Last October, 2004, myself and 9 other divers visited "It Rains Fishes" a restaurant at Bayside. We were recommended by another diver to go there for "Great Food". We were not only disappointed but left without getting through our dinner.
The Tuna was not advertised correctly and was served seared and not cooked. Three people complained. The other meals were served cold. We asked for the manager who treated us with little or no respect. They charged us FULL price, even though the three with Tuna only finished their vegetables. I apologize for the long time to report this but "It Rains Fishes" is a FLOOD of disappointment.

That is too bad that you and your dive group had a bad experience there. It is one of my regular stops while in Bonaire and I have never had a bad meal there. I always order the same thing because it is soo good so I can't speak for the rest of their menue. I just can't go there with out getting it! I usually get the catch of the day in their mustard sauce which I think is awesome.

Funny, we have always thought It Rains Fishes was an ok restaurant, but not great. Last time we were there we had a wonderful meal and great service. As I recall, my husband had the tuna as well-it came seared, but that's the way he likes it and he was told beforehand. I had wahoo in mustard sauce, one of my favorites. Sorry your experience was so negative.

Stephen, I didn't get bad food but we did get bad service! Four of us waited 45 minutes at the bar to be seated after being told it would be a few minutes to get out table ready.. In short WE NEVER GOT SEATED That is it!! There are too many great places to eat on the Island and we will never go there again. Of all the years we have been going to Bonaire that is the only poor service that we never got. enough!!

The food and service is great on our Favorate Caribbean Island and the diving is even better... Ron

(Message edited by ronindiana on July 12, 2005)

Not thrilled with it either, and we've eaten at most of the island restaurants. We will give Richard's another shot next time though, after skipping there the last 7 visits.

Carl

We just got back last night and tried a new Spanish/Tapas restaurant (forgot name since we were not to thrilled with it!) It is on the waterfront just south a block from "It Rains Fishes" which was our 1st choice but was closed on Sunday... We also went to Casablanca (mmmmm) and Richard's which were fantastic as usual.

I visited It Rains Fishes the last two trips. I thought the food was very good when I have visited. But, on the last trip I was very disappointed with the service. They sell their ceramic ashtrays. Since they were very busy with their dinner rush we offered to come back later and we were told to come back the next morning at a specific time. It was our last day on the island and we arrived at the specified time to be told by the same individual that he was too busy to help. Even when we explained that we were leaving the island shortly he did not care. While I like the food there I will find it difficult to return to this restaurant due to the way we were treated.

I guess I'm not surprised that in less than one day 6 other people have had not so pleasant experiences at "It Rains Fishes". Most of us know that we as divers and customers are looking for a "hassle free" experience. I know my time at "It Rains Fishes" was far from "hassle free". Try pleasing a group of 10.

I pack my patience and sense of humor along with the dive gear, that helps tremendously. I realize that the world doesn't revolve around me (it should, but that's another story), and if someone is having an off day, it's okay. I don't expect perfection from any vacation, I just wanna have fun and relax.

I have found that you can have any of those experiences on vacation or around the corner. We have favorite restaurants here at home, and sometimes they have a horribly off night. But that's life...

For the record:

Another negative first posting! I never really paid attention before...

And, Stephen, make that statistic "six people responding"

Had there been a thread that began
"I loved the mustard sauce at It Rains Fishes" you just might have gotten six folks chiming in "Yes, we had the fish with the mustard sauce and it was the best we've had on the Island."

Just my point of view,

Mare

P.S. Been there many times; love the grilled fish with mustard sauce. And the sides are yummie too.

Hey here's our two cents...
We always go at least once a trip, sometimes two. Its been to die for and its been, well, not what we'd been dreaming of for the last 12 months. I think Ms. Baum had the right take on it Re: Off nights.
By the way, I've been having some trouble with the self revolving universe too. Will post when it gets resolved.

We usually dine once or twice a trip at Rains Fishes and have alway been satisfied with the food..Sometimes its packed, you wait longer.

The first time I had Tuna, I was unaware that it is tradionaly served rare... I sent it back asking for it to be cooked medium rare. Now in the states I see Tuna on the menu and when I order it, I ask for medium rare. The server always says that it is Sushi quality Tuna and it should be served seared. I for one just do not want to eat raw fish. After countless meals out, whether on the road, vacationing or just a nice dinner with friends,,, There will be great, good, bad & just plain horrific service or food. There are many restaurants that many a BTer will rave about, we will eat there... and both the service & food was awful. It is a hit or miss situation. no matter where you go. We use a 3 strikes and your out rule...

Jan, I've never had tuna served any other way than "seared" which, I of course, never have...LOL, I'm with you, I want it cooked! I'm sure if you hadn't had it before, you would assume it would be cooked

If it's not cooked it's bait

Oh c'mon guys, open up your minds. And understand that the cooks and servers who don't want to overcook your tuna have the same revulsion for what you want to eat as you have for what they want to serve you. Hard to believe, huh?
What do you think they drag out for you when you order beef well done in a restaurant?

The late De Tuien served a seared Tuna dish that was beyond great. Sadly they have closed.

Stephen, I wish I had warned you last weekend, that many of us on this board are leary of negative first posts. Had you first shared (as you did with me) the positive experiences you had while on Bonaire, along with some of your photos, a few of the replies you received on this thread might have been different.

Although, I have enjoyed quite a few excellent dining experiences at the subject restaurant, I have had one terrible experience there as well. Two hours for food to arrive, salad came warm, sole did not. Fortunately (for me) I went back after the not so good meal. Regarding the much loved Mustard Sauce, I believe it could turn filet of Donkey into BT favorite meal.

I feel the need to also share, that in my opinion, Tuna served any way other than seared equals a wasted fish. I guess I like bait!!! Ruth and a few others on this board can attest to this.

Seb, you mentioned well done beef. Personally I believe beef is "well done" when medium rare, cooked any more than that, a person might as well eat leather.

All, can any of you tell me, what is that stuff called "steak sauce" for? Last week upon delivering some wonderfully prepared steaks to our table, our waitress asked "Would you like some steak sauce?" Before I could stop myself, I asked her "Is there something wrong with the meat?" Didn't really need my knife for the rest of that meal, the looks my lady gave me could cut through anything.

Ohhhh Tommmm... AMEN on the mustard sauce. Although my favorite "sauce" on island is the mushroom sauce at Casablanca served with the filet. I could eat it straight out of the can. lol

That can happen at any restaurant on any given night. I even had a bad meal at the Mona Lisa during our list trip and prior to that the food was great. We ate at It Rains Fishes numerous times on our last trip in February and the food and service were excellent. I would give it another try if I were you.

Wally ,
remember me to buy you a "new herring" if you ever visit Holland !!!

If I want to eat raw fish , I will take out my regulator and swim a little faster !

bad food can be a off day , for bad service is no excuse.

kelly , I heard you did , LOL.

Tom , you charmer you ;-)

sjoss

My wife and I regard 'It rains fishes' as the poorest of the well known restaurants on Bonaire (been twice, very disappointed twice). Very average food, very lax service, and the second time we had cockroaches right up close and personal. It amazes me that it still has so many supporters, but there you go......

So Stephen - agree totally, but as you see there is a bit of a mafia on the board when it comes to discussing such things.......

Andrew, I find it very interesting and insulting that you call people with positive attitudes who have had nothing but good experiences in Bonaire MAFIA.

Andrew, to enlighten you:

The Oxford English Dictionary defines mafia as

---

quote:

In Sicily, the spirit of hostility to the law and its ministers prevailing among a large portion of the population, and manifesting itself frequently in vindictive crimes; the body of those who share in this anti-legal spirit. In the U.S. and elsewhere, an organized secret society existing for criminal purposes. Also attrib. and transf. Hence maf(f)i"oso (pl. -osi), mafi"osa (fem.), "Mafiaist, a member or supporter of the mafia; "Mafiaism, the doctrines or practices of the mafia.

---

Is that what you meant when you said

---

quote:

there is a bit of a mafia on the board when it comes to discussing such things.......

---

?

Aside from 'photo-shop'ing some pictures, and an occasional exaggeration of a flamingo tipping incident, I doubt that there is an anti-legal spirit amongst those who like the mustard sauce at It Rains Fishes.

So lighten up, it's a restaurant review. No mafia influence here --

And if you don't agree with me, Tanya and her nerf blaster will get ya fer shure!

I agree with you, Darlene. I just read each and every post to this thread and nowhere do I get the idea of MAFIA at all and I think that indeed was not nice. I have eaten many times at It Rains Fishes and have not had very good service, but food has always been o.k., they do like to use a lot of sauces on their dishes. I had tuna served "seared" for the first time last May and was a little like Oh Oh, what is this, sushi? But, I am willing to try almost anything once and glad I did, it was very tasty. I think I had it a Cappriciol's with some friends for an appetizer. The party I was with was shocked that I never had tuna that way, said that was one fish that was best served that way! So, each to their own. Shame no one tried their fish, they may have been pleasantly surprised as it was stated no one ate the fish, just the veggies.

Debbie

Although I am not a tuna fan, I have seen it cooked on a number of cooking shows....on all of the shows, including Emiril, the tuna was seared and VERY rare....from what I understand, if the chefs (at It Rains) served it any more cooked, they would probably get more static from customers....to me, nothing beats a steak (good ol' Alberta beef) served so rare the nerves still twitch when you stick your fork in it

BAM!!!

Mare, LMAO! Here I take the time to read all the above posts, think things out carefully before posting and you post that picture and I just fell off my chair laughing so hard. I have no idea where you find these pics, but they are too funny for sure! I am really going to have to learn how to do some of these things. Debbie

Debbie,
There is no photo-shop technique involved in that snapshot of Tanya.
My pal Emma gave me a set of moustaches as a fun stocking stuffer at Christmas -- and lo and behold TANYA was born! She came to work with a nerf blaster and, thenceforth, was forever banned from the booth where I work.
The beret Tanya is sporting is homage to Patty Hearst's Tanya from the SLA.
I just happened to have the nerf blaster because I am VERY in touch with my inner 11 year old.
Seb took the picture.
I do not have any pictures of Jessica, my internal evil twin. She's another persona altogether and one I would not mess with. Seb avoids her too. Smart man.
Tanya, Jessica and I all like the mustard sauce at It Rains Fishes. Jessica does NOT like to go there when it is crowded because she can get very impatient.

Yours truly,
Me, myself, and I

Thars that Tanya gurl agin.
Shonuff hoap she brings that gun ta Bonairy in the fahl.

Cam, Emeril is ahl flash. Yew wanna heer "BAM" jus be neer my bruther Cleatus an I wen weez gotsum xtra black powder.

Wut!!!! Ms. Mare, iz you tellen us thet iz you?

Ah mite swell die rite now:-{(}

Mare, Tom, Kelly and Andrew,
For the record, I'm not a new poster but a returning poster. I was on this site prior being an acquaintance of Jake's.
As to expressing my dissatisfaction in the tuna, your missing the point. The points are:
1. Yes, tuna was seared but restaurant could have apologized, they didn't!
2. Service, busy or not was terrible. If you can't handle a party of 10 then tell us. We would have gone elsewhere.
3. The manager was rude and insisted we pay full price which we did. Who lost, The customers, all 10 of us.
4. My final point on this issue in reference to posting negative verbage. What good is a site if we tell everyone that everything is perfect when it's not. As to patience, my group tried to have patience with no help from the restaurant management.
It's that simple.

Dude -- Tanya here -- don't let Mare know -- I've already packed the nerf gun with extra nerf balls. Let me know secretly who the target will be.

Shhhhh!

Let me know where those darn flamingos are -- I've got some tipping to do....

BAM!!!

tanYa

Mare, Well I'll be darned! It is you! Debbie

Stephen, I did not miss your point, you went to "It Rains Fishes", in you and your companion's opinions the food was bad including the meals which were not based around the tuna, the service was bad and the manager did not compensate for your unpleasant experience by adjusting the price which you felt was deserved. Further, in reading between the lines, I read that you will never go back.

I stated that I too, had a bad meal (non-meal) there in the past, went on to further state that I had gone back (as I usually do) and have had excellent meals. Even though it does not make a meal, I stand by my statement on their Mustard Sauce.

Yes, you folks lost out that evening. The owners of the restaurant lost out as well because you, your friends and others will never return to give them a second chance. I hope they are reading this thread.

I never said negative post do not belong on Bonaire Talk, one of the purposes of this board is for people to express their opinions, good or bad. I stated that we are leery of negative "first posters". As I stated last week

---

quote:

Had you first shared (as you did with me) the positive experiences you had while on Bonaire, along with some of your photos, a few of the replies you received on this thread might have been different.

---

Darlene et al - I love Bonaire, been there 3 times, its one of my favorite West Indies destinations but I think It rains fishes is carp (an English play on letters). And I assume by your response to my Mafia comment you are being ironic (otherwise the US and its citizens truly are lost).

Like I said Stephen - rose tinted specs are needed with some of this gang, otherwise they get touchy (cue long discourse on the etymology (sic - its late) of the word gang)......

Born in Chicago and currently living within walking distance of Capone's Hideaway, we know mafia...or would that be the mob? (lol)

I've enjoyed lurking on this list because we are contemplating It Rains Fishes for our upcoming trip. Keep the pros and cons coming. I'm listening to ya!

Just to put my two cents in, (as a new poster). My wife, a friend and myself went to "It Rains Fishes" on our recent trip in April. The restaurant was fairly busy and I thought the service was fine for the amount of people at the restaurant. I happen to have the tuna that night and as someone who loves fresh tuna, I found the dish prepared very well and would order it again. The mustard dressing on the tomato and mozzarella appetizer was unique and also very good. The other meals served were excellent as well.

Opinion cannot be wrong. If you don't believe me, watch FOX.
Andrew, one woman makes one comment and over a quarter billion people are lost?

Stephen, nobody likes a group of ten anywhere except a Jewish man looking to pray. A lot of trouble and usually lousy tips. Sometimes they even want separate checks, if you want separate checks, sit at separate tables. Expecting an establishment to apologize because you don't like the way they cook something is arrogant. If you have food issues it is up TO YOU to ask the right questions, especially if you like your food prepared in a manner that the cook would consider ruined. Most cooks have some kind of standards, and if people don't like them, cooks don't care. Heaven forbid anybody should lose a food prejudice and try something new.

In the past 2 years we have eaten with other couples at least 5 times at It Rains Fishes and all of our experiences were good. If crowded, the service can be a little slow but you are on "Island Time" so enjoy another Bright and relax. We tend to rely on the waiter's recommendations and have never been disappointed.

We have a home on Bonaire and have been going for 20years. Like many others I do not post other than when I feel I have something to contribute.

Last year my wife an I went with 2 other "local" couples to Fishes. The drinks came, the waitress tripped and poured 4 of them down my wifes back. Kind of put a damper on things.

We left went home and changed and returned. Thats when it got really interesting. First they stopped us at the door and would not us in without a reservation!! Then after discussion made it to the table.

THEY HAD NOT EVEN WIPED THE SEATS!! The waitress who dumped us comes over "Can I help you??"

No offers of welcome back can we get you something or hey the meals on us. We left and have never been back and our island friends have also stopped going.

The crowning glory for the evening..... THEY TRIED TO CHARGE OUR FRIENDS FOR THE DRINKS THEY DUMPED ON US!!!!

So for any one who cares to get HOSED go right ahead to fishes.

david

I loved the comment 'kind of put a damper on things'. :-) Sympathies for you that night, definitely.

We won't go back soon, just because it wasn't in our top ten over the years, and you only get 7 nights of eating out. :-) But we are going to give Richard's another shot, we hit an unimpressive night there on our first trip 5 years ago, and figure it's time to give it another try.

C

Crikey David thats an awful story - my comiserations. Perhaps I should not be surprised - when we complained about the cockroaches peering hungrily over our shoulders at our food we were just laughed off.....

Outrageous restaurant experience, David! What an awful attempt at dinner out! No wonder you don't return.

Is that the restaurant with the large sculpture of a chef insanely grinning or leering at us? Wherever that is, I had to be seated so as not to look at it! But that's neither here nor there.....

Seb, you often seem a short tempered man. Tables of 10 are usually appreciated and waiters long to have them, they are often charged a gratuity and many people not understanding the tip has already been added leave a additional tip. I also believe It Rains Fishes would prefer that 10 people would take up 2-3 tables then 10 separate ones, but I guess you were just being funny.
Andrew is right when he say negative comments often lead to barbs and arrows slung back at you. What I would say about first time posters is something upset them enough to sign up, and post the negative comment. While its possibly true they have an axe to grind, there was some incidence which set them off. Often their experience means more to me then those who never have a bad thing to say about an establishment, and in fact seem like cheerleaders.
Tuna is most often served rare, but most restaurants on the coast of NC ask if you want it Rare, medium , etc leading the possible first time customer to get an idea the it might not be what he would want.
As far as my experience at It Rains Fishes, we have been there twice and been unimpressed. Service was very slow and the restaurant very crowded. The food was just ok.

Well Ron, I spent years in food service, and I never heard any waitperson happy to have a large group. It is quite the additional onus to make ten meals come to the table at the same time, on the off chance they are all too stupid to realize they tipped you once and might do it again. Sounds like a sleazy band of waitrons to me.
Ten people with two or three separate table with separate checks would be ideal for a rest. Forcing a waitron to break up your bill for a huge table is rude and seldom done.
If you were a vegetarian or allergic to something, you'd ask a lot of questions about your meal. If you have food issues you should do the same.

Exactly Seb A large group is always difficult to please. We have gone to Bonaire for over 15 years and we love IT RAINS FISHES We also loved the restaurant they had prior. The mustard sauce is great but the Shrimp dish and the Gratins are also wonderful The sole is great as are their escargot. Too bad you had a bad meal but it is a real exception in my opinion
We like the owners and the wait staff and everything about the place.

From my own experience: I know of no restaurant/waitstaff here that loves big tables--especially because most do request separate checks (worst case is when the separate checks are asked for after the meal, rather than before-nightmarish situation for all). For example, I frequently had tables of 5 asking for 4 separate checks...if the kitchen is busy, 4 checks = 4 tables (often times the table # is overlooked by the kitchen), so chefs/cooks prepare in the order the checks were presented, hence not everyone at the same table is served at the same time. Same with paying, 4 separate checks take much longer than one, etc. Another simple fact is that many of the restaurant's kitchens here are small, and few, if any, have sophisticated cash registers that easily handle lots of checks at once; both of these contribute to slower service.

We had "Seared Tuna" as a special on our menu at Mango's (tuna's not reliably available), and stated that it was seared just to be sure. I also told anyone ordering other than "seared" that we were not responsible for the texture (same as many restaurants state they're not responsible for beef ordered "well-done" or "butter-flied"). Any fish I order here I request to be cooked "medium" (except tuna, which I eat seared and/or raw) because I prefer it that way, and many cooks prepare it cooked all the way thru-hence, to me, too dry. It's personal. I'm not defending nor attacking anyone here-just talking about situations I've personally experienced (being a diner, a restaurant owner, and Pres. of the Bonaire Restaurant Assn for 4 yrs).

Ruth,
Sounds like, if my "Group" was in your restaurant, My issues of bad communication about the tuna with "It RAINS FISHES" would not have existed. The other issue I had was not seperate checks but bad service and communication with the Owner. I do not know about Bonaire but in the states, "The Customer Is Always Right". Where did that philosophy go? I've read all different opinions on our "Groups" problem. We travel as a "Group" frequently, on trips and in the states to restaurants. Most restaurants work with us Happily because they "Automatically" add 18% to the "Single check" for the group. Our disappointment left a "Bad" taste in our mouth for "IT RAINS FISHES". I'm truly happy that some of you have experienced as singles and couples a good experience but it seems that the Owner and staff at "IT RAINS FISHES" is not comfortable with groups. That is unfortunate because there are "Many" groups traveling to Bonaire and other dive destinations.

I've never understood this business of going out as a big group and then subdeviding what has been spent into seperate bills etc. In the UK almost invariably when you go out in a big group the total is simply devided by the number of diners and each pays the same - its simple, its fast and as a result big groups ARE generally welcomed in UK restaurants. Getting into the minutae of who had one more expresso or one more beer than someone else is seen as unecessary.

I just had to chime in here regarding the big group and splitting of the bill. Yes, it is a pain, but sometimes if you have friends who you would like to keep as friends, even though they are cheap (or broke and won't admit it), you ask to split the bill. We are very cautious as to which groups we go with and to where we go. On more than one occasion, we have been stuck footing the majority of the bill because when everyone pony's up, there is not enough to cover the tab plus tip. We do have friends where this does not matter and we just split the bill down the center as previously suggested, but we also have friends who count every penny and then forget a little thing called tax and tip. Too many times we paid way too much, so we always ask in advance if we can split the bill and then we over tip to compensate for our friends who are not so friendly tippers.

Other times, you split the bill because some people need to pay with credit cards, while others have cash. Also, in an attempt to save friendships, never assume your friends who need to use their credit cards have enough money on them to cover the entire bill if you offer to pay them the cash and let them charge the whole bill. Finances and friendships can be a difficult thing. (Can you tell I'm still in grad school as are many of my friends?)

We have always found that when we tell a restaurant in advance that we will need to split the bill, they are more than accommodating. However, we are always certain to joke with the waitperson and let them know that we understand we are asking for special consideration and that we do appreciate their hard work.

What I saw was many "groups" that were created sponateously--people who met others while diving, etc, then say "let's meet for dinner...," so of course, in these cases, there would be separate checks (paid by cc's, cash, traveler's cheques, you-name-it). We always accommodated, and only had trouble when guests had unrealistic expectations (yes, even when told that not everyone may be served at once, that creating 16 checks will take extra time, yada-yada); slowing down what already is "island time" is something guests didn't always understand. And many did gripe about the 15% service charge added to tables with split checks, rather than the regular 10%. Anyway, not my problem any more--Mango's is sold, so now I have only 1 restaurant to worry about...and my menu is all pictures, you order & pay (cash, $, fls or euro) at the register.
;-)

Ruth, I know I am not alone when I say, I am happy that your problems are lessened. At the same time and for selfish reasons, I am sad. Unless that is, you have taken that wonderful Tuna recipe with you to KFC;-{)}


This photo was taken in front of Mango's last October on Ruth's 29th birthday.

(Message edited by vtscuba on July 26, 2005)

Tom, Great picture! Ruth, we have to meet for sure in October, since we missed you last time.

All of this discussion (and many previous discussions) on food and service on bonaire has got me to thinking a couple of things.

1. I've had good and not so good meals at a lot of restaurants locally, and internationally. I've often gotten a great meal at one place (not going to name names) and then the next trip, not so great, and then the next trip, great. As Ruth a long time ago, pointed out, often supplies are short, or run low. Bonaire is remote enough that if a restaurant runs out of something, or runs low, it will reflect in what is offered. I know that is really not what is being discussed here.

2. My question is, how do you handle a situation as Stephen has posted. In general, and more often, how you treat the wait staff and management are often going to reflect how they treat you. I get more with sugar and honey than vinegar.

If I'm unsatisfied with a meal, or service, and it is not the first time I have been there (I usually give it another try if others have raved about the place), I make sure to talk to management and kindly (meaning very nicely, just like I would like to be treated, with respect) that the service/food was below par and unacceptable.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that Stephen and his group were not nice in their communications with the folks at the establishment. It just seems that you (Stephen) are harboring a lot of anger over the incident. I think Fishes had a really off night, or it was something else. Yes, the customer is "always right" but if the customer is rude, well...

I can think of one instance, it was a restaurant in the states, and my meal was horrible (blue cheese wrapper in the hamburger really spoiled my appetite) and I sent it back, showed the server, but she left it on the bill. I asked nicely for managment and told them of what occured, and it was taken off the bill...

Just my copper pennies worth...

OH, I forgot to ask, Stephen, why has it taken almost a year to post your disastisfaction? Did you post a trip report as well? Almost seems like a cheap shot to me.

Cynde,
Cheap Shot...Hhhmmmm and I was ridiculed for starting a negative thread. Have you heard of divorce? Well some things take priority. It seems you are a half-empty person.
At the same time I have many experiences from Bonaire that were fun and positive but it doesn't take the bad taste from my mouth because of "IT RAINS FISHES". What this has done is exactly what I wanted it to do, show present and future visitors that this establishment is not everything it has been advertised as. End of my story.

Stephen, I'm sorry about your divorce, been there too...and I was a very angry person for quite a while...I'll ignore the half-empty person comment, as I have never met you (thus you have not met me), nor do I know you, you really have know way of knowing if I'm half empty, half full, or working on becoming full...read my personal quotes, that will give you a little insight at to what kind of person I am...

I wish you happiness and peace in the future...

Stephen,
Yes, Cheap Shot...Hhhmmmm, but on your behalf. Our Cynde is FAR from 'half empty'. (Half baked maybe....... Just kiddin' Cynde! Aren't we all!) Yes Andrew, - rose tinted specs are needed with some of this gang, otherwise they get touchy - especially when one of our own is attacked.
And just for the record, I've only eaten once at It Rains etc, about 5 years ago, and wasn't impressed, and just didn't go back. So I've experienced lots more places in the mean time, some fabulous and some just OK......That's why there's so many places..... because we all don't fall in love with the same one.

I read Stephen's comment to mean that he, a just divorced person, was half a half empty person with no reference to Cynde! Some times here we all take comments a bit to personally, yours truly included.

It sounds like Stephen could mean his words are: 1) An expression of compassion concerning the loss a divorced person experiences due to their loss leaving them feeling half-empty or half-full, depending on whether or not you're an optimist or pessimist.
2) An insult indicating a divorced person is a loser and half a person.

What do you mean, Stephen?

One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch, girl.

Bonaire is a small slow island, and most of us like it that way. If you don't, goodspeed.

That "customer is always right" thing cracked me up good, thanks for the chuckle.

Tom, next time you're here, you bring the tuna & Brights, I'll supply the chef and Polars. That is, if you don't mind eating in my air-conditioned kitchen surrounded by my puppies... Doorbell is next to the big (now purple) garage door.
;-)

Glen & Bill,
Thank you for reading my words from an open perspective. I'm seeing through this thread that some people are soon, too easy to judge. My words were of reflection of my own experiences.Cynde's cheap shot comment to me (by the way apology accepted) has turned into others defending when there wasn't a need to defend.

Dear All,

Isn't it time by now to stop "looking" for more complaints or insulting each other ??
There was someone with a bad experience in some restaurant, fine, thanks for sharing, we all sleep a lot better these days.
People working make mistakes. Some can be forgiven, some can not.

Bonaire has quiet a few restaurants to chose from, so just go somewhere else. If everybody who ever had a bad experience somewhere tries to ruin that restaurant right away, the choice might become very limited in the near future. Please think about that before you start.

I wish you all very happy dining and diving.

Menno de Bree

Menno, could not have said it better...thank you...

Guys, I'm not THAT sensitive, thus my choice to ignore the comment (which was to not lash back with harsh words in this case)...that's the problem with the internet communication...you are not in front of the person, as in a real conversation. You can't hear the inflection of the voice, or pauses. Gail, obviously read it the way that I did, Glen read it another way.

I wonder if our world leaders email each other? Maybe that's why things are such a mess in the world right now.

Stephen, I truly am sorry for your personal situation...as my divorce was a re-enactment of "War of the Roses" (only somehow we managed not to kill each other in the end,) I know how painful and emotional it can be....again, as I said, I wish you peace and happiness in the near future.

We Loved it!

We just returned and enjoyed two exceptional evenings with wonderful meals and attentive service at It's raining Fishes! It's on our "must return" list for our next trip.

Hi guys from it rains fishes,
thank you for visiting our restaurant last night.
WE hope you enjoyed it!
We had dinner at your place several times already and we loved it!!!
You have great food in a very nice ambience, so don't bother if you have any negative comments on this website, you have a great place.

Koert Prins
Stiflers Bar & grill