Organization

 

 

My husband and I discovered the Restaurant Sens , by accident…really! We had an accident on the highway …we lost a wheel (rear-left side). Rest assured, we were not harmed , but shaken quite a bit . To make a story short, we got towed to the Garage (Sega Chrysler St-Bruno) where they took care of everything. The repairs will be long, so we had no choice but to go to the Hotel. The Mortagne was suggested, and we went.

After getting to our room, we noticed that they had a terrace (a real nice one). After a glass of wine, and calming down a little bit (we were shaken after the accident , a very stressful event). We got down, sat on a sofa (it was very quiet and nice), superb place to be after such a scare. We noticed a few persons (staff) around the outdoor bar (counter), they were talking together, without noticing us (I figured), I went to the bar, and ordered our first drinks …making sure to let them know of our ordeal of the day. One gentleman (I guess it was the manager or something like that, was compassionate) . We had our drink while reminiscing the whole experience, that could have turned more badly . After a while, we were expecting that a waiter or waitress would showed up and ask if we want something else, but it did not happened. I had to return to the bar and asked again….but this time, I said If I were you guys, I would make sure to take good care of my clients , because at the end of your shift, the way you act will directly reflect on your tips.

They got my message, after that one of them ( young Italian man, he even spoke Spanish with me , it was real nice and unexpected, he was very nice.. Piedro , I think? but I am not sure,  sorry!) , more experienced or money wise, took the lead and was our waiter for the rest of the evening . At some points, we have met two salesperson who joined us on our sofa. We chatted a while, having a few more drinks ( it was also the Latino night and a live Cuban band was playing on site) and decided to stay for dinner (it was getting late, at around 9h00 ) . The experience was superb. the food is succulent (gourmet style). It was a very positive experience , that make us want to return  the next day(we had nowhere else to go), stuck at the hotel waiting for our jeep to be fixed. When we’ve returned , our yesterday’s waiter was fast on offering drinks and suggested food we should try at dinner. I listened to his suggestions and order a trio of spiced food ( I specifically said nothing too fat) and It was fat (but one’s taste is not another one). He offered something else, but that was it for me, I was not hungry anymore.

The service, started very slow and difficult, but once they are organized, or once they know that you are good clients (I am not sure which one comes first), they will run to make sure you are pleased with everything.

The Restaurant’s name couldn’t be more perfect, it’s an all SENSes experience (even more true in the summer). Beautiful for the eyes, agreeable for the ears (Latino Thursdays), Sensational for the nose (fresh herbs and gourmet food), Delectable for the palate (taste fresh and amazing),  the touch…well, if you happen to have a companion with you (hold hands or share fingers food) and if you have a 6th sense, you know that you have to visit that establishment.

I would definitely recommend to everyone, doesn’t matter if your a groups, between friends, colleagues, a family, a couple on honeymoon or even solo, in town for business. They will have something to make you want to return as soon as possible.

Suggestion: you have to try the Duck mousse “mousse foie de canard” with Clos du Bois wine!

 It’s a huge two tombs up for me!

 

Honeymoon sweet but Sandals Royal Hicacos not so sweet

Sandals Royal Hicacos – Varadero, Cuba

www.sandalshicacos.com/

Carretera Las Morlas Km. 15 Varadero, Cuba,  Cuba
(0)45 66 88 44

It was my very first trip south, In February 2005, we went to the Sandals Royal Hicacos for our Honeymoon. We booked for a week . We were staying in a garden view room ( ground floor), big enough, nice balcony. The first morning we wake-up , everything was wet (too humid) and the sink and the bathroom counter top were full of small ants .

Since I had no previous travelling experience, I taught it was acceptable (my husband was a lot more experienced, he knew and said nothing) 😦 ; we got out for the breakfast, at the buffet restaurant…all the table were dirty , full of used dishes and leftovers of food, we were waiting to be seated , we must have wait 30 minutes, the same scenario repeats itself in the evening. Yes, reservations are a must for the a la carte restaurant, and do It as soon as you do your Hotel check-in, or even if all the restaurants are empty they expect to have your name on the reservation list?? go figure ? I never understood.

The activities on site, not much , but the diving center is well equipped for Cuba. The beach is beautiful (Varadero after all) soft white sand, long stretch to walk as much as you like, no palapas or vip section, just basic lounge chair, the pool was ok. The food in general was not mediocre but not very good either, just ok, even in the a la carte restaurants!

In general, the visitors are aged in the mid-fifties , we did not saw anyone of our age then (end of 20’s -30’s) , they all looked retired, so it’s not the place for party-animals, they had some shows every evening, it was ok, but nothing grandiose , not much participation and ambiance (just a few spectators),

To make a story short, I did not like the place and I will not return. If you ask me if I would recommend this, yes but to someone who seeks peace and quiet and who doesn’t care much about the food, the services and the activities!