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Looking for an honest Old Cunucu House Aruba review? If you want Aruban home cooking in an old-fashioned setting, it is worth it. The Old Cunucu House serves keshi yena, goat stew and fresh local fish in a farmhouse from the 1800s in a quiet corner of Palm Beach, away from the main strip. For anyone at the table who would rather have pasta or steak, there is an international menu too.

The Old Cunucu House at a glance

  • Cuisine: Aruban cooking plus international dishes
  • Area: Palm Beach, Noord, away from the main strip
  • Best for: a first taste of local food, casual dinners
  • What to order: keshi yena, goat stew, oxtail stew, quesillo
  • Price gauge: $$$ (our estimate)

Inside an old Aruban farmhouse

A cunucu house is a traditional Aruban country home, and aruba.com describes this one with its pitched roof and thick walls, built 150 years ago. The Infatuation places it in the 1800s and points to the original tile inside.

You can take a table on the veranda outside or in the house itself. Visit Aruba also describes a landscaped terrace for dining outdoors, and The Infatuation notes a large patio.

The restaurant also has a place in the island’s food history. A 2013 Visit Aruba article counts it among the earliest places on the island to serve true Aruban cooking, offered next to a continental menu. More recently, The Infatuation praised how carefully the kitchen handles Aruban classics such as keshi yena and goat stew.

What to order at The Old Cunucu House

Keshi yena. Start here. The Infatuation calls it the national dish, and the menu describes Gouda baked around a filling of chicken, olives, cashews and raisins.

Goat and oxtail. The menu lists cabrito stoba (stewed goat) and Rab’i Baca Stoba (oxtail stew), both done Aruban style. The menu also has carni stoba, Aruban stewed beef. The local plates come with fried plantain and fried funchi, and pan bati is on the list of sides.

Something to share. The Fiesta Arubiano Sampler brings fishcake, cheese pastechi, meatballs and squid with a creole sauce. The Infatuation adds that iguana soup can be made if you ask, though it is not printed on the menu.

Fish. aruba.com mentions fresh local fish, and the menu lists a catch of the day, a whole red snapper you can have pan-fried or broiled, and Seafood Palm Beach, a mix of squid, mussels, scallops and shrimp in a creamy Pernod sauce.

For the less adventurous. The international side of the menu has pasta, a filet mignon, veal medallions and BBQ ribs, and aruba.com lists a kids’ menu, which helps when not everyone at the table wants to try goat.

Dessert and drinks. Quesillo, a caramel custard, is one of the popular desserts aruba.com mentions, and the menu lists it as homemade. When it is in season, The Infatuation recommends the cactus fruit margarita, made with fruit from the cacti growing outside.

Good nights for The Old Cunucu House

This is our pick for the first local dinner of a trip: Aruban dishes and international plates on one menu, and a choice of tables outside or inside the old house. The Infatuation also lists it for lunch and casual dinners.

If you are planning an Aruban food night, read our guide to Aruban food and local dishes first so you know your keshi yena from your funchi, and see our Palm Beach guide for the rest of the area.

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 The Old Cunucu House worth it?

Yes, if you want local food. The menu centers on Aruban classics such as keshi yena and goat stew, The Infatuation praises the cooking, and you eat in a cunucu house from the 1800s.

What should I order at The Old Cunucu House?

Keshi yena and goat stew with local sides, then quesillo for dessert. If someone prefers familiar food, the international menu has pasta and steak.

Is there a kids’ menu at The Old Cunucu House?

Yes. aruba.com lists a kids’ menu, and the international dishes give picky eaters options.

Can you sit outside?

Yes. You can choose the veranda or terrace, or a table inside the old house.

How does booking a table at The Old Cunucu House work?

The Table Desk is an independent reservation service by All Tours Aruba, not affiliated with the restaurant. You choose your date, time and party size, we book your table at The Old Cunucu House and send your confirmation by email. If we can’t book it, your full $20 comes back.

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