Amery
SBH Insider
Hello all
Back to reality after 10 beautiful days. Weather overall was pleasantly breezy with intermittent sun, some clouds and moderate temperatures. More rain than we’ve experienced though fortunately most occurred during overnight hours. We were up high where cooler breezes = no bugs!
With Easter past the island felt fairly calm. Ongoing construction, esp in Lurin and on the road down to Gouverneur. Continued road work through Marigot toward Guanahani, stonework being completed by Carl Gustaf, also a new wall on the road leading down to Saline from Lurin will likely be finished with stone work in coming weeks/months? Overall we didn’t run into much traffic. I walked to Gouverneur most mornings but sargassum at both Gouverneur and Saline prevented visits. We spent a beautiful day on Flamands, otherwise happily perched at our villa.
Lunches
Grain de Sel
Once again, everything delicious—accras, hummus, rillettes, mahi burger, tuna tartare—and the company excellent ; )
Toiny BC
A favorite for Sunday lunch. Shared an excellent tuna tartare, always gazpacho for me, husband enjoyed his favorite dish of the trip: grilled dorade with tomatoes, basil, olives, and capers.
NAO
As previously reported: after a rainy morning, early seating less than half full and music at a reasonable level, we enjoyed the view and some newer additions to the menu. While we generally do not “do” beach clubs (prefer Toiny BC, Le Sereno or Hotel Christopher) and understand concerns regarding NAO, at quieter times and first seating we still enjoy it on occasion.
Ti Corail
Also previously reported, always a favorite. Sweet staff, delicious food, stunning view.
Hotel Christopher
Another favorite, even on a less than stellar day it’s beautiful. Shared a white asparagus special followed by a lobster roll, frites and shaved fennel salad. A note re: frites--if you like thin and crispy we found Ti Corail and Hotel C’s best.
Drinks
Cheval Blanc/White Bar
While on Flamands, we walked to La Case side of CB for a drink and tapas. I know many enjoy the La Cabane side for lunch. We prefer the quieter IDF side. I noticed the drinks menu now has a bit more food—beyond tapas— so you can have a light lunch there as well.
Eden Rock
Always a treat to sip a frozen martini, nibble a few truffle cashews and watch the world go by…
Dinners
L’Isoletta
We order consistently: a negroni followed by shared suppli, 1/2 meter mushroom/sausage, a composta salad and glasses of red. We always bring home an order of (uncooked) eggplant Parmesan to bake later, this time also a lasagne. Both excellent.
Papillon Ivre
Another favorite with wonderful food, wines and friendly staff.
Everything ordered delicious: foie gras with apple jam, lyonnaise salade, beef tartare, cauliflower steak, and egg meurette. Wines chosen equally
excellent.
Casa Coloniale
Since I will forever miss Baz Bar and had only been for a drink last trip we thought, why not try dinner?
I don’t like to give negative reviews so will try to constructively summarize. A nice table outside in and of itself is a treat. Overall, all new furniture is a plus, esp the lounge-y sofas and cocktail tables along the dock. The dinner menu feels strange for lack of a better word—small and unbalanced. Nothing really appealed on the mains so we each ordered 2 starters, two of which were specials, and a side of quinoa “risotto." Servers very friendly and trying their best, some new in the past weeks as this time of year often brings staff changes. That said, one dish presented to my husband was not what he ordered, and one of my starters—very large grilled prawns—arrived almost completely raw. I rarely if ever send back a dish but could not eat them. They kindly re-cooked them (did not bring a new order) and they were better but still not completley cooked so decided to move on…we enjoyed our other courses—tacos and a special tuna tiradito. We stayed after to play a few games of backgammon on a lovely board. Interestingly, the restaurant was only about half full on a Saturday night whereas Bagatelle next door was full. I do give them hospitality credit for trying, esp as they took the prawns off the check. It’s a lovely space, if only they would rethink and better execute the menu. We would go back to sit by the harbor, have drinks and play backgammon though not for dinner.
Nyama
What can be said that hasn’t already? We shared spring rolls and gyoza, then fondue for 4--more excellent company ; )
After cooking shrimp/chicken/beef and rolling spring rolls, the end result is a very delicious broth. Always a special evening. We love them!
Travel home was smooth via SXM. We met a very nice group of young Canadian men on their way home to Toronto. Always fun hearing impressions of first time visitors.
Most thankful for another beautiful and relaxing trip. I concur with Shihadeh’s comments, we too love the island more with each visit
Back to reality after 10 beautiful days. Weather overall was pleasantly breezy with intermittent sun, some clouds and moderate temperatures. More rain than we’ve experienced though fortunately most occurred during overnight hours. We were up high where cooler breezes = no bugs!
With Easter past the island felt fairly calm. Ongoing construction, esp in Lurin and on the road down to Gouverneur. Continued road work through Marigot toward Guanahani, stonework being completed by Carl Gustaf, also a new wall on the road leading down to Saline from Lurin will likely be finished with stone work in coming weeks/months? Overall we didn’t run into much traffic. I walked to Gouverneur most mornings but sargassum at both Gouverneur and Saline prevented visits. We spent a beautiful day on Flamands, otherwise happily perched at our villa.
Lunches
Grain de Sel
Once again, everything delicious—accras, hummus, rillettes, mahi burger, tuna tartare—and the company excellent ; )
Toiny BC
A favorite for Sunday lunch. Shared an excellent tuna tartare, always gazpacho for me, husband enjoyed his favorite dish of the trip: grilled dorade with tomatoes, basil, olives, and capers.
NAO
As previously reported: after a rainy morning, early seating less than half full and music at a reasonable level, we enjoyed the view and some newer additions to the menu. While we generally do not “do” beach clubs (prefer Toiny BC, Le Sereno or Hotel Christopher) and understand concerns regarding NAO, at quieter times and first seating we still enjoy it on occasion.
Ti Corail
Also previously reported, always a favorite. Sweet staff, delicious food, stunning view.
Hotel Christopher
Another favorite, even on a less than stellar day it’s beautiful. Shared a white asparagus special followed by a lobster roll, frites and shaved fennel salad. A note re: frites--if you like thin and crispy we found Ti Corail and Hotel C’s best.
Drinks
Cheval Blanc/White Bar
While on Flamands, we walked to La Case side of CB for a drink and tapas. I know many enjoy the La Cabane side for lunch. We prefer the quieter IDF side. I noticed the drinks menu now has a bit more food—beyond tapas— so you can have a light lunch there as well.
Eden Rock
Always a treat to sip a frozen martini, nibble a few truffle cashews and watch the world go by…
Dinners
L’Isoletta
We order consistently: a negroni followed by shared suppli, 1/2 meter mushroom/sausage, a composta salad and glasses of red. We always bring home an order of (uncooked) eggplant Parmesan to bake later, this time also a lasagne. Both excellent.
Papillon Ivre
Another favorite with wonderful food, wines and friendly staff.
Everything ordered delicious: foie gras with apple jam, lyonnaise salade, beef tartare, cauliflower steak, and egg meurette. Wines chosen equally
excellent.
Casa Coloniale
Since I will forever miss Baz Bar and had only been for a drink last trip we thought, why not try dinner?
I don’t like to give negative reviews so will try to constructively summarize. A nice table outside in and of itself is a treat. Overall, all new furniture is a plus, esp the lounge-y sofas and cocktail tables along the dock. The dinner menu feels strange for lack of a better word—small and unbalanced. Nothing really appealed on the mains so we each ordered 2 starters, two of which were specials, and a side of quinoa “risotto." Servers very friendly and trying their best, some new in the past weeks as this time of year often brings staff changes. That said, one dish presented to my husband was not what he ordered, and one of my starters—very large grilled prawns—arrived almost completely raw. I rarely if ever send back a dish but could not eat them. They kindly re-cooked them (did not bring a new order) and they were better but still not completley cooked so decided to move on…we enjoyed our other courses—tacos and a special tuna tiradito. We stayed after to play a few games of backgammon on a lovely board. Interestingly, the restaurant was only about half full on a Saturday night whereas Bagatelle next door was full. I do give them hospitality credit for trying, esp as they took the prawns off the check. It’s a lovely space, if only they would rethink and better execute the menu. We would go back to sit by the harbor, have drinks and play backgammon though not for dinner.
Nyama
What can be said that hasn’t already? We shared spring rolls and gyoza, then fondue for 4--more excellent company ; )
After cooking shrimp/chicken/beef and rolling spring rolls, the end result is a very delicious broth. Always a special evening. We love them!
Travel home was smooth via SXM. We met a very nice group of young Canadian men on their way home to Toronto. Always fun hearing impressions of first time visitors.
Most thankful for another beautiful and relaxing trip. I concur with Shihadeh’s comments, we too love the island more with each visit
