Recipe for Success Time-Tested Triumphs on the Restaurant Scene by Susan Campbell There are a special few dining establishments on Aruba that have truly stood the test of time and continue to do a brisk business attracting a loyal following of locals and repeat visitors alike.
The restaurant goer can be a fickle mistress. What’s trendy one day quickly becomes old news the next. A multitude of factors can make or break a restaurant; and restaurants located in destinations primarily dedicated to tourism face a further challenge in that they rarely have a second chance to make a good impression. Nonetheless, each of these six establishments has been in continuous operation on Aruba for a quarter of a century. Not surprisingly, it seems that a profound love of food and people are key ingredients common to all these success stories. El Gaucho Argentine Grill
The hearty cuisine of this landmark spot combines Argentinean grilling methods and fare with family recipes and local Aruban flair. Celebrating its 38th anniversary this year, El Gaucho is Aruba’s oldest established dining room and
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proof positive that they are doing something right. Owner Omira Botta sheds some light on their secret. She says, “When my father started this restaurant, all he had was his grilling skills, a vision of what he wanted for his customers, and a desire to succeed. His adage was simple: ‘Pamper your customers, serve them what you would like to eat, and treat them like family’. It is a strategy we still adhere to today, but he forgot to add, also treat your staff like family!” Set in a charming old colonial townhouse with strolling musicians, El Gaucho is a must-visit for enthusiastic carnivores and especially noteworthy as home of the “biggest shish kebab ever served”. E
Inset photos courtesy of El Gaucho Argentine Grill
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Papiamento Restaurant
French Steakhouse
First-time visitors to Papiamento are often drawn by its setting: a century-old, restored Aruban country home full of history surrounding an enchanting pool and lush garden. But it’s the authentic local fare and warm welcome that they find at this family-run restaurant that brings them back. Eduardo and Lenie Ellis started the restaurant in 1983; it moved to its current stunning location later on. Today, it is run by their son, Edward Ellis who is also the head chef. He says, “One of the secrets to our success is that we were doing farm-to-fork cuisine long before it was trendy. I like to experiment with native ingredients like papaya, okra, and cactus fruit and we source most of our herbs, fruits, and greens from a local plantation. We also use local seafood and spices whenever possible.” The entire family is still very much involved in the day-to-day operations. Papiamento is also one of the few places on the island where one can sample an authentic keshi yena, a native Aruban dish of spiced meat stuffed into a hollowed-out Dutch Gouda cheese.
Tête-à-tête under the stars or ensconced in old European charm serenaded with live piano music, the French Steakhouse has been offering romantic dining options on Aruba for over 35 years as part of the landmark Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa. The resort has always been owned by the Cohen family, and the steakhouse became the pet project of Ike Cohen whose passion for quality meat and culinary surprises quickly put the dining room on the island’s gastronomic map. Though Mr. Cohen passed away in 2007, the torch has been passed to Chef Willy Sarmiento. General Manager Edgar Roelofs says, “Beyond our reputation for top quality fare and romantic atmosphere, one of the reasons for our success has been our long-standing relationship with AGA (Aruba Gastronomic Association) and their Dine-Around program. By working with AGA, our clientele is much more diverse than one would expect from a resort restaurant. They have been very influential in introducing new customers to our special little hideaway.” International cuisine and new spins on old classics abound at French Steakhouse, and their veteran staff is always ready to prepare special romantic requests like table-side Chateaubriand for two, bananas flambé, or Don Juan’s flaming coffee.
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Chalet Suisse Restaurant
Chalet Suisse has been attracting lovers of European cuisine in droves since it first opened its doors in 1988. Owners Erika and Hans Maurischat and manager Rudolf Ratzenbock attribute their legendary success to consistency. Rudolf says, “We’ve never been one to follow trends; we do what we do well and our customers love us for it. In fact, whenever we have tampered with our menu we have received disappointed feedback from our regulars, so we always change it back! But we do offer daily specials as well just to keep it fresh. We also are very consistent in regards to our staff; many of our employees have been with us since the beginning, which makes return visitors happy because they are always welcomed with friendly, familiar faces. We added the lovely Tiffany Room for private party space in 1999, but other than that, we have stuck to what works. You know what to expect when you come to our restaurant: consistently great food and generous portions served with a smile, simple as that!” Chalet Suisse offers classic continental cuisine and Swiss specialties. Their famous Swiss Toblerone Chocolate Fondue for dessert is a must. E
Left photos courtesy of Papiamento Restaurant. Right photos courtesy of Chalet Suisse Restaurant
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Driftwood Restaurant
Driftwood celebrated its 28th anniversary last July, and has been a downtown institution on Aruba for almost three decades thanks to delicious seafood and local food. They are famous for their freshly caught Caribbean lobster and no-nonsense approach to fresh seafood prepared Aruban-style, with dishes like three-star fish soup and fish with creole sauce. Owner Francine Merryweather says, “There’s no substitute for fish and seafood caught and cooked the very same day. That’s our biggest claim to fame and one of the main reasons for our longevity and popularity. We still catch our own specialties daily as we have since the day we opened.” So not only does Driftwood catch and cook the fish, they prepare it to perfection! Co-owner Herbert (Herby) Merryweather is the expert fisher man, and the talented chef always prepares his fresh catch in the most delightful ways. Francine goes on, “We also have a charter fishing boat and one of the options we offer is to cook whatever you catch when you spend the day with us. We will prepare your fish one of four different ways and serve it with our famous sides. That is quite unique on this island.” Driftwood’s décor is in keeping with the name; rustic, rich natural wood with a laid-back nautical vibe, and all dishes are accompanied by homemade pan bati, Aruba’s local corn bread. E 18
Left photos courtesy of French Steakhouse. Right photos courtesy of Driftwood
Buccaneer Restaurant
Celebrating 34 years in operation, Buccaneer Restaurant is a legendary landmark as of 1980 that was the vision of the late Josef Munzenhofer Sr., a German chef who wanted his business to reflect the heartfelt love he had for his adopted island home of Aruba. This labor of love was built by father and son, and together they created the unique underwater grotto ambience complete
with the gorgeous, indoor 18,000-gallon aquarium that made this spot famous. Today, Josef Jr., is happily at the helm of the Buccaneer, carrying on the family tradition of serving the freshest locally caught fish and seafood with tropical flair in a fun and friendly maritime atmosphere. But Josef ’s also ensuring they keep up with the times. He says, “We’re delighted to announce a brand-new menu incorporating the talents of our new executive chef that will highlight a mix of our standard favorites along with some forwardthinking, avant-garde cuisine. And just because we have a nautical theme doesn’t mean we don’t also make magic with poultry, lamb, angus-cut beef, pasta, and even duck! Come and taste for yourself.”
So there you have them, the stories behind these Aruban success stories. Some cite location, concept, or originality, others traditions, staff, or just plain hard work, but across the board, all of these establishments also reflect these basic tenets of any successful business: a passion for their industry and an ongoing commitment to excellence. We congratulate them all and wish them many more years of continued success. K
Visit the websites of these fine restaurants for more information: El Gaucho....................................................................www.elgaucho-aruba.com Papiamento............................................................. www.papiamentoaruba.com Chalet Suisse.......................................................... www.chaletsuisse-aruba.com French Steakhouse............................................ www.manchebo.com/steakhouse Driftwood...................................................................www.driftwoodaruba.com Buccaneer................................................................... www.buccaneeraruba.com 20
Top photos courtesy of Buccaneer Restaurant