“Pablo” of St. Barths

[cassidain]

I didn’t even look at the menu after it became clear that — for whatever reason — it was questionable whether I met the standards of the place.

what was the other new place that gave you some trouble? Le Café maybe?

 

[dadto6]

If you want good tacos, try Casa Coloniale in Gustavia (old Baz Bar), Le Toiny Restaurant (new tapas menu), Sayolita take away just up the street above the bar. Trust me, that all are very good tasting and reasonably priced. Actually, Anita had them last night at Casa Coloniale as a starter.
Actually, Jim and Dan just enjoyed Fish Tacos at Eddy's last night

 

[Leon]

what was the other new place that gave you some trouble? Le Café maybe?

Yeah, maybe Pablo's St. Tropez owners (are they involved with Le Cafe too?) instituted St. Tropez dress code?

 

[Leon]

If you want good tacos, try Casa Coloniale in Gustavia (old Baz Bar), Le Toiny Restaurant (new tapas menu), Sayolita take away just up the street above the bar. Trust me, that all are very good tasting and reasonably priced. Actually, Anita had them last night at Casa Coloniale as a starter.
Actually, Jim and Dan just enjoyed Fish Tacos at Eddy's last night

So, Dad, do you recommend Casa Coloniale? How was the cigars smoke?

 

[davesmom]

Yeah, maybe Pablo's St. Tropez owners (are they involved with Le Cafe too?) instituted St. Tropez dress code?

Interestingly enough, we often saw gentlemen in shorts in Le Café in St-Tropez in the evening…on the SeaDream cruise we are taking, although they mainly eat on deck in the evening, no shorts (even linen) are permitted! It’s not like it is a fancy dining room, where that might be expected. (I guess we have lived in SD so long, that outside of formal dining at restaurants or country clubs, nobody cares what anyone wears.) I love getting dressed up but I feel sorry for the guys when it is hot out. I know my friend, Dennis, can rock linen like nobody else, so Pablo is the loser, IMHO.

 

[cec1]

what was the other new place that gave you some trouble? Le Café maybe?

Haha, Cass . . . great memory! Yes, Le Café wouldn’t admit me because I was wearing shorts (very fine linen shorts of a noted designer, I will add). Weeks later, a friend (in long pants) was denied admittance because his sandals didn’t meet the dress code. I understand that standards there have been dropped, but “the ship has sailed.”

 

[cec1]

If you want good tacos, try Casa Coloniale in Gustavia (old Baz Bar), Le Toiny Restaurant (new tapas menu), Sayolita take away just up the street above the bar. Trust me, that all are very good tasting and reasonably priced. Actually, Anita had them last night at Casa Coloniale as a starter.
Actually, Jim and Dan just enjoyed Fish Tacos at Eddy's last night

Thanks for the input, Bob . . . I found the small fish tacos of Eddy’s to be a great appetizer.

 

[cec1]

Yeah, maybe Pablo's St. Tropez owners (are they involved with Le Cafe too?) instituted St. Tropez dress code?

I don’t think “dress code” was the barrier. The test was pedigree, & I’m clearly not a “show dog.”

 

[cec1]

Interestingly enough, we often saw gentlemen in shorts in Le Café in St-Tropez in the evening…on the SeaDream cruise we are taking, although they mainly eat on deck in the evening, no shorts (even linen) are permitted! It’s not like it is a fancy dining room, where that might be expected. (I guess we have lived in SD so long, that outside of formal dining at restaurants or country clubs, nobody cares what anyone wears.) I love getting dressed up but I feel sorry for the guys when it is hot out. I know my friend, Dennis, can rock linen like nobody else, so Pablo is the loser, IMHO.

. . . appreciate your understanding of circumstances & love your flattery, Gina! Will miss you on the island this season!

 

[cassidain]

I don’t think “dress code” was the barrier. The test was pedigree, & I’m clearly not a “show dog.”

more of a prince than a show dog. but, discernment of standing apparently isn’t the doorman’s real talent. I doubt le shérif would have entered unmolested either . . . fwiw

 

[Cwater]

I didn’t even look at the menu after it became clear that — for whatever reason — it was questionable whether I met the standards of the place.

If your standards are questioned then I am in trouble.

 

[Reed]

Interestingly enough, we often saw gentlemen in shorts in Le Café in St-Tropez in the evening…on the SeaDream cruise we are taking, although they mainly eat on deck in the evening, no shorts (even linen) are permitted! It’s not like it is a fancy dining room, where that might be expected. (I guess we have lived in SD so long, that outside of formal dining at restaurants or country clubs, nobody cares what anyone wears.) I love getting dressed up but I feel sorry for the guys when it is hot out. I know my friend, Dennis, can rock linen like nobody else, so Pablo is the loser, IMHO.

Long pants were never required while dinning on deck in the past but were necessary in the dinning room.

 

[dadto6]

So, Dad, do you recommend Casa Coloniale? How was the cigars smoke?

Hi Leon,
We both enjoyed Casa Coloniale very much. We were seated at the outside table what I call harbor seating. All the tables the entire length of the harbor side seating was full including the low lounge seating closest to the water. We were there about 1 1/2 hours and not a single smoker. There were however some passerby's that were smoking as they walked by.

 

[Jim A]

This is the first I've heard of "Pablo". So this has been a place that has been difficult to fill with customers on all of the levels recently. As per the pics and Dennis' post it appears the first floor has been converted 100% to a bar alone? I'm not sure that is a good marketing plan for 90% of the year and wonder how they are going to fill that consistently.

I always thought it was best to split the building into a couple of different restos. Not Robuchon "different but the same", but totally different. Or maybe a store on the ground level and a resto upstairs? This seems like it could be doomed other than the holiday season and they may be lucky to see the next holiday season

 

[davesmom]

. . . appreciate your understanding of circumstances & love your flattery, Gina! Will miss you on the island this season!

I am really sad about that..when do you come back? Oh, btw, I got a little more info on men wearing Bermuda shorts on deck in the evening on SeaDream: they are ok, even at night on deck dining only, not in the dining room which is air conditioned. So Dennis, you are good to go!

Long pants were never required while dinning on deck in the past but were necessary in the dinning room.

Right on, Kimberly!

 

[MichaelG]

Thanks for taking one for the team, Dennis!

 

[Jeanette]

I am horrified (truly) to read of how you were treated, Dennis. If Dennis Carlton isn't graciously welcomed into a St. Barth establishment then who would be? Jeff Bezos, maybe? My family had a short-lived tradition of going to the top floor of Robuchon for our first pre-dinner cocktail and then heading to Bonito for dinner. We replaced that for a few years with an evening cocktail at Pearl Beach. We went to Pablo's upstaris bar for a cocktail in early December and nobody was at the entrance to stop us, plus the bar was empty. I thought the renovations upstairs brought the venue back to the class of Robuchon. We did not dine there after perusing Pablo's Tripadvisor reviews from St. Tropez.

If this makes you feel any better, Dennis, here are all the 2024/2025 Tripadvisor review headlines of from the St. Tropez venue:

Not allowed for drinks
Aug 2024 • Two stars
Bad Experience
Jul 2024 • One star
Deplorable
Jul 2024 • One star
No longer worth a visit
Jun 2024 • One star
Disappointing family evening
May 2024 • One star
Family evening
May 2024 • One star

 

[cassidain]

If Dennis Carlton isn't graciously welcomed into a St. Barth establishment then who would be?

Bingo !
Dennis is the personification of graciousness and generosity.

 

[amyb]

Bingo !
Dennis is the personification of graciousness and generosity.

You guys are spot on. I agree.

 

[Jeanette]

Bingo !
Dennis is the personification of graciousness and generosity.

I agree (and also appreciate your subtle grammatical edit).