Restaurant - Chez Mathilde

[sail7seas]

Oranjestad:

 

Has anyone heard of a restaurant named Chez Mathilde in downtown?

We ate there about 15 years ago and remember it being outstanding.

 

Would love any recent recommendations.

Thanks.

[6rugrats]

http://www.matildearuba.com/matilde/

 

Yes, however my favorite restaurant in Aruba by far is Marandi:

 

http://www.marandiaruba.com/

[sail7seas]

As I responded in the other thread where you suggested I google, I can read menus and visit sites but was hoping for some comment from cruisers who have dined in these restaurants.

 

I have been to Chez Mathilde website and read their menu.

I would have liked some personal comments so thank you.

 

What makes Marandi your favorite?

Do they really like cruise guests? How far are they located from dock? Can we walk? If taxi, will they call one for us to get back to ship? Something very special about them that makes them outstanding or just generally good food and service? Did they honor reservation you made on line in advance?

 

Have you dined in Chez Mathilde and are comparing Marandi to it?

 

Google can't answer those sorts of questions.....usually.

 

CruiseCritic Message Board posters can and often do. :)

[Arubalisa]

Do they really like cruise guests?

Just out of curiousity...:confused: How would they know whether you came from a cruise ship or were staying at a resort??? :confused: Having traveled to the island both ways I can say that I was never treated any differently as a cruise passenger than a resort guest.

 

How far are they located from dock? Can we walk?

Marandi is NOT within walking distance of the cruise terminal. The taxi fare is $19 each way PER FARE, not per persin allowing for a maximum of 5 persons per taxi. Add an addtional $3 on a Sunday or holiday.

 

If taxi, will they call one for us to get back to ship?

In 18 land vacations to the island and dining out each evening during the trip, using taxis 95% of the time, I have NEVER EVER had a restaurant refuse to call a taxi. In most cases they will inquire as to whether or not you need one before you even ask.

[Arubalisa]

Are you looking for a lunch or dinner destination? I have no recent experience with Chez Mathilde however ...

 

 

For fine dining I could make two suggestions for dinner. The Screaming Eagle ($10 taxi fare each way) or Windows on Aruba ($9 taxi fare each way).

 

The menu at Windows on Aruba IS fine dining, not inexpensive or to everyone's tastes. Our family including our 13 yo dd thoroughly enjoyed. So much so that we will be returning with our extended family of 13 people to share our Christmas dinner there.:) They are open for Lunch as well as dinner.

 

Screaming Eagle to my knowledge is only open for dinner.

 

Below are from my review of our dinners at these establishments in June of this year.

 

Windows on Aruba

"Upon arriving and having a reservation we thought it a bit odd that we were asked to have a seat at the bar while our table was readied. There were plenty of open tables. After about 10 minutes we were led to our window side table. That was what the wait for and it was worth it. We had a table overlooking the Divi Link’s island green as well the swimming pool. The entire restaurant is very elegant with beautiful floor to ceiling windows, large elaborate armed chairs and granite topped tables with linen tablecloths or linen runners.

 

Our dinner consisted of Tuna and teriyaki...Tuna tataki with seaweed, curry mayonnaise and teriyaki sauce as well as two orders of Scallops and mango...Grilled scallop, gratinated scallop and pan fried scallop with sea weed salad and mango papaya chutney. Entrees were two orders of Sea bass and risotto...Atlantic sea bass fillet, jumbo shrimp, spinach risotto and white wine sauce with flying fish caviar and Tenderloin and beans...US black Angus tenderloin, mashed potato, spring vegetables and a port sauce. Everything was delicious and beautiful arranged. I don’t remember what dessert consisted of, but I am sure dh and dd had something chocolate."

 

Screaming Eagle

"Our other new favorite on the island is the Screaming Eagle. Arriving at the Tamarijn later in the afternoon, we figured our chances of being able to get a reservation for an ala carte restaurant on our night of arrival were “slim and none”. At the suggestion of a friend who has similar tastes as dh and I; we decided to try this restaurant. Bully picked us up as we had prearranged, at 8:15 p.m. and as soon as we walked in, we knew we had made the right choice. We were extremely pleased and look forward to returning. The ambiance is very contemporary. Because of the heat, dh is a little hesitant to dine outside at night during the summer, unless like at Passions, you are out in the open wind. Seeing the ambiance of their patio was, next time I definitely would like to sit outside.

 

There were seemingly endless choices on their menu so after much perusing; we were finally ready to order. Dh, the daring epicurean in the bunch, chose the “Carte Blanche”, described as the chef’s daily changing 3 course surprise menu. This night for an appetizer it included Lobster cappuccino- lobster bisque with frothed milk served in glass goblet accompanied by crab claws and tuna tartare on a bed of sea weed salad garnished with hard boiled quail eggs. This was followed by an entrée of duck breast and seared duck liver served over sauerkraut mashed potatoes. His dessert was served similarly to his appetizer, a slice of lemon pie accompanied with lemon sorbet and a goblet of a chocolate mousse.

 

Dd and I ate a bit more “plainly”. Dd had the lobster bisque while I had the Alaskan snow crab meat and claws on salad ‘a la grecque’ with light tzaziki dressing. For a salad we shared their “traditional” Caesar. Our entrees consisted of my grilled sea scallops served with hollandaise sauce, sautéed herb artichokes and sun dried tomato risotto and dd’s beef tips “stroganoff”, which were grilled tenderloin beef tips, pommes lyonnaise and sugar snaps. Both were absolutely delicious. After all of that food, only because it included chocolate, dd still had room for dessert. It was a “trilogy” of chocolate mousse consisting of layers of dark, white and milk chocolate mousse with summer berries ice cream."

[sail7seas]

Thanks for your helpful post.

We will be sailing late in the evening from Aruba so have made dinner reservations. Looking forward to returning.

 

We have stopped there on cruises about 6 or so times. Stayed once in Hyatt for ten day stay. That is when we first tried Mathilde.

 

[sail7seas]

We cancelled our dinner reservation at Mathilde and went with our friends to an amazing restaurant named Flying Fishbone.

 

It was out of this world delicious and incredible setting.

Very lovely, extensive menu with great food and tables set right on the beach under palm trees. Our table was five feet from the water's edge.

 

One of the most memorable dinners we've ever had throughout all our travels.

Cannot recommend it highly enough though it is about 20+ minute ride from where the ship docks.