Dine
~Evening @ Escape~
Almost like being somewhere else; the other side of the fence is always greener; anywhere else is like a holiday. Clichés for sure, but dining at Escape, right here on St. Maarten, is a bit like heading out into the blue yonder and escaping for a while.
Escape is situated right on the bend in CupeCoy. There is some parking directly in front of the building, so you may be forgiven for not noticing the restaurant as you negotiate the bend, however, if you do notice it you will be pleasantly surprised by what you glimpse through the windows. Don’t drive by, go inside and make yourself comfortable at the beautiful bar. Chat a bit and make a reservation for dinner. You will be glad you did.
Our small party went to an art exhibition next door, before going in for dinner. The restaurant was buzzing at a pace faster than normal, but we were met with a smile and seated very quickly; service is exemplary. The wait-staff are really the most pleasant folk as are the owners, who also come over to take orders and generally see to your well-being.
Our drinks order sorted, we slowly took in our surroundings. It is quite bright inside, perhaps because although the lighting is seductive, the room colours overall are travertine tiles beige/white with a highlight of cerise orchids, and some evocative paintings on the wall. Quite stunning, luxurious décor with eclectic seating makes one imagine being “someplace else.”
The signature cocktail menu has some interesting sounding suggestions from “Porn Star” to “London Lush.” I just had to have the Cucumber and Elderflower Cooler, a gin-based drink. It was as good as it sounded, refreshing and long.
The menu concept is interesting, the choice is small, but each dish can be ordered as either a starter or as a main course. Sometimes overly-large menu choices overwhelm the diner; at Escape it is certainly a case of less is more.
Our starters arrived none too soon. Our choice this particular evening was very similar, usually everyone has a different dish, so that there is much tasting going on, but not so for this meal. We thoroughly enjoyed the Smoked Salmon, Horseradish and Cress toasts and the Parma Ham rolls. We also had starters of the Tuna Ceviche with avocado, chili lime and mint with a small mesclun green salad on the side; this was very, very good.
Our main choices were Wild Mushroom Risotto, Tuna Ceviche again (must be really good) and a Gnocchi with chicken that was on the specials menu. The chicken was satisfyingly tender, but the gnocchi itself did not score as well – nonetheless, they disappeared all the same because the sauce was delicious.
Our desserts were a great end to the meal. Eton Mess is sublime, a concoction of meringue, strawberries and cream (although I personally like vanilla ice cream in the dish too) and a fabulous chilled chocolate fondant with a salted caramel sauce.
All in all, the evening was delightful, the hospitality was welcoming, the service great, beautifully-presented dishes made to order and a wine list that rates high. Escape is definitely a place to return to over and over again, if only to escape for a while!!
Info:
Escape
130 Rhine Road
Cupecoy Bay,
Phone: 5863356 / 590 05 90 290 330
Open: 6:00pm – 1:00am
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Good: Wine selection, service
Price range: $$$
Reservations:
Ratings:
Staff friendliness: *****
Service speed: *****
Restaurant cleanliness: *****
Food quality: ****
Value for money: ****
Ambience: *****
