Venue:- Le Bistrot
Location :- Mojacar Playa (best Indalo end)
Decided to try French this evening and went to the Le Bistrot restaurant, a small restaurant with both a small outside and small inside seating area, seats very comfortable and the place had a nice ambience about it even though there was only us and another couple dining. The couple who own the place seem to run it between them, the man (French) does the cooking and his wife (Dutch) does the front of house serving the drinks, taking the orders and generally looking after the diners. The menu is small typical French in style and should have something for everyone - we had dinner.
Starters -
Two types of salmon (smoked and gravalax) tartare - two of us started with this and it was delicious, served from a timbale with crispy toast and sour cream and chives. The salmon tartare was very nice, delicately flavoured with herbs and lemon juice, the lemon not overpowering the taste of the salmon.
The other starter was warm goats cheese on rings of toast with a bed of salad with a crushed almond topping - very nice, three rings of cheese, nice salad with an excellent dressing just right for a starter course. I believe the starters were all around 8.50 each.
The mains consisted of ….
I had fresh sea bass fillets which came with a small slice of onion quiche and a very delicious layered potato cake - potato, courgette and tomato I think with a fairly strong hint of basil which really made the taste for me. A very nice dish, fish nicely cooked and presented, accompaniments - delicious.
Then a gigot of lamb with the same extras. We were actually asked how we liked the lamb - very unusual, the French tend to serve as they like it (almost raw!) not how the diner wants it! This was requested pink and sure enough it came pink - it was declared superb.
Lastly plain grilled salmon with the same veggies as the other mains. The salmon was cooked through - yippee, it wasn’t served half done. Once more this was declared very good - if we must complain then we would have liked crispy skin, but never mind we didn’t eat that bit and I am sure had we asked the skin would have been crispied. Mains were around the 14.50 mark.
Desserts ..
We just had to have a go.
I had a trio of desserts with coffee - crème brulee, tart tatin and chocolate cake - delicious.
Crème brulee on its own - very nice.
Lastly Tart Tatin - again very nice (4.50 a pop)
We had a couple of beers to start, some water, coffees and went a bit mad on the wine front - a bottle of Mercurey 2009 for a whopping 26.00!! Well it was worth it, don’t see Mercurey around much and it was nice for a change.
Overall the meal was very good, the service and ambience excellent, the price what we would expect from that type of restaurant. Would we go again? Yup.
Tuesday 25 October 2011
Monday 24 October 2011
Torre Bahia - Mojacar Playa
Venue:- Restaurante Torre Bahia
Location :- Calle Torre Bahia Mojacar Playa
(Off the Playa near The Blue Lagoon)
A nice restaurant a few yards off the main Playa offering a spacious outdoor patio both covered and open and an equally spacious interior. The seating is comfortable and the tables spaced well, it has a nice ambience and the covered outdoor area was full the day we dined - evening a la carte.
Starters:-
Aguacate con Gambas (7.00) - avocado prawns with a nice lot of salad garnish, a very nice satisfying starter with a very tasty avocado and freshly peeled large prawns.
Sopa de champinones (3.75) - mushroom soup - tasty and fresh, nothing more to add.
Revueltos salmon ahumado (5.25) - scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, delicious, a nice sized portion but just one failing for me, balsamic vinegar was sprinkled on the dish, I do not like balsamic vinegar! Never the less the dish was very nice - I ate the bits covered in the balsamic first! Why oh why can a restaurant not serve what it says on the menu, the balsamic could and should have been placed on the table to add as desired.
Mains:-
Platija plancha (7.50) grilled plaice with garlic butter with frittied potatoes carrots and peas. The fish although it was a flat fish was not plaice as we know it, the flesh was too soft and not the right consistency for plaice - it was mostly devoured but the fish declared too soft.
Conejo al Ajillo (8.50) - grilled rabbit with garlic, several chunks of lovely garlic coated rabbit - very nice indeed. Came with the same potatoes, peas and carrots as above. If you don’t mind getting the meat from the bones then give this a whirl it is superb - boneless eaters steer clear!
Parillada de Carne (9.50) mixed grill consisting of steak, chicken, bacon (belly I think) sausage and a fried egg on top - and guess what potatoes, peas and carrots. The meal was a plateful and was very nice, a good size if you are hungry.
Puds:-
Crumble Manzana Caramello (3.50) a nice apple crumble with custard.
Arroz con leche (3.00) a nice warm rice pudding.
Coffees at 1.00, pint beer at 2.50, tubo at 1.50, water at 1.50 and bread x3 .30 each. Had a bottle of Ribera tempranillo from the Moro stable at 14.00
Overall a very nice meal and restaurant the total cost being 71.40 - we will return.
Location :- Calle Torre Bahia Mojacar Playa
(Off the Playa near The Blue Lagoon)
A nice restaurant a few yards off the main Playa offering a spacious outdoor patio both covered and open and an equally spacious interior. The seating is comfortable and the tables spaced well, it has a nice ambience and the covered outdoor area was full the day we dined - evening a la carte.
Starters:-
Aguacate con Gambas (7.00) - avocado prawns with a nice lot of salad garnish, a very nice satisfying starter with a very tasty avocado and freshly peeled large prawns.
Sopa de champinones (3.75) - mushroom soup - tasty and fresh, nothing more to add.
Revueltos salmon ahumado (5.25) - scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, delicious, a nice sized portion but just one failing for me, balsamic vinegar was sprinkled on the dish, I do not like balsamic vinegar! Never the less the dish was very nice - I ate the bits covered in the balsamic first! Why oh why can a restaurant not serve what it says on the menu, the balsamic could and should have been placed on the table to add as desired.
Mains:-
Platija plancha (7.50) grilled plaice with garlic butter with frittied potatoes carrots and peas. The fish although it was a flat fish was not plaice as we know it, the flesh was too soft and not the right consistency for plaice - it was mostly devoured but the fish declared too soft.
Conejo al Ajillo (8.50) - grilled rabbit with garlic, several chunks of lovely garlic coated rabbit - very nice indeed. Came with the same potatoes, peas and carrots as above. If you don’t mind getting the meat from the bones then give this a whirl it is superb - boneless eaters steer clear!
Parillada de Carne (9.50) mixed grill consisting of steak, chicken, bacon (belly I think) sausage and a fried egg on top - and guess what potatoes, peas and carrots. The meal was a plateful and was very nice, a good size if you are hungry.
Puds:-
Crumble Manzana Caramello (3.50) a nice apple crumble with custard.
Arroz con leche (3.00) a nice warm rice pudding.
Coffees at 1.00, pint beer at 2.50, tubo at 1.50, water at 1.50 and bread x3 .30 each. Had a bottle of Ribera tempranillo from the Moro stable at 14.00
Overall a very nice meal and restaurant the total cost being 71.40 - we will return.
Rincon Del Puerto (Garrucha)
Venue:- Restaurante Rincon Del Puerto
Location :- Port of Garrucha at the lighthouse
The restaurant is on the beach side of the road overlooking the harbour. It is a large restaurant with an outdoor drink and snack area and outdoor dining area and an inside dining area. The restaurant specializes in the local catch and is well frequented by Spanish people. We went for lunch and ate from the a la carte.
Starters.
Gazpacho (4.00) - very nice gazpacho, plenty of it and very delicious, loads of red peppers, green peppers, onions and tomatoes - didn’t add the cheapo nasty mini breadsticks, make real croutons - how long does it take? This is probably once of the best gazpachos around. The other was a mixed salad (6.00), very nice plentiful salad with all the usual bits including tuna.
Mains.
Emperador (15.00) - nice large piece of sword fish done ‘a la plancha’ and served with garlic potatoes and a grilled tomato. The tomato was grilled, lovely, would have liked more! The potato was again lovely with plentiful garlic pieces in it - very nice. The fish cooked perfectly, boneless and skinless and plentiful - very nice. The other was the fish platter twice (20.00 each) - a nice platter consisting of sardines, calamari, baby squid and bocorones - a plentiful plate, nice.
Drinks - Cerveza at 3.50 a pint, normal for this area, water 1.00 coffee at 1.20 and bread at 1.00. The food here is always excellent but I feel it is well overpriced, I have had better tasting, more fish variety and cheaper fritura elsewhere - ie. Sol Y Playa at Carboneras. Still if you are in the area and don’t mind the prices give it whirl it will not disappoint. Total cost for 3 people 83.20.
Location :- Port of Garrucha at the lighthouse
The restaurant is on the beach side of the road overlooking the harbour. It is a large restaurant with an outdoor drink and snack area and outdoor dining area and an inside dining area. The restaurant specializes in the local catch and is well frequented by Spanish people. We went for lunch and ate from the a la carte.
Starters.
Gazpacho (4.00) - very nice gazpacho, plenty of it and very delicious, loads of red peppers, green peppers, onions and tomatoes - didn’t add the cheapo nasty mini breadsticks, make real croutons - how long does it take? This is probably once of the best gazpachos around. The other was a mixed salad (6.00), very nice plentiful salad with all the usual bits including tuna.
Mains.
Emperador (15.00) - nice large piece of sword fish done ‘a la plancha’ and served with garlic potatoes and a grilled tomato. The tomato was grilled, lovely, would have liked more! The potato was again lovely with plentiful garlic pieces in it - very nice. The fish cooked perfectly, boneless and skinless and plentiful - very nice. The other was the fish platter twice (20.00 each) - a nice platter consisting of sardines, calamari, baby squid and bocorones - a plentiful plate, nice.
Drinks - Cerveza at 3.50 a pint, normal for this area, water 1.00 coffee at 1.20 and bread at 1.00. The food here is always excellent but I feel it is well overpriced, I have had better tasting, more fish variety and cheaper fritura elsewhere - ie. Sol Y Playa at Carboneras. Still if you are in the area and don’t mind the prices give it whirl it will not disappoint. Total cost for 3 people 83.20.
Wednesday 19 October 2011
Fantasia - Mojacar Playa
Venue:- Restaurante Fantasia
Location:- Mojacar Playa
Website:- www.restaurantefantasia.com
Phone:- 950 475 127
Fantasia is a beach front restaurant and bar situated along the Playa at the Best Hotel Indalo end. The restaurant was given a makeover last year and looks very good with its black and red décor and table linen. This restaurant probably does have one of the best views out to sea from the playa as it is set just back off the beach with bushes directly outside the large panoramic windows, then the cycle path, more shrubbery then the promenade more shrubbery then onto the beach with swaying palms - very nice.
We went for lunch and ate from the a la carte (menu del dia was 10.95).
Starters -
Caprese salad (7.95) - a plentiful plate of tomato. Onion and mozzarella cheese drizzled with olive oil. A very nice dish, well presented and very tasty.
Ensalada Cesar (8.95) - A Very nice Caesar salad with chicken pieces, plenty of it ideal as a main dish if not too hungry - all devoured.
Finally a deep fried brie (5.00) with sweet chilli dip and small salad - delicious brie cooked just right, not so hot it burned the mouth, nice sweet chilli sauce - sweet with a nice chilli bite. The side salad complemented it well.
Mains -
Do it myself pizza (9.75), a basic margarita with added double hot pepperoni and Roquefort (heart attack special! Its to die for!) - ate the lot, the pepperoni was ‘real’ hot pepperoni, not the often served cheap salami style pepperoni - I fancied pizza and it did the trick.
Escalope Milanese (13.95) - two huge pieces of thin veal coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried - delicious but it was a lot and it came with spaghetti and tomato sauce which went well with the veal.
Linguini Marisco (13.95) a simple pasta with large prawns and drizzled with chilli oil - very nice and nice hot chilli oil - rated the best so far.
We dipped out on the desserts as we all had had enough with the previous courses.
We had beer Mahou at 3.00, water at 1.75 and coffees at 1.50 each.
Total cost of the meal 76.30 - very good for what we had, in a nice setting - we will be back.
Location:- Mojacar Playa
Website:- www.restaurantefantasia.com
Phone:- 950 475 127
Fantasia is a beach front restaurant and bar situated along the Playa at the Best Hotel Indalo end. The restaurant was given a makeover last year and looks very good with its black and red décor and table linen. This restaurant probably does have one of the best views out to sea from the playa as it is set just back off the beach with bushes directly outside the large panoramic windows, then the cycle path, more shrubbery then the promenade more shrubbery then onto the beach with swaying palms - very nice.
We went for lunch and ate from the a la carte (menu del dia was 10.95).
Starters -
Caprese salad (7.95) - a plentiful plate of tomato. Onion and mozzarella cheese drizzled with olive oil. A very nice dish, well presented and very tasty.
Ensalada Cesar (8.95) - A Very nice Caesar salad with chicken pieces, plenty of it ideal as a main dish if not too hungry - all devoured.
Finally a deep fried brie (5.00) with sweet chilli dip and small salad - delicious brie cooked just right, not so hot it burned the mouth, nice sweet chilli sauce - sweet with a nice chilli bite. The side salad complemented it well.
Mains -
Do it myself pizza (9.75), a basic margarita with added double hot pepperoni and Roquefort (heart attack special! Its to die for!) - ate the lot, the pepperoni was ‘real’ hot pepperoni, not the often served cheap salami style pepperoni - I fancied pizza and it did the trick.
Escalope Milanese (13.95) - two huge pieces of thin veal coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried - delicious but it was a lot and it came with spaghetti and tomato sauce which went well with the veal.
Linguini Marisco (13.95) a simple pasta with large prawns and drizzled with chilli oil - very nice and nice hot chilli oil - rated the best so far.
We dipped out on the desserts as we all had had enough with the previous courses.
We had beer Mahou at 3.00, water at 1.75 and coffees at 1.50 each.
Total cost of the meal 76.30 - very good for what we had, in a nice setting - we will be back.
Sol Y Playa - Carboneras
Venue:- Sol Y Playa
Location :- Carboneras Playa (desalination end)
Walking along the promenade from the beginning towards the desalination plant you pass many café/bar/restaurants, but for us the best of the bunch is Sol Y playa - a large restaurant with a nice shaded outside terrace overlooking the sea, an interior section and then a further section that appears even more a fine dining area. The place is very Spanish and you will not be offered an English menu, although they must have them. You can have anything from Tapas and a drink, through raciones to full a la carte - its Sunday, the day for a leisurely lunch so a la carte it is - the restaurant was very full with mainly Spanish people - speaks volumes for quality and service.
Starters -
Ensalada Cogollos (8.00) - don’t know cogollos and it not in our ‘dick and harry’ but we think it is a type of lettuce, little gem maybe? - anyway it came with the lettuce draped with fresh anchovies with tomatoes and a pineapple ring in the centre decorated with a few pieces of sweet corn. A very nice concoction the anchovies nice and fresh as was the salad - very nice and a good size.
Boquerones Fritos (8.00) - quite large whitebait that had been cleaned and beheaded, nicely done and presented and delicious with a squib of lemon juice. Everybody tried some and all were well satisfied with the lovely fresh flavour.
Gazpacho Andaluz (4.20) - a total disaster! Croutons already added, no bits to add and it was ’fizzy’. Thought if may have contained cava but the waiter said ‘no’. I tried it and it definitely was not right, we told the waiter as we could not eat it and he just seemed a little surprised but did not offer an alternative. This is purely personal but I believe it was on the turn and should not have been served!
Mains -
Merluza Plancha (11.00) - one of my favourite fish this (hake) and it seems a Spanish favourite as well. The two large pieces of fish were simply cooked with a nice garlic and oil dressing and served with potatoes and a small mixed veg. The fish was cooked to my liking - ie. Not undercooked! I hate undercooked fish! The fish was cross cut so had a ring of skin and the central bone still with it, not a problem as the fish fell away from the bone and the skin peeled easily if you didn’t want to eat it - I did and it was delicious.
Arroz Con Bogabante (40.00 for two) - this was a seafood Paella with an added whole lobster. The rice was excellent and there was plenty of large mussels and large clams not the usual small tasteless ones that you normally get. There was also calamari and it was topped with a whole lobster halved with the appropriate implements for claw cracking. A very very nice paella probably one of the best we have eaten anywhere so far - expensive maybe but it did contain a whole lobster, to have just a mixed seafood paella would have been 26.00.
Too full for postres, drinks were beer at 3.00 per pint, water at 1.60 and bread for three at a total of 1.00 - coffees on the house.
Total cost for three people was 85.80 - again I thought this reasonable for what we had.
If you want a leisurely meal with a nice outlook give this place a whirl, you can spend a lot less and I am sure you will enjoy whatever you have - we will return.
Location :- Carboneras Playa (desalination end)
Walking along the promenade from the beginning towards the desalination plant you pass many café/bar/restaurants, but for us the best of the bunch is Sol Y playa - a large restaurant with a nice shaded outside terrace overlooking the sea, an interior section and then a further section that appears even more a fine dining area. The place is very Spanish and you will not be offered an English menu, although they must have them. You can have anything from Tapas and a drink, through raciones to full a la carte - its Sunday, the day for a leisurely lunch so a la carte it is - the restaurant was very full with mainly Spanish people - speaks volumes for quality and service.
Starters -
Ensalada Cogollos (8.00) - don’t know cogollos and it not in our ‘dick and harry’ but we think it is a type of lettuce, little gem maybe? - anyway it came with the lettuce draped with fresh anchovies with tomatoes and a pineapple ring in the centre decorated with a few pieces of sweet corn. A very nice concoction the anchovies nice and fresh as was the salad - very nice and a good size.
Boquerones Fritos (8.00) - quite large whitebait that had been cleaned and beheaded, nicely done and presented and delicious with a squib of lemon juice. Everybody tried some and all were well satisfied with the lovely fresh flavour.
Gazpacho Andaluz (4.20) - a total disaster! Croutons already added, no bits to add and it was ’fizzy’. Thought if may have contained cava but the waiter said ‘no’. I tried it and it definitely was not right, we told the waiter as we could not eat it and he just seemed a little surprised but did not offer an alternative. This is purely personal but I believe it was on the turn and should not have been served!
Mains -
Merluza Plancha (11.00) - one of my favourite fish this (hake) and it seems a Spanish favourite as well. The two large pieces of fish were simply cooked with a nice garlic and oil dressing and served with potatoes and a small mixed veg. The fish was cooked to my liking - ie. Not undercooked! I hate undercooked fish! The fish was cross cut so had a ring of skin and the central bone still with it, not a problem as the fish fell away from the bone and the skin peeled easily if you didn’t want to eat it - I did and it was delicious.
Arroz Con Bogabante (40.00 for two) - this was a seafood Paella with an added whole lobster. The rice was excellent and there was plenty of large mussels and large clams not the usual small tasteless ones that you normally get. There was also calamari and it was topped with a whole lobster halved with the appropriate implements for claw cracking. A very very nice paella probably one of the best we have eaten anywhere so far - expensive maybe but it did contain a whole lobster, to have just a mixed seafood paella would have been 26.00.
Too full for postres, drinks were beer at 3.00 per pint, water at 1.60 and bread for three at a total of 1.00 - coffees on the house.
Total cost for three people was 85.80 - again I thought this reasonable for what we had.
If you want a leisurely meal with a nice outlook give this place a whirl, you can spend a lot less and I am sure you will enjoy whatever you have - we will return.
Monday 17 October 2011
Riad Cabrera (Fatimas) - Sierra Cabrera
Venue:- Riad Cabrera (Fatimas)
Cuisine:- Arabic & Mediterranean
Location:- Above Turre in the Sierra Cabrera
GPS 37.114011, -1.915135
Email :- riadcabrera@hotmail.com
Phone:- 950 092 042 or 617 854 183
Riad Cabrera more commonly known as Fatimas (Fatima Mouhib Housini) is a beautiful restaurant, definitely in the fine dining bracket. To get to it you either follow the signs out of Turre village (from Mojacar direction) to Pastores - a steep left turn before you reach the cemetery , Fatimas is about 5 km along a long winding road climbing into the Sierra - the road is good. If you pass the cemetery either turnaround or carry on to the main entrance to the Cabrera and then follow the arrows to Fatimas - slightly longer journey, road much rougher but very pretty - try going up one way and coming back the other. The restaurant is beautifully laid out in a very Arabic style with very neat white linen tablecloths and blue or white napkins, the seating is comfortable with the chairs also being covered in white - the interior is a delight to behold. The outside area consists of a large open terrace with lots of seating, the style is very Arabic with a nice fountain at the rear and many plants and trees, the place is beautifully lit at night.
The menu has lots of choice of fish, meat and vegetarian - Arabic or Mediterranean, you can also let Fatima devise a sampler menu for you - price according to choice. The prices/courses we tried are typical of the menu as a whole.
Fatima seated us at our table and handed us our napkins with a pair of tongs. The napkins were held by a delightful decorated swirl, the like of which I have not seen before. There was an ‘amuse bouche’ of hommous on Moroccan flat bread - very nice.
Starters - Salmorejo Gazpacho (6.00) - a tasty gazpacho with red pepper, green pepper and onion to add as required - a delicious soup described as beautiful - praise indeed from a person who has gazpacho at least three times a week! Rissotto con fungi (12.00) - excellent creamy rissotto with an assortment of fungi - very tasty. I opted for a Moroccan dish 3 x Brewatte (spelling?) baccalao - an Arabic samosa stuffed with cod and raisins - not as sweet as you might expect, and the pastry I have not seen before, a sort of a bubbly filo, crispy and delicious not brittle like filo - absolutely to die for, more please! But wait mains to follow. We believe all the rolls to be homemade (3.00) for 3 - an assortment of very delicious rolls.
Mains - Tagin de Ciervo (14.00) A venison tagine with carrot, guava, goji berries and pumpkin - a delicious concoction with a lovely ‘gravy’ which was mopped up with some of the bread rolls. The second main was lamb cous cous (12.00) - lamb, cous cous, pumpkin and loads of chick peas were the main ingredients - absolutely scrummy, the juices were superb - the last time anything like this was eaten was in Marrakesh years ago. Finally I had the Carre Cordero al Horno (15.00) - a large piece of boneless lamb served Arabic style with boiled new potatoes in a creamy vegetable mix and some mixed veggies (normally served with pumpkin but I do not like pumpkin). The lamb just fell away and was cooked beautifully, the potatoes mopped up the delicious gravy/sauce. A super choice I thought - I would have it again.
Desserts - Mixed Morrroqui (5.00) a selection of Moroccan desserts - similar to baklava - delicious and different. Tarta de pasas y miel (5.00) - Moroccan dessert, similar to bread pudding as we know it - a lovely taste, thoroughly enjoyed it. Now for my dessert - helado de queso (6.00) - blue cheese ice cream served with nuts and honey - vile you are thinking, Heston Blumenthal must have visited! But no, the blue cheese ice cream (Roquefort) with the honey and nuts were very very tasty, it was truly delicious - I would have it again and again.
Fatima looked after us to start then handed the reins to a very proficient waiter - 10/10.
To finish a couple of Marroqui mint teas at 2.00 a pop - if you don’t like it sweet then ’sin azucar, else it comes very sweet - very minty, very refreshing. We started with a couple of beers and an orange juice and a very fine bottle of Ribera wine at 29.00 - well it is a special place.
Total for the evening was 127.98 for three people - you could pay a lot less, but we thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend the restaurant to anyone. Enjoy - we will be back.
Cuisine:- Arabic & Mediterranean
Location:- Above Turre in the Sierra Cabrera
GPS 37.114011, -1.915135
Email :- riadcabrera@hotmail.com
Phone:- 950 092 042 or 617 854 183
Riad Cabrera more commonly known as Fatimas (Fatima Mouhib Housini) is a beautiful restaurant, definitely in the fine dining bracket. To get to it you either follow the signs out of Turre village (from Mojacar direction) to Pastores - a steep left turn before you reach the cemetery , Fatimas is about 5 km along a long winding road climbing into the Sierra - the road is good. If you pass the cemetery either turnaround or carry on to the main entrance to the Cabrera and then follow the arrows to Fatimas - slightly longer journey, road much rougher but very pretty - try going up one way and coming back the other. The restaurant is beautifully laid out in a very Arabic style with very neat white linen tablecloths and blue or white napkins, the seating is comfortable with the chairs also being covered in white - the interior is a delight to behold. The outside area consists of a large open terrace with lots of seating, the style is very Arabic with a nice fountain at the rear and many plants and trees, the place is beautifully lit at night.
The menu has lots of choice of fish, meat and vegetarian - Arabic or Mediterranean, you can also let Fatima devise a sampler menu for you - price according to choice. The prices/courses we tried are typical of the menu as a whole.
Fatima seated us at our table and handed us our napkins with a pair of tongs. The napkins were held by a delightful decorated swirl, the like of which I have not seen before. There was an ‘amuse bouche’ of hommous on Moroccan flat bread - very nice.
Starters - Salmorejo Gazpacho (6.00) - a tasty gazpacho with red pepper, green pepper and onion to add as required - a delicious soup described as beautiful - praise indeed from a person who has gazpacho at least three times a week! Rissotto con fungi (12.00) - excellent creamy rissotto with an assortment of fungi - very tasty. I opted for a Moroccan dish 3 x Brewatte (spelling?) baccalao - an Arabic samosa stuffed with cod and raisins - not as sweet as you might expect, and the pastry I have not seen before, a sort of a bubbly filo, crispy and delicious not brittle like filo - absolutely to die for, more please! But wait mains to follow. We believe all the rolls to be homemade (3.00) for 3 - an assortment of very delicious rolls.
Mains - Tagin de Ciervo (14.00) A venison tagine with carrot, guava, goji berries and pumpkin - a delicious concoction with a lovely ‘gravy’ which was mopped up with some of the bread rolls. The second main was lamb cous cous (12.00) - lamb, cous cous, pumpkin and loads of chick peas were the main ingredients - absolutely scrummy, the juices were superb - the last time anything like this was eaten was in Marrakesh years ago. Finally I had the Carre Cordero al Horno (15.00) - a large piece of boneless lamb served Arabic style with boiled new potatoes in a creamy vegetable mix and some mixed veggies (normally served with pumpkin but I do not like pumpkin). The lamb just fell away and was cooked beautifully, the potatoes mopped up the delicious gravy/sauce. A super choice I thought - I would have it again.
Desserts - Mixed Morrroqui (5.00) a selection of Moroccan desserts - similar to baklava - delicious and different. Tarta de pasas y miel (5.00) - Moroccan dessert, similar to bread pudding as we know it - a lovely taste, thoroughly enjoyed it. Now for my dessert - helado de queso (6.00) - blue cheese ice cream served with nuts and honey - vile you are thinking, Heston Blumenthal must have visited! But no, the blue cheese ice cream (Roquefort) with the honey and nuts were very very tasty, it was truly delicious - I would have it again and again.
Fatima looked after us to start then handed the reins to a very proficient waiter - 10/10.
To finish a couple of Marroqui mint teas at 2.00 a pop - if you don’t like it sweet then ’sin azucar, else it comes very sweet - very minty, very refreshing. We started with a couple of beers and an orange juice and a very fine bottle of Ribera wine at 29.00 - well it is a special place.
Total for the evening was 127.98 for three people - you could pay a lot less, but we thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend the restaurant to anyone. Enjoy - we will be back.
Saturday 15 October 2011
La Gaviota retaurante and Pizzeria - Mojacar Playa
Venue:- La Gaviota Restaurante & Pizzeria
Location :- Mojacar Playa - opposite the stables - upstairs.
We have visited this restaurant in previous years and not a lot has changed, even has the same staff - as far as we can remember. The location is good, the restaurant open and airy and the seating is comfortable. There is a menu de la noche for 10 euros, a pizza menu where most are less than 10 euros and the a la carte with all the usual Italian suspects plus other Mediterranean choices - we opted for the a la carte.
Starters - Gambas Pil Pil times two (9.95 each) requested and served extra spicy - prawns fresh and peeled with a very hot garlic and chilli oil - no bread was forthcoming to mop up the resulting juices so some was requested and charged at 50 cents each - could have least thrown that in as the gambas was 9.95! The other starter was an ensalada Caprese (4.50) - basically tomato with two cheeses, one hard and one soft and crumbly - very nice, just right, not too filling.
Mains - Spaghetti Carbonara (6.75) - excellent, plenty of bacon pieces with a delicious creamy sauce.
Spaghetti with chilli and garlic (6.50) - simple, straightforward and very tasty.
Now I had Mero which translates as Grouper (14.00), the waiter assured me that this was what we call turbot so I had it. Now I am no expert but it didn’t taste like turbot to me, checked when I got home and found grouper and turbot to be completely different fish - whatever it was it was delicious and came with a creamy but not too rich prawn sauce with a few patatas fritas and some beans, carrots and cabbage - all gone!
Desserts - Ice cream - well ice cream is ice cream, it is what I wanted.
Profiteroles with ice cream - nice vanilla ice cream with two perfectly nice profiteroles either side.
Fresh fruit salad - kiwi, melon, orange and pineapple - very nice.
All came in at 3.75 a go.
We had a bottle of rather nice, rather pricey (for Spain) bottle of Cautivo Baroja Crianza for 15.00 euros - house wine was 6.50 a bottle.
Total bill for three people 89.20 euros - very good meal and we were happy with price, we will return. Three menu de la noche and a bottle of house would have set you back 36.50 by comparison.
Location :- Mojacar Playa - opposite the stables - upstairs.
We have visited this restaurant in previous years and not a lot has changed, even has the same staff - as far as we can remember. The location is good, the restaurant open and airy and the seating is comfortable. There is a menu de la noche for 10 euros, a pizza menu where most are less than 10 euros and the a la carte with all the usual Italian suspects plus other Mediterranean choices - we opted for the a la carte.
Starters - Gambas Pil Pil times two (9.95 each) requested and served extra spicy - prawns fresh and peeled with a very hot garlic and chilli oil - no bread was forthcoming to mop up the resulting juices so some was requested and charged at 50 cents each - could have least thrown that in as the gambas was 9.95! The other starter was an ensalada Caprese (4.50) - basically tomato with two cheeses, one hard and one soft and crumbly - very nice, just right, not too filling.
Mains - Spaghetti Carbonara (6.75) - excellent, plenty of bacon pieces with a delicious creamy sauce.
Spaghetti with chilli and garlic (6.50) - simple, straightforward and very tasty.
Now I had Mero which translates as Grouper (14.00), the waiter assured me that this was what we call turbot so I had it. Now I am no expert but it didn’t taste like turbot to me, checked when I got home and found grouper and turbot to be completely different fish - whatever it was it was delicious and came with a creamy but not too rich prawn sauce with a few patatas fritas and some beans, carrots and cabbage - all gone!
Desserts - Ice cream - well ice cream is ice cream, it is what I wanted.
Profiteroles with ice cream - nice vanilla ice cream with two perfectly nice profiteroles either side.
Fresh fruit salad - kiwi, melon, orange and pineapple - very nice.
All came in at 3.75 a go.
We had a bottle of rather nice, rather pricey (for Spain) bottle of Cautivo Baroja Crianza for 15.00 euros - house wine was 6.50 a bottle.
Total bill for three people 89.20 euros - very good meal and we were happy with price, we will return. Three menu de la noche and a bottle of house would have set you back 36.50 by comparison.
Friday 14 October 2011
La Montana - Bedar/Lubrin road
Venue:- La Montana
Location:- On the road between Bedar and Lubrin
Phone :- 950 39 8856 (Nb. This is the new land line number)
Decided for a run through the mountains today and head for La Montana a small restaurant/bar tucked away in the hills beyond Bedar. We went for lunch - there is no menu del dia, but we already knew that having visited in the past. Your hosts Mathew and Carol (formerly from Finca Listonero) will make you welcome as you peruse their fine dining menu while sipping a drink outside on the patio area. The restaurant itself is split into two small sections either side of the main entrance with the bar at the back - seating is intimate and comfortable and when the cold arrives real fires can be lit in the corner.
There are about five or six choices of all courses and we had the following …
Gazpacho (well it is Spain!) - tasty soup with onion and green pepper to add to taste, delicious.
Fig salad - superb, declared ‘probably the best I have eaten’ - figs from the tree outside, local salad, dressed with their own olive oil (some infused with rosemary and garlic).
Croquettes - not your run of the mill ham and potato, no, these were spinach and pine kernels, exquisite flavour with I thought wonderful.
Mains .
Chicken stuffed with blue cheese and chorizo wrapped in bacon and served with new potatoes and a side of roasted mixed peppers and courgettes. A large breast with a delicious filling - the plate was cleared (oh! Left a small potato - I wanted dessert!)
The others both had pork loin with mash and the same veggies - one pork was done with a blue cheese sauce the other a mustard sauce - again delicious.
Desserts ..
Impossible pie for 3! What is that you ask? Well it is a pie with a pastry base topped with a lemon custard and that topped with almonds - we ate the lot!
Pints with meal (2.50) water and coffees to follow - all a very reasonable 78.50.
This is fine dining in a rural setting - a better meal would be difficult to find - we will return.
Location:- On the road between Bedar and Lubrin
Phone :- 950 39 8856 (Nb. This is the new land line number)
Decided for a run through the mountains today and head for La Montana a small restaurant/bar tucked away in the hills beyond Bedar. We went for lunch - there is no menu del dia, but we already knew that having visited in the past. Your hosts Mathew and Carol (formerly from Finca Listonero) will make you welcome as you peruse their fine dining menu while sipping a drink outside on the patio area. The restaurant itself is split into two small sections either side of the main entrance with the bar at the back - seating is intimate and comfortable and when the cold arrives real fires can be lit in the corner.
There are about five or six choices of all courses and we had the following …
Gazpacho (well it is Spain!) - tasty soup with onion and green pepper to add to taste, delicious.
Fig salad - superb, declared ‘probably the best I have eaten’ - figs from the tree outside, local salad, dressed with their own olive oil (some infused with rosemary and garlic).
Croquettes - not your run of the mill ham and potato, no, these were spinach and pine kernels, exquisite flavour with I thought wonderful.
Mains .
Chicken stuffed with blue cheese and chorizo wrapped in bacon and served with new potatoes and a side of roasted mixed peppers and courgettes. A large breast with a delicious filling - the plate was cleared (oh! Left a small potato - I wanted dessert!)
The others both had pork loin with mash and the same veggies - one pork was done with a blue cheese sauce the other a mustard sauce - again delicious.
Desserts ..
Impossible pie for 3! What is that you ask? Well it is a pie with a pastry base topped with a lemon custard and that topped with almonds - we ate the lot!
Pints with meal (2.50) water and coffees to follow - all a very reasonable 78.50.
This is fine dining in a rural setting - a better meal would be difficult to find - we will return.
Azeefa Cocina India - Mojacar Playa
Venue:- Azeefa Cocina India
Mojacar Playa (opposite the riding stables and upstairs)
Thought we would give the Indian a whirl tonight and decided to try Azeefa on the Playa. Now after perusing the menu and eyeing the waiters we had a feeling of deja-vu and yet we have never eaten here before! Ah! we believe this to be a sister retaurant of Chili Pizza in Turre which we think is a very nice Indian. The setting is much lighter and airier than in Turre, not sure if the menu is the same or the prices different. But here goes ...
Just had beer and water to drink - a note about the drink - ask for a pint and you get .4 of a litre which is only .7 of a pint and they charge 2.50 for it - fairly standard along the Playa but it isn’t a pint! If you do the sums then it actually works out at 3.57 euros for a pint - VERY expensive, the dearest we have had!
We tried the mixed starters to begin (8.50 for two) and shared them between the three of us - lamb tikka, chicken tikka, sheek kebab, onion bhaji, prawns, vegetable pakora and one meat and vegetable samosa - all very tasty and just tickled the taste buds ready for round two.
Vindaloo chicken (7.10) with pilau rice (2.70) and Bhindi Bhaji (4.50) , tasty vindaloo not too hot with delicious potatoes (aloo) in it. The pilau rice was colourful and very fragrant, the bhindi (okra/ladies fingers) was nicely done and not at all slimy which can happen with okra, altogether a delicious meal.
Chicken Jalfrezi (8.50) with pilau rice - nice sauce medium/hot with tasty chicken and plenty of peppers, onion and tomato - delicious all devoured.
Manchurian chicken (8.50) with a keema nan (2.60) - this is a new one on me, the chicken tikka was served in a medium sauce flavoured with fresh mint giving an altogether different twist - it was superb. The nan bread wasn’t quite what we were used to, but it was nice and soaked up the minty juices well.
The size of the meal was in our opinion perfect, we cleared the plates but to have more would have just been pigging out - a really hungry person may think the portions slightly on the small side - we didn’t.
The only desserts available were a small selection of ice cream - boring! We declined. Coffees followed then a drinkie on the house. When the bill arrived - a very reasonable 64.30, it had three mini magnum ice creams with it, a nice touch and a pleasant change to the usual sweets.
A very nice restaurant, nice setting, we will definitely revisit - shame about the beer rip-off!!
Mojacar Playa (opposite the riding stables and upstairs)
Thought we would give the Indian a whirl tonight and decided to try Azeefa on the Playa. Now after perusing the menu and eyeing the waiters we had a feeling of deja-vu and yet we have never eaten here before! Ah! we believe this to be a sister retaurant of Chili Pizza in Turre which we think is a very nice Indian. The setting is much lighter and airier than in Turre, not sure if the menu is the same or the prices different. But here goes ...
Just had beer and water to drink - a note about the drink - ask for a pint and you get .4 of a litre which is only .7 of a pint and they charge 2.50 for it - fairly standard along the Playa but it isn’t a pint! If you do the sums then it actually works out at 3.57 euros for a pint - VERY expensive, the dearest we have had!
We tried the mixed starters to begin (8.50 for two) and shared them between the three of us - lamb tikka, chicken tikka, sheek kebab, onion bhaji, prawns, vegetable pakora and one meat and vegetable samosa - all very tasty and just tickled the taste buds ready for round two.
Vindaloo chicken (7.10) with pilau rice (2.70) and Bhindi Bhaji (4.50) , tasty vindaloo not too hot with delicious potatoes (aloo) in it. The pilau rice was colourful and very fragrant, the bhindi (okra/ladies fingers) was nicely done and not at all slimy which can happen with okra, altogether a delicious meal.
Chicken Jalfrezi (8.50) with pilau rice - nice sauce medium/hot with tasty chicken and plenty of peppers, onion and tomato - delicious all devoured.
Manchurian chicken (8.50) with a keema nan (2.60) - this is a new one on me, the chicken tikka was served in a medium sauce flavoured with fresh mint giving an altogether different twist - it was superb. The nan bread wasn’t quite what we were used to, but it was nice and soaked up the minty juices well.
The size of the meal was in our opinion perfect, we cleared the plates but to have more would have just been pigging out - a really hungry person may think the portions slightly on the small side - we didn’t.
The only desserts available were a small selection of ice cream - boring! We declined. Coffees followed then a drinkie on the house. When the bill arrived - a very reasonable 64.30, it had three mini magnum ice creams with it, a nice touch and a pleasant change to the usual sweets.
A very nice restaurant, nice setting, we will definitely revisit - shame about the beer rip-off!!
Meson Verfran - Los Gallardos (menu del dia)
Venue :- Meson Verfran
Los Gallardos village
Meson Verfran in Los G. is a typical Spanish bar/restaurant well frequented by the locals. We went for lunch and the ‘menu del dia’ and being Spanish there is no menu, you ask and the menu will be recited - in Spanish! If you do not know the language you will probably struggle as often there are regional dishes which you will not know what it contains - a bit like a Spaniard trying to fathom out shepherds pie, Irish stew or Bakewell tart. The real Spanish restaurants are in my opinion the best for the ‘menu del dias’.
So what did we have …
There were at least 5 or 6 choices for every course …
A plate of mixed salad was put on the table at the start - lettuce, tomato, onion, and tuna and also some crusty bread. The starters consisted of two local dishes of which I do not know the names but were .. Firstly an egg soup which contained vermicelli and bacon and of course egg - very eggy taste that I thought was superb, my partner was not so keen. The other dish consisted of tripe, belly pork and chick peas in a broth and was declared very tasty (not my cup of tea!).
For mains we had the house croquettes - five in all very creamy with bacon and potato the others had roast chicken pieces with chips and roasted peppers and maybe some other veggies (can’t remember). All quite satisfied.
Desserts consisted of home made lemon mousse - light and quite tangy.
The meal was accompanied by a couple of pints, water and coffee to follow.
Everything all inclusive was just 10 euros each - an absolute bargain.
Brush up your Spanish and give a try, hopefully it will not disappoint.
Los Gallardos village
Meson Verfran in Los G. is a typical Spanish bar/restaurant well frequented by the locals. We went for lunch and the ‘menu del dia’ and being Spanish there is no menu, you ask and the menu will be recited - in Spanish! If you do not know the language you will probably struggle as often there are regional dishes which you will not know what it contains - a bit like a Spaniard trying to fathom out shepherds pie, Irish stew or Bakewell tart. The real Spanish restaurants are in my opinion the best for the ‘menu del dias’.
So what did we have …
There were at least 5 or 6 choices for every course …
A plate of mixed salad was put on the table at the start - lettuce, tomato, onion, and tuna and also some crusty bread. The starters consisted of two local dishes of which I do not know the names but were .. Firstly an egg soup which contained vermicelli and bacon and of course egg - very eggy taste that I thought was superb, my partner was not so keen. The other dish consisted of tripe, belly pork and chick peas in a broth and was declared very tasty (not my cup of tea!).
For mains we had the house croquettes - five in all very creamy with bacon and potato the others had roast chicken pieces with chips and roasted peppers and maybe some other veggies (can’t remember). All quite satisfied.
Desserts consisted of home made lemon mousse - light and quite tangy.
The meal was accompanied by a couple of pints, water and coffee to follow.
Everything all inclusive was just 10 euros each - an absolute bargain.
Brush up your Spanish and give a try, hopefully it will not disappoint.
Tuesday 11 October 2011
El patio 2000, Maui Beach, Los Olivos, Orsoca, Jamon Jamon, Sol Y Playa
EL PATIO 2000
For me this is the best chirinquito ‘beach bar’ along the Playa - its been around for donkeys and is rustic, all types of weathered seating and tables, very comfortable and everything a ‘real’ beach bar should be. Prices typical along the Playa but we go particularly for the Paella - for me it’s the best.
MAUI BEACH
Almost next door to El Patio to its left as you face the beach - had a complete makeover since last year and is now a modern beach bar, very popular seems very busy every day, plenty of observant efficient staff keeps the food and drink coming. Nice two course lunch, again typical prices.
EL CID
Almost next door to El Patio on its left as you face the Playa - this bar fall between both for modern versus rustic but still has a café feel about it as it has the ubiquitous plastic ‘garden’ furniture. Haven’t eaten here yet just tried it for a drink and ambience - ok. Prices the usual.
LOS OLIVOS
On the Playa across from the beach, very nice place, huge choice of Tapas, at least 30 ranging from 1-3 euros, ok not the cheapest around for tapas but good and you won’t be disappointed. There have three or four set menus with something to suit everyone also there is a la carte. The usual phrase - typical prices for the playa - give this a try you will not be disappointed.
ORSOCA (Turre)
Top of Turre high street on the hill to the left as you leave the village. Small but good menu containing local dishes that need to be ordered at least a day in advance - bit of a nuisance if you have just walked in! We had raciones ‘portions’ which were huge. Asking of the Moorish Kebabs - hoe many do you get for 9e? the response was two large sticks - in reality you got NINE! So along with calamares, prawns and scrambled aggs with ham and potatoes we had too much! And took the prawns home in a doggy bag. Line dancing Tuesday and Thursday for the women folk and the chaps or they can have a pint for a mere 2 euros the cheapest I have found. Nice place - try it!
JAMON JAMON (Mojacar Pueblo)
On the edge of the Pueblo as you enter from Turre side - nice food, shame about the price, beer was a whopping 3.50 euros a pint - we will not return!
BAR EL PINAR (El Pinar)
A truly British place, the only people present were Brits - we went on Friday for the fish & chips and the quiz. Fish and chips ok, bit pricey and quite a small portion you can do better elsewhere. Beer was again only 2 euros per pint. Quiz - start time 08.30, actual 09.30! 60 questions - when did it finish? Just after midnight - way too long AND the barman was helping people with the answers - we know its only friendly but c’mon, play the game. To be fair they had a lot of walk ins that night and were very busy so coping was an issue, but on balance we will not return.
SOL Y PLAYA (Carbonaras)
Very nice restaurant along the beach front towards the desalination plant - very Spanish, very few Brits when we visited and it is a large restaurant and was packed in and out! Little English spoken and menus predominantly in Spanish (English available). Very good varied menu and reasonable prices for a beachfront location. We enjoyed all the food and would recommend a visit, plus it is a nice ride over the mountains from the Playa to get to it. WE will go again.
For me this is the best chirinquito ‘beach bar’ along the Playa - its been around for donkeys and is rustic, all types of weathered seating and tables, very comfortable and everything a ‘real’ beach bar should be. Prices typical along the Playa but we go particularly for the Paella - for me it’s the best.
MAUI BEACH
Almost next door to El Patio to its left as you face the beach - had a complete makeover since last year and is now a modern beach bar, very popular seems very busy every day, plenty of observant efficient staff keeps the food and drink coming. Nice two course lunch, again typical prices.
EL CID
Almost next door to El Patio on its left as you face the Playa - this bar fall between both for modern versus rustic but still has a café feel about it as it has the ubiquitous plastic ‘garden’ furniture. Haven’t eaten here yet just tried it for a drink and ambience - ok. Prices the usual.
LOS OLIVOS
On the Playa across from the beach, very nice place, huge choice of Tapas, at least 30 ranging from 1-3 euros, ok not the cheapest around for tapas but good and you won’t be disappointed. There have three or four set menus with something to suit everyone also there is a la carte. The usual phrase - typical prices for the playa - give this a try you will not be disappointed.
ORSOCA (Turre)
Top of Turre high street on the hill to the left as you leave the village. Small but good menu containing local dishes that need to be ordered at least a day in advance - bit of a nuisance if you have just walked in! We had raciones ‘portions’ which were huge. Asking of the Moorish Kebabs - hoe many do you get for 9e? the response was two large sticks - in reality you got NINE! So along with calamares, prawns and scrambled aggs with ham and potatoes we had too much! And took the prawns home in a doggy bag. Line dancing Tuesday and Thursday for the women folk and the chaps or they can have a pint for a mere 2 euros the cheapest I have found. Nice place - try it!
JAMON JAMON (Mojacar Pueblo)
On the edge of the Pueblo as you enter from Turre side - nice food, shame about the price, beer was a whopping 3.50 euros a pint - we will not return!
BAR EL PINAR (El Pinar)
A truly British place, the only people present were Brits - we went on Friday for the fish & chips and the quiz. Fish and chips ok, bit pricey and quite a small portion you can do better elsewhere. Beer was again only 2 euros per pint. Quiz - start time 08.30, actual 09.30! 60 questions - when did it finish? Just after midnight - way too long AND the barman was helping people with the answers - we know its only friendly but c’mon, play the game. To be fair they had a lot of walk ins that night and were very busy so coping was an issue, but on balance we will not return.
SOL Y PLAYA (Carbonaras)
Very nice restaurant along the beach front towards the desalination plant - very Spanish, very few Brits when we visited and it is a large restaurant and was packed in and out! Little English spoken and menus predominantly in Spanish (English available). Very good varied menu and reasonable prices for a beachfront location. We enjoyed all the food and would recommend a visit, plus it is a nice ride over the mountains from the Playa to get to it. WE will go again.
Titos Beach Bar & Restaurant
Restaurant:- Tito’s beach bar (chirinquito)
Venue:- Mojacar Playa (other end from Commercial centre)
WebCAM:- http://bit.ly/titoswebcam (login - TITOS p/w TITOS)
Tito’s beach bar and restaurant has been around for many years, back to the 1960’s I believe when hippies ruled the beaches and everything ‘was peace man’. So why Tito’s - well it the nickname of the owner Jaime (when asking I forgot where I was and thought Hymie, odd for a Jewish person to have a beach bar - oh, ha! Ha! Hymie and Jaime are pronounced the same d’oh!) - well even more surprising he still owns the place ably assisted by Barbara - although I haven’t met the guy apparently he maintains his hippie presence. Another little factoid, I see he has Clive Sarstedt playing on a Sunday afternoon, well again back in England when drinking in my local in Slough I had a pint with his brother Peter - he of Frozen Orange Juice fame - way back in the late sixties I believe. The last sentence was put in for the pleasure of my friends back home, the comment is true, but we have a little in joke about meeting people!
The menu - not much truly Spanish here, a bit of Gazpacho, local fish that sort of thing but all in all a nice menu not too large not too small, something to please everybody.
Starters - ‘Ensalada de pollo curry’ that’s coronation chicken to you and me, with the very mild curry containing pineapple placed atop a salad - different but very satisfying. Only one starter had between the three of us.
Mains - ’Quiche de Puerro y Calabacines’ - leek and courgette quiche which came with a salad - large and homemade quiche - delicious and tasty salad. Next the ’Pinchos de cordero a la plancha con patata asada y ensalada’ - grilled lamb kebabs with jacket potato (the menu says roast but it is jacket - confusion over ’asada’ translation - both are done in the oven. The kebabs were delicious as was the spud and salad. I had that well known Spanish dish ’chile con pavo con arroz’ ’especialidad de la casa’ or Tito’s turkey chilli with rice, very mild containing turkey, red kidney beans, olives, cream and cheese - probably other things as well - it was lovely but it is mild.
Mango ice cream was hailed great, and the macadamia nut and maple syrup tart a joy to eat.
We had warm ciabatta rolls with hommous and aioli to start -ummm, nice!
Beer 3 euros a pint, fresh orange 2 euros all fairly standard along the playa - coffee was 1.30 and declared the best on the Playa!
Cost for three people including drinks 73.80 euros.
A final comment although this is a beach bar (chirinquito) and restaurant it is not what I call a REAL beach bar - it is too posh - hey, ho maybe its back to hippie roots and a wooden shack on the beach with just a cold beer and some local snack or fresh fish cooking on an open fire alongside.
Visit - it is worth it.
Venue:- Mojacar Playa (other end from Commercial centre)
WebCAM:- http://bit.ly/titoswebcam (login - TITOS p/w TITOS)
Tito’s beach bar and restaurant has been around for many years, back to the 1960’s I believe when hippies ruled the beaches and everything ‘was peace man’. So why Tito’s - well it the nickname of the owner Jaime (when asking I forgot where I was and thought Hymie, odd for a Jewish person to have a beach bar - oh, ha! Ha! Hymie and Jaime are pronounced the same d’oh!) - well even more surprising he still owns the place ably assisted by Barbara - although I haven’t met the guy apparently he maintains his hippie presence. Another little factoid, I see he has Clive Sarstedt playing on a Sunday afternoon, well again back in England when drinking in my local in Slough I had a pint with his brother Peter - he of Frozen Orange Juice fame - way back in the late sixties I believe. The last sentence was put in for the pleasure of my friends back home, the comment is true, but we have a little in joke about meeting people!
The menu - not much truly Spanish here, a bit of Gazpacho, local fish that sort of thing but all in all a nice menu not too large not too small, something to please everybody.
Starters - ‘Ensalada de pollo curry’ that’s coronation chicken to you and me, with the very mild curry containing pineapple placed atop a salad - different but very satisfying. Only one starter had between the three of us.
Mains - ’Quiche de Puerro y Calabacines’ - leek and courgette quiche which came with a salad - large and homemade quiche - delicious and tasty salad. Next the ’Pinchos de cordero a la plancha con patata asada y ensalada’ - grilled lamb kebabs with jacket potato (the menu says roast but it is jacket - confusion over ’asada’ translation - both are done in the oven. The kebabs were delicious as was the spud and salad. I had that well known Spanish dish ’chile con pavo con arroz’ ’especialidad de la casa’ or Tito’s turkey chilli with rice, very mild containing turkey, red kidney beans, olives, cream and cheese - probably other things as well - it was lovely but it is mild.
Mango ice cream was hailed great, and the macadamia nut and maple syrup tart a joy to eat.
We had warm ciabatta rolls with hommous and aioli to start -ummm, nice!
Beer 3 euros a pint, fresh orange 2 euros all fairly standard along the playa - coffee was 1.30 and declared the best on the Playa!
Cost for three people including drinks 73.80 euros.
A final comment although this is a beach bar (chirinquito) and restaurant it is not what I call a REAL beach bar - it is too posh - hey, ho maybe its back to hippie roots and a wooden shack on the beach with just a cold beer and some local snack or fresh fish cooking on an open fire alongside.
Visit - it is worth it.
Wednesday 5 October 2011
Casa Joya - La Losilla Sunday 02nd October
Restaurant :- Casa Joya
Phone:- 699 00 50 24
Website:- www.casa-joya.com
From Mojacar take the E15 and exit 553 to Velez Rubio, pass through Santa Maria de Nieva and stay on the A327, when you spot the 13km marker (do not bear left to Velez Rubio) you will spot the sign for ’Casa Joya Rural Gastronomia’ - turn right and let the adventure begin! Follow the yellow triangles for about 2km and you will arrive, enter through the door to the right and then take in the eclectic delights within - a reception area with a small bar, books a plenty, shoes, all manner of wall decoration and seating for a drink while perusing the exquisite menu. Walk past the bar and look down the restaurant where eclectic becomes, well super eclectic! The walls are adorned with African tribal art, genuine art, old copies of Greek paintings, modern art including Indalo, there are twenties risqué photos of tastefully undressed ladies and old photos, old menus from London - I could go on, there is so much to see you could spend an afternoon touring the room and forget the food - but don't! thats why you are here! The place is owned and run by the king of the kitchen James and his queen Mary who looks after front of house.
There is an outside patio area and swimming pool, words cannot easily describe this place - go on the website, go to the restaurant - booking essential, cash only!
The menu - there is a daily menu which is either 16.95 euros for two courses or 19.95 for three, all food is homemade, home cooked with the freshest of ingredients. See website for a sample menu.
We started with ….
Chicken livers and quail with a salad garnish, the livers were lovely, the quail done to perfection (easy to dry it out) and the salad dressed very well - I ate the lot (and I don’t like salad!). Another had the goats cheese tartlet with the well dressed salad - excellent, totally devoured. The third starter was Thai fishcakes with a ginger and coconut sauce and the salad garnish, very delicious.
The mains were … I had venison, cooked just beyond pink, not at all tough, it just melted in the mouth, it came with a wild boar casserole again beautifully cooked and very, very tasty, it all came with mashed and parmentier potatoes with a scattering of seasonal veggies - ate the lot! The other two guests had the pork, black pudding and apple on a bed of mash with the same accompaniments as the venison - very tasty, the black pudding was more like a stuffing and was well received.
Room for desserts - no! - but how can you not? I had the cheese board, sorry didn’t ask what the cheeses were but there were two hard cheeses (no manchego) possibly one was a cheddar, the others were a soft cheese either a strong brie or mild camembert ( the drinks starting to take effect!) and the fourth was I believe Bleu D’auvergne - served at the correct temperature, a joy to eat. Next a gorgeous dark chocolate mousse served with rich vanilla ice cream - more please! Lastly the lemon and lime flan with the ice cream - more please!
Testimony to the meal shows in that we only left one digestive biscuit between all three courses and that was me as I don’t think sweet digestives go with cheese - apparently everybody else does, so I must be wrong.
OK… enough of more please! We love this place, how they can serve such a fantastic menu for such a very reasonable price is beyond me - we will return often, in fact we are going again on Saturday before they escape on the first real holiday they have taken for seven years - hurry back, we are waiting.
A quick word on the wine (don’t normally mention wine) - The house red and white are both delicious and come in at 9,95 euros a bottle (or was it 10.95?). We had a bottle of Ribero for about 14.00 euros - not tried it? Go for it pure, Tempranillo from just south of Madrid to me its beats Rioja hands down. They also have some Malbec and Merlot. Unable to comment on the white - don’t touch the stuff! The café con leche was fine.
Total cost for three people including 3 courses, wine, aperitifs and coffee a staggering 89.00 euros - book now before the prices go up or they decide to retire!
Phone:- 699 00 50 24
Website:- www.casa-joya.com
From Mojacar take the E15 and exit 553 to Velez Rubio, pass through Santa Maria de Nieva and stay on the A327, when you spot the 13km marker (do not bear left to Velez Rubio) you will spot the sign for ’Casa Joya Rural Gastronomia’ - turn right and let the adventure begin! Follow the yellow triangles for about 2km and you will arrive, enter through the door to the right and then take in the eclectic delights within - a reception area with a small bar, books a plenty, shoes, all manner of wall decoration and seating for a drink while perusing the exquisite menu. Walk past the bar and look down the restaurant where eclectic becomes, well super eclectic! The walls are adorned with African tribal art, genuine art, old copies of Greek paintings, modern art including Indalo, there are twenties risqué photos of tastefully undressed ladies and old photos, old menus from London - I could go on, there is so much to see you could spend an afternoon touring the room and forget the food - but don't! thats why you are here! The place is owned and run by the king of the kitchen James and his queen Mary who looks after front of house.
There is an outside patio area and swimming pool, words cannot easily describe this place - go on the website, go to the restaurant - booking essential, cash only!
The menu - there is a daily menu which is either 16.95 euros for two courses or 19.95 for three, all food is homemade, home cooked with the freshest of ingredients. See website for a sample menu.
We started with ….
Chicken livers and quail with a salad garnish, the livers were lovely, the quail done to perfection (easy to dry it out) and the salad dressed very well - I ate the lot (and I don’t like salad!). Another had the goats cheese tartlet with the well dressed salad - excellent, totally devoured. The third starter was Thai fishcakes with a ginger and coconut sauce and the salad garnish, very delicious.
The mains were … I had venison, cooked just beyond pink, not at all tough, it just melted in the mouth, it came with a wild boar casserole again beautifully cooked and very, very tasty, it all came with mashed and parmentier potatoes with a scattering of seasonal veggies - ate the lot! The other two guests had the pork, black pudding and apple on a bed of mash with the same accompaniments as the venison - very tasty, the black pudding was more like a stuffing and was well received.
Room for desserts - no! - but how can you not? I had the cheese board, sorry didn’t ask what the cheeses were but there were two hard cheeses (no manchego) possibly one was a cheddar, the others were a soft cheese either a strong brie or mild camembert ( the drinks starting to take effect!) and the fourth was I believe Bleu D’auvergne - served at the correct temperature, a joy to eat. Next a gorgeous dark chocolate mousse served with rich vanilla ice cream - more please! Lastly the lemon and lime flan with the ice cream - more please!
Testimony to the meal shows in that we only left one digestive biscuit between all three courses and that was me as I don’t think sweet digestives go with cheese - apparently everybody else does, so I must be wrong.
OK… enough of more please! We love this place, how they can serve such a fantastic menu for such a very reasonable price is beyond me - we will return often, in fact we are going again on Saturday before they escape on the first real holiday they have taken for seven years - hurry back, we are waiting.
A quick word on the wine (don’t normally mention wine) - The house red and white are both delicious and come in at 9,95 euros a bottle (or was it 10.95?). We had a bottle of Ribero for about 14.00 euros - not tried it? Go for it pure, Tempranillo from just south of Madrid to me its beats Rioja hands down. They also have some Malbec and Merlot. Unable to comment on the white - don’t touch the stuff! The café con leche was fine.
Total cost for three people including 3 courses, wine, aperitifs and coffee a staggering 89.00 euros - book now before the prices go up or they decide to retire!
Monday 3 October 2011
Casablanca Restaurante - Saturday September 30th
Casablanca Restaurante - Paseo Del Medterraneo (opp. Neptuno)
Phone - 950 472 474
Note - booking essential, open evenings only from 20.30.
Ah! memories of 'Humph' and Ingrid, 'play it again Sam', - did he really say that? I think not! the souks, the spicy and sweet tagines ... Whoa! stop right there! this is a REAL Spanish restaurant run by two very nice Madrilenos, Juan and Bea who set the place up in 1992and still run it today. The restaurant is tiny - just five tables the night we went 1x6, 1x4, 1x3 and 3x2 - the configuration changes according to the bookings - there is also a large outdoor terrace set under lots of trees for a cool drink or three. The interior is very Spanish with the walls covered in object d'art and the whole place has a refined relaxing atmosphere about it. Being Spanish it doesn't open until 20.30 and the night we were there they still came in after 22.00!
The food ... a small menu consisting of mainly Spanish dishes - pigs cheeks and trotters featured, desserts are all homemade.
I started with 'Ajo blanco con huevas' a cold garlic soup with orange caviar - simply divine - best garlic soup I have had in Spain! The other starters were a 'rissotto de Trigo' a wheat risotto with mushrooms and prawns, very unusual and very tasty. Lastly the 'berenjenas y tomate confida' - an aubergine and tomato confit served cold - very delicious.
For the main I had the 'Jarrete de Cordero' - roast lamb served in its own juices with mash and roasted mixed peppers - more a small side than a large veggie portion. The meat fell off the bone and the mash mopped up the superb 'gravy' well. The other two both had 'cochonillo confitado' - suckling pig with saute style potatoes and the mixed peppers. The pig skin was soft and not crispy like British crackling - a resounding success. Desserts were 'sorbete de fresa' homemade strawberry sorbet, delicious and fruity (brain freeze, Argh! eat slower!). The other two had 'crema Casablanca' a to die for dessert consisting of ground almonds and cream, sort of smooth yet slightly course - we want more! never had anything like it anywhere before.
The drinks - 2 x cerveza - Heinekin (Spanish?) coffees and a fine bottle of Miguel Merino 2007.
Total cost of the meal was 150.00 euros for three which included 30.00 euros for drinks. This is an excellent restaurant, it is not cheap, in fact the dearest we have been too - but it is worthy of a visit and we will return.
Make sure you visit and make sure you book!!!
Phone - 950 472 474
Note - booking essential, open evenings only from 20.30.
Ah! memories of 'Humph' and Ingrid, 'play it again Sam', - did he really say that? I think not! the souks, the spicy and sweet tagines ... Whoa! stop right there! this is a REAL Spanish restaurant run by two very nice Madrilenos, Juan and Bea who set the place up in 1992and still run it today. The restaurant is tiny - just five tables the night we went 1x6, 1x4, 1x3 and 3x2 - the configuration changes according to the bookings - there is also a large outdoor terrace set under lots of trees for a cool drink or three. The interior is very Spanish with the walls covered in object d'art and the whole place has a refined relaxing atmosphere about it. Being Spanish it doesn't open until 20.30 and the night we were there they still came in after 22.00!
The food ... a small menu consisting of mainly Spanish dishes - pigs cheeks and trotters featured, desserts are all homemade.
I started with 'Ajo blanco con huevas' a cold garlic soup with orange caviar - simply divine - best garlic soup I have had in Spain! The other starters were a 'rissotto de Trigo' a wheat risotto with mushrooms and prawns, very unusual and very tasty. Lastly the 'berenjenas y tomate confida' - an aubergine and tomato confit served cold - very delicious.
For the main I had the 'Jarrete de Cordero' - roast lamb served in its own juices with mash and roasted mixed peppers - more a small side than a large veggie portion. The meat fell off the bone and the mash mopped up the superb 'gravy' well. The other two both had 'cochonillo confitado' - suckling pig with saute style potatoes and the mixed peppers. The pig skin was soft and not crispy like British crackling - a resounding success. Desserts were 'sorbete de fresa' homemade strawberry sorbet, delicious and fruity (brain freeze, Argh! eat slower!). The other two had 'crema Casablanca' a to die for dessert consisting of ground almonds and cream, sort of smooth yet slightly course - we want more! never had anything like it anywhere before.
The drinks - 2 x cerveza - Heinekin (Spanish?) coffees and a fine bottle of Miguel Merino 2007.
Total cost of the meal was 150.00 euros for three which included 30.00 euros for drinks. This is an excellent restaurant, it is not cheap, in fact the dearest we have been too - but it is worthy of a visit and we will return.
Make sure you visit and make sure you book!!!
Meson El Que Faltaba Thursday 29th September
Meson El Que Faltaba - Mojacar Playa - 950 478 846
This Spanish owned 'meson' (Inn) has been around a few years and the staff now speak English! The restaurant has a sister meson in Turre (Pobre) and the Argentinian Parilla (grill) a few doors away on the Playa - The cabana along further is another Parilla - different owners. There is the usual setup with tables set both inside and out with the outside tables capable of being well protected from the elements - tonight they were needed as the heavens dumped a huge amount of water on us during the evening.
The food - there are a couple of set menus as long as two people share the same menu - why? the food is nothing special so why can't just one person have it? Then there is the a la carte from which we chose and also a section with raciones (portions). The 'free' bread, toppings and dips cost 50 cents per person this year, and the manchengo topping replaced with cheese slices (Spanish dairylea - Ugh!) and the Jamon replaced with mortadella (double Ugh!) but the dips were nice.
The starters - 2 x gazpacho, goods bits to add, but lose a point or two with cheapo mini, mini breadsticks - c'mon use real bread and make real croutons. The soup was actually very, very nice and would be had again. The other starter was calamari fritti, nicely fried with a light batter (almost tempura - maybe it was!) and not at all rubbery - a success.
The mains - Emperador (swordfish) - lovely, patatas fritas - superb, and grilled tomato and courgettes - altogether a nice dish. Then a shared fish platter containing all the usual suspects - sardines, prawns, calamari, boccarones, quid to name what I remember served with half a jacket potato each - microwaved! why oh why! The puds were all homemade, the breadpudding was nice but have had better, the flan again nice but nothing special.
Drinks - Cafe con leche 1e, tubo 1.50e, pinta 2.50e, wine 1e glass. total cost for three people 64 euros of which 11 euros was drink.
Value for money - yes, very fair for the Playa, we will return but will try the one in Turre next and then the Pariila.
This Spanish owned 'meson' (Inn) has been around a few years and the staff now speak English! The restaurant has a sister meson in Turre (Pobre) and the Argentinian Parilla (grill) a few doors away on the Playa - The cabana along further is another Parilla - different owners. There is the usual setup with tables set both inside and out with the outside tables capable of being well protected from the elements - tonight they were needed as the heavens dumped a huge amount of water on us during the evening.
The food - there are a couple of set menus as long as two people share the same menu - why? the food is nothing special so why can't just one person have it? Then there is the a la carte from which we chose and also a section with raciones (portions). The 'free' bread, toppings and dips cost 50 cents per person this year, and the manchengo topping replaced with cheese slices (Spanish dairylea - Ugh!) and the Jamon replaced with mortadella (double Ugh!) but the dips were nice.
The starters - 2 x gazpacho, goods bits to add, but lose a point or two with cheapo mini, mini breadsticks - c'mon use real bread and make real croutons. The soup was actually very, very nice and would be had again. The other starter was calamari fritti, nicely fried with a light batter (almost tempura - maybe it was!) and not at all rubbery - a success.
The mains - Emperador (swordfish) - lovely, patatas fritas - superb, and grilled tomato and courgettes - altogether a nice dish. Then a shared fish platter containing all the usual suspects - sardines, prawns, calamari, boccarones, quid to name what I remember served with half a jacket potato each - microwaved! why oh why! The puds were all homemade, the breadpudding was nice but have had better, the flan again nice but nothing special.
Drinks - Cafe con leche 1e, tubo 1.50e, pinta 2.50e, wine 1e glass. total cost for three people 64 euros of which 11 euros was drink.
Value for money - yes, very fair for the Playa, we will return but will try the one in Turre next and then the Pariila.
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