Pika's Corner Aruban Cuisine — Restaurant in Aruba

For two years I drove by Pika's Corner and marveled at the packed parking lot and the crowd of people waiting to get in. Finally I carved out some time to find out why the locals love this restaurant. The reason: What's not to love? You get the best meal for the price on the island. The only negative is the place's popularity. You have to wait for a table. You have to wait for your food. We had to park on a side street because the parking lot was packed. Trust me, it's worth the wait. Why do you have to wait for the food? Because the chef makes everything to order. The entrees come out steaming. The cuisine is definitely authentic Aruban. Great fish entrees sauteed or fried. I ordered the whole red snapper. It arrived staring at me. The skin was perfectly fried to a crackly crisp. Inside the meat was pearly white, sweet and moist. You must order funchi, the cornmeal pancakey thing the Arubans love. The four slices were hot to the touch and fall apart moist. How can cornbread be so flavorful? Austin ordered the pork chops. The three chops were enough for 2 meals. They were tender and flavorful. Arubans love rice and French fries. All meals come with one or both. The fish also had cooked plantains on the plate, another local favorite. The banana flavor was a great compliment to the fish. The dining room is air conditioned. But most locals prefer the outside patio. Or take out. The restaurant does a huge take out business judging by the number of people picking up their food at the bar. Given the high food prices on the island, the entrees here are remarkably affordable. I feel in love with this place. Now I'm going to eat here once a week every time...

I’m writing this review as a cautionary tale to other potential diners. While locals recommended this restaurant for its budget-friendly and flavorful food, our experience was anything but satisfactory.

Our starters and main courses fell short of our expectations. The Pan Bati Has Cu Keshi appetizer and our medium-rare sirloin steaks were poorly prepared. My son’s Land and Sea combo suffered from the same issue. Only my wife’s Red Snapper, the catch of the day, lived up to our expectations.

Service was equally lackluster. We faced an unnecessarily long wait for our second round of drinks, an issue attributed to kitchen use of the mixer, which hardly seemed like a valid reason.

What transpired after the meal was downright alarming. Soon after consuming a Piña Colada, I experienced severe health issues, including an intense headache and vision problems, none of which can be attributed to overconsumption of alcohol. I suspect the issue might have arisen from substandard alcohol, possibly methanol, or improper cleaning of the blender after kitchen use. The effects were so severe that I had to lay down across the street outside a smart convenient store while my family rushed to fetch medication.

Given the severe health risks I encountered, I strongly advise against dining at this restaurant. This place is not a safe option for tourists or anyone looking for a quality, safe dining experience. Consider alternative eateries and stick to bottled beverages to avoid similar complications. The $220 bill was in no way justified by the concerning and...

Found Pika’s Corner as one of the things most highly recommended in my research for true Aruban food. This was probably one of my favorite restaurants during my trip! The menu pricing is listed in Florins. Small parking lot out front.

Environment/service: -Tables available for indoor and outdoor. We opted for indoor seating. We didn’t make a reservation but thankfully on a Thursday night at 7pm, we were able to be seated right away. If you’re coming with a larger group, I recommend making a reservation. -If you come from a busy city, just note that everything here is “island time!” So have some patience and don’t expect fast service if you’re used to it. Take the time to catch up with your party while waiting for food! -Our servers were fantastic though and were helpful in helping us choose their most popular dishes.

Food: -Picanha (59.50): 1 lb meat, 1 side (fried banana), salad, garlic sauce. The meat was fantastic, and it tasted even better with the chimichurri sauce. -Land and Sea Pasta (55): one of the specials of the day; small mound of pasta served with shrimp. Also served a small serving of meat and bread. Super good! -Garlic Shrimp (35): coconut shrimp “soup” served with rice and fries. -Tres Leches cake: given to my mom as a birthday treat; they even sang for her!

Our party of 4 shared everything. We didn’t come in super hungry so I thought it was the perfect amount of food.

Overall: If you’re looking for fresh Aruban seafood and great meats, please check...