Aruba Through Our Stomachs!

Aruba is not only a great place for sun, sand, ocean, relaxation, and fun. It is also a place to wine and dine to your hearts content! In my many days there, I certainly explored as many restaurants as I could and I tried the best there was to eat! Follow me on my adventures below and hopefully I leave you with your mouth watering! 

**Side note- if you click on the name of each restaurant below, it will bring you to their website so you can see where each is located :) 

Gasparito Restaurant and Art Gallery

Small family owned intimate restaurant. Seats 20 people a night. Amazing experience with unique dishes and great service.

Escargot - 

A traditional gratin with garlic and parmesan cheese topped with our home made Hollandaise sauce. 

This was our first escargot of the trip, and definitely still remains my favorite! Who can resist cheesy escargot! 

Aruban Combo - 

A collection of Aruban Specialities featuring tasty Fish, Keshi Yena chicken and Kerry Kerry. There was also polenta!! 

Grouper Fish Special- 

Filet of fish topped with tender shrimps with your choice of Garlic, Lemon or Creole sauce. We chose to have the sauce on the side so we could taste, both the garlic/lemon sauce and also the creole sauce! We both preferred the creole sauce!! 

Banana al Forno - 

Fried banana topped with ice cream and homemade cream! Delicious! It was supposed to come with vanilla ice cream, but we asked for chocolate :) 

This restaurant is definitely going to be on the list for next year! 

Matthews Beachside Restaurant

-Located at Casa Del Mar Pool/Beach area 

- Our home away from home...and the best happy hours!

- 2 for 1 drinks everyday from 12-1, 4-6, 9-10 

Goat cheese wrapped in Italian Prosciutto ham -

Flash seared and served on a bed of greens with raspberry vinaigrette 

MMMMazing! Ben makes these at home now! 

Garlic Escargots 1/2 dozen - 

Sizzling hot, and cooked in garlic butter 

There are two missing snails from the photo because we got a little too excited when it arrived at the table! All the food at Matthews is amazing, but this appetizer is the only dish that actually disappointed me at Matthews. It was a little bland... Although, I guess its hard to compete against Gasparito's cheesy escargot! 

Ship's Mate Sandwich - 

From the lunch menu, but ordered at dinner because its just that good... 

Lightly breaded fillet of grouper carefully fried and served on an Italian garlic loaf bread with tartar sauce 

Pina Colada Shrimp -

Caribbean shrimp prepared with pine apple, Caribbean rum and coconut in a creamy sauce  

This was delicious! A fresh take on coconut shrimp since its not fried :) 

This was not the first and not the last time we have eaten at Matthew's! Here is our second meal we had at Matthew's this trip! 

Night two at Matthew's! 

Grouper Special of the night-

Served with mussels, shrimp, vegetables, and rice in a garlic sauce. 

The Matthew's Sandwich-

Sautéed chicken with chunks of pineapple and bacon. 

Ben's favorite sandwich that he swears by! ( I disagree, the Shipmate's or the Steak Sandwich are much better!) 

Tuna Steak - 

Sesame crusted, flash seared in extra virgin olive oil, served with soy and wasabi. 

Aria's go to meal! I may order this next year, because it was so good! 

Chocolate Mousse 

Very cute, because it's served as mice! 

Profiterolles

Sole Mare 

Italian yumminess in Aruba! :) Someone asked me if I could pick my favorite dish of the trip, or even my life, this restaurant makes it! See details below! 

The Famous Polenta! Better than bread... 

Escargot Bourguignonne -

Shelled snails highlighted in white wine & Perfectly flavored garlic butter 

Calamari Napoletani - 

Sauteed squid in garlic tomato sauce ...MMMM 

It can also be ordered fried and served in garlic tomato sauce. 

Carpaccio al Parmigiano - 

Thin slice marinated raw beed served with extra olive oil and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano cheese over a bed of fresh arugula salad 

Sole Mare Special - 

Truly a seafood lovers dish- Jumbo shrimp, the largest on the island, mussels, clams, calamari, and the Caribbean Lobster served over a bed of spaghetti in a white wine and garlic sauce. 

This was submitted with their homemade pappardelle which is to die for! 

Live Lobster prepared with a white wine and garlic butter sauce! 

They cut up the lobster tail and they stuff it back into the shell of the lobster to serve! What a unique way of eating lobster without all the work :) 

"The difference between Maine Lobster and Caribbean lobster is that Maine Lobster has 50% less meat. "

Live Lobster prepared with a Fra Diavolo sauce! 

They cut up the lobster tail and they stuff it back into the shell of the lobster to serve! This was my dish, and I was surprised that I preferred the Fra Diavolo sauce over the white wine and garlic sauce. I was told to order it this way, and I am glad I listened! This was honestly the best meal of my life! 

Side of pappardelle in Fra Diavolo sauce. 

It came with the lobster :) 

Screaming Eagle 

We decided to try this restaurant out because of their special "game" menu. We luckily went earlier in the week, since we heard that the night after we went they were out of the the special items on the menu and were only offering the regular menu. 

The ambiance of this restaurant is different than others, because you can elect to have a table where you are eating in a bed, kind of like a Miami vibe. We chose to each at a regular table since we were there as a family! 

Amuse-Bouche of tomato soup with a crunch crouton 

This was a very nice start to the meal with warm tomato soup and a crunchy crouton. The textures worked very well together, and the flavors set us up for a nice meal ahead! 

Carpaccio of kangaroo 

Accompanied with hummus, orange wedges, tomato, croutons, rucola, parmesan curls, and vandouvian mayonnaise. 

Truffle Spaghettini 

Creamy pasta with truffle, served with Serrano ham and poached egg ...this was very truffly and delicious!

Venison Fillet 

Served with mashed potato, brussel sprouts, packed red wine pear, and red wine-vanilla sauce. 

Cooked to perfection with every bite being juicy and full of flavor. The sauce was an added extra bonus because it was like crack! 

Pan Fried Reindeer

Served with compote of quinces, haricots vets, mashed potato, and star anis sauce.

Trilogy of Chocolate Mousse

layers of dark, white, and milk chocolate mousse served with chocolate ice cream! 

Carambola

Champignons de Paris- 

Snails marinated in fresh garlic, sautéed with green onions, shallots, and white wine sauce, and served on stemmed mushroom caps 'augratin and accompanied with toast. MMMM! 

Kingston Shrimp- 

Shrimps dipped in Jamaican rum sweetened coconut sauce, sautéed with butter and garlic, served with curry mango sauce. 

Lobster Mojito Cocktail - 

Chunks of lobster, freshened with mint leaves, served on a bed of crushed ice, mixed lettuce, cherry tomatoes, fried plantain, and wasabi cocktail sauce. Very refreshing! 

Mahi-Mahi Coco- 

Mahi-Mahi fillet, pan-fried and served with creamy coconut Aruban rum sauce, fried corn polenta "funchi" and sprinkled with baked coco flakes. 

Samie's Bouillabaisse- 

Lobster, shrimp, fish, squid, mussels, and scallops cooked in a lobster reduction, accompanied by white rice and topped with spiced guacamole. This was the winner of the table! 

Fish of the Day

Papiamento

Ben and I had our date night at this beautiful restaurant known by the whole island as one of the most romantic restaurants. You get to dine in an original 126 year old "cunucu" house with a beautiful pool where tables are line along the edge for dining. We were lucky to get a table on the edge of the pool so we could look out over it.  The restaurant's policy is to only have one seating per table a night, so you have all the time in the world to enjoy the ambiance and food.
They are also known for their "Grilled and Served on the Stone" meals. This meal was one of our more healthy meals, since the meat or fish you select comes sizzling on a stone with the sauce on the side. It was a very hearty and appetizing meal without all the sauces that hide the flavor of the meat or fish in the meal! 

Beautiful bench near the entrance! 

Our beautiful corner table right next to the pool!

This bread has amazing flavor with the spices on top! 

Escargots Dyonnaise- 

Flame broiled snails with fresh rosemary garlic butter

Martinis! 

Our meals came with Caesar salad to start, which was a nice addition to the meal. This was the only restaurant of the whole trip that included salad. I am noticing most restaurants these days don't include salad to start, which is very unfortunate! 

Madame Butterfly -

Tenderloin steak cut "butterfly" and served with a green and pink peppercorn sauce.
I loved the vegetables that came with this meal. The meat was so tasty that it didn't even need the sauce!

Neptune- 

Caribbean rock lobster, mahi-mahi and shrimp, served with lemon butter. 

This was a great assortment of seafood that was accompanied with very tasty pureed sweet potatoes!

The meals were accompanied with a side of rice. 

Madame Janette Restaurant

This restaurant is the restaurant that requires two visits per trip without fail! It is that amazing! The restaurant is partially indoors and mostly outdoors. It is a mixture of Caribbean, asian fusion, Dutch, French, and Aruban specialities. You definitely get quite the taste of cultures here.

Our first visit- 

The ONIONS! -

They give these to you with your bread complimentary. They are marinated in vinegar, oil, and spices and are very addicting. 

The Famous Bang Bang Shrimp- 

Sweet and spicy crispy shrimp, served on sliced Romaine Lettuce, fresh cut pineapple Concasse and Sesame seeds. 

Ben doesn't go to Madame Janette's without ordering this dish. When I first heard of this restaurant from Ben, this was the dish he spoke most about. I have been there 4 times now, and have tried this dish 4 times :) Definitely worth a try! 

Janette's Sashimi Grade Ahi Tuna-

Sesame pepper crusted Ahi Tuna on a bed of Thai greens, spicy Sriracha vinaigrette and toasted pine nuts. 

Definitely my favorite appetizer! 

Janette's Black Angus X-Mas Carpaccio - 

Served with lightly marinated garden greens, extra virgin olive oil, black truffle aged Balsamico vinaigrette, roasted pine nuts, and sprinkled with Parmeggiano Reggiano. 

This appetizer could be a meal, and one that bite after bite you could never get tired of. Truly amazing, and one of the best carpaccio's that exists. 

The Original "Almond Grouper"- 

Invented in 1999 at Madame Janette. Often copied, never reached! A fine grouper filet in a coat of Almonds served with a creamed spinach sauce.
This dish is famous, and one that I wished I had ordered last year after trying someone else's left overs the day after. This year, I was so happy I ordered it and got to enjoy it fresh the night of, instead of as left overs. Left overs are a definite when it comes to this dish because it's so big!

"Our Jingle Bells Golden Snapper Fillet"- 

Herb coated fillet of snapper, sautéed in French lime butter, served over a bed of spinach fettucini and topped with baby lobster ragout and a splash of hollandaise 

This is Ben's new go to dish. He used to order the Honey Glazed Seabass, but has now switched to a new favorite dish! 

The remnants of a side order of Janette's famous potato gratin. Delicious! 

Night Two at Madame Janette's! 

Santa Claus Lobster Cappuccino- 

Homemade light creamy Lobster bisque served with chunks of lobster, a splash of Hennessy X.O. Cognac and crowned with a spoon of cream. 

Schnitzel al Montero- 

Topped with sautéed onions, island champignons, and a finger licking oxtail place.

The Spoon-

The ultimate dessert lover dessert! It is meant to share for 2 people, but it is definitely shareable for the whole table! It is one of those everything but the kitchen sink type of desserts. It has fried bananas, caramelized sugar, strawberries, cream, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, and chocolate syrup! Very sweet way to finish a meal and also good picture opportunities because it is served on a huge spoon! 

"It's all about that base" - Done specially for us because of our "new" engagement! 

Fried milka cakes with Nutella ice cream and whipped topping sprinkled with toasted almonds. 

Beautiful presentation and very rich! They also served us champagne with our dessert to celebrate our engagement :) 

Oreo Fritters "To Die For"-

Served with vanilla ice cream and whipped topping. 

You can't go wrong with fried Oreos and ice cream! 

Wacky Wahoo's

This restaurant I looked most forward to because Ben and his family went there without me last year after I left Aruba. They raved about the quality of the fish and how good everything was, that I couldn't wait to try it this year. I definitely loved every bite! 

Wacky Wahoo's Arubian Ceviche- 

An assortment of marinated local fish and seafood flavored with fresh lime and cilantro. A hot and refreshing treat. 

This ceviche was probably one of the best I have had! It was extremely fresh and very plentiful. 

Aruban Fish Soup - 

A mixture of fish and seafood in a delicious broth. 

Chef's Special of the night! - 

Grilled grouper filet served with broiled Caribbean lobster tail in garlic basil butter, cornbread, baked plantain, mixed vegetables, and rice with an island flavor! 

Definitely on next year's list! 

Yemanja Woodfired Grill-

This restaurant was another one of my favorites of the trip. We happened to have gone there on a very busy nice and the service was extremely slow. The food was very creative and worth every bite and calorie. Also, it didn't hurt that the whole restaurant had built in entertainment for the night, (you had to be there to understand), but let's just say the night ended with us asking the waitress if a certain customer was a "working girl", and everyone around us laughed in agreement. There was also a major family feud where a mother was scolding her child so the whole restaurant could hear and then broke into tears. So this night was not tame, but the food was worth every minute! 

Cuban Mojito and Signature Margarita! 

Cuban Mojito- 

Havana 3 Anos, Mint leaves, lime juice, sugar cane

Signature Margarita - 
Strawberry & Jalapeño with Sauza tequila, Cointreau, Agave syrup, lime juice

Beef Carpaccio Bombe - 

Salad Blend, arugula, thinly slice raw certified Angus beef tenderloin, pesto, Old Amsterdam cheese, Truffle sauce, balsamic creme. 

This was the most unique way I have ever seen beef carpaccio served. It was a lot of fun cutting into the bombe and having the salad explode out onto the plate. It was a very good portion and so so good. I want more now! 

Filo Dough with Goat Cheese- 

Mixed salad, warm film dough pouch filled with goat cheese, prunes, sundries tomatoes, shallots, walnuts, and honey. 

Very unique and a nice sweet way to start the meal!

Blackened Triple Tail - 

Truffle risotto, glazed green asparagus & snow peas, white wine sauce, tepid tomato dressing. 

Chocolate Molten Lava Cake - 

Served with strawberries and vanilla gelato. 

When I see the words "chocolate molten lava cake" on a dessert menu, my mouth waters, and my full stomach tells me that it has more room for dessert. This is one of my must order desserts if is on the menu. This one lived up to my expectations :) Yummy. 

Twist of Flavors

This is a brand new restaurant located at the Alhambra Casino Mall. We decided to give it a try, and we are glad we did! It was extremely chill, convenient, and the food was packed with flavor. 

French Onion Soup - 

This was the only disappointing item at this meal. As much as french onion soup is one of my favorite soups, and normally nothing can go wrong, this one was definitely lacking. The flavor of the soup was very tasty, and had a lot of onions to enjoy. The only thing missing was the cheese! There was a little cheese on the toast, but there wasn't the quantity that french onion soups need! 

Asian beef strips with wake salad and sweet ginger soy sauce 

Gratinated Shrimp Garlic

Mini Sushi Delight! 

Lobster Xtravaganza- 

Rich lobster meat covered with fresh herbal white wine sauce, old Amsterdam cheese and gratinated in the oven 

Kono Pizza

After experiencing this place in Aruba, I found that you can find it in Italy, and a few places in the US. It is still very limited. However, it was a really great snack and wasn't the typical greasy slice of pizza. In some way, it felt healthier. 

Kono Pizza - comes in many flavors!

Ricardo's 

Very casual and local restaurant located at the Aruba Beach Club where we stay. They have great breakfast, lunch, and dinner! During lunch you can sit at the restaurant in a bathing suit, and then return for dinner dressed up. They also have 2 for 1 happy hour everyday with top shelf alcohol from 12-1, 4-6, and 9-10. 

Goat Cheese & Mango- 

Deep fried goat cheese served with a creamy mango dressing. 

10oz. Caribbean Lobster Tail - 

Can be served al la termidor, grilled, or fra diablo. Served with fresh vegetables and rice. 

We meant to order our tail far diablo, but forgot state it when we ordered, so we received it grilled. Still very good and a good size portion, however it would have been much more moist far diablo. Next time! 

Coconut-Pineapple Shrimps-

Served with coconut flakes and roasted pineapples. 

This dish was full of flavor and you could definitely taste the coconut and pineapple! Oddly, a shrimp dish was better than the lobster dish, but probably because the sauce on this dish was so amazing! 

Grilled Tuna Steak-

Sesame crusted and served with wasabi-mango sauce. 

This dish wasn't mine, but I definitely may order next year if its still on the menu! The taste I had of it was delicious! 

Lobster Pasta-

Lobster pasta on creamy vodka sauce. 

This dish was more than anyone bargained for at the table! It had a whole lobster tail, and mixed seafood in the pasta. The vodka sauce was unreal, and I definitely may consider ordering this next year too! This was my mom's dish and she definitely made a great choice! 

Quinta del Carmen

This brand new restaurant opened up while we were in Aruba and is owned by Barefoot. It was originally a house owned by a Dr. that helped patients at his house before the first hospital on the island was created. It is a beautiful place inside and out, and the food was fabulous. If Ben and I didn't already have a deposit on a venue in NY for our wedding, I would say, this would be the perfect place for a wedding! It was so beautiful! 

Cheese Croquettes- 

Mixed cheese croquettes, served with a raspberry coulis and a summer salad with grapes and walnuts. 

Carpaccio Teriyaki- 

Marinated raw beef tenderloin, topped with sesame seeds and teriyaki sauce, bell pepper, cucumber and gourmet lettuce. 

 Goat Cheese Fritters - 

Goat cheese blended with hand selected herbs and spices, fried until golden, served over a salad of potato, olives, bell pepper, and walnuts

Greenshell Mussels - 

Greenshell mussels on the half shell, topped with a fresh tomato salsa, au gratin with Gouda cheese.

Grouper Caprese-

Grouper filet topped with tomato sauce and buffalo mozzarella, served on a bed of pasta in pesto sauce.
This was the dish that Ben and I shared. It was good, and unique, but at the table it was the most underwhelming of all the dishes. If this dish was the most underwhelming, that says good things about the other dishes on the table!

Duck Breast - 

Duck breast, served with lime, honey, and fresh ginger sauce. 

This was my favorite dish at the table! The duck was cooked to perfection and so juicy!

Grouper, Shrimp, and Salmon- 

Filet of grouper, topped with shrimp, smoked salmon, green asparagus and goat cheese, finished with a white wine herb sauce. 

Pork Mediterranee- 

Port Tenderloin with brie, served with a sauce of olive, onions, sundried tomatoes, basically, red wine, and a pinch of mustard. Served over vegetable. 

This dish was sweet and savory!

Caribbean Lobster Tails - 

Two 6oz. lobster tails, served on a skewer with drawn butter. 

Alcoholic Coffee for Dessert - I forgot the name of this drink :(

Gostoso Restaurante

This small family owned Portuguese, Aruban, and International cuisine restaurant is one of the local Aruban's favorites. It is always crowded with everyone seat taken. Their sangria is a must order! 

Stuffed Avocado - 

Stuffed with a choice of: Bacalhau Vinaigrette (A Portuguese delight, cod fish marinated in a vinaigrette) or Shrimp in a homemade "Salsa Rosado". 

We chose the shrimp! 

Creole "Sushi Roll" with a choice of: Sushi mixed (salmon & crab), crab, salmon, or shrimp)-

Wrapped with plantain, with cream cheese & avocado and served with homemade eel sauce. 

We chose the mixed with salmon and crab. This is truly unique sushi because it is wrapped with fried plantain. Very tasty! 

Conch-

Served in Aruban creole sauce. 

Fish special with shrimp and calamari

-Served with plantains, vegetables, and rice in a coconut curry sauce. 

I hope you enjoyed my adventures in eating my way through Aruba. Now it's time to start the wedding diet!!! 

Enjoy!