Infini by Urvin Croes — Restaurant in Aruba

Amazing experience! My husband and I went to Infini on April 8. We also brought my mother and father in-law that never had a 12 course menu. We had 2 vegetarian menus and 2 regular tasting menus.

My husband and I go to a lot of Michelin rated restaurants for the experience and tasting menus. Though Infini is not Michelin rated (it should be!), it is definitely now in our top 10 of delicious restaurants.

The restaurant started us outside waiting as it can only hold 18 people. At around 7pm they let us in. The experience is they sit everyone around the kitchen on high barstools you watch the cooking and assembling happen in front of you. There is no screaming and yelling happening unlike other high-end restaurants - I really liked that. On top of that the chefs tell you what you're eating where other restaurants have trained waiters/staff. It's truly a small team and very intimate. It was cool to talk to the team and ask questions. For the dessert portion, they escort you back outside. I never had a restaurant change the dinner/seating location so that's different.

All of it was delicious! They are going for a Caribbean - Asian fusion. My husband said it was the best scallops, duck, and wagyu beef he has ever had. I really enjoyed the tofu, mushrooms, beet, and desserts. We also got a mocktail pairing and it was on pointe pairing.

The cons: It was kind of hard to hear the explanation of the food - there was a large, loud group and it was hard to hear over them (not the restaurant's fault). I think they emailed the menu to my husband who never shared with the rest of us so we could only hear or remember pieces of info of what we were eating. I prefer a printed menu.

Overall, I highly recommend if you're looking for a 12-course tasting. It's certainly worth the experience of seeing the cooking and plating...

In total, I dined at three restaurants serving pre-fixed menus in the manner that Infini did, and while the most expensive of the three, the quality and intricacy of the food were incomparable. Honestly, the cookery was seductive, and I still think about it after more than a week since I visited. The trio of amuses were more than gratifying. I worked my way counterclockwise from left to right, and I'm glad I did. The dishes were quite complex and thoroughly explained, and yet, I could not completely capture all that I was tasting. The amuses started with a savory white-chocolate bite, some kind of cheese, and a croquette. I honestly began taking notes after this course, because I underestimated the detail. The bread was good and a decent segue to the most stunning attractions. The salad of tomato and watermelon was light, stunning, and bursting with acidity and brightness. One of my favorite dishes, the amberjack and ootoro was superbly complemented with the oxtail chips and consommé. Perhaps it was indecorous in a fine-dining setting, but I picked up the bowl to savor each bit of it. The next course combined ancient Mayan cooking techniques with salt crusting. They served a lamb loin wrapped in a banana leaf and baked in a salt crust. It was topped with a pineapple velouté, and it was complete showcase of what this restaurant can do. I am not a pineapple fan, but this was excellent and was like a Russian floating dance in your mouth. I could go on, but really, not one dish was subpar at all. It's worth the cost to visit a place like Infini. My only minor critique is that a place like this was not offering cocktails. I understand the careful work that goes into wine pairings, but some do prefer having a harder drink on...

Infini deserves no less than rave reviews. This was one of the most lovely, delicious and charming tasting menus I’ve had in years! Each course was thoughtful, meticulously executed and incredible tasting. The attention to detail and level of skill were some of the best I’ve had anywhere in the world.

The food itself is phenomenal. Every dish had a story and so much time was devoted to presentation. I love when a chef’s table restaurant goes above and beyond to make a meal an experience and Infini did this very well. Each course was presented elegantly, and the staff was incredibly warm and interactive, explaining the importance of both the ingredients and the process. I am a curious diner and I ask a lot of questions about what I’m eating and I was delighted by how friendly and gracious they were about answering me, time and again.

I highly suggest getting the wine pairing. Their sommelier was fantastic. Each wine came with such care in its choice and he was very attentive. It was a busy night but he made it feel like we were his only customers, incredibly charming and very professional. Overall, the service at Infini was the perfect balance of easy going but suddenly there when you want or need it. To top it all off, they make it seem effortless, something so hard to do in such an open kitchen.

Lastly, I'm a pescatarian and they were fantastic about meeting our needs. At no point did I feel like I was missing out on any course where there might have been meat. If you’re thinking about Infini, go! Whether it’s a splurge for you or if you are a seasoned tasting menu diner, you will be very happy you went! They give celebrity chefs like Dan Barber a run for their money. A very special place. I...