The Old Cunucu House Aruba — Restaurant in Aruba

Typically, I know how to review a restaurant as is indicated by my reviewer profile. I've had over 5M views on my reviews and posts and I'm always seeking to be fair to the restaurant whenever possible. However, in this case, I'm not certain how to rate them beyond saying my wife and I arrived for dinner on a Friday around 6:30 pm when there was literally no one on the patio. We were promptly seated inside and found a group of 12 seated and a solo diner directly across from us. She spoke to us and shared her experience and complimented the dish she was eating. My wife and I were encouraged. It only took an additional 5 minutes for everything to shift in the opposite direction so I'll try to summarize the next 45 minutes which resulted in us leaving the restaurant after only receiving some flatbread and water. A couple arrived after us, sat next to us, ordered before us, received their order before our order was ever taken, finished their food and we were still waiting for our order. We requested the drinks come with the enter and they were delivered before e the food and my said the food is coming. No food came. We noticed that dishes were still being provided to the large group that was there before us. Now we're confused and irritated because we know a couple cam in after us and had received their food but now dishes were still going to the large group. After 45 minutes, we told the server we cannot continue to wait for our order and agreed to pay for the Ceasar salad delivered to my wife that we tried to share since we were waiting so long. I attempted to pay the $16 with cash and was asked if I wanted any change and I replied yes. The server went to the back and I just told the employees standing there to tell him to keep the $4 as I was not about to wait any longer and had zero confidence that anything else was to be trusted with this place. I walked outside to meet my wife and saw at least 4 tables all sitting down an eating food. Please remember there was no one outside and seated when we arrived. The service was absolutely unacceptable and I cannot say for certain, however, everyone who was eating was of a European descent, including the couple that arrived after us, while the large group and my wife and I are not. Truly disappointing since the restaurant was recommended by our resort. I rated a 1 star since there are no half star ratings. My wife and I spoke with several others about our experience. The owner reached out after she received feedback regarding our experience. We learned through a mutual contact that the owner was on vacation and not present when we visited. Sadly, the standard she expected in her absence was not maintained and she wanted us to return so that she could make things right. Unfortunately, we were already committed to other plans and were leaving the island next day. The owner's acceptance of accountability & responsibility despite not being present is to be commended and was not lost on us. We truly appreciate her response to what no one wants to hear about their business's impression and performance. We know how attitudes and commitment levels can shift when we examine the owner's versus the employees'. As I reflect back on our visit, the owner's absence explains much of what we saw. My wife and I understand her challenges and we have accepted her offer to return and experience the best of her restaurant's offerings when we...

I have visited the Old Cunucu House multiple times over the years...the first time more than three decades ago. This place is a gem and a mainstay on the island, rich with history and culture. People come to eat outside and enjoy the ambience as well as the best of traditional, local Aruban cuisine. I've been back many times, as there are multiple menu items I want to try from their menu. The food is incredible. And the two ladies who own it (sisters) are absolutely delightful and gracious, and clearly take pride in their business. For all intents and purposes, this place is five star.

BUT....

There is, however, one major negative here, and I want to warn the world so you can avoid it and hopefully it will never happen to another party.

ARTURO, one of the servers there, greeted/seated guests and every guest wanted to sit outside. He specifically told us NO and led us inside to a dark, cold room NO ONE wanted to be in. He told us he didn't want to seat us outside because it was too hot. Never mind that we told him we came to sit outside. We thought we had no choice.

One guest put her foot down and refused to be bullied into being in there. She refused, and stated again she wanted to dine outside. Arturo literally got visibly angry, did an overdramatic, heavy sigh and said with clear anger, "FINE! LET'S GO OUTSIDE." and stomped outside like a belligerent child. All this on full display for me and all the other guests to see.

While I'm sitting at this table eating a decadent meal, not enjoying being isolated in a dark room, I tried to get Arturo to understand that guests come here, to the island of Aruba, to sit outside at this legendary dining establishment. He complained that it was too hot. I tried to gently convey that this is about the guests' request and experience, not his. I reminded him that when guests come here, they see this place as Paradise. His verbatim response:

"Paradise? This is hell."

He literally opened his mouth and said this to me - a guest, in front of other guests.

When I left, I was floored by the terrible service and incensed to see all the people who were allowed to sit outside as they had requested.

So while this restaurant is amazing, avoid Arturo at all costs. He will ruin your experience. And if you can't avoid him, do not be...

We'll let me start off by saying THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST RESTAURANT I HAVE EVER EATEN AT IN MY LIFE!! So, we are seated then the waiter comes over and ask for our drink order, my husband knows what he wants I don't because we had just sat down, and we never been there before so I tell him water for now and then ask can he come right back in a few. Then I decide and reach out to the waiter and tells me to hold on which was fine but then after 10 mins I reach out again and then he takes my drink order at the same time they are bringing my husband's drink to the table. That was even fine but then after about 15 mins we then order our food we order and appetizer and food at the same time. SO NOW WE WAIT. We waited so long that I told my husband to let them know not to bring the appetizer because at that point We just wanted our food. I waited over an hour for my drink and waited and hour in a half for our meal. We saw people coming in after us being serviced before us we had to reach out to our waiter twice. We then decided we would just pay for our drinks and leave. We spoke to the bartender to let him know and then the waiter then comes out and sees we still have no food and he then goes to the back and comes out 5 minutes later with our food as we were trying to pay of our drinks. Still no appetizer!! We decided to stay at this point because we didn't want to really go wait somewhere else at this point. We get the food FINALLY and the rice was dry and not seasoned and the food seemed like it was just sitting not fresh!! I was beyond upset. Then once we finished, we were waiting on the check this waitress comes up to the table and says She don't know what happened and then walks off with no remorse at all. Like we got no apology at all. We are on vacation we did not expect this at all. They took a long time to bring out the bill as well. It was at least 20 mins after I asked the waiter to bring it. He nodded at me but still didn't bring it someone else bought the check. We paid and left. The service and the food sucked! We will never support this restaurant again or recommend this restaurant to...