Above: Le Bistro (CJ Photo)

By Alexander Britell

ANTIGUA — Searching for a great meal takes steps.

A right turn here, then another, then up a hill and down a quiet street. The signs point you, egging you on, convincing you that there is something special at the end of this journey.

Because this isn’t on the beach, or downtown; it’s hidden away in a quiet corner of Hodges Bay. You wouldn’t find it without its series of strategically placed roadside arrows pointing you in the right direction.

But these are the kinds of restaurants that really deliver, the ones that demand a little bit of a jaunt.

But while Le Bistro feels like a secret place, it’s actually one of the island’s landmark restaurants, dating back to 1981.

This is Antigua’s oldest French restaurant, a classic kind of eatery that’s today helmed by Chef Patrick Gauducheau, a native of the Vendée region of France.

A meal here begins with an aperitif in the lounge area, followed by a move a few steps down to the dining room.

Above: smoked marlin at Le Bistro

The menu is a delightful French-Caribbean mix — that means dishes like escargots alongside smoked marlin among the starters, and entrees like duck a l’orange or blackened tuna.

They’re all wholesome and excellently prepared toward one goal: total satiety.

And that means finding your way there will be much easier the next time.