We'll be in Bonaire in late August with our 7-yr. old son. He has lots of trouble when we have to sit and wait a long time for our food to arrive. Any suggestions on places to eat dinner that have relatively fast service? Or places next to the water where he could watch fish and crabs while we wait? We're staying at Buddy Dive. Thanks for your help!

Lorri

The Chibi Chibi (SP?) restaurant at the Divi Resort has some cool fish watching while you're waiting for your meal to arrive.

Since you're staying at Buddy Dive, I would recommend checking out Rum Runners at Capt. Don's right next door. It's about a one minute walk from Buddy's along the water (there's a gate/walkway connecting the two resorts), the restaurant is on the water, there's always a few huge tarpon visible in the water just below the restaurant, there's a couple of birds (macaws, I believe) in a cage right next to the restaurant, they have kid friendly food and, and night, pretty good pizza from a brick oven. I believe it would be just what you're looking for. Here's a link to their website: http://www.habitatdiveresorts.com/bonaire/rumrunners-restaurant.html Many places on Bonaire, including Rum Runners, can sometimes be a little slower in service than some of us are used to, but I've found that polite and friendly requests for speedier service are usually handled quite well. Many is the time at Rum Runners where I've told them I've got a boat dive to get on back at Buddy's, and they've been great at accomodating.

Lions Den is right on the property and kids love looking at the divers, etc. from the restaurant. If you let the staff know that you need speedier service, they will be happy to accommodate. Rum Runners also has Pizza which you can order in advance so it will be ready when you arrive.

You might also like Pasa Bon Pizza -- maybe even consider "take-away" to eat back at Buddy's. You can even do take-away from BobbeJan's on weekends.

Lorri,

Our son is equally incapable of sitting for long without distraction, and as service at Bonaire restaurants is leisurely even when "accelerated" (at least compared to U.S. restaurants where we find our food in front of us when our order has barely left our mouths), we've resorted to the ultimate child distractor - a portable game system with headphones. The current preferred system du jour is the Nintendo DS (with Nintendogs or Pokemon). I know some folks are against game systems for their kids, but from personal experience this has made potentially disastrous evenings out anywhere (not just Bonaire) a nice, pleasant experience.

Jake

We have travelled with our kids (5 and 9) two years in a row and have found almost all restaurants very happy to accomodate your needs to keep children happy. Don't be afraid to ask!
Cactus Blue, Pasa Bon Pizza, and Richards were very family friendly just to name a few. All the other suggestions posted here were also good. Enjoy your trip!

The Ribs Factory has a kid friendly menu and quick service. They have a tv in the back with a sofa and a few chairs around it, if needed.

Thanks everyone, for your suggestions. We haven't been to Bonaire since 1992, so I'm sure a lot has changed! We were new divers back then, and we just had to come back and really enjoy the easy diving Bonaire is known for.

We were in Curacao last summer, and we had a great time! I just want to make sure we hit the right spots with our son (he has some mild disabilities). He'll bring his Leapster (electronic game system) and we'll look at the fishies and we should be fine!

I think he's even going to try snorkeling and SASY. We're getting so excited! Our son is an ex-preemie miracle: Born at 28 weeks and weighing 1 lb. 13 oz. Now he's exploring his world!!!

Thanks again!
Lorri

Hi Lorri,

Just tell the wait staff you have a hungry little one. Everyone will accommodate you. When I was a counselor in the schools, I had a lot of preemies..one was 25 weeks! What a blessing and now, you can show him Bonaire..he will love it. Get a mask on him and let him stand in the shallows looking into the undersea garden.

Stayed at Capt. Don's Habitat a week ago, had most of our meals at Rum Runners and orders seem to come out pretty quick, although during our stay it did not seem to be very busy at the resort. Every meal we ordered was very delicious and well prepared and the Monday BBQ buffet was great. Lots to look at from the open air rest. and may even have a couple of other kids to play with while waiting for food.