Papiamento Restaurant

New to our restaurant list in 2013 and we were very happy we visited Papiamento. The atmosphere is wonderful sitting out under enormous trees and sitting by an open pool.

The food was almost as great as the atmosphere. Certainly their menu leans toward local Aruban dishes and it was fun to try something a bit different.

We have this restaurant on our 2014 list.

Wow. Thanks, Mike & Pamela for arranging and paying for a special 40th wedding anniversary dinner under beautiful Aruba sky. We enjoyed our dinner at a pool side table as we listen to live soft live music in the back ground. We had other couples come and join us on the dance floor. An amazing night, this is a place that won't disappoint you. Thanks to the staff and a big thanks goes out to Jennifer

Papiamento was our best dining experience during a week in January 2013. The ambiance is a knock-out with candle-lit tables around a pool, trees surrounding and overhanging the dining space (if it rains there's the elegant and charming 1886 house --we've got to do the Honeymoon Room). The Kashi Yena is an island-style shrimp in blue cheese sauce. The roti grouper also had an island-flair. Service impeccably professional. Good wine-by-the-glass list.

First time to this romantic magical place! We have been to Aruba many times. This place was highly recommended to us . It did not disapoint. The music, decore and service was outstanding! Our waiter was so concerned about my husbands garlic allergy. He ran to our table many times. He was doing a great job with our food and satisfaction.
This place should be featured on the Bachelore TV show. I had tears in my eyes. The food was great! Expensive but worth the price. I have travelled to Hawaii, etc. Excellent place! It is one of a kind.
Children should really not be at such a special place. None were ther during our dinning experience, thank God!
If anyone is unhappy here, it is them not this place. Perfect Service!

We visited Papiamento last evening for the first time with my in-laws who have been several times. Ordered our drinks and when the drink waiter returned and proceeded to put my MIL's red wine down on the table, he proceeded to spill my husbands glass of red wine all over my MIL and myself..mom was wearing white pants and a light colored top!. The waiter sort of apologized and another staff member was nice enough to find a skirt for my MIL to change into but no manager ever came over! So now, my MIL's entire outfit is ruined and so were my pants, sweater and shoes. We proceeded with dinner which I will admit was absolutely amazing...every one of us loved our food and they staff was great with our 3 year old...three of us also had dessert. Here's the kicker. The bill comes and they offered us NOTHING to compensate for ruining two outfits...SERIOUSLY...how about at least taking off the amount for our clothes...my pants and sweater were brand new and expensive. My husband asked to be compensated for our troubles and received some attitude from our waiter who then spoke with the manager and all they did was removed our 3 desserts. The manager didn't even have the decency to come and speak with us or proactively offer us some sort of compensation. There was a gentleman named Arie and the woman who gave my MIL a skirt to wear we're wonderful and very nice but that still didn't help the fact that it was the worst customer service I've ever experienced. Such a shame because we are here several weeks each year and will never go back!! Guess they don't need repeat business!!

Finally got to this very beautiful restaurant. We were seated by the pool. We were very impressed with the way the restaurant was set up, especailly the lights all over. Very romantic.

However, I found the food to be good, but not extraordinary. Since it was for our anniversary, the ambiance was fantastic, but the food coud be better.

We visitied Papiamento Restaurant on March 27th. This is our third time vacationing in Aruba and our 1st visit to Papiamento. Two of our friends recommended the restaurant and I have to say that outside of the beautiful dining around the lush gardens and pool, I was not that impressed with the food. I did like the presentation of the stone plate, but my wahoo and shrimp were overcooked and the vegetables were undercooked. My husband can't remember what he ate, which tells me that he was not that impressed. The wine list is impressive, but our waiter brought out the wrong wine and was annoyed when my husband explained that was not the correct wine. The gardens and atmosphere are amazing, so I was disappointed that the food wasn't better. We might try the restaurant again when we return to the island. But, there are other restaurants that I liked more. I will say that you do get a good amount of food and the Ceasar Salad and homemade croutons are the best by far. My other complaint is that they have too many waiters and waitresses waiting on you. We never knew who to ask when we had a question. Hopefully, this was just an off night and if we return, it will be better.

This was our third time dining at Papiamento in the past few years. We love the unique outdoor setting around the pool with large trees and the Aruban house with interesting antiques inside. Our last time there I was disappointed when we were served a bottle of white wine at room temperature. When I said something to the waiter, he brought me an ice bucket and I told him it would take half an hour to chill. He should have brought a new chilled bottle. We decided to give it another chance and we are so glad we did. Our overall experience was second to none since vacationing in Aruba for 9 yrs. I mentioned the wine issue to our waiter, Andre, and he made sure it was chilled properly. The Kesha Yena appetizer was wonderful. My wife and I always split one entree, we had Roti, which was grouper with shrimp and scallops. It came with mashed sweet potatoes, rice, okra and passion fruit. Absolutely delicious. The size of the half portion was what I expected the full portion to be. It also came with Ceasar salad. Music by Frank on guitar was beautiful, it added so much to our perfect evening. Andre was very knowledgeable about wine and took us into the wine cellar after dinner, a real treat. He told us then that he felt bad for our previous experience with warm white wine and wanted us to have a better one this time. I told him we had a perfect evening; beautiful location, delicious food and wine, gracious service, romantic music, and an added bonus at the wine cellar. Papiamento is now at the top of our list.

Being our favority restaurant in Aruba year after year, we always save Papiamento for the last dinner of our vacation, and once again, it did not disappoint. The setting and service are great, as well as the food.
Went with a party of 8 and all raved about their meals. Baked shrimp appetizer, Keshi Yena, and onion soup were great appetizers. For entrees the grouper, prepared with various sauces, were all cooked to perfection and steaks were cooked perfect as well. I cant say enough about the meals we've had at Papiamento and the great staff. A "must go" when in Aruba.

Went to Papiamento with no reservation and sat at the bar and had dinner. A beautiful setting, friendly and attentive staff and the almondine grouper and snapper creole were some of the best fish we had all week. Can't wait to come back next year.