Dining in Aruba

We missed our timeshare week last year so it has been nearly a year and a half since we were here in Aruba last.

Our flight was a little late so by the time we landed, grabbed our rental car and picked up a few groceries at the IGA, it was already dinner time. In the mood for fish, we thought we would try a seafood restaurant that we have walked by at least a dozen times on prior trips during our daily strolls.  Hadicurari is located right on Palm Beach near the Marriott.  We started the meal with a ceviche appetizer of fresh fish marinaded with key lime, onions, cilantro and peppers.

Ernie ordered the 4oz filet mignon of beef tenderloin, mahi mahi and shrimp.  I had the Tuna special, medium rare with mashed potatoes; it was well prepared and a very large portion.  The service and food were both very good and we will be returning on a future visit.

Some of Ernie’s longtime friends from childhood happened to be vacationing in Aruba during the same week so we made a few dates to connect during the trip.  John, Joyce and Jill are the longtime friends.  John and Joyce have been married many years and have an 18 year old daughter Jamie, who brought along her boyfriend Adam.

We met up at the Moomba bar after Ernie and I had dinner at the Hadicurari on Saturday.   It was a really fun time, we drank beer, did tequila shots and danced for much of the evening to a really good local band.

On Sunday, Ernie and I had dinner at Tango Argentine Grille.  It is located in the mini plaza with Salt & Pepper but the Burger King that used to be next door is now gone. We have been to Tango on at least 3 other occasions during prior trips and usually eat outside. This time however, the weather has been a bit unusual with brief bouts of rain each day so we decided to eat indoors.  Our very attentive server was Chriselda.  Chriselda told us that Juan (our server from past visits) left Tango for a new place down the street called Chicken and Lobster (Not an especially creative name but we’ll have to check it out.) Ernie had a surf and turf with shrimp and fillet mignon. My meal was a selection from the hot appetizers section, a gigantic grilled portobello mushroom stuffed with spinach and Gouda cheese.  It was outstanding and I will definitely order it when we return next year.

Monday evening we had reservations for the seven of us at the Flying Fishbone.  I think this was the fourth trip to this restaurant for Ernie and me.  It is located in Savaneta, approximately a 30 – 40 minute drive from the high rise area and well worth the trip.  It is a beautiful location to stick your feet in the sand under a star-filled sky while enjoying gourmet fare.  Ernie order shrimp cocktail appetizer which includes 6 jumbo shrimp and 2 dipping sauces.

Ernie had a fish special, Joyce and I had the Salmon (excellent) with creamy mashed potatoes, summer squash and a rich lemongrass sauce, Jamie had a salad and calamari, Jill had skewered black tiger shrimp with herb risotto, mixed vegetables and lemon garlic butter sauce, John had a Caesar salad and the catch of the day, mahi mahi with mashed potato and vegetables.

A new experience for Ernie and me this trip was Amuse Sunset Restaurant.  Amuse was amazing.  Excellent hospitality, ambiance, food and service!

French inspired cuisine with fresh ingredients and an Aruban flair. We started with a lobster bisque and some escargots.  I’m not really a fan of snail drenched in butter and garlic but it’s a French restaurant and I just like to say the word “escargot”.  I had the most amazingly fabulous shrimp and short ribs dish with mashed potatoes and Ernie’s entree was similar except instead of shrimp, he had lobster.  The flavor was excellent and the meal was cooked to perfection.  Our server was great and this is a place we will be returning to next year.

 

A dining must in Aruba, is Las Ramblas at the La Cabana Resort across from Eagle Beach.

John made reservations for the seven us for 7:30 on Wednesday evening.  I would recommend reservations here at 6 or 6:30 the latest if you would like to enjoy the beautiful beach sunset.  Ernie and I have been to Las Ramblas many times and have always received excellent service, savory meals and the freshest vegetables we have found anywhere so far on the island.  We started dinner with a bottle of Wente Cabernet and a couple of Ahi Tuna appetizers.  Ernie had a Land & Sea special consisting of a petite filet and grilled half Caribbean rock lobster tail.  Joyce had the Surf & Turf with shrimp and petite fillet.  John had the Ahi tuna appetizer and a salad for his entree.

I am usually one to order seafood or a steak at any restaurant but for some reason, the spinach and feta stuffed chicken breast was calling my name.  It seemed to also call out to Jill and Jamie as they ordered it as well.  Adam ordered a strip steak perfectly charred atop asparagus and mashed potatoes.  Las Ramblas hit the mark, our meals were superb and the service was outstanding.

So many restaurants, too little time.  Join us next January 2018 (or maybe October 2017) for Dining in Aruba.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where not to dine in Aruba:

Pure Ocean at the Divi Phoenix.  Unfortunately, the beautiful beach location has overpriced and just really awful food.

The Aqua Grill seems to get good reviews on Trip Advisor but our experience last year was subpar at best.  The service was terrible and the food was mediocre.   This is the only choice for tourists without a car or not wanting to take a taxi and if they decreased the prices and renamed it Red Lobster, they might be onto something.