We LOVE Nos Cunucu. Very 'island'. Yes, there are animals but they don't bother you and it adds to the atmosphere. The restaurant itself is actually extremely clean. The photo Aruba Lisa posted is 'Cookie' who is owned by the owner's daughter. I took that photo when we were there last week. Cookie lives in a tree in the side yard. The food is very very good. Get there before dark for dinner so you can enjoy the atmosphere (and so you can find it!) Drive north toward Tanki Leendert, when you get to the roundabout (where Tomato Charlies and Hunny Bunny will be at 11 o'clock), take the first right (3 o'clock). Drive past the Ace Hardware store on the left and just as you come to the Wema Hardware Parking Lot on the right, make your left turn into a neighborhood street. About 5 houses down on the left hand side, you'll see the sign for Nos Cunucu. Restaurant is in the back. Keshi Yeni is excellent. Also try the appetizer - thin fried polenta squares with melted Gouda on top. Can't remember what it's called in Papiamento, but boy is it good with cold Balashi!

Thanks for all of the info! We are going to try to find it on our own before we leave.

Oh stop, Nancy, it's making me H U N G R Y

Aruba Trip Reports

Whatever it's called, it's delicous I tried to duplicate it myself in my own kitchen and failed miserably!

[quote=AuntieMame;98754]Why?

The locals eat at Nos Cunucu and LaGranja.


(We do like Gasparito, but it is more strongly Dutch than Aruban.)

La Granja is really good but is Peruvian, I eat there at least once a week. Like nos cunucu, but still papiamento better on my opinion.

www.arubahoneymooners.com

I simply love Papiamento and can tell you confidently that the Aruban family from Santa Cruz that now owns Old Cunucu House (just off the Palm Beach Road) has a great reputation in the kitchen! I have not been to Gasparito in a very long time, but trust your judgement (I should give the Barros a visit sometime soon).
Nos Cunucu - I remember from a visit a long time ago, we should go again - serves a mean meat soup and a fish dish. It is true there are quite some animals, and I would definitely not "dress up," it's a great island experience.
Keeshi Yena is not bad at all at Iguana Joe's either.
Try the Arubiano fish with polenta, plantain and pan bati at La Terraza!!!
Now, let me toot my own horn - I make a superb keeshi yena! Or at least so do my friends and family say. Maybe by next year I will have my act together and will be able to invite some of this forum's loyals to enjoy a meal at my house!?

Now, I don't want to "bad talk" any restaurant, but my husband is Peruvian and after I got ill a few times (we used to eat there at least three times a month), we decided to leave La Granja for what it is.
Now, if it's Peruvian anyone here is looking for, we can recommend Sabor a Peru, at the end of Mainstreet Oranjestad. If ceviche is too adventurous for you, start with something like arroz chaufa (mixed fried rice) or lomo saltado (stewed beef) of papa a la huancaina (boiled potatoes with a creamy sauce)