Gostoso Restaurant — Restaurant in Oranjestad (city)

THE EXPERIENCE:

The feeling of being invited into the owner’s home and being treated in a manner that makes your feel welcomed, and appreciated. The atmosphere is calm and relaxed with eclectic ornamentations.

Service is on the proverbial “island time”; a nice reminder it’s okay to slow things down to enjoy the company you keep. If you’re seeking a quick service dinner, this wouldn’t align.

From my observations, It’s evident the owner takes immense pride in his food and the customer experience~ for that, the wait was well worth it. We observed him engaging with guests, reviewing specials, taking and running orders.

THE FOOD:

Appetizer

The Shrimp Sushi roll wrapped in plantains was phenomenal. Every ingredient perfectly complimented each other, and the complementary eel & house made hot sauce were spectacular. The flavor profile of the homemade hot sauce makes for the perfect accompaniment to a variety of dishes. I ordered a side of fries as to extend the joyous experience of that heated beauty.

Main Dishes

I ordered the stewed goat which came with white rice, mixed vegetables and plantains~ delicious. The deep rich flavors of the stew paired nicely with the bland rice. The goat was fall off the bone tender and spiced just right. The vegetables and plantains were standard island style.

One tablemate ordered a mixed seafood dish cooked in a curry sauce; the other ordered the garlic butter salmon~ both dishes were served with white rice and plantains. My table-mates enjoyed their meals commenting on how good the flavors were and overall taste.

THE VALUE:

Worth every penny. This restaurant is not a budget buster~ prices fall in line with casual dining expectations.

Note: reservations are required to guarantee indoor seating.

Update:

Returned to this restaurant for our 2025 Aruban vacation and experienced the same wonderful service and...

Fantastic food. All four people in our party thought our entres were spectacular. The price of the food was also more reasonable thanany other restaurants around that would offer similar high quality.

Several of us had the pork chop special, which was outstanding. One person had fish and their other chicken parmesan. For appetizers, we had calamari and mixed green salads. The balsamic vingerette dressing was particularly tasty.

The only mediocre part of our dining experience was the dessert. It was okay, but nothing to write home about. The presentation of it was nice, however.

The service was also on the speedier side for Arubian standards. Our water glasses were consistently filled up. Our appetizer plates were promptly bused.

The drinks were also good. I asked the waiter to serve me his or the bartender's favorite drink. He asked me if he wanted a "good" drink or one to "knock me out". I responded with "surprise me". I watched intently as the bartender poured the drink. There was no dou t about it, he went for the "knock out". I was far enough away that I couldn't see all of the exact types of booze, but it was a mighty stiff drink, but still incredibly tasty.

There is a kids menu and there were several kids eating with their families. We arrived somewhat near closing time, but we're seated graciously. Several of the tables appeared to be occupied by locals, which told me that the food would be outstanding.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was cozy. There is inside and outside seating. The only potentially aspect of the atmosphere is that it is on a relatively busy road and you can hear cars pass by.

There is free parking available next to the restaurant.

There are two clean single-occupant bathroom stalls in...

I would give this place 10 stars if I could, it was that amazing. I made reservations based on a referral from a coworker who went recently. First off, the entire staff was amazing. Everyone from the servers to the owner were some of the nicest and happiest people I have ever met. Secondly and probably most importantly, the food was easily the best food I had in Aruba, and some of the best food I have had anywhere in the world. This was the most flavorful grilled octopus and vegetable medley. Arguably the most savory goat dish I have had. And the cherry on top was the house hot sauce; I used an entire can of it during my dinner. It was delicious, and I eat a lot of sauce hot. It was so flavorful, I wish I could have bought some to take home. And for dessert I had the flan which is not something I typically enjoy, but what would you know - it was also delicious. Rocky and Jose are fantastic hospitality experts and just a joy to talk to. I never got the names of the rest of the staff who worked with us but they were just as amazing, I couldn’t recommend this place enough for the food and the service. I know it’s off the beaten path and not the most known about place but I encourage anyone visiting Aruba to go here. Will be coming back one more time for lunch before my trip is done. I was told that this year (2025) has been slower than usual - it would be an absolute tragedy to have this place ever be in jeopardy of closing. I hope if you read this that you make your reservation and go. Don’t think...