AZAR Open Fire Cuisine

Review summary

1. P

   Philip VIP

   New Jersey213 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   This was our 4th or 5th time dining at AZAR. Since our first time several years ago, it is one of the restaurants we visit on every trip to Aruba. The restaurant is beautiful with both outdoor seating near the bar, and a beautiful dining room that is fully enclosed. The wait staff is friendly and knowledgable and will help you make selections. There is a menu of craft cocktails for those who are looking to try something different. We opened the meal with an appetizer of Roasted Feta cheese. The cheese is served in a hot cast iron skillet cooked with a saffron peach jam and za'atar. The cheese is slightly melted and spread nicely on two slices of toasted focaccia bread that accompany the appetizer. My wife opted for the burger. It was prepared with bacon jam, blue cheese, and fried onions. It was served with a side of crispy french fries. The burger is tasty and quite large. I opted for the Watashee Rice. It is their version of paella. Like paella dishes in Spain, there is just a thin layer of rice on the bottom. The rice was topped with chorizo, grilled shrimp, roasted tomatoes, fried onions and aioli. It was outstanding. We also shared a side dish of Harissa Honey Carrots. It is roasted in the oven and topped with sumac, labneh, and cilanto. We order the carrots on every visit. Alas we were too full for dessert. Looking forward to our next visit.
   

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2. F

   Fran VIP

   Washington DC32 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excellent dinner experience. Service was great and the food and drinks were top notch.
   

   AZAR Open Fire CuisineResponded 2 days ago

   Dear Fran, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that you had an excellent dining experience and that both our service and culinary offerings met your expectations. We look forward to welcoming you back to AZAR for another unforgettable evening! 🔥🍷🍽️
   

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3. B

   Bob

   Tampa1 review

   5.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great food and a really great atmosphere. Really cool vibe.
   

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4. OT

   OpenTable Diner VIP

   Greater Boston4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great atmosphere with music playing throughout the evening. Drinks were fantastic and the food was even better. Looking forward to going back again.
   

   AZAR Open Fire CuisineResponded 2 days ago

   Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled you enjoyed the atmosphere, music, fantastic drinks, and delicious food. We look forward to welcoming you back for another great evening soon!
   

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5. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Detroit2 reviews

   3.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   Food was great but the service was meh. We waited a very long time for our entrees. Too long. It also took 10-15 minutes just to get a drink. Ridiculous to wait so long for 1 margarita.
   

   AZAR Open Fire CuisineResponded 2 days ago

   Thank you for your feedback. We sincerely apologize for the delays you experienced during your visit. Unfortunately, we had a power outage right at the time of opening, which meant we had to wait for power to be restored before seating guests. Once it was reinstated, we sat a much higher number of tables than our usual flow, causing food and beverage orders to stack up and resulting in slower service than we typically provide. We understand that waiting too long for drinks and entrees can be frustrating, and this is certainly not the experience we aim for. We appreciate your patience and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for a smoother and more enjoyable dining experience.
   

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6. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   New York City3 reviews

   3.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   I would definitely go back. The food was delicious, but they need to up their game on the french fries. We also Felt rushed
   

   AZAR Open Fire CuisineResponded 2 days ago

   Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear you enjoyed the food and would return. We appreciate your input on the French fries and will take it into consideration. Our goal is to provide an exceptional dining experience, and we’re sorry if you felt rushed—we want every guest to fully enjoy their time with us. We hope to welcome you back soon for an even better experience!
   

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7. C

   Chris

   El Paso1 review

   2.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 4

   We had high expectations for this restaurant based on its positive reviews, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype. Upon arrival, the restaurant was without power, so they offered us a glass of champagne and chicken croquettes while we waited. Once the electricity was restored, we were seated promptly. We ordered two glasses of wine, but unfortunately, both glasses left stains on my shirt due to the waiter or bartender not wiping the bottoms properly. For appetizers, we had the chicharron and squid. The chicharron skin was undercooked and excessively chewy, while the squid was rich in flavor (though the portions were large). After our main courses arrived, it took our waitress about 10-15 minutes to check on us, despite us flagging her down. Both ribeyes were cooked perfectly but needed a bit more salt. The broccolini was flavorful, but the mixed vegetables were bland and lacked seasoning.
   

   AZAR Open Fire CuisineResponded 2 days ago

   Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We truly appreciate your visit and regret that your experience didn’t meet your expectations. While we’re glad you enjoyed certain aspects of your meal, we apologize for any inconsistencies in service and food preparation. Your comments about the chicharron, mixed vegetables, and wine service have been noted, and we’ll review them with our team to ensure improvements. We hope you’ll give us another opportunity in the future to provide you with the exceptional experience we strive for.
   

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8. s

   sheek

   Atlanta22 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   I am so happy we had the chance to experience this restaurant on my birthday. The ambiance was beautiful, the service was great and the food was AMAZING, flavors that were sooo good! Definitely recommend 10/10!!
   

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   AZAR Open Fire CuisineResponded 3 days ago

   Thank you for celebrating your special day with us! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the ambiance, service, and incredible flavors of our dishes. It means so much that we could make your birthday memorable! We appreciate your recommendation and can't wait to welcome you back for another amazing experience. 🎉🔥💙✨
   

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9. D

   David VIP

   Greater Boston12 reviews

   4.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 2

   Great evening. Wish we had known that the restaurant had an ac option prior to arrival. Service was good with our server making some recommendations. Watch for differences in meat temp at this place.
   

   AZAR Open Fire CuisineResponded 3 days ago

   Thank you for dining with us and sharing your feedback! We're glad you had a great evening and enjoyed the service and recommendations from your server. We appreciate your note about the AC option and meat temperatures—we'll be sure to share this with our team for continued improvement. We hope to welcome you back soon for another enjoyable experience! 🔥💙
   

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10. M

    Mary

    Maine1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    We like to try new foods when we travel. Our food was wonderful! We started with the roasted feta appetizer which our server said was their most ordered appetizer and it was great! I had the short ribs which were fantastic and my spouse had the half chicken which he said was very good. Nice size servings, we both brought home leftovers and couldn't fit dessert. The atmosphere was beautiful and the staff was very attentive. I would definitely return here on my next trip to Aruba exclamation
    

    AZAR Open Fire CuisineResponded 3 days ago

    Dear Mary, Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad you enjoyed trying new dishes with us and that the roasted feta appetizer lived up to its reputation! The short ribs and half chicken are excellent choices, and we’re happy to hear you both loved them. It’s always a good sign when there are leftovers to enjoy later! We appreciate your kind words about our atmosphere and service, and we can’t wait to welcome you back on your next trip to Aruba! 🔥✨
    

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