The Islander Bar And Grill — Restaurant in Oranjestad (city)

Typical on resort restaurant. Everything was cooked well, but took a little longer than expected. I believe they were counting on having drinks from the bar. Everyone else did. Not me and my friend, we were there to eat.

The first visit I had the calamari rings (9.00 USD) as a appetizer. Spring mix that accompanied it was limp and the batter on the rings was very dry. The remoulade was very good and welcome to moisten the flour. As for the flesh itself, it was kind of chewy but still good.

I then had the Cabana Burger (13.75 US), notable for .50 more you get a piece of American Cheese and some sauteed mushrooms on top. The all beef patty was juicy (had it medium well) and was grilled nicely with a hint of light wood smoke to it. The fries that accompanied it were fine.

The next day, after a swim on Eagle Beach, literally across the road, I went for breakfast. I then rdered the breakfast madness (8.75 US). My friend ordered the blueberry pancakes (8.75 US). While the pancakes were according to him excellent; I thought I made out ahead with my choice.

A interesting item to note : the bacon, sausage and potatoes were deep fried hard. This has to be an Aruban thing. Not complaining. As with the previous evening, service was kind of sluggish.

Despite the issue with the staff, I had to balance this with other factors namely price. That's it. Five stars due to the reasonable price on a prime...

Worst restaurant I ate at in Aruba. The fact it was almost empty at peak time should've been a hint. Service was ridiculously slow (we were with a big group yes but people were finishing their main course before people had even got their food). I ordered the chicken and beef skewer that supposedly comes with a "spicy sauce". There was no sauce. Not on the side. Not on the skewer. Just a plain grilled skewer and for $25 I expected something more substantial not just 2 tiny 4 inch skewers. My girlfriend ordered a special burger that supposedly came with BBQ sauce. No sauce in sight. The patty was unseasoned and bland. It was requested medium and it barely passed for rare. In a near empty restaurant staff just standing around laughing, didn't check on us for more water or asking how the food was. DO NOT GO HERE, get a taxi, rent a car, go somewhere else. So many good restaurants on the island but this is definitely not...

Delicious Vegan/vegetarian Options & Outstanding Service

I recently visited this place for lunch exactly at 12noon when they opened and had a great experience. The vegan tofu bowl was flavorful and satisfying, though I would have loved a bit more tofu and cauliflower to balance out the generous portion of white rice. That said, the warm roasted veggies in the bowl were perfectly seasoned and delicious.

The truffle fries were a standout—generously drizzled with truffle oil and topped with finely chopped, tender mushrooms. They were rich, aromatic, and absolutely worth ordering.

I really appreciate the variety of healthy options on the menu, making it a great spot for plant-based or vegetarian eaters. The service was excellent, and my food arrived quickly. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant and will...