Quinta del Carmen

Large outdoor and some indoor seating. Staff was very friendly and helpful we enjoyed our time at the restaurant. Food was good we got the paella and the grouper with mushrooms and truffle. Also had the white sangria which we both enjoyed. Parking in a lot next door was free and easy. We came just before 6 and were seated right away.

The flavors in each presentation of the dishes, known as Mexican-style TAPAS, are excellent. Each TAPA is well prepared and costs $5.50. The minimum order is two per person. A word of advice for those who enjoy large portions: this type of restaurant may not be the best choice for you.

We didn’t have a reservation at Quinta del Carmen and decided to walk in. The restaurant has two sections—one for tapas-style dining and another with an à la carte menu in the backyard. Since we weren’t too hungry, we opted for the tapas. The seating area for tapas was just average—simple outdoor tables and chairs with a fence separating the space from the road. Our waitress was very kind and attentive, which we appreciated. Unfortunately, the tapas themselves were disappointing. We ordered about seven small plates, and most of them were bland and lacked any real flavor. The only dishes that stood out were the tuna poke bowl and the Mongolian beef, which were decent. The dessert—a stroopwafel recommended by our waitress—ended up being the highlight of the meal. While the concept of trying different small plates is a great idea, the execution fell short in terms of taste. I’ve had tapas at other restaurants that were fantastic, so I hope they work on improving the flavors of their dishes. I can’t comment on the à la carte menu, as we didn’t try it, but I wouldn’t recommend the tapas menu based on our experience.

The concept is “tapas”, so it’s all type of small dishes but honestly without the “tapas vibe”, possibly because of the huge amount of tables. Portions are small and very average tasting at its best. Definitely overpriced for what you get. Starters are as good as you’ll get it at a fastfood restaurant. They have basically every cuisine on the card, which honestly says enough. Only thing that was actually nice was the tuna tataki. Overall feels and tastes more like a food factory. +1 stars for the service since they lent me jumper cables even though they were very busy.

This is my favorite eating experience in Aruba so far. We ate at the A La Carte Menu, which is absolutely what I would recommend if you want to experience Quinta Del Carmen. We had two potato soups (the special) which was probably the best soup I’ve had in my life, the cheese croquettes (comforting and special with that raspberry sauce twist, not that I would die to order it again) and the scallops with this incredible cheese sauce that we were cleaning up by the spoon. For main course, we had the fish and Brie and the Dutch meat dish (sorry, forgot the name) and both were incredible. My boyfriend and I shared everything and we thought those two shared dishes made for a great balance - the fish meal having all ingredients layered overtop, whereas the meat was a heavily seasoned and slow-cooked meal that packed a punch. Joanna was our waitress and she was such a pleasure. She’s actually the one who recommended the latter beef dish, and she gave us exceptional service all night, sharing her love and passion for the restaurant she’s working at and caring to ask us what we thought of the food she and her team provided. I asked about any merch and the manager sold me this 5$ handmade magnet, it’s absolutely adorable and my suggestion to the restaurant - you guys should sell these more publicly cause it makes magnet lovers like me very happy. Thank you to the whole team for this amazing dining experience in Aruba. Highly recommend!

This is a must stop on your Aruba trip. Removed from the resorts and the strip, this family owned restaurant was the highlight of our trip. It sits on a beautiful plot of land with a rich history (see the menu!) High encouraged to try the “Grandma’s Favorites” dishes on the menu, especially the Sucade Lappen (cast iron steak in mushroom gravy). Taxis to and from the Marriott were only $10 each, and they can call a taxi for you at the restaurant. We’ll be back!

Beautiful atmosphere! Fantastic food! Amazing service! Highly recommend!! Very accommodating especially for a young family with toddlers

One of the best restaurants on Aruba. This is definitely our favorite spot for a great dinner. The Tapas menu is really good. It changes every now and then but they’re always have the carpaccio on their menu, it’s our favorite with the delicious cheese cracker on top. Want a great meal in a cute and calm setting? This is your place to be!