I am going to Bonaire in May with a group of 24 people. We were interested in dining at Richard's, but wanted to see a menu, pricing and see if they can accomodate 24 people.

I found menu's for Cactus Blue and Casablanca on www.infobonaire.com. Do you know if these two restaurants can accomodate 24 people?

Thanks,

Greg, With a goup of 24 I think you may need to reserve your dinner hour. 24 will just about fill any restaurant on the Island.. Ron

Ron - thanks for the information. Once we review a few menu's we will make the reservation, but were waiting to see Richard's menu.

We've tried emailing all of the above restaurants and haven't heard back from them. I found the two menu's I did by reading a few other posts.

Thanks!

Richard's main courses run from $15 - $23, plus 15% svc chrg plus 5% sales tax. He serves seafood (fish, shrimp), chicken & steak (no burgers here). Main courses come with vegetables, and either baked potato or rice.

Ron is right re: seating for 24, and you need to keep dining time expectations realistic, especially if it's going to be separate checks. Plan on reserving dinner hourS (separate checks do slow down service times, both at the table and the register)...

I too am there in May. What date are you looking at? I want to do my 60th B'day dinner at Richard's, but can do a work around if needed.

Richard's menu varies almost daily based on what he can get fresh. Figure on wahoo, dorado and shrimp as the regularly available fresh seafood, and various steaks and maybe chicken as the non-seafood. Sauces will vary. He can also specially prepare vegetarian dishes but it helps if he has notice, as fresh vegetables arrive only certain days. Appetizers usually include escargot (but not in shells), shrimp, salads, soups and sometimes marinated fishes. He posts his menu on chalkboards that are brought to the table.

For a crowd of 24 (and that is a crowd for almost any restaurant on Bonaire at one time), suggest calling Richard's when you first arrive on Bonaire and working out the details, so he can have adequate staff available.

Prices are the the high teens/low twenties (US$) for entrees and in the high single digits to low teens for appetizers. Usually prices are shown on the menu board in NAFs, but posted on the bill in both NAF and US$. I also think he includes a service charge of 10%, which is typical on many restaurants on Bonaire. We usually add an extra tip.

Isn't that strange I thought that Richards was one of the more expensive on the island. I remember going there and having appetizer, entree and dessert with one wine and the bill with a small tip added was aprox 75$US per person
just my recollection..{it was also rather noisy}

Freddie, I went there 15th of Feb. and can say it was great. It had been my second visit since 2001..the prices the same as other finer dining spots..it was very romantic and not noisy and I too am sensitive to that aspect of dining..I love the fact you can get a baked potato there..the land and sea is great and the wait staff super. The only thing I would say is Richard needs to revamp the menu as it's the same as when I first went in 2001...maybe a few new additions?? Otherwise, WOW...

To be repetitive: make reservations for a group of 24. I don't think there is a restaurant on the island scaled to handle an impromptu group of that size. I know if we get a reservation that size we consider it to be a party, and will usually sit down with the person making the reservation to work out the order in advance and schedule the whole thing. Helps ensure that the whole experience is pleasant for everyone. Doing it that way can easily trim half an hour off the service time as well.

As for pricing, Richard's is a bit on the high side, but not a lot. Was that one *glass* of wine or one *bottle* of wine each, Freddie?

Ann.... did you say ROMANTIC??? Anything you want to share??? lol

heh heh...Ann...you got some "splainin'" to do girlfriend

(Message edited by cyndelee on March 26, 2006)

Maybe that 'romantic' part was just Annie''s travel side coming out..... Worth the question, though. :–)

(Message edited by glenr on March 26, 2006)

Greg, I think you will find that your group will split up and go their own ways after the first few days. It sounds like a Diveshop trip of 24? It is a natural thing for people to go where they want to and not be hearded as if on a guided tour... Or is it a guided Tour?? Ron

Oh Kelly, leave it to you to ask that question..haaaaaaa..yes, darling it was VERY romantic..haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa..Glenn, u r too cute..

Ron - 3 group meals are being provided - 1 at the Plaza Bonaire resort and then a couple off prem. The rest of the time everyone is on their own.

Thanks for the great information.

I just returned from Bonaire last week. We eat at Richards twice, once was just a buddy and myself eating at the bar, hanging out with Richard. the other time there were 10. I have been eating there for the past 10 years and we've had groups upto 30 people with no problem as long as you give notice. The food is very good and the steaks are the best. For couples you can reserve to eat out on the pier. you get a 2-way radio to communicate with. I'm a soup freak and always enjoy his soup of the day.

hey as an alternative you could all go to casablanca and order one mixed grill, and all 24 eat on that

Does anyone know how far in advance I would need to make reservations. "Wife's b-day on the 9th and would like to be on the ocean)

I've found that the tiki-hut/private dining on the pier at Richard's can be booked up for weeks in advance. And the 9th is falling in really high season (Easter week). Best to call ASAP, +/-6pm Tue-Sun, 011-599-717-5263.

We just got back and Richards is always on our list of places to dine.
Richard is a gracious host, his menu is consistant (other than the specials) but personally I love to know what to expect when dining, and we have never been disappointed.
Service has always been good, view is great and there is always good music in the background.
He told us that there will be alot of changes in the near future...Hopefully he will keep some of the entree's that are staples to his menue. The carrots are the best I have ever tasted! But I am a vegetarian....so salad, rice, potatoe, carrots, stuffed mushrooms and a margarita (or two) make for a wonderful meal....

We just returned from Bon and it turns out Richard new some of the same people we knew from Montana. Does anyone have his email? You can send it privately so he doesn't get inundated with emails.
Thanks,
Norm

We ate at Richards last week and the food was delicious, Richard was a gracious host and his wait staff was outstanding. We have been dining at his restaurant since he opened it and we have never had a complaint! He was especially helpful in offering to make a special meal for our 2 children. I plan on eating there every time we visit Bonaire! oh, and the setting is beautiful and relaxing.

We will be there in October (Regatta week). How far in advance do you think we'd need to make a reservation?

Is the pier dining only for couples? Or can 3 be accommodated?

thanks!

Hi There,

I just returned from Bonaire on the 10th of this month. The food at Richards was very average, but the ambiance was nice. My wife and I loved the service/food/prices at the Lions Den at buddy Dive. Key lime pie was our fave. Medium is always extremely rare everywhere, so be sure to get it medium well, and state so so there's no mooing going on. Enjoy,
John

Richard's Pier can probably seat up to 8, and books up weeks in advance. I would book before September.