We will be in St. Maarten for 10 days in Nov. I would love some recommendations for dining out - from something special to your favorite hole in the wall. Thank you for your help.

Here are some ideas...<BR>Turtle Pier (near airport)<BR>Sunset Cafe (lunch)GRand Case<BR>L'Amandier (Grand Case)<BR>the rib Shack (Grand Case)<BR>Carl's in Grand Case for local atmosphere.<BR>Match in Marigot for groceries<BR>Kontiki or Waikiki in Orient Beach for people watching and drinks<BR>

Check out http://www.gobeach.com/restrant.htm<BR>for a lot of reviews.

Ahhh...my favourite island!!! Try Brasserie de La Gare (marina), Bar de La Mer (Marigot harbourfront), Talk of the Town (lola..Grand Case), Le Pressoir (Grand Case), La Belle Epoque (marina). My faves are all on the French side.

Wow! Thanks for such great replies...this is just the kind of information I was looking for.<BR>jim

Message: Jim Forgot to ask where you were staying. If on the French side Match is a good supermarket; it has French products of course but also a lot of N Amer foodstuffs as well. It's in a little plaza area with several stores. pharmacy, toystore, stationery store, hair stylists, music shop, bakery. There's also a Petit Gourmet store in Marigot where it's a bit more upscale and of course pricier. Right by the bridge into Marigot there's US Imports Supermarche; we often go there. In the same building is a news vendor and a delicious bakery where we buy our baguettes...try a "pain raisin" or a "croissant beurre". At Brasserie de La Gare my favourite item is "Salade Caribe". It's a large plate of greens topped with pineapple, kiwi, banana and chicken with their own homemade creamy dressing.

we are also off to St. Maarten next week. What are the casinos like? Are they open 24 hrs? Do we need jackets for the men in our group?

Definitely agree with Patty who noted the Rib Shack; with Linda and Belle Epoque; and unhappily, with DTOUR about Phillipsburg - it's not fun around there, to put it mildly.<BR><BR>We stayed at a villa in the Cupecoy area, and Marigot was definitely more ideal for us.

Bliss -Maho Area behind Sunset beach bar<BR>Uncle Harry's - Airport Road (on the marina next to Thrifty car rental)<BR>Boatyard - Simpson Bay on the marina (airport rd.)<BR>Hot Tomatoes - Simpson Bay (airport Rd.)<BR>Ms B's -lolo on Dawn Beach<BR>Captain Oliver's - Oyster Pond/Dawn Beach - French side<BR>Rainbow - Grand Case<BR>Bar de le mar - Marigot<BR><BR>Visit www.traveltalkonline.com and go to St. Martin forum. Anything you need to know can be answered on that board about St. Martin.

Jim - Antiones is a must, right in Phillipsburg, pull up and have someone run in, they will park your car for you. Great meal, worth the trip into town. Also enjoy Laguna and LePerrequot (spelling wrong!!) on airport road.

Jil, can't answer about the hours; but jackets are not required neither for the casinos nor the restaurants.<BR><BR>Other dining suggestions:<BR><BR>Local fare: Yvettes and Poulet Orleans in the Orleans section on French side.<BR><BR>L'Alabama, Bistrot Caribe in Grand Case; Sol Y Luna in French Cul-de-Sac.<BR><BR>Spartico for Italian on the Dutch side.

Citrus at Cupecoy<BR>Mario's Bistro at the bridge at Sandy Ground<BR>Laylas Beach Bar for lunch at Nettle Bay<BR>Bistro Nu in Marigot<BR>Durreche across from the open air market in Marigot, if you don't mind chickens & cats around your table![lunch only]<BR>Chanticleer at the Marina in Marigot<BR><BR>we like the french side restaurants the best, but it's all according to your taste in food

P.S. to the last message:<BR>check out SXM-info.com for restaurant listing, reviews, & menus

I think you can go just about anywhere in SXM and not have a bad meal. The food ranges from very good to incredible. I'll vote for L'Alabama (Grand Case), Bar de La Mer (Marigot waterfront)and Talk of the Town (Grand Case). Be sure to check out the Sunset Beach Bar near the airport. Most important rule of all: don't leave ANYTHING in your rental car under any circumstances because it may not be there when you get back.

marios bistro in grand case at marina.....peg leg pub for fresh low priced seafood and god meals, greenhouse in phillipsbugr...2 fer 1 happy hours and good food.....just for starters :}}}}}}}}}}}}}