Eating in Bonaire

[aus.diver]

My wife and I are looking at staying at Buddy's at the end of September, this will be our second trip like this our first was to Coco View in Roatan. At Cocoview all the meals were included, at Buddy's it appears from e-mails they do have a meal plan, lunches $16.00, dinner $42.00 PP, seems high, can I eat cheaper outside of Buddys?

Thanks

[mala]

My wife and I are looking at staying at Buddy's at the end of September, this will be our second trip like this our first was to Coco View in Roatan. At Cocoview all the meals were included, at Buddy's it appears from e-mails they do have a meal plan, lunches $16.00, dinner $42.00 PP, seems high, can I eat cheaper outside of Buddys?

Thanks

check the small print at buddies.
you may get a 50% discount if you spend more than $150 on your room account.

dining out is quite expensive in general on bonaire.

[herman]

You can do a lot better, both in cost and food. Buddy's is not bad but there are plenty of other places. I suspect there is some miscommunication in the emails, there nothing on the Buddy menu that is remotely close to $40 per meal.....I can only think of one place that has meals that expensive and that is lobster night. My suggestion is to eat the breakfast, buy PBJ and other items for lunch and have a nice dinner. I disagree with Bonaire being expensive. While it's more than eating at McDOnalds, the prices are well inline with those in most any US city....and the food is better. Most place have meals in the $15 to $25 range.

[oly5050user]

You can do a lot better, both in cost and food. Buddy's is not bad but there are plenty of other places. I suspect there is some miscommunication in the emails, there nothing on the Buddy menu that is remotely close to $40 per meal.....I can only think of one place that has meals that expensive and that is lobster night. My suggestion is to eat the breakfast, buy PBJ and other items for lunch and have a nice dinner. I disagree with Bonaire being expensive. While it's more than eating at McDOnalds, the prices are well inline with those in most any US city....and the food is better. Most place have meals in the $15 to $25 range.
Totally agree. We do not find the menu at Buddy's to be considered expensive. Yeah its a little mote than what you can get at Mcdonalds if thats what you are used to. Places all over the island to go for meals.From tourist trap type joints to local fare.

[BDSC]

I'm wondering if the price you are showing us is for two people. That would make sense if it is. I know you are saying it's per person but it just doesn't add up. I've stayed at Buddy's a number of times and never came close to $16 for lunch.

More than likely your deal at Buddy's will include breakfast. The lunched there are not bad and we usually eat lunch there when we return from our morning dives. But there are a lot of great places to eat on the island for dinner much less than $42. I wouldn't want to do a meal plan on Bonaire anyway.

[DeputyDan]

I agree don't go with a meal plan - but do do include breakfast with your package it nice and relaxing.
There will be lots of other divers to swap lies with!

---------- Post added ----------

There really isn't a "coco view" on Bonaire. But both locales are worth visiting.

[gsk3]

Self cater if you are so inclined. We love Bonaire, but food is not its strong point. I got lots of advice on where to go while there beforehand, and we went there, and all of it was expensive and mediocre at best. I say this not to insult Bonaire but so you can avoid the disappointment and frustration that we had during our first visit. Self-cater as much as you can (the grocery stores are pretty good--expensive compared to US prices but way cheaper than eating out).

[aus.diver]

I did reply back about the meal pricing I was given from Buddiy's, I figured that was for 2 people, they did say that was per person though. I looked at their menu online, and those prices seem closer to a what 2 people would be paying. From the replies it sounds like I would be better off just winging it when we get there.

Thanks

[gbf]

Wing it when you get there.

There are plenty of good (not great) places to eat on Bonaire, at various price points.

We generally eat breakfast in the condo, lunch is a picnic/leftovers, then big dinner out. It is not uncommon for us to spend north of $100 for 2 for dinner at the "fine-dining" places on Bon. On the other hand, it is entirely possible to feed 2 for half that or less. If you eat in the "touristy" places you're going to spend more. Eat in the local, off-the-beaten path places, you'll spend less. What a surprise...

I second the advice to take BD's breakfast plan. When we stayed at the resorts (haven't in a long time) we'd always sign up for the breakfast plan simply because it was convenient, and usually pretty good.

[drrich2]

When we stayed at Buddy's, I ate breakfast buffet there, lunch via groceries from Warehouse Bonaire and Van Den Tweel supermarkets, and supper out at a restaurant.

You'll likely want to line up some known & popular places; Wil's Grill, City Cafe', Pasa Bon Pizza (where else do you get fish pizza?), Bon Appetit (more a lunch place for me; Chinese food, decent price, not buffet though), Cactus Blue (has a rep. for being a bit expensive) & It Rains Fishes (which was expensive when I ate there). Richard's was nice, too. I did eat at Buddy's onsite restaurant & it was good, too.

Hitting the popular restaurants is part of the experience to me, I suppose.

Richard.

[jewelofnile69]

We say wing it as well. But we often stop at a grocery store the 1st or 2nd day there and just eat in for lunch and dinner (we always stay at Buddy). As for restaurants, the three best (in my husband and my opinions) are Casablanca, Cactus Blue, and Wil's. Have fun!

And also agree with Richard!

[tracydr]

Buddy's has a good little restaurant. Great lunches.
we stayed in a condo last time and bought groceries but ate lunch there several times.

[Doctorfish]

I agree with drrich, there are lots of good ( not great ) places to go for dinner and prices are quite reasonable at most. Would add some of the local places like Mi Bananna, and the Rose Inn, and I think the pizza is much better at Habitat than at Pasa Bon. Buddys and Ellies Deli across the street are fine for lunch if you are not into do it yourself.

[ronski101]

As most have said, Eat the breakfast at Buddies. We bring ramen noodles (light) and have leftovers from a dinner out the night before. We like Casablanca with the grass fed Argentinian beef that is not porked up on steroid, chemicals, grains like here in the us.

[aus.diver]

Well I am all booked for the 3rd. week of Sept. I opted out of the meal plan as recomended, I did go for a studio, so I do have some in room dining options. Looking forward to our first blue water diving in several years, since starting a family!!

[RJP]

and I think the pizza is much better at Habitat than at Pasa Bon.

Damning with faint praise...

:d

I'm with the group that recommends breakfast buffet, PB&J/etc for lunch, and a nice dinner.

Also, bring your favorite powdered ice tea/lemonade/gatorade/etc. Buy a few bottles of water when you get there and then refill/mix/freeze throughout the week. You'll probably save $75+ per person on soft drinks throughout the week, as well as cut way back on plastic waste.

[BDSC]

We like Casablanca with the grass fed Argentinian beef that is not porked up on steroid, chemicals, grains like here in the us.

Speaking of Casablanca, be sure to go and get the "Mixed Grill for Two". It as a ridiculous amount of food that you can eat on for days. I just checked and they still offer it.

[Scott from LongIsland]

I think the food on Bonaire is fantastic. It can vary drammatically though depending on where you go. In general, I like to stay away from the big hotels as the food at those places (I am talking about you Buddy Dive and Capt Dons) is overpriced and not that great. The only exception to that rule in my opinion is the Tipsy Seagull at the Plaza. The TS is very good but a bit expensive.

My favorite two places on the island are Appetite and At Sea. Get the chef's choice at Appetite and you will be in for a wonderful meal. At Sea is also quite good with a unique menu that is more European. Mona Lisa is also another good one. El Fogon for great local food.

Don't miss Maicky Snack and the Rose Inn for lunch. They both make a great Goat Stew. Rose Inn also has the "coldiest beer" on the island! A nice drift dive from La Dania's Leap to Karpata followed by lunch at the Rose Inn makes for a great afternoon. Cap that off with a dive at Taylor Made and well...hard to beat.

I know this thread is about food, but if you get a chance, go on a UV night dive with VIP Divers. It is a wonderful shop and Bas knows his food!

[tracydr]

We tend to buy a ton of fruit and eggs. We have breakfast in the room but if we were at a hotel would get the breakfast option. I boil a bunch of eggs for snacks. Slice a bunch of mangos and pineapple each day. I also bring a little folding cooler. That way, if we are at the ends of the island, we have food to eat between dives. We may take enough to dive three tanks each. Stay a long time with surface intervals. Snack on fruit/eggs, maybe some sandwiches. Vegetarian options are much cheaper on the island than meats from the grocery.
On the way back to town, depending on if we dived north or south, there are often options to eat off the beaten track at small places with local fare.
We tend to dive the ends of the island, north and south.
We come back to the condo (rented buy-owner), rest-up and gear up for a night dive. After our night dive, we either have food that we fix in the room or go out for something easy and close to the condo, typically pizza or Buddy's.

[Scott from LongIsland]

yeah, fruits and veges are always a must grab. I would suggest NOT getting these from the Venezuelan guys right in town. They seem to be quite the ripoff and the fruit was not that good. the big supermarkets like Warehouse have better fruit at a much better price. the Chinese bodega/market near Captain Don's sometimes has some good fruit options as well. They also have one of the better beer selections on the island.

[aus.diver]

Everyone thanks for all of the suggestions, this has probably saved me a lot of searching as well. I will go back through these and take notes for when I go.

[SheilaRee]

I agree with the posters re: getting breakfast at Buddy's. It's a good option and good breakfast foods. We also took PB&J's for lunch b/c who has time to worry about lunch when you're trying to get in as much dive time as possible? Pasa Bon pizza is great (you have to drive to get this) and Captain Don's is good b/c you can walk next door past the sleeping security guard to Captain Don's restaurant (nice view, as well). One of our fav places was on the main strip where the tourist shops are (the street that is one-way). Going one way down the street, it is on the right with some outside tables. It was some type of carribean or latin place but had reasonably priced and fresh food. We liked City Cafe as well. The last I heard, Lion's Den (above the dive shop at Buddy's) was closed. Cactus Blue has some awesome desserts (sp?). We liked getting fruit from the Venezuelans across the street from City Cafe but they do like to overcharge and you have to check every day to see if the boat came in. That's not a big deal if its only a few things. We got Chinese food from a place pretty far away by a laundrymat (several miles). The first time it was deliciously flavored but the second time it was deliciously flavored but the meat (advertised as far as we could tell as beef) seemed a little "goaty" to me and we had a lot of growling tummies for the rest of the night. It's fun to find and try new places if you are foodies like my family. Another place that was interesting was a little restaurant right down the street from Divi Flamingo where local kids serve the food. I believe it is for underpriveleged kids and our friends who went there raved about it. And last but not least, stop at least once a day for ice cream beside the Chat n' Browse. These were our family favorites but I'm sure there were a lot that we haven't tried yet.

[Sorrows]

As much as I love Buddy's, I don't like their restaurant for dinner. Breakfast buffet, absolutely, lunch is good, but for dinner, you can definitely do better. If you don't find enough suggestions here, you should check out www.Bonairetalk.com (http://www.Bonairetalk.com). They have an entire section just on dining in Bonaire.

Don't forget to get your daily gelato fix at Gio's. (downtown) It is FABULOUS!

Also, try to get to the Cadushy distllery in Rincon for the tour and samples. Very interesting and very delicious!

[TXreefer]

I love the pizza at Captain Don's.

[Drewpy]

I agree..dont do the meal plan! I love many of the Restaurants on Bon! The Smoked Marlin at Wills is superb! The food at Mona Lisa is also good!

Taylormade dive site followed by a Coldiest Beer with Goat Stew or Ribs at Rose Inn is one of my favs!!! There is a nother place just down the road that has great Ice Cream and Milkshakes! (sorry.. cant remember the name..but its on the left hand side of the road)

[gbf]

I agree..dont do the meal plan! I love many of the Restaurants on Bon! The Smoked Marlin at Wills is superb! The food at Mona Lisa is also good!

Taylormade dive site followed by a Coldiest Beer with Goat Stew or Ribs at Rose Inn is one of my favs!!! There is a nother place just down the road that has great Ice Cream and Milkshakes! (sorry.. cant remember the name..but its on the left hand side of the road)

LeMaSe

ETA: if Wil has smoked marlin anything, get it.

[herbdb]

Get breakfast in your hotel package. Eating out is great. The only meal I thought was bad was Pasta bon Pizza. Don't know what people see in it. I think the slooow service may enough alcohol consumption to kill the taste buds for some diners.