If we can't find Lal's - Where can we eat?

Rams Indian Food
There is one little "hole in the wall" on a side street called Rams - it's on Pastorie Steeg, between Front and Back Streets. I haven't been able to find out anything about it on line. It really hardly qualifies as a restaurant, and there are only a few plastic tables inside the doorway. But, we always go. The first time we had gone, the choices were "Chicken, Fish or Goat." Pretty much it!

But, we go back every time we're in St. Maarten if only for the experience. It's kind of more like some Indian home cooking (By the way, if you do like to cook Indian food, or want to learn some recipes, Click Here for a collection Five-Star Indian Recipes)

Anyway, If you do go to Ram's, however, note that it is not for the timid. This is NOT in a location that caters at all to tourists (put it this way: When we sat down, just inside the door, I had slung my small purse over the chair. Mr. Ram came over, and insisted that I move it next to John on the other side of the table). So, just go and eat. You'll find it somehow...

Anand Indian Restaurant & Shiv Sagar Indian Restaurant - Not enough info yet...
Anyway, we tried Anand (heavily advertised), but were only moderately impressed - bordering on unimpressed. We have yet to try Shiv Sagar on Front Street in Philipsburg (but we will try it on our next visit since a local Indian acquaintance recommended it to us).

Finally, on our very last day, we were driving back to the airport with some new friends Chris and Nancy, and lamenting to them about the loss of our favorite St. Maarten hangout. Lal's has always had an interesting group of folks who gather at his place. We have seen numerous ex-pats there (and we would be part of that group if we ever lived on the island).

Lal's Indian Cuisine - Curry in a Hurry - FOUND!
So, there we were, driving back to the airport, and talking about Lal's when Chris said, "Hey! I think I just saw it!" And he did! As luck would have it, Lal's had just opened his new location - now called Lal's Indian Cuisine - Curry in a Hurry - at the Portofino Marina in Simpson Bay. AND... for those of you who knew his old location, this will have meaning for you ... there is PLENTY of parking!

The location is right behind the Gourmet Marche - and still on the water!

Nancy and I had really delicious lamb korma, Chris enjoyed the mutton curry, and John got adventurous and stuffed himself with African Bunny Chow II Curry - which is a lamb curry served inside an entire loaf of bread (yes, a full loaf).

We talked with Lal, who is his usual welcoming and charming self. He said that the new location was working out well, so hopefully he'll stay there for a while. And, as we said, the new parking lot is great!

(PS: Want to try cooking Indian food for yourself? We love Indian food - as you probably may have guessed - and have found a nice source for anyone wishing to cook this wonderful cuising for themselves. It's called Five-Star Indian Recipes, and besides merely being a collection of recipes, it is also a wealth of information regarding understanding ingredients and cooking techniques. Simply Click Here to gain immediate access! And Have Fun!)

Finally, here are a few of the other St. Maarten restaurants we have REALLY enjoyed - and of course we'll add to them as we go along. We also welcome YOUR additions!

• Lal's Curry in a Hurry (NEW location in Simpson Bay)
• Mark's Place (Philipsburg location)
• Taco Macho (Simpson Bay)
• Talk of the Town (in Grande Case, French St. Martin)