We have just returned from our fourth visit to Lux* Grand Gaube (formerly Legends) on Mauritius and it was the best yet! The changes they have made since last year are quite subtle - but effective. Also the scheduled refurbishment of the rooms and suites continues to make progress.
The restaurants are basically the same but the menus have been revised and offer a wide choice with good quality and efficient, friendly service. The large wine list now includes a range of "Scrucap" wines which the LUX* group has developed by working closely with a number of wine producers in South Africa - as the name implies they have a simple screw cap, which is good for room service in particular.
The Kitchen (previously Genko) serves a full buffet breakfast and a wide variety of good quality themed international and regional evening buffets - but unfortunately, in my view, they have dispensed with the table service Gala Night that they used to put on once a week. That said, there are a lot of dining options.
Abalone is the restaurant on the beach where a nice new touch is a beach barbecue, where Chef Francesca will keep you smiling with her infectious friendliness! Abalone provides lunch and dinner with table service and a good choice of dishes, although it specialises in seafood. Diren even surprised us by arranging a table on the beach for us one evening!
The Beach (previously La Bastide) also serves lunch and dinner but with a Mediterranean emphasis, including authentic pasta and pizza, and has lovely sea views. Karma House, continues to provide a "fine dining" experience in the evenings and is now also the venue for the Chef's Signature Menu which comes as part of each 7 day All Inclusive package. At lunchtime Banyan The Island Kitchen, has a wide choice of food in a more informal atmosphere under the Banyan trees and specialises in Mauritian cuisine.
The Bar (formerly Grand Bleu) is one of our favourite lunchtime venues with fabulous views over the half-moon beach and serves food all afternoon, as well as providing a wide range of drinks and beverages.
Other new innovations are Cafe LUX* in the main lobby serving a wide range of locally roasted coffee, the beach "bicycle-cart" taking ice-cream and sorbet to beach sunbathers, plus, next to the beach, there is a fresh coconut and pineapple point. In addition there is a mystery bar which can appear anywhere in the grounds and where you help yourself on an honesty-box basis! They have also planted their own herb garden which, as well as providing the herbs for all of their restaurants, is also a place where you can relax. Locally sourced and bottled still and sparkling water are also nice new touches, as is an old fashioned "red" telephone box where you can make a short, complimentary call home!
This is a premium resort and the prices are not cheap so, if you can run to it, I would highly recommend the Pure Discovery (All Inclusive) package which means you don't have to keep a running record of your bill! It includes a wide choice of sea and land based activities for the more energetic - or inquisitive (including a couple of day trips, spa treatments and Chef tutorials), dining options at most of the restaurants, plus branded wines, beers and spirits, as well as cocktails and soft drinks at all of the bars/restaurants.
Another good move is that management seem to be deliberately playing down the corporate parties (there were none while we were there) and concentrating on people like us. We think this resort has a real can-do attitude, the atmosphere is very friendly, the entertainment is good but not intrusive, the food we found excellent and overall, although it is not cheap, it does offer excellent value for money.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
