Salt & Pepper

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With our coupon for a free glass of wine & the reasonable prices, we go there every year at least once for lunch. We've gotten a variety of the sandwiches & they're always very good.

We're going to Aruba twice this year (July & Nov/Dec) & we'll probably stop in to Salt & Pepper's each time.

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

If you are not familiar with this restaurant, they are primarily known for their tapas (small plates). What is so great about this, is you can get a variety of dishes for lunch or dinner. Since we didn’t know how large or small each dish was and there were so many yummy sounding ones – we got quite a few. Escargot (a huge portion and fantastic – my favorite dish), spicy beer-battered shrimp (huge shrimp and yummy), garlic bread (probably the best we had on the island), BLT sandwich (huge), parmesan mushrooms (Chris’s favorite dish), tacos & fries. The service was very good and all of this food (plus 2 pina coladas) was just under $40 without a service charge included.

We went here on two other occasions and ordered their Sangria. As someone who HATES wine - this was the best stuff I've ever tasted! The pitcher provides about 6 wine glasses each. When we couldn't finish the pitcher, the waitress poured it into a styrofoam cup so we could take it with us!

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-Amy B.
www.inaruba.homestead.com

I don't think I'd even give this place a second chance to make it
right by me, even if it was free!

We got there about 7:00 for dinner, no reservations and was told it
would be about 20 mins. We were seated fourty-five minutes later.
That did not bother me because when someone gives you a time it
is a guess at best.

We ordered some drinks and some appetizers. Very SMALL portions
for the cost of what they were. My wife asked for a few more chips
to finish off her dip. Eventually she was brought some more, the size
of a small dish cottage cheese would be served in an individual serving.
(later I found out they charged me $3.45 for the extra serving of chips!)

The waitstaff was busy, but that does NOT give them the privelege to
be rude, and I mean rude! We finally placed our order and ordered another
round of drinks. Now the fun starts..................................................

We ordered 3 mixed grill specials, a fish dish and fried shrimp. I realize when
you are in Aruba things take time. I don't even mind long waits IF the food
is good. Well to say the least this was not the case, 1 hour and 20 min later
our food arrived, and the 3 specials were as cold as if they came from the
fridge, the other two were room temp at best.

OK, I'm getting a little mad and hungry at this point. I cut into my medium
rare steak and it is so well done you could have used it for a hockey puck.
I tell the waitstaff that I would like to talk to the manager, and she starts
giving me lip service(FYI she is Not Aruban, she's Dutch). Again I ask for the
manager. 10 minutes later she shows up. She offers to cook mine again or
asked if I cared for another choice, she said it would be awhile before I'd
get it. I asked for it to be removed from the ticket and I would eat something
else later. Heck, the two people with the fish and shrimp were almost done
with dinner, it wouldn't be fair to keep them there another hour. The other
two in our party, one ate the mixed grill and would not say a word to the
manager, the other picked at it and it was comped from the ticket. So what
had been an enjoyable day was a disasterous dinner.

Won't go back!

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ARUBA....One Happy Island

Later,
millertime

Wow! Sorry to hear about your bad experience. We've been going there for years (sometimes twice a trip) and have always had good service and good food here.

The appetizers you referred to are actually tapas and they do come in small portions like that. We have a couple of Spanish tapa restaurants in Minneapolis and their prices are even higher - we thought the prices for tapas at Salt 'n' Pepper were reasonable compared to what we've paid here.

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~Amy~®

26th trip to Aruba: April 2012
27th trip to Aruba: Sept. 2012

Could have been an off day, but way off the mark for all the
places I've eaten in Aruba. I'm glad you have had fantastic
food and service. Hope I wasn't too harsh but I call it as I
see it.

later,
millertime

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ARUBA....One Happy Island

Later,
millertime

I don't think you were too harsh - sounds like an extremely off night! We've had that happen at restaurants before. One year, it's great and the next year not. Then we don't go back for a year or two and then it's good again.

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~Amy~®

26th trip to Aruba: April 2012
27th trip to Aruba: Sept. 2012

Tried this place all because of Amy's recommendation. Had 3 tapas and a Sangria. Parmesean mushrooms (amy again) were very good. Tacos, which were 3 decent sized tacos were very good. Mozzareella sticks which my wife had and she said were the best she has had. Kids had chicken fingers and fries; no complaints. Sangria was good but not the best I have ever had. Was there early so had no service or wait issues. Waitress pleasant and efficient.

I absolutely loved this place...their sangria was great and the tapas we ordered were extremely tasty...On the down side...we were not sure how long we were going to stay and decided not to order a pitcher of sangria but stick with a mug, not a wine glass a mug each. Well we ended up staying for quite some time talking with others at the bar, eating, etc...we were the only ones drinking sangria and our bartender made us pitchers but charged us for DOUBLE glasses instead...Now a good bartender would have suggested pitchers after he knew we were staying...but when we got the bill my husband almost fell off his chair...29 DOUBLE Sangrias...bill was over $200.00.

Unfortunately I laughed it off...but I can never get hubby back there!

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"These are a few of my favorite things"
...Elisa

Ouch! Nice tab...............

later,
millertime

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ARUBA....One Happy Island

Later,
millertime

Salt & Pepper always a nice place to dine at. Staff friendly, and prompt. Food is good, and ambience at night is super. Never a disappointment when we eat there on our return trips. Try it. Ask for Sybill - a cool waitress - if she is working. Most staff are Dutch.............

Generally a good place to have lunch... But at dinner time, Ive some bad experiences... The first time was kinda average, the second time was awful... My wife had a soup, she sent it back twice, both times it came with blonde hair in it...

My trip was a couple of years ago, but I too had slow service and it wasn't even that busy. The coconut ice cream was awesome though. I'd go back for snacks, but not for a full fledged dinner.

This is one of the first places I go, (free beer) with Visit Aruba Card, and I can say hi to Carla!!

And its the last place I stop for a quick beer and pea soup enroute to the Airport. I have never had dinner, just snacks. Love the cute Dutch guys behind the bar, so far never had the same one twice, but they are all cute!!

K

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Need some ideas

The only place we had dinner more than once. Great service and the food was excellent. Highly recommended.
Bill & Donna

This is are new FUN spot. Enjoy the waiters/waitresses. Last time we were there, we tried the tapas with a group of three. It was fun experience a little of everything. Never tried the sangria, but there is always Next Time!!!!

Ate at Salt and Pepper last week. The parking situation is difficult but we did manage to find a spot. We sat outside and the atmosphere was great. There was a two man band playing. We ordered 6 tapas and shared them. It was plenty for the two of us and very good. Our favorite was a tilapia dish with curry it was very good. I had sangria which I didn't love. I think it was too fruity for me. I like it a bit stronger. We shared ice cream for dessert. Very good. The staff was very friendly as well.

Usually just get lunch here. Always good. Had my first dinner here last trip and it was both my wife and I's favorite dinner of the trip! It can be slow at night as it is so busy in that area around dinner time.

This is one of our annual stops, we stay at the Radisson and its right across the street so we can stagger back to the hotel safely after drinking their Sangria!!! We love the tapas b/c you can try so many. We usually get 2 or 3 tapas each and share them. Compared to the Tapas back home the prices for S & P are pretty reasonable.

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I my dobie

We ate here for lunch one day. My husband had salmon on a bagel and loved it. I had a burger and fries and it was very good. We also ordered a caraffe of sangria which my husband loved. We also ordered bruchetta which was extremely tasty as well.

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The Sun and the Sand and a Drink in my Hand...
First trip was October 8-13, 2006.
Hoping our next trip will be October 2007!

We have spent Christmas in the Hotels accross the road from Salt and Peppers for the past 2 years and are going back again this year on Boxing Day. Cannot reccomend SAP enough. Had a fabulous time evertime we have been and have never left anything like sober. Staff are friendly and the food is excellent. Just hope they remember our song this year

Roll on NYE in Aruba!

This is one of the most underrated restaurants on the island. Always have one lunch and dinner here. Always great. The Mango Waho I had this trip was outstanding.

As many times as we have been going to Aruba, this trip was our very first time for dining at Salt & Pepper. We ended up here twice, for our "light nights", and we were impressed both times. Will surely return here.

February 25, 2007, mid-afternoon my husband, two friends and I stopped at Salt and Pepper for a late lunch. Three of us had chicken or fish sandwiches, my husband had steak sandwich with a "cold garlic sauce." Two hours later he became sick and at midnight I took him and admitted him to the hospital. He had an acute case of food poisoning. Thirty six hours later he was fine. Yes this was a one time event and the rest of the party had no ill effects, but just beware of eating "sauces" at room temperature in the tropics, no matter where you eat.

that is terrible mary! sorry it ruined part of his vacation but really glad he did recover so quickly (although it sure doesn't seem fast to the sick person).

food poisoning is a nightmare that is not even usually the fault of the cook. it can happen at home as well as at a restaurant. i tend not to get cold foods especially in warm climates because of it. mayo is a great offender. so are eggs, seafood and fish, and deli. foods that spoil easily should be avoided especially if served cold or uncooked.

NH Mary- so very sorry to hear of your husband's illness due to food poisoning. After reading your post I am very glad that we never made it to Salt & Pepper last week, not that we all hadn't discussed going there, it just never worked out.

Worries me a little - We always eat there once or twice durning our vacation. Going in April, may skip Salt & Pepper this trip just to be on the safe side.
Bill & Donna

bill and donna, i wouldn't skip it. i have never actually eaten there so i have no reason to compliment the place. however, i worked in food service for a long time. things happen in the cleanest of places. there are things you do to try to prevent problems but it is impossible to have perfection no matter how hard you try.

it reminds me of a surgeon friend of mine who had his insurance quadruple. he called the insurance company screaming and their comment was, 'you have never been sued so it is inevitable. the longer you go without a problem the more likely there is one'. obviously they refused to reduce his insurance.

you have no clue how many times people get sick in restaurants in the states. if it is just one or two people at a time the news just never gets out. the owner turns it over to his insurance company. only when it is an outbreak and multiple sick people does it make the news.

if you think about how you take care of food in your home and how many times that little green unknown item had to be thrown out of your refrigerator, you will realize how easy it is to get sick.

go to salt and pepper. just remember the things you need to look out for. consider it an outdoor picnic because that's what it is. don't eat the foods you wouldn't take on a picnic with you.

I ate at Salt and Pepper a couple weeks ago, and all was fine. It was my first time going there, and it was just okay. I, personally, wouldn't hurry back. I'd never had tappas so decided to try them. Not something I'd order again. The sangria that everyone raves about certainly wasn't the best I've had. The place was packed, and we had to eat inside. Different strokes again!

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You are of course correct Sherry. We are aware this was just one of those things that do happen. After sitting around talking about our upcoming visit, we came to the conclusion that our reaction may have been a bit to quick. While there are restaurants we have crossed off of our list for other reasons, Salt & Pepper was not one of them.
Bill & Donna

glad to hear that. i am not a lover of tapas or buffets or anything with too many choices and small portions of almost appetizer foods which is why i haven't been there. it's somewhere on my list because everyone seems to like it but not a high priority place.

i will mention though that one restaurant owner in my town told me that if people knew what goes on in the kitchens of restaurants, even the best of the best, they would never eat out. that is a scary thought.

It's a great place within walking distance of our hotel and we've now gone there both years we've been. If you take them a set of unique salt and pepper shakers, they'll give you a free t-shirt if they have them or a few free drinks!!!

This was the place I look forward to the most, every visit. I was in love with their Sangria and Tapas and really looked forward to returning again this year.

We went on March 4th, 2007, our first night on the island and never returned again. Their Sangria is now up over $20/pitcher, but you no longer get "the pitcher"....as advertised. You now get a caraf of it is definitely A LOT LESS....and for that price, no thanks.

Their tapas were also smaller in size and if you wanted bread, you needed to pay extra. We also had the visitaruba card....5 out of 6 of us, and we asked for our free glass of wine with it....we got it no problem, but then had to fight to get them to take our "free" glass OFF the bill....which they did after much arguing....

We were very disappointed.

Me, too ~ Chris. I won't go back again. The sangria wasn't even that good!

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We stopped after church on Sunday. My husband loves their hamburgers.
I like the gaspacho soup. Had it twice there for lunch. Had no problem with the visitaruba card. One night my husband couldn't find his credit card. We sat down and figured the last time he had used it was Salt &Pepper at noon. He called around 10:30pm and sure enough they had it.

WE WERE VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE FOOD, DRY AND OVERCOOKED AND THE SERVICE WAS EXTREMELY SLOW AND UNATTENTIVE. AFTER READING SOME OF YOUR REVIEWS AMYBE IT WAS JUST A BAD DAY AND WE WILL RECONSIDER GIVING IT ANOTHER CHANCE.

I think the restaurant is fine. We have had lunch there a few times, and the food was good, and so was the service.
We will go there again this year, and I plan to take them a pair of Salt and Pepper shakers!
Pinkie

I have been to Aruba five times and enjoy many fine restaurants. I have visited Salt and Pepper twice and would not go again. I spent nine dollars trying to quench my thirst on iced tea. At three dollars a pop, I'd expect a free refill of a drink served in a shot glass. Not so, be prepared to pay for each sipp. Won't see me again.

In June of 2005, my late wife and I had dinner outside. We did not enjoy it at all for some reason. Maybe it was the crowded conditions, maybe it was the wind or maybe it was our selection of tapas, but we agreed never to return. In June of 2007, I returned to Aruba with my son and his family and we ate tapas here again, this time inside, as all the outside tables were full. What a difference. We had about 11 different tapas and we enjoyed them all. Service was good, food was good, and we thought the price was reasonable. Just last week, I ate here again with a friend at an outside table. We both enjoyed our selection of tapas. I guess it goes to show that most restaurants deserve a second chance and I am glad we gave this place one. We plan on returning here again next June.

TomR,
Glad to see you gave it a second chance. Salt & Pepper has been one of favorite overall restaurants for years now. Breakfast, lunch & dinner (yes, dinner!) have always been very solid.
R.D.

We did eat there again this yr., when we had a lovely month in Aruba.
My husband and I do well at the Salt and Pepper, we continue to like it for lunch!

We ate there once with friends, and this was our first time. The wide choice of tapas was very interesting. We esecially enjoyed the cocnut shrimp. With the Aruba Plus card, we each received a free glass of sangria, or beer. The service was quick, and friendly.

first time at salt & pepper. we ate there with a group of people who recommended the burgers. i had the cheeseburger and murray had the hamburger. we both agreed they were really excellent and huge. it is one of the better 'under $30 for two people' places in aruba.

Burgers and fries (good beef HUGE burgers) are $8 - and they're GOOD!

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We ate there twice last December: my wife, our son with his wife and 2 small children, and I. Enjoyed everthing we had although I forget exactly what (prob. included some burgers). We made sure to bring our laptop computers as it is one of the few places on the island with free wi-fi (exhorbitant at the resorts and the Dunkin/Baskin/Caesar place downtown didn't have it working). No doubt will be back there this December.

Bernie in CT