Friday, December 22, 2006

New Restaurant Review, Patagonia Steak House Gets a Thumps Up

Having now had the opportunity on two occasions to sample the new delights available at Patagonia Steak House, I now feel that I can comfortably give a thumps up review of the restaurant.  Arriving last Friday night for the restaurant’s first night in business, I was joined by many other eager residents of Bonaire, looking for the scoop on this new restaurant.  Although some had to wait for tables since the restaurant was packed, it was certainly worth the wait.

My dining companion and I elected to dine al fresco, at a waterside table overlooking the marina.  We watched the sun go down and enjoyed our drinks (the pina coladas are fine!) while we awaited our dinners.  Since menus had not been ready for the opening, our waitress simply gave us a choice of all the available steaks and other meals, and we could choose or mix and match.  My companion elected for the T-bone (see image), while I decided to combine a surf ‘n’ turf with filet mignon and grilled jumbo shrimp.  Our steaks came with a red wine peppercorn sauce which complemented the meats perfectly.

While oohing and aahing over dessert (individual apple pie and chocolate cake), Santa Claus even made a guest appearance and chatted with the folks at each table.  All in all, a great night, and kudos go the staff for making it happen.

I also returned on Wednesday for dinner with a friend.  This time, we decided to dine in the newly glass-enclosed, air-conditioned dining room, which offered a quiet get-away from the other diners while still offering a spectacular view through the glass windows.  Service was even better than the first night, with the staff wanting to be sure that our dining experience was nothing other than exemplary.  I again had the surf ‘n’ turn, as did my companion, but this time we opted for the mushoom sauce.  We closed out the evening with freshly-made brownies with vanilla ice cream and fresh whipped cream.  Delicious.

As for the menu, there is a heavy emphasis on steaks, with every imaginable kind being available.  The T-bone that was served my friend had to be two inches thick!  For those who are lighter carnivores, seafood, chicken and pasta dishes are also available and looked pretty scrumptious in their own right.  I guess I might have to plan a few more visits to return and try them out! (Source:  Bonaire Insider reporter)