Ellioti’s Restaurant is located near the Costa Linda timeshare in the low-rise area of the island of Aruba. You’ll find some very good food and service here.
We arrived without reservations but with a hankering for some reliable Italian dishes. We were greeted by a friendly hostess who found us a nice table. There is a bar and seating outside, as well as a nice fellow playing the piano. I ordered a mixed salad, which arrived promptly and was well presented. Take a look:
The greens, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers were garden-fresh, crunchy, and delicious. I appreciate a good salad to start, especially in Aruba, where vegetables (for some reason) are too often an afterthought. My wife likes a Caprese salad and here’s a view:
Again, a very pleasant presentation. Moving on to the entrees, my wife ordered grouper in puttanesca sauce. She thought it was great and here is what it looked like.
Don’t miss that little shaving of ginger on the bottom there. I went with the tried and true spaghetti bolognese and this meat sauce was a bit sweet but very good indeed. Here it is:
To think that this was the appetizer portion! I didn’t finish it until the second half was consumed for lunch the next day.
Service here was among the best I’ve had on the island. I tipped liberally with good reason. I only wish I had gone to this place before.
Bon dia.
Parking is a little tight, so be mindful of where you leave your vehicle. This place is worth a stop for lunch or dinner. It’s a meat on the grill type of place with cole slaw, potato salad, french fries, rice and other sides available. You can watch the man cooking your food before your very eyes. Check it out.
That guy stands over that hot grill all day long. He does a great job, too, constantly brushing on the seasonings and sauces. Sometimes there are stacks of takeout orders that he has to prepare and hungry people are standing by. But he doesn’t surrender to the pressure. He keeps his hands moving, rotating ribs, tossing on more chicken, or slicing up the steak. Let’s take a closer look at some ribs.
Those racks just hit the iron. In no time they were roasted to perfection, ready for your gnawing pleasure. Here’s a look at the menu so you can think about your selection prior to arrival.
Those prices are in Aruban Florins. If you divide by 1.75 you’ll have the cost in US dollars. The place is a great value when you consider the volume of food. A mixed grill is plenty for two people, maybe three, all for the equivalent of about $17-18. Not bad, my friends. Flavor is good, too. The ribs are more the “dry” style and all the steak is sliced thin. Sauces are provided on the side for you to customize your meal.
Most of the seating is outside, however, there are a few small tables inside. I prefer to eat inside but this time I took a seat outside, which turned out to be okay as the breeze was gentle and cool. There were three of us, each with different tastes. Escargot is a favorite, and upon finding it on the menu, it was ordered by one of our group. Here’s the presentation.
That was different and the flavor was very good. I ordered a salad, which was full of delicious bits including shaved cheeze, walnuts, and such. Here it is.
Then came the entrées. The salmon was ordered and reported to be delicious, and it can be seen below.
Then there was the duck in a nice sauce as seen here.
Those little potato croquettes served with the duck were a fresh touch. I went with a tried and true filet, which was cooked exactly right.
Service at Papillon was professional and attentive. Wines were had by the glass and they were worthy of the prices. The cost of eating here is at the very upper limit of my budget. For a special night out, it was worth it.
There’s lettuce and tomatoes around the edges, french fries on the bottom, and grilled meats everywhere else. Toss some white cheese cubes in for good measure. The meats are: sausage, pork, beef, and chicken. This was almost a belly buster for the two of us who shared it. We soldiered on and cleaned the plate.
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