Ocean House 19 in Curaçao is a seafood-focused bistro and bar set within the historic Riffort in Otrobanda, offering a picturesque waterfront setting that blends charm, history, and coastal ambiance. With both indoor seating and an inviting outdoor terrace, guests can enjoy views of the water while experiencing a menu influenced by local Caribbean, Peruvian, French, and Italian cuisines.
The kitchen presents a wide range of seafood-driven dishes, many of which showcase bold flavors and quality ingredients. Some highlights include:
- Lobster & Shrimp Croquette – Crisp, flavorful, and paired with a bright Peruvian acevichada
- Classic Peruvian Ceviche – Fresh white fish marinated in Ocean House’s tiger milk with onion, cilantro, choclo, toasted cancha, and glazed sweet potato.
- El Carretillero Ceviche – A generous, mixed-seafood ceviche featuring Caribbean seafood alongside tuna, salmon, mussels, calamari, shrimp, octopus, clams, fried calamari, choclo, red onion, cilantro, and a smoked spicy yellow aji tiger milk sauce.
- Escargots – Prepared simply with garlic and herb butter, served with toasted bread.
- Whole Fried Red Snapper – A standout Caribbean classic, beautifully presented.
- Seafood on Fire – A hearty platter of grilled white fish, mussels, shrimp, calamari, octopus, and clams, served with fresh seasonal vegetables.
While the food itself was very good, the overall dining experience was impacted by several issues. Some dishes arrived lukewarm, and two dishes were never placed, causing a noticeable disruption for a larger party of eight. The service struggled to keep pace, and the kitchen experienced a significant operational snafu, which overshadowed an otherwise strong culinary showing.
On a positive note, the drinks were excellent, and the combination of flavorful dishes and the beautiful waterfront atmosphere made the restaurant’s potential clear. With more consistent service execution and attention to timing, Ocean House 19 would earn much higher praise.
Rating 8.2/10
