Pasta Cafe - Nueva Andalucia

Pasta Cafe in N Andalucia. Great portions and good value. The owner has become quite a good friend (ish) so I guess I have to give them a big up. Significant number of their clientele are regulars - locals and holiday visitors alike - the owner eats in the restaurant every day to ensure quality and no slip ups. The have a philosophy that they expect food to go back to the kitchen - not by way of complaint, but that there is simply too much to finish it. Som interesting pasta dishes and general Italian food. Mike the owner takes a real pride in his work and ensures the ship runs very smoothly - they have opened a couple of others as well - one at La Cañada, Miramar Centre Fuengirola and a couple more soon in Estepona.

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We've been going Nueva Andalucia for six years now for our annual holiday. Whilst Pasta Cafe enjoys a good location and always appears to busy it isn't anything special IMO.

The menu is simply run of the mill pasta and pizza, we have never been offered any "specials of the day" that you expect from an Italian restaurant.

But for me the absolute worst thing is the total lack of any child friendly options. Our lad is 5 and when we asked for a child menu we were told there wasnt one, so he chose to have just a bowl of spaghetti (with nothing on) which they promptly charged us TEN EUROS for!!!!!!!!!!

When i queried it they said they don't do child portions and it wasn't their fault our 5yr old didnt want the bolognaise sauce!! to add to that we were also charged almost 5 euros for a very small glass of fresh orange juice because all they had were fizzy drinks for kids.

As i say, this is just my opinion and appreciate that the area of Marbella isn't the cheapest of places to holiday, but this in my opinion takes the p~ss.

If Pasta Cafe looks busy it is because every one fights to sit in the limited outdoor space because the inside of the restaurant is stiffling.

We have found ourselves a very nice Spanish place a 5 minute drive on the beach at San Pedro Alacantra that we go to that is child friendly, extensive menu, charming, unpretentious, clean and the owner is always happy to see you (even if he hasnt seen you for a year).

A meal for the three of us inc drinks is typically 30-40 Euros opposed to the Pasta Cafe where our last bill was 70+ Euros, i will let you do the math? Basically we now eat out at least every other day at Largo's and never get board with the menu because it has so much choice.

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Sunday lunch at Rafa's just around the corner (same block) is a great value Spainish experience to!

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I guess you have to take it as you find - personally I have never had a bad meal there and the pasta is always fresh (not dehydrated from a runb of the mill packet) - I would have to beg to differ on it being good value as it depends on what you want and where you go to have it. I have to say that I havent been there with a 5 year old but I have been there with some ten year olds that had plenty to choose from on the menu.

Pasta Cafe do a menu del dia in both daytime and evening where a three course meal is 9.95€ including a drink (I think) - the range on the menu del dia is restricted from the normal menu but on two of the occasions I have been there and opted for this the sirloin steak was one of the choices. Was there last month with friends and we all had menu del dia and bill for four of us (all grown ups) was 59 Euros including wine, coffee and one brandy.

as i mentioned previously I know the owner quite well (but I would not put anything in their favour if I didnt think it justified) and interestingly while many restaurants have closed for business in Marbella and surrounding areas Pasta Cafe, while having suffered the same downturn as everyone else is still returning respectable figures so I guess they must be doing something right. A high proportion of their clientele are regulars who could choose to spend their money elsewhere so again to me it indicates that generally they are doing the right thing.

However we all are different and have different budgets, tastes and needs. Lets face it Marbella generally isnt spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out and one of the good things is that you have found somewhere that does satisfy you.

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I guess you have to take it as you find - personally I have never had a bad meal there and the pasta is always fresh (not dehydrated from a runb of the mill packet) - I would have to beg to differ on it being good value as it depends on what you want and where you go to have it. I have to say that I havent been there with a 5 year old but I have been there with some ten year olds that had plenty to choose from on the menu.

Pasta Cafe do a menu del dia in both daytime and evening where a three course meal is 9.95€ including a drink (I think) - the range on the menu del dia is restricted from the normal menu but on two of the occasions I have been there and opted for this the sirloin steak was one of the choices. Was there last month with friends and we all had menu del dia and bill for four of us (all grown ups) was 59 Euros including wine, coffee and one brandy.

as i mentioned previously I know the owner quite well (but I would not put anything in their favour if I didnt think it justified) and interestingly while many restaurants have closed for business in Marbella and surrounding areas Pasta Cafe, while having suffered the same downturn as everyone else is still returning respectable figures so I guess they must be doing something right. A high proportion of their clientele are regulars who could choose to spend their money elsewhere so again to me it indicates that generally they are doing the right thing.

However we all are different and have different budgets, tastes and needs. Lets face it Marbella generally isnt spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out and one of the good things is that you have found somewhere that does satisfy you.

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