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This Flying Fishbone Aruba review starts with the short answer: it is worth it if the setting matters to you as much as the plate. You eat at a table on the sand or in the shallow sea in Savaneta, and the sunset over the water is part of the meal at Flying Fishbone. The kitchen cooks European dishes with Caribbean influences, built around seafood, with duck, lamb and steak for anyone who wants meat.

Flying Fishbone at a glance

  • Cuisine: seafood with European and Caribbean influences, plus meat dishes
  • Area: Savaneta, about 20 minutes from Oranjestad
  • Best for: couples, anniversaries, honeymoons and sunset dinners
  • What to order: grilled tiger shrimp skewers, the lobster casserole, Baked Alaska
  • Price gauge: $$$$ (our estimate)

The setting: tables on the sand and in the sea

Aruba.com describes it as the first Aruban restaurant to popularize dining on the beach. The idea is simple and still the main draw: tables are set at the water’s edge, some on dry sand and some standing in the shallows. Savaneta is a coastal community away from Aruba’s high-rise hotel area, a different side of the island from the resort strip.

The evening has two acts. First comes the sunset over the water, then the stars come out. Aruba.com mentions both: a sunset dinner or dinner under the stars. Islands recommends sandals, or footwear that can cope with sand and getting wet.

What guests praise most

The same themes come up across guest reviews and write-ups. Guests often single out the feet-in-the-water tables, and the sunset is the other recurring theme, with many diners calling the evening romantic.

Service gets credit too: reviewers describe the staff as friendly and attentive.

What to order at Flying Fishbone

The menu at Flying Fishbone reads like a European seafood house that moved to the beach. For a starter, the tuna tataki comes with wakame salad, sesame dressing and wasabi mayonnaise, and the Peruvian ceviche is brightened with orange and a touch of ginger syrup. Both are light enough to leave room for a main course.

From the sea, the grilled black tiger shrimp arrive on skewers with herb risotto and lemon garlic butter. The dish called Savaneta Seafood History mixes assorted seafood with rice, vegetables and curry sauce, and it is named after the village. The lobster casserole is the richest choice, with lobster chunks in a blue cheese and shiitake sauce over mashed potato. If you want to keep it simple, the fish of the day comes with mashed potato and the sauce of the day.

Meat eaters are not an afterthought. The grilled duck breast is served on linguine with an oriental sesame sauce, and the roasted rack of lamb comes with vegetable ratatouille and truffle mashed potato. Save room for dessert: the Baked Alaska is flambéed at the table with sambuca, which makes a fine finale on the sand.

Occasions that suit it

This is a couples’ restaurant first. An anniversary, a honeymoon dinner or the last night of a trip all fit the mood. Beauty and the Bump NYC saw honeymooners alongside families, and says the setting makes for good photos if you angle your shots away from other tables. Mention an anniversary or any dietary needs when you book. If you are planning a romantic week, our Aruba honeymoon guide has more ideas for evenings like this one.

Savaneta is also worth more than one meal. Pair a Flying Fishbone dinner with a daytime visit to Zeerovers, the locals’ fish shack in Savaneta, and you see two very different sides of the same fishing village in one day.

Price level

Price level: $$$$. Price level is our estimate, not exact pricing. It is based on Fodor’s price category for the restaurant.

FAQ

Is Flying Fishbone worth it?

Yes, for couples and special occasions. You pay for the setting as much as the plate: a table on the sand or in the shallow sea in Savaneta, with the sunset and then the stars overhead.

What should I order at Flying Fishbone?

Start with the tuna tataki or the Peruvian ceviche, then pick the grilled tiger shrimp skewers or the lobster casserole. Finish with the Baked Alaska, flambéed at the table.

Where is Flying Fishbone?

It is in Savaneta, about 20 minutes from Oranjestad, away from Aruba’s high-rise hotel area.

Anything to know before booking Flying Fishbone?

Tables in the water are only for the 4 PM seating; other seatings are on the sand, and beach tables suit sunset. The restaurant charges its card authorization for a no-show or a cancellation less than 6 hours ahead. Casual dress, but no swimwear, bikinis or see-through cover-ups. Parties of more than 10 are seated at two tables. The restaurant asks for a card to hold tables; after we book your table, the restaurant sends its card step and you complete it with them directly.

How does booking a table at Flying Fishbone through The Table Desk work?

Pick your date, time and party size in the booking box on this page and pay $20. We book your table and send your confirmation by email. If we can’t book it, your full $20 comes back. The Table Desk is an independent reservation service by All Tours Aruba, not affiliated with the restaurant.

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