Aruba - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 124

an unimpeded view of the sky and sea. Fish is the specialty, but the menu
includes chicken, beef and pork dishes. Everything is tweaked a bit with
Caribbean spices and Euro-Asian-inspired sauces.
CHEZ MATILDE
Havenstraat 23

297-583-4968; www.chezmatilde.com
French & International
$$$$
Monday-Saturday, 11:30 am-2:30 pm and 6-11
pm; Sunday, 6-11 pm
Reservations highly recommended
This is the swankiest place on the island, and if
you're going to get dressed up and spend a lot of
money, this is the place to do it. Even in the ele-
gant atmosphere, the service is efficiently
friendly. Ask for a table in the back room, where
you will be surrounded by greenery. Entreés
include ostrich and wild boar, but you can get
Châteaubriand or fish if you prefer. After din-
ner, indulge in crème brûlé and cognac.

TIP: The runner-up award for expensive, elegant,
and worth it goes to L'Escale , located in the Renais-
sance Resort, 297-583-6000. Window walls over-

look the harbor. Dinner is served nightly, 6-11 pm;
the Sunday brunch, 10 am-2 pm, is wonderful and
credit cards are accepted. Call well in advance for a
reservation.

DRIFTWOOD
Klipstraat 12

297-583-2515
Aruban & seafood
$$
Wednesday-Monday, 5:30-11 pm
Reservations highly recommended
Even with a reservation, you'll probably have to wait for a table during
high season. The locally caught seafood includes octopus, squid, scallops,
shrimp, and lobster. Many of the dishes are served Aruban-style, which
means with a spicy tomato-based Creole sauce, but you can ask for some-
thing else. Since the fish is so fresh, you may want it lightly cooked and
naked. Everything comes with side dishes and cornbread.