Passions on the Beach

Recently dined at Passions. I must say, the location and sunset were spectacular. The food was good, but not great. The locations up for that. I definitely think that everyone should dine on the beach at least on time in Aruba. Passions would not disappoint.

My husband and I dined at passions during our honeymoon 2 years ago and my husband still raves about his grouper entree and claims it is the best meal he has ever eaten. The food was delicious and unique the ambience and scenery were incomparable. Passions is hands down THE best restaurant in Aruba. Do yourself a favor and do not skip out on this restaurant !!

We booked an early 6pm reservation so we would be sure to get a waterside table. We wanted to be sure to have the best possible view of the sunset. Arriving about 30 minutes early so we could enjoy the happy hour at the adjoining bar, we had a couple of delicious drinks and good conversation with people from around the world. We got the prime table at the end, closest to the water.

The service was exemplary and I cannot imagine a more romantic site for dinner with a beautiful woman. She loved her sea bass and I thoroughly enjoyed the grouper. The food was very good but the setting created a lifetime memory. I would highly recommend it as it wasn't too expensive and it will never be forgotten.

For my husband, daughter and I, this was not the first time dining at Passions on the Beach at the Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort. For those who have never been, this is true barefoot dining on soft powder white sand, albeit with linen tablecloths and napkins and the soft glow of tabletop lamps and tiki torches. Over the course of our 20+ vacations in Aruba, we have grown to love Passions so much that it has become our family ritual to dine there on our first and last nights on the island. This year we stayed at the Amsterdam Manor for the first time and along with additional family members, had the pleasure of dining four times at Passions over the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

The holidays are all about families and dinner at Passions was no different. Children were prevalent and made to feel welcome. Some parents thought ahead and brought along tablets to entertain their children. In between courses, other children did as our daughter did when she was younger, and kept themselves busy playing at their parent's feet in the sand. Couples need not fret; they were of course, as always, still seated intimately in the front row at their tables for two. The couple's tables are lined up closest to the ocean offering the best view of the sunset. Tables are set far enough apart that the setting complete with the soft lighting of tiki torches, was undisturbed by the children prevalent on the island at this time of year.

Our family prefers eating dinner later and took pleasure in the warm breezes and stars overhead while listening to the lapping of the waves in the distance. The live music in the background adds to the romance, but is just loud enough that you notice, but does not interfere with conversation with your fellow diners. We spent numerous nights conversing over delicious meals, never feeling rushed and receiving the friendly yet unobtrusive service we have come to appreciate from the wonderful staff at Passions.

Passions is all about romance and their Caribbean inspired menu and the outstanding quality and preparation of their food only add to their reputation as one of the best restaurants on the island. With plenty of dinners at the restaurant our family had the opportunity to sample old favorites such as the Watermelon and Feta Salad, Eagle Beach Crab Salad and Caesar Salad, Get Together- grilled grouper in a cream sauce served with spicy shrimp, Grouper in Crispy Coco Jacket, Perfect Match- grilled mahi- mahi with baby scallops and a tarragon beurre blanc sauce, but we also discovered some new favorites like Beef Carpaccio with Truffle Mayonnaise, Aruban Seafood Soup, Pan Fried Sesame Crusted Black Sea Bass and Pineapple Carpaccio- thinly sliced pineapple, simmered, infused with Myers rum syrup and served over vanilla ice cream. Yes, we do go to Aruba to eat seafood and often do, but Passion’s Filet Mignon a la Ratatouille- beef tenderloin on a bed of green asparagus with balsamic glazed mushrooms, bacon ratatouille and port wine sauce is still my favorite and was also enjoyed by other family members as well!

From the moment we were greeted by Humphrey to the time we left, we were always made to feel that we were welcome and will look forward to many return visits in the future.

If you know nothing about fine dining this is the place for you.
I made reservations for my party and arrived early as i normally do. Sat in the lounge area waiting for a table by the water like i requested with the reservation. Another couple arrived 15 minutes after we did, and was seated first because they spoke dutch. The waitress actually said my name i stood up and said thats me, the waitress ignored me and was speaking dutch to them and took them to my table. Needles to say i was completely miffed and spoke to the Hostess. They did recognize the mistake after i pointed out their error. I asked that the people that were seated be moved to another table. Another gentleman came over (I'm assuming he was the manager) went to the table to talk to them and move them. But the couple they seated refused to move. Just at that moment another table was vacated by customers and was cleaned for us. At this point my meal was ruined! The waitress that seated them was sent to our table to wait on us. BIG MISTAKE. No apology! Except from the hostess. NO Discount on the check, No free appetizer, No free coffee or desert. No free drink. Nothing but sub par food, that was dry and tasteless, just a complete waste time and money. I will never eat there again even if it was the last place on the island and i was starving.
Try Barefoot, Chalet Suisse, Papillon, Screaming Eagle, Hostaria de Vittorio, El Gaucho to to name a few places where service and food are excellent.

This was our 1st time to Passions and it won' t be our last . The atmosphere is just beautiful and the food was great. I had the spring rolls and the grouper and the portions are huge! The service was great and I can't wait to go back!

My boyfriend and I had dinner at Passions on the Beach last night and based on all the reviews I had read here I was really, and I mean REALLY, disappointed. Service was ok, although our server was nice, she was a little slow. I didn't know what I wanted to drink, so I asked for the menu and she only brought one, when they also have a martini menu, so our appetizers came before we had even ordered our drinks - even when she did bring the menu, it took her a long while to come and take our order. About the food: I had the vegetarian spring rolls and they were delicious; my boyfriend had the shrimp and also liked it. Regarding the main course though, I ordered the fillet mignon with shrimp and the shrimp wasn't seasoned at all. It had no flavor whatsoever, which upset me, especially because the fillet was magnificent! My boyfriend's fillet with lobster tail was very good, especially the lobster tail, even though it's tiny, especially considering the price. Overall I'd say we had an ok experience, I don't think I would recommend it to a friend though. The food is overpriced and for it isn't fine dining.

Our experience at Passions was amazing. Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu and food and gave great recommendations. We had the grouper and it was delicious! We also haven't stopped talking about the vanilla ice cream with red berries dessert. Overall, they made our honeymoon very memorable!

We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary here and it could not have been more perfect. Food, setting, service, everything was excellent and it made our celebrations very special. W.l definitely return on our next trip to Aruba. Cannot recommend this restaurant enough. Try it for yourself you will not be disappointed

Thank you Marc and all who made our night possible on August 2nd, 2013.

Our engagement dinner was definitely superb. The food, wine, and atmosphere definitely matched or exceeded our expectations. I forget her name but our waitress was very helpful and made the night very memorable as well. The only thing i would suggest is to have a few more "private" dining areas around your beach facility to accommodate special occasions as such. Other than that, it was perfect. All the online research and recommendations to chose your facility over any other restaurant on the beach were all true. I searched for hours to find the most romantic place and guarantee this was the best! I even stopped and checked out a few places to see if their dinning atmosphere was as nice, definitely not. You're #1 and we cant wait to come back to Aruba and enjoy this experience again!

Thanks once again and God Bless! David and Alessandra (Engaged 8/2/2013)