Here are our recent experiences during our second trip to Bonaire May 7-14:

Stayed at the Plaza again, so ate at Tipsy Seagull for dinner night we arrived (May 7). Other than the waitress with a heck of a cold, felt very comfortable overlooking the water, totally relaxed. Food very good like last year, no other complaints. Rating: Very good.

Thursday was Garden Cafe night. As Patty is a vegetarian, Garden is the easiest place for her to find a large selection. Raja has a new location and huge neon Pizza and Grill sign on top of the building on Kaya Grandi, which I understand is not to everyone's liking. Nevertheless, we talked with him for hours again this year and enjoyed wonderful Parilla, a meat dinner where he puts the hibachi type grill next to you, it comes with chicken, ribs, chorizo and beef and it stays hot on the grill as you eat. Everyone in the place must smell the wonderful odors of your dinner the whole time, which was not so good for Patty the vegan. :-) Side note: he seems to be the only place with a disco ball in all of Bonaire. Rating: Very good.

Friday was my best meal of the trip this time; we tried Kon Tiki. Worth the drive, although on a moonless night if you take the coast road it will definitely scare you a little. No lights, water within 50 feet of the car on both sides of the road. Wow. Had an amazing Argentinian steak with a honey and apple compote. People very friendly, will go back there next year. Took the other road on the way back to Kralendijk! Rating: Excellent.

More in Part Two.

We didn't eat out too much in our recent visit, but we did go to Garden Cafe our first night -- it was one name I recognised as being recommended when we were driving around. (My BT lurking had not prepared me for so many restaurants, many of which I did not remember having read about here.) We had the dish you describe, the various meats on the table-side grill, with some dipping sauces, french fries and salad. Also some good Pina Coladas. The service was warm and attentive (two women, no sign of a man that night) and some locals were eating there, which made us feel we were on the right track. We liked it very much; it put us in the mood to enjoy our vacation.

My wife got the Parilla at the Garden Cafe one night! It was BIGGER THAN HER!!! We have this photo of her with the napkin tucked in and her holding the knife and fork and the monster-sized meat selection in the foregroud. It's HUGE! Coulda fed 37 people I think. I'll hafta dig it out and post it here.

Glad you liked Kon Tiki. I've heard good things. We'll try it next time!

Jamie is right about the size of the Parilla -- it fed two handsomely, with plenty for lunch the next day. We had the same experience with a similar dish at the wonderful Casablanca, with possibly even more food. Excellent meats, drinks and service, and take a lot home for later.

What is a parilla?

It means "grill", equivalent of a mixed grill, traditionally meats.