style sushi with a Caribbean twist. Try one of their impeccable sushi rolls like the Maui Wowi Roll made up of king crab, lobster tempura and avocado topped with two types of caviar.
Jimbo’s Rock & Blue Café (Simpson Bay Marina): Delicious Mexican dishes with an island twist, such as grouper-stuffed con crab cake chipotle.
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