Everything SXM

For people who love seafood, SXM is clearly one of the best places on the planet. We would guess that the vast majority of island restaurants offers seafood in one form or another — definitely check the menus of your favorite places closely, and check out our Restaurant of the Week selections below.

We'll mention a few places here, in no special order:

• Mario's Bistro at the Cliff has been one of the island's absolute best restaurants for decades. It's a MUST! Beautiful seaside setting, great variety of selections, beautiful presentation start-to-finish, and legendary service. Not to be missed. No lobster, but lots of extraordinary fish dishes & more.
  
  
• Bamboo House, on the hill in Cole Bay overlooking Simpson Bay and the Caribbean, has extraordinary food and quite possibly the best sushi on the island, plus great steaks and lots more. One of the liveliest (and most beautiful) scenes in the Caribbean.
  
  
• IZI Ristorante Italiano in Simpson Bay also has frequent seafood specials — and the quality of their salmon and branzino on the menu virtually every night, is among the best you'll find on the island and is one of the things we have most often here. They have great Italian dining all around in an upbeat, lively atmosphere.
  
  
• SECRET SEAFOOD HOUSE, one of SXM's newest restaurants, catches its own fish and lobster using its own boats. They sell a lot of fish to SXM's best restaurants which tells you what they serve in the restaurant is scrupulously fresh. They are located on Simpson Bay Road. Turn off Airport Road in Simpson Bay next to the police substation; when the road straightens out, they are about 120 yards up, on the left (their parking lot is across the street and there is also on-street parking). Secret Seafood gets busy at night so go early. Delicious food, very generous portions, and exceptionally reasonable prices. Tell Keith, the affable owner who spent years selling real estate in New York City, that we sent you.
  

• Vesna Taverna in Simpson Bay, about 120 yards North of the Simpson Bay drawbridge, has mussels and salmon fillets from Nova Scotia arriving late every week. Nobody does it better. Luscious food, lively place, and heavenly desserts. If you have not yet been to Vesna, it's time you went.

• Spiga in Grand Case invariably has a seafood special or two. On a recent visit, it was seabass which was wonderfully prepared — thin, tender, and luscious. Of course, if you're a carnivore, their filet mignon has long been one of the best on the island — we do love it.
  

• Emilio's at the Emilio Wilson Estate near Philipsburg offers a stunning menu with a spectrum of offerings of all kinds. Highly creative, sumptuous menu selections and a stunning historical setting.
  

• SkipJacks in Simpson Bay, one of the largest restaurants on the island with a huge deck on the lagoon, specializes in seafood. Definitely try their lobster offerings, which are big sellers.
  

• Pineapple Pete is known for its lobster Thermidor. During high season, you may see a conga line of waitstaff members coming out of the kitchen with this major house specialty.
  
  
• Toppers in Simpson Bay is known for meatloaf, brisket, and their lobster -- which is delicious. So are the brisket and meatloaf if you're not in a seafood mood. Highly informal... the focus is on the food, pure and simple.
  
  

Tags: St. Maarten's Best Seafood Restaurants, St. Martin's Best Seafood Restaurants