Zeerover — Restaurant in Aruba

The catch of the day varies!

The seafood (fish / shrimp) are all fried, but contrary to fried fish back home in Canada 🇨🇦, because the seafood is all fresh, it's all still very juicy inside!!! Not at all like fish & chips back home. (So even if you don't think you're a fan of fried fish, you absolutely must try it while in Aruba!) 🇦🇼

And while the lineup to order at the window is often long and temperature-wise very hot, and breeze-less, (despite their giant fan 🪭), be assured that after you pass the order area, the seating area is very comfortable with ample exposure to trade winds 🌬️ while you eat!

Seafood 🦐 🐟 is ordered by the raw pound (or in the case of fish, you could also order by the piece), you get to see what you're buying/ordering before they cook it!

Fries 🍟, plantains 🍌, salad 🥗 , tartar sauce, etc are ordered at the same time, all at the first window. (But not the drinks, more on that later.)

After paying at the second window, they then give you a number to take to a self seating area by, or on the dock!

Drinks 🚰 are ordered separately behind the food ordering area (at the bar). They have lots of selection, and it seems a bucket 🪣 is the way to go if you drink beer! 🍻

Leave your number visible wherever you choose to sit 🪑 and just enjoy the view 🌊 and the breeze. 🌬️ They will bring you your food and it will be more than worth any lineup, or wait!!!

The shrimp fried 🦐🍤 was the highlight of our first meal! (It took a minute to eat, as we had to peel and devein them.) But coming from someone who doesn't usually enjoy shrimp, it was absolutely amazing!!! 😄

That's not to say the fish wasn't good, rather far from it - it was also amazing 🤤 Just the shrimp 🦐 outshone both the red snapper and the amberjack that first visit! 😋

We loved the food so much so that we returned a couple of days later for lunch, where we enjoyed Barracuda and shrimp again.

Interestingly, the shrimp 🍤 was a little different the second time. They were peeled and deveined already, so while they were much easier to eat, they were notably a little less tasty than at our first visit. The Barracuda on the other hand was so delicious I was regretful that I didn't order more, even though we were way too full!!!

Regarding the facilities... There are washrooms and ample seating area, mostly by the dock or between the bar and the dock. However if you're lucky, you can snag one of 3 tables right on the dock!!! ⛵

Try not to feed the birds/seagulls 🐦 by throwing food bits/shells, etc into the water as this creates a bit of a pest problem and disturbance for other diners and the restaurant itself!

If you're curious and like to see how everything works, you can see the cooking / frying 🍳 area closer to the dock.

And if you like to see the raw fish 🐠 preparation area, you can see it further/on the south side of the seating area. 🪑There are also a lot of crabs 🦀 eating the inedible fish scraps left for them by the fishmongers. 🐟 So they're fun to watch.

So for absolutely delicious seafood, and I affordable prices you must make the drive over to ZEEROVER from wherever you're staying on the island!!! 🇦🇼 🏝️

Thank you so much for the...

Zeerovers isn’t just a restaurant—it’s an experience. A gritty, sun-soaked, salt-crusted ode to the sea and everything that makes this island special. This is the real Aruba, stripped of the glossy veneer of resort menus and cruise ship day-trippers. You don’t just eat here; you feel the island under your skin.

The first thing you notice is the smell—briny, smoky, and unmistakably fresh. You’re at the edge of the water, where the breeze carries the promise of something extraordinary. There’s no hostess to greet you with a fake smile and a waitlist. Instead, there’s a line. A simple counter. And the catch of the day, laid out like treasures from Poseidon himself.

Zeerovers doesn’t do pretense. You pick your fish, your shrimp, and they weigh it right in front of you. A transaction so raw and honest it feels almost ceremonial. Then it’s handed off to the fryers, where a baptism in hot oil transforms it into something transcendent.

The food? Perfect in its simplicity. The fish is impossibly fresh—grouper, snapper, maybe barracuda if you’re lucky. Fried golden, with just enough crisp to balance the tender, flaky flesh inside. The shrimp are plump, juicy, and sweet, with just the faintest hint of the sea still clinging to them. No batter to hide behind, no over-seasoning to distract you. Just seafood done the way it’s meant to be.

And the sides? Plantains, fries, and johnnycakes—humble, honest accompaniments that don’t try to steal the spotlight. You pile it all onto a tray, grab your sauces, and find a seat on the dock. That’s the move here: feet up, cold beer in hand, staring out at the turquoise water as you dig in with your fingers.

The crowd is a mix. Locals who know this is the best deal in town. Travelers who’ve gone off-script and found themselves in the right place. Kids chasing seagulls. Fishermen unloading the next day’s catch just a few feet away. It’s chaotic and beautiful and so damn real.

Zeerovers isn’t for everyone. If you want white tablecloths, a sommelier, or an amuse-bouche you can barely see, stay in your hotel. But if you want to taste the island, to feel the pulse of Aruba in every bite of fish and every sip of beer, this is the place.

No reservations. No pretension. Just fresh seafood, cold drinks, and a view that’ll make you wonder why you ever wasted your time anywhere else. Zeerovers isn’t just a meal—it’s a reminder of why we travel, why we explore, why food, at its best, is about connection.

Come hungry. Come thirsty....

I am actually going to write a review that helps others as this place and navigating can be a little confusing. I had so many questions going into it but really wanted to visit.

To start getting there it’s a 30 ish minute drive from the north of the island. For us we got a taxi from the Boardwalk (near Ritz and Marriott) and it was around $40 to go there. Go to this place a little before you are hungry and it’ll be fantastic. We went for a late lunch on a weekday and it was still very much busy.

We got there and the line was just past the shade of the canopy. I would say it was a 45-1 hr wait. While you are waiting you are going to want to figure what you want. People that wait and still don’t know what they want slow down the line. Look at the board and you will see the fish of the day that are caught. We saw grouper and mahi and shrimp. For two of us we decided we wanted to over order a bit and try a few things. We got .5kg of grouper, .5 kg of mahi and 8 shrimp. Two tarter sauces are a must as well (it was the best I ever had). Also an order of plantain which was 4-5 pieces. You’ll want to ask what’s whole fish vs steak if that matters to you. Grouper came whole, mahi was in steaks, and shrimp came with heads on. They have this lime-chili seasoning on them and all is fried and it’s so yummy! Our total for food was around $27-29. They do take credit cards.

While you are waiting for your food which doesn’t take long from ordering you go to a second window to get drinks. From there we ordered beer… chill, mango magic, and a coconut dushi for dessert. Total for drinks and dessert was $11. We also were able to buy a bottle of papaya hot sauce for $7 here (amazing!).

You’ll want to scout out a table. All tables are overlooking the water but 3 are directly over the water on a dock. We got one of those. Hold onto your napkins and plates as it will be windy. Do not throw your food into the water as the seagulls will be super annoying. Look below though and see all the amazing fish ranging from tiny to several feet long.

Wash your hands leaving by the sinks as the shrimp will be messy but worth it.

Give $20 as a hold (collateral) to get a taxi back to your hotel and you’ll wait 15-20 minutes and they will take you back easily.

This place was an experience and we are very glad we went. If you are a brat and don’t like trying new things.. skip it. But we would go back every time. Thank...