Fodor's Expert Review Le Foyaal Bar & Brasserie

This versatile brasserie on Fort-de-France's main drag offers a large open dining space and seating on a covered terrace with a view of the sea, though traffic, noise, and dust make eating inside a safer bet. For a light lunch you could have a savory crepe and a small salad, smoked marlin, fried Camembert, or a perfect burger. If you want to go with something more substantial, and creative, there's local octopus or duck in a citrusy sauce. Some waiters speak English, and most are fun and helpful. Foyaal serves from 7 am into the late night, 1:30 am, even on Sundays when most of the town is closed up. Try sitting at the bar; it's fun and for a lot of French expats, this is their "Cheers." Upstairs at Le Césaire is a more refined (and expensive) dining experience.