Urataka Center, Aruba

Urataka is a sparsely populated area located close to the geographic center of Aruba. Here you will find a good place to stop for pizza and an ice-cold drink. Take a look.

urapizzbPainted those colors, it’s hard to miss. I should also mention that this place hosts a mix of visitors going to and from the Arikok National Park as well as a local people who live in the area. So you’re sure to have a more diverse experience than other places.

urapizzcCouldn’t pass up the chance to photograph the Coca-Cola sign. Anyway, since the sign higher up talks about the best pizza, I decided to give it a try. I ordered the “meat lovers” version and here is what it looked like.

urapizzaThis was the 14″ medium which is more than enough for two people. The crust was excellent by the way and the only thing this pizza needed was a little more sauce. Still, it was very good and I highly recommend it if you’re on the island and need a pizza fix. While waiting for the meal, I checked out the scenery and discovered this sign on the wall:

urapizzdNo one from the club was around at the time of my visit, probably because I was there on Sunday and these are the Terrible Tuesday Riders. There are a number of motorcycle clubs on Aruba these days. Sometimes you’ll see as many as one hundred of them touring around together or parked at a place like this.

Enjoy your visit, don’t eat too much and always enjoy your Coca-Cola ice-cold. Bon dia from Aruba.

Published in: on March 23, 2009 at 10:06 am  Comments (1)  
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Young Fellow BBQ, Aruba

Young Fellow is the name of a roadside joint here in Aruba. They serve up a nice Sunday BBQ lunch that you may want to try. First, the place is located on the main highway, south of the airport. Just drive from the hotel area and keep going until you see the sign. Now let’s take a look at the video of the Sunday BBQ.

So, for the current price (subject to change) of 13 florins ($7 US+/-) you get 1/4 chicken, tons of white rice, 1/4 rack of ribs, mashed potatoes, baked beans, and some corn on the cob. That’s a good deal. Fish is also on offer if you would prefer it. They have ice-cold beer and Coca-Cola, too. Plus there’s the pool table and such to relax and have a good time before or after your meal. This place will be hosting the band DataPanik soon as part of the Route to the Rum Shops.

I enjoy these local joints. The people are friendly ,the food filling, and the experience authentic. Give it a try. You might like it.

Published in: on March 16, 2009 at 4:29 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Cactus Jack’s, Aruba

Cactus Jack’s is a fun restaurant that just opened in “The Village,” a new commercial development in the high-rise hotel area of Aruba. I decided to give this place a try because I had a hankering for rotisserie chicken. Here’s what it said on the menu.

balashi_menuI didn’t hesitate and promptly ordered up the above mentioned item. However, first I started with the shrimp as an appetizer and here’s what arrived at the table.

cactusjacks_shrimpReaders of this blog know that I’m not a beer drinker, so that Amstel Bright is the possession of my wife. Anyway, the rotisserie chicken came a short while later. I was not disappointed as you can see from the following photo.

cactusjacks_chickenThat’s plenty of food, almost enough for two people. And it was excellent. Cooked thoroughly but still juicy on the inside, exactly the way I like it. If you’re staying in the high-rise area from the Holiday Inn down to the Westin, you can easily walk to this joint and any others in its vicinity. For a quick, casual, reasonably priced meal, Cactus Jack’s should be on the list.

Bon dia from Aruba.

Rincón Colombiana, Aruba

Rincón Colombia is a great little Colombian restaurant located on Main Street in San Nicolaas. You’ll find this place just a block down the street from the World Famous Charlie’s Bar. I’ve been snacking here for years and find the food delicious, economical, and very reliable. One of my favorite dishes is the chuleta colombiana, pictured below.

rincon_chuletaThat’s a breaded and fried pork chop seen above. Very filling, plenty of garlic, fries and rice in case you need the double-starch calories. Then there is the lomito, which you’ve seen before in my other posts but one more look won’t hurt. Here it is.

rincon_lomitoCan’t beat that after a hard day at the foundry. You’ll see plenty of locals, both of Colombian descent and other nationalities eating here every day (closed Sunday). Go early or after the lunch rush. They also serve fruit smoothies and homemade drinks that will perk you right up after a morning at the beach.

Bon dia from Aruba.