The Dining Section:
Having three weeks on island, I got a chance to eat dinner out quite a bit and that I did and enjoyed every minute of it. Everyone has their favorites, as do I, but here are some of the ones I really enjoyed.
Bobbe Jans - Open on week-ends only and a must every trip. The ribs and chicken sate, not to mention the French fries with mayo, ketchup and peanut sauce, at least that’s the way I eat them, are the best!
Pasa Bon Pizza - I always enjoy going here for pizza. If you go, try their garlic cheesy bread! We get that everytime now. Served nice and hot with a bowl of marinara sauce for dipping. What a treat. This was a weekly stop for us and Joe and Lisa always had a smile and took the time to chat with us every visit. Making reservations there is a good idea to insure getting a table. They also offer take-a-way service which is nice for those nights when you plan on a night dive. Order your pizza early, they open at 5pm – 10pm Wed-Sun. and pick it up, go for your dive and then you can just enjoy your pizza when you get back from diving.
Lion’s Den - Open for dinners only. My favorite place on island. Fridays, they have a shrimp fest night there. Three kinds of shrimp, coconut, fried, and cajon with choice of rice, French fries, or baked potatoe with a vegetable. Very reasonably priced. They had a brocolli with cheese sauce that was so good. Also, try the bacon bleus burger, truly one of the best burgers on island. Huge too. A meal in itself. Nice atomosphere and on the water.
Richards - We got a table by the water when we went, Brandon and I had the surf and turf, filet migon with shrimp in a béarnaise sauce if I am not mistaken. Gregg had the fish special which he said was very good. Nice view. Very good service and food. Reservations are suggested here.
Patagonia - If you are a beef fan, then this is the place for you. Excellent service and extensive menu. I always enjoy this place. For waterfront dining, make sure to make a reservation and request that. Pricing is what you would pay in the states.
The Garden Café - Located at the far end of town, I think this place gets overlooked at times, but it is really a gem of a place. Gregg and Brandon’s favorite thing to order is their Mixed Grill, it is the same set up as Casablanca, but without the blood sausages, they offer a different sort of sausage which we all like better than the blood ones. This is my son’s favorite place to go. I had their shrimps in garlic which were huge, they had the heads and tail on and 5 of them took over my whole plate. Very good. They also offer a wide range of vegetarian dishes. Very reasonably priced, worth a visit if you have never been. Not on the water, but close enough to take a stroll on the waterfront after dinner if you want to.
El Fogon Latino - A local restaurant which is very reasonably priced. Try the fish chowder and the fish of the day special. One of the cheapest priced meals on island if looking to save some $ on dining. Portions are not huge, but you could actually order two dinners cheaper than one at another restaurant if a big eater. Just ordering one dinner suited us quite well. Owners are very nice. Watch out for their spice condiments, they can kick butt!
La Carnciana Latino - Open only on Saturday mornings, you can get a hand turned bar-b-que chickens for $6.50 US. Always picked up 2 or 3 for lunches between dives for the week. I order early in the morning, and pick up before twelve. Man, I miss those chickens already! When you pick them up, they are in Styrofoam containers and you get a whole chicken cut up in two pieces. Um, um, good!
Lover’s Ice Cream - Good ice cream between dives and well, anytime the need for an ice cream fix hits ya! Two locations, one in town and one next to Sand Dollar Grocery.
Reef Restaurant - Was the first time we tried this place, and sorry to say this place was a disappointment. Very poor service and food was terrible. Live and learn on that one. There was only one other table of two people eating when we arrived, so no excuse for the bad service IMHO.
One place I am sorry I didn’t get to try was Papagayo’s. Will have to try this one next trip. The above places were just a few of some of the ones I have visited this trip. There are many more I have been to in past visits that are good too, Mona Lisa’s, Cappricio’s, Chibi Chibi, are all good too. We do enjoy City Café as well, but at high season, we avoid the place as it is so, so crowded. A lot of the town ones we do in less busier times of the year.
I really enjoy the fact that Bonaire has such a variety of places to eat in every price range. For us, being on island three weeks, to only have one disappointing meal out is not bad at all. That would be hard to do at home here. To just be able to sit by the water, enjoy good food and family/friends dining is a marvelous experience and to be in shorts too! Right now, I am freezing here in jeans and a sweatshirt. What I wouldn't give to be back on Bonaire right watching the sun set while dining and looking for the mysterious green flash!
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By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6864) on Sunday, March 9, 2008 - 2:49 pm: 
