Amistad in Santa Cruz is the place to get real Aruban food. It is in Santa Cruz and it is just a short drive from Oranjestad or the High Rise area. A place very busy and the food is tasty. Josie the server is very friendly and caters to your needs. It is a place where Arubans go to eat or order ahead and take away. Everything is in take away containers even if you eat there. And you need this as the portions are quite large. The lunch menu changes each day and makes it special. This time we had a filet of fried Grouper with rice, french fries and a small side salad and was about 23 afl ($13). Portions are very generous. It is so much food and can last you for two meals. Glad it already came in a container to take it. Have a Heineken while you wait. Better than Balashi. A place well worth the drive to and to enjoy real Aruban food.

This is a great spot to refuel after a day of adventuring! My friend got the shawarma and loved it—it was one of her favorite meals on the trip. The burger, fries, and their ranch were top-notch too. Ordering was quick, but the wait for food was a bit long (over 30 minutes). There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, but it’s totally worth it!