Posts Tagged historical
Los Gurullos
Posted by admin in Historical Restaurant Reviews on March 8th, 2007
Los Gurullos is a small restaurant, on your right as you descend the hill towards Mojacar playa, in front of the rug shop and just before the petrol station.
Gurullos is a typical dish here in Mojacar, made with small pasta balls in a stew, usually with chicken or rabbit. It´s lovely and I tons of the stuff, made to perfection by my chef, Fran. But I digress. By the way, ´Restaurant Los Gurullos´, which is in the area of ´Los Gurullos´ of Mojacar does serve Gurullos, although I´ve never had them there. Confused? I was!
It was quite late on Friday night on the eve before a trip to Scotland when, hungry and in the area, on an impulse pulled in. Parking is easy, although my initial impression of the placed soured when I spotted a car outside that was newer than mine. (Yes, new car! Hurrah!)
Inside, it was a plain affair, but deliberately so, decorated in the style of an old cortijo. A small bar area lead into the main restaurant, which despite holding a couple of large parties was quite quiet. Room for about 50 people, split up with some columns and screens.
The menu arrived, and it seems to be quite a simple affair, with a number of plain starters, a large pizza section and a small meat and fish section. Nothing spectacular, just simple food that the chef knows how to cook. Just what I like.
We ordered a large salad to share – and boy was it large. We then continued with a couple of pizzas, which were also large. Home made and hand cooked, they were perfectly adequate.
We finished up with a coffee, and feeling full, looked at the bill. Which was a surprise. Worked out to be 9 € each. Lovely.
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Bollywood Indian
Posted by admin in Historical Restaurant Reviews on February 11th, 2007
(Note: This review is now depreciated, and is only available as a historical note. No idea what it’s like now.)
Bollywood Indian Restaurant, Mojacar
It was a mild yet blustery February evening when I met up with my brother and his girlfriend for a meal. Deciding that I´d had far too much red meat this week (two visits to Loma Blanca in a week!) we went for an Indian.
We were already on Mojacar Playa, so decided to try out Bollywood Indian Restaurant, three quarters of the way along Mojacar Playa, in Urb. Guardia Viaja (opposited Lua restaurant on the second floor). We were advised against it, but in the arrogance of youth went anyway.
An attractive entrance leads into a rather sparse bar and smoking area (could do with a few bar stools with a bar counter that large). While the main restaurant is non smoking (hurrah!), the bar is smoking and has a few tables in there for the poor fools who still insist upon flouting the smoking ban.
The uniform of the waiters is somewhat ambiguous, and seems to consist of white tracksuits. Still, in general they seem to be happy chappies, and were unfailing polite. Didn´t seem to speak too much English or Spanish, which was a drawback when the conversation meandered away from the menu.
Down we sat, on chairs that weren´t as comfy as they looked, and poured over the menu. It all seems to be the standard stuff you find in Indian restaurants.
Now, we ordered a selection of starters, to share: Onion Bhajee, Vegetable Pakoras, Meat Samosa, Chicken wings, Chicken Tikka. What we got were 2 onion Bhajee, Vegetable Samosa, chicken wings and Chicken Tikka. The Bhajee and Samosas were soggy and seemed to be reheated. The chicken was all bland and tasteless. Not a wonderful start. The waiter chappie smiled with happy incomprehension when I pointed out he´d brought the wrong things.
I continued with a Chicken Korma (meant to order a muglai but got confused when the pressure was on). V. ordered a Chicken Tikka, and I forget what the little brother ordered, but no doubt it was spicy.
While awaiting the main courses, a very drunk, or very moronic (or both) teenager who was eating with his girlfriend staggered across with a small bowl of something that proved to be the hottest sauce that the l.b. had ever tried. ´Coz I don´t, like, you know, eat stuff that some Paki made hot coz, like, me tongue can´t take it, like´ was the slurred explanation he gave us for annoying us. ´Like, it´s coz them are used to eating stuff that´s like hot, right? But we ain´t, right? Coz of like, baked beans n stuff, right?´[sic]. Etc. He took it away with him, promising to give his mother a fright by mixing it in with her afternoon tea, and showing off a large hole in the seat of his rather dirty trousers.
Once the l.b. had soothed his tongue with some cucumber sauce, the main courses arrived. Much the same as the starters, some of the most insipid chicken I´ve ever tasted, covered by sauce. Actually, the sauce wasn´t too bad, but the meat it was on tasted like it´d been in the deep freeze for ever.
We tried to order dessert, but for some reason the waiter, after asking if we wanted pudding, left the table without waiting for orders and didn´t come back. The only explanation we could think of was that he´d learnt, parrot fashion, the necessary phrases and didn´t actually know what they meant.
It was at this point I decided to visit the facilities, which are basic and slightly chipped. While in the inner sanctum I discovered that if some joker switches the light off at the switch in the corridor, there aren´t any switches inside to switch it back on. Which means you´re left groping around in the pitch black. Oh, and there isn´t a handle on the inside of the main door, so you have to feel around for the hole in the door and drag it open with your finger. Great fun, wandering about in the black in a somewhat chipped toilet.
Returning to the table, I decided to give up on the dessert ordering plan and go straight to coffee. Doing a Michael Winner style wave with my napkin, I eventually attracted the attention of the waiter, who informed me that the coffee machine was broken. Well, at least he was honest about it and didn´t try to heat some up in the microwave.
We ordered the bill, and, somewhat bizarrely, instead of the usual couple of sweets with the bill, received a little metal bowl full of sticky and stuck together ´hundreds ´n´ thousands´. With a spoon.
I paid for the bill in my usual manner (without demur), and we left. It was only on the way out that the l.b. (who has a mortgage and therefore is closer to the realities of fiscal planning) pointed out that the bill was some 77&eur; – and the only drink we´d had was a single beer. That works out to be considerably more expensive than somewhere like Loma Blanca, considering that most of the food went back to the kitchen.
They do have a takeaway service, but frankly I´d rather not. If they got a decent cook in there it could be quite a nice restaurant, but at the moment it´s a disaster. Oh, and I was awake most of the night, aware of an unpleasant rumbling from the stomach area – not something I normally suffer from! I leave you to draw your own conclusions.
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Where is it?
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| Bollywood Indian Restaurant, Urd. Guardia Vieja, Mojacar Playa. Opposite Restaurante Lau, second floor. 950472114 Open every day from 18:00 to 00:00 Google Maps |
Original comments copied from original website>
()said (11:51:12 @ ‘28-Jun-07):
The below, which I’ve only just spotted, is a communique from the supposed lawyers of the Bollywood Restaurant informing me of their intention to sue me if I don’t take this posting down. Given that I stand by my comments, I don’t intend to remove this article. However, I would be interested to see what other readers of this blog think. Post a comment! Possibly the owners of this restaurant may want to invest their time and money in public relations, restaurant maintenance and staff training rather than legal threats. I would also like to point out that this article, as it states on the tagline, dates from the 11th of Feb, 2007, and that I am not aware, nor have I commented upon, the current (June 2007) state of the restaurant. I would also like to point out that the above is only a posting on my blog, and that I cannot vouch for its veracity. If somebody associated with the restaurant contacts me, and asks me to remove the previous comment, then I will.
Pedro Molina (molinasolicitors@molinasolicitors.com)said (10:27:41 @ ‘22-Jun-07):
A la atención de David Jackson Mojacar, a 21de junio de 2007. Muy señores míos: Les remito la presente comunicación en nombre y representación de mi cliente, el señor Harinder Pal Sing, el cual regenta un comercio de Restauración denominado BOLLYWOOD, en la ciudad de Mojacar, en relación a la publicación en su pagina Web, en fecha 11 de febrero de 2007, concretamente en la sección David Jackson talks about Almeria and it´s people, Restaurant Reviews, debido a que entendemos que atenta contra el derecho al prestigio profesional, que aparece protegido en el articulo 7.7, en relación con el articulo 2, de la Ley Orgánica 1/1982, como una de las vertientes de la protección del derecho al honor. La afirmaciones vertidas en dicha sección, están vacías de todo contenido veraz y suponen directas acusaciones no declaradas delictivas, pero si muy próximas, y en todo caso vejatorias, dirigidas a destruir el honor profesional de personas conocidas en dicho ámbito profesional. En su calidad de editor, viene obligado a enjuiciar la veracidad de las informaciones, información veraz que implica información comprobada según los cánones de la profesionalidad, excluyendo invenciones rumores y meras insidias. Esta obligación es de mayor diligencia, si cabe, debido a que la referida carta no se encuentra perfectamente identificada la persona que la suscribe, únicamente aparece firmada por David Jackson. La Sentencia del Tribunal Supremo de 19 de julio de 2004, condena expresamente al editor de una publicación por estos hechos, como una forma de impedir ficticios espacios inmunes a vulneraciones al honor. En consecuencia, y en virtud de los establecido en el articulo 1 y 2 de la Ley Orgánica 2/1984, Reguladora del Derecho de Rectificación, les requiero, para que rectifique la información contenida en dicha carta, por incluir informaciones no veraces. Esta rectificación se ha de producir en la misma sección y con la misma amplitud que la publicación emitida. Igualmente les requiero para que eliminen la referida información en el improrrogable plazo de 24 horas desde la recepción de la presente comunicación. Si no procede conforme a lo solicitado, acudiremos a los Tribunales de Justicia para iniciar un Incidente de Rectificación, amen de reclamar la indemnización de daños y perjuicios que tengamos por convenientes. Sin otro particular, se despide atentamente Pedro Molina López Colegiado nº 1156 Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Elche
Meson Verfran
Posted by admin in Restaurants on December 16th, 2006
(Note: This review is now depreciated, and is only available as a historical note.)
Meson Verfran, Los Gallardos
I grew up in Los Gallardos, in a small old house round the back of the bakery, among other places. So, as we gutter snipes played in the potholes and abandoned cortijos, our elders sat out in the dingy bars, sipping coffee and brandy and bemoaning the lack of a decent restaurant in Los Gallardos.
It always was strange that Los Gallardos never had a decent, home grown restaurant. Sure, it has a few bars that serve tapas, but for the locals they soon became almost partisan – members of one group wouldn´t drink in that bar, and vice versa. So pub crawling was out!
People were generally content to potter down to Turre for their evening meals out, back in the days when Turre was considered to be the gastronomic centre of the Levante. But that was back in ´90s, and the current crop of 21st century sophisticates know better than to run the gauntlet of the Guardia Civil breathalyser tests.
So the opening of ´Meson Verfran´, in between the Hostal Rueda and EcoMuebles entrance and the main square (Plaza de Andalucia), full of wood panelling and a somewhat garish religious overtone, caused much interest among the locals.
It´s owned by a local, who is trying to operate a ´Meson´ rather than a restaurant per se. It´s very well done out inside, with lots of dark oak, lovely Christmas nativity village (see the post date!) and the obligatory large screen tv on the wall blaring out.
While I haven´t eaten there, I have popped in a couple of times after work to have a few tapas with friends. They run quite a large tapa selection, written up on a blackboard depending on what they have in, and usually have a cold selection in the vitrina.
They actually have several different red wines available by the glass, rather than the usual ´whatever bottles open´ philosophy. Personally, I like the house Rioja (Preferido 2004).
They run a pleasant, simple menu, more or less what you would expect. They also do paella ´por encargo´, which someone assured me was quite passable.
They run a different ´menu del dia´ from Tuesday through Friday. No meat on Friday, I noticed. Could be the religious overtones again? The place seems to be a shrine to the Virgen del Carmen, heavens knows why.
It´s not a fancy restaurant, but then again, it´s not designed to be. It´s a friendly little meson, where you can go for either a drink or a family meal. It may not be worth driving up from miles away to go to, but if you´re in the area it´s worth a visit.
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Where is it?
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| Meson VerFran Los Gallardos Enter Los Gallardos from the main road by the EcoMueble entrance, going down to the main square. No phone number because I´ve lost the napkin I pinched with it on. |
Apologies for the photos, only my phone ran out of battery before I could take any good ones! Better luck next time, eh?
Original Comments copied from original website>
Tracy Cory (tracory@aol.com)said (06:51:44 @ ‘03-May-07):
We are slowly working our way through your list and on this visit to the area (we are having a house built in Los Giles) decided to give it a go. The day before we did a quick reccie to see how it looked and had some lovely tapas and very nice glass of vino blanco. The next day we returned with my husband, Mother and her partner. It was full of spanish people (which we like and always think is a good sign). the menu is a little confusing as it seems to start with main and then mentions salds/starters but once I had deciphered various dishes we ordered. My Mum and I didnt have starters but her partner and my husband had soup. My husband had the vegetable soup cannot remember the spanish name and he declared that it was the best soup he had ever eaten and my mums partner had the courgette which I think was equally as nice. So with high expectations on to main course. My husband had steak – v good, my mums partner had chulletas equally good. We had plumped for the shoulder of lamb. Now the one thing I would say is only order this on your own if you have been stranded somewhere for 3 days without any food as the portions were absolutely ENORMOUS!! Having said that it equals if not slightly beats the lamb at the Miramar in Bedar which is one of my favourite places to eat lamb anyway. The lamb was I believe 16E and wouldhave fed 2 if not 3 people so be Warned! The wine selection is very good and I can recommend the Este (vino blanco)which is from a vinyard in Almanzora and only 7E (they charge 10E for the same wine in Juan Moreno) My husband had the Faustino V which was also excellent. A lovely meal and the waiter was superb (only a young chap) but attentive, funny and very good at his job. Thanks for the recommendation. When I go back this weekend for a few days it will be of the places that I try and fit a visit in to so I can take my daughter.
Restaurant Sopalmo
Posted by admin in Old Reviews (Still live!) on December 6th, 2006
Bar Restaurant Sopalmo
Sopalmo, Mojacar
Many, many years ago, during the Arabian ownership of Al Andalus, Mojacar was known as ´Muxacar´, and, indeed, was located on the hill in front of where it currently is.
Indeed, during the ´Reconquista´ of Al Andalus by the Catholic Kings, the capture and holding of Vera and Muxacar was considered to be an important victory for the army of Maestre Felipe de Aragon, the victorious son of the leader of the kingdom of Aragon, and head of the Military Order of Montesa, and was the launching point for his armies as they headed inwards towards Baza.
Now, the reason he stopped at Muxacar (Mojacar) that hot summers day in 1488, was because from Mojacar onwards the huge mountain ranges of the Sierra Nevada impeded the passage of the Catholic armies, protecting the few harbours and ports left to the Kingdom of the Nazari of Granada. So, they headed up the Levante valley, leaving the Sierra Cabrera to their left, towards Baza. Where, incidentally, Maestre Felipe of Aragon met his death in the siege of Baza, hit by a catapult.
500 years later, the now Spanish inhabitants of the area were equally stumped as to how to get along the coast. The old road from Mojacar to Carboneras (you think the current one is bad?) was long, arduous and took most of the day to reach. Hence, the little hamlet of Sopalmo flourished, as the last place to take on water before the long road to Carboneras.
Which leads me, in a long and roundabout way, to Bar Restaurante Sopalmo. Established by Maria in or around 1974 (I´ve forgotten the exact date, not that it matters), it was the first ´proper´ restaurant in Sopalmo, and probably only the third or fourth ´proper´ restaurant along the whole coast. She started off selling damned good slap up meals for very little, and still flourished doing just that.
For 10E or thereabouts, you get a proper, old fashioned ´menu del dia´, with a big salad, bottle of wine or beer and casera, starter, main course and pudding. All home made, in the kitchen, by Maria and her little elves.
She also does regional specialities, such as paella (a damned fine paella, too!), gurullos, and other dishes as it takes her fancy.
Outside, on the shaded patio, you can relax and chew the fat with other like minded locals – her bar has been a haven for the locals and residents since time immemorial.
The restaurant is small, but usually packed, seating around 30 covers, in a room just off the small bar. Most people prefer to sit outside, under the cover of the large trees that surround the tiny town square.
You can´t miss it, it´s on the left as you drive through Sopalmo towards Carboneras. Says ´Bar Restaurante Sopalmo´ on the awnings.
Marias also a bit of a firebrand, not only is she vice president of ´Levante sin Cables´, the association to stop Endesa putting up lots of high powered electric lines all over the Levante, but also is spearheading the effort to stop the village being plowed up in order to put through the new water pipes from the desalination plant in Carboneras.
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Where is it?
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| Bar Restaurante Sopalmo Sopalmo, Mojacar On the left as you drive through Sopalmo, the last hamlet before Carboneras from Mojacar. |
Candela
Posted by admin in Historical Restaurant Reviews on December 5th, 2006
Candela Bar & Restaurant
Carboneras
First of all, a small disclaimer. There could be some conflict of interest here, as I very nearly brought this restaurant for the current owner. I didn´t, mainly due to already being over committed on the work front (hey, this blog doesn´t write itself you know!), but I do enjoy popping in occasionally to have a snack and a beer.
Now, Candela is owned by Rafael, an eccentric barrister from Seville, who also happens to be the honorary consulate to Guinea – Buissau. Hence the large adverts for Guinea – Buissau. He also sells some pretty damned nice Christmas hampers, so have a rummage through the display at the door.
He´s not fully pushing it until the new year, mainly because he´s getting a flamenco troop to start putting on Flamenco theme nights, and he´s still trialling out the full menu. But believe me, if you like Spanish meat and wine, this is the place for you.
He´s building up his wine cellar to have over 600 of Spains finest Tintos, and a fair number of Roses and Blancos as well. A fine collection of Sevillian Jerez, Oportos, Orujos and Finos are also there, and I´ve had a few happy afternoons trying them out!
The meats? Only the very best in Jamon Serrano, chorizos and general embutidos. He had a 900E Jamon beluga there last time, only he was allowed to cut it!
Now, if Rafael doesn´t loose his touch, this should stay as a fine meat and wine bodega. He´s styling it in the traditional Sevillan way, and it should go a bomb. Just turn up, have a beer or wine, and sample the food.
He´s assembling a fine menu for dining, and I´m told that the Flamenco nights are very popular he´s managed to find a troop of Spanish gypsies that actually know what they´re supposed to be doing. Which is better than most of these flamenco shows I´ve seen around here.
I´ll report back once the menus going and the restaurant is fully open, but if you´re in Carboneras, then pop in and have a dish. He´s on the beachfront at the end of Carboneras, in front of the port exit towards Agua Amarga.
Loma Blanca
Posted by admin in Historical Restaurant Reviews on November 3rd, 2006
Restaurante Loma Blanca
Turre
Quality watch!
Updated: 1st Aug, 07
The original review was posted in September 2006. Well, since then I´m please to say that it continues to delight. Just last night we had the “Lechazo al horno” (Milk lamb oven roasted) and it was, without doubt, the best Spanish style roasted lamb I´ve had in a long, long time.
When ordering a main course, you do need to specify if you want home made chips or salad, else you might end up with nothing. They now have an extensive wine list, and the staff have perked up.
The outside disco, “Ankara”, however, continues to disappoint. It´s a fantastic setting, in among the gardens with lots of private booths (mosquito free on every occasion!), but the music is not to my liking. I did mention this to the owner, who looked offended and said that he liked it. Not the point, I pointed out.
Original review:
This abandoned old cortijo, on the right as you drive down towards Garrucha from Los Gallardos, under the huge and immensely ugly high tension electric lines, was worked on sporadically over the last year or so. Until, in a flurry of activity, the place was finished, in a spectacular style. Well, I´m sure you´ve all seen it – the place looks fantastic.
It didn´t take long for me to start sniffing around it.
Loma Blanca actually bills itself as a ´complex´, with outdoor and indoor bars, a disco, and the main restaurant. Certainly no expense spared on the building and décor. The strange thing is the huge white canvas tent that covers the large exterior patio.
Now, the service is polished, yet inefficient. The owner, Alberto, left the Terraza Carmona to open the Loma Blanca, and seems to have emptied a couple of catering schools to fill up his staff. Leaving him with a large, well trained and inexperienced waiters. What he really needs is an efficient matre d´. As an example, a short while ago I went with my brother and his girlfriend for dinner; we sat in the bar, had a couple of drinks, were shown to our table, and allowed to decide off the menu before they thought to mention that they´d run out of meat. Not good. Still, shows it´s as fresh as they claim!
However, if you want what is defiantly the best steak in the area, come here. It´s good. It´s really good. In fact, It´s the best I´ve had. Fresh, straight from Asturias and Galicia. Really, if you want a steak, go here. Damn, but it´s good. Get the picture?
Oh, they have quite a number of irritating little faults, which I can´t decide if are due to inefficiency or eccentricity. No wine list, because they´re still deciding on a cellar. But, a good selection of excellent wines which they rotate quite quickly. No central maitre d´ to keep control of the staff, which in a restaurant of this calibre is unforgivable. The menu is slightly too small, although since everything on it is immensely fresh and well cooked that doesn´t matter too much. They could do with adding just a spot of veg and potatoes to the meat. They are under two huge electric lines which constantly hum while you sit outside, and aren´t connected to the network, so they have to have a generator in the corner.
The meat is all cooked or roasted in their wood burning ovens, which gives a delightful tang to the food. The fish is always fresh, and lightly cooked. Puddings seem rather inexistent, but a decent range of light starters.
A wonderful setting, great, nay, historic, food, and all in all it entered my top 10 restaurant list straight up there near the top of the list.
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Where is it?
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| On the Los Gallardos – Garrucha road (just under the power lines!) Reservations: 607 771 470 Restaurant Loma Blanca on Google Maps |
Los Limoneros
Posted by admin in Historical Restaurant Reviews on September 29th, 2006
(Note: This review is now depreciated, and is only available as a historical note. The restaurant has just changed hands – March 2008)
Los Limoneros
Jardines de Agua,
Cortijo Grande,
Turre
Terrible confession to make here – I´d been promising myself that I´d pop in here ever since I´d heard that it had reopened at the beginning of the summer. Yet, despite the fact that it´s just up the road from my house, I hadn´t. Maybe the mere thought of flagging up to Cortijo Grande had put me off.
So, eventually I dragged myself out of my stupor and off we popped to it, avoiding the rabbits. In Ireland we had sheep – in Turre we have rabbits. Such is life.
I was always put off this restaurant, irrespective of the owners, as I knew a mad chap in college called ´Limonero´. Actually, he´s the chappie who sells Granizados de Limon on Garrucha high street from a push along wagon. Mad as a hatter, and just as tall. Damned good fun though.
It was a lovely evening, cloudless and slightly fresh. A quarter moon hung overhead, and just a hint of autumn in the air.
We had a couple of G&Ts next to the pool and garden, which is attractively lit by underwater and underhedge coloured lights.
An interesting menu, which surprisingly features almost three pages of starters and just three quarters of a page of main courses. We had a page of wines in the main menu, and a separate menu for the ´real´ wines. An interesting and cheap selection of wines, ranging from a decent number of Spanish and including a few French and Italian wines.
In the end, we were unimaginative in our selections, starting with two foie gras with home made caramelised onion jam, and a beef carpaccio, followed by two steaks and a mixed fish bouillabaisse. Decent foie gras (needed toast, we only got bread, albeit nice, fresh and crisp French bread).
The steak was quite pleasant, although nothing to write home about. The carrots were, in my opinion, foul (tough, string and somewhat over boiled), but the rest of the veg was OK.
Coffee, brandy and baileys to finish with. And a bit of entertainment when a fox turned up and begged for food. Wonderful little chap he was, just sat there next to the pool while the diners threw bread and food at him. Not quite as much fun as Gilbert and Sullivan (the two foxes who have adopted us at our home, they turn up every night at 9 oclock on the dot), but still kept us busy for a good 20 mins.
Final price? 110€ for the three of us, which was more than I expected.
Los Limoneros Restaurant,
Jardines de Agua, Cortijo Grande, Turre.
Tlf: 950 468 132
Drive up towards Cortijo Grande / Cabrera, and turn left at the second left hand turn turn, towards the golf course. Then follow the signs (it´s easy really!)
Taj Indian, Turre
Posted by admin in Historical Restaurant Reviews on July 17th, 2006
I always had great hopes of this one when it opened. Nice decor, comfortable settings, and initially good food. I went there, and I used to be happy. Not ecstatic, but fairly satisfied as I burped my way home.
It was always a bugger that they didn´t do takeaways. Eventually, they started doing them, but with what some people might call a ´bad attitude´. They only did them between 7 and 8 p.m. Come on! Who wants a takeaway curry at that time? And if you turned up at 8:15, they wouldn´t serve you takeaway! They seemed to think that if you couldn´t take it away, you´d sit down and eat it in.
A friend of mine once popped in to pick one up, and was told it would be two hours before it was ready. He wouldn´t have minded, but there were only 6 people in the Restaurant!
Still, when it started out it did some quite decent curry. I´ve been there with one person, I´ve been there with a party of 32, and they always managed to produce a decent meal.
Until recently. It´s definitely going downhill. I recently ate there, and rarely have I had such a greasy, tough little meal. It smelt, tasted and felt like they´d popped down to Mr UKs curry corner at the beginning of the week and had them all in the fridge since then. And this was on quite a busy Friday night, with lots of people. The Pakoras were reheated and brittle, cold on the inside; the Tandorii chicken started was tough and somewhat old (with the current price of chicken, they should be able to afford to throw away the old stuff!). The chicken in the main course was exactly the same texture as the Tandorii starter, and the rest of the meal was bland and unappetizing.
I´ve spoken to others who´ve been there recently, and reports vary. I may break out the antacids and brave it afresh – when I do, I´ll keep you posted!
Quality Watch!
Updated: 5th December, 2006
A recent visit reveals that they´re returning to their previous standards! “Damn fine curry” was the conclusion of a recent post-meal analysis.
Quality Watch!
Updated: 2nd July, 2007
The quality stays! After a recent bout of globetrotting, I´ve been lying low, and have only ventured out upon occasions to snatch a quick bite. The Taj keeps on providing decent curries at a decent price, and while the service is hardly out of this world, is generally prompt and efficient.Top 5 it goes. An amazing return from the dead for this restaurant. Let´s try to keep the standard up lads!
Go on then – into my
But, they do still insist upon charging an extra euro for mango chutney. Such is life.
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Where is it?
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| Taj Indian Restaurant, Turre Calle Antonio Manchado, Turre (On your right as you enter Turre from Mojacar, next to the main bridge) 950 479 607 |
Rodriguez Restaurant, Turre
Posted by admin in Historical Restaurant Reviews on July 16th, 2006
(Note: This review is now depreciated, and is only available as a historical note.)
This used to be a mediocre restaurant and bar, until a couple of years ago it was taken over by some Russians, who opened Turres first Russian / Lithuanian / Peruvian bar. I was there late last year, for a Larios and tonic (why do they never have Gordons? I hate Larios!), and they had 3 TVs on, in three different languages – one Russian, one Lithuanian, one Peruvian. The Ruskie behind the counter explained that this was because otherwise there´d be a fight over which channel to watch, and somebody would end up in casualty. Wonderful.
However, it´s just reopened as a Bodega. So, off we popped to try it out.
We were ushered into a somewhat dingy room, stifling hot. After complaining twice, the air conditioning was switched on, leaving me with a stiff neck as it was blowing on me at some 16C.
We ordered a salad, some boquerones, jamon Serrano and cheese and assorted bits. Bloody awful. Salad looked like it´d been dragged through a hedge backwards, burnt fish, chunky jamon and bits that we left.
Onto the main course, Rape and steak. Soft steak with no taste, and tough Rape. Burnt veg. Steak left me with a dodgy stomach the next day. When asked if everything was OK, and said the above, the manager said he´d ´try better next time´.
Sadly, there won´t be a next time.
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Where is it?
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| Rodriguez, Turre On your right as you reach the centre crossroads (turn right to old bridge) |
El Mar, La Mar
Posted by admin in Historical Restaurant Reviews on July 10th, 2006
Posted: 09:18@10.07.06
Originally posted in July 2006. (Note: This review is now depreciated, and is only available as a historical note. Comments below were from the old version of my blog which I copied over. This review was originally posted in July 2006. I am assured that this restaurant has been revamped since then. This review is maintained here for historical purposes only. For full information on this restaurant please visit: www.elmarlamar.com.
I recently had a hankering for fish. So, collecting a friend from Garrucha, we proceeded along the beachfront looking for a decent fish restaurant. Eating in a Garrucha fish restaurant can be a nasty trap for the unwary – bill enlargements, substituting ones choosen lobster for a frozen one in the kitchen, the list goes on. But still, this was all academic, as apparantly some noisy people were having a boat race this weekend, and had occupied every car park and restaurant in town. So we fled, towards Villaricos, for no good reason.
Once into Villaricos, we discovered that our first choice was closed, and our second full up. So, once we´d done the obligatory three turns of the village through the demonic one way system, we were spat out again onto the main road. Where we spotted “El mar, La Mar”. On your left, in front of the watchtower, entering on the main road from Garrucha. We parked, and popped in.
A pleasent decor, lots of darkened wood and plenty of atmosphere, only slightly spoilted by a noisy one armed bandit and cigarette machine at the door.
We were ushered through into the outside covered terrace (see left), with nice views out towards the new apartment block that covers Villaricos, and the sea. A large menu on our table informed us that for a mere €10.00 we could select from a large menu del dia. A pencil was provided, and we marked off our choices.
Now, the menu appeared promising – drinks, salad, starter (4 choices), main course (3 choices), pudding (4 choices), coffee and aperitif for only ¬10.00. I selected the potaje de fabias, lomo de cerdo asado and flan de la casa – my companion Ensaladilla rusa, also lomo de cerdo, and Mousse de chocolate. We returned the pencil, and the menu duly completed, and ordered a beer each.
Now, we were first presented with a somewhat indifferent salad. The salad was somewhat wilted, but it was 3 of the clock, and I was prepared to be generous. The bread was nice and crisp, and the vinagrete was of good quality – decent olive oil, and a Spanish vinagre de jerez reserva. The salt ´n´ pepper was of that annoying type when the two are mixed together. I´m sorry, but if I want salt I may not want pepper, and vice versa. So why force me to take both at the same time?
Then the starters arrived. Now, I will admit that potaje (especially de fabias) can be a very difficult dish to master. I´ve had bad potaje. I´ve had indifferent potaje. And I´ve had fantastic potaje. And this was, frankly, bloody awful. Bitter, reheated and half cold, I had one and a half spoonfuls and left it. Obviously made in bulk at the beginning of the week, and reheated on demand. I say no more. The ensaladilla rusa? It was alright (fresh), but was massive. A huge great big wodge of the stuff on a plate, no presentation at all. Struck me that they were using up the last of it, and just plopped it all out of the container. We couldn´t finish it between two of us.
So, I continued to nibble at the last of the salad, and awaited the main course (see below).
Now, upon first impressions it seemed quite decent. The lomo seemed to be nicely cooked, and the chips were the decent home made type that are pan fried in the typical andalucian style (can´t stand fried chips!). Bit of garnish and a nice lemon, and off we went.
Again, it was bloody awful. The chips were lukewarm, and the lomo seemed to have been baked to death. The meat seems to have been of low quality anyway, and was so soft and tasteless it just wasn´t worth eating it. Again, I left most of it.
By the time the pudding arrived, I didn´t have very high hopes. Alright, it said “flan de casa casera”, but homemade usually means they just opened the package and mixed it up before serving it. More or less the case.
Now, nothing wrong with the flan. It should be served with cream, but I am nothing if not pragmatic. A bit of caramel around the edges is, in extreme cases, acceptable. But some horrible, sugary and sweet, cheap raspberry sauce dotted all over it, killing the taste? The decoration reminded me of nothing more than my goddaughters recent bout of chicken pox.
Now, it´s a shame. I don´t know if the menu is normally more sophisticated, and today we got the under chef trying his best. Maybe they were trying to unload the bad stuff at the end of the week. But in general? It´s a menu del dia that overreaches itself, with too many options, and too big an opinion of itself. The only good thing about it was we got all our drinks included into the price. But, if the food is crap (and it was), who cares about a free beer?
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Where is it?
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| El Mar, La Mar On your left as you reach Villaricos from Garrucha, just in front of the watchtower. |
ORIGINAL COMMENTS (Posted on their respective post dates).
El Mar Lar Mar.com (Info@elmarlamar.com)said (13:59:47 @ ‘25-Jan-08):
Visit WWW-elmarlamar.com Tel 0034 950 467 030 Mobile 0034 666 542 714
Eric ()said (12:17:07 @ ‘13-Dec-07):
Delicious food with a very good “vino de la casa”! Nice location with good parking facility and a very neat bathroom! And last but not least good staff and a friendly host; Ricardo Pastor.
Imc ()said (12:16:13 @ ‘13-Dec-07):
Imc Great staff! Great food! Best place to eat in Villaricos.
Juan Carlos ()said (16:06:02 @ ‘01-Dec-07):
Stephen Hitchins Muy Tonto
Louisa Duggie ()said (15:59:57 @ ‘28-Nov-07):
As always not only does your restaurant meet all our needs with great service and food and a team that can not be more abliging. Your continued investment has surely made El Mar La Mar the nicest restaurant to eat in and a must visit location always on top of our list. Fondest regards to you and the whole team
jose levantes ()said (15:51:26 @ ‘28-Nov-07):
Chef Richard Shepherd We were just considering going to your place, to dine. I guess if we leave now, could make it in about 38 hours. Miss your good company, sharp satirical wit and great food and drink. Thanks for taking the time to converse with us and prepare meals, that are still remembered,because we truly enjoyed them and the chef. I have some great recipes I would like to send to you. If this email works I will follow up with the recipes. Is this EL MAR LA MAR/CUATRO BOMBAS? Richard, will be back soon, 2008 after las fallas in valencia, and will make if a point to live to dine at your place. Have any snails that glow, in garlic?? Jose and Mike Cervantes honolulu hawaii
Bridget ()said (14:42:57 @ ‘28-Nov-07):
Hi Richard Regarding the write up of your restaurant,its in the advertiser early november .Not under restaurant review but on page 24. Thanks for a great meal tonight we had a nice time. See you when we are back in spain. byeeee Bridget
Lady Sara Jane (LadyJaneevents.co.uk)said (14:40:46 @ ‘28-Nov-07):
Hi Richard, Just a quick note to say thanks again for Mum’s party. The food was fantastic !! See you soon. Regards Sara-Jane
Dr Who (drwho@hotmail.com)said (10:18:28 @ ‘30-Oct-07):
nice restaurant
Stephen Hitchins (srh@almanzora.com)said (07:42:32 @ ‘25-Nov-06):
Hi! Well, Richard Shepherd (Simmons???)will be upset, but I would not comment on that! Just to say what a shame it was for your party and I suppose Villaricos’s reputation , that you did not happen instead upon La Esperanza, Don Tadeo’s or Mar Azul or even Las Brisas Beach Bar,all of which would undoubtedly have given a good account of themselves. Another day perhaps! By the way, do you know of The Crocodile Club or El Torrente at Desert Springs? Have a look at almanzora.com, if you do not and if you have a moment. I must admit to an interest, but I do like them! Regards, Stephen Hitchins
Denise Green said (12:36:18 @ ‘14-Nov-06):
My experience of this restaurant is the complete opposite. We were there only 2 weeks ago and had a fabulous meal. We spoke to the owner who told us that he is trying to refurbish the place as Spanish as possible and it looks very nice. If anyone reading this has had the lamb at the Miramar in B
Jerry Woods said (15:00:02 @ ‘27-Oct-06):
I have also dined at this resturant and had the evening menu i found the food as described above and complained only to be met by a shrug from the waiter. Upon receiving the bill I once again complained and told them that I would only pay half the cost as most of the food had been returned after much debate it was agreed that half the amount was accepable so I paid and left. Never to return again.
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