Joe's Restaurant — Restaurant in Bonaire

My experience at Joe's Restaurant ranks as one of the best dining experiences of my entire life (and I live in a city known for being a world-renowned dining destination).

Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by the host. We were seated outdoors - despite the seating area being close to a street, the setting is very relaxing and pleasant.

My friends and I opted to go with the 4-course surprise menu and the 4-course wine pairing. Every course was delicious, and the wines perfectly complemented each dish. It's clear how much thought goes into creating each dish and wine pairing to provide a complementary, harmonious experience.

Each course and wine pairing were artfully presented and explained. My friends and I were especially impressed by a smoked fish dish, which arrived with an inverted bell jar covering the plate and trapping the fragrant smoke inside. The food plating was equally impressive - each dish was a treat for the senses. And the pacing of each course was perfect, allowing us to really savour our food and the entire evening.

While all of the above in and of itself justifies a visit to Joe's Restaurant, the service was actually the most extraordinary part of the experience. Our server/sommelier Bo was knowledgeable, attentive, and witty - in truth, she really made this meal the incredible experience that it was. She didn't miss an opportunity to make our dinner run smoothly and to make our experience extremely enjoyable. She's a huge asset to Joe's Restaurant and represents the establishment with excellent service.

Finally - Joe's homemade liquor is delicious! I went back a few days later to buy a bottle as a gift, but now I'm regretting not having bought an extra bottle for myself.

A huge thank you Joe's Restaurant and especially Bo for such an amazing experience! And Bo - come visit me in...

From the moment I sat down at Joe’s, I knew I was in for something special. The atmosphere is softly lit and inviting, with string lights overhead and a relaxed, intimate feel that makes you want to exhale and stay awhile. It never felt crowded or loud, just warm, calm, and truly comfortable.

The service was exceptional. Every person I interacted with was kind, attentive, and genuinely proud of the work they were doing. You can feel the heart in this place. It has the warmth and care of a family-run restaurant, where the people truly care about the food and the experience they are providing.

Before the meal, I was served an amuse-bouche that was surprisingly flavorful and beautifully presented. After that, fresh bread arrived with olive oil, herb salt, and a creamy spread. Even the small details tasted thoughtful and well-balanced.

For dinner, I ordered the red snapper with vegetables and risotto, and it was perfect. The fish was cooked beautifully, with crisp skin and tender, flavorful meat. The risotto was unforgettable. It was creamy without being heavy, comforting, balanced, and full of depth. I ended up ordering an extra side of risotto because it was just that good. It is one of the best risottos I have ever had.

For dessert, I had the chocolate dessert, which was both delicious and visually stunning. It came with fresh fruit, hazelnuts, rich chocolate cream, and the cutest little edible flamingo on top. It was playful, elegant, and indulgent all at the same time.

The drinks were also excellent, refreshing, and thoughtfully prepared.

This restaurant is not just good for a vacation meal. It is simply excellent, with thoughtful food, meaningful service, and an atmosphere that encourages you to slow down and savor every bite.

If you visit Bonaire, do not leave without having...

Me and my husband went there to celebrate his birthday. I made a reservation one week earlier because it was a Christmas time and all other restaurants were fully booked for the entire week. This one still had a spot. Few days earlier we went for dinner to different restaurant and we were very disappointed so when we got to Joe's Restaurant we didn't have high expectations. From the beginning we were shocked how different service in Bonaire's restaurants can be. Everybody was so nice. The hostess welcomed us very nicely, then waiters were very polite. After we ordered our dinner we were served with small appetizer on the house with explanation what it was. I asked for a birthday candle on my husband cake and they put very nice small firework :D After we finished and asked for a check we were served with after dinner special liquor! All food was delicious and the service was great. The only complain that I have is that there is no one waiter who cares for a table but every time somebody else comes. I understand that maybe it is a team for serving a table like busboy who serves water and clean table, runner who serves dinner, and waiter who takes order and cares in general but we didn't know who actually our waiter was which was a little bit annoying. The other thing that could be handled better was the birthday cake. As I said the cake had beautiful candle but it was served without birthday song not even "Happy Birthday." It was only me and my husband so I had to sing the happy birthday song by myself...We are use to a nicer celebration when all serving staff come with a cake and sing happy birthday so it was a little disappointment. Besides this we had a wonderful experience in Joe's Restaurant and I strongly...