Will be making our first trip to Bonaire Aug. 1-8, & just wondering where are the best places to eat where we can get good vegetarian meals. From what I've been reading, it sounds like many places will accommodate us vegetarians with off-the-menu items. Any places more helpful than others with that?

Garden Cafe is easily the best. Many items on the menu you'll be able to eat. Rendez-Vous if Martin is in the kitchen... call ahead and see if they can accommodate you on a given night. De Tuin, same deal. Great food, but call first to see if they're able to accommodate you on the given night. Old Inn did a great job for us one evening when we went there.

Don't know how strict your vegetarian leanings are. We're vegan, and we've done OK. I prefer to have a kitchen and do much of my own cooking, so that's how we address the issue some of the time.

China Nobo

You might want to try Richards, but you should call ahead and advise you are coming and want vegetarian meals. We had asked him about vegetarian meals during one of our visits in anticipation of having one of our daughters (a vegetarian) join us on the next Bonaire trip. Best days are right after the supply boat arrives and the vegetables are freshest. Richard can advise which days are best.

Thanks for all the suggestions. We'll be printing this & adding it to our "take on trip to Bonaire" folder.

And if possible, call a day ahead -- if the head chef has the night off, places are less apt to be able to accommodate. They can warn you if you call far enough ahead. Or if you call the day of, be prepared to call one or two other places, just in case.

That being said, I think we've always been able to find -someone- willing to accommodate, even on short notice, and we've had some super veggie meals on the island...

Faith

The Banana Tree Restaurant at the Plaza offers a vegetarian special every night (appetizer, main course, dessert)....I had two great meals there! Also The Lighthouse Restaurant is very accomodating to us vegetarians........again call ahead if you can so you can arrange for something special.