Driftwood

Authentic Aruban seafood doesn't get any fresher or better than the fare at this rustic restaurant tucked away on a side street. Keeping with its name, this cozy venue is full of gnarled driftwood posts and slats laced with ship lanterns and Captain Nemo underwater helmets. The owner wakes up early every morning, hops on his boat, and stalks the coast for your dinner. In fact, he also charters fishing boats for the day and half-day, and will cook up whatever you catch that day. Depending on what he snags, you might enjoy shrimp, octopus, squid, or mahimahi. The house special drink is white sangria (white wine with fresh melon), which is as refreshing as it is ingenious. The Aruban seafood soup with fish, shrimp, scallops, and vegetables is an authentic taste of the island. Lightly floured wahoo sautéed in garlic and served with cilantro-butter sauce is unfussy and delicious. Just about everything comes with the local corn bread, pan bati. For dessert, it's a tossup between the cheesecake and the crème brûlée.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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