If you’re looking into Kome Restaurant Curaçao, I went for dinner and ordered a little bit of everything (as usual). This ended up being one of my favorite meals from the trip, and there are a few dishes I’m still thinking about months later.
I walked over to Kome for dinner since we were staying in town—we had a rental car, but didn’t need it here. I made a reservation at Kome and showed up already planning to order a mix of things (over ordering is my specialty). I had been in Pietermaai right before, and that whole area already felt like a fun spot for dinner.
I sat down and looked around before even opening the menu, and the setup immediately stood out. It felt nicer than most of the beach spots we had been going to, but I didn’t feel like I needed to dress up or act different. It worked for a date night, but I could also see a group sitting here.
If you’re figuring out where this fits into your trip, Curaçao Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors helps map out nights like this.
I opened the menu and already knew this was going to be a sharing situation. We ordered the bread service with olive oil, a fresh salad with pickled onion, mozzarella, and citrus dressing, a steak dish, the smoked duck & pappardelle pasta, and the Salty Dog brownie for dessert (we committed early).
I started with the bread service as soon as it hit the table, and that alone made me glad we ordered it. The outside had that slight crunch, the inside was soft, and dipping it into the olive oil while waiting on everything else just worked. Simple, but I’d order it again without thinking about it.
I went straight into the salad next, and it actually balanced everything out more than I expected. The citrus dressing kept it fresh, the pickled onion gave it a little bite, and the mozzarella pulled it together so it didn’t feel like just a side thing.
I tried the smoked duck & pappardelle right after, and this was easily one of the best things we ordered. The pasta came out rich but didn’t feel heavy, and the duck added that smoky flavor that made it stand out from a basic pasta. Every bite had a little texture from the toppings, so it never got boring (I kept going back to this one).
I cut into the steak next, and it was exactly what I wanted it to be. Cooked right, really tender, and nothing on the plate tried to compete with it. You actually taste the steak first, and everything else just backs it up instead of taking over.
I slowed down for about two seconds before going into dessert, and the Salty Dog brownie finished this exactly how I wanted. Warm brownie, salted caramel, ice cream melting into everything—it hit sweet and salty at the same time. I was already full and still kept going back for another bite (that brownie really took the cake… had to).
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it.
I looked back at the menu again after ordering and noticed how many solid options they had across the board. The peppered hanger steak, smoked beef brisket, crispy calamari, mushroom toast, and chicken & waffles all stood out.
They also rotate dishes like risotto and fish of the day, which keeps things interesting if you go more than once.
I paid attention to the flavors across everything we ordered, and you can tell they’re doing more with the food here than most places we tried on the island. There were smoked meats, citrus and herb-forward sauces, sweet and savory combinations, and layered textures built into each dish.
It felt like a good switch after eating more casual beach food earlier in the trip.
I looked at the bill at the end and knew this was on the higher side for Curaçao, but it matched what we just ate. It didn’t feel like a budget dinner, but it also didn’t feel overdone for the quality that came out.
If you’re planning where to stay nearby, my blog on Where to Stay in Curaçao (Best Areas + Hotels) helps narrow down spots close to Pietermaai.
I walked out of Kome already comparing it to everything else we ate on the trip, and this stayed near the top. It felt like a good reset from beach meals and quick lunches, and I’d add this in again if I was planning another trip.
The food felt elevated without being complicated, and the whole experience worked without feeling formal. I’d go back for the pasta alone, but the full lineup made it hard to pick just one thing.
If you’re building out your dinner list, Best Dinner Restaurants in Curaçao (Date Night + Special Occasions) gives you a few more options like this.
Haywood Smokehouse is the BBQ spot that ruins you for every other BBQ spot. Lean brisket so tender it doesn’t need the fat, fried pork ribs you won’t find anywhere else, and don’t sleep on the banana pudding for dessert.
Save this before your next Waynesville or Dillsboro trip 🍖🔥
Booked this Bryson City yurt for the ‘ber months and it’s already my top fall pick this year. 🍂
The Junaluska Yurt sleeps six but feels more like a stylish cabin than a yurt, two real queen bedrooms with actual doors, a full kitchen, and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. Check-in is just a door code texted to your phone, no lobby, no waiting.
The real win is outside: wraparound porch, private fire pit, free firewood, a gas grill, and Smoky Mountain sunsets that stop you mid-sentence, picture all of that with October color on the ridgeline. Heads up, the last stretch in is a gravel road, so skip the low-profile rental, and there’s no restaurant onsite, you’re minutes from Bryson City, Dillsboro, and Sylva for dinner.
Two to three nights is the sweet spot. (We actually stayed in the dead of winter and it was still stunning, fall just takes it up a notch.) Full review linked in bio.
Italian food felt like the last thing I expected to find in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains... until I sat down at Ilda in Sylva.🍝
They call it Italian-Appalachian, and that’s not just a tagline. Homemade pasta, craft cocktails, local ingredients pulled straight from the mountains around it, this is the kind of meal that makes you forget you’re two hours from the nearest city. It’s cozy, it’s a little upscale, and it is not a walk-in kind of place, call ahead, because tables go fast on weekends.
It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. But if you’re already making the trip out to Sylva, this is the one reservation worth planning your day around.
Full write-up, including what to order, link in bio.
Booked my fall cabin before September even started, and I’m not sorry about it. 🍂
These are the stays that make you actually want the cold to hurry up fireplaces, mountain views, the kind of porch you don’t leave. Not every one of these is going to fit every trip, but if a cozy fall getaway is on your radar, this is the roundup to start with.
One of my favorite travel seasons is almost here, and I have zero chill about it. 🍁✈️
There’s just something about fall trips cooler air, apple orchards, that first flannel of the season, food that actually makes sense with the weather again. I’m already mentally packing for it before September even starts.
If fall is your favorite time to travel too, tell me where you’re headed... I’m taking notes for the list.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
