One of the island's genuinely offbeat restaurants is Le Tamarin, a deliberately informal bistro that caters to a clientele from the nearby Plage de Saline. It's isolated amid rocky hills and forests east of Gustavia, in a low-slung cottage whose eaves are accented with gingerbread. Inside, a teak-and-bamboo motif prevails. Lunch is the more popular and animated meal here, with most customers dining in T-shirts and bathing suits. If you have to wait, you can order an aperitif in one of the hammocks stretched under a tamarind tree. The menu focuses on light, summery meals that go well with the streaming sunlight and tropical heat. Examples include gazpacho, grilled tuna with Creole sauce, a carpaccio of fish that includes very fresh portions of marinated salmon and tuna, and chicken roasted with soy sauce, lemon, and ginger. There's a broadly based wine list, plus a chocolate cake dessert specialty that appeals to chocoholics. Service can be erratic, but if you're in a rush, you shouldn't be here. It's the perfect place for a lazy afternoon on the beach.