There are so many amazing restaurants in Aruba that it's hard to narrow the list down to 7 for our weeklong trips. My question for the board is:
where do you like to eat after a long day of flying?

We usually end up eating at Moomba's or the Hyatt Palms -which is okay but not certainly not the most memorable meal of the trip. What is your usual hangout for the first night in Aruba?

This year I'm thinking about the Pelican's Nest, King Ribs (if it's open), or Jamaica Me Krazy.

First, we go to Happy Hour at the LaCabana pool. After that,we grab something at the Islander Grill by the pool, because we can't drive!

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Salt n' Pepper! Gotta get that sangria flowing!

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In memory...Virginia Tech...4/16/2007

Smokey Joe's for me. Those ribs really hit the spot, and it's just so nice sitting outside that first night. I start with a Grandma Joe's Pink Lemonade, and if we're really hungry we'll share an order of the shark bites to start. Then it's on to the ribs and beer (Bright and/or Balashi).

If you like spicy, Smokey Joe's has jerk ribs and their Signature Sauce has a kick to it. I always get a combination of the two. It's not on their menu, but they're always good enough to do it for me.

If you don't like spicy, their Original Sauce is very good too.

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Bingo for us. We can get either a real 'dinner' or a burger or salad. The food is great and the staff is wonderful. It's cool, and comfortable, and it's a bar -- which is what we really need after whatever the airline has done to us.

But, for eating out, Smokey Joe's. Casual, relaxing, great food.

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Chip Collector

Tomato Charlie's
Great place to people watch & the pizza's good, too.

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Mindy & Bob from Kansas City

Jan 5-19, 2008 Divi Dutch Village

Bingo for us as well - for all of the same reasons indicated above!

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~Amy~®
19th trip to Aruba: April 11-19, 2009
20th trip to Aruba: Sept. 17-Oct. 4, 2009

Normally Subway. My day starts early, and ends late. Between getting into my unit, food shopping, unpacking everything and putting it away, I'm content to walk across the street, eat something, stroll back to my unit.... spend some time on my balcony with drink in hand happy to be back in paradise.

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Tulips for us...#1 for the Sangria, #2 for the great cheap food, #3 the proximity from LaCabana, #4 the only good place to walk to after Happy Hour at the Pool Bar...(gotta try it Corrine...staggering up the street , LOL).

We actually started doing S&P's but that's a bus ride away...since Tulips has been there we now go to the closer one (and the Sangria is only 14.00 a pitcher)!!!

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"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa
defecting to St. Thomas 5/24-5/31/08, Lauderdale by the Sea 2/4-2/11/09; St. Croix Oct. '09!

Tulip for us-so I get that first taste of Argentina Beef!! It is so close to LaCabana BRC one can easily walk.

I didnt realize it was walkable to Tulip. Thanks, guys!

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Bingo gets my vote as well! Greatest staff on the island, food is outstanding & it's casual enough for those of us that don't want to get "fancy schmancy" after a full day, lol!

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Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.
Mark Twain

After a very long day of travel and anticipation my first dinner on the Island has always been a slab of ribs at Tony Romas. I know rib joints have sprung up all over the Island but I just can't break tradition. March 9th can't get here quick enough.

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What goes on the Island stays on the Island

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We are always tired and never feel like going anywhere on our first night in Aruba. We always stop by Kings Ribs on the way to The Marroitt and get some takeout. We get a bottle of wine, sit on our balcony eat and watch the sun go down. We will be there July 6th!!!!

After getting out of bed at 3 or 4 AM, with very little if any sleep, and getting to Atlanta airport and going through check-in and customs and security, the flight ( around 4 hours), going through all the Aruba airport stuff, getting a taxi and getting to the resort, checking-in at the resort, and unpacking, when it is time for "dinner" as long as I don't have to prepare the meal, I will eat any place on the entire island!!!!!
Really folks, it is NOT really that bad. It is just a long day, but all worth it in the end.

We used to love Eleonora's for the 1st night. (now closed)
My husband and son loved Tony Roma's for 1st night but that stopped after my loud protesting a few years ago.
So, Tulip has been our first dinner on island lately.

When staying at the Ren it's Iguana Joe's, and when staying at Costa Linda it's the Turtle's Nest - for the same reasons Corrine gave. First night should be an easy one with no driving, along with a cocktail (or 6)

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the first year we stayed at the Radisson we ate at Gilligans. ever since we head there for a light dinner and our first night to enjoy the view

My worst idea was getting up at 5am and flying in and then that night driving out to the Flying Fishbone and THEN wait for the Light Parade in town.......... Exhausting and dumb!

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After leaving home at 8pm the night pacific time..flying all night,we get into Aruba about 2:00 pm the following afternoon. By that time we don't want to go anywhere. The first thing I do is go to the Bar and order a foofoo drink and that will usally have a 151 floater on top. Just a wonderful way to start my vacation. If we get hungry we will usually just eat at the restaruant where were staying at. We try to keep it low key on the day we land.

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Aruba, no other place like it!
Our next trip June 19 th - July 3rd 2010

We stay downtown so our first place to eat is Que Pasa. It's just 2 block