Papiamento Restaurant

Although the atmosphere was very nice the meal was very disappointing! The steak was cold and the grouper was bland. The presentation of the meals was very unappealing. We will not be going back!

This was one of our favorite places on the island and I can't wait to go back. The atmosphere is very romantic and the food is exceptionally good. I started off with a fish soup that had plenty of fish and a tasty broth. For our entrees, we had the wahoo served on a stone and the grouper. The wahoo came with 5 large shrimp and that were all perfectly cooked. Prior to that, we were served individual ceasar salads which were a surprise to us (everyone gets one prior to their entree). I would say the only disappointment was the chocolate cake as it seemed like it was made days prior and it didn't have the same freshness as the rest of the course. Overall, a great experience and can't wait to go back.

Very nice restaurant and atmosphere...service started out good but the restaurant got busy and we never saw wait staff again...waited at least 20 minutes for a check....otherwise would recommend

The setting was beautiful. Under the lights by the pool. My husband the grouper and said it was excellent. I had the Mahi and shrimp on the stone and it was okay. Would not get it again. Salads came with the meal and they were very good. My husband got soup (can't remember what kind) and he said it was okay. I had the choc. cake for desert and it was yummy. Would definitely go back but I would try something different. Service was above the 10 rating.

We ate there last night (as well as a fe years ago). We had; lamb chops (really a rack of lamb), shrimp on the stone, chicken picassa, and a seafood mix which had three small shrimp, a filet of some sort and one scallop). The meal with four drinks and tip was $200. We have dined at many places here and the bills are usually that amount at the finer places but usually the food is worth it. MJ's for instance is fantastic. You could miss this place and spend you money elsewhere for some of the best food you will ever get.

Hands down our FAVORITE restaurant in Aruba. The hostess told us that we would be seated inside, as if she was apologizing for it. I preferred it! The historical 1879 manor house had so much character and was elegantly appointed with antiques and quirky furnishings. We were seated in the main hall at a table with comfy arm chairs. We walked around later, and were amazed at the beautiful tiled kitchen, the side room and a small bedroom that had been preserved like a room in a museum. Most of the other tables were outside, romantically flanking a swimming pool.

The food was good – my husband loved his chargrilled hot stone walla wish w/shrimp (the Mermaid entrée). We split a mushroom casserole appetizer, which was dripping with Dutch cheese. I had a tasty seafood casserole, which was very creamy, and came with sweet potato puree, okra and rice on the side. In retrospect, I think I’d order a hot-stone fish if we were to go back – it was so flavorful and healthy. Definitely get a reservation.

As always, the best meal we had all week. If it was open on sundays we would have gone back again for our last night.
With an 8:00pm reservation, we arrived to people waiting outside, but were seated promptly upon our arrival. There were 8 of us and we had a huge table that provided enough space for all to be comfortable. Service was very good with attention to detail, even though there was a big crowd.
The onion soup is the best I've had, and others enjoyed the baked shrimp appetizer. Grouper or snapper, prepared several ways, were all cooked to perfection, moist and flavorful with a veriety of sauce choices. The Limon sauce, lime and caper cream was delicious. Steak dishes were also wonderful. The Creme Brulee was a very good ending to a perfect meal.

We have been to Papiamento many times. We made our reservation 3 weeks in advance, and asked for a pool side table for two. We were looking forward to a very romantic dinner. We arrived on time. There were more than twice as many tables in the same area as there were a year ago. All the tables for 2 were occupied, but there were 3 tables set for 4 that were empty. We were seated not by the pool in a table way too large for 2 that was under 2 bright, glaring lights. When I mentioned we had requested a pool side table, I was told this was a pool side table. Not. So instead of looking at the wine list together and enjoying a beautiful, candlelit dinner, we sat and enjoyed a good, but not great meal. Service was friendly, food was fine, if not a bit overpriced. But the evening had none of the magic it was supposed to, and we left disappointed.

Our 6:30 reservation gave us the opportunity to watch Papiamento transform from a pleasant poolside dining experience to magical moment as light gave way to dancing firelight. The red snapper was excellent, though it coulde have been more moist, but the hot rock seafood plate was divine. Hands down the most romantic evening of our vacation.

After dining at Papiamentos on Jan 10th 2011 this restaurant is off our list. We had been here 3 or 4 times in the last 5 years and enjoyed ourselves. This year was totally different. We arrived on time for our 730p reservation. There was no seating available. We were originally happy to sit at the bar and have drinks. It cost our party of four 50 dollars. They forgot us at the bar. When my wife went to check on it they were actually rude to her. We were seated at 815 and did not get drinks till 845p because we had no waiter. A bus boy was trying to fill in! We ordered and our meal came about 930p. The kitchen was so backed up for everyone that the chef was sending out salads that were the equivalent of mixed greens from a bag a few croutons and ceasar dressing. The tables around us got the same. We noticed that servers often brought the wrong dishes to the wrong tables. We finally got our food and needed to have drinks replenished. My wife had gone to the bathroom (one of which was out of order) and I ordered her a fresh glass of wine. The server took her glass quickly with wine still in it. So she returned to no wine and her meal. She was half way through her grouper before I had to loudly ask another server to bring her the wine I had ordered. By then it was 1000p I was fuming. My meal was the champagne casserole. Which was no better than a new england fish chowder. My sides were an ice cream scoop of white rice, mashed sweet potato, a single piece of okra sauteed and a thin wedge of watermelon on a piece of lettuce. I did not have dessert being so upset. My wife had creme brulee -- nothing special. We did mention how dissatisfied we were and they offered to give us a free meal next time. Except we will not be back to Aruba till next year. So they took 20 dollars off the bill. If you want a much more satisfying experience our next night at Yemanja Woodfired Grill was wonderful.