Le Toiny beach lunch

[shihadehs]

Dined there yesterday with good friends from home. It was absolutely amazing from start to finish. Chatted with new friends we met on glorious ride down with the most attentive driver. Place was packed solid but we got our 2:00 seating table right away. We had the watermelon feta salad which was so good followed by the mahi mahi which was cooked to perfection. Our friends had the chicken and shrimp dishes which looked really tasty. Lingered at table afterwards while gentlemen enjoyed cigars and we were treated to vanilla rum by our lovely waitress. Ended up being a 3 hour sublime lunch and the day just got away from us. Reminded us of the long lunches at Tamarin from days ago. Highly recommend Le Toiny for lunch.

 

[cec1]

Dined there yesterday with good friends from home. It was absolutely amazing from start to finish. Chatted with new friends we met on glorious ride down with the most attentive driver. Place was packed solid but we got our 2:00 seating table right away. We had the watermelon feta salad which was so good followed by the mahi mahi which was cooked to perfection. Our friends had the chicken and shrimp dishes which looked really tasty. Lingered at table afterwards while gentlemen enjoyed cigars and we were treated to vanilla rum by our lovely waitress. Ended up being a 3 hour sublime lunch and the day just got away from us. Reminded us of the long lunches at Tamarin from days ago. Highly recommend Le Toiny for lunch.

Thanks for the report . . . and so happy that you enjoyed a great afternoon. Also one of my most favorite spots!

 

[dadto6]

Love Love Le Toiny Beach Club

 

[TERP37]

on our list for January 2027!

 

[cec1]

on our list for January 2027!

You won’t regret it . . . plan on a leisurely afternoon (not that you cannot rush, if that’s what you want, but the unhurried pace afforded by the service is a luxury).

 

[amyb]

You won’t regret it . . . plan on a leisurely afternoon (not that you cannot rush, if that’s what you want, but the unhurried pace afforded by the service is a luxury).

D’accord.

 

[cassidain]

With the demise of La Gloriette, I'd say LTBC is probably the most compelling toes-in-the-sand lunch spot on the island now. Though, others may suggest rivals ??? It's certainly a fun experience.

 

[shihadehs]

Ti Corail is also on our top list of beach lunches.

 

[cec1]

With the demise of La Gloriette, I'd say LTBC is probably the most compelling toes-in-the-sand lunch spot on the island now. Though, others may suggest rivals ??? It's certainly a fun experience.

It's a great question, Cass.

I enjoy LTBC very much. "People watching," in the restaurant and surfers in the water, is entertaining . . . the venue and scene are beautiful and trés refined . . . I like to park in the small public lot, nearby to the Hotel entrance, and enjoy a walk along the beach to the restaurant . . . the staff (servers & managers) are lovely . . . use of the pool is a special amenity . . . and the food is very good (but IMO not the point of going there).

Not intending, thus, to say that LTBC isn't quite compelling, I nevertheless would propose that, considering its list of pluses, the Rosewood Guanahani, Le Sereno, & Le Barthelemy come close to offering a similar delight in luncheon dining. Moreover, I'm hopeful that Le Sereno's re-do of "La Kala," with a pool and on the site of the late, great La Gloriette, also will offer an elevated experience.

As Phil Bettan would remind us, "so many restaurants, so little time!"

 

[davesmom]

It's a great question, Cass.

I enjoy LTBC very much. "People watching," in the restaurant and surfers in the water, is entertaining . . . the venue and scene are beautiful and trés refined . . . I like to park in the small public lot, nearby to the Hotel entrance, and enjoy a walk along the beach to the restaurant . . . the staff (servers & managers) are lovely . . . use of the pool is a special amenity . . . and the food is very good (but IMO not the point of going there).

Not intending, thus, to say that LTBC isn't quite compelling, I nevertheless would propose that, considering its list of pluses, the Rosewood Guanahani, Le Sereno, & Le Barthelemy come close to offering a similar delight in luncheon dining. Moreover, I'm hopeful that Le Sereno's re-do of "La Kala," with a pool and on the site of the late, great La Gloriette, also will offer an elevated experience.

As Phil Bettan would remind us, "so many restaurants, so little time!"

I can recommend a lovely lunch toes in the sand at Le Guanahani Beach House restaurant, and the best seats are over on the side by Anse Maréchal/Anse de Marigot where there are big waves crashing, making a nice show of the sea! (Kind of rocky on that beach so not a swimming side..you can go in on the other side of Anse Maréchal to swim/boat-Anse de Grand Cul-de-Sac. Much calmer, but you might find the windsurfers over there very entertaining, too!)

 

[cec1]

I can recommend a lovely lunch toes in the sand at Le Guanahani Beach House restaurant, and the best seats are over on the side by Anse Maréchal/Anse de Marigot where there are big waves crashing, making a nice show of the sea! (Kind of rocky on that beach so not a swimming side..you can go in on the other side of Anse Maréchal to swim/boat-Anse de Grand Cul-de-Sac. Much calmer, but you might find the windsurfers over there very entertaining, too!)

Thank you Gina. You capture the Guanahani scene -- an equally lovely alternative to Le Toiny Beach Club -- so well!

 

[KevinS]

I spent extensive times at both iterations of La Gloriette, as well as Cocoloba in between.

There is no substitute for La Gloriette.

Ti Corail is a substitute for O‘Corail.

‘Lil Rock was close, but I understand the personal reasons which caused them to close and lease to Nao Beach.

None of the beach clubs are substitutes, they’re a totally different animal.

I exclude most of the hotel restaurants as substitutes, despite having had excellent experiences at Taïwana, and later La Cabane when Taïwana was absorbed by Cheval Blanc. (It’s nice to have friends.). La Cabane, like the beach clubs, is another different animal.

Le Toiny might be in the running, but they’ve annoyed me for several reasons which I haven’t gotten over yet. Maybe someday.

For me, right now, the closest thing to La Gloriette would be Pearl Beach. I want to try the new Grain de Sel, but it’s near the beach, not beachfront. I might put it in the running as my substitute for La Gloriette.



I had a great plan for Albert. A real food truck. The kitchen wouldn’t be much smaller than La Gloriette’s kitchen. The bathroom/rum shop building survived Irma, and could be bathrooms and storage. He could put a lot more tables and umbrellas on the beach. In the face of a storm, the food truck could move inland, and umbrellas and tables are cheap to replace. I mentioned it to a few people close to him, but I don’t know if the suggestion ever reached his ears.

In the end, collecting rent is easier than running a restaurant, and I don’t know if the Collectivité would have permitted it anyway. One food truck fixed in place opens the door for other food trucks.

 

[cec1]

I spent extensive times at both iterations of La Gloriette, as well as Cocoloba in between.

There is no substitute for La Gloriette.

Ti Corail is a substitute for O‘Corail.

‘Lil Rock was close, but I understand the personal reasons which caused them to close and lease to Nao Beach.

None of the beach clubs are substitutes, they’re a totally different animal.

I exclude most of the hotel restaurants as substitutes, despite having had excellent experiences at Taïwana, and later La Cabane when Taïwana was absorbed by Cheval Blanc. (It’s nice to have friends.). La Cabane, like the beach clubs, is another different animal.

Le Toiny might be in the running, but they’ve annoyed me for several reasons which I haven’t gotten over yet. Maybe someday.

For me, right now, the closest thing to La Gloriette would be Pearl Beach. I want to try the new Grain de Sel, but it’s near the beach, not beachfront. I might put it in the running as my substitute for La Gloriette.



I had a great plan for Albert. A real food truck. The kitchen wouldn’t be much smaller than La Gloriette’s kitchen. The bathroom/rum shop building survived Irma, and could be bathrooms and storage. He could put a lot more tables and umbrellas on the beach. In the face of a storm, the food truck could move inland, and umbrellas and tables are cheap to replace. I mentioned it to a few people close to him, but I don’t know if the suggestion ever reached his ears.

In the end, collecting rent is easier than running a restaurant, and I don’t know if the Collectivité would have permitted it anyway. One food truck fixed in place opens the door for other food trucks.

As always, Kevin . . . we have years of a great shared history on SBH. Memories, experiences, friends, venue hang-outs, and points of view. In this context, I understand Albert's decision to step away from restaurant proprietorship. What he went through from early years of making soups & pies, selling them to restaurants . . . we can hardly imagine. His "success" was the product of hutzpah, charm, risk, and hard work

I never will forget being with Albert immediately after Irma. With other damaging storms in memory of recent years -- and asking about a re-start of La Gloriette, despite devastation of the restaurant -- he told me the story of standing in its ruin . . . nothing but sand and crushed buildings, everywhere. Out of the waste, he heard the sound of a telephone ringing. Pawing through sand, he answered the ringing landline phone . . . someone calling for a reservation.

The phone line intact, despite devastation and incredulity, Albert's thoughts were processing personal trauma. Did he have the strength to rebuild a business? As he subsequently talked with me, he spoke of the ebb & flow of life . . . and his decision to move on -- action over emotion. My heart poured out to him

Meanwhile, I'll stick with you on your observation that Pearl Beach is the closest thing today to our fond times at La Gloriette. Not the same, for sure . . . but a sense of "old St. Barths."

 

[davesmom]

La Gloriette was one of a kind and certainly my favorite lunch and rum place🩷. There is unfortunately no real substitute but I’m still buying their rum on every trip

 

[cassidain]

Moreover, I'm hopeful that Le Sereno's re-do of "La Kala," with a pool and on the site of the late, great La Gloriette, also will offer an elevated experience.

I think if any current player could create another really special toes-in-the-sand it might likely be LS.
I'm guessing they're shooting for a 2026 new season opening ?

 

[KevinS]

Meanwhile, I'll stick with you on your observation that Pearl Beach is the closest thing today to our fond times at La Gloriette. Not the same, for sure . . . but a sense of "old St. Barths."

Also the closest thing to fond times at Chez Francine and Le Bamboo.

 

[cec1]

I think if any current player could create another really special toes-in-the-sand it might likely be LS.
I'm guessing they're shooting for a 2026 new season opening ?

That’s what I was told by an owner.

 

[cec1]

With the demise of La Gloriette, I'd say LTBC is probably the most compelling toes-in-the-sand lunch spot on the island now. Though, others may suggest rivals ??? It's certainly a fun experience.

For benefit of anyone who may have missed La Gloriette & Cocoloba, here is a bit of commentary about them, with a few photos (including the famous Salade Exotique), taken from “Case et Cuisine: Traditional Living & Fine Dining in St. Barthélemy“ (2003).

 

[andynap]

Gloriette

 

[davesmom]

For benefit of anyone who may have missed La Gloriette & Cocoloba, here is a bit of commentary about them, with a few photos (including the famous Salade Exotique), taken from “Case et Cuisine: Traditional Living & Fine Dining in St. Barthélemy“ (2003).
View attachment 72678

View attachment 72679

Omg, that salade exotique was a real favorite