which restaurants to choose?
 

We will be in Aruba for 5nights for our anniversary...so for dinners I want romantic...so far from many posts I've come up with these...
Flying fishbone
El Gaucho
Madame Janette
Marandi
Papiamentos
what about Pirates Nest on beach? what time should I make reservations to see the sunset in March? any suggestions I'd be so grateful....this board has been so helpful already!
thanks,
lisa

On Aruba do not miss Madame Janette.

Make a reservation for Madame Janette's and request a table outside. Inside gets hot and suffy. Outside there will be a breeze. You won't have to worry what time sunset is for Madame Janette's since it is inland. Sunset currently is 6:36 p.m. (accordingly to CNN.com) so depending on what part of March you will be there you can calculate sunset or go to CNN.com just before you leave and check sunset time. We like to get a table right on the beach at Moomba Beach and watch the sunset from there. Moomba Beach is between the Marriott and Holiday Inn on the beach. The "Lighthouse" is also an excellent place to catch the sunset. You will need a reservation there.

Do not miss El Gaucho. My husband still raves about that meal even though it was over 2 years ago!

Also, I have heard good things about Marandi.

I would also try Flying Fishbone at least for the experience.

Our madame janette expereince was okay but not great.

We've been to Aruba twice and loved it.
Flying Fishbone can be very romantic, especially if you have reservations at sunset. It's right on the beach and you can stick your toes in the sand.
El Gaucho is not to be missed, I wouldn't call it romantic, but the food is GREAT!
We weren't real happy with Madame Janette. We went to some type of dinner show at Pirate's Nest; dinner was ok, show was very entertaining. We also had a great dinner at Suisse Chalet. Have fun, wish I was going too!

We really love Marandi and Flying Fishbone is located at a great romantic setting.
El Gaucho serves really delicious steaks but can be noisy.
We were not happy on our last visit to Madame Janette's it was terrible but a lot of people really like the place, it's a hit and miss place in our opinion.
Swiss Chalet serves very good food and you will receive a warm greeting. There's a table by the window with an ocean view at the Swiss Chalet that you could request when reserving.
The dinner on the beach at the Pirate's Nest was very romantic but the food was good not great. The beach is just beautiful at the Bucuti and the staff is so nice. The 9:00 p.m. happy hour at the Bucuti is very enjoyable sitting outside at the Sand Bar listening to a musician playing a steel drum. You would need to reserve the first seating at the Pirate's Nest Special Dinner to watch the sun set. You will also see the sun set while at Marandi.
If you have a car drive down to Pincho's at the Surfside Marina right on the water just past downtown and enjoy happy hour while watching the sun set over the ocean. It's near Marandi but closer to downtown.
We like to have a drink at the beach bar at the Amsterdam Manor and then dine at their open air restaurant Mango's. Mango's also has a BBQ and show outside on Fridays.
Enjoy!

Let me throw out another romantic dinner suggestion: depending on where you are staying many of the hotels will arrange a private table on the beach for dinner..tres romantic!!!

thanks so much to everyone for all the replies...I have reservations for the following rest. Flying Fish, Marandi, El Gaucho, and Madame Janettes...

(I'm a little unsure about the mixed reviews with Madame Janettes...) But I'm having trouble deciding on ONE last rest. for the last night there to make a reservation...I want good food and romantic with maybe seeing the sunset....here's the choices...any feedback is so appreciated!!!

Papiementos- anyone been there????
Le Dome-
Chalet Suisse- romantic???
Pirates Nest- on beach??
Gasparito-???

Please HELP!!! Thanks in advance!

i'm going on 2/12 for a week i have ressies for Chez Mathilde for valentine's day. has anyone been recently?

went to chalet suisse and the food was very good. (We also loved El Gaucho). But for a honeymoon and romance, eating on the beach is a requirement!!! We ate at simply fish at the Marriott's beach. My husband loved the fish (I am not a fish person, so I thought it was okay). But the setting was wonderful. I would plan for 6:30 dinner. I believe the sun set about 6:45. I am not sure where you are staying? Bucuti? Is that where the pirate's nest is? If so, I would give it a try. I know the Hyatt has a meal called pampered on the beach and heard it was great! Have a wonderful time.

The Hyatt's offers a private dining experience on the beach. It is a definitely the most romantic dining experiences ever. Books up often so make reservations in advance if you can.

Don't go to the Pirate's Nest! We stayed at The Bucuti Beach (see my post on where to go next) but I wouldn't recommend the restaurant. Happy Hour (both of them) at the bar is another question.

Went to Le Dome last June for my birthday and our wedding anniversary (same day, makes it easier on DH) they were wonderful and gave us candles on my dessert, a complimentary glass of champagne each and as we left a nightlight nicely wrapped. Food was wonderful we weren't made to feel guilty that we chose the cheapest wine on the menu (Concha La Toro), Service was attentive but not smothering, we ate on the terrace since the weather was glorious. Would recommend and will go back if ever we visit Aruba again.

Flying Fishbone was good, lots of locals but noisy and the fish in the tanks can make you feel a tiny bit guilty

BTW, I really wanted to go to El Gaucho but when we arrived on the last day of our vacation, they had booked us for the next night! No apologies from them at all. Double check before you leave your hotel - We drowned our sorrows at Iguana Joes instead!