Screaming Eagle Restaurant, Aruba

For an upscale dining experience during your stay in Aruba, you might want to try the Screaming Eagle Restaurant, which is located between the low and high-rise hotel areas. Both indoor and outdoor dining are available in this spacious location. Here’s a look at the building.

The bar is well stocked, well staffed, and well equipped to satisfy your thirst if you simply want a good drink in a funky atmosphere. And the atmosphere here is very “lounge.” That type of music plays softly, there are burning candles everywhere, and lots of gauzy fabrics hanging as seen below.

If your prefer to dine in bed, that is also available as can be seen here.

That’s not my style, but I can appreciate how some newlyweds might find it romantic or someone who wants to deepen their lifestyle groove might find it attractive. Table and chairs are my preferred dining support equipment. Whatever your choice, let’s have a look at the food. I went with the tried and true here because in Aruba I’m usually eating more downscale than this. I also think the standard dishes are a good test of a restaurant because if they don’t invest any quality in them, then I know they’re all style – no substance.

Well, things turned out fine. My wife and one friend started with the escargot, which came piping hot with delicious, creative toasts on the side. I had a shrimp cocktail, which was good and included a delicious salad beneath the shrimps. We moved on to the main course and we’re equally pleased.

My wife had the duck which she proclaimed fantastic (photo below).

One friend had the veal, also very good (photo below).

The other friend had the lamb, again, good, (yet another photo below).

And I had a sirloin as you can see here.

I like my steaks cooked medium well and here the Screaming Eagle missed the mark a little. The steak was much more medium. I never send them back, because they’ll only be dried out. For this small error I can not fault them as if the diner doesn’t really like his meat cooked there’s no going back. Still, it was fine.

Service here is about the highest quality on the island. The waiter did a thorough job without being intrusive, the captain surveyed the room and our table a few times, keeping her sharp eye on everything, and the bar staff supported the operation with fine beverages on the fly.

Prices are steep compared to what I’m used to paying on the other side of the island. But quality pays, it doesn’t cost. I would recommend this place for that special dinner out with friends and family, that time you want to treat yourself to a great meal in a unique atmosphere.

Published in: on July 23, 2008 at 10:34 am  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

JoAnn Snack, Aruba

There’s a little restaurant known as JoAnn Snack. This is a local joint with food that tends to be Colombian in style. We’re talking simple food, stuff that makes you feel good and full. I’ve been eating here for at least ten years. Recently, the sign for the place was taken down but rest assured it is still open and doing well. To get there, take the main road south from the airport. Turn right where the sign says, “Parkietenbos.” Maybe half a mile after that right you’ll see JoAnn Snack on the right. If you come to the end of the road, you went too far. It can be easy to miss, especially without the sign, so here’s a look at the building.

You enter the door into some strong air conditioning. There’s a bar straight ahead but you want to turn left, pass through the swinging doors, and enter the dining room that looks like this.

The owners clean this place like fanatics. (Sometimes there’s the heavy scent of cleaning fluids in the air but don’t let that put you off.) Anyway, on to the food. I like the pork chops in salsa criollo as shown below.

This platter contains two thin pork chops that are first grilled then smothered in the criollo sauce. The sauce is tangy sweet, and beyond that, hard to describe other than that it is good. You also get the rice, fries, salad, and fried plantain for the same low price. My wife likes the grilled chicken platter, that is shown here.

These platters are a great value, costing less than US $10. Best of all is the service. The same nice woman has been working here for as long as I can remember and now her daughter works with her. They always have a big smile for whoever comes in, usually locals and a few expats like me. Spanish skills are helpful but not a must here. The menu is in English and you can point to what you would like and the order comes out correct.

Next time you’re in Aruba and are looking for local fare, give this place a try for simple, hearty food, that will make you feel good all day.

Published in: on July 22, 2008 at 5:43 pm  Comments (2)  
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Hyatt Sunday Brunch, Aruba

Wow, the Sunday Brunch at the Hyatt Hotel in Aruba is something to behold. I have a few photos posted here but they don’t even begin to cover everything that’s on offer. Before we get to that, I want to send a word of thanks to Debbi, the nice lady in the photo with me below. She’s been seating me at this feast for years now; she’s also glad my novel, An Island Away, is finally available. She’s watched me writing bits and pieces in between bites over the years. So, Masha Danki, Debbi!

Like every Sunday Brunch, Hyatt has a station where your omelets are made to order. They also make Eggs Benedict to order. Standard, right? How about shrimp and oysters and such like this, not to mention caviar just out of the frame.

And fresh-baked bread of every conceivable type like this…

And salads like this…

 

Then there are more cold salads like these…

I didn’t get a shot of the soups, the three hot entrees, nor the waffles, pancakes, and french toast, nor the bacon and sausage, nor the mountains of fresh fruit. However, here is a shot of the carving station featuring roast beef and roast pork loin.

And the sushi rolls…

There are bananas foster made to order as well as a machine cranking out fresh donuts. And for the finale, here are some of the deserts…

All of this gets washed down with unlimited mimosas, coffee, tea, and various fresh-squeezed juices. In other words, this is a feasting event that you shouldn’t miss. The best part is, you only eat this one meal and skip the rest on Sunday. If your appetite is bigger than that,  be careful. You could hurt yourself.

Published in: on July 21, 2008 at 10:55 am  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Flying Fishbone Restaurant, Aruba

So many people have asked me about the Flying Fishbone Restaurant in Savaneta, Aruba, that I’m compelled to put this post up now, especially since I took some nice photos last evening. Here’s a shot of the outside of the place, which started out as an old Cunucu house situated directly on the water.

It is easy to find this restaurant. Simply drive south from the airport until you enter Savaneta, then turn right at the S. Chow grocery store. Continue straight for about 1/4 mile to where the road splits and turn left. Follow this road for about a mile and you’ll see a sign on the right that leads you off the paved road onto a dirt one and just a hundred yards on and you’re there. You’ll see plenty of cars. Here’s a closer look at the entrance.

Everything on the menu here is good. The service is equally good. In other words, there is a reason this place is about the most popular on the island: QUALITY. Another reason is that you can have a table that is actually in the water, as in your feet are immersed in the warm Caribbean sea while you dine on all those great dishes. If you don’t believe me, take a look.

How’s that for seaside dining? And just in case you need one more reason to have a leisurely, romantic dinner, take a look at this, which is your view when Mother Nature cooperates.

 Hard to beat, eh?

Enjoy your dinner, and since I live just a few houses away, stop over for coffee or bourbon some time.

 

(Side note to some of my readers who have asked about the locations in my novel, An Island Away. Yes, most all of the locales in the book are real and as described. I did take a few liberties with one or two simply to make plot points possible. There was a scene that took place at Flying Fishbone in the original draft, but it was cut. Sorry. However, I am considering a scene for the sequel, Under A Blue Flag. We’ll see how it works out.)

Published in: on July 18, 2008 at 12:01 pm  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »