Red Fish Aruba Review: Local Fish by the Pound, Done Simply

This page contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission from bookings. Ratings from Viator & Tripadvisor.

Is Red Fish worth it? For a casual plate of local seafood, our Red Fish Aruba review says yes: the menu is built around the daily catch, sold by the pound, and that simple idea is the whole point. Red Fish opened in 2013 with one simple offer, fried fish and shrimp priced by weight, and added dishes as locals asked for more. Order fish and shrimp for the table and keep the meal relaxed. Here is how the place works, what to order and when it fits your trip.

A fisherman’s place, kept casual

Red Fish does not dress itself up. VisitAruba describes a casual, relaxing spot for local seafood with outdoor seating, and My Aruba Guide pitches it as a place to eat local, with the catch of the day at the center of the menu. When in Aruba describes it as a casual outdoor spot, which sets the tone well.

The fish story is real. aruba.com says the owner, Herby, is a local fisherman who selects the seafood for the restaurant, and When in Aruba notes that his family, the Merryweathers, also runs Driftwood, a restaurant open since 1986.

What the local vote says

In 2020, When in Aruba asked its readers to name their favorite local lunch spots. The poll drew hundreds of responses, and Red Fish made the top five. That reader vote is the clearest outside verdict we found, and it matches how the guides describe the place: casual, local and focused on fresh fish.

How ordering works at Red Fish

The heart of the menu is fresh fish by the pound. On the current menu, the deep-fried fish is steak cut through the bone, and you can order a half pound or a full pound, or the same with cleaned and deveined shrimp. A mix of half a pound of fish and half a pound of shrimp lets the table try both. The deep-fried plates come with fries, rice, funchi and fried plantain.

If you prefer your fish without the fryer, a second section covers fish fillets on a hot plate or blackened, shrimp on a hot plate or in garlic, and calco, the local name for conch, in garlic or creole sauce. A good order for two or three:

• Fish croquettes or conch fritters to start.
• Fish soup, if you want something warm first.
• The mix of fish and shrimp, deep-fried, as the centerpiece.
• Calco in garlic or creole sauce for something more local.
• The seafood paella, made with lobster, shrimp, squid, fish and mussels, which When in Aruba features as a house specialty.

Non-fish eaters are covered too, with a filet mignon, a chicken fillet on a hot plate with mushroom sauce, chicken wings and a chicken pasta. For the Aruban side, funchi cu keshi, cornmeal with cheese, is on the starters list. Our guide to Aruban food and local dishes explains funchi and other island staples.

When Red Fish fits your trip

Red Fish works well as an easy meal rather than a big night out. It serves lunch and dinner, and VisitAruba lists takeout and delivery, so it also suits a night when you would rather eat at your apartment or hotel. VisitAruba lists it as family-friendly too, and a menu of fish, shrimp and chicken is easy to share around a family table.

Sitting just off the main boulevard, partway from downtown Oranjestad to the hotel areas, it makes an easy detour on a day in town. Book a table at Red Fish for a simple seafood lunch, and for more ideas across the island, see our guide to the best restaurants in Aruba.

Price level

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

FAQ

Sources

• VisitAruba: Red Fish
• aruba.com: Red Fish Aruba
• My Aruba Guide: Red Fish
• When in Aruba: The Fab Five, the best local lunch spots: Red Fish (2020)