My favourite fish restaurants
One of my favourite things about Spain is not so much the weather but actually the food. If you find a good restaurant where the helpings are good, the food is excellent, the service is friendly and the price is reasonable then in my opinion...you're sorted!
The problem is that with all the development going on around us, old traditional restaurants which have always been so good are being snapped up by foreigners who then re-do the restaurants, move them upmarket and charge a lot more money, although I have to say, the food generally is still excellent.
This happened to us recently. For years we have been going to a restaurant called "Bar Agustino" in small place called Torreguadiaro (near Purto Sotogrande). From the outside this place always looked like a grotty bar but walk through the bar, enter the restaurant area and then onto the terrace. The terrace is right on the beach. The location couldn't be more perfect. We've been going there for years. The friendliest waiters, the "old lady" cook who comes out to see who's eating her food which has always been brilliant.
However, we went back there a couple of weeks ago and were horrified to find a new sign about the door "El Tamarillo de Agustin". Not quite the "Bar Agustin" that we were used to seeing. Anyway, we assumed they were under new management so wandered in. The place has been transformed. No more grotty bar, it's now a gourmet restaurant...with prices to match. We couldn't believe it. BUT, I have to say, the fried fish was, I think, the best I have ever had, impeccable service and the same great location....with prices to match. But, that certain something was missing...maybe the "old lady cook" or the friendly way of the original waiters.
So we had a great meal there but were left disappointed that our favourite restaurant was no more.
But then, we went to the beach in Torreguadiaro the other day and noticed that under the "El Tamarillo de Agustin" there was a new restaurant opening up....yes, it was the old Bar Agustino, they'd taken up the premises below!! Same old cook, waiters and as we were to find out, same excellent food. What a pleasant surprise.
So if you are in the Torregudiaro area check out the restaurant that's slightly hidden under the "expensive" one.
Just wanted to mention that we also tried a chiringuito in a place called Castillo, although I can't remember the name of it. If you decide to go there be warned...the portions are huge! Don't over-order like we did.
If you have a favourite restaurant you can mention it as a comment to this post.
Happy eating.
The problem is that with all the development going on around us, old traditional restaurants which have always been so good are being snapped up by foreigners who then re-do the restaurants, move them upmarket and charge a lot more money, although I have to say, the food generally is still excellent.
This happened to us recently. For years we have been going to a restaurant called "Bar Agustino" in small place called Torreguadiaro (near Purto Sotogrande). From the outside this place always looked like a grotty bar but walk through the bar, enter the restaurant area and then onto the terrace. The terrace is right on the beach. The location couldn't be more perfect. We've been going there for years. The friendliest waiters, the "old lady" cook who comes out to see who's eating her food which has always been brilliant.
However, we went back there a couple of weeks ago and were horrified to find a new sign about the door "El Tamarillo de Agustin". Not quite the "Bar Agustin" that we were used to seeing. Anyway, we assumed they were under new management so wandered in. The place has been transformed. No more grotty bar, it's now a gourmet restaurant...with prices to match. We couldn't believe it. BUT, I have to say, the fried fish was, I think, the best I have ever had, impeccable service and the same great location....with prices to match. But, that certain something was missing...maybe the "old lady cook" or the friendly way of the original waiters.
So we had a great meal there but were left disappointed that our favourite restaurant was no more.
But then, we went to the beach in Torreguadiaro the other day and noticed that under the "El Tamarillo de Agustin" there was a new restaurant opening up....yes, it was the old Bar Agustino, they'd taken up the premises below!! Same old cook, waiters and as we were to find out, same excellent food. What a pleasant surprise.
So if you are in the Torregudiaro area check out the restaurant that's slightly hidden under the "expensive" one.
Just wanted to mention that we also tried a chiringuito in a place called Castillo, although I can't remember the name of it. If you decide to go there be warned...the portions are huge! Don't over-order like we did.
If you have a favourite restaurant you can mention it as a comment to this post.
Happy eating.
posted by Eye on Spain at 11:21 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home