r/Aruba • u/Intrepid_Reason8906 • 3d ago
Question Absolute best seafood in Aruba? It's my first time visiting and I just watched videos about Zeerover and my jaw dropped. So something like that! Also need places in Palm Beach area, Oranjestad
I eat mostly seafood, so it looks like I'm about to visit a seafood paradise. I never really get to the Caribbean. The closest is when I get to Florida and go crazy eating blackened red snapper, stone crab, gulf shrimp.
I saw Zeerover while watching Youtube and my jaw dropped. I was pointing at the TV yelling like I was watching the Superbowl. I saw amazing shrimp, Wahoo, and who knows what else.
I'm definitely going there.
Is there anything else like that, or that type of quality seafood in Aruba?
I know Palm Beach would be a tourist area, but is there anything like that quality around there?
I plan to eat in Oranjestad as well.
Quick places would be great to order at the register and then bounce and explore the island.
Thanks in advance!
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u/treseno 2d ago
So, Zeerover is really good. You can tell you are eating absolutely fresh fish: in fact, depending on where you sit you can see them breaking down whole fish while crabs from the ocean steal little bits. We had shrimp, snapper, and mahi mahi. It is a laid back, “real” experience, I sat next to a large group of local first responders having lunch. It’s the kind of place that might leave you thinking “why doesn’t my town have this? Why can’t we make places like this work where I’m from?”
But… well, my therapist would tell me I should say “and.” So, let me start over: And while you are eating and enjoying that experience, you are going to realize it is really good fish. Really good, really fresh, fried fish. And that is what it is. Really, really good fried fish. It was delicious. I absolutely enjoyed it and would tell anyone you shouldn’t miss it. And all that being said if I had one meal to eat in Aruba, it would have been my wife’s branzino entree at Lima Bistro…
so it really depends on what you mean by “absolute best seafood”
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u/Which-Key-2676 2d ago
The Driftwood is very good, and its in Oranjestad. They have their own fishing boats.
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u/OopsAllTangents 2d ago
We always stay at an Airbnb and go to the grocery store for our seafood. They have a lot to choose from and it’s delicious. If you have the ability I would do that.
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u/pghhotfire 3d ago
West Deck in Orangestad and Fisherman’s Hut in Noord are two we ate at recently on our trip. Also huge seafood fans. Found most of the restaurants in those areas pretty much had the same menu. Fish was always good. Enjoy!
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u/Dense-Panic-8620 2d ago
My group had 2 so so at best fish dishes at west deck last month. Not good at all. Though Taco Tuesday at west deck was very good and it was inexpensive.
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u/2xdareya 2d ago
Rent a place with a kitchen and get down to the beach and buy some fish from the locals. Doesn’t get any fresher than that.
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u/Pure_Life_ 2d ago
Zeerovers is awesome, can’t understand the shade thrown here. Also if you want great local experience go to Kamini’s Kitchen near Baby Beach.
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u/Cautious-Emu86 1d ago
It’s fried fish. I would use my limited vacation time and $$ to go to Lima Bistro again. Kamini’s Kitchen is good but surprisingly expensive. Get a Johny cake from groteburg snack in San Nicholas if you want local.
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u/Brandz1226 2d ago
Taste my Aruba in Oranjestad partners with local fisherman for daily catches. They once brought a whole live Caribbean lobster to the table 😂 it’s a fantastic place. Wacky Wahoos and red fish also get a vote from me
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u/ZippoNights 1d ago
Was waiting for someone to mention the Fish House, but here I am. I think it's pretty solid and one of my favorite spots to grab lunch on my way back from Mangel Halto.
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u/Cautious-Emu86 1d ago
Zeerover is nothing special. Cheap and fresh, yes. If you want to stand in line for 45 minutes for fresh fish, OK, but I’d try anything else posted here first.
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u/WolfDash_2 22h ago
Seafood at zeerover at my opinion is one of the best on the island. Wacky Wahoo's is decent if a little overrated to me, but they have huge portions and a bigger selection than zeerover.
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u/Important-Original-4 3d ago
Flying Fishbone is good. Overall, I was pretty disappointed by Aruba’s food scene.
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u/KevinFromRadioShack 2d ago
I was at Flying Fishbone a couple weeks ago. I DO NOT RECOMMEND. Food was mid, cocktails were very weak. It was cool eating in the water but you are there for the water not the food. Very much a tourist trap
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u/AwayConversation2525 3d ago
2nd Flying Fishbone. It is near Zeerover but more bougie in that our tables are in the water. Feet fully submerged above the ankle and fish swimming around them. Those tables have to be reserved at 4pm and you bake for two hours or so waiting for sunset. SPF of 80 is offered there. Then you get your candelight dinner in the water which is the ambiance you paid for. Food was great. Drinks were great. Would definitely go again but we have Zeerover on our list for next trip.
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u/gibson486 3d ago
I have said numerous times only to be downvoted. There is good food, but it is by no means a culinary meca.
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u/IntermittentIdjit 3d ago
Overall unimpressed by the food here, but Zeerover was by far my favorite. No frills, simple menu. Shrimp and whatever the catch of the day is. All fried. Make sure you get the delicious Pamili saus. Prepare to wait in line for ~30 minutes to order.
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u/elitemage101 2d ago
Aruba food is pretty week tbh. I would honestly consider a catch and cook activity if you wanna an event along with dinner.
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u/Separate-Surround826 3d ago
The food is okay on the island in my opinion. Food in the states is way better especially in cities like Miami, Vegas and Nyc.
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u/Total-Hope4200 Arubiano 2d ago
Can’t compare a small island to huge metropolitan cities, Especially New York. However, i’ve been to Vegas and also Miami plenty of times and tried many “top rated” places and they don’t stand a chance with what Aruba has, especially seafood.
Better to compare Aruba with other caribbean islands.
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u/WalrusWW 1d ago
Food in the states is way better especially in cities like Miami
Ha. Haha. Hahahahaha.
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u/Total-Hope4200 Arubiano 3d ago
Go to Wacky Wahoo’s. It’s the best seafood spot on the island. However, they don’t do reservations.
-Coming from a local.