THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence

Name: THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence
Address: 330 L.G. Smith Blvd, next to the old Windmill, Oranjestad, Palm Beach, Aruba, 00000
Telephone: 565 0535
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.8

4.8

14 Reviews

$50 and over

International

Top Tags:

Next to the 'Old Mill' in Aruba you'll find a unique new restaurant, 'The Journey'. Michelin star trained chef Patrick van der Donk (old Amuse Bistro) has made a very intimate chef's table concept.

Not your usual bar seating set-up! Here you are able to dine at you own separate tables and still have a view of the chef creating your 5-course meal for a max of 20 guests per evening.
Price 130 per dinner and 80 for the optional wine paring small bar .
The evening starts on our cozy lounge with delicious hors d'oeuvres and bubbles, inside at a small and stylish set-up the chef will prepare every dish in front of his guests taking time to invite his guests over for a chat, he might even ask to help plating his dishes which gives a truly extraordinary dining experience. The menu changes frequently, classic dishes with a twist prepared with the best ingredients. Lobster ravioli, braised beef short ribs, dover sole fillets, homemade ice creams just to name a few.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 11, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 1 time today

Experiences are available.

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
International, Contemporary American, French
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 7:00 pm–7:15 pm
Phone number
565 0535
Website
http://www.thejourneyaruba.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Patrick van der Donk
Catering
The Journey has its own catering company, Amuse Catering, with many years of experience. We have served many, from a big group of loyal locals to big events for the government, the Royal Dutch family and many other stars coming to the Island. Weddings events on the beach we also cater, set-up and organize.
Private party facilities
The Journey is a unique spot for small events. Small Weddings parties, birthday parties or business events.

Location
330 L.G. Smith Blvd, next to the old Windmill, Oranjestad, Palm Beach 00000
Neighborhood
Aruba
Cross street
opposite of Riu hotel
Parking details
Private Lot
Additional
Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Chef's Table
$120.00 per person
Multiple dates available
The stand-alone tables which seats only 20 patrons the five-course chef’s choice pre-fixe menu will take your taste buds on a world tour. Once you arrive at your destination, the exciting expedition begins with a toast of bubbles on the terrace. Inside, an amuse bouche showcases the chef’s imagination and previews the palate-pleasing experiences to come. You can opt to pair your courses with the sommelier’s expertly curated choice of fine wines by the glass, or order a bottle from the impressive wine list. With the open kitchen, you witness the chef work on his eye-pleasing creations. By the end of the evening you will have made many new friends as you have all enjoyed such an excellent shared experience of culinary bliss. Bon Voyage!

What 14 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.9Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

14 Reviews

AV
ArieV
Caribbean
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It’s a great pleasure to be there. The ambience, the people, the food everything is outstanding. Chef preparing the dishes in full view, making each plate a little miracle. The flavors, the information about the ingredients makes it a experience never to forget, with paired wine it’s just amazing. We love to be there and are looking forward to our next time at Journey
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CC
CarolC
Philadelphia
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on November 27, 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Outstanding food and people, we can’t wait to go again next trip It was more intimate than other chef tastings we have done on the island. You can watch and chat with Chef Patrick while he if plating your food . A true artist
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 21, 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The chef was friendly and the meal was delightful. Every course was prepared perfectly. Having dined at most tasting menu restaurants on the island, this experience ranks among the best. The wine pairings were perfect with the courses. I loved the experience. A must do for foodies in Aruba.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Exclusive
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 14, 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We came here on a recommendation from a co-worker who frequents Aruba and said this was one of the better dinners he’s had here. He was not wrong! The food was amazing. There was not one thing that either me or my wife did not like. The servers, Melissa and Lief ( not sure if that spelling is correct) we’re very attentive and outgoing. Chef Patrick was very welcoming and sat and spoke with everyone there when he wasn’t busy cooking or plating his amazing food. I definitely recommend The Journey to anyone looking for a great meal and great time.
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TD
TaylorD
Houston
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 27, 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was one of the best meals of my life!! I cannot recommend this experience enough, don’t walk, Run! You won’t regret it, what a game changing chef and staff. Also, highly recommended getting the wine pairing, it was perfection!!
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S
Some
Caribbean
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 18, 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We has a very nice evening with outstanding great food. Highly recommend to do this when your at Aruba
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RB
RichardB
Greater Boston
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 18, 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was hands down the best restaurant find of the year. And incredible chef's table experience.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on September 18, 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Chef Patrick and his team are amazing !!! The food is phenomenal and the presentation is also wonderful. We had such a wonderful experience and will be back
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SM
ShawnM
New York Area
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on September 7, 2023
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Be prepared to go for your lungs w wine or drinks. I wouldn’t recommend the journey.
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TH
TiffanyH
Austin
11 reviews
vip
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on September 1, 2023
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
I will start with this precedent, Everyone has different taste buds. And what may not work for me, has nothing to do with whether you will enjoy the food or not. The 4 hours tasting is set in a beautiful and new building. I love the open, simple, and clean decor. The staff are absolutely wonderful, including the chef. Really down-to-earth and friendly people. We meet some really nice people in our dining experience as you dine with a small group of people. It is definitely a wonderful experience to enjoy. FOR ME... the food was not as exciting as I would have hoped. The amuse-bouche - of goat cheese and truffles was delicious. The accompaniment was a flaky fish, hot, and ok. Bread and butter - is accompanied by 3 kinds of butter (salted, tomato something, and anchovy butter). Tuna & Crab Salad - I enjoyed the Tuna with sesame, but the crab salad was sweet as it had apples and a sweet foam. I am a salty savory person, if you like sweeter dishes you may enjoy this. My husband liked it more than me. And Lobster Ravioli - FOR ME... the ravioli felt a bit dry or too firm. It definitely could use more sauce and seasoning. Honestly other than the caviar on top giving the fishy umami flavor, there wasn't much flavor to the dish. Chicken Ballotine with mushrooms, deep-fried parsnips, and beets. Honestly, the best thing on the plate was the salty fried parsnips. The chicken felt a bit dry, and other than a hit of truffle oil the dish was quite bland. Steak au Poivre - The steak was good with the accompanied sauce and the crispy salty deep-fried potatoes on top. I did enjoy it. The pea and pea puree was definitely in its natural state, unsalted or seasoned. And i wanted to enjoy the au gratin potatoes but there was a hint of nutmeg that just didn't jive with me. Again, i like savory... so the nutmeg was throwing it off for me. Last was the Banana Cake with honey walnut ice cream and a splash of passion fruit. The ice cream and sauces on the plate were delicious, the
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 25, 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
What an awesome unique experience! It is our first time in Aruba and were looking for something different and memorable. We had an amazing night to celebrate our anniversary. We were created with hor dorvours and bubbly before being led into an intimate and beautifully decorated restaurant. We then navigated through 5 courses that were made before our eyes with care, precision and intentionality. We enjoyed everything from the first to last bite. This is truly a hidden gem on the island and we will definitely be back. Thank you so much for making my husband and me feel so special.
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w
whippanyjr
New York Area
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on August 24, 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely phenomenal! If you are looking for a special experience for dinner, book this place, it's worth every penny! Patrick and his staff were great, friendly, welcoming, fun, we had a great time! There were 6 of us, and we all were amazed that the combination of ingredients was something we have never had before and would never think of putting together but all of us loved it! I highly recommend it!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
26 reviews
vip
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on August 22, 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was our second time dining at The Journey, and once again our experience went beyond our expectations. The food, the service, and the ambiance were all amazing. Thank you to Patrick, Melissa and Edmond for making us feel so welcome. My wife and I have dined in many wonderful restaurants in Aruba over the years. The Journey is by far our favorite!
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b
brianf
New York Area
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 18, 2023
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We were the first Open Table reservation and we were blown away. The atmosphere of the restaurant fits so nicely in Aruba. The food was really elegant and delicious. We can’t wait to go back in February
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners

Screening
- Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence is rated 4.8 stars by 14 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 11, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 1 time today

Experiences are available.

Google Map for THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence

330 L.G. Smith Blvd, next to the old Windmill, Oranjestad, Palm Beach 00000

Additional information

Cross street
opposite of Riu hotel
Neighborhood
Aruba
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 7:00 pm–7:15 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
International, Contemporary American, French
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Patrick van der Donk
Additional
Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.thejourneyaruba.com/
Phone number
565 0535
Catering
The Journey has its own catering company, Amuse Catering, with many years of experience. We have served many, from a big group of loyal locals to big events for the government, the Royal Dutch family and many other stars coming to the Island. Weddings events on the beach we also cater, set-up and organize.
Private party facilities
The Journey is a unique spot for small events. Small Weddings parties, birthday parties or business events.

THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence

Make a reservation

Additional information

Experiences

Chef's Table

Menu

What 14 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Screening

FAQs

How is THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence restaurant rated?

Is THE JOURNEY - To Culinary Excellence currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information