After our journey across the island, we are here to bring you authentic reviews, photos, and recommendations for restaurants in Sint Maarten. First on our list is Roma Cucina Italiana. Roma is a short five-minute drive from Princess Juliana Airport. Since we were staying at Sapphire, the restaurant was a very convenient drive. Roma welcomes a diverse array of parties. However, it is more catered to a mature demographic. Though kids would be welcome, the restaurant features an intimate setting. The restaurant has a modern and neutral color palette and design. It is a fun place to get cocktails with friends and engage in conversation. Outside is also an excellent place to people-watch and enjoy a meal as the sun begins to set. To start off our dinner, we ordered a variety of drinks. These include mojitos, expresso martinis, apple martinis, chocolate martinis, and so many more. Every drink we ordered was exceptional. The drinks were so refreshing and tasty that one could easily order half the menu. They have a plethora of appetizers that features an Italian flare and incorporates seafood. The restaurant features a special dish of the night. This can help guests decide what to eat if they are unsure. The special was lobster ravioli the night we went. They had an appetizer size and a meal size for the daily special. The appetizer size was $17 and contained three kinds of ravioli. Whereas, the meal size was $30 and contained five raviolis. There was a significant price difference between the two sizes. Roma’s seafood pasta was absolutely amazing. There was an abundance of seafood in the pasta which was a pleasant surprise. Often, restaurants will minimize the amount of seafood they serve to make a greater profit. However, this was not true of Roma. Their gnocchi noodles in alfredo sauce were near perfection. The gnocchi was soft and pillowy and paired perfectly with a rich Alfredo sauce. Also, the Roma staff is extremely flexible with accommodating specific requests. The guest has the opportunity to choose any type of pasta they want and pair it with a sauce of their choosing. For dessert, we ordered the affogato. As if we did not have enough expresso, already we ordered more! The affogato was solid. It featured a scoop of gelato and a splash of espresso. The portion was relatively small. Therefore, it is the perfect sweet treat after a night of drinks and food. Roma is mid-line priced. It is the ideal restaurant if you want authentic Italian food in a modern environment.Â
Second on our list is Zee Zee’s café in Phillipsburg. The cafe is conveniently located between the beach and the main street of Phillipsburg which is lined with shops. Zee Zee’s is the ideal place to sit under a cooling umbrella and grab a quick drink and a fairly priced bite to eat. The cafe is perfect for a young family on the go or a couple looking for a casual lunch spot. The drink menu features refreshing frozen mojitos and banana daiquiris. Initially, this is what drew our group to the location. Six people in our group ordered the mojito. It was a unanimous decision that it was the best mojito they had tasted. This is a strong statement to make amongst all six people. However, all six drinks were near the level of perfection. The banana daiquiri was amazing as well. Zee Zee used fresh banana in the drink which gave it a truly authentic taste. The group started with mozzarella sticks. It was $7 for about 10 sticks. For me, that was reasonably priced compared to some other restaurants in the area. The vast majority of the menu was under $20. I would categorize it as a very affordable spot for travelers. Another item we ordered was the tomato, pesto, and mozzarella sandwich. The item was very tasty and affordable. The size of the sandwich itself was very large. Therefore, it can definitely be shared or made into two separate meals. The ham and cheese sandwich was also very good. However, it comes with a variety of toppings. If you want a plain ham and cheese sandwich, you have to let Zee Zee know of this request. Originally, I ordered a turkey sandwich. However, they were out of turkey. However, this is not a deal breaker for me! Additionally, there were plenty of items on the menu that sparked my interest. The coconut shrimp was great. Not the best I have ever had but a solid option for the price. It came with a larger portion than I initially thought. To my surprise, the Johnnycake was extremely delicious. I am not sure what I was expecting, but it exceeded my expectations. It almost reminds me of a funnel cake without the powdered sugar. I love how there is something on this menu for everyone, even picky eaters. This is a great place to take your kids. You can drink, relax, and expect fast and wonderful service.Â
Another great restaurant on our list is Mama Pizza in Port Cupe Coy. This restaurant has only outdoor seating. But sitting on the porch feels the same as sitting indoors. This restaurant seems as if it was transported from Italy and placed on the island of St. Maarten. It has a very family-oriented vibe to it. All ages are definitely welcome here. Everything on the menu was absolutely amazing. There was not a single complaint amongst anyone. My only suggestion for Mama’s is that there would be more parmesan jars for the table when there are large parties. It took ample for the one single jar to go around. Our table ordered everything from lobster bisque, Caesar salad, bruschetta, and different pizzas and kinds of pasta. The pizza menu is definitely more extensive than their regular menu. The menu, in total, had over thirty different pizzas! After all, according to locals, their pizza is what they are known for. Each pizza is six large slices. All of their plates of pasta, except the gnocchi, have gluten-free alternatives. I have noticed gluten-free options can be hard to come by on the island. For the four gluten-intolerant members of our party, this was definitely a bonus. A few members of our group ended our night with a delectable dessert. We had an array of options to choose from. These ranged from a rich tiramisu to a pistachio sorbet. But the vanilla bourbon ice cream was definitely our favorite. Everyone was extremely pleased with all of the food they ordered and the service. For such a large party, twenty-four of us, our service was very fast. Also, it was a member of our group’s birthday. They brought out a lava cake and ice cream for her. To make matters even better, they gave us complimentary shots of their homemade rum. It definitely had a kick to it so beware! Overall, we had such a positive experience at Mama’s Pizza, and it might be our new favorite spot!
Roma Information
Website: https://romasxm.com
Hours: Dinner 5pm to 11 pm. Closed on Wednesday
Adress: 12 Thames Rd, Sint Maarten
Zee Zee’s Café
Address: 99 Front St, Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
FaceBook Website: https://m.facebook.com/people/Zee-Zees-Grill-and-Chill-Cafe/100054656220300/
Mama Pizza
FaceBook Website: https://www.facebook.com/Mamapizzaisthebest/
