Venue :- Orsoca Restaurant and Bar
Location:- Turre - on the hill at the top end of Turre
This has been a favourite of ours for about four years now but each year we have called there has been a change of owners - this year was no exception! The restaurant itself is split into four areas, there is a nice front patio looking out to the high street, then into a long bar area, straight ahead from the bar is a rear dining area and to the right of all this a larger dining area which is used on a Tuesday and Thursday evening for line dancing - there is still plenty of room for diners in the rear room. They have a menu del dia for an extremely reasonable 8 euros - 3 courses, bread and a drink - very good value.
We chose to eat at a lunchtime and ate from the a la carte menu - a plentiful choice, something to please everyone.
Starters:- I had a cheese omelette with a nice sized side salad (3), nicely cooked good sized omelette for a starter, nice mixed salad with just enough dressing for me. The other starter was a mixed large salad (4), a nice large plateful of iceberg lettuce, tomato, sweet corn, carrot, olives and asparagus - delicious, crisp and crunchy - it couldn’t be fresher - it does come with tuna but this diner preferred it without.
Mains :- Emperador (Swordfish) (9) a favourite of the diner! Served with chips and green pepper with a drizzle of garlic butter. Very nice portion, nice hot chips, crispy on the outside fluffy in the middle - what more can one ask! Fish cooked as we like it - all in all very delicious.
I had Mediterranean Merluza (Hake) (7) - This was a lovely piece of hake cross cut so you still had the central bone and skin around it - easily removed from the bone and nicely cooked. It came with several clams - which I love, I could eats hundreds and lots of small prawns (shrimps) which although a bit fiddly to peel were truly sweet and fresh - again I could eat hundreds! The whole lot was served in a large soup bowl in a creamy sauce - not too rich though. The one thing I would have liked was a plate to put the peelings, shells and bones onto and also a finger bowl to clean up after the prawns - ok, that’s two things - I have a tongue in my head I could have asked but I didn’t - enough said.
Desserts:- Both at 3 euros - Rice with lemon and cinnamon, a very nice dish the sweetness countered by the lemon - very nice. Lemon Sorbet - yup! A nice sorbet.
Coffees @ 1.20, juice @ 1.50, beer @ 2.00, glass of red @ 2.50 - bread is inclusive and not charged!
Total cost for the two of us was 37.40 - a very reasonable price for a very nice meal. The restaurant had both Spanish and English dining, the chef is Spanish the only other member of staff doing all the running around English. We will definitely return to this place - give it a try it will not disappoint.
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Sunday 27 November 2011
Meson Dona Juana - Torre De La Horadada
Venue:- Meson Dona Juana
Location :- Torre De La Horadada - Murcia
Spent the weekend away and found myself with friends in a large square a mere stones throw from the beach in Torre De La Horadada, there on one side of the square sits the Meson Dona Juana. This to me is a typical Spanish meson with an outside area - now covered in for the winter and a largish interior. The ‘catch of the day’ and the various steaks were displayed in a cabinet separating the inner and outer areas. The night we ate we sat in the outer section in the window overlooking the square - we were the only diners tonight and even the square was very quiet - not unusual for this time of year but we found it quieter than Mojacar area. Ok, lets get down to the food ….
Starters. Good selection of about 10 to 15 starters ranging in the main from 8 to 14 euros a couple cheaper a couple dearer.
Ensalada Templada Dona Juana (13) the house warm salad, which consisted of green leaves, grilled whole cherry tomatoes, warmed goats cheese, walnuts, raisons and drizzled in a honey dressing. A very nice, delicious starter. Crujientes de Berenjena con miel de Romero (11) coated and fried aubergine with rosemary honey. An unusual starter which was basically a tastefully piled up collection of aubergine crisps, plentiful and delicious. Pulpo a la Gallega (13) A Gallega style octopus with olive oil and red pepper powder, again a plentiful plateful of succulent octopus (note! Octopus not squid) which was firm in texture and nicely cooked so not to be rubbery. Lastly Revuelto de Bacalao con ajos tiernos y trigueros (10) - scrambled egg with cod, soft garlic and asparagus. Nice dish but for me too much asparagus and not enough cod, the fish was barely present in taste at least, none the less a tasty dish.
Mains. Four fish choices, six meat a few specials and a rice menu - mains mostly 12 to 16 with the rices 10 to 15 and unusually but good the rice dishes could be ordered for one! We had … Rodaballo Frito con ajos tiernos (16) Fried turbot with soft garlic - a plentiful plate of fried turbot, cross cut so you had the central bone and skin on each of the several pieces, served with potato slices and a few small green peppers - a very tasty dish with mild garlic taste. Entrecote de Ternera a los tres quesos (14) Beef entrecote x2 medium done with chips and a few small peppers - steak cooked as requested, good size - 10oz my guess - and a mild but tasty cheese sauce, I was unable to detect what cheeses were used, a comment, not a criticism. Lastly medallones de solomillo de cerdo a la pimienta (11) - pork medallions with chips and guess what? Small green peppers - once again a nice dish nicely presented and well liked.
Desserts. Leche frita con helado de turron (5) fried and coated milk (egg custard) with turron ice cream. A truly delicious and very Spanish dessert if you haven’t tried it, do so! Pastel de Coco (5) Coconut cake, more a flan with coconut than a cake, but this is what I expected and very nice it was too. Helado de higos en teja con salsa de almendra (5) fig ice cream with almond sauce - another truly Spanish pudding and again very nice. Damn and blast can’t remember the fourth dessert but it must have been good because all the plates were cleared. There are nine desserts to choose from all around 5 euros.
All was washed down with a bottle of rose and a bottle of local shiraz and coffees including one I had not seen before - Bombon, a single shot of coffee served on a layer of condensed milk with a small amount of brandy in it - too sweet for me but liked by the guest.
Unable to give total costs as I was a guest, but I did look at wine prices but not the actual wines and thought the prices steep for a meson. The food is about 10 to 15% more than Mesons in my area - Mojacar.
All in all a very nice meal and I assume that the price paid was typical of the area, but I must say food and drink were cheaper in the four star hotel we stayed in whose restaurant appears in the Michelin guide.
Location :- Torre De La Horadada - Murcia
Spent the weekend away and found myself with friends in a large square a mere stones throw from the beach in Torre De La Horadada, there on one side of the square sits the Meson Dona Juana. This to me is a typical Spanish meson with an outside area - now covered in for the winter and a largish interior. The ‘catch of the day’ and the various steaks were displayed in a cabinet separating the inner and outer areas. The night we ate we sat in the outer section in the window overlooking the square - we were the only diners tonight and even the square was very quiet - not unusual for this time of year but we found it quieter than Mojacar area. Ok, lets get down to the food ….
Starters. Good selection of about 10 to 15 starters ranging in the main from 8 to 14 euros a couple cheaper a couple dearer.
Ensalada Templada Dona Juana (13) the house warm salad, which consisted of green leaves, grilled whole cherry tomatoes, warmed goats cheese, walnuts, raisons and drizzled in a honey dressing. A very nice, delicious starter. Crujientes de Berenjena con miel de Romero (11) coated and fried aubergine with rosemary honey. An unusual starter which was basically a tastefully piled up collection of aubergine crisps, plentiful and delicious. Pulpo a la Gallega (13) A Gallega style octopus with olive oil and red pepper powder, again a plentiful plateful of succulent octopus (note! Octopus not squid) which was firm in texture and nicely cooked so not to be rubbery. Lastly Revuelto de Bacalao con ajos tiernos y trigueros (10) - scrambled egg with cod, soft garlic and asparagus. Nice dish but for me too much asparagus and not enough cod, the fish was barely present in taste at least, none the less a tasty dish.
Mains. Four fish choices, six meat a few specials and a rice menu - mains mostly 12 to 16 with the rices 10 to 15 and unusually but good the rice dishes could be ordered for one! We had … Rodaballo Frito con ajos tiernos (16) Fried turbot with soft garlic - a plentiful plate of fried turbot, cross cut so you had the central bone and skin on each of the several pieces, served with potato slices and a few small green peppers - a very tasty dish with mild garlic taste. Entrecote de Ternera a los tres quesos (14) Beef entrecote x2 medium done with chips and a few small peppers - steak cooked as requested, good size - 10oz my guess - and a mild but tasty cheese sauce, I was unable to detect what cheeses were used, a comment, not a criticism. Lastly medallones de solomillo de cerdo a la pimienta (11) - pork medallions with chips and guess what? Small green peppers - once again a nice dish nicely presented and well liked.
Desserts. Leche frita con helado de turron (5) fried and coated milk (egg custard) with turron ice cream. A truly delicious and very Spanish dessert if you haven’t tried it, do so! Pastel de Coco (5) Coconut cake, more a flan with coconut than a cake, but this is what I expected and very nice it was too. Helado de higos en teja con salsa de almendra (5) fig ice cream with almond sauce - another truly Spanish pudding and again very nice. Damn and blast can’t remember the fourth dessert but it must have been good because all the plates were cleared. There are nine desserts to choose from all around 5 euros.
All was washed down with a bottle of rose and a bottle of local shiraz and coffees including one I had not seen before - Bombon, a single shot of coffee served on a layer of condensed milk with a small amount of brandy in it - too sweet for me but liked by the guest.
Unable to give total costs as I was a guest, but I did look at wine prices but not the actual wines and thought the prices steep for a meson. The food is about 10 to 15% more than Mesons in my area - Mojacar.
All in all a very nice meal and I assume that the price paid was typical of the area, but I must say food and drink were cheaper in the four star hotel we stayed in whose restaurant appears in the Michelin guide.
Monday 21 November 2011
El Olivo - Mojacar Playa
Venue:- El Olivo
Mojacar Playa
El Olivo is situated along the Playa from the Commercial Centre just past the chirinquitos of Maui Beach and Patio 2000 across the road from the beach. It is quite a small place with outside seating on a raised balcony and a smallish interior with about 10 tables inside with a bar and views through to a kitchen prep area and the kitchen itself. The restaurant is very neat and tidy and is run by a very nice friendly couple - I believe he may be Belgium and she Dutch, not sure though! We have dined here several times already but mostly from the extensive tapas menu of over 30 dishes - very nice and highly recommended. Today though we eating from the recently updated winter menu. There are two set menus - one for 9 euros, three courses drinks not included or one for 12 euros, two courses with coffee and water, a dessert can be added for a further 3 euros. Also there is a full a la carte to choose from.
We had three meals from the 9 menu and one from the 12.
Starters - warm goats cheese on a bed of salad (x2), three pieces of mild goats cheese on a tastefully dressed salad - very nice. Deep fried camembert (x1) this was delicious 2 pieces of camembert coated in like a nutty crumb and deep fried, the diner wanted more but had to resist because of what was to follow. My starter of Eggs, spinach and bacon (from the 12 menu) consisted of two lightly poached eggs served on a bed of creamed spinach and decorated with strips of bacon - very, very nice a rather large but superb starter.
Mains - Rabbit and chips - several pieces of nicely done rabbit as expected on the bone and plentiful chips made for a nice main. The second choice was Beouf Bourgignon with rice, a plentiful plateful with tender beef in a delicious gravy. Third choice was Coq au Vin again served with rice, delicious chicken in a very tasty red wine sauce. My choice (from the 12) was sole meuniere - a lovely large sole cooked to perfection with butter and a plateful of chips - really nice. All main courses were accompanied with very delicious sweet carrots - a family secret recipe I am told! Oh! Almost forget bread was plentiful and not charged for.
Desserts - I had cheese (had to pay extra 3 as I was on the 12 menu) which consisted of a requested blue cheese and brie and some cream crackers - very nice cheese, it would have been nice to have some varied crackers, an observation really not a complaint. The homemade chocolate mousse was to die for and the giant profiteroles equally good. Pints coffee and water accompanied the meal.
Total cost for all food and drink came to 49.80 euros - excellent value for money!
As said before we have been here often and will continue to frequent this place as it is consistently good and offers a friendly service with a nice ambience to complement the always delicious food.
Mojacar Playa
El Olivo is situated along the Playa from the Commercial Centre just past the chirinquitos of Maui Beach and Patio 2000 across the road from the beach. It is quite a small place with outside seating on a raised balcony and a smallish interior with about 10 tables inside with a bar and views through to a kitchen prep area and the kitchen itself. The restaurant is very neat and tidy and is run by a very nice friendly couple - I believe he may be Belgium and she Dutch, not sure though! We have dined here several times already but mostly from the extensive tapas menu of over 30 dishes - very nice and highly recommended. Today though we eating from the recently updated winter menu. There are two set menus - one for 9 euros, three courses drinks not included or one for 12 euros, two courses with coffee and water, a dessert can be added for a further 3 euros. Also there is a full a la carte to choose from.
We had three meals from the 9 menu and one from the 12.
Starters - warm goats cheese on a bed of salad (x2), three pieces of mild goats cheese on a tastefully dressed salad - very nice. Deep fried camembert (x1) this was delicious 2 pieces of camembert coated in like a nutty crumb and deep fried, the diner wanted more but had to resist because of what was to follow. My starter of Eggs, spinach and bacon (from the 12 menu) consisted of two lightly poached eggs served on a bed of creamed spinach and decorated with strips of bacon - very, very nice a rather large but superb starter.
Mains - Rabbit and chips - several pieces of nicely done rabbit as expected on the bone and plentiful chips made for a nice main. The second choice was Beouf Bourgignon with rice, a plentiful plateful with tender beef in a delicious gravy. Third choice was Coq au Vin again served with rice, delicious chicken in a very tasty red wine sauce. My choice (from the 12) was sole meuniere - a lovely large sole cooked to perfection with butter and a plateful of chips - really nice. All main courses were accompanied with very delicious sweet carrots - a family secret recipe I am told! Oh! Almost forget bread was plentiful and not charged for.
Desserts - I had cheese (had to pay extra 3 as I was on the 12 menu) which consisted of a requested blue cheese and brie and some cream crackers - very nice cheese, it would have been nice to have some varied crackers, an observation really not a complaint. The homemade chocolate mousse was to die for and the giant profiteroles equally good. Pints coffee and water accompanied the meal.
Total cost for all food and drink came to 49.80 euros - excellent value for money!
As said before we have been here often and will continue to frequent this place as it is consistently good and offers a friendly service with a nice ambience to complement the always delicious food.
Sunday 20 November 2011
Miraflores at Camping Los gallardos
Venue:- Miraflores Restaurant and Bar
Location:- Camping Los Gallardos
The restaurant and bar are open to non residents of Camping Los Gallardos which is situated just along the road from the village of Los Gallardos. The restaurant itself is a large ‘L’ shaped room with an adjoining bar and a large room for functions set at a slightly lower level. The residents are all British and the restaurant menu reflects this although I am told that they do have Spanish food (paella) sometimes.
Six of us dined this evening and only sampled the main courses although both starters and desserts were available. Two people had the gammon with chips one with a pineapple ring the other a fried egg on top. Nice size, well cooked gammon which was rather nice the chips were plentiful and crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Two others had the salmon - portions varied a lot here - one piece of salmon was twice the size of the other! The salmon was cooked through and tasty and was served with new potatoes and peas or salad - both had salad which was a fairly small portion. The next meal was ‘the pie of the day’ - beef and onion served with mashed potatoes and a selection of vegetables, it was ok with the main comment being where is the onion? The final meal was chicken curry and rice - again ok, but very average. To complete the average, the price was that as well - they claim the pint at 2.20 is the cheapest around - well I know several places (not on the Playa) where it is only 2.00 euros. Oh! They also have a pizza menu.
Overall the meals here cater to the Brits on site , and why not there are a lot of them and so give them what they want - unfortunately its not what I want! I come to Spain for the Spanish lifestyle and that includes the culture, food and language - for me if you want to live in a British ‘compound’ and not integrate then stay in Britain - rant over! Do what you like, its your life, enjoy it!
On a positive note on a Friday they do fish and chips - now this is very, very good, you need to book for this - the last couple of times we visited they had 110 one night and 125 the other all having the very large fish and nicely cooked chips.
Finally this is not the restaurant for me (except fish and chips) but if you are in the Los Gallardos area and fancy chatting to a load of Brits about the weather back home while eating a reasonable priced meal - the menu is in English only, then go for it.
Location:- Camping Los Gallardos
The restaurant and bar are open to non residents of Camping Los Gallardos which is situated just along the road from the village of Los Gallardos. The restaurant itself is a large ‘L’ shaped room with an adjoining bar and a large room for functions set at a slightly lower level. The residents are all British and the restaurant menu reflects this although I am told that they do have Spanish food (paella) sometimes.
Six of us dined this evening and only sampled the main courses although both starters and desserts were available. Two people had the gammon with chips one with a pineapple ring the other a fried egg on top. Nice size, well cooked gammon which was rather nice the chips were plentiful and crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Two others had the salmon - portions varied a lot here - one piece of salmon was twice the size of the other! The salmon was cooked through and tasty and was served with new potatoes and peas or salad - both had salad which was a fairly small portion. The next meal was ‘the pie of the day’ - beef and onion served with mashed potatoes and a selection of vegetables, it was ok with the main comment being where is the onion? The final meal was chicken curry and rice - again ok, but very average. To complete the average, the price was that as well - they claim the pint at 2.20 is the cheapest around - well I know several places (not on the Playa) where it is only 2.00 euros. Oh! They also have a pizza menu.
Overall the meals here cater to the Brits on site , and why not there are a lot of them and so give them what they want - unfortunately its not what I want! I come to Spain for the Spanish lifestyle and that includes the culture, food and language - for me if you want to live in a British ‘compound’ and not integrate then stay in Britain - rant over! Do what you like, its your life, enjoy it!
On a positive note on a Friday they do fish and chips - now this is very, very good, you need to book for this - the last couple of times we visited they had 110 one night and 125 the other all having the very large fish and nicely cooked chips.
Finally this is not the restaurant for me (except fish and chips) but if you are in the Los Gallardos area and fancy chatting to a load of Brits about the weather back home while eating a reasonable priced meal - the menu is in English only, then go for it.
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Venta El Molina - Mojacar Playa/Carboneras Road
Venue :- Venta El Molino
Location :- On the road between Mojacar Playa and Carboneras about five miles past Hotel Indalo.
Sunday - where shall we go for a typical Spanish lunch? Well we settled for The ‘Venta El Molino’ a typical Spanish place with only Spaniards eating, the restaurant is basically a large square box with lots of seating and an outside seating area. No menu! Everything is read out, but as it was Sunday the choice was barbecue or barbecue. All meat choices nothing else - cavemen rejoice! The beef and lamb was 22 euros and the pork, rabbit and chicken was 20 euros - we had a plate of each except the rabbit.
The price included a salad starter, bread and oil/aioli, the meat, a homemade dessert and all you could drink - fatal in our case!
The meat was very plentiful and a doggy bag was needed to transport home the leftovers - the local dog charity has never had it so good! Everybody enjoyed the meat which was all cooking nicely on the barbecue. We decided to have wine with the meal - beer was bottled Estrella Levante - started off with a very large carafe of red, followed by a second very large carafe of red followed by yet another carafe of red wine - Yes! I managed to stay awake that evening and watched television, next morning was a bit rough though.
Desserts consisted of a very nice homemade bread pudding, El Flan and an almond sponge cake - all served with what appeared to be a wedge of Vienetta ice cream. All very nice.
All in all the meal was an absolute caveman feast, a meat lovers dream come true - unlimited drink proved our downfall. The place was buzzing with Spaniards of all types a table of ten blokes, a family or two with children, mixed groups of all ages.
You do not need to speak Spanish our waitress was very good at English, but all other servers were Spanish only.
Highly recommended if you want a meat feast - vegetarians keep out!
Location :- On the road between Mojacar Playa and Carboneras about five miles past Hotel Indalo.
Sunday - where shall we go for a typical Spanish lunch? Well we settled for The ‘Venta El Molino’ a typical Spanish place with only Spaniards eating, the restaurant is basically a large square box with lots of seating and an outside seating area. No menu! Everything is read out, but as it was Sunday the choice was barbecue or barbecue. All meat choices nothing else - cavemen rejoice! The beef and lamb was 22 euros and the pork, rabbit and chicken was 20 euros - we had a plate of each except the rabbit.
The price included a salad starter, bread and oil/aioli, the meat, a homemade dessert and all you could drink - fatal in our case!
The meat was very plentiful and a doggy bag was needed to transport home the leftovers - the local dog charity has never had it so good! Everybody enjoyed the meat which was all cooking nicely on the barbecue. We decided to have wine with the meal - beer was bottled Estrella Levante - started off with a very large carafe of red, followed by a second very large carafe of red followed by yet another carafe of red wine - Yes! I managed to stay awake that evening and watched television, next morning was a bit rough though.
Desserts consisted of a very nice homemade bread pudding, El Flan and an almond sponge cake - all served with what appeared to be a wedge of Vienetta ice cream. All very nice.
All in all the meal was an absolute caveman feast, a meat lovers dream come true - unlimited drink proved our downfall. The place was buzzing with Spaniards of all types a table of ten blokes, a family or two with children, mixed groups of all ages.
You do not need to speak Spanish our waitress was very good at English, but all other servers were Spanish only.
Highly recommended if you want a meat feast - vegetarians keep out!
Thursday 10 November 2011
La Parata - Parata Hills above the Playa
Venue:- La Parata bar/restaurante
Location :- La Parata
Along Mojacar to the stables roundabout then head up the hill towards Parata - the
restaurant is about 1.5k up the hill on the left.
The Parata is a lovely restaurant in a delightful setting, the outdoor patio area looks down onto a swimming pool whereas the view across the Parata is of the several nice villas spread out across the hillside. The restaurant caters for both lunch and evening and has a menu del dia - we opted for the a la carte.
Starters. Avocado with prawns (6.50) in a Marie rose sauce, the avocado was perfectly ripe the prawns delicious with a tasty sauce. Duck Spring rolls (5.50) five (or was it six!) small filo pastry duck rolls with a sweet chilli sauce and small side salad. The rolls were very nice and had some sort of creamy sauce in them, I expected just duck and maybe some bean sprouts or something similar. For me the sauce in the rolls did not go with the chilli - no problem! I ate the rolls separately and dunked my salad into the chilli sauce - very nice, chilli sauce with a lingering after bite.
Mains. Green pea and chilli risotto (8.00), quite fancied a rice dish today and this fitted the bill perfectly , nice creamy risotto with just the right amount of peas and chilli - maybe I would ask for extra chilli in the future, but then I do like chillies! The other main was also a risotto, this time porcini (8.75) - various mushrooms in an even more creamy rice. Very nice.
Desserts. Brownie and ice cream (4.00) warm, choc lately brownie which contained a few nuts (we think) with a nice vanilla ice cream drizzled in chocolate sauce - yummy. Crepes (4.00) - two fresh crepes drizzled with chocolate sauce and ice cream accompaniment, again very nice.
Café solo (1.00) Con Leche (1.20) Pint (2.90) 1/3 mineral water (1.00)
Total cost of meal 45.75.
This is a very nice restaurant run to high standards, we have been several times before and never been disappointed. This is the first write up as we have visited so many eateries that I haven’t been able to keep up! Give this place a try, you will not be disappointed.
Location :- La Parata
Along Mojacar to the stables roundabout then head up the hill towards Parata - the
restaurant is about 1.5k up the hill on the left.
The Parata is a lovely restaurant in a delightful setting, the outdoor patio area looks down onto a swimming pool whereas the view across the Parata is of the several nice villas spread out across the hillside. The restaurant caters for both lunch and evening and has a menu del dia - we opted for the a la carte.
Starters. Avocado with prawns (6.50) in a Marie rose sauce, the avocado was perfectly ripe the prawns delicious with a tasty sauce. Duck Spring rolls (5.50) five (or was it six!) small filo pastry duck rolls with a sweet chilli sauce and small side salad. The rolls were very nice and had some sort of creamy sauce in them, I expected just duck and maybe some bean sprouts or something similar. For me the sauce in the rolls did not go with the chilli - no problem! I ate the rolls separately and dunked my salad into the chilli sauce - very nice, chilli sauce with a lingering after bite.
Mains. Green pea and chilli risotto (8.00), quite fancied a rice dish today and this fitted the bill perfectly , nice creamy risotto with just the right amount of peas and chilli - maybe I would ask for extra chilli in the future, but then I do like chillies! The other main was also a risotto, this time porcini (8.75) - various mushrooms in an even more creamy rice. Very nice.
Desserts. Brownie and ice cream (4.00) warm, choc lately brownie which contained a few nuts (we think) with a nice vanilla ice cream drizzled in chocolate sauce - yummy. Crepes (4.00) - two fresh crepes drizzled with chocolate sauce and ice cream accompaniment, again very nice.
Café solo (1.00) Con Leche (1.20) Pint (2.90) 1/3 mineral water (1.00)
Total cost of meal 45.75.
This is a very nice restaurant run to high standards, we have been several times before and never been disappointed. This is the first write up as we have visited so many eateries that I haven’t been able to keep up! Give this place a try, you will not be disappointed.
Tuesday 8 November 2011
Restaurante Andalucia - Garrucha
Venue:- Restaurante Andalucia
Location:- Paseo Malecon Garrucha
Just along the front from Mojacar when you reach Garrucha
Not having eaten in Garrucha for a while so thought we would give it go today (Sunday) for lunch. We stopped at the first restaurant we came to regardless and plonked ourselves down on a table for two right on the edge of the road! I could have reached out and shaken the hands of passengers in passing cars it was that close to the edge! The outside area is typical along the front at Garrucha - a few (or more) sheltered tables right on the road with a passage way through for pedestrians between the tables and the restaurant itself - allowing the waiters to attempt to draw you in - a task they were very good at, I reckon without their co-ertion the restaurant would have been empty!
We only fancied a light lunch but the menu is predominantly fish - fresh, as one would expect. The special of the day was a fish platter consisting of a sea bream, sea bass, prawns, mussels, clams and squid with a drink thrown in at 30 euros for two - a reasonable price I thought although I didn’t see anybody with this dish. We settled for a seafood paella (20.00) for two, it consisted of 2 langoustines, 2 prawns, 3 mussels, 5 clams, lots of quid legs and a small amount of white fish and of course the rice! The paella was very tasty but no better than anywhere else and quite frankly I thought they were very stingy with the shell fish, we normally are left with piles of shells from other places although with the prawns and langoustines two of each is normal, but c’mon at least half a dozen mussels each and more clams.
For dessert had the usual Flan (3.50) , no better, no worse than anyway. Pina (4.00) - fresh pineapple, a bit pricey for a slice of fresh pineapple. Café con leche at 1.50 and solo at 1.50 and bread at .75 each. Fresh orange juice @ 2.00 and Beer at a whopping 4.00 a ½ litre! Wow! And double wow! The dearest I have paid since being in Spain - even the four star Melia hotels and Crown Plaza hotels charge less!
Total cost of the meal was 43.50 euros
Overall the meal was only average and the price too expensive and the location - not great. Have only eaten in Garrucha twice since being here and both times I have thought it too expensive - probably my last report from Garrucha.
Location:- Paseo Malecon Garrucha
Just along the front from Mojacar when you reach Garrucha
Not having eaten in Garrucha for a while so thought we would give it go today (Sunday) for lunch. We stopped at the first restaurant we came to regardless and plonked ourselves down on a table for two right on the edge of the road! I could have reached out and shaken the hands of passengers in passing cars it was that close to the edge! The outside area is typical along the front at Garrucha - a few (or more) sheltered tables right on the road with a passage way through for pedestrians between the tables and the restaurant itself - allowing the waiters to attempt to draw you in - a task they were very good at, I reckon without their co-ertion the restaurant would have been empty!
We only fancied a light lunch but the menu is predominantly fish - fresh, as one would expect. The special of the day was a fish platter consisting of a sea bream, sea bass, prawns, mussels, clams and squid with a drink thrown in at 30 euros for two - a reasonable price I thought although I didn’t see anybody with this dish. We settled for a seafood paella (20.00) for two, it consisted of 2 langoustines, 2 prawns, 3 mussels, 5 clams, lots of quid legs and a small amount of white fish and of course the rice! The paella was very tasty but no better than anywhere else and quite frankly I thought they were very stingy with the shell fish, we normally are left with piles of shells from other places although with the prawns and langoustines two of each is normal, but c’mon at least half a dozen mussels each and more clams.
For dessert had the usual Flan (3.50) , no better, no worse than anyway. Pina (4.00) - fresh pineapple, a bit pricey for a slice of fresh pineapple. Café con leche at 1.50 and solo at 1.50 and bread at .75 each. Fresh orange juice @ 2.00 and Beer at a whopping 4.00 a ½ litre! Wow! And double wow! The dearest I have paid since being in Spain - even the four star Melia hotels and Crown Plaza hotels charge less!
Total cost of the meal was 43.50 euros
Overall the meal was only average and the price too expensive and the location - not great. Have only eaten in Garrucha twice since being here and both times I have thought it too expensive - probably my last report from Garrucha.
Wednesday 2 November 2011
Toscana - Mojacar Playa
Venue:- Ristorante Toscana
Location:- Mojacar Playa (paseo del Mediterraneo 219)
Contacts:- Phone 950 472 907
Jeremy Stent 673 160 248
Teddo Peeren 672 828 454
Email:- info@restaurantetoscana.es
Website:- www.restaurantetoscana.es (under construction but menu available)
We so liked this place that after we had Friday evening dinner we booked for Sunday lunch! The restaurant comes into the fine dining bracket and is set across from the beach one floor up so that you have uninterrupted views of the Med. The chef Jeremy Stent comes with some glowing credentials - The Ivy and Shepherds in London and the Royal Mirage Dubai. The menu has a fine choice of starters, pastas, pizzas fish and meats with a nice range of desserts. Seating is mostly inside with large patio windows that be opened fully to allow the balmy Med weather to enter the light airy spacious interior. The staff were polite and attentive to our every need without being intrusive - on to the food.
I have not detailed the evening menu, but will in a future review, this is just the Sunday lunch.
Sunday lunch is 15.00 euros a head which consists of a main course of sirloin of beef, roast potatoes, large yorkshire pudding peas, carrots and cauliflower cheese. The dessert this week was bread and butter pudding made with Panetone and served with custard. The meal also includes a glass of cava.
The above is the only choice for lunch but the a la carte is always available.
We were asked how we liked our beef - 2 x pink and 1 x well done - and it was done as requested and delicious (2 slices), the potatoes were roasted in goose fat (I think!) and very nice and crispy on the outside and fluffy and soft on the inside. The yorshire was large and very nice - a real Yorkie, none of your Aunt Bessies here! The accompanying vegetables were beautifully cooked ’al dente’ but not too ’al dente’. The gravy was rich, but not too rich, and plentiful. The lunch was considered a success but a hungry person may have wanted more - it was perfect for us. The lunch was washed down with a fine Rioja Reserva.
Dessert was very nice and perfect size for us, but again a hungry person may want more.
This is not your average Playa Sunday lunch but a step or two up to a very nice lunch - try it and see if you agree. To quote a famous saying ‘you’ve tried the rest now try the best’.
Location:- Mojacar Playa (paseo del Mediterraneo 219)
Contacts:- Phone 950 472 907
Jeremy Stent 673 160 248
Teddo Peeren 672 828 454
Email:- info@restaurantetoscana.es
Website:- www.restaurantetoscana.es (under construction but menu available)
We so liked this place that after we had Friday evening dinner we booked for Sunday lunch! The restaurant comes into the fine dining bracket and is set across from the beach one floor up so that you have uninterrupted views of the Med. The chef Jeremy Stent comes with some glowing credentials - The Ivy and Shepherds in London and the Royal Mirage Dubai. The menu has a fine choice of starters, pastas, pizzas fish and meats with a nice range of desserts. Seating is mostly inside with large patio windows that be opened fully to allow the balmy Med weather to enter the light airy spacious interior. The staff were polite and attentive to our every need without being intrusive - on to the food.
I have not detailed the evening menu, but will in a future review, this is just the Sunday lunch.
Sunday lunch is 15.00 euros a head which consists of a main course of sirloin of beef, roast potatoes, large yorkshire pudding peas, carrots and cauliflower cheese. The dessert this week was bread and butter pudding made with Panetone and served with custard. The meal also includes a glass of cava.
The above is the only choice for lunch but the a la carte is always available.
We were asked how we liked our beef - 2 x pink and 1 x well done - and it was done as requested and delicious (2 slices), the potatoes were roasted in goose fat (I think!) and very nice and crispy on the outside and fluffy and soft on the inside. The yorshire was large and very nice - a real Yorkie, none of your Aunt Bessies here! The accompanying vegetables were beautifully cooked ’al dente’ but not too ’al dente’. The gravy was rich, but not too rich, and plentiful. The lunch was considered a success but a hungry person may have wanted more - it was perfect for us. The lunch was washed down with a fine Rioja Reserva.
Dessert was very nice and perfect size for us, but again a hungry person may want more.
This is not your average Playa Sunday lunch but a step or two up to a very nice lunch - try it and see if you agree. To quote a famous saying ‘you’ve tried the rest now try the best’.
Casa Adelina - Turre
Venue:- Casa Adelina
Location:- Top of Turre main street ( on the hill)
Casa Adelina has been around a long while and we have liked it in the past so we thought it was time for another visit. The restaurant sits on the hill as you leave Turre heading away from Mojacar towards the motorway. There is a large outdoor seating area with comfortable chairs - didn’t go inside so I am unable to comment on the interior. We had lunch from the a la carte.
Starters consisted of Sardines grilled (7.00) - four nice sized sardines delicious and fresh, a perfect start. Soup with noodles and chicken (5.00) - a light chicken broth with small noodles and chicken breast, again a nice light starter. Garlic bread with garlic and salt (1.00 per person).
Mains were ternera salsa champinones (9.00) - a delicious veal casserole in a nice mushroom sauce with a small side of roasted red and green peppers and scalloped potatoes - very tasty, two of us had this dish and both devoured it all ---- the local cat did try a small piece of veal! The other main was Pollo Plancha (9.00) - this consisted of a large flattened chicken breast grilled and covered in garlic sauce again served with the peppers and scalloped potatoes - very nice, difficult to get it wrong - Pollo Asado (roasted chicken) is still the favourite of this diner though. The scalloped potatoes were nice crispy and garlicky and liked by all diners.
Desserts were the house flan(3.00), good but no better than most places and chocolate mousse(4.00) which was very nice.
Café solo (1.10), con leche (1.20), agua con gas (1.00) - for ½ litre, Cerveza (2.60 pint)
Total cost for three people 65.90 - very reasonable I thought for what we had.
Just something to note, the restaurant was full and we were the only Brits - if the Spanish like it then it must be good and good value. One further point most tables had a plateful of snails in tomato sauce to share - we didn’t try them but the locals seemed to love ‘em.
Location:- Top of Turre main street ( on the hill)
Casa Adelina has been around a long while and we have liked it in the past so we thought it was time for another visit. The restaurant sits on the hill as you leave Turre heading away from Mojacar towards the motorway. There is a large outdoor seating area with comfortable chairs - didn’t go inside so I am unable to comment on the interior. We had lunch from the a la carte.
Starters consisted of Sardines grilled (7.00) - four nice sized sardines delicious and fresh, a perfect start. Soup with noodles and chicken (5.00) - a light chicken broth with small noodles and chicken breast, again a nice light starter. Garlic bread with garlic and salt (1.00 per person).
Mains were ternera salsa champinones (9.00) - a delicious veal casserole in a nice mushroom sauce with a small side of roasted red and green peppers and scalloped potatoes - very tasty, two of us had this dish and both devoured it all ---- the local cat did try a small piece of veal! The other main was Pollo Plancha (9.00) - this consisted of a large flattened chicken breast grilled and covered in garlic sauce again served with the peppers and scalloped potatoes - very nice, difficult to get it wrong - Pollo Asado (roasted chicken) is still the favourite of this diner though. The scalloped potatoes were nice crispy and garlicky and liked by all diners.
Desserts were the house flan(3.00), good but no better than most places and chocolate mousse(4.00) which was very nice.
Café solo (1.10), con leche (1.20), agua con gas (1.00) - for ½ litre, Cerveza (2.60 pint)
Total cost for three people 65.90 - very reasonable I thought for what we had.
Just something to note, the restaurant was full and we were the only Brits - if the Spanish like it then it must be good and good value. One further point most tables had a plateful of snails in tomato sauce to share - we didn’t try them but the locals seemed to love ‘em.
Portofino restaurante - Mojacar Playa
Venue :- Pizzeria Portofino
Location :- Marina Nuevo Siglo - Mojacar Playa
(on the beach side of the road)
Phone:- 950 47 28 09
Web:- www.pizzeriaportofino.es
Restaurant Portofino is a narrowish restaurant with plastic tables and chairs outside on the road side, then a bar area, then a tastefully decorated interior dining section followed by a fairly large exterior covered dining section right on the beach - we chose to eat inside as it was a bit blowy outside, but others didn’t seem to mind. The restaurant says it is a pizzeria - which it is - but it also a proper restaurant with pasta dishes, meat and fish dishes too. We had a la carte lunch.
Ham and Melon (8.00) - a nice plateful of Serrano ham and juicy white fleshed melon - very tasty and quite filling. Saquitos de hojaldre rellenos (9.00) - small deep fried filo ‘sacks’ with different fillings, hammy ones, herby ones and fishy ones but all were all highly spiced with oregano - very delicious I thought. Really they are a variation of the croquetas that you get everywhere - beware the ones that are not homemade! Ahumados Variados (14.00) a very, very tasty selection of smoked fish - anchovies, smoked salmon, smoked white fish (not sure what) and smoked tuna and it came with capers and finely diced onion with a balsamic dressing.
For mains we had - ravioli de carne fiorent (8.50) a big plateful of meaty ravioli in a very herby (oregano again), mushroom and courgette sauce - the sauce was superb, the ravioli ok - did they make the ravioli themselves? I think not, but am willing to be corrected on this. The other two meals were both Pollo Asado (9.00). This was declared a hit! The chicken (half a bird) was well roasted with crispy skin but retained its moistness. The potato was a baked spud which came with a small amount of mixed roasted peppers in a garlic.
Too full for desserts!
Café solo (1.20), Con Leche (1.50) Agua con Gas (1.50) and cerveza (2.80) pint.
A very nice restaurant which we will happily visit again - total cost for three people 74.40.
Note - they have a sister restaurant in Mojacar Pueblo - La Muralla - 950 47 29 28
Location :- Marina Nuevo Siglo - Mojacar Playa
(on the beach side of the road)
Phone:- 950 47 28 09
Web:- www.pizzeriaportofino.es
Restaurant Portofino is a narrowish restaurant with plastic tables and chairs outside on the road side, then a bar area, then a tastefully decorated interior dining section followed by a fairly large exterior covered dining section right on the beach - we chose to eat inside as it was a bit blowy outside, but others didn’t seem to mind. The restaurant says it is a pizzeria - which it is - but it also a proper restaurant with pasta dishes, meat and fish dishes too. We had a la carte lunch.
Ham and Melon (8.00) - a nice plateful of Serrano ham and juicy white fleshed melon - very tasty and quite filling. Saquitos de hojaldre rellenos (9.00) - small deep fried filo ‘sacks’ with different fillings, hammy ones, herby ones and fishy ones but all were all highly spiced with oregano - very delicious I thought. Really they are a variation of the croquetas that you get everywhere - beware the ones that are not homemade! Ahumados Variados (14.00) a very, very tasty selection of smoked fish - anchovies, smoked salmon, smoked white fish (not sure what) and smoked tuna and it came with capers and finely diced onion with a balsamic dressing.
For mains we had - ravioli de carne fiorent (8.50) a big plateful of meaty ravioli in a very herby (oregano again), mushroom and courgette sauce - the sauce was superb, the ravioli ok - did they make the ravioli themselves? I think not, but am willing to be corrected on this. The other two meals were both Pollo Asado (9.00). This was declared a hit! The chicken (half a bird) was well roasted with crispy skin but retained its moistness. The potato was a baked spud which came with a small amount of mixed roasted peppers in a garlic.
Too full for desserts!
Café solo (1.20), Con Leche (1.50) Agua con Gas (1.50) and cerveza (2.80) pint.
A very nice restaurant which we will happily visit again - total cost for three people 74.40.
Note - they have a sister restaurant in Mojacar Pueblo - La Muralla - 950 47 29 28
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)