Madame Janette

Once again, Madame Janette did not disappoint. This was our 5th visit and it still remains the family favorite. The shrip casserole appetizer was great as usual. My son and husband both had a bone-in steak that was huge and both were cooked perfectly. My son's friend had lamb chops and he thought they were great and I had the salmon, which was wonderful. And those scalloped potatoes...wow! We love sitting in the garden area and they had a duo singing this evening and took a few requests from our group. A perfect way to end our trip.

I don't normally write reviews, but when I saw the last review I had to add mine! My husband and I just returned from a week in Aruba and Madame Janette's was, hands down, the best restaurant we visited. We actually wished we had found it sooner, as we would have eaten there more than once! It's not on the beach, but it doesn't matter because the atmosphere is positively amazing and incredibly romantic (Ladies - it is outside and, like all of Aruba, it's windy. Make sure you have a clip to tie your hair back while you eat). I had the Golden Snapper, which was incredible. My husband had the Beef Tenderloin. He is a tough critic when it comes to steak and thought it was the best he'd ever had. There appetizer and dinner portions are a perfect size, but beware, the salads, while very good (the house dressing is great) are huge! We didn't save room for desert, but I can't imagine it was anything but perfect. Also, the wine list was very nice and very reasonable. As for prices, we thought they were in line with restaurants in the U.S. Don't forget, it is fine dining, so it will be more than others. Our meal with everything except desert (appetizers, salad, beer and wine) was $150 USD with tip (20%) and there is no service charge.

Make sure to make reservations early if you want to eat between 6 -7:30. We waited and didn't eat until 9:00. If you can, get there a little early to have drinks in their waiting area. It is very relaxing and comfy. The restaurant is in the middle of nowhere, so don't worry if it looks like your cab river is taking you to the rough side of the island! It took us about 10 minutes from downtown (about $12USD), so I would imagine it is about the same from the low/high-rise district, give or take 5 minutes. Cabs are always waiting outside, so there is no problem getting back to your hotel.

I hope the last reviewer gives Madame Janette another try. We loved Aruba and Madame Janette's and can't wait to get back. Enjoy!

We had heard a lot about this restaurant and were not extremely pleased with our visit. The food was not bad but it had heavy sauces. The worst aspect of our visit was the service. The food took a very long time to come to our table.

The food, service, and ambiance at this restaurant is tops on the island. This is the second time we have eaten here in 3 months. Fresh Fish is caught that day and portions are huge. From start to finish, a very enjoyable evening. We can not wait to return.

We just got back from Sunny Aruba, and had 4 wonderful visits in 2 weeks to MJ's. It is truly our favorite restaurant. We went each time and each time had a different entree. The food was spectacular, love the shrimp/coconut dish, the pork tenderloin/ the grouper, and the martinis are the best , absolute best on the island. The ambiance is so romantic and we love the French singer. Our most special restaurant in the world!

We really enjoyed Madame Janette. We sat outside & it was very nice. My husband really liked the lamb & lobster ravioli. I am pretty picky about my food, no meat or seafood. I had a chicken & pasta dish that was very good. The desserts were ok. The mousse was very sweet. The bread was warm & tasty as was the herb butter. They also serve like pickled onions with the bread - that were a different treat. The wine selection was a good range of modest to expensive prices. We tried to make reservations on line before leaving, but there was some confusion when we had our hotel confirm. It worked out so no issue from our end. Overall, very good.

We come to Aruba 3-4 times a year and always enjoy Madame Janettes-this time time in our top 3 restaurants. I always have the almond grouper and my husband prefers the Gianni Versache (beef filet, lobster, with a sauce. The food is always consistanly good and we have never had a problem with the service. We have even had the house salad which is HUGE for 1 person-it is always fresh and delicious. You can split any of the meals and they only change you an extra $7.00 for the meal-so you can have the dessert!!! We always recommend this place to everyone and will return ourselves.

If Madame Janette is not as good as it once was (as some reviewers claim), it must have been spectacular in the past. It is an enchanting spot in an unlikely location. Specialty entrees of the house average $25-$35 and, in terms of quality, taste and presentation, give you excellent value for the price. My "Old Butcher's Steak" was sensational and the lobster ravioli appetizer was excellent. When I mentioned that the glass of premium wine that I had ordered had a cork taint, it was instantly replaced, and I was assured that the entire bottle had been discarded (as it should be, of course). The musical duo who entertained us were excellent and rounded out a delightful dining experience.

Pricy but worth the try.
outside not too impressive, but meal and menu are fantastic

As we expected, Madame Janette delivered the goods. First time there, and we came away impressed. The food was very good, but not quite at the excellent level. I had the Lobster Ravioli, Potato Leek soup (tasted), and the Chicken special. The pasta in the chicken actually tasted better than the chicken!

Great environment - nice garden setting.