We are coming to Bonaire for our first trip Sept. 11-20 and need some suggestions for places to eat. I love Good Fresh Seafood and my husband would like to try some of the local food? What type of food is considered local? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Angela

Angela,

if you go back through previous threads, you will find lots of useful information on dining in Bonaire, here in "dining" and also under "trip reports".

Since we are also going for the first time in two weeks, I have printed some of these reports and handed them over to my wife who will be in charge of dining. We won't go out too often because we will have a kitchen where we stay and also an in-house restaurant by the pool.

Angela,
We just got back I didn't get to try all the restraunts which I had planed on. Bas took us to China Nobo. This was one of our best meals and very resonable. I had the sweet and sour chicken and Tim, Bas & Kenny had the roasted chicken. We were all very impressed, drank beer and played pool while waiting on the food and then they took us to a small air conditioned dining area where we had our feast.
Ida

Angela,
Chibi Chibi's fried scrimp was great.
City Cafe had a good fried fish sandwich.
Ida

Hi Ida,
Do we get a trip report from you? I'm very interested to see what you thought of Bonaire. You did so much reseach and asked many great questions prior to your trip. Hope Bonaire was all you hoped it would be.

Scott

Scott,

I had a little note book that I wrote in everyday. I've got to sit down in front of the computer, my husband said he wants to read it and I'm sure put his two bits in. LOL. We had a great time!! Meeting several of the Bonaire Talkers at Michael Gaynors house was a treat and Bas taking us around the island. This was a vacation that I will cherish forever.

Ida

Ida, Good to see you all made it back OK...It was good to meet you...we're home as well and back to work today, with just a moment to post a few words on this thread.
We had great meals at Capriccio's, three times in two weeks, such as Caribbean lobster split and grilled, drizzled with rosemary olive oil. Superb wine list (they just got the Wine Spectator award---see the August issue). Try their pizzas as an appetizer, also good was the fresh catch (wahoo) alla livornese. Excellent desserts, too. Not inexpensive, though.
We also had great seafood at Blue Moon, on the seafront, across from the south customs pier...pumpkin puree soup, followed by snapper with a white wine sauce, with an apple tart and ice cream dessert, for NaFl. 40 as a special.The dorado was also very good. Very good and great atmosphere and service.
Also, for local food, had a wonderful lunch of stoba di cabrito at the Rose Inn in Rincon, and repeated the next day with stoba di gallina served with funchi and fried plantains...a bit of a drive, but a great place to stop after shore diving the north coast. Menu changes daily, and don't be in a hurry.
And we also had a good meal at Richards, our first night on the island, which is sort of traditional for us.
LOTS of great places to eat.
Trip report of some sort to follow later.

OH OH..found a KILLER place..rainbow shack across from Torito Snack in Antriol...SUPER bbq chicken and fries..the BEST..and Bobbiejans..YIKES..another killer rib place..I do NOT eat pork but did here..And yes, just got home and gained 5#..so am working my butt off..not only do I have PBD I am FAT..Annie

Hello Annie,
If you gained 5 pounds you can't tell it! You look great.
Ida

That's what I told her too, Ida, while she and I were both stuffing our faces with gabritu stoba at the Hulandes Restaurant last Thursday. She, in typical female fashion wouldn't believe me (and of course, if I had agreed with her (even though I disagree in reality) she would have no doubt been annoyed with me - can't win as a guy, I guess - but I've learned that in my near 20 years with Linda [grin]).

Jake

Greatest restaurant on Bonaire (and better than any local restaurants here at home) as far as my husband and I are concerned has to be the Mona Lisa. The food is superb. You have a choice - dining at the bar (bar hap) or in their dining room. Either way, it's marvelous. Bonaire does have it's share of excellent restaurants, however, and our dining experiences at Capriccio's have always been most satisfactory (wonderful Osso Bucco). We also enjoyed the Rose Inn in Rincon. Great kabrito stoba! Carol Collins

Luigis too..has GREAT local fish and cheap..We had lunch there two times..SUPER people..

And thanks Jake and Ida..I am a blimp..but on day 2 of eating clean again...LOL..no more cheese, french fries, ice cream, flan, desserts...and LESS wine..YIKES..

Annie

I'll be in Bonaire September 14th to the 21st. There will be 23 of us. Can anyone tell me how I can make reservations for the group at Capricco's for the Monday night that we are there? Are they open on Mondays?
Thank you in advance!

You should call for reservations. They are open on Mondays. They have AC indoor seating as well as outdoor seating so make sure to specify which you want.

Phone (599) 717 7230, Fax (599) 717 7056
Open for lunch 12am - 2pm
Open for dinner 6.30pm - 10.30pm
Closed Tuesday.

Wow, 23 would not fit outside so u will no doubt take up entire inside...

If anyone ever wants romance there, ask for a booth..the only thing about Capriccios is, it is too bright inside..I like dim lights..even if I am with Mags..LOL..

I did have two dates one at Chez Lucille and one at Croccotinos..very nice...

Annie

Linda and Annie:
Thank you so much. I was in Bonaire March of 01. I'm pretty sure this is the place that has the best lasagna, and the owners are from Italy. Right?
If so I'm going to call today for the reservations.
Thanks again.

Definitely Italian owners and all the food is super.

Hi Angela
I too love seafood of any kind. However, to set the record straight. FRESH seafood in Bonaire means finfish. All other seafood is imported,even squid I believe.That's not to say it isn't good.
In passing,I'd like to say that I think the Chib Chib restaurant at Divi is underrated most of the time.
Enjoy Mickey

the owner of Crocantino is a Dutch Lady named Elizabeth Wigney..She is married to an Italian and has liven in Tuscany. Her chef is Italian and she herself is an excellent cook. The owners of Capricio are Italian, make fresh bread daily and have an incredible wine cellar!

Michael:
Interesting. I might have just faxed the wrong restaurant.
Darn I wish I knew for sure which place I'm remembering.
Here is what I know.
I talked to a woman. Someone said they were from Italy. I think Milan. I'm pretty sure this place had a small courtyard type set up with tables outside because that is where we ate.I don't think we had any view of the water. It was more in the center of town. Some nights they offered music I believe.
It was by far the best lasagna I ever had. Very creamy and cheesey. No meat in it.
There was an inside but we never went in.
Do you think I'm thinking of Crocantino's or Capriccios?

I vote for Crocantino's! Outrageously delicious food...in the heart of town and not on the water...maybe? Carole

It was defininetyl Crocantino and Elisabeth is from Italy, by marriage.

Thank you both. But now I am in big trouble! I already faxed Capriccios with our group reservation, and they already faxed back a confirmation. Looks like I need to refax with my 'tail between my legs' and ' head hug low' and apologize. Darn how embarrassing!
But I want to be sure to take my group to the right place. We have to have that creamy cheesy lasagna.
I should have taken matches or something..
Well so now I need the phone and fax and address for Crocantions. Anyone know where I can get it?
Thank you again for all your help. You people are the best!

Natasha - see: http://www.bonairedining.com/guide/restaurants/croccantino.html

BTW, IMHO, Capriccio's is better than Croccantino's, but that's just my taste buds and tummy talking :-)

Jake

Jake:
I'm so glad you're saying that. I'm going to believe we will enjoy it there, so I don't have to cancel the reservation.
I'll still have 6 other nights to go to Crocantino's and maybe some of the group will want to go too.
Thank you again.

Of course, now Elizabeth will hate me... Ah well.

I should note that on Bonaire that there is no such thing (for long anyhow) as a bad restaurant. Bad ones go away very quickly, while good ones stay around indefinitely. And Croccantino's has been around for longer than I have lived on Bonaire (although two different owners).

Jake