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ArubaHouse:
Restaurant Reviews |
Aruba Restaurant Ratings
About our reviews - we have tried to rate these restaurants relative to typical upscale resort destinations and not world class gastronomic venues such as New York, San Francisco, Milan and Paris. This is not to imply that some of Aruba's restaurants are not great dining experiences, but rather to avoid your feeling obligated to email us that you don't understand how we could rate a particular restaurant a 9.125 out of 10 when you had a far better meal at L'Ambrosi in the Place des Voges in Paris.
Aruba is a very dynamic place with old restaurants changing or closing, new chefs arriving and new restaurants starting. Because we only get to Aruba 2 to 3 times a year, our reviews in some instances can get a bit out of date. If you think a particular one is as off as yesterdays mahi mahi, please let us know.
As a generality, the availability of fine wines across various price points, in the stores and restaurants is not up to the quality of the kitchens. We wish it were and can't figure out why it isn't.
In some instances we know owners of a restaurant we reviewed. We have tried not to let that influence our opinion.
During the peak tourist periods, some of the higher rated and more popular restaurants book up a few days to a week ahead. Make your reservations early in your visit. If you are staying at our house (watch out for another shameless commercial message) you can email our caretaker a list of reservations you want prior to your arrival and she will arrange them for you.
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Food Weighting:
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10
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If the food isn't good, why bother? |
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Service Weighting:
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5
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If the food is good, this also matters. |
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Ambiance Weighting:
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5
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If the food is good, this also matters. |
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Price:
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With equal ratings, lowest price wins. |
Wine List Reviews
Wine lists in Aruba are a difficult subject. The supply of fine wines is limited and expensive. There are some surprisingly decent Cabernets and Chardonnay's from Chile and Australia (Shiraz) and some decent reds from Argentina and Australia available on the wine lists and in the supermarkets. Experiment! My ratings are in the context of Aruba and not related to what you might expect in San Francisco, New York, Geneva or Paris. Many restaurants will permit you to bring a special bottle of wine from home. Some will charge a fee and some won't. Please call the restaurant to make arrangements in advance so that you and they will not be surprised. When we bring wines, we always tip a bit more to compensate for the bill being lower, but the service being the same work. Our reviews are for depth and breadth of quality and for price relative to value.
Click the Chart for a Closer Look!
- El Gaucho - Argentine aged beef. Great! Get the tenderloin. Decent south American red wines if you'll spend $30 for a bottle. Not a good pick for vegetarians. Reservations a must! Oranjestad Phone 582-3677 Website http://www.elgaucho-aruba.com/
- Chez Mathilde - Fanciest place in Aruba. Good food, nice ambiance, high prices but worth it for a special evening. Oranjestad Phone 583-4968 Website http://www.chezmathilde.com/
- Charlie's Bar - Saint Nicholas (the other end of the island, near Baby Beach which is good snorkeling beach but 18 miles from our house). Cold beer and boiled shrimps. Not worth the trip from the hotels but worth a late snack if you go to Baby Beach. Phone 584-5086 Website http://charliesbararuba.com/charlies/
- Tierra del Sol Golf Club Restaurant (Ventanas del Mar) - Good food, nice place (especially the more intimate seating area by the bar or outdoors). Very good jazz trio. Lighthouse area. Phone 586-0879 Website http://www.tierradelsol.com/restaurant/
- Light House Restaurant (La Trattoria El Faro Blanco) - Really nice for the early sunset dinner, but then again so is our front patio. Good Italian food. Sit outdoors. Lighthouse area. Phone 586-0786 Website http://www.aruba-latrattoria.com/
- Le Petite Cafe at Playa Linda - Cooking on hot stones. Flavorful! And fun. High-rise hotel area. Phone 582-3166
- Buccaneer - On one of the roads going north from the high rise hotels but less than 1 mile from our house. Major selling point are the GIANT aquariums with interesting tropical fish. Food OK. You can always go there for a beer and see the fish if OK isn't good enough for you. Phone 586-6172 Website http://www.arubadining.com/buccaneer/
- Brisas Del Mar - About 5 miles past the airport going away from our house. Typical open air Aruban seafood, on the water. Tourist and locals like the place. Get directions. Phone 584-7718
- Grand Hyatt Hotel - Two restaurants. The fancy one, /Ruinas del Mar, has indoor and outdoor seating. Sit outdoors at a table next to the black swans pool. Check out the iguanas that climb the rocks. Good food, nicer ambiance if outdoors, prices you expect. Less fancy one, Palms, has seating on a deck and the outdoor bar by the beach also inside but the whole point is eating outside by the beach. Real casual and food OK, but they do have their "margarita night" and other specials. Nice place to have a beer and see the people who are paying $1,300 (plus room tax and service) per night for a two bedroom suite. (Perhaps you should be paying us more?) Phone 586-1234
- The Driftwood - Fish restaurant in Oranjestad Good fresh sea food. They tend to overbook so expect to have a drink at the bar. Phone 583-2515 Website http://www.arubadining.com/driftwood/
- Marina Pirata - Fabulous fress local Aruban seafood. You eat on a deck right on the water. It is well out of town so get directions and look at the map. It's a little tricky. Phone 585 7150
- Le Dome - This Belgium restaurant has indoor and outdoor dining, good food and one of the better wine lists (in terms of variety). It's located near La Cabanna, Divi and La Quinta. Continental and charming. Phone 587-1517 Website http://www.ledome-aruba.com/
- Papiamento - Charming old house, good food, romantic setting for dining outdoors by the pool. Near our house and the high rise hotels but on one of the roads north of the hotels. Quite popular so make a reservation in advance. Phone 586-4544 Website http://www.papiamento.com
- In Town by the Wharf - There are a lot of restaurants there. Lively and decent food. Mostly tourists (but then again so are you) I haven't been disappointed but can't remember the names. Let me know what you think.
- Tony Roma's for Ribs - The usual Tony Roma's. That means good tasting greasy ribs, onion rings and fries. You can call ahead and take out for probably the best fast food in Aruba. Phone 586-7427 Website http://www.tonyromas.com/files/home.asp
- Benihana - The usual Benihana; everything tastes like soy sauce and garlic. Great show for the kids. Phone 582-6788 Website http://www.visitaruba.com/benihana/
- La Dolce Vita - Perfectly made al dente pasta. Good Caesar salad and eggplant parmesan. Relatively inexpensive. Phone 586-5241 Website http://www.arubadining.com/ladolcevita/
- Tuscany - Italian (hence the name Tuscany) at the Marriott. Most people seem to like it. Some think it is a bit high priced compared to the many other good Italian meals you can get in Aruba. Phone 586-9000
- Valentino's - Italian. Expensive but good. Try the various seafood pastas. Quite popular so reservations are a must. Phone 586-0154 Website http://www.valentinosaruba.com
- Flying Fishbone - Located on the beach near Brises Del Mar and the desalinization plant (about 5 miles past the airport going towards St. Nicholas) this charming place is worth the drive. The food (even some decent wines at affordable prices) and ambiance are the strong points (isn't that what you came for) and the energetic young Dutch staff are a plus. Phone 584-2506
- The French Steak House - Located in the low rise hotel area in the Tam complex and near the Divi this restaurant is a good place to walk to (if you're in the area) and is on the meal plans of several dine-a-round all inclusive hotels. I had not been there before and the management invited my wife and I to try it after seeing our website. We did and were pleased by the food, service and ambiance. The Argentine steaks, salad and soup we sampled were reasonably priced and a very good value. You won't leave hungry and will probably have leftovers for sandwiches the next day. Phone 582-3444 Website http://www.manchebo.com/steakhouse
- ArubaHouse - Eat what you like. Truly authentic home cooking! Prices vary - Grilled shrimps & pasta $2.50 per person. Wine extra, but not much. No service charge. Don't forget to thank the cook! Note! If you are not staying there, reservations are generally not accepted.
- Madame Janette - Located 5 minutes east of the high rise hotels, this Austrian/Caribbean restaurant features
outdoor dining on a deck and a garden. The food is good and the service is relaxed. Before you ask to meet Madame Janette - it's not a person but a type of pepper so don't say you know her when trying to get a reservation on a fully booked night. Phone 587-0184 Website http://www.madamejanette.com/
- The Promenade - An inviting local cuisine restaurant located in St. Nicholas (at the other end of the island from the hotels and casinos). Adventure dining at very reasonable prices. Sunday buffet is worth the trip for big eaters who want to get started early in the day. Evenings are festive. The food is good, wine list is limited and service has a local tempo. Now another opened at the Plaza Mall. Phone 584 3131
- Que Pasa - Located in Oranjestad on a side street in a new location. The food (surprisingly sophisticated) is the strong point, along with a cordial and knowledgeable Dutch staff. While I like the ambiance, it can best be described as Euro-Caribbean funky with a certain charm (if you are into that sort of thing). If they are booked when you go in, see Marvin the bartender. It was previously owned along with owners of Flying Fishbone, but it is currently owned by Marvin and Addie, the great chef. Phone 583-4888
- Amazonia - Located near the high rise hotels. Dining inside or out (we prefer out). The menu is all you can eat Argentine beef, chicken and pork. Vegetarians will be fine cruising the extensive and very good salad bar, soups etc. Meat eaters will be in their natural habitat. The basic program is that as you sit at the table, waiters pass by and offer you slices of whatever they are carrying. They carve it in front of you and you pick it up and put it on your plate with tongs. When you can't eat any more you stop asking for food. Good wine list including wines by the glass. Phone 586- 4444 Website http://www.amazonia-aruba.com/
- Cuba's Cookin' - Cuban food in downtown Oranjestad. Good, honest Cuban food, especially the black beans and rice. Music some nights. Phone 588-0627
- Amici's - Located across the road from the very nice Playa Linda timeshare resort, Amici's serves good desserts and coffee. Worth a stop if you are calorie depleted after dinner and need a few more. People say it is fine for breakfast. I've never been. In the morning, I sort of like to brew an espresso at our house, sit on the front patio, look at the sea and listen to the wild parrots yell at one another.
- Sunset Grille at the Radisson Hotel - Sophisticated NYC/San Fran cuisine in a very nice, in or out door setting (again we prefer out). Expensive yes, worth it yes, especially for people who don't spend a lot of time in NY or San Fran. Good wine list. Phone 583-4488
- Bon Bini Bagels - At Playa Linda. Almost like New York bagels. Phone 582-2789
- Texas de Brazil - Located above Amici's across the road from Playa Linda, this restaurant is similar to Amazonia and also highly rated. We prefer dining outside at Amazonia but, other than that, each person may have a slight preference for one over the other. If you like meat, you can't leave unhappy or underfed. Good wine list at fair prices and very good salad bar. Phone 586-4686
- Hosteria da Vittorio - Located across the road from the Wyndam, this Italian retaurant offers very good food, large portions and professional service with indoor and outdoor dining. The wine list is small and often does not list the vintage. The outdoor dining on a patio and under a tent is across the road from Amazonia's parking. Phone 586-3838
- Aqua Grill - This popular restaurant is located next to Amazonia and has some of the same owners. Think fish, a wide variety of local and imported, all very well prepared. Modern and elegant interior with high ceilings. We especially like sitting in the interior near the fish displayed on ice. Wine list has variety and some reasonable prices. Phone 586-5900
- Marriott Sushi - Located next to the bar in the lobby, this place is casual and affordable. The sake they serve gratis with some of the meals is fine. You won't feel like you are in Japan, but if you have a craving for raw fish and rice with soy sauce and wasabi this will satisfy it. Phone 586-5365
- King Ribs - Take out ribs open Thursday through Sunday. This formerly outdoor stand located near the Samson Book Store on L G Smith Blvd on the way from the hotels going towards Oranjestad is worth stopping by. Now it has a roof and some walls. I bet you can't take in the aroma without ordering more than you came for. Forget the wine list and the ambiance. This is not what it is king of. Recently moved. Phone 582-4049
- Moomba Bar - Located on the beach between the Marriott and the Holiday Inn, this huge open air palapa has great views of the ocean sunsets for happy hour and a party scene at night. If you are in Aruba during a full moon, go to the Full Moon party. It gets rolling around 10:30 p.m. and lasts at least until 3:00 a.m. There is also an outdoor and on the beach restaurant that I have yet to try (so many places and so little time). Phone 586-5365
- Moomba Restaurant - Located next to Moomba Bar above. Tables under a big palapa or on the beach. Very casual dining with good salads, soups and entrees. A short walk down the beach from the high rise hotels makes it convenient for many. Wine, but no wine list and limited low priced selection. Phone 586-5365
- Ketsu Sushi Bar - Located next to the bar in the lobby of the Marriott hotel, this place is casual and affordable. The sake they serve is included in the price of the meal. You won't feel like you are in Japan, but if you have a craving for raw fish and rice with soy sauce and wasabi, this will satisfy it.
- Rumba - Located in Oranjestad near Que Pasa. This restaurant serves very good Mediterranean style food in a combination of indoor and outdoor spaces. The wine list, while limited, has several good selections. Service is accommodating, portions are substantial and the prices are very reasonable. Phone 588-7900
- Marandi - Located just outside of Oranjestad, west of the traffic circle and down by the edge of the water, this newcomer is in a large palapa on the beach sand. Owned by Marvin, who owns Que Pasa, you expect good food and get it. A bit more upscale than Que Pasa and slightly more expensive, this restaurant serves "Euro" cuisine, has a good wine list, efficient Dutch service performed by efficient Dutch ladies and is destined to become a hard to get reservation. Moving soon. Phone 582-0157 Website http://www.marandiaruba.com/
- Salt and Pepper - Tapas in a café style setting located across the road from the Allegro Hotel in the high rise hotel section. Casual dining and very limited wine list. Some main courses available and daily specials. The bar is a hangout for Euros and locals. Phone 586-3280 Website http://www.saltandpepperaruba.com/
- Azzurro - Outdoor Italian dining overlooking the beach at Playa Linda Timeshare. It was only a matter of time until a decent restaurant operator created a successful restaurant in this excellent location. Good Italian food and attentive service enhance the experience. Wine list is well priced but the selection is narrow. Phone 586-4123
- Blossoms - Who would think that a restaurant that serves both Japanese and Chinese food would be good at either, let alone both? I didn't but was wrong. Located at the Wyndam Hotel, the high style décor and gracious efficient service added to the experience. I prefer beer with Asian food and I was so wrapped up in the food and conversation that I forgot to check the wine list. Don't worry, I'll be back to this place and won't make that mistake again. Phone 586-3388 Website http://www.arubawyndham.com/restaurants/
- Senior Sanchez - This restaurant offers a few Mexican dishes and a number of continental ones with a bit of a Mexican tilt to the seasonings, as well as more traditionally flavored continental dishes and ribs. The food is surprisingly good and the ambiance was nicely quiet and low key. The wine list has a broad selection and various price points. Give it a try if you are in the Noord area.
- Pinchos - Located on a long pier between Oranjestad and the airport (for those who know Mirandi it is just before you get to it coming form Oranjestad). The menu is limited, but prepared well. A few meat and seafood selections prepared in the Argentine grill manor. Tasty and worth a try while sitting at a table surrounded by water. The service is attentive and because you are outdoors, the noise level is low and the views are great. They have a nice outdoor bar if you are just in the mood for a drink. The wine list offers reasonable choices at good prices. Phone 583-2666
If we left out one of your favorites, let us know and we'll comment on it after we eat there. There are a lot of good places in Aruba and new ones all the time. It's hard to remember them all. Mostly, we like to buy some fish, shrimp or lobster from the fisherman at the dock and grill them on the BBQ in our garden. Great views, no wait for the table, the music we want to hear on the stereo and a choice of dining in or outdoors. You can even stare out at the ocean with a glass of wine while you wait for dinner to be served. You can't get away with it every night soooo take the family out when they insist. Make reservations in advance in the high season. This website lists most of the restaurants in Aruba - http://www.aruba-travelguide.com/restaurants/all.html
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