One Happy Aruba
Plan your perfect trip
The New Shahai Take Away N.V.
Santa Cruz●○○○#5 of 11 Places to Eat in Santa Cruz

The New Shahai Take Away N.V.

★★★½3.5 out of 5 · 4 reviews
local
caribbean
Photo: © Management via TripAdvisor

About

The New Shahai Take Away sits in Santa Cruz, a central neighborhood most tourists blow past on the way to the national park. It's #5 out of 11 restaurants here, which in a town this size means locals know about it. The price is bottom-tier—single dollar sign—and the value subrating backs that up at 4.5 out of 5. The kitchen does Caribbean food, and the setup is takeaway, so you're ordering at a counter and either eating at one of the tables or bringing it back to your rental. Both the food and service score a 4 out of 5, solid for a neighborhood spot that isn't trying to be anything other than what it is. It's kid-friendly if you're passing through with family and need a quick, cheap meal that isn't another hotel buffet. Four reviews isn't a deep sample, but the pattern holds: good food, fair price, no pretense.

At a glance

Area
Santa Cruz
Vibe
local
Price
○○○
Reservation required
Kid friendly
Cuisine
caribbean
Dietary options

Photos

The New Shahai Take Away N.V.© Management via TripAdvisor

© Management via TripAdvisor

Similar restaurants

Huchada facadeSanta Cruz●○○○© Management via TripAdvisor

Huchada

Huchada sits in Santa Cruz, the agricultural heart of the island, and it's the kind of local spot you drive past twice before you realize it's there. The #1 ranking among eateries in the area tells you it's not an accident — the food score of 4.6 backs that up, and the dollar-sign price means you're not paying tourist markups for it. It's Caribbean home cooking with a café setup, leaning casual and welcoming to families. The atmosphere rating matches the food, which usually means the space feels right even if it's simple. Service runs high too, so expect someone to actually check in on you. Santa Cruz isn't on most visitors' radar, but if you're heading to Arikok or the east coast beaches, this is the lunch stop that makes sense. Cash helps.

local
caribbean
Bright Bakery at TripAdvisorSanta Cruz●○○○© nomenn2017 via TripAdvisor

Bright Bakery

Bright Bakery sits in Paradera, a residential neighborhood inland from the coast, and it's the top-rated spot in the area — which tracks with the 4.6 food score. This is a straightforward bakery-cafe where the price point (solidly budget) and the value rating line up: pastries, sandwiches, coffee, the kind of setup that works for breakfast or a quick midday stop. The atmosphere score is lower than the others, so don't expect polish or lingering ambiance. It's casual, probably a few tables, maybe a counter. The draw is what comes out of the oven, not the decor. Families come through regularly — it's an easy, low-pressure option if you're traveling with kids and need something simple that won't blow the day's budget. Santa Cruz is nearby, so if you're headed toward Arikok or looping through the center of the island, it's a practical pit stop.

casual
cafe
Urataka Center since 1946Santa Cruz●○○○© Management via TripAdvisor

Urataka Center

Urataka Center is a casual pizza and bar spot in Santa Cruz, away from the resort strip. It ranks #292 out of 719 restaurants on the island, which puts it firmly in the midfield, but the food subrating edges above four stars and the price level is budget-friendly — a dollar sign in a sea of three. The menu leans pizza and bar staples, and the vibe is neighborhood casual. Families show up, the atmosphere rating suggests nothing fancy, and the value score tracks with what you'd expect from a local spot where the food does more work than the décor. Service sits just under four stars, so don't expect white-glove treatment, but the kitchen seems consistent enough to pull repeat business. If you're staying central or driving through Santa Cruz and need something cheap and filling, this works. It's not a destination, but it's also not trying to be.

casual
pizza

Source: TripAdvisor · view on TripAdvisor →

Photos by individual contributors as credited above.

Review summaries are AI-paraphrased from public traveler reviews.