We were there in 2006 and I'm sure some places have changed. We like about anything but we don't drink so if you were to choose 7 nights, where would they be. In 2006 we liked Wilies, Pasa Bon Pizza, Calasbasco, Fish and more, out on the dock is it Roys. Sorry about some of the spelling. We also did the Tues, night at Gibis. Thanks for your help. Kent

Try:

Sunset at Den Laman
Bobbejan's BBQ
City Cafe
It Rains Fishes
Richards
Lions Den
Rincon for lumch for local foods
Plaza Leminita (Peruvian place downtown)

Much more......

7 nights... hmmm... let me see...

Cactus Blue
Richard's
Patagonia
Wil's
Warung Louise
Rum Runners
Cactus Blue

;)

Now I'm really really hungry !

7 days is NOT enough. 7 weeks isn't either. Enjoy.

Maybe when I retire in 20 years I can stay for the winter.

Richard's
Cactus Blue
Donna and Giorgios
It Rains Fishes
Bambu
Wil's
Chibi Chibi

Great post, great timing as we leave in 6 days. This is currently a subject of much debate at our house. We will definately be dining at:

Wils
Cactus Blue
Casablaca
Sunset at Den Laman

We probably hit at least one of them twice. Places that are on the bubble:

Richards
Donna and Giorgios
Gibis
Bambu
Pasa Bon Pizza
Mon Lisa
Cappricios
Buenos Aires

Thoughts are welcome.

Patagonia has to be on the list, best steak and excellent selection of Argentina wine.

On island 2/14 - 2/21. Loved the following places:
Bobby jeans: eat in or carry out (get the sampler).

Casablanca: Argentinean tenderloin, flan and cheesecake were heaven.

Sunset Grill: Catch of the Day, shrimp cocktail

Plaza Lemintia: Cheviche

Patagonia: Huge thick ribeye! Plenty for leftovers. Take deet.

Capriccios: Dinner for two. Need reservations.
5 course meal, top notch wine list. Tiramisu was
to die for.

So many authentic eats, so little time to try them all.

Chibi Chibi
Pasa Bon Pizza

cactus blue
pasa bon
patagonia
mi banana
lions den
donna y giorios
wils tropical grill

Nobody mentioned what is in my opinion the top restaurant on Bonaire at the moment (I realize this is a very personal opinion...others will undoubtedly disagree): Salsa Restaurant. They have a surprise menu called the appetizer menu. It is not just appetizers but a full range of very innovative and creative dishes in appetizer portions. You do not have to decide up front how many courses you want....after each course you decide whether you are ready for one more or want to call it quits. Order that and let your waiter select an appropriate wine with each course and you'll have a great culinary adventure. No surprise charges on the bill as all the wines are the same price and all the courses in the appetizer menu are fixed price.

Other than Salsa my top 7 would consist of:

- Bambu
- Pasa Bon Pizza
- Patagonia
- Warung Louise
- Bobbejans BBQ
- More Salsa

I see a lot of mentions for Patagonia but fewer for our favorite Argentinian grill, Casablancas. Am I missing something?

I could eat at Wills' tropical grill every nite,JUST LOVE THAT PLACE!

Rum Runners - Blackened Catch of the day
Plazita Limena - Pescado Il Macho
Mona Lisa - Tuna in sesame seeds
Wills Tropical Grill
It Rains Fishes
La Guernica
Bambu

Mona Lisa
It rains fishes
Plazita Lemina
Mi Bananna
El Fagon Latino
Patagonia
Will's

in no particular order.

The rack of lamb at Patagonia is huge and delicious. Also, Bistro di Paris is still one of my tops. Be sure to save room at Wils for desert...heck, just order desert first and take the main course home! So many choices...we are indeed a Diners Paradise!

So far the top 2 pics are Wills and Patagonia.
Second places are Cactus Blue,It Rains Fishes,Richards,Passa Bon,Bambu. The rest come in at Bobby Jeans BQ,Donna & Georgious, and Monta Lisa. Its so funny because in 2006 the top ones were Richards,Casablanca, Capriccious, and the breakfast place for egg benidict. We ate there once and it closed down the next day. I am really looking forward to trying alot of new places this time. I know 7 nights aren't enough but we will make the best of it. Kent

Capriccio
Bobbyjan's
Warung Louise
El Fogon Latino
Rose Inn Rincon
Mona Lisa
Wil's

I went for 7 nights, and loved the restaurants on the island:

Will's (great food)
Le Flamboyant (courtyard in back of restaurant is romantic)
It Rains Fishes (fun atmosphere overlooking marina)
El Fagon (local, affordably priced food)
BobbaJan's (great ribs)
Cappricio (fresh pasta, white table cloth atmosphere)

The food and service were disappointing at Cactus Blue

I agree with you on Catcus Blue Cheryl. I didn't have a good experience there either.

I second Bas' recommendation on Salsa. The food is excellent, they have the best caprahinas on the island (for those that partake in the evening cocktail ritual) and the location is great for people-watching.

Patagonia (mmmmm......meat)
Bobbejans (quite possibly the best ribs in the world)
It Rains Fishes (lovely view)
Papaya Moon (great tex mex)
Pasa Bon (the pizza was SO good)
La Guernica (next door to the Cuban nightclub....how convenient)

Enjoy!

Can't give you 7, but we enjoyed these:

Richards
Chibi Chibi
Bobbyjans (definitely going back there in April)
Le Flamboyant (great atmosphere & food, terrific owner!)

Does anyone know if Last Bite Bakery will be open during the week of 4/5 - 4/12. It never was open during our last stay so we never were able to enjoy her baked goods!

John .... the Patagonia is owned and operated by pablo palacios and family...they left the Casablanca sometime ago .. they were the originators of the Argentine cuisine on bonaire .. so if you are looking for what you enjoyed at Casablanca .. you must go the patagonia now .. they also have the buenos aires on the seaside in the mall.

Papaya Moon is closed for relocation..will be next to Marina. New dining guide is in production..stay tuned

Thank you very much Pietri! In addition to the food at Casablanca being awesome we always enjoyed the staff. Our friends were on island in December and had some really great things to say about Buenos Aires and this explains alot.

We will definitely change our plans. Thanks again.

PATAGONIA really enjoyed and great service
es

Michael - do you know when Papaya Moon is set to re-open?

Mona Lisa. (Friday night, outside.)
Le Flamboyant. (For lunch)
Capriccio.
La Guernica.
Bambu.
City Cafe.
China Nobo. (What a rush)

Liz..The sign outside the old location says they are planning to reopen in March. Guess that's about as definitive as it gets. I went over to the new location hoping to see a grand opening sign but not yet ready for prime time. I'd certainly like to try it before we leave.

Yesterday bought some wahoo steaks at the pink house a bit south of La Portuguesa on Niki south. We had it simmered in a marinara sauce with garlic, black olives, capers & some nice pasta out on our terrace with a dry white wine. Delicioso!

Thanks for the update, Vince. I won't arrive until the very end of March, so hopefully they will be open by then.

Your dinner sounds delicious....we have to time our trips to overlap sometime. You can cook for us....we'll buy the steaks.

Well,
For tonight, I'll be eating at Gibi's! I'll have Feb/Mar BT'r pins for anybody that shows up and wants one!

This week's dining so far:

BobbiJen's (always good)
Salsa (excellent)
La Luna (Good)
Rains Fishes (excellent)
Will's (excellent)
Tomorrow????

Not a bad meal here!

vanessa

Well the cab is picking us up in 3.5 hours (T-21 hours to Bonaire). Thanks to everyone on this board we have revised our list. Keep in mind this is where we PLAN on eating. We have been to Wils and Cactus Blue in the past.

Salsa
Wils
Cactus Blue
Patagonia
Sunset at Den Laman
Bambu
TBD (Gibi's anyone?)

Regarding It Rains Fishes -

I really enjoyed the "original" place actually better than the new and revised model. I thought the food was good before and is still good. but I preferred what I sensed as the more laid back ambience rather than the nouveau atmosphere and menu of the current version. The current It Rains Fishes is certainly a great place and worthy of repeat visits.

Any comments?

Dan we had a great meal at IRF last year, we would certainly return.

it really makes me sad to see that not one truly local restaurant is on a list .. you are in a foreign country!!! why not try the typical foods and support the locals?

El Fogon Latino is mentioned several times above. Is that not a local place?

Maicky Schnack (sp?) and Rose Inn are only open for lunch unless I am mistaken so those cannot be included.

I have to concur with Bas here that Salsa has some of the best food on the island. At the suggestion of Bas, we went to Salsa last year and did the tasting menu. It was absolutely fantastic. In fact, it was so good we did it again two nights later and the course were entirely different.

My list would be:

-El Fogon Latino
-Salsa
-Wil's (although I do not think they should serve Marlin but that is a separate topic).
-Lion's Den
-BobbyJans
-It Rains Fishes (have not been to the new version though)
-Patagonia

(Message edited by jwobkk on March 5, 2009)

Pietri don't the locals work in all these restaurants listed??

Pietri - rather than complain, why not suggest some "local" dinner restaurants that have been omitted?

I, too, was under the impression that the standard "local restaurants" (e.g. Rose Inn, Maiky Snack) were only open during lunch time. This thread was seeking dinner options.

So, tell me, what do YOU recommend? I'm arriving in a few weeks.....

Bobbiejan's (first on the list because we always go there our first night)
Plazita Limena - our new favorite
Salsa - our favorite before that
Mi Banana - very good food
Bambu
Casablanca
Flamboyant

Those are the places we ate in February and we had excellent meals in all of them. We also tried Rose Inn for the first time. What fun!

Mmmmmm... gotta save this post for my trip. Thanks for the thread Kent, as this question has been on my mind as well. My last trip was 2006 and I never see any comments on the places I remember.

I'm so hungry right now!!

i agree with david...all restaurants on bonaire are local restaurants. they are owned and operated by bonaire residents...and employ local people who earn their livelihood working at them. i don't see a problem with eating at any of the restaurants that have been listed.

Bobbiejans
La Guernica
Mi Banana
Pasa Bon Pizza
Donna y Gorgios
Wils Tropical Grill
Cactus Blue

Just had dinner last evening at Mi Banana..The fish soup as appetizer & the mixed seafood grill (the red snapper fillet was excellent) were both outstanding!! Couldn't help but notice that across the street, Pachi's with their flashing red lights also seemed to be doing a good business. Life is good!

Vince, did you stop at Pachi's for a nightcap? LOL Your dinner above with the marinara sounds incredible.

Please, where is Wil's? We haven't been to Bon in a year and a half, and I don't recognize a bunch of restaurants! One reason is probably because we stay south of town and always walk to dinner. BTW, what happened to Zeezicht?

Downtown one block inland on same street as the Cultimare.

Marge

Thanks - will definitely get there when we're there in April.

Ted

Has anyone got anymore update on Papaya Moon opening in its new location. We arrive on 17th for 7 days and my trip would not be complete without their peanut butter cheesecake. OMG its soooo good.

Not nice to self advertize, Island Girl..You have been warned before

(Message edited by modfreddie on March 10, 2009)

rose, the sign in front of papaya moon says they are opening at their new location tomorrow, march 11. we'll see.

We made sure to hit Salsa on our trip and it was easily our favorite place. We tried the tasting menu. Best food and service (Derk) of our entire trip. I am putting the finishing touches on a trip report with all the details.

I agree, Salsa was at the top of our list during our visit two weeks ago. Service and food were excellent.

vanessar

You can try City Cafe also. The big shrimps are very good.
They also have special menus for kids.
Anyway, my kids like eating there, when we visit B.

Thanks alot everyone for your advise. Now I either need to stay alot longer to try these places out or I need to go alot more often so I can get to all of them. Kent

Kent:

I think both options are correct. Stay longer each time you visit Bonaire and visit more often!