Passions on the Beach

My husband and I just arrived in Aruba yesterday and started off or vacation with a dinner at Passions -- which will hard to be beat anywhere! We were just leaving the beach when the restaurant started serving diner and the music started up. A very talented and engaging black keyboard artist started playing - later we found out he knew and could play the hell out of all our favorites, even on some, such as Otis Redding, better than the original - and beckoned us to stay. A lovely waitress, Dayana, took our reservation, and we promised to return. When we did, Dayana welcomed us with her lovely smile, her warm and intuitive service enhancing our delicious meal as much as the stars that had begun to shine one the pink glow of the sunset faded into the sea. She was indeed the star of our night and created an atmosphere of grace and warmth that stayed with us long after we'd left.

We had a wonderful and very romantic evening at Passions Restaurant. Good food, friendly service and also a very charming piano player. I would recommend this restaurant to all "love birds" who are staying in Aruba and who want to enjoy a wonderful sunset dinner. And don't forget to make a beach walk at Eagle Beach after you have finished dinner!

We had a wonderful night and would recommend Passions. My only suggestion is for you to figure out some way to slow down the sunset - it was too fast!!!

I asked my wife for her thoughts and this is what she wrote -
It was lovely and pleasant. It was fun twiddling my toes through the sand while sipping wine.
If we are back to Aruba we will make reservations again.

Absolutely the most romantic restaurant I have ever eaten in. Really wonderful staff and a great musician! I preffered this much more than Foot Prints.

We were looking forward to a pleasant, relaxing dinner for four in a romantic setting on the beach. It was not to be.

There is only one sitting a night. You get there around 6:30 to enjoy the sunset as you begin dinner.

We asked for separate checks before ordering.

The first hint that it wasn't going to be our night was when three of us ordered bloody marys and they didn't have any tomato juice.

Two of us ordered the catch of the day, a grouper dish with shrimp and a spicy cream sauce, one with the sauce on the side.

Two hours later, we were still waiting for our dinners. The waitress apologized but dinner was still very late. The waitress offered free drinks or dessert but we weren't interested.

Dinner finally arrived just before 9:00 and one grouper was not the catch of the day but another grouper dish with pesto and pine nuts. The other grouper dish came with the sauce on the fish rather than on the side.

When we finally got the right food, it was overcooked and dried out.

We refused dessert and asked for the check. They didn't provide separate checks. Rather than wait for a redo, we paid and left.

We won't go back.

We dined with friends at Passions for our 34th anniversary. We all had fish which was excellent. You cannot ask for a more romantic atmosphere. It was a PERFECT night for dining on the beach (as were all the nights we were in Aruba!) Our waitress was very friendly and accomodating. Had we gone earlier in the week, we would have gone back again!

Passions is a wonderfully romantic place to dine. The tables are placed right on the edge of the surf and you dine under the stars with the waves to sernade you and your toes curled in the warm sand. The food was very good too. The pesto-marinated grouper was superb and I would have rated the food a 10 but I did not think the crab salad appetizer was up to that standard. However, the friendly and extremely attentive staff and the setting really make this a memorable dining experience. Well done.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at Passions! Everything was just
great. My husband and son in law loved the almond crusted grouper and the
filets mignons were good. When I come again I will try the coconut shrimp
rather than the hot shrimp.
We will be back!

Our dining experience at Passions was exquisite! Our server greeted us with a smile and a "Happy Anniversary" as she showed us to our water front table. The food was delicious, the view was spectacular. As we were celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary, Passions made it a night to remember! We will be back.
10/25/07

Our dinner at Passion was one of the best of our week in Aruba. Food, atmosphere, service were all excellent. We are sending some friends there for dinner next week. I am sure they will have as fabulous a time as we had.