How about it everyone? What are your recommendations for best NEW restaurants on Bonaire to open in 2005? This is for those of us who didn't get to return in 2005 and now want to try out the new places.

for new restaurants i liked stiflers...unfortunately it opened and closed in the same year. too bad. i guess i'll have to go with bistro de paris and le flamboyant for the ones that opened in 2005...at least i think both of those opened last year.

I hate to try new places... I'm too loyal to the ones I know will be consistently good like Richard's for a perfect filet mignon or Pasa Bon for a yummy pizza. Although, I didn't visit Will's Tropical Grill on my last visit, I've only heard wonderful things about it - plus the owners are from my home town, Melbourne, FL. They operated the Lighthouse for a while in front of Harbour Village and I believe now almost 2 years, at their location beside the old Rendez Vous. I also have heard only good reports about Bistro de Paris. It looks quite small inside but the reports of the quality of food sound too good to miss out on. I know everyone raves about Casablanca(Argentinian Grill) but I think that is a place to go if you're just starving for barbeque and quantity.
(and don't want to spend a ton of $). Last two times I didn't want all of that barbeque and got the grilled shrimp, good to very good, small quantity, had to beg for ketchup for the fries, had a mean waitress and the red wine stunk! I really want to hear from anyone that has tried the new Den Laman... The original Den Lamen was one of my favorite restaurants on Boniare. Louis(Luigi) that owns/operates Luigi's in town was the best waiter in the world when he was employed at Den Lamen. Plus the food and atmosphere was outstanding. Anyone been to the new place yet. Plus any word on the "slab" at the old Green Parrot? Last time they had an all u can eat buffet one night a week that was very very good, but now I hear that there is nothing going on waterside. Definately want to go to Golden Reef Inn the night that Gibi cooks his famous foods! Don't have much else to comment on since I haven't been to Bonaire for 6 months!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok...my problem is that I don't know what was new for 2005. I can agree that Stiflers was FANTASTIC and am deeply saddened that they are gone. If Wils Tropical Grill is new for 2005, I can attest that it is fabulous! Food, staff, and drinks were all excellent there!

Does anyone have a list of what was newly opened in 2005?

Luigi has moved to Antriol. I forgot the name but if you want SUPER local food try this for directions:

Kaya Korona to Botica Korona. Take a right and follow straight. I think it's called Divi something? Ask someone who might be around...

Jeanine, Bamboo is a place on waterfront that opened up in end of 2005. Didn't have time to eat there last trip as it was a short trip. There's a new place called Blue Catus? that is supposed to open soon at the old Casablanca place end of this month I believe. Will try that one on my upcoming trip if it is opened in February. Can't think of any other places at the moment. Oh yeah, The Barracuda Club by Sand Dollar opened in 2005 and is very good, ate there quite a few times.

Ann, Thank you for the info regarding Luigi moving to Antriol. Anyone who doesn't go find his new place is crazy! The man knows how to cook!!!!!!!!!!! I know he closed up pretty early in the afternoons at his old place in town. Do you know if the new place does dinner?
Thanks Swanee

Swanee, I drove by the new place en route to Antriol Catering (my other fav place for cheap local eats) and saw it. Mike Gaynor would know the scoop, I think? I also LOVE Lize's Surinamese food in Nord Salina..yummy..

Ann's directions to Luigi's are perfect - turn at the Botica Korona and follow the road around.

It is called Divi Divi Bar & restaurant (on Kaya Gregorio Hernandez -- not sure of the number).
Open: Everyday but Wednesday
Hours: 7am - 3pm
Phone: 717-6975
Menu: Local - varies daily

Louis is the owner's name. His daughters and I are very close, so I was fortunate to grow up with the family's cooking - it all tastes good to me, but my favorite is his garlic shrimps (when he has them).

Ann - Never been to Lize's, and since you mentioned 2 other good places for local food, would love to try it. What is it near?

Rona, if u r heading from Bonaire Super Store towards Mentor bar, there is a street on the right that goes back towards town. Across the street is a dirt road. I think it's Kaya Cherokee?? Follow up and Lize's house in on the right, maybe the 4th house..there is an open sign on the window and a window where she sells food Sat. and Sun. at lunch. I love it.

What other place do you want to know about? Lets talk food..ha..

Ann, I know the area you are talking about so I will try and find it...thanks so much. Do you have a suggestion for Spicy? My husband is missing his hatch green chilis, but will settle for any HOT food he can find.

On the menu the top item is a variety of things..16,00 naf. It's usually enough for Maggie and I. Ask her for pica ..it's delish...

La Flambouant has been around since 2004 (I think).

Swanee, I had lunch at Den Laman in October. It was a good meal. I think everyone in our party enjoyed it, plus it is a great atmosphere on the water.

Deb, can't wait to hear how Blue Cactus is.

Ann, Rona, what type of food does Luigi's have?

Hey Cyn,
Luigi's offers local food... his menu changes daily based upon what he finds fresh...but he offers traditional things like:
Baka Stoba (beef stew)
Galina Stoba (chicken)
Kabritu Stoba (goat)
Meatballs
Piska Hasa (fish)- its usually a whole sautéed fish w/ a delicious creole type sauce
Salt Fish
Carco Stoba (conch) - this is supposedly some of the best on the island. We just had a group at the Inn who wanted to try local food - 13 out of the 14 ordered conch!

Each entree comes with rice or fries, and some type of salad: potato, macaroni, or veges depending, & fried bananas.

He offers 1 type of fresh daily soup: Oxtail, beef, fish head, chicken wing, & more. It's a BIG hit, goes fast - get there early if you want to try it.

During breakfast, he serves egg sandwiches, omelets, pastichis, johnny cakes, Repa Pampuna (pumpkin pancakes)- (the Repa's probably go faster than the soup!), and other things.

The new location is bigger and there are 2 wonderful women in the kitchen preparing the food while Louis does everything else.

Rona, thanks. This is now on my list for a late lunch my next trip!

Good information, everyone. Thanks!

Rona, where does the conch come from? since conch is endangered all over, where is Luigi getting his conch? I know there is farm-raised conch, which I would feel less guilty eating, but if the conch is being harvested in the open sea, then that is contributing to the problem of conch extinction. I know on Bonaire almost all of the conch is gone.

Blue Marlin is also endangered and served in Bonaire restaurants...

Pauline, Did you see in the Bonaire Reporter the recent reports that more conch have been illegally killed on Bonaire, both adult Queen conch and juvies?
Please, folks, at least do not eat conch on Bonaire. Explain to anybody who has it on the menu that they should stop buying it and stop serving it.
Thanks!!

I read the article in the Bonaire Reporter on the conch that were killed and I join Tish in urging people to refrain from eating conch on Bonaire.

Hi Pauline,
Louis NEVER uses conch from Bonaire. The stuff he gets is prepacked (blue box), frozen and imported. You can also buy this farmed stuff at different stores here...and I was told this is what the restaurants who serve it here also use.

The restauranta buy farmed conch (just like shrimps is farmed) from the Caymans, it is imported for many years on Bonaire.
I would not know any restaurant buying Conch from a local fisherman, it is bought frozen in boxes at Consales or TIS.
But it is certainly still a challange for Stinapa to inforce on the locals to not harvest conch as they have done it for generations ... it happens also every year at least once that somebody catches a turtle ...

That's good to know. Thanks for the info.

thanks everyone for the information on the conch being farmed and imported. of course, farming is not the perfect solution as, at least in the case of shrimp farming, the pollution from the shrimp farming destroys mangroves, which are the nursery for the sea. So I guess if we were to be really environmentally aware and responsible, we would have to check out the credentials of the farm that is producing the conch to determine whether or not that is also the case. For those of us who love diving and snorkeling on these beautiful reefs, isn't it morally wise for us to be more careful about the seafood we consume? for a list of environmentally-good seafood to eat, I suggest going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium (CA) web-site. they have huge lists of what to avoid and what to eat. not preaching, just sharing information that can help us preserve the ocean.

We liked bistro de paris !

Michael, I agree! My husband & I enjoyed lunch & dinner, 3 times at Bistro de Paris. The food and service were excellent!!!